Episode 2
Everyone there was shocked except Chloe.
Mrs. Colin, who had been completely caught off guard, stumbled violently and barely managed to regain her balance.
She was looking dumbfounded, her hand covering her cheek, which was covered with a red rubber glove-like handprint.
“It’s none of your business how I change. No matter what happens to me, you just have to follow my orders.”
Chloe placed her hands on her hips in an elegant motion.
“This is the price you pay for daring to neglect your duties. I’m giving you, Colin, a representative punishment. But if you’re late like this again, it won’t end with a slap. Do you understand me?”
Mrs. Colin, who had been completely dumbfounded until now, opened her mouth like a goldfish as if she wanted to answer. However, she was so flustered that her voice did not come out properly, and Chloe could not tell whether Mrs. Colin was complying with her instructions or rebelling.
It didn’t matter anyway. Chloe said firmly,
“You can go now.”
As soon as she gave the order, the maids disappeared through the door like a tidal wave. Mrs. Colin was also dragged away by the maids’ hands.
Chloe, who had confirmed that the door was completely closed… took a deep breath, then exhaled. She clenched her fist tightly, bent over, and shuddered as she soundlessly punched the air.
‘I did it!’
Of course, Park Hajeong’s temperament, which had been conscious of what others thought for 28 years, could not change to a different person’s in just 8 days. The fact that she was able to speak out even through it was under the face of someone else was truly a great step forward.
‘I think I said something really cool! Ah, that feels great!’
As a person living in 21st century South Korea, she did not prefer violence. No, it was more accurate to say that she was someone who avoided it as much as possible.
It was not a pleasant feeling to slap someone for the first time in her life. However all the power she could wield as a duchess was tied up, and this was the only way to make a strong impression.
But even so, the pleasure of watching the maids’ faces blankly staring at Chloe’s unexpected words was inevitably greater than the guilt of slapping someone else in the face.
Although she had boasted that the next time it wouldn’t end with just a slap, the truth was that even that was difficult for Chloe in her current state.
In this world, which resembled the early modern Europe of Earth, the husband’s and wife’s jobs were set as aristocratic couples. Except in rare cases where the woman received a title, the husband usually did the outside work and the wife took care of the inside work of the mansion. This included managing the annual budget and supervising the servants.
Of course, it was Chloe’s job, but unfortunately, Chloe’s personality and aptitude were not at all suited to the job. The job of supervising the servants was long ago passed on to the head chamberlain and the head maid. And when Chloe made several big mistakes in managing the budget, the butler, unable to stand it any longer, hired a financial expert to do the job for her.
Chloe’s husband was unaware of these circumstances. And Chloe, who did not want to be hated by her husband, gladly agreed to the butler’s promise to keep it a secret.
In this way, Chloe could not punish or fire her servants for giving her a hard time. She could not threaten them with their salaries either. So, although Chloe was a duchess, she was essentially a figurehead duchess with no authority to control the budget or supervise her servants.
While Chloe was enjoying her secret pleasure anyways.
There was a knock on the door. Chloe, startled, shook her head to come to her senses.
“Please come in.”
The question of who would come to her at this hour was easily resolved. The person who came in through the open door was,
“Excuse me.”
It was a young girl with pigtails. Her name was Ellie. She was the only child in the mansion who showed favor to Chloe.
“Hello, Madam. How was your night?”
“It was alright. What brings you here?”
Ellie answered hesitantly.
“I, I want to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
“Uh, about yesterday…”
Ah. Chloe just remembered. Come to think of it, yesterday, when she was walking down the hallway, a group of maids ran away from her, muttering.
Ellie was among them. She was dragged away with an apologetic look as she continued to look her way while being dragged away by another maid.
Although she was the most friendly person to Chloe in the mansion, Ellie lacked confidence and numbers. She was not brave enough to stand up to Chloe when everyone in the mansion was making fun of her.
But Chloe was grateful for that much. She had been taking care of Chloe consistently, even at the risk of being bullied herself.
Chloe answered nonchalantly.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your intention.”
Ellie, who was shedding tears of regret, stammered some words of thanks.
“Oh, and by the way, madam, I have a message from the Duke. He says he is busy with work today, so dinner will be delayed by two hours.”
Chloe tilted her head at Ellie’s words. Usually, the Duke’s messages were passed on to her maids or personal servants.
“Thank you. But why are you the one delivering the message?”
“Oh, I. Mrs. Colin said she didn’t want to pass it on, so she asked me to… ”
Only then did Chloe understand the situation. She had slapped Mrs. Colin today, and Mrs. Colin became reluctant to face her, so she had sent Ellie, the laundry maid, to do the errand.
Ellie turned away, embarrassed by Chloe’s light thanks.
***
Chloe had a quiet breakfast in her room and then went for a walk alone in the garden. It was early summer, when the heat was coming, but the breeze was still cool.
Chloe thought that for once, she decided not to care about what others thought and to live the way she wanted. Even though this happened only after becoming a different person, her determination was still valid.
So now, what did she want to do that now that she had become Chloe?
Of course, the best thing would be to return to her original body as Park Hajeong. This place was so unfamiliar and hostile to her. Above all, the feeling of having suddenly taken over someone else’s place and body was not pleasant at all.
But it was also true that there was no alternative for now. She couldn’t find a way back nor even ask anyone for help with this problem.
‘Actually, there’s no particular reason to go back, other than the fact that it’s familiar.’
