“Loving Tia, ha!”
Eugene laughed as if he couldn’t believe his ears. However, Charlize just watched his reaction calmly.
“Yes. Then everything will be perfect.”
“I suddenly can’t help but wonder what your definition of perfect is.”
“A perfect life where I, the villainess, will disappear forever. And Brother Eugene, Jeremy and Tia can live happily ever after. That’s the kind of perfect ending I want.”
“Why do you think everything will be perfect just because you’re gone?”
“Because that’s what Brother Eugene has always wanted. You said I was a troublemaker. A disgusting bug and the shame of Duke Rebecca’s family, Charlize Rebecca.”
“I think that’s quite natural for me to view you that way considering all the evil you’ve done so far.”
“Have you ever, even once, thought of me, or Charlize, as family?”
“No.”
“That’s why I’m going to disappear. After the fiasco is over, I will leave the family.”
“Just because you left doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. Rather, as a punishment for killing my mother and the last token of her, you should be here.”
“I want freedom, Brother. Besides, you also wanted me to disappear. Do you remember the first thing you said to me after Mother died?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.”
“I don’t want a bug like you living in the house and destroying my family. I remember it well.”
Yes.
Charlize was never recognized as a member of the House of Rebecca except by the deceased former Duchess.
Now although she is almost recognized as a member by Tia and Jeremy, things weren’t like that before.
After the funeral of the deceased former Duchess, Eugene hurled abusive language at Charlize as soon as he saw her. Those words hurt her so badly that she just closed her heart and lived like a doll.
After living in the body of Charlize for several months, the recollection of her old past naturally came to mind.
Not only the dark past where she was denied by everyone, but also the happy moments.
Charlize had attempted suicide countless times while reminscing the memory of her dead adoptive mother.
However, no one paid attention to Charlize.
Perhaps that was why.
Charlize’s mind turned twisted and she started to behave like a crazy person. And eventually, she lost her reasoning completely and became a villainess who committed evil deeds without hesitation.
After possessing her body, such dreams haunted her over and over again.
And every time, the one who suffered was the hundredth Charlize, Kim Daneun.
Kim Daneun tried not to cry even when she was so depressed that all she wanted was to weep. She tried to be indifferent towards everything and everyone.
She also committed suicide several times just to return to the real world. However, each time she returned to this world right away.
She tried so desperately to die to escape this life of villainess.
But as the realization that everything was useless dawned over her, she had already become Charlize herself.
With an indifferent expression and voice, Charlize opened her mouth again, recalling her old memories and all her efforts.
“Have you started showing interest in me because I’ve changed?”
Eugene somewhat agreed with what Charlize said.
He had no interest or affection toward Charlize before.
She was a disgrace to the Duke of Rebecca’s family.
And now, this damn thing was trying to ruin his family.
It was natural for him to be angry.
No, he wasn’t angry anymore.
Rather, he was disgusted.
It was the first time he’d heard that Tia was adopted, but that wasn’t Eugene’s concern.
The only people who knew that Tia was adopted were probably Charlize and Jeremy.
They could just keep their mouths shut.
Eugene just found it disgusting that Charlize was still standing firm even in this situation.
“So you want me to get on my knees?”
“No. Just enjoy the moment as I’m enjoying mine leisurely.”
“No matter what you do, I won’t excommunicate you. Just know that.”
“Then, I’ll ask His Majesty the Emperor to excommunicate me. I helped His Majesty after all. In addition to finding Tia who escaped, I helped him another way.”
“Oh, His Majesty sent you an engagement letter. Did you know about that?”
“I knew. I was going to get engaged in place of Tia, but you can call off the engagement-”
“What are you talking about, Charlize? Didn’t you know that the engagement letter was already signed when you went to find Tia? Are you also unaware of the fact that you and His Majesty are already engaged?”
“…Then, I’ll annul the engagement. After all, His Majesty doesn’t want me as his fiancee.”
“What do you know? His Majesty has shown interest in continuing the engagement with you.”
“Has His Majesty gone crazy?”
“He’s perfectly fine. He has to since a nuisance is entering the royal family.”
“Surely, you’re not planning on continuing the engagement too, are you brother?”
“If His Majesty wants it, what can I do? I have to.”
“But His Majesty wants Tia. Not me.”
