Published at 8th of November 2022 08:28:50 AM

'Lady?'

The first thing that came to my mind was bewilderment.

'Am I really the daughter of this house?'

To me, having a family felt so unfamiliar.

A strange trembling and overwhelming emotion swept through my heart first, followed by great confusion.

'I've only been living as a bread lover.'

'Or orphan.'

Even in the novel, I was an insignificant extra.

I thought I was living a life that had no presence.

From the time I was accidentally hit by a drunk motorcyclist and died as an orphan, even after possessing a character

It was just that kind of life.

'But I am actually a great noble, with a mother waiting for me?'

Besides, everyone welcomed me like this.

'It's too unrealistic.'

I held the locket in my hand and froze for a moment.

Right before entering, I felt like I was going to be kicked out and scolded for coming to the wrong place at any moment.

It was then.

I heard a voice that seemed to gently stroke my back.

Miss Annette, you may go in.

Kyle's warm hand guided me.

When I looked at him, his eyes that were as green and fresh looked at me and curved sweetly.

He had on a smile that was familiar and reassuring.

Yes, Kyle.

I finally stepped inside, following the path made by the guards and servants.

As soon as I entered, I was utterly amazed by the splendid interior.

Expensive carpets were spread on the floor, tapestry paintings that hung on the walls were exquisitely detailed, and mysterious artifacts adorned the vast area.

Plus, the ceiling chandelier!

I forgot to look for my mother and stared up at the ceiling in admiration.

Beneath the craftsmanship of the ceiling mural, the huge chandelier that shone over me glittered like a diamond.

'Or Are there real diamonds?'

The butler spoke politely, pointing her gloved hand to the stairs inside.

Come this way.

It was said that I originated from a prestigious family, but I was overwhelmed by the energy that the ducal residence with years of age exuded, so I answered in a small voice without realizing it.

T-Thank you.

Please call me Victoria, my lady. And please feel free to speak.

Victoria, who I thought was strict and sharp, looked at me affectionately.

I am the lady's servant.

!

I barely nodded my head.

Can I speak comfortably after I get used to it? It's only been a minute since I became a lady after living as a commoner.

Victoria smiled a little at my words.

'You were the kind of person who could laugh.'

The lady should do whatever the lady wants to do.

Thank you.

'I guess she's kinder than she looks.'

Or she was kind only to those she thought were her family (the way she greeted me at the entrance was frankly like a lion).

As I went up the spiral staircase, I saw large picture frames on the wall of the staircase.

Without realizing it, I stopped walking and stared blankly at it.

Are these portraits of the past dukes?

Just as expected.

These are portraits of the Dukes of Valienne.

.

Looking at those portraits, I felt something sinking in.

The successive dukes, both male and female, had blonde hair like honey and light green eyes.

I pointed to the latest hanging portrait of a woman.

Maybe that one

You're right.

With a proud expression on her face, Victoria pointed to the portrait with her hand.

This is Duchess Derkis Valienne. She is the lady's mother.

I could tell just by looking at it.

How much the butler trusted and followed her master.

She was a very nice and respected person. She was kind to her subordinates, and she was always wise.

Victoria's brown eyes even showed a slight longing.

My light green eyes also stayed on the portrait for a long time.

'I look like her.'

'When I'm a little older, will I be like that? I kinda wanted to.'

Is she unconscious right now?

There was a deep sadness in the butler's eyes.

Those eyes that look at me

It was the moment I realized that it was pity.

I was faced with a shocking reality.

The Duchess went into an eternal sleep this morning.

The room was filled with fragrant flowers to commemorate the dead.

I approached the bed that had a completely lifeless face.

There, there was a woman with a calm face as if she was sleeping, her honey-like hair neatly laid down.

She really looked like she was just asleep.

This person

'My mother.'

She had a much thinner face than the one I had seen in the portrait.

Strangely, my heart throbbed at that fact.

Even though she was the mother I had never seen before.

Kyle grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

The butler, standing behind us, said to her old master.

Duchess, the lady has come to see you.

But there was no answer from the dead.

An empty void hung over us.

Breaking through the emptiness, the butler continued speaking politely.

We servants took care of everything, thinking that our master would pass at any time.

.

You lasted longer than expected. You've been getting weaker day by day.

So it was.

The servants did not look very sad. They must have spent many days contemplating the death of their master.

However, contrary to what I thought, the butler's eyes, which I thought were cold for a moment, turned red.

If only you had survived another half a day.

.

I wish you could have exchanged greetings with the lady.

There seemed to be an emotion Victoria could not bear even after she had cleared her mind countless times.

'It wasn't that she wasn't sad.'