The only place Park Hajeong could return to was her small studio apartment. She had no blood relatives, and her only friends were her classmates and former coworkers. The only thing she had left to be attached to was her job, which she lost not long ago.
Chloe stopped and sighed.
If she couldn’t go back to being Park Hajeong, then this was what she wanted next. To become a more ordinary duchess, no longer harassed by the servants of this mansion, able to do the work she was assigned, and live in peace.
However, this was not a problem that could be solved right away. It would require more long-term efforts.
“What do I want to do next…”
Chloe muttered.
It was obvious. In this life where it would be a lie to say she wasn’t tired, there was something she always longed for when she needed a short break that enveloped her body in warmth.
In Park Hajeong’s life, where she only cared about what others thought and never had a true ‘self’, there was only that time she could be herself. She had never studied or worked because she wanted to, but there was one thing she truly loved. She had lost the opportunity to do that since coming here, but she wanted to get it back if possible. If she had that, she thought she could lean on it and endure even in this abnormal situation.
Chloe decided what to say to her husband, the Duke of Battenberg, at dinner today.
***
There was no love between Chloe and her husband, Alphonse Battenberg.
It was originally a political marriage that continued for the interests of the families. Since most nobles entered into political marriages, there was no need to feel resentful.
Alphonse, the head of the Duke of Battenberg, had no lover, but he needed a wife to continue the family line. A woman from a noble family who would have no influence on the power of the House of Battenberg, who would not love him and would not dare to interfere with his affairs.
No woman was more suitable for that position than Chloe of the Grays. Thus the arrangement between the Battenbergs and the Grays was made smoothly.
Chloe was therefore forced by her parents to sign a marriage contract with a man she didn’t love. It’s been 13 months since then.
As she forked over her trout, Chloe glanced at her husband sitting across from her.
Her adaptability was excellent, as she had become somewhat accustomed to living in a place like this in just eight days, but she still had difficulty adjusting to the fact that this person was her husband.
First of all, Park Hajeong, who was single and had lived alone for several years, suddenly became a married woman and had a complete stranger as her spouse.
When I was single, I thought I wanted to focus more on myself and live, but one day, I suddenly became a married woman! For some reason, I felt like I had suffered a huge loss.
And, there was another reason that was even more embarrassing.
That guy named Alphonse… was incredibly attractive.
His straight hair, shining golden, was dazzling. Beneath it, his facial features and jawline formed a perfect line, and his body was filled with solid muscles built from long-term swordsmanship training.
Although he was by no means a slender, pretty boy, or feminine-looking, the word ‘beautiful’ suited him. His broad shoulders and muscular arms formed a beautiful sight, and his crimson eyes that made it hard to tell what he was thinking gave off a swooning sexual appeal.
Of course, Chloe was also beautiful, but she could not dare to compare with Alphonse. Chloe thought of that fact indifferently as if it were someone else’s problem.
Alphonse Battenberg, who had wealth, power, beauty, ability, and strong arms, was the husband that all women wanted and desired. In fact, before marrying Chloe, he received many letters and proposals from many young ladies.
It would be lucky for any woman to have such a man as my husband…
Chloe chewed the trout dish with a gritty feeling.
‘Only I, who have been married to him, know this. He is not a good husband. Rather…’
… In some ways, one could say he was the worst husband material
Because he didn’t love anyone and couldn’t give affection to any woman. Chloe received a lot from him. The incredible position of a duchess, a huge and beautiful mansion, hundreds of dresses, rare jewels that even the most noble would have a hard time getting their hands on…
But he gave her no human attention nor affection during the thirteen months of their marriage.
“Do you like the food, my wife?”
Chloe, who was thinking about that, was suddenly startled by a voice and raised her head.
Her husband, Alphonse, was watching her with his red eyes.
There was no trace of interest or sincerity in his eyes.
It was a completely polite remark. Although he may not have meant it, he considered it important for a husband to have the necessary courtesy when dealing with his wife.
Unless something happened to one of the two, dinner was one of the things the couple always did together.
Chloe also smiled politely.
“Yes, very much.”
“Thank goodness.”
Chloe wasn’t particularly fond of Alphonse’s gaze. There was a menacing, pinprick-like quality to it.
He was a man with such a strong presence that even the servants of the duke’s residence who were familiar with him could not look him in the eyes. There was no way that Chloe, who had been weak in the past, could feel comfortable with him. So she was actually afraid of Alphonse.
Chloe, who already had difficulty asking for things, had never once asked her husband, whom she was afraid of, for anything. Even though they were a couple and were meant to be together for life, she could not even tell him what she wanted to eat.
Alphonse also noticed that Chloe had never asked for anything from him. But it was none of his business. He had already provided his wife with everything she needed as a duchess (such as fancy dresses and jewels) without even asking. His duty ended there. If Chloe asked for something, he would never refuse, but he had no reason to try to find out what she needed before asking. That was the extent of his interest in Chloe.
Alphonse thought his wife would always be like this.
“I need something, Your grace.”
So he couldn’t help but wonder what she would ask for, for the first time in their 13 months of marriage.
As his red eyes turned to her, Chloe felt her mouth go a little dry. She felt as if she had done something she shouldn’t have done, even though she was just talking to him.
The Duke looked at her with expressionless eyes for a moment and then asked.
“What is it, my wife?”
Chloe mustered up her courage and spoke.
“I need tea.”
