As if that day had been a turning point, strange occurrences continued to happen.
Every few days, I would suddenly fall asleep as though a fuse had blown.
Whenever that happened, I would dream—fragmented, peculiar dreams.
To put it more bluntly, I couldn’t tell if they were dreams, hallucinations, or even memories.
In the blurry scenes, I often saw Eloise doing something.
Sometimes, I would see the world through her perspective, as if I were Eloise herself.
I agonized over why these things were happening, but it was a question without an answer.
For over two weeks, I remained stuck in this limbo.
“…Madam! Madam!”
Standing blankly, I came to my senses a beat late at the voice beside me.
Vivi was standing a step behind me, looking up at me with concern.
“Madam, are you alright?”
“…Yes, I’m fine. But…”
I trailed off, furrowing my brows.
‘Why did I come here?’
I had been taking a stroll after lunch, as usual.
I thought I was following my usual path, but when I came to, I was in a secluded geranium garden behind the Grand Duke’s annex—a place I had never been before.
‘Was there even a place like this?’
As I looked around in confusion, Vivi tilted her head, watching me curiously.
“What’s wrong?”
“How did I end up here…?”
Vivi somehow caught my murmuring and blinked rapidly in response.
“You walked into this garden, Madam, so I thought you wanted to see the geraniums again. You used to come here often, saying you liked their scent.”
“…Did I?”
My voice was still drowsy, and for a brief moment, a shadow crossed Vivi’s face before disappearing.
“Oh, Madam, of course you did. For about a year after your marriage, you came this way all the time. Lately, you’ve seemed fond of the rose garden, so you haven’t visited this spot much.”
Vivi’s chirpy reply left me with a strange expression.
As a reader of the novel, I had frequented the rose garden after my possession because it was Diana’s favorite spot.
Naturally, the original work had only described Diana’s preferences; as a fleeting side character, Eloise’s favorite places weren’t mentioned.
So, there was no way I could have known where Eloise usually walked.
Yet, without realizing it, I had ended up here.
“Is this… an extension of those visions?”
I muttered softly, too quiet for Vivi to hear.
Now, it wasn’t just my consciousness—it felt as though even my body was following Eloise’s memories.
‘As if this body doesn’t belong to me at all….’
The unease I had been trying to suppress surged back, taking over my entire being.
A shadow fell over my face.
When I thought back, it had been this way since the very beginning of my possession.
Without even trying, I would sit with impeccable posture or naturally follow table manners I had never learned.
On the princess’s birthday, I had even danced with Ian, despite never being taught.
“I thought it was just muscle memory…”
I murmured quietly but stopped as I noticed something odd.
‘But that was only ever within the scope of my awareness.’
Up until now, I had attributed it to Eloise’s ingrained habits.
But this time was different.
‘To walk all the way here….’
I turned to look back.
The path from the main building to the annex was quite long and convoluted, winding around the mansion, past the servants’ quarters.
Yet I hadn’t even realized I was walking, much less remembered the journey—it was as if the memory had been cut away entirely.
Could this still be called “muscle memory”?
“…Um, Madam? Are you really alright?”
Noticing my stiff expression, Vivi stepped half a step closer and gazed up at me worriedly.
I quickly masked my face with a smile.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve just been distracted lately, that’s all.”
Despite my composed response, Vivi’s concern didn’t seem to ease.
“Should I ask the medical department to prepare some medicine for you? You haven’t been in good health lately, Madam. You’ve been napping more often and seem absent-minded at times….”
Though I tried to hide it, it seemed I couldn’t escape Vivi’s sharp eyes as she served me by my side.
“Hmm, it must be the lingering fatigue from travel.”
“Shall I ask them to prepare some medicine after all? Or perhaps call the physician…?”
“No need for the physician.”
I was about to say no to the medicine as well, but that would only make Vivi fret more. Instead, I casually mentioned getting some nutritional supplements, effectively ending the conversation.
“Then, should we postpone Madam Zed’s visit today?”
I let out a short sigh.
“Madam Zed’s visit is today?”
“Yes, she’ll be taking measurements with the master today.”
“…Ah, right.”
Not long ago, Ian and I had been given a special task by the princess.
At the upcoming birthday celebration, we were ordered to wear matching outfits.
It seemed the princess was using her birthday as an excuse to pair us together by any means possible. She was like a fangirl hoping the couple she shipped would start dating.
‘We’re already married, though….’
But facing her fiery, resolute gaze, I lacked the courage to outright refuse.
Ian, too, didn’t seem to find the suggestion particularly unpleasant.
I glanced briefly at Vivi and shook my head slightly.
“No, it’s alright. How much time do we have left?”
❖ ❖ ❖
Madam Zed arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence exactly an hour later.
Usually, she came with bundles of fabric in both hands despite her small frame, but today, she arrived with a rented carriage.
When I heard she had brought a carriage, I was puzzled, but upon hearing Vivi’s report of endless rolls of fabric emerging from it, I could only press my lips together in silence.
It seemed Madam Zed, unable to contain her excitement, had gone overboard, especially since it was the first time she’d be tailoring for both Ian and me together.
When I went down to the parlor after being told everything was ready, I was greeted by Madam Zed, practically trembling with excitement.
“Greetings to the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess!”
“It’s been a while, Madam Zed.”
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to this day!”
“Your face says enough—try to calm down a bit, will you?”
At my remark, Madam Zed winked and shrugged.
What to do about this eccentric woman.
Unlike me, who was already used to this, Ian seemed rather taken aback by her unrestrained enthusiasm.
I shrugged at him and whispered softly.
“She’s similar to the princess.”
“…Ah.”
A small exclamation escaped Ian’s lips.
When his expression quickly turned into a deadpan stare, I could tell he’d fully grasped Madam Zed’s character.
‘He catches on quickly….’
In the meantime, Madam Zed, who had meticulously reorganized the mannequins and fabrics filling the parlor, approached us with sparkling eyes.
‘Even I find her a bit intimidating.’
I sneaked a glance at Ian, who, uncharacteristically, looked tense.
A seamstress capable of unnerving a swordmaster—truly impressive in her own way.
“Well then, shall we begin by measuring His Grace? It’s best to start with a fresh set of measurements.”
“Oh, that sounds perfect.”
Seizing the opportunity, I nudged Ian and answered Madam Zed.
Ian turned his head to look at me silently.
I raised my eyebrows, signaling him to hurry up with an unspoken message: Go on already.
“……”
“Off you go.”
“I’m going first?”
Even without much expression on his face, I could tell from his eyes alone.
He really didn’t want to do this.
Stifling a laugh, I replied with an earnest tone, “Yes. Madam Zed is the most skilled tailor I know. She even embroidered your handkerchief, remember? We admired it together.”
At my cheerful response, Ian furrowed his brow slightly.
“Hurry along now.”
“…I’ll be back shortly.”
You won’t be back shortly.
I could guarantee it—it would take at least 30 minutes.
Recalling my first visit to Madam Zed’s shop, I chuckled inwardly as Ian was reluctantly dragged off by her.
Feeling much more at ease, I settled on the sofa.
On the table before me, the servants had set up a lovely arrangement of tea and snacks.
“Well, then, I suppose I’ll enjoy some tea while I wait.”
Humming softly, I lifted a teacup to my lips.
It was then that dizziness struck, blurring my vision.
And soon, I heard Eloise’s low voice.
-It feels as though being born was a curse.
• • •
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