Chapter 2

I have been trying to avoid writing any cruel descriptions here.

I would be delighted if you enjoy it.

"……What?"

I awoke in a carriage, my skin having been licked by bright red flames, and I, who should have died from being burned alive, found myself there.

I instinctively touched my face and arms with my hands. They didn’t hurt at all……

"Fingers… not rough…?"

The fingers that should have been rough and worn from unfamiliar cleaning and cooking were very clean. They were the hands of a noble young lady, meticulously cared for down to the tips of the nails.

Not only my hands, but when I touched my cheeks with my fingertips, the skin that had been dry and rough from poor meals and stress felt smooth and supple. My thin, bony arms had returned to their original state.

Most importantly, I didn’t feel any pain anywhere in my body……

The platinum blonde hair that I had sold to prepare for winter was still long and flowing, reaching my shoulders.

"…Back to normal? …Or rather, this outfit…!?"

What I was wearing was the dress Avan had given me for my journey when I was to marry into his family. …So, does this mean I am on my way to the capital?

I hurriedly peered out the carriage window and saw the walls of the capital, Lilier, in the distance. On the driver's seat, I could see the back of Thomas, a kind and experienced driver who had served my family, the Rozbel Margraves, since before I was born.

Seeing his short, curly hair, mostly white, brought a sense of nostalgia.

"Was it all a dream…? No, that’s not right, it wasn’t a dream. I was killed… and came back?"

It sounds like a far-fetched story, something out of a fairy tale… but in reality, I am alone in the carriage on my way to the capital, heading to the Lottevald Marquess family.

My family, the Rozbel Margraves, is a prestigious and noble house. It’s unusual for a noble young lady to travel alone to her new home, but…

"That scum said, ‘I’ll take care of everything, the new house, the servants… and the maids suitable for you, so come alone,’ and both I and my parents were completely deceived, heading to enemy territory alone…"

I remember what happened next very clearly. If it’s going to happen again, then it’s not a dream but a tragic future that will unfold for me.

The sky is clear and the spring breeze is refreshing, contrary to my troubled heart.

Under this sky, on the long road leading to the capital, at the end of which lies my beloved hometown, Rozbel, a distant borderland with a large and beautiful sea. And the hill in the trading city of Rozwell where my home stands.

Thinking of my parents who saw me off in the garden filled with forget-me-nots, I took out a sheet of paper from my luggage and began to write with a pen.

This marriage is a political one, and there’s no turning back. That’s how nobles live, for the sake of their families.

I was taught this and have lived by it, so I have no intention of resisting. In my previous life, I lived for my husband and his family.

In this life, as long as I am a noble, I should live for my family, the Rozbels. I won’t wait for a white marriage; I’ll build my strength and seek a divorce under favorable conditions.

To do that, I first need to establish a solid foundation, so I wrote in the letter to my parents:

I have no allies around me, and standing alone, I have no choice but to face a future with limited options. To increase my choices, I need to gather allies.

"Lord Avan said he would provide everything, but there are still some areas where help is needed. Please send someone experienced."

I took the opportunity to rest the horses and asked Thomas to deliver the letter to my father when he returned.

The carriage, which made a few stops on the way to the capital, arrived safely at the mansion without any accidents, contrary to my gloomy mood.

After the carriage dropped me off in front of the mansion, it returned to Rozwell, where my parents were waiting. I watched it until it disappeared from sight.

Then, I turned my gaze to the gate, where the butler and several maids were coming out of the entrance. They must have been informed of my arrival by the gatekeeper and were hurrying over.

Of course, Avan was not there.

It was the same as before, but thinking calmly, even at this point, I was already being looked down upon. The Rozbel Margraves are of equal status to the Lottevald Marquess family. Is living in the capital that much more prestigious?

"Welcome to the Lottevald Marquess residence, Lady Elizabeth. I am the butler, Haur. I have served this marquess residence since my grandfather’s time…"

Haur’s words were polite, but he started talking about his background without even finishing his greeting.

…Let me tell you, my position is on the road in front of the marquess’s gate, and my luggage is still piled up next to me, not even on the property.

Sure, sure, you’re saying that because you’ve served the marquess since your grandfather’s time, I’m just a country girl and beneath you. Last time, I stood at the gate until he finished talking, but I am a margrave’s daughter. I won’t be disrespected by a servant.

—So this time, I ignored Haur’s speech and stepped onto the property.

"Hey, bring the luggage. And Haur, I want to go to my room; I’m tired."

Without even asking the maids’ names, I pointed at them and the luggage and then asked the butler, who was flustered by being ignored, to show me to my room. He probably thought my behavior didn’t match what Avan had told him.

You must have thought I was just a naive country girl, a weak and foolish woman who couldn’t even complain about the servants.

Indeed, in my previous life, I was just that—a girl who couldn’t do anything without my husband’s protection. But that doesn’t mean you can trample on my dignity and take everything from me.

I smiled brightly at the butler, who was suspiciously watching my expression, as I walked.

After being shown to my room, the butler informed me that Avan couldn’t be there today due to work commitments.

He’s probably with his precious Alice, and meeting him would just make me angry. So, I pretended to be naive and agreed, saying, “Oh, you’re busy, I see.”

The butler then explained that the wedding would be in a week, and my parents couldn’t attend due to a critical business matter. They planned to have a grand ceremony later when my parents could be invited, but the upcoming ceremony would be a simple one.

Well, there’s no way they’ll invite my parents or have a grand ceremony in a large venue.

The upcoming wedding ceremony, which will take place in a week, is so simple that even a commoner’s wedding would be more luxurious. Yet, I know that they lied to my parents, telling them that they had rented a cathedral and invited the marquess family and relatives for a grand ceremony, and they even took the money for the ceremony from my parents. I was told I sobbed with emotion.

No way…

I want to scold my foolish self from before. Even though my parents live in a port town on the border, they have plenty of relatives and business partners who live in the capital. They should have known that no such wedding took place.

My parents are seasoned businesspeople who understand the importance of information more than I do. My father must have known it was a lie but pretended to be deceived for my sake—so that his beloved daughter wouldn’t feel uncomfortable in her new home.

This realization makes me appreciate my parents’ deep love for me. If I had asked for help, they would have surely come to my aid… But I was constantly belittled and demeaned by the marquess family, and I came to believe that I was a foolish and worthless daughter.

To avoid the same future in this life, I need to take action to prevent the marquess family from using me. Since Avan is out, I will also take my freedom. I have a short time left as a single woman, and I need to make the most of it.

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