FWTR Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Winchester Duke remained silent for a long time.

What did that mean?

Not that it mattered whether he approved or not. She could reclaim the room anytime she wanted, and even the duke wouldn’t be able to interfere.

“I didn’t tell you to ask for permission. This was my room to begin with.”

Even so, Estelle had spoken up. It was an implicit warning—she would no longer let Melody take anything from her.

‘So don’t ever tell me to yield to Melody again.’

Winchester Duke stared at her intently.

“Fine. Do as you wish. But before that, I have something to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why the sudden change?”

The question caught Estelle off guard. What kind of answer was he expecting?

‘Because I died at Melody’s hands and came back, and now everything seems meaningless?’

No—he would probably think she was falsely accusing Melody, a girl who pitied even the smallest insect.

“Even the engagement to His Highness the Crown Prince—though I was the one to bring it up, wasn’t it something you wanted as well? That day, aside from being late to the meeting, there was nothing—”

The duke dismissed Leonov’s tardiness as insignificant.

‘An appointment.’

It was a sign of respect for the other person.

‘So he doesn’t even care that Leonov looked down on me.’

She didn’t understand why she felt bitter. She had promised herself countless times not to have any expectations.

“Duke, when you want to be liked by someone, you adjust, endure, and keep forgiving them. You ignore the wounds festering inside you.”

“…What?”

“But I don’t have anyone I want to please anymore. So why should I continue acting like before?”

‘Don’t forget, Estelle.’

‘This man never truly sees you.’

‘So don’t expect anything. Don’t hope for anything.’

“No matter what happens, I will never marry Prince Leonov. I’d rather die than do that. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if the Crown Prince’s fiancée were found dead?”

“How could you say something like that?! Do you think that’s appropriate to say in front of your father?!”

“I don’t understand why you’re angry.”

She had already seen it—this father of hers wouldn’t shed a single tear even if she died right now.

So why was he suddenly acting like a father now?

“Don’t act like this. Others might not know, but you, Duke, have no right to.”

“…Estelle!”

“I’ll be going in now. If I take any longer, Melody’s voice might go hoarse.”

Estelle avoided the Duke and entered the room.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw Melody, face buried in a pillow, crying.

Her eyes scanned the room—the one she would soon reclaim. Compared to her own, everything here was far more luxurious.

“Melody, the Duke is worried about you outside. Stop crying.”

‘It’s too noisy.’

She swallowed those words and approached Melody.

“Father…?”

Melody lifted her head at the mention of the Duke’s concern. Her eyes were red and swollen.

“Yes.”

The swelling on Melody’s cheek had already gone down.

‘I should have hit her harder.’

Suppressing the bitterness rising in her throat, Estelle pretended to be concerned.

“Sister, your dress is different from before. You never wear bright colors.”

“I spilled tea on it. I borrowed this from Lady Gannet.”

“Oh.”

Melody, who had asked first, suddenly looked uninterested. She patted the bed.

“Sister, sit here.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why didn’t you tell me that you were invited to the sorority Liliana belongs to?”

Her tone was interrogative, as if a superior was questioning an underling.

“You know exactly how Liliana treats you, so how could you even consider going there? Do you know what she said to me earlier?”

The way Melody was speaking irritated Estelle. She refused to sit down.

“…Sister? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Melody, do I have to tell you everything and get your permission for it?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant! I told you! I know Liliana looks down on me, so shouldn’t you have refused?”

Melody raised her voice even more as she faltered under Estelle’s gaze.

“And how could you do that to me? Even if it was for appearances, your family is me, not Liliana!”

Melody, who had hesitated just moments ago, was now fully expressing her resentment about being slapped.

‘Resentful, are you? After you fed me snake venom?’

If she was trembling this much over something so minor, how was she going to endure what was coming next?

“Sister, you’ve been acting strange lately. Even what you said at dinner the other day—”

Her revenge against Melody hadn’t even begun yet. Until then, she had to keep her guard down.

“Melody, you know that the First Princess is part of that sorority, right?”

“Of course. Why?”

“She’s returning soon. If I join the sorority first and establish a connection with Her Highness, it will benefit you as well.”

The First Princess was expected to return from studying abroad around this time. Since Melody, as a commoner-born noble, was often ostracized in high society, this was a perfect excuse to deceive her.

“That may be true, but what help could a newly returned princess be?”

“The First Princess is the Empress’s most beloved daughter, isn’t she?”

“The Empress…?”

Melody’s previously indifferent expression lit up with interest.

“Yes. If I’m lucky enough to receive an invitation to Her Majesty’s salon, it will improve your reputation as well. Since you and Liliana don’t get along, I couldn’t tell you directly. But I was planning to inform you after I attended.”

“I was feeling hurt without knowing that. I should’ve known! My sister would never do something to harm me!”

Moved, Melody gasped and threw her arms around Estelle.

“Melody, I can’t breathe.”

Suppressing the nausea that rose in her throat, Estelle gently pushed her away.

“By the way, Melody, it’s about time you vacated this room.”

“Huh…? What do you mean, vacate the room?”

“This was my room to begin with.”

Melody’s smile froze in place.

“Why? Do you have a reason why you can’t?”

“N-no, it’s just… it’s so sudden. I’ve grown really used to this room, and…”

“I’ll decorate your new room beautifully. The first room on the second floor, where the sunlight is just as nice, will suit you well.”

Melody reluctantly nodded, clearly displeased.

‘I’m simply reclaiming what was mine to begin with. You can’t say no to that.’

It was amusing to watch Melody force a bright smile, clapping her hands as if excited, despite her obvious reluctance.

“O-oh, I’m looking forward to it. Sister, I’m hungry—let’s eat together.”

“Since the Duke is here, wouldn’t it be better if you dined alone? I went out today, and I’m exhausted.”

“Alright, get some rest.”

Melody didn’t insist further, as if she wasn’t truly eager for company.

—

“Ugh, this is so annoying!”

As soon as Estelle left, Melody hurled a cushion at the door. Now, she wanted to take this room back?

This western room had been instrumental in solidifying her position as the Winchester daughter.

“Miss Melody, please calm down.”

Her maid hurriedly picked up the cushion, trying to soothe her.

“Why is Sister acting like this lately? First, she slapped me, and now she’s taking this room?”

“Well… Lady Estelle did say it was for your own good.”

“Yeah, I know! That she did it for me. But she’s changed—she never would have spoken up like this before!”

Unable to contain her frustration, Melody bit her nails.

“She just declared she’s taking the room back, like she’s a different person!”

And it wasn’t just this. What about dinner a few days ago?

She had served Melody a peach cake and said something unthinkable:

“It doesn’t matter—this was going to be thrown away anyway.”

That was not something the timid Estelle of before would have ever said.

“Still, she clearly cares about you. Oh, did you hear? Lady Estelle told the Duke directly that she won’t marry the Crown Prince.”

“Huh? She rejected the Crown Princess position? And she told Father directly?”

Hearing this news from the maid, Melody paused to think.

‘So that’s it. Now I get why Sister is acting like this.’

Understanding dawned on her, and she smirked.

“She’s trying to get Father’s attention, isn’t she? Taking back this room is her way of demanding he treat her as his rightful daughter.”

“Wait, does that mean… she slapped you for the same reason?”

“Exactly. Father hated how indecisive she was. If he sees how she handled this, maybe he’ll start looking at her differently.”

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