The moment she learned that her fiancé was handsome, wealthy, and not actually a monster, she also learned that he had never been destined for her.
She had always believed that everything good went to her sister while everything bad came to her. It seemed that even when it came to a fiancé, the same rule applied.
Was that why she had kept her mouth shut, unable to reveal the truth that her sister was alive?
The maid, who knew nothing and perhaps was therefore still kind to her, smiled brightly.
“Before you change clothes, let me help you take a bath first. Soaking in warm water should help you relax a little.”
I should tell them that my sister is alive after all.
That was the conclusion Ivnia reached after returning from her bath and tossing and turning in bed for a long time.
Of course, it wasn't a decision she made for the sake of the family who had abandoned her.
In fact, the biggest reason she had remained silent instead of revealing the truth immediately was that she had no desire to share such wonderful news with House Hessen.
After all, if the reward for betraying and discarding her was nothing but happiness for them, wasn't that terribly unfair?
It wasn't that she wished them to become as miserable as she had been, but neither did she particularly want to be the one blessing them with happiness.
But...
The people affected by her silence would not be limited to the members of House Hessen.
Ivnia didn't want to make the only man who had ever shown her kindness suffer any longer.
Just as he had wished happiness for a stranger he had only met that day, she wanted to help ensure that his love would find happiness as well.
Slowly closing her eyes, Ivnia imagined him finally reuniting with the wife he had missed all his life and becoming happy once more.
It was a beautiful scene.
That memory would probably remain deep within her for a long time, comforting her throughout her life.
Having helped complete such a beautiful story, she could at least console herself by believing that her life had been worth as much as the final chapter of that story.
“How long would it take to plan out ten years of my life?”
Surely it wasn't something that could be finished in a day or two.
Perhaps a week. No, maybe even two or three months.
Ivnia decided that she would create the future plan Agram had mentioned as quickly as possible. Then, when she left this place, she would reveal that her sister was alive.
He would give her some time to sort out her feelings, and in return she would deliver the happiest news he could possibly receive.
It was a perfect plan.
Emilia should probably spend a few months resting comfortably with the family she's missed all this time, too.
With that thought, Ivnia turned her head toward the bedside table.
The handkerchief Agram had given her earlier lay there by itself. Before going into the bath, she had secretly set it aside where Hannah wouldn't notice.
Stretching out her arm, Ivnia picked it up.
As she unfolded the handkerchief, a lollipop dropped onto her palm with a soft tap.
It wasn't whole anymore—just a broken half shattered into pieces—but the orange scent drifting from it was still sweet.
Ivnia stared at it quietly for a moment before pouring the candy into her mouth.
“It's not like I'm trying to take everything. I can at least be greedy for this much, can't I?”
As the Grand Duke had said, feeding and housing one person for a few months in a castle this large wouldn't create any major problems.
And if her presence ended up inconveniencing someone, she could simply leave before it became too late.
Still, she should do her best to prevent that from happening.
She would live quietly, bothering no one, as if she were dead.
Then she would disappear just as quietly, like someone who had never been there at all.
Thinking that, Ivnia let the candy melt in her mouth as slowly as possible.
She wanted to hold onto a happiness that wasn't really hers—even if only for a little while.
When Ivnia opened her eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.
Since the age of eight, she had faithfully maintained the habit of waking early and sleeping early. Yet that record had been shattered overnight.
And despite that, the sky had not fallen.
Looking out at the lush green forest beyond the window, Ivnia ate the breakfast Hannah had brought directly to her room.
The menu consisted of soggy porridge that looked like goat gruel, dry white bread, and a sour fruit purée whose ingredients were impossible to identify.
The bread looked suspiciously like leftovers from the previous night's meal.
If someone had served this to me anywhere else, I'd have assumed they were trying to torment me...
Despite the meal looking more like an invitation to leave than hospitality, Ivnia wasn't particularly hurt.
Guillermo wasn't human, and Hannah had lived in the castle since infancy. There was no reason to expect either of them to have learned proper cooking.
By that standard, this was practically a feast.
At least they hadn't served her food that would make her sick.
After finishing her meal, Ivnia wiped her mouth calmly and asked,
“Thank you. It was good.”
“Did the food suit your taste?”
Like a proper noble lady, Ivnia answered indirectly.
“Who usually does the cooking?”
“Lord Guillermo made it. I don't really know much about noble-style meals.”
There hadn't been anything remotely noble about Guillermo's cooking either, but Ivnia merely nodded.
“He must have worked hard since early morning.”
After all, she wasn't exactly a proper noble herself.
Considering they were feeding and housing her, she had no intention of complaining about side dishes.
Perhaps reassured by Ivnia's gentle response, Hannah finally relaxed her tense shoulders.
As she hurriedly cleared away the dishes, she asked,
“If you're not too tired, would you like to meet the other people living in this castle? Lord Guillermo has been waiting since this morning because he wanted to formally introduce everyone.”
“You should've told me earlier. I usually don't eat breakfast anyway. I ended up making him wait.”
“Oh, don't say that. You really need to eat more, Lady Ivnia. I thought all nobles lived comfortably and were plump, but you're even thinner than I am. Was fasting considered a virtue in Hessen?”
“Not at all. I just never had much of an appetite.”
Quickly changing the subject before it became uncomfortable, Ivnia said,
“More importantly, could you tell Lord Guillermo that he can come in now?”
Fortunately, Hannah hadn't meant anything by her comment. Without pressing further, she dashed out of the room.
For a lady's personal maid, Hannah's way of speaking was surprisingly blunt. Yet while it was unfamiliar, Ivnia didn't find it unpleasant.
Since arriving here, she had already met two people who worried about how thin she was.
At least to Ivnia, that wasn't unpleasant in the slightest.
“Lady Ivnia, I've brought the people I'd like to introduce. May we come in?”
Not long afterward, Hannah returned after putting away the tray and knocked on the door.
Granting permission, Ivnia rose from her seat to receive her guests.
A moment later, Hannah, Guillermo, a young boy, an adult man, and a gigantic crow all filed into the room.
...A crow?
Ivnia was inwardly bewildered by the unexpected visitor.
Then the crow, sensing her gaze, paused halfway through landing on the back of a sofa and turned toward her.
Suddenly it opened its beak wide and shouted:
“What are you looking at?!”
Startled, Ivnia glanced around as if demanding an explanation.
Apparently, however, she was the only one shocked that the bird could talk.
Guillermo merely shot the crow a warning look before stepping forward and bowing politely.
“Priestess, did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes... thanks to your consideration. But just now...”
As Ivnia kept glancing at the crow, unable to finish her sentence, Guillermo somehow misunderstood and gave an equally tactless response.
“I should have introduced everyone sooner. I apologize for the delay. These fools had no idea you would be arriving, so if you have any complaints, please direct them at them.”
“Why is that woman still here? I thought she'd be kicked out! Caw! Why is she still here? I thought she'd run away! Caw!”
“I was chopping firewood in the forest all day yesterday... I really didn't know.”
“I didn't skip coming because I didn't know. I just didn't think there was any need to meet and exchange greetings.”
One after another, the people Guillermo had brought offered their explanations.
Most of them sounded less like greetings and more like excuses.
Trying hard to conceal her confusion, Ivnia looked at the figures standing behind Guillermo.
