Episode 96

I slowly ran my hand along Igon’s back, offering him quiet reassurance as we held each other. His steady breaths filled the silence, grounding me in the moment.

Had there been no knock at the door, we might have stayed like that all night.

Knock, knock.

I tapped Igon’s shoulder, signaling him to let go. He sighed, straightened himself, and slowly stood up.

The idea of eating after such a moment felt slightly awkward, but it wasn’t as though we could let the food, painstakingly prepared, go cold—especially since I was still hungry.

From the moment we approached the kitchen, the aroma wafting through the air made my stomach rumble in anticipation.

After a few bites of the pizza, I knew one thing for certain: food tasted even better after shedding a few tears.

“This is… delicious,” Igon murmured absently, his expression softening from its earlier gloom.

For someone as particular as Igon to say that, it must have truly impressed him.

Even though the flavors weren’t exactly what I remembered, it was still a wonderful meal.

‘That’s the charm of savory seasonings, isn’t it?’ I thought to myself.

Before leaving the table, I asked if they could prepare the same dish for tomorrow’s lunch, earning a nod from the kitchen staff.

Full and content, I returned to my room. After a thorough bath, I slipped into bed, feeling drowsiness settle over me like a warm blanket.

Igon joined me not long after. Though he clearly had unfinished work, he lay beside me, staying close until I drifted off to sleep.

Thanks to him, I didn’t dream of the unsettling fragments of my past life.

For the first time in a while, I slept deeply and peacefully.

* * *

Igon was called to the imperial palace early in the morning, leaving me to have lunch with Rosalind.

The pizza captured even Rosalind’s refined palate. She spent the meal exclaiming how delicious it was, her face alight with satisfaction.

“I’ll prepare the tea this time,” she said with a smile, inviting me to her room.

Once there, she served me tea she had blended herself. As expected from someone who once ran a renowned perfume shop, the aroma and taste were exquisite.

“Was that dish something you used to eat in your past life?” Rosalind asked after dismissing the servants.

I nodded.

“Has it been coming back to you recently?”

Again, I nodded.

Her expression darkened as she furrowed her brow, seeming to ponder something deeply. She let out a thoughtful hum.

I tapped the table, silently asking, ‘Is it a big problem?’

Understanding my gesture, Rosalind gave a small nod.

The mood instantly grew heavier, like storm clouds gathering in my chest.

“Don’t worry too much,” Rosalind said, offering comfort. “Of course, we can’t just leave things as they are, but both the Duke and I are looking for solutions. We won’t stop.”

Though I was still unsettled, I felt I needed to tell Rosalind about my dream. It didn’t feel right to keep it from someone who was working so hard to help me stay in this world.

I gestured for a pen and paper, then wrote down everything: the dream, the vivid scenes of my past life, and the voice offering to send me back to my original world.

As she read, Rosalind’s face grew visibly graver.

“…This seems like an effort to remove you from this world,” she said simply.

I nodded in agreement.

The sudden clarity of my past-life memories, the unusual cravings stirred by dreamt-of foods—these were things I had never experienced before.

“Have you spoken to Duke Rodore about this?”

No.

I hadn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Igon. The thought of admitting that my memories of my past life—and thoughts of my family there—made me waver felt like an act of cruelty.

It was absurd.

Not long ago, I had barely thought of my past life, and now I was already weighing Igon against it.

‘The human heart is truly fickle and cunning,’ I thought bitterly.

“I think you should talk to him,” Rosalind said firmly.

I nodded in agreement. I couldn’t keep it hidden forever.

Returning to my room, I spent the afternoon rehearsing how to bring it up.

Even after dinner, I steeled myself for the conversation, but Igon was unusually late. I waited and waited, eventually dozing off.

Lately, my body didn’t feel like my own. Perhaps it was all stress-related.

As I hovered between sleep and wakefulness, I felt a gentle hand smoothing my hair.

“Sleep a little longer,” Igon whispered softly.

The tenderness in his voice was almost enough to lull me back into dreams, but I shook my head.

I needed to talk to him.

He smelled of fresh air, indicating he hadn’t returned long ago.

I pressed my hand to his shoulder, signaling him to sit up. Slowly, I raised myself as well.

