You and I are from different worlds

“I’m getting married. Mellie.”

Mellie’s heart sank at Edric’s words.

“Who… To whom you are marrying?”

“See for yourself. I’ll bring her here tomorrow.”

He winked and ruffled Mellie’s brown hair.

Mellie felt her heart sink again at his delicate touch.

‘Like an idiot.’

Edric Felton was twenty-three years old. It was an age when it was natural to think about marriage.

Mellie stared blankly at Edric. She suddenly remembered the first time she had seen him.

‘Say hello, Mellie. He is the next duke of the Felton duchy.’ 

Ten years ago….

The neat boy she had seen when she arrived at the house of her mother’s close friend, the former duchess of Felton, with her widowed mother who had nowhere to go.

Edric Felton, who had a noble and elegant face and a gentle sneer, looked down on her, and now he had grown up to be such a handsome and that handsome man was getting married now.

“Will you congratulate me, Mellie?”

Of course. I have to Congratulate you.

She knew that she should say that as his old friend, but Mellie couldn’t open her mouth.

‘Foolish.’

Mellie blamed herself again inwardly.

She had known that this would happen someday. She had guessed from the beginning that Edric, the head of the best noble family in the empire and with his delicate and beautiful appearance, would make a happy family with a partner who would suit him well. She had never dared to think that she would be together with Edric, who was a guest in the Felton family and a nobleman in name only, and who was small, short, and not very pretty… But Mellie felt bitter as she watched Edric calmly propose marriage to her.

It seemed that it was really time to let him go from her heart.

Mellie barely suppressed her emotions and said,

“Congratulations… … Edric. Really… … congratulations.”

The smile on her lips kept distorting.

***

The carriage stopped in front of the entrance.

The golden goat emblem of the Adele family sparkled brilliantly in the setting sunlight. It was a prestigious appearance befitting a family that had produced many empresses.

Edric grabbed the hand of the woman getting out of the carriage, and then grabbed her mother’s hand.

While the two families exchanged polite greetings and bows to each other, Mellie carefully observed Edric’s fiancée, the Marquis family’s Rosaline Adele.

Her blue-violet hair changed color mysteriously depending on the angle, and her ruby ​​eyes sparkled with affection as she was introduced to his family. For a woman, she had refreshing features and a refreshing smile, making her a very beautiful woman.

It seemed that the woman knew very well that she was beautiful.

Her confidence was evident in her attire and behavior, and she seemed to know exactly what angle she looked the best from.

It’s not like Edric was simply captivated by her beauty when deciding to marry her, but there’s no denying that her beauty played a part.

“This is Miss Enwood. She’s like my sister.”

At Edric’s introduction, all of her family members’ eyes were fixed on Mellie.

“… … .”

Mellie’s face turned red at the sudden attention. She bowed her head and timidly greeted them.

“… … It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Mellie Enwood.”

Mellie finished her introduction concisely and plainly. However, perhaps because she thought that her brevity was not enough to resolve the questions of his prospective in-laws, the former Duchess Ada Felton quickly added,

“She’s my friend’s daughter. My friend passed away and I’m looking after her because she had no one to take care of her.”

“Ah… … .”

People nodded a few times and quickly turned their gazes. It seemed that this much attention was enough for the guest in their house.

At least their attention lingered more on Master Adele, the next successor to the Marquis.

Of course, it couldn’t be helped.

According to the imperial law that only men can inherit the title, he was adopted as the adopted son of the Marquis a few years ago, and like Mellie, he was a ‘rolling stone’.

But that was only for three seconds.

He, who had been absentmindedly scanning her, soon turned his gaze to his stepsister Rosaline. Then, as if he had realized once again how pretty Rosaline was compared to the guest in the house of the Duke’s family, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Mellie didn’t even feel a sense of shame when it was as natural as breathing.

“I will invite you inside. Miss Rosaline.”

When Edric smiled brightly and extended his arm, Rosaline smiled shyly and folded her arms. Ada walked alongside the Marquis and his wife on the boat, followed by Francis.

Mellie followed them slowly at the back. Today, her steps felt particularly heavy.

As soon as they arrived at the banquet hall and everyone sat down, Mrs. Ada Felton proposed a toast.

“Congratulations on the family bond!”

“Cheers!”

Clink.

The sound of the crystal glasses clinking was as clear as music.

The atmosphere of the meal was cheerful.

Rosaline, in particular, led the conversation smoothly as expected of a high-class lady.

She brought up topics that would interest both parties and naturally included everyone in the conversation so that no one felt left out.

