Chapter 10
And just like that, I was kicked out of the house. And then… I heard something ominous from Sienna.
“Live your life as a fake.”
She looked like she knew exactly what she was saying.
Did she mean that I’m the real one and she’s the fake, but we switched roles?
Was it just a cruel joke because she hated me? Even if she’s truly the fake one, who would believe someone like me with no memories?
“It’s okay. Selena Estarion.”
Ah. I’m no longer Estarion.
I rubbed my lips with my thumb, as if trying to erase the name “Estarion” from them.
The name that was mine until just a moment ago no longer belonged to me.
It meant I was no longer my father’s daughter, nor my brother’s sister.
“Father… Brother……”
Tears welled up from the sadness, but I couldn’t stay in the rain forever. I picked up my bag and hurried to find a carriage.
Who could help me now? The first person who came to mind was Amelia Lofen.
“If it’s Amelia… she’ll help me.”
Amelia knew my situation. If I went to her and explained everything, maybe she’d let me stay as a guest for a few days.
“Take me to House Lofen, please.”
I emptied out all the money I had and headed to the Lofen estate. Rain poured down endlessly along the way.
What should I do from now on?
Being cast out from the family happened so suddenly in just a few days.
Even when they found out I wasn’t the real daughter and the true daughter was alive somewhere else, Father and Brother had said they still loved me, regardless of Sienna’s presence.
“Even if we find her, you’ll still be part of our family.”
Where had those warm words gone?
So many things had happened since Sienna arrived at the house. We all—myself included—grieved her condition endlessly.
But the thing I couldn’t forget, that stuck painfully in my chest, was what Sienna had said one day.
“I’m… jealous of you. How can I become elegant like you?”
She had grabbed me in the hallway, eyes brimming with tears, and said that.
At that very moment, Father and Brother had come out to talk about her education and overheard her.
I still remember the looks on their faces…
“It was awful.”
Those faces full of guilt and pity kept me awake at night.
I felt like the pain they carried as father and son was all because of me. The guilt was crushing.
I thought I was flawless. But everything I had was built on a castle of sand—stolen. It was devastating.
Before I knew it, the carriage stopped. The door opened and the coachman said,
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
“Thank you. Here’s your fare.”
Clutching my bag tightly, I quickly knocked on the gates of the Lofen mansion.
The butler, who had known me since I was a child, recognized me and rushed out with an umbrella.
“Miss, what on earth happened to you?”
The elegant, mustached butler looked horrified at my drenched and miserable appearance.
Embarrassed to look like a drowned rat, I awkwardly smiled and asked,
“Where’s Amelia?”
“I’ll take you to her. Please, come inside.”
Truthfully, I didn’t need to be guided. Amelia and I had visited each other’s houses countless times.
We went through adolescence together, celebrated our engagements side by side, and grew into adulthood.
As soon as we reached the drawing room, the butler had a maid bring me towels to dry myself.
As I squeezed the water from my hair, the door opened and Amelia appeared. As soon as she saw me, she asked urgently,
“What happened?”
She frowned at the water dripping on the drawing room floor, then sent the maid away who came to light the fireplace.
I was shivering so hard, my teeth chattered.
I wanted to ask her to start the fire, but she seemed more focused on understanding my situation first.
“Did you get kicked out?”
Her blunt choice of words made my face stiffen. She sighed as she saw my reaction and understood.
“Even with the real daughter back, I thought you’d still be part of the count’s family.”
“I thought so too. But here we are.”
“They didn’t help at all?”
“No. And even if they did… how could I accept it? I still have some pride left…”
“They raised you for so long. You’d think they’d at least help a little.”
“I ruined the engagement with the crown prince. They could be punished for disrespecting the royal family. They probably had to make an example out of me so no one else would suffer.”
“Still defending the count, huh? Ha. You know… you and Sion never looked alike.”
To be honest, I didn’t look like my father or brother at all.
They were blond with green eyes. I was a brunette with golden eyes—completely different.
Even my facial features were unlike either of my parents. But I never doubted being their real daughter.