He caught my hand, brushing a light kiss across my fingers, before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close.

Carrying me easily, he walked to the lamp and adjusted it so the light illuminated us both.

As the warm glow from the lamp highlighted his handsome features, I found myself smiling despite the heaviness in my heart.

* * *

Igon gently touched his nose to mine, his lips curving into a soft smile.

“What happened?” he asked, his tone a mixture of concern, worry, and a faint edge of frustration. His gaze was sharp yet tender, as though afraid something in this world might have hurt me.

I moved my lips slowly, shaping the words carefully.

‘I had a dream.’

That’s how I began.

Igon watched me intently, his expression unwaveringly serious. He followed the movement of my lips and tongue without a hint of mockery or impatience.

Though my silent words sometimes stumbled, he calmly sought clarification, ensuring he understood me correctly.

“So that’s what happened,” he said once I finished, his voice steady but laced with a hint of sadness.

As I nervously gauged his reaction, Igon surprised me by softly adding, “You must’ve been through a lot.”

His concern for me was evident.

“It must’ve been the reason you’ve looked so worn out lately,” he said, his voice tinged with regret. He gently guided my head to rest against his chest.

From where we touched, I could feel the steady warmth of his body, his scent enveloping me. His breaths, normally even, trembled slightly, and I could hear the quickening thud of his heartbeat.

“I want you to stay here with me,” he said softly.

The memory of his earlier plea not to leave him flashed in my mind, along with the way he had worried over my presence ever since Ash had vanished.

“But if you’d be happier there, if the things you love are in that world, then I’ll respect your choice.”

His response caught me off guard.

It was unlike anything I had expected. I had braced myself for pleas, for anger, for resistance. I never imagined he would calmly say he would let me go.

I knew how deeply, how unwaveringly he loved me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I met his steady gaze. His own eyes shimmered, heavy with unshed tears, and he clasped my hand tightly, his trembling fingers betraying the calmness of his voice.

Overwhelmed, I couldn’t say a word.

Tears spilled down my cheeks, flowing uncontrollably as I gave in to the tide of emotion.

Igon held me close, murmuring soft reassurances, soothing me until my sobs faded into exhaustion and I drifted off to sleep in his arms.

In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think that he should’ve been the one crying. But the overflowing emotions were too much to contain.

* * *

The last thing I remembered was curling up in Igon’s embrace.

When I woke, it was already midday.

No one would scold me for lazing around, so I lay on my side, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting. One by one, I recalled my family and friends from my past life.

If I returned, I’d see them all again.

I could be enveloped in their familiar love, walk the streets I used to know, and eat the food I’d missed so much. I’d listen to my favorite music, watch movies on massive screens—all things that didn’t exist here.

They were things Igon, no matter how much he tried, could never bring to this world.

Yet as I listed all the things I loved and missed, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about Igon.

If I left, who would stay by his side?

Could I be happy, knowing he’d be left behind in misery?

After much deliberation, I realized it was impossible.

I’d spend the rest of my life missing him, and perhaps even resenting myself for leaving him behind.

I thought back to the dream that started it all.

In the end, I turned back because of a voice—his voice.

It was Igon who had called out to me, and it was my choice to leave that dream and return.

I needed to admit it to myself.

Maybe this decision had been made long ago.

The me from my past life was already gone. I had died once, and I had buried that life twice over.

With that thought, my mind settled, and I closed my eyes. Sleepiness crept over me, and I felt, for the first time in a while, that I might truly rest.

* * *

‘What did you just say?’

I frowned, tilting my head in disbelief at Igon’s words.

‘Whose sister am I supposed to be?’

Igon was utterly nonchalant, as if the situation were no different from the day I told him I wouldn’t return to my old world.

His calm demeanor brought back memories of that moment.

I’d expected him to cry, maybe even beg, but instead, he’d hugged me tightly, asking only, “Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

He’d smiled so brightly afterward, radiating happiness ever since.

But he hadn’t shed a single tear.

It was a relief, really, though a small part of me had been disappointed. Ever since seeing him cry that one time, I’d harbored a tiny, mischievous urge to see it again.

“Durant is a well-known family,” Igon said, rapping his fingers lightly on the desk. “Though their prestige fell due to a direct heir’s mistakes, their cadet branches still hold considerable influence. Plus, they’ve got a fair amount of unclaimed heirlooms and property.