Occasionally, the flow of the conversation would split into two. When the adults had something to talk about, Edric and Rosaline would lean in close and whisper, and they would snicker together as if something was fun.

Mellie wondered if the knife was particularly dull today.

Otherwise, how could the meat be so hard to cut?

At times like this, Edric, who was quick-witted, would quickly switch his plate with Mellie’s, but he didn’t do that today. He didn’t even seem to know that Mellie was next to him.

“How about drinking tea in the garden? The cool night air is so nice.”

Ada Felton said after the meal. Rosaline smiled prettily and agreed.

“Yes, Mother.”

‘Mother… . .’

How could she say mother so naturally… .

Mellie envied her friendly and approachable attitude.

Right after her mother passed away, the former Duchess told Mellie that she would act as a mother on behalf of her dead friend, so she could call her mother as much as she wanted.

However, even after living together for more than ten years, Mellie never once said the word “mother.”

How could a guest call the Duchess “mother”?

It was something she couldn’t say.

But it wasn’t only for that reason.

If she called her mother, Edric and she would become siblings. There was also the somewhat vain reason that she didn’t want to place another obstacle between him and herself, other than her unrequited love.

In the end, it became a pointless struggle.

“I’ll go back to my room, ma’am. I’m a little tired.”

Mellie said to Ada in a low voice in the hallway leading from the dining room to the garden. She didn’t want to stay in this place for too long.

“Are you very tired?”

Ada Felton looked at Mellie with worried eyes.

“I’m a little dizzy.”

It wasn’t a lie. It was a headache, even if it was a little bit.

“Yes, then so be it. You’ve had a hard day. Go up and rest quickly.”

“Yes.”

Mellie bowed politely and went up to her quarters.

As she sat down on her favorite velvet chair to calm her troubled mind, she heard people’s hushed conversations outside the window. Most of them were complimenting Edric and Rosaline.

“They’re a great pair. I’ve never seen a better couple.”

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that these two are destined to be together.”

Mellie’s mood became even more disturbing.

‘Why would there be a tea table under my room?’

But suddenly, she thought that this might be an opportunity. If she looked down from a little further away, she might be able to see the rift between them a little better. So… … an opportunity to confirm the possibility that Edric and Rosaline might not get married.

Mellie slowly moved to the window seat.

“… … .”

Her eyes, which had sparkled for a moment, soon sank.

It was definitely an opportunity.

An opportunity to confirm that Edric and Rosaline would undoubtedly get married.

A handsome man and woman who matched so well. Moreover, the conversation continued so naturally, like water flowing without stopping.

The two were happily absorbed in their conversation. Rosaline’s legal brother seemed to have also left for a moment, so they could have focused even more on their mutual sympathy.

‘Edric Felton. He’s really getting married.’

Mellie sighed and accepted the reality.

Edric was a man with high standards.

And Rosaline was proof of just how high his standards were.

Beauty, dignity, and a prestigious family were the basics, and on top of that, she had a witty way of speaking and excellent social skills. She was by far the best of all the women he had ever brought.

If I had to point out a flaw, it would be a bit of vanity.

Well, it might be too much to ask such a perfect woman to be humble.

Suddenly, Rosaline was seen asking for the group’s understanding and standing up.

Mellie also turned around because she had no reason to watch any longer.

‘What should I do now?’

I couldn’t wander around because I said I had a headache. I thought I should read the novel I had finished reading during the day.

However, no matter how hard I looked around, I couldn’t find the book.

“Where did I put it?”

Mellie thought carefully. She suddenly remembered that she had left the book in the living room downstairs.

Since there would only be servants there anyway, it wouldn’t be strange if I went down for a moment to get it.

Mellie went downstairs carefully so as not to make any noise.

She had just passed the reception room and was about to reach the corner of the hallway leading to the living room.

She heard a sound.

‘Is someone cleaning the floor at this hour?’

The squeaking sounded like the sound of someone vigorously cleaning the marble floor with a mop. They usually cleans in the morning, but they didn’t do it often at this hour, so she wondered if someone had spilled something.

Mellie turned the corner of the hallway without thinking much. But she had to hurry back in less than a second.

‘Oh my god. What did I see?’

A sigh escaped her lips as she stood with her back against the wall. She covered her mouth to keep the sound from escaping.

Then, she slowly poked her head around the corner of the hallway.

“… …!”

Her eyes captured Rosaline and some man’s sticky kiss.

The squeaking sound was not mopping, but the friction of body parts.

For a moment, their faces crossed and the man’s face appeared.

Then, Mellie’s hazel eyes lit up with shock.