Chapter 3
“Cover with this.”
“Thank you.”
I tried to unfold the classical shawl the Archduke had given me to put on my shoulders. However, it was so finely ironed that the overlapping parts were difficult for me to grasp in my hand.
Why is it like this?
When I was struggling with the shawl, the archduke who was watching took the shawl back.
Uh? you are taking it back?
“You’re a lady who needs a lot of hands.”
He spread the shawl wide all at once and wrapped it around my shoulders.
Then, the archduke gently embraced me.
Oh, my God! How gracious of you to do this for me.
I blushed with emotion. The shawl that covered my shoulder flew away, so I quickly grabbed it with my hands.
“La……Lady Eileen?”
“Yes?”
But maybe it’s because I was too hasty? I held onto his arm with the shawl. That’s why my instinct, wanting him to hug me longer from the back, was noticed even before I could explain myself.
Good job, myself. You’re the best!
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
But since he couldn’t stand it, he reluctantly removed his arm.
Contrary to his words, the archduke’s eyes shook greatly at the eyes full of regret.
***
Time passed and then night came.
I washed my body thoroughly with the help of the maids. After ablutions, scented oils were applied all over my body, and long hair was combed thoroughly.
Eileen is being treated kindly even as a prisoner, who would say that the Archduke is a villain?
After getting ready for bed, I lay down on the bed. The maid who arranged the bedspreads covered the blanket thoroughly and was about to leave, but the Archduke entered the room as if hitting a baton.
“Archduke .”
I couldn’t sleep right away, so I opened my eyes, and when I tried to raise my upper body, he came closer and stopped me.
“I’m here to put out the fire.”
Oh, my god. My bias said he’ll turn off the lights for me.
I wanted to ask him to sing a lullaby until I fell asleep, but I suppressed my desire.
“Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”
I didn’t ask him to sing a lullaby, I didn’t ask for anything else.
At my sudden request, the Archduke’s pupils shook again. I felt a little sorry for making him look after me all day, but I Can’t stop because he’s so cute.
“Should I……should I?”
The embarrassed archduke asked me carefully.
In response to the prisoner’s request to stay until they fell asleep, he was overly polite.
“Yes, that would be great. I can’t sleep well here because it’s unfamiliar.”
I spoke boldly and confidently.
In fact, it was obvious that I wouldn’t sleep any longer because I would be looking at his face when he would be next to me, but I naturally lied because I wanted that.
The Archduke seemed to think for a moment and then sat on a chair next to the bed.
“I’ll do it if the princess wants me to.”
He pretends to be a villain, but he does everything I ask.
The archduke sat still in his chair. I could see him blushing and wandering because he didn’t know where to look.
Lying in a cozy blanket and seeing my favourite’s face before falling asleep was a kind of ritual that I have been doing every day before.
And now the fact that it’s real, not a flat surface, made me even more thrilled.
Don’t tell me it’s over when I wake up because it’s a dream, right?
It was much more persuasive to believe that it was a dream. That’s how fantastic it was.
I can’t believe my favorite is right in front of me…. My favorite….
I opened my eyes wide with emotion. The feeling of the soft and warm blanket made me sleepy, but the more I did, the more I put strength on my eyelids, it trembled.
I, who was holding out because I didn’t want to sleep because of the ecstasy of sight, was tired of my new life, but I soon fell asleep contrary to my wishes.
***
Fortunately, being possessed was not a dream.
The room I saw as soon as I woke up in the bright morning sun was clearly the same place as before I went to sleep.
However, if there was anything different from before going to bed, it was the fact that Raymond Russlo, who was in front of me before going to bed, was not there.
I wanted to keep him in my eyes, so I tried to lift up my heavy eyelids and eventually fell asleep.
It was a waste to think about it again. I wanted to see him as long as possible.
I was trying to raise my upper body to relieve my regret, but I heard a knock on the door.
knock, knock.
“Who are you?”
“Princess, I’ll come in for a moment.”
A polite reply was heard, and there was silence for a moment, waiting for an answer. It seemed to be the maid who served me yesterday.
“Yes, please come in.”
“Did you sleep well?”
The maids rushed in after opening the door and began to wash me. It was the same procedure I did before I went to bed last night.
It was awkward for someone else to wash and change my clothes, but I just accepted what they did. When you’re new, everyone gets help from others, and after all, I’m new to this novel.
“Raise your arms, princess.”
As I raised my arm, I suddenly thought of it.
If my soul had entered Eileen’s body, what would have happened to Eileen’s soul? Did the two of us switch?