“And if Kenneth ascends to the throne, you’ll be his cousin. No one will dare treat you poorly. From a long-term perspective, it’s a reasonable investment.”

He paused, studying me.

“But if you’re not satisfied with this arrangement…”

I raised my hand, cutting him off.

The issue wasn’t whether the family was satisfactory—it was a question of how I could possibly become Eunice’s sister.

“Your official background will be that you were an illegitimate child of the count, hidden away due to health reasons,” Igon explained smoothly. “You’ll later be formally recognized into the family as my fiancée. It’s romantic, isn’t it?”

I blinked in disbelief. He’d crafted an entire narrative from start to finish.

“Oh, and I’ve already secured confirmation from the former empress that you’re her niece.”

‘What?’

My jaw dropped. The empress? The former empress had agreed to vouch for someone she didn’t even know?

‘How did you convince her?’

Igon chuckled, running a hand through his hair.

“She didn’t want to live like that anymore. Who would, in a decrepit old mansion?”

This former empress—whose residence had been the subject of long-settled discussions—was suddenly swayed by this?

‘No way…’

Igon’s smirk deepened, his fox-like grin spreading across his face.

Oh, no.

He’d planned this from the start.

Of course he did.

This man.

* * *

Apparently, I was the only one unaware that I was to become a Durant family lady.

Rosalind raised an amused brow, her expression saying, You’re just now figuring that out?

‘You don’t have an official place in this world yet,’ she said, sipping her tea. ‘The Duke is just moving quickly to make sure you do.’

She set her cup down, giving me a sympathetic look.

‘Too bad you’ll have to change your name, though. I thought the one you had was rather well-chosen.’

‘What?’

Changing my name? That was news to me.

‘You’ll be spending time in the imperial palace,’ Rosalind explained casually. ‘It wouldn’t do for the Duke’s wife to use the name of someone who worked there as a servant.’

She smiled brightly.

‘Better start thinking of one you’d like. This time, it’ll be the name you’ll use for the rest of your life.’

I paused, running through names in my mind. I settled on one that wouldn’t seem too out of place in this world.

‘By the way,’ Rosalind continued, her tone taking on a curious edge, ‘there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.’

‘What is it?’

I smiled, signaling that she could ask whatever she wanted.

‘When was your last cycle?’

I froze.

The corners of my mouth twitched involuntarily, trembling as I tried to process her question.

Quickly doing the math in my head, I realized it had been before the trip to Winium. The exact timing, however, eluded me. With everything that had happened, I hadn’t paid much attention. Besides, this body wasn’t particularly regular—it had always been affected by stress.

‘Better safe than sorry,’ Rosalind said with a wry smile. ‘Mind if I check while I’m here?’

I nodded, my throat tight.

She rose from her chair, moving to rummage through her case of vials and instruments.

Her expression was measured but hinted at something deeper. It could be nothing… or everything.

I clenched and unclenched my hands, trying to steady myself.

‘If this turns out to be what I think it is…’

The thought flickered briefly in my mind.

‘I might finally make Igon cry.’

* * *

The imperial princess, who had recently endured a whirlwind of events, sat in the palace sipping tea and flipping through a popular gossip magazine from the capital.

It was published by one of the most sought-after social circles, one she personally hosted.

‘The writing really is exceptional,’ she mused, impressed by the quality.

The main article was about her newly introduced cousin—a figure who had recently become a subject of significant public interest.

The piece covered a young lady of the now-restored Durant family, once tied to the princess’s dear yet troubled friend. In just a month, this young lady would marry and become the next Duchess of Rodore.

The princess read the article aloud to herself, her voice tinged with amusement.

“…The future Duchess of Rodore is garnering immense public interest. Rumors suggest that the wedding’s sudden advancement might be due to a double celebration…”

The princess set the magazine down with a light smile and picked up an invitation to the Rodore family’s wedding.

Outside, the sky was bright and clear, bathed in golden sunlight.

The End

 

TL/N: Hello lovelies!! I hope you enjoyed the novel as much as I did and let me know if I made any mistakes in the process I’ll edit them asap. Thank you for being part of yet another journey ☁︎

 

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