When Misfortune Knocks On The Door

Chapter 1

“If there’s one thing that Grace regretted in her life up to now – life is a comedy from afar, and even more so up close.”

“Grace had everything from the moment she was born. She was the heiress of the Adelheid imperial family on the continent.”

The Duke of Winostein’s illegitimate daughter was born into a life of receiving abundant favor, effortlessly becoming the heiress.

With the handsome face inherited from her father, who was rumored throughout the empire, she possessed an unparalleled beauty that no one could surpass. Lastly, she had the power to protect all of these things.

It was truly a perfect life.

Grace couldn’t even imagine her perfect life being disturbed.

“Of course, her life was so perfect. Without a single flaw.’’

But now, Grace had to admit defeat.

No matter how perfect a life may seem, someone can always twist it and turn it into a disaster at any moment.

Just like her now.

“Congratulations on your safe return, little mistress,” Grace greeted herself.

She stared at the servants with a cold expression. There was no trace of affection in her elegant wine-colored eyes, and her dark rose-tinted lips were tightly closed.

The servants gathered in the hall, tense at her reaction. The maids, who had been admiring her just moments before, now trembled nervously. Grace spoke coolly soon after.

“If I were to explain why…”

“…….”

“Is it because of all the trouble in the household?”

To explain all of this, we have to go back a year.

A year ago, Grace held a “duel” with 17 nobles at the birthday party of the wealthy lady.

1 against 17.

There was no way to win outnumbered.

It was embarrassing for Hwang, but it didn’t become a big problem for Grace.

If there was a problem, it was the fact that the duel, called the Daeryun, was more like Grace’s one-sided beating.

Her dress was torn, and her slender calves were exposed to the air. As a faint smile appeared on her dazzling and provocative face, the faces of the people around turned pale with awe.

However, beneath the silent cheers of the crowd, Grace herself was barely phased.

Stepping on the streets with high heels, the nobles responded irritably, “Do you think you’re the first person to challenge us?”

Their arrogant words showed no hint of remorse or regret.

And that was enough to fuel the anger of Viscount Winston, who already disliked Grace. In the end, she succeeded in raising the viscount’s anger to its peak over the course of a year.

She had to leave.

The pretext was ‘exile’, and the purpose was reflection. Grace, who had ventured into the depths of the treacherous mountains without any means of contact or magical communication, was handed only one scroll upon her return.

By now, she could have asked her father for forgiveness, but she didn’t.

She was a woman of Winostein , a relationship so strained that it pierced through the surface and delved into the underground.

There were only scenes of fierce battles between them, with no tearful familial affection.

In the midst of the secluded mountain, where no news reached, Grace endured a year in a self-sufficient agricultural society.

And on the promised day of her return, she vowed to delicately wrap canned potatoes and sprinkle them on her father’s face.

However, now that she has returned home, Grace is contemplating not potatoes but simply throwing a spear at her father.

Because since she left home, her mother, who was a duchess, was driven out, and her father became the reason why she had her first love and remarriage, and her first love’s daughter ended up being her step-sister, was because her first love was the daughter of a butler in the aristocrat’s household where she grew up.

In short, her household was in disarray. Grace grasped this quickly.

With the last ounce of her sanity, she looked at the butler. Under her persistent gaze, the butler sighed and explained, “Twenty years ago, His Grace fell in love.”

“There was a lady named Muhee. However, due to the difference in status, she eventually had to marry the Duchess, who was the mother of the Duke at the time.”

Up to this point, it was quite a tearful story.

“But then, if the Duchess became pregnant – and Muhee also became pregnant, and it was terrifyingly revealed, Muhee disappeared.”

A cliché beloved by numerous playwrights and audiences – ‘get pregnant and disappear.’

“However, His Excellency the Marquis never gave up and searched for her for nearly twenty years, finally finding her while the young master was away. At the same time, he learned the truth that twenty years ago, the Marquis had slandered her.” – I thought, it’s just the common antics of a villainess.

“So, did Father chase Mother away and establish a new home with his esteemed first love?” –

“Yes… that’s correct. And the young master…”

“The duke’s mother, who is the master of the house, is said to be a villainess in society, and that’s why…”

Before the butler could finish his sentence, Grace chuckled as if all the energy had drained out of her. When people are amazed, laughter comes out, they say, and it was true. “Such a cliché story. It’s even banal.”

“I’m sorry, young master. I wanted to inform you beforehand, but the duke told me you would be shocked…”

“I’m not afraid of being shocked, I’m afraid I’ll come back to the mansion and cause a commotion,” Grace said with a slight smile. She was a human who could handle all the modified monsters given as the graduation test from the military academy with just one rapier. If she heard this news, she would have crawled over a 2,000-meter-high snowy mountain with her bare hands to come here.

“Anyway, now that things have come to this point, It’s meaningless to blame anyone. It might be faster. ”

“To ask Father to dig a grave.”

Grace sighed and clicked her tongue.

Her eyes, which had been filled with anger just moments ago,

Cooled down coldly.

“Father?”

“He’s in the study.”