My body was in a car accident just before I came here and I think it would have died instantly in that situation, but it could have miraculously survived. Eileen could have gone in there.
If so, it would be nice if the arrogant Eileen would flatten my arrogant brother’s nose.
When I thought of my hateful brother, I suddenly thought of my parents.
Come to think of it, what are mom and dad doing? Would they worry about me a lot?
“Princess. I will do your back.”
My eyes immediately became moist when I felt the rough shower towel rubbing my back.
I couldn’t tell whether it was my back or my heart that was stinging.
Feeling like my heart was pounding, I shook my head vigorously.
Whatever. I am possessed anyway, so what can I do?
I decided to forget about my previous life with my characteristic positive mindset. Since I entered the novel, I have to live here since this is my life from now on.
Wrapped in a wide, soft towel, I wiped off the water, and came out of the warm steaming bathroom. When the maids applied oil to soften the skin, my body was glowing.
What I’m going to wear today was a beige dress prepared by the Grand Duke.
The clothes of the duke’s daughter were a little less dignified, but they were too elegant to be worn by prisoners.
“Put your leg in here.”
As I lifted my legs to put on my dress, I tried to think more about my situation rather than grieve over it.
First of all, I think the hardware is here because I can speak and read letters, but I don’t know where the software is.* My memories are definitely those of Lim Yoon-Kyung’s, and all I knew about Eileen Cowet was the story in the novel, not her memories.
*TN: All the information is there but she doesn’t know where the information is coming from.
If I was going to possess her, it would have been convenient if her memories came with me.
It has its pros and cons, but I think it would be better to adapt to it.
Even if you thought about it, the most important thing is why the hell did this happen. However, since the answer to this was not known, I had no choice but to find the correct answer myself while living as her.
After finishing dressing with such a mindless thought, I was guided to the dining room. And there, Archduke Russlo had come beforehand and was sitting.
“Princess. You’re here.”
He raised his head and met my eyes.
Unbelievable. This must be a dream!
Unless it’s a dream, there’s no way such a beautiful man could come alive in front of my eyes.
All my worries and slight gloom evaporated sky-high the moment I saw him.
The Grand Duke, with his black hair combed back, had a handsome forehead. As a result, blue eyes resembling the sky were highlighted more clearly.
Last night, no, every night, I couldn’t hide my excitement when the image I wanted to keep forever was in front of my eyes again.
“Woah. Wow.”
I was so thrilled that I covered my mouth and let out a moan, then grabbed my heart with both hands. Then the Archduke looked at me with curious eyes.
“Princess. Are you sick?”
“My heart…”
I think it’s about to explode. Looking at you.
However, the Grand Duke, who did not hear what I swallowed, stood up in surprise.
“I will call the doctor.”
“Oh, no.”
I shook his hand vigorously and stopped him hastily.
“I know my body well.”
“Are you sick?”
Yes. I have an illness. The disease’s name is love sickness.
But don’t worry. The disease will go away if I keep looking at you.
I, who had been playing janggu* by myself, hurriedly gathered my emotions as I couldn’t let the Archduke look anxiously in front of me.
*TN: Korean drum
“No. I guess it’s because I’m hungry.”
“You must have been hungry. Let’s have a meal.”
Upon hearing my words, the Archduke finally sat back in his chair, relieved.
I saw breakfast in front waiting for me. The main menu was soup, bread, fried eggs, and a simple salad with sautéed cherry tomatoes, paprika, and onions. And next to it was a plate of fried malkan mushrooms that I ate yesterday.
“Oh. It’s malkan mushrooms.”
I took a fork and poked it into my mouth. Still, the chewy texture was still there. It’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
But I soon found myself in a quandary.
I couldn’t neglect the food the Archduke prepared for me, but I didn’t want to miss the time to appreciate the Grand Duke’s face. He’s so busy outside mealtime that he doesn’t have time to show me his face.
So, the solution I chose was to shove the mushroom into my mouth. Just like a squirrel stores an acorn in its cheek.
I can just put it in my mouth, take it out with my tongue, and chew it, right?
As I tried to put one, two, three into my mouth at such simple ignorant thoughts, my cheeks quickly became full.
The Archduke was mesmerized by the quality of my infinite forking, and at some point he let out a “pfft” sound. Judging from the fact that his shoulders were shaking slightly with his head down, he seemed to be holding back his laughter as much as possible.
Is my appearance that funny?
However, I liked the strategy I came up with. Because my mouth and eyes can enjoy at the same time. Plus, mushrooms are good for digestion!
I muttered diligently.
