Dean was never called by his name by anyone. He was kind to everyone, but the kindness he gave was like ‘nothing’ without any meaning. Because everyone knew this, there was no mistaking kindness for confession or unrequited love.
“What does Sophia think of Sir Peronte?”
“Well, he’s a kind person.”
Sophia stacked and organized her basket with a sour expression on her face. The maid across from her had a complex and delicate face. Sophia, who didn’t notice that expression, simply said what she thought.
“He is kind to everyone, but he doesn’t treat anyone special, right?”
“Really?”
“Yes, everyone calls him by his last name… Lord Peronte also doesn’t like it when other people call him by his name.”
So Sophia wasn’t particularly interested in Dean. When she first met Dean, she had this childish fantasy that maybe she could be his own princess. But Sophia knew. She realized that the happiness was too great to be allocated to herself. She was just satisfied that she didn’t have a life as miserable as Reina’s. At that time, the maid across from her spoke.
“No, there is someone who calls him by name.”
“Who?”
Sophia wasn’t really curious, she just asked. Anyway, it would be Lily or Margaret, who were famous for being pretty. But what came out of her mouth was unexpected, and seeing as she did her gymnasium work last time, she was maybe even natural.
“Reina Bordenn.”
“You mean Reina Borton. That person. Did she call him by name?”
Sophia’s hands, which were neatly organizing her basket, suddenly stopped.
“Someone else told me that when he sees Reina, he comes from far away to say hello.”
Could it be that he liked Reina? She looked vague and unforgettable, but she might have some charm. She mumbled something, but Sophia couldn’t focus on the rest of what she said. She straightened her hands and smiled.
“There’s no way he likes Reina.”
“Do you think that doesn’t make sense?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
Sophia’s face was filled with an infinitely sweet smile and her sympathetic eyes.
“She has a child.”
“Ah, Bonita.”
“Although Bonita is cute, she is not his biological child. Would he like a woman with a child? Sir Peronte just…”
Just…
“Well, he’s a very kind person. Reina worked very hard.”
He must be the one who couldn’t pass up the poor guy. A man named Dean Peronte. Sophia muttered as if she was brainwashing herself. Otherwise it would be unfair.
* * *
Then one day, Sofia finally had no choice but to admit that Dean looked at Reina in a special way. A day when the blankets fluttered in the pleasant wind. This was because his ears were burning red as he denied that he liked her.
Left alone, she muttered.
“It’s hard…”
At some point, it became difficult for Sophia to maintain this kindness.
‘It’s not fair.’
She lived harder than Reina. Reina gained the Duke’s trust very easily, and while she did nothing, she received everyone’s affection. Sophia had been in this duchy for longer. She didn’t just feel sorry for Reina, she felt bad for herself too. Looking back, there were moments when she felt sorry for her for real. She didn’t do anything bad. Why was it only Reina who got that kind of luck?
Sofia hated Reina so much. She was almost disgusted with Reina, who got lucky so easily. All of these feelings stemmed from her self-pity, jealousy towards others, and her desire to be admired.
* * *
“…I hated you from the beginning.”
“Sophia.”
The face filled with dark emotions became infinitely ugly. Even the darkness of the dungeon could not hide Sophia’s ugly feelings. Sophia muttered lowly, her face distorted as if she was no longer hiding her hostility.
“I said I was kind to you because I felt sorry for you! You were a little lucky and caught the attention of a man!”
Life was so unfair. It was like that for Sophia. Even Dean, who was liked by everyone, and the Duke of Winternight, who has tremendous power, only cared about Reina despite Sophia being better than her and when Reina even had a child who was like a burden. Bonita, who looked exactly like Reina except for her eye color… it felt uncomfortable. She tried to be nice to the child, but she felt that the child was avoiding her. It was almost impossible to like a child like that.
“Both you and your daughter are the same. It’s gross.”
At that time, Reina’s face, which had been showing a sad and painful expression, hardened. Sofia realized Reina’s disgust and snorted at her.
“I guess men these days like women with children. How many people have you flirted with like that? In fact, it’s a lie that your husband died in an accident, right? You…!”
“Sophia!”
Sophia poured out all the contempt that contained all the base jealousy she had ever endured. Reina ended up with her face crumpled in sadness, pain, and anger.
“Sophia stop!”
The basket Reina was holding was already rolling on the floor. But Sophia didn’t care. The more Reina made a painful expression, the more joy she became. She felt like she had the upper hand over her.
The pleasure of trampling on someone.
Sophia burst out laughing like a madman.
“You know what? Parents are the mirror of their children. In the end, your daughter will grow up just like you!”
The lamp, which was emitting a faint light, rolled on the floor and went out. She could hear the sound of the wind blowing in the pitch black darkness. Soon the sound of wind blowing, something crawling, and the sound of water dripping.
“Please apologize for saying that about Bonnie.”
The breath and voice of a woman full of anger. Sophia saw bright yellow eyes sparkling with anger even in the darkness. Her skinny, pale hand reached over her bars and grabbed Sophia by the collar. The two figures, standing close together with only the bars between them, had conflicting expressions on their faces.
“Were you the type of person who could make an expression like this?”
Reina Borton was a foolish woman who just laughed it off even when she heard evil rumors about her. But she was so angry that she put Bonita in her mouth. Sophia was caught with her food and she grinned.
“You know, Reina.”
“…”
“Bonita. Do you know who her father is?”
“Why are you talking to me like this? No, why are you doing this to my daughter?”
“How does it feel when someone you thought was below you suddenly stands above you?”
“Is that the only reason?”
“That’s just it.”
This was everything to her.
“You get loved for being pitiful without putting any effort into it, and you get all the opportunities to yourself without putting in any effort.”
Sofia said as she was even more angry at Reina. She wanted her to be as possessed by her ugly feelings as she was. She wanted to drag her mood down to the floor. There was no influence of Sophia’s unfortunate past in becoming this way. It’s just that it was Sophia’s nature.
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have had a child too. Don’t you know? If I had, I would have been just like you.
“Ah.”
She may have been given the chance, but Sofia was so upset that she blurted out words that would be uncomfortable for Reina to hear.
“Is it so?”
But Reina quickly calmed down her anger. She loosened her grip on her collar so that her veins stood out, picked up her basket, and placed it near the bars. She then lit her lamp which had been put out with a match. Her crazy waves seemed to have calmed down. Reina got up from her seat and Sofia looked up at her.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“It’s me.”
However, the anger that had appeared on Reina’s face earlier was nowhere to be seen.
“But you’re not going to apologize. You’re making me angry and you want me to be hurt. The more I tell you to stop, the more you insult my precious family. I will be hurt. I know why you act this way towards me. So, I’m not going to get angry because it’s not acceptable anymore.”
Was Reina this much of a sword-like person? Sophia was embarrassed again. Could a person change in an instant like flipping the palm of his hand?
But Reina didn’t pay attention to Sofia’s bewildered expression.
“In the future, I will meet someone like you again. Because I am a powerless commoner, a woman of…”
Reina couldn’t spit out her last word, it rolled around in her mouth before spitting it out softly.
“Because I have a child and no husband.”
Maybe she was fortunate to have faced this situation before going to the capital. In a larger city, there would be more things to do. In Reina’s life, she often encountered people who just pitied her for no particular reason or wanted to crush her even more because they felt sorry for her. It was a memory that came to mind again. She was so used to her comfort in the ball that she just forgot about it for a moment.
Facing her familiar hostility once again, Reina withdrew her gaze from looking at Sophia, who was imprisoned in miserable condition. She then turned her body, leaving behind Sofia, who started screaming strangely.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on May, 18.
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