It was so characteristic of her father not to bother

Whether his daughter had killed or survived.

“She stepped forward with a forced laugh, But in that moment, noticing something.

She furrowed her brow.

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes, Miss?”

“What’s that?”

The butler followed Grace’s finger And turned his gaze. Then he straightaway.

Touched his forehead. What came into view was none other than.

“The curtain hanging on the first-floor hall window.”

“The dreadful aspect of that curtain, however, was that its pattern was the emblem of Monastica, known as the fate’s adversary to the Winostein family,” Grace asked in astonishment.

“You have a symbol of stillness hanging in your house? What absurdity is this?” With centuries-old tradition boasting the Winostein family and the emblem of Monastica, centuries of stillness were embodied. It was truly a disgrace to the lineage.

As she was about to voice her opinion, a cool voice could be heard among the maids.

“This is at the direction of the Duchess. It seems His Grace also agrees. It does not seem appropriate for the young master to express his opinions recklessly.”

Grace turned her head abruptly at the unfamiliar voice.

The owner the voice was a middle-aged woman standing in front of the maids.

“Who is she?”

wondered Grace as she rolled her eyes.

“Grace soon noticed the change in the maid’s demeanor. Since the Duchess had dismissed her, it was natural for there to be a change in maids. ”

However, it was the first time she had responded like that, so a forced smile escaped her. Knowing that when Grace laughed, it meant nothing good, the butler quickly solemnly addressed the maid.

‘What do you mean, Mrs. Merrill?

“ The young master can certainly express his opinions sufficiently as the heir to the family.'”

“However, His Grace has consented to it. No matter what he may say about his successor, I believe he has no right to disparage her. Moreover, both the Duchess and Miss like this curtain very much,” said Lady Merrill with a voice full of animosity towards Grace.

Upon this, Grace smiled as if amused.

“Do you know what pattern it is?”

“It’s tulips.”

“Lip knows which family’s emblem it is?” Mrs. Merrill shut her mouth.

“Do you think it’s inappropriate for me, as your successor, to comment on the act of embroidering the patterns of tranquility neatly in the hall?”

“Don’t repeat the same words like a parrot. The Duke has granted permission.”

“Do you really think my reaction to hanging it in the gun hall like that was excessive?”

“… ”

“Skipping basic self-introductions to a first-time guest like a marquis and starting with complaints? To the Marquis, using words like ‘dare’ and ‘lightly’?”

Grace’s voice was very gentle, but her face was infinitely cold. In response to Grace’s words, Mrs. Merrill

She tilted her head slightly. On her face, there was full of discomfort and injustice. If Grace didn’t have the status of a countess, it was as much of an enemy as grabbing Grace’s hair.

“Speak, Sinyang. Was I wrong?”

In fact, objectively speaking, it was clearly a mistake of Mrs. Merrill and the Countess. To the nobles, it was a symbol of the family.

“It was the very corner where one had to protect oneself even if one’s neck was cut off.”

However, Mrs. Merrill did not like Grace’s attitude. From the moment she entered the mansion, her arrogant chin raised was not the appearance of a villainess who just harassed her mistress.

Not only was the Duchess driven out of the house, but all the original employees were also dismissed.”

Actually, the servants of this mansion despised the former countess, known for her cruelty and wickedness, and they sympathized with and admired the kind and affectionate new countess who had suffered from slander by the former countess.

They also hoped that the count would finally rid them of the “villain’s daughter” who had returned home this time, wishing to see her eliminated like her mother.

“But to act so arrogantly like that…”

They reflected on their mother’s misdeeds.

“It seems like there should be some hesitation, but I didn’t feel like going straight to confront the Duke. Grace smiled as if she had discovered the emotions hidden beneath her façade. ‘It seems that I may have more than just our father to deal with.’ ‘Let’s leave it at that for today. It’s not a good time to pick a fight with Lady Sinyang, and it wasn’t the mistress who decided to draw the curtains.’”

“But ma’am, from now on, please watch your words in front of me. Isn’t that head of yours just for decoration? ”

You should know when to hold back on nagging.

Mrs. Merrill, realizing she had been insulted, raised her head abruptly.

However, as a warning of icy blue flowed through Grace’s eyes, who had just been laughing moments ago, I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

It wasn’t just the authority as a noble. It shone like a wild beast.

Her gaze closely resembled that of a duke’s.

“Oh, and by the way, since we happen to be talking about servants, where is our maid, Arena? There’s no way she’s been chased away from the duke’s estate, right?”

“Th-the maid is in the stables.”

At the mention of the stables, Grace’s face hardened once again.

“Bring her here.”

“However, that child is in the duke’s care…”

“…,”

Mrs. Merrill uttered a word of rebellion, but she couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of Grace’s pursed lips.

In response, Grace whispered affectionately to her, “Bring the child back soon. As beautiful and perfect as when I left. Otherwise…”

“…,”

“Show me why I went into exile. Don’t give me any excuses.”

Grace finished speaking and went straight upstairs, as if implying that she didn’t need any response from you.