Everyone must be holding it in.

She must be more attached to the duchess than me, her daughter.

Hand Would you like to hold it?

At Victoria's suggestion, I slowly reached out and grabbed my mother's hand.

That was it.

My heart only had emotions that were difficult to describe, but I did not feel any affection or sadness.

I just felt the unfamiliarity of a cold body temperature.

This was the 'mother' I saw for the first time. Even though she was my family that I longed for.

May I know how I ended up parting with my mother?

The only child she had with the man she loved. The first child. I had never had children, but I had an idea how precious it must have been.

She wouldn't be able to part easily.

I think my mother expected the parting. She had bought the lockets at auction ahead of time and put it in her daughter's cradle.

Victoria's eyes widened for a moment.

That's right, my lady.

She continued.

Duchess Valienne knew in advance that her child was in danger of being 'taken away'.

!!!

She knew she would be robbed?

She didn't throw me away or lose me for some reason?

She often said that there was someone after her child. So when the birth drew near, she had frequent nervous breakdowns.

Shocking words followed.

However, even after giving birth safely, the Duchess was conscious. In fact, even after the lady was 'stolen', her mind was still intact for a day. She had prepared a lot in that short time.

She was robbed?

Yes.

The baby could only be described as 'stolen'.

Victoria's brown eyes, as if looking back to the distant past for a moment, were out of focus.

That night, without anyone knowing, someone hid inside the ducal mansion. Even though she was escorted by double or triple escorts for fear of losing the lady.

.

It was said that a 'shadow' appeared when the moonlight hit the room where the mother and the baby were resting.

The shadow wrapped its body around the child and took it away.

That black snake.

The culprit was a 'black snake'.

!

A black snake? Not even a person?

Perhaps, since it's not even human, it could have penetrated the vicious escorts in the duchy and stolen the baby.

All the escorts guarding the room were dead.

.

If she hadn't put the 'locket' in the lady's wrap in advance, she wouldn't never have been able to find you again.

I heard something strange. I asked quietly.

I know she told people around that she had a 'stillbirth'. Why? If she said she lost me, she might have found me sooner.

She was afraid that the one who took the lady would hide deeper and deeper, and she would not be able to find you forever.

.

That's why the Duchess seems to have sent a message that she was giving up her child. But all of a sudden her body became really bad.

!!!

Without realizing it, I was biting my lips. I could feel Kyle clenching his fist next to me.

If she had already put the locket in the fabric wrapped around the child, she would have been pretty much obsessed with the thought that it might be taken away.

Who was it?

A cruel man who terrified my mother to the point she even sent a fake message that she was giving up the baby she had given birth to.

Do you know who threatened to take the child from her mother?

Victoria sighed, as if it was difficult to even pronounce the name.

Gerard, it's the prince.

!

It was the moment when the strangely disorganized puzzles found their place and were tightly aligned.

I felt dizzy.

A perfect prince who wouldn't get a single scratch even if a mother shouted that her child had been taken away by him.

Gerard

'You've been targeting me since I was in the womb!'

My mother was unfamiliar, and my emotions were dull, so I didn't feel much closeness.

But the vivid rage that filled my head was so hot.

'It was all because of Gerard.'

Sending a team of trackers to Bayonaire Island to harm the people I love.

It was not just that. He was the one who separated me from my mother.

It was no coincidence that he met me when I first went out for socialization training in the Forest.

The bitter taste of blood came from my bitten lips, and even my fingertips were trembling.

While the Duchess was still conscious, she left a letter.

Victoria placed a letter carefully wrapped in a cloth on a tray and held it to me.

I opened the letter with her trembling hands.

My daughter,

I don't know when you will read this letter.

Sorry.

You must have come to my mansion after living a very lonely and difficult life.

It's all mom's fault. I'm really sorry.

My dear sweetheart.

The nine months with you were the happiest period of my life.

My other half, my daughter, my first love.

It hurts so much that I lost you after not being able to breastfeed you once.

Even when I'm dying, I have only one wish.

At the moment my life permits, I want to see you just one time.

Can my wish come true?

My baby that's like my heart.

I will always be by your side so that your life is not too cold or lonely.

Always

The letter no longer continued. I thought I knew why.

The consciousness of the person who wrote this letter must have disappeared quickly. It seemed as if her hands had gradually lost strength, as the further she wrote, the more blurred and disorganized the writing was.

Touk, tuk

It wasn't until I heard something fall that I realized I was crying.

With vague longing and bursting sadness, I rubbed my face with my sleeping mother's hands. My mother smelled of warm sunlight.

It smelled like old nostalgia.

Mother

I was an overwhelmingly loved daughter.