“Episode 39”
In the original work, Yulriana Oben spreads malicious gossip among her foolish followers, claiming she wants to divorce her husband, manipulating their emotions and ultimately facing an unjust trial and death due to fabricated accusations, all tangled up in the Duchess’ tragic case. However, such schemes were perfect for taking down Yulriana Oben, who was already deeply in love with the Duke and successful in reclaiming her image.
Yulriana sneered inwardly as she read through the newspaper. The featured article of the day was about the Duchess’ private life, a departure from the usual gossip as it focused on the Duchess’ “family.”
“Seems like the palace journalists have nothing better to do.”
Yulriana pursed her lips, trying not to let the article affect her. She deliberately drank the bitter tea Ana had given her and then blinked.
If there’s one thing similar between past and present lives, it’s the relentless pursuit of journalists. The article solely accused “the heartless daughter, Yulriana Oben, who never once visited her dying mother.”
Yulriana chewed on the memorable words.
“In my past life, I longed to see my family’s faces, but now my current family is causing me worry.”
Coughing from the bitter taste burning her throat, Yulriana put down her tea cup triumphantly. Then, she crumpled the newspaper and tossed it aside.
“If this is Yoon’s scheme, I can easily overcome it. No, can I really be killed with just words like these?”
She chuckled wickedly.
In addition to Yoon’s schemes, there was another matter that needed attention—her weak father, Duke Oben, in this current life.
“Why did Father have to meet Iris Cabernet of all people, knowing how obsessive she can be!”
Yulriana stood up in anger. She resolved to meet her father and caution him to be careful, both with his words and actions.
Thus, Yulriana, accompanied by Ana, set off early in the morning towards Duke Oben’s estate, located about 30 minutes away by carriage.
About halfway there, Ana exclaimed excitedly, “This is my first time going to Duke Oben’s estate!”
“Why don’t you finish chewing before speaking?”
Yulriana clicked her tongue. Then, she reflected on how far Ana had come from being a mere servant in the estate to addressing her as the employer.
“You’re just a maid working in the grandest noble estate in the city. Our mansion is nice, but wouldn’t it be better to work at the Duke’s estate?”
“But, the Duke’s estate doesn’t have any dragon ruins, does it?”
Ana’s remark amused Yulriana, who teasingly snatched the snack from Ana’s hand and replied, “Everyone thinks there are legendary treasures in those ruins, but until they’re all excavated, they’re just plots of land. Father worries about damaging the ruins, so he only works with the renowned archaeologists at the palace. If we have time, I’ll take you there for a visit.”
“Oh my!”
Ana’s mood brightened instantly, and she happily accepted the new snack offered by Yulriana.
“There’s no one else I’d rather go with! I’m so happy. I’ll make sure to document everything in my journal. Thank you, Duchess.”
“Hmm.”
Yulriana pretended to be indifferent to Ana’s praise, but secretly enjoyed the warmth of her smile.
As they sipped their tea, Ana pulled out a journal from her basket, catching Yulriana’s attention.
“You really plan to write in your journal? Visiting ancient dragon ruins that died out thousands of years ago.”
“Hehe.”
Ana blushed shyly and sipped her tea, mimicking Yulriana’s movements.
Although the tea Ana brought was overly sweet, Yulriana didn’t mind.
“Well, as long as the Duchess enjoys it.”
Ana smiled contentedly, and Yulriana couldn’t help but smile back.
“Now that we’re traveling together like this, I’ve started keeping track in my journal. It might be a silly idea, or even a bit embarrassing, but I feel like I belong with someone as remarkable as the Duchess.”
Ana’s words pleased Yulriana, who raised an eyebrow in response.
“It’s better than being alone, isn’t it?”
With a renewed sense of determination, Yulriana continued to gaze out the window, watching the scenery change as they approached Duke Oben’s estate. Finally, spring had arrived.
She whispered to the anxious Anna behind her with a cold tone, gesturing subtly for her to go ahead. It was a signal of reassurance, telling Anna not to worry and just go. Anna, understanding the gesture, slipped into the midst of the servants at the O’ban estate. Confirming that she wanted to help out a bit, Anna began bustling about, and Yuliana crossed her legs firmly, holding back the urge to retort harshly.
“If she’s sick from the change of seasons, it’s because of her antics at the ball a few weeks ago. Honestly, my father’s former wife just shows up out of the blue and claims she wants to see her daughter? Pretending to be all kind and loving for once!” Yuliana spoke bitterly, not forgetting to also gently wipe her father’s sweating face.
Lord Hilden O’ban nodded in apparent agreement but also partially defeated. “I tried to muster the resolve myself. But since Teresa fell ill… That woman really is terminally ill.”
“Oh. Really? With a daughter and a husband who’s barely alive, does her ex-husband really need to come and tell her he’s dying? Does she need to?” Yuliana’s tone was sharp. Meanwhile, she continued to wipe her father’s brow as he feigned illness.
Hilden O’ban, with a mixture of relief and resignation, replied, “I was worried that if Teresa died like that, you might be hurt too. Teresa loved you. Of course, in a very inappropriate way.”
“Love? Please.” Yuliana shook her head, then retorted sharply, “If that’s love, leaving and sending a few letters is love, then count me out! We need to silence Iris if she dares to meet and spread rumors again.”
“I think Iris might have responded to the interview because she couldn’t stand it anymore,” Lord Hilden speculated with a reddening face, partly from relief and partly from the exertion of their conversation.
