Chapter 04

 

Even after what happened at the library, Catherine didn’t give up on getting close to Eleanor.

“Sister! What a coincidence! I was just passing by too… Haha.”

These days, Catherine had been figuring out Eleanor’s schedule and deliberately increasing their encounters.

It seemed that Eleanor had finally noticed.

A hint of irritation appeared on Eleanor’s face.

Catherine could only force an awkward smile as she looked at her.

‘Ha, how ridiculous. 

You never once considered me your sister, yet now you’re acting like we are? To you, I was nothing more than a filthy animal, wasn’t I?’

Just as she thought, ‘Catherine’ had never truly considered Eleanor her sister.

She had always looked down on Eleanor, wished for her misfortune, and saw her only as a tool to make herself shine.

Even though that was how the character was written, it didn’t change the fact that she had personally acted that way.

The sins she committed against Eleanor would never disappear, not in the past or the future.

Eleanor had gone through too many regressions, and in the end, she was exhausted.

Her dark cycle of regression had been worsened by her own family… 

and by ‘Catherine.’

So, Catherine knew that no matter how kindly she acted now, it wouldn’t change anything.

But still…

‘Catherine, if you keep this up, I won’t be able to show you mercy anymore. Can’t you figure that out?’

‘Tch. Who asked for your mercy? I wouldn’t accept it even if you gave it to me.’

‘…You’re going to be burned at the stake in front of all those people. 

You used to wonder what it felt like to be burned alive, didn’t you? Well, you’ll find out soon enough.’

Catherine didn’t want to die.

Especially not the way ‘Catherine’ died in the novel.

At first, Eleanor didn’t kill Catherine and let her live.

But Catherine mocked her kindness and tried to harm her again, only to be captured by Eleanor’s male leads and burned at the stake.

Until the very end, the villainous Catherine remained true to her role. She even said she would rather be burned alive than be thrown into a brothel.

But now, that ‘Catherine’ was her.

She didn’t want to die in a brothel, or by fire, or by any other means.

She desperately wanted to survive.

That was why she was so anxious to prove to Eleanor that she was harmless.

If there was even the slightest chance of changing Eleanor’s heart, she would keep speaking to her, keep knocking on her door.

“Sister, I…”

Just a small gap. Even the tiniest opening would be enough.

‘…So please, just let me live. You’re going to be happy anyway.’

Even if she had to crawl on the ground like an insect, if that was the only way to gain Eleanor’s ‘salvation,’ Catherine was willing.

“…Sigh. Move away from my door.”

“Oh? O-Okay… Sorry.”

Thud.

Eleanor entered her room, and the door shut firmly behind her.

Catherine stared at the tightly closed door.

It felt like an impenetrable fortress, and she couldn’t help but sigh.

Anyone watching her would probably say she should just leave the mansion and live on her own.

But unlike in modern-day Korea, where things were equal, this world was a strict class society.

Here, people without money and power couldn’t do anything.

The life of a commoner was miserable, with terrible safety and hygiene.

If she left the mansion now, she might end up dying even sooner than if Eleanor killed her.

‘If only she could see me as a pet worth keeping, at least.’

Catherine let out another deep sigh and turned to walk away.

Just as she was about to leave Eleanor’s room behind, a voice called out to her.

“Catherine?”

She looked up and saw a familiar figure standing nearby.

It was David.

“David… Brother?”

“What are you doing in front of Eleanor’s room? Planning something again?”

David, with his gray hair just like Eleanor’s, strode over, his face twisted in irritation.

It was obvious that he immediately assumed she was up to no good.

“What would I even do? I just wanted to talk to her…”

“Oh, cut the nonsense.”

David stuck a finger in his ear as if he had heard something ridiculous.

His cold gaze bore down on her.

“Both you and Eleanor better not cause any trouble in this house, got it?”

‘Liar. You secretly care about Eleanor, don’t you?’

Catherine knew that, deep down, David was worried about Eleanor.

He often told her not to bother Eleanor, even though he never showed any concern in front of Eleanor herself.

When she was younger, it had felt so unfair and frustrating.

In a way, David had played a part in making her bully Eleanor.

Because back then, she wanted him to look at her with affection too.

Hiding her true feelings, Catherine forced a response.

“…Okay, Brother.”

“Why are you calling me that? Disgusting.”

“…”

“Go look after your idiot brother instead. You people should remember that you could be kicked out of this house at any moment.”

With those sharp words, David tapped her shoulder and walked past her.

“So, I hear you’ve been visiting Eleanor a lot lately.”

A beautifully crafted teacup was placed on the table without a sound.

Dressed in luxurious clothing, Rachel looked at Catherine, who sat across from her.

“…Huh? Oh, yes.”

Catherine was so startled that she stuttered in response.

She couldn’t help but feel nervous at this tea time with her mother—Rachel, one of the villains who tormented Eleanor.

“You’re not trying to play sisters with her now, are you? Why? Did you suddenly start feeling sorry for her?”

Rachel’s deep blue eyes coolly scanned her.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence filled the air.

The unspoken pressure urged Catherine to give the right answer.

So, as always, she said what Rachel wanted to hear.

“…No. It’s just a little prank.”

Rachel frowned at her slightly delayed response but didn’t press further.

“Good. You are my daughter, so I trust you won’t disappoint me.”

Catherine forced a smile and nodded.

When she realized that this world was from The Duke’s Daughter Refuses to Regret, the first person she thought of—besides Eleanor—was Rachel.

‘Why does Rachel hate Eleanor so much? To gain the Duke’s attention?’

Rachel always reacted sensitively to anything involving the Duke and Eleanor.

It was natural to assume she had feelings for him.

The man she loved, and his beloved late wife’s daughter, who looked just like her mother.

Eleanor must have felt like an eyesore to Rachel.

‘She must have been nothing but a nuisance to her. 

Not that it excuses what she did.’

Catherine felt a little sorry for Rachel.

If she were like other novel-transmigrated characters, she might have tried to change the story or help Rachel find a different love.

But right now, she has bigger problems.

The only thing she could do was stop Rachel from hurting Eleanor any further.

That was the only way she could survive.

“By the way, the Duke is finally returning tonight.”

“The Duke…?”

Catherine’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.

Rachel smiled and gently stroked Catherine’s hair.

“Yes. My dear Cat, you’ll do well, won’t you?”

“Of course. Haha, leave it to me.”

“Good. Once again, you need to make sure he sees that you are far better than that girl, Eleanor.”

Rachel’s deep blue eyes gleamed strangely.

Catherine swallowed hard and nodded.

“Yes. Of course, Mother.”