The Extra Decided to be Fake

Episode 82

 

In fact, Theo had never once thought that Lilian might be a fake. Because Lilian resembled Cedric more than he realized. Her unique indifferent green eyes, her way of speaking and acting, and especially when they stood side by side, the atmosphere was so similar that no one could deny their familial relationship.

 

‘But she herself seems unaware of it.’

 

What Theo felt, others surely couldn’t miss. So Lilian being accepted as the daughter of this house despite her different appearance was natural.

 

However, as Theo looked at the portrait of Swan, whose face was so much like Agnes’, Lilian’s resemblance to Cedric seemed inadequate. Swan looked like a shrunken version of Agnes.

 

A sigh escaped Theo’s lips. Lilian’s resemblance to Cedric was not enough. Swan’s appearance in the portrait made it clear.

 

Lilian’s anxiety grew as Theo did not respond immediately.

 

“Sorry for hiding it. But I couldn’t tell. I—”

 

“No, there’s no need to apologize. You don’t owe me an apology. Frankly, it’s shocking, but it’s not like you did it on purpose to deceive me. You obviously were close to Swan.”

 

Now Theo could understand why Lilian had clung to Swan so desperately all this time. Why she had adorned herself with ribbons she didn’t even like, did things Swan would like, and acted like Swan.

 

‘Why you’ve hidden away in this cottage, staring at Agnes’ portrait for hours, chewing on your loneliness…’

 

It was because Lilian was living Swan’s life. Lilian had to carry such a huge secret; her life couldn’t have been easy. Even under the silk sheets, it must have felt like lying on thorns.

 

“I have no intention of blaming you. I have no right to meddle in other people’s lives like that.”

 

“Then… you don’t hate me?”

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

Understanding and acceptance were two different things.

 

Theo looked at Lilian with a blank expression. Did he come off as cold as Damian? It seemed Lilian was close to tears. She usually seemed able to hold back tears, but why did she cry so easily in front of him? Sometimes, it was nice.

 

Lilian still looked beautiful, but he didn’t want to comfort her today.

 

So, he blurted out something he wouldn’t normally say.

 

“I’ve been offered a position in the temple.”

 

“The temple?”

 

“Yeah. They offered a good salary, a higher rank, and they said they’d take care of the Maryfield Orphanage.”

 

Lilian’s face stiffened.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

 

“Do you think you’d tell me in this situation? And besides, I had no intention of going! I like being with Maynard. Because of you!”

 

But if Lilian turned out to be a fake and was eventually rejected from here…

 

Theo couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t resent Lilian for getting him into the Maryfield Orphanage. He had his family to look after.

 

That fact made him angry. No, it hurt. No, he didn’t even know what emotion this was. All he knew was that the turmoil inside him was unbearable. Theo looked at Lilian again. She was shedding tears.

 

“I’ve made a mistake, I’m sorry… Please, don’t leave me…”

 

“…Then can you abandon Swan?”

 

“What?”

 

Lilian’s expression hardened. It was as if she doubted her ears, but Theo was serious.

 

“No one knows about this anyway. If we just burn Swan’s portrait, no one will be able to claim to be Swan anymore. And no one will find out about the real daughter either.”

 

Theo impulsively made a proposal to Lilian.

 

To burn away all these secrets.

 

Theo grabbed Lilian’s hand abruptly. His voice, sweet-sounding at first, flowed out.

 

“I’ll be your accomplice. It was hard to keep the secret alone. I’ll be with you—”

 

“No, I don’t want to!”

 

Lilian pushed Theo’s hand away. There was hatred in her eyes, directed towards him.

 

It was the same look she gave Damian. The look of betrayal.

 

“How can you suggest abandoning Swan?”

 

“…Well, you’re that kind of person, huh.”

 

And then, Theo’s tension melted away.

 

He was like Lilian’s rope, tied to a ship. If the ship sank, the rope would sink with it. Lilian had revealed herself as a sinking ship, and Theo couldn’t sink with her. He had family to take care of.

 

That fact made him angry. No, it hurt. No, he didn’t even know what emotion this was. All he knew was that the turmoil inside him was unbearable. Theo turned his back.

 

“I don’t know how to look at you now. I’ll go.”

 

There was no response from Lilian, and she spent the night regretting and crying.

 

* * *

 

She wasn’t speaking. She wasn’t speaking. Lilian realized with the dressing of her wounds that she had been too short-sighted in her thoughts. Even clenching her fist until it tore her palm yielded no change. Looking at the ten fingernail marks, Lilian had to admit it. She had been rejected by Theo.

 

Would it have been better if she had just labeled herself as a fraud and blamed herself? In her imagination, whenever she revealed the truth, she always faced contempt from Theo. Would it have been better that way? No, in the end, imagination wasn’t much different from childish dreams. It wasn’t reality…

 

‘I must be getting punished for being greedy.’

 

It might be that in the midst of carrying the burdens of living Swan’s life, she had also wished to confide in Theo and seek comfort. It was only natural to receive punishment for wanting to live comfortably even though she was a bad person. Lilian cried in regret for her worst decision, and at some point, she fell asleep.

 

When she opened her eyes again, it was daytime.

 

‘What time is it now?’

 

The cottage was a space where time seemed to stand still, so besides the grandfather clock in the living room, there were no other clocks. Moreover, since the servants didn’t come and go regularly, there was no one to wake her up, and she had drifted off to sleep in silence.

 

But even without looking at the clock, the bright light outside the window indicated that it was quite late afternoon. Lilian quickly tidied her hair and clothes, washed her face, and rushed outside.

 

‘Let’s talk to Theo again.’

 

She had to somehow fix yesterday’s conversation. At least Theo hadn’t gotten angry, so if she could talk to him again, it might work out. Until then, Lilian hadn’t given up hope.

 

Because she hadn’t realized how late she was.