“Can’t be. You weren’t sick enough to miss the article this morning,” Yuliana said, skepticism creeping into her voice.
“Perhaps it was Iris, our former lady, who couldn’t stand it anymore,” Hilden added. “Teresa always wanted forgiveness from you. Upon hearing that you were finding solace by mingling with society, she…”
“Parents worried to the point of spoiling me, but did that woman have to nag me like she did? She was just like my mother—” Yuliana paused, her lips quivering as she uttered the word ‘mother’.
The word ‘mother’ was truly a torment. It was a difficult word for her, both in her past life and in this one. In her past life, she never had the opportunity to have a mother, and in this life, her mother abandoned her.
It was hard to say which was worse. She cut off her father’s words firmly, silently turning away. It was already a pathetic conversation that had become her own confession.
“So I always dreamed of marrying someone I didn’t love. Someone appropriate for my status. That was my dream. But now, I’ve met Evan…” Yuliana trailed off bitterly. Then, gently removing her hand from her father’s grip, she said softly, “Rest now. I can’t nag you anymore. I’ll take care of it. But I have one request. If Iris Carver comes looking for you, just send her away. Or even better, summon her. You know I’m a capable witch, don’t you?”
“Yuliana…” Lord Hilden realized she was slipping away from his grasp and turned to her, but Yuliana quickly turned around and withdrew. She realized that the one to warn her wasn’t her father, but someone else.
She was the commander of the palace guard responsible for the safety of the palace, yet she was eating something muddy without even properly wearing her military uniform. Meanwhile, Claudie, the blonde with tousled hair, scolded her subordinates who saluted to the wrong person.
“Hey. Do you all think you look like knights to the Duchess? Looks like you haven’t got your act together yet.”
“Oh, no, ma’am!”
“Tsk tsk. I should take you all hunting next time. Your military discipline seems to be lacking.”
“Um, Commander. Taking subordinate guards on private hunts is against military law.”
“Hey, who’s taking them as the commander of the guard? We’re going to accompany the princess. Shouldn’t you protect the vulnerable princess going to the dangerous creatures in the northern mountains?”
“Oh!”
The guards in red jackets and black helmets looked crestfallen.
Upon closer inspection, they had the same build and appearance. It seemed they were twins who enlisted together.
Yuliana looked at Claudie, who was threatening the twins, and pursed her lips in disapproval.
“Uh, Princess?”
“Yes?”
Yuliana, who was once a princess and had renounced her claim to the throne, looked at her friend’s wife, whom she had wanted to see. As rumored, she was a very beautiful woman. Claudie gestured towards the woman riding a horse, and said,
“Duchess, please come to my place. I’m tired of picking the poor subordinates.”
The guards looked sad, like puppies, as they glanced at their mistress. Ignoring them, Claudie turned sharply away from them and quickly passed through the back gate of the palace, through the garden where wildflowers bloomed here and there.
Despite not riding a horse, Claudie seemed very agile, perhaps due to her tall stature and long legs. As Yuliana followed her, slowly leading her horse, she became curious.
Even if she was just a princess in name, wouldn’t there be a palace for her? Looking around, there didn’t seem to be a suitable place for a palace anywhere.
Finally, when Claudie stopped, Yuliana was surprised. Claudie referred to the almost collapsing shack as her “place”.
“Please come inside. It’s a house I made myself.”
Calling such a shabby place a “house” was surprising. In her past life, she couldn’t freely find a place to live as an orphan, but in this life, Yuliana, a noblewoman who had never lifted a finger for money, felt proud of herself.
Looking proud as she introduced the house, Yuliana quickly said to Claudie, afraid of her reaction,
“Okay.”
Of course, as soon as she said yes, she regretted, ‘Did I say yes too easily?’ She deliberately dragged her feet, but it wasn’t very effective. Eventually, she reluctantly followed Claudie into the house.
Still, upon entering, the place looked somewhat different from the first impression. Although the house, made of rough wooden planks stacked haphazardly, didn’t look very good, it didn’t seem too bad with the cozy straw piled up here and there. So, at least it didn’t look cold.
Yuliana hesitated about where to sit, then went to sit on a pile of straw shaped like a buttock. Something suddenly flew towards her.
Upon closer inspection, it was a cup made of mud, roughly shaped and baked. Yuliana accepted it, feeling culturally shocked.
She didn’t know when the tea was brewed, but steam was already rising from the cup.
Holding the cup like a precious gift, Yuliana couldn’t refuse the host’s offer as a guest. She reluctantly took a sip.
“Ah!”
However, it was extremely bitter and tasted awful. Unfortunately.
Claudie, who was rattling her cup as if she were dying, vigorously pounded the duchess’s back, as if to excuse herself.
“Oh, darn. My subordinates said it was good. Did they lie again! Bad guys. Duchess, it’s my fault. I thought my cooking skills were improving, so I made this rude mistake.”
“Brewing tea isn’t considered cooking…”
Yuliana was about to answer but stopped herself.
She suddenly opened her mouth, not knowing if saliva would spray out. Eventually, she coughed vigorously before reluctantly drinking the water Claudie gave her. Only then did she feel like she could survive.
“Ah.”
“Are you, are you okay?”
A sturdy body, like a giant jaguar, bent at the waist. The woman, with a lofty and majestic demeanor, spoke softly as she bent over. Yuliana whispered, unable to be angry.
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, alright? It won’t be a big deal just because you drank a bad cup of tea!”