“I have no idea what His Majesty wants. How am I supposed to know what made His Majesty change his mind and continue the engagement with you?”
“Send a letter of annulment to the palace right now. Brother Eugene.”
As soon as Eugene turned the flow of conversation toward him, he realized he had the upper hands. Crossing his arms, he leisurely looked down at Charlize as he said.
“How could I ignore His Majesty’s imperial decree?”
“Brother Eugene. This is not the right time to joke. If I become the Empress, this country will be ruined. Besides, the other high-ranking nobles will also oppose me. They also don’t want me to get engaged with the Emperor and marry him.”
“Hmm. I don’t think so.”
“What are you talking about, Brother? Tell me.”
Charlize asked strongly, expressing her deep anger.
“The other high-ranking nobles’ have a high impression of you. Your reputations toward them have suddenly improved. They consider you a brave young lady who brought back the missing Saintess.”
“…Why did their opinions suddenly change like that?”
Before, everyone in the world pointed their fingers at Charlize.
A disgraceful human being.
Villainess.
A crazy bitch.
Now they’re calling me ‘Brave Young Lady’?
“That’s right. The circumstances around you have changed quite a bit since you brought Tia. That’s probably why His Majesty couldn’t bring up the subject of annulling the engagement.”
“But Tia has returned now! I was just Tia’s substitute.”
“Oh, you didn’t know that too, Charlize, did you?”
“What?”
“A Saintess can’t get married. The temple prevents a Saintess from getting married.”
“Is it because of Mother?”
“Probably. And the temple is urging me to send Tia to them.”
Oh, I haven’t made any plans regarding the temple.
What should I do now?
Just at that moment,
“How about I play the role of Miss Tia’s hidden twin sister?”
Lena jumped out from behind Charlize and asked Eugene.
It was a conversation that a mere maid shouldn’t have intervened, but Eugene remained silent.
It was because Lena’s appearance was so similar to Tia’s, he still wasn’t able to adapt completely.
“Who are you to propose that?”
“I’m proposing it on behalf of Lady Charlize as her exclusive maid. I believe the Duke doesn’t want to send Miss Tia to the temple, right?”
“You aren’t in a position to say that.”
Eugene tried to ignore Lena, but he consciously stared at her.
“If Miss Tia leaves, she might die out of sadness and loneliness. I used to live with Miss Tia on the island… She would cry every night, saying she absolutely did not want to go to the temple.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you want Miss Tia to live a sad life, Duke?”
“Haa. Seriously, you and Charlize, what are you both planning?”
Suddenly, Lena looked at Eugene with sad eyes.
At the sudden change of expression, Eugene backed away. It was as if it was Tia who was looking at him sadly, not Lena.
“Please don’t make Miss Tia sad anymore. Whenever I think of Miss Tia crying on the island, my heart breaks, sob, sob!”
Lena started weeping.
Charlize clicked her tongue inside at Lena’s brilliant acting.
Truth to be told, her acting is really flawless.
If she were in the real world, she would have swept all the acting awards by her talent.
Charlize couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Lena, she was living a hard life because she had been born into the wrong world.
Quietly, Lena touched Charlize with her right hand, as if signaling her.
It seemed like she was asking for help.
Charlize understood her call of help and quickly opened her mouth.
“That’s right. Brother Eugene. Lena did her best to protect Tia on the island of the sick. Can you agree to what she has to say?”
“The people from the temple are making a fuss. I can’t stop it alone.”
Thinking about that, Charlize realized that the temple was truly a huge headache.
If Tia was taken away to the temple, who would end Grace’s plot?
‘I completely forgot about the temple. How stupid.’
Thanking Eugene in her heart, Charlize showed gratitude that she came to know about the temple.
She felt a little at ease.
Silently praising her self-proclaimed aide Lena, who was very quick-witted, she was pondering on how to deal with the people from the temple.
“Then, how about Miss Charlize maintaining her engagement to His Majesty? With His Majesty’s power, the temple might not even be able to make a sound.”
Wait a minute, Lena!
Charlize stopped praising Lena and immediately cursed.
“Well, with His Majesty’s power, perhaps it is indeed possible. But, why do you know so much information? It’s suspicious.”
As if it wasn’t her who was weeping a moment ago, Lena answered with a big smile.
“Because I like to read books.”
The answer was as absurd as her appearance.