Because… we were so happy. Appearance didn’t matter in a home full of love and trust.
“Achoo!”
I sneezed from the cold. As I wiped my hands with a damp towel and moved to sit down, Amelia suddenly shouted,
“Don’t sit! You’ll get the sofa wet!”
“Oh… right. Sorry. I’m so tired I wasn’t thinking. Could I borrow a dress? Everything I have is soaked.”
“How is she? The one they say is the real daughter?”
“Amelia… I’m freezing. Could I borrow a shawl at least?”
“I asked you, how is she?”
Her attitude struck me as odd. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it—my body was too cold.
So I gave her a quick answer and decided to change clothes.
“I don’t really know. She seems… strange.”
“Strange how?”
“When I was leaving… she said something odd.”
“What did she say?”
My nose was running, my throat hurt, and I wanted to cough. Rubbing my eyes, I replied,
“She said she is the fake one. And told me to live my life as a fake.”
“What…?”
“I don’t know if she was teasing or serious. But it felt creepy, like she’s been hiding something.”
Amelia grew silent, her expression turning grave.
I waited for her to sort out her thoughts, shivering the entire time.
A moment later, she clapped her hands and said,
“Then you should leave.”
“Yeah… I’ll use the guest room.”
Just as I turned to head to the guest room, Amelia spoke sharply,
“No, I mean leave this house.”
“Sorry? Could you say that again?”
She looked at me like I was pathetic.
“I said, get out of my house.”
What…? Was this some word I didn’t understand? Had the meaning of “house” changed without me knowing?
“…Amelia?”
My heart sank. We’ve known each other for ten years.
We exchanged secret letters and stayed up all night talking. We shared everything.
“Why are you…?”
“Why should I help you? What do I gain from that?”
That’s when I understood what it meant to go numb with shock.
There were reasonable explanations for how Father and Brother acted… but this?
This betrayal from Amelia was something I couldn’t accept.
We weren’t just friends. I thought of her as my sister.
“Selena. I think you’re confused. You were kicked out of the count’s house, which means you’re nothing now.”
“…”
I couldn’t believe it. Our ten-year friendship… did it mean nothing to her?
“I have no reason to be your friend, and no reason to help you. Stop dripping water everywhere and leave.”
“How… how could you… why?”
“And I’m being generous by not demanding you address me properly. Consider that my last kindness.”
I didn’t know if I was trembling from the cold or the betrayal.
Was Amelia always like this? Was our friendship only ever about convenience?
Seeing the doubt on my face, Amelia scoffed and shook her head.
“You’ve always been so naïve. Do you really think pure friendship exists?”
“We were friends…”
“Friends are only useful until they aren’t.”
“Amelia!”
“Miss Amelia!”
“W-What?”
“Miss Amelia! You’re just a commoner. The daughter of a shameless thief who stole someone else’s life. You have filthy blood. I don’t want someone like you around. You’ll ruin my reputation. Get out before I have the servants throw you out.”
“…”
I bit my lower lip hard. If I didn’t, I might burst into tears like a fool.
I didn’t want to cry in front of Amelia. Not in front of her.
Clutching my soaked bag, I left the drawing room. I couldn’t help but wonder how pathetic I looked from behind.
Amelia didn’t stop me, not even as I reached the front door.
I opened it and saw the rain still pouring down.
The cold rain couldn’t compare to the coldness of the people I once loved.
“At least give her an umbrella. I’m still human, aren’t I?”
Amelia’s voice rang out behind me, ordering the butler.
Hah. She really wanted to make a joke of me until the end.
When the butler came running with an umbrella, I shook my head.
“I don’t need it. Tell her I’m not someone to be pitied.”
And with that, I ran into the rain. Covering my head, I left the mansion behind. My bag grew heavier, soaked through.
“Where do I go now…?”
I didn’t even have enough money for another carriage. Walking wasn’t an option either. More importantly…
“I’m not sure anyone would be different from Amelia.”
They might all turn on me too—laugh at me for what I’ve become.
I clenched my fists tightly…
