‘Lady Margareta……?’
Margareta Torento.
She was the esteemed daughter of the Torento family. Both the Duke of Torento and her godfather cherished Margareta deeply. In their words, “Margareta was so precious, she wouldn’t hurt even if she were in your eye.”
Her rich dark brown hair was intricately braided and pinned up with pearls, a dazzling display of craftsmanship.
Margareta was glaring at a boy with her bright yellow eyes. Suddenly, she swung her raised palm with all her strength and struck the boy’s cheek.
According to Ollie, the boy looked about the same age as Charles, the one who had asked the “second most foolish question of the year.” Unable to withstand Margareta’s strength, the boy tumbled to the ground. It was a sight that made people gasp.
“Find out what’s going on.”
“Yes, Miss.”
When I quietly spoke while watching the scene, the knight threaded through the crowd, soon returning to bow at the waist.
…Hey, don’t bow that low. I’d rather stand on tiptoe than have you do that.
As I went on tiptoe, he bent even further, his tall frame nearly folding in half. It was funny, yet a bit unjust. No, really, you don’t need to bow that much!
“They say the boy bumped into her. He got a stain on her uniform skirt. It seems she’s scolding him, accusing him of being a pickpocket.”
“I see.”
I nodded slowly.
“I don’t remember… ever seeing something like this before…”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
I hid my tightly clenched fists.
Ah… Maybe I was thinking too carelessly.
If one thing changes, everything that follows must change too.
So right now, I should have expected to face things I’d never experienced before. From now on, I’ll have to face things I never encountered.
Alone. Anew.
My heart pounded anxiously.
“Miss Riana?”
‘So scared…!’
Am I being arrogant? Is something truly beginning to change? Even just witnessing this small incident, cold sweat trickled down my back. I tried to steady my breathing and focused my gaze in that direction.
Margareta, her voice sharp with indignation, kept slapping the boy’s cheeks in turn as he sat helpless on the ground, and everyone else either watched like me or ignored it, hurrying into the “Convenience Hall.”
Why, Riana? Isn’t change a good thing?
You didn’t want to live as Cecilia’s shadow anymore, right?
Isn’t it good, even if you’re foolish, as long as you can be yourself?
Questions like these pelted me relentlessly.
I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t! I never imagined something I hadn’t experienced before could make me this afraid.
“Is saying sorry enough!? Do you even know how much this uniform cost!? This is a custom-made uniform! An artisan from the famous country of Priray, renowned for their needlework, embroidered it stitch by stitch, you ignorant, filthy thing! Today… today is the day I finally get to see him again after so long!”
Margareta, fuming, stripped off her academy uniform jacket and threw it at the boy.
Lady Margareta was trembling with fury.
“I-I’m sorry… Miss, please… please, just forgive me this once…”
Those who couldn’t even guess at the price of such a uniform bowed their heads and passed by. They knew it would be better for the boy to beg desperately and appease the lady’s anger, rather than for someone to intervene and make things worse.
If anyone of the same or higher status interfered, it would be different, but if not, getting involved would only bring the boy more trouble.
‘Of all people, he had to make a mistake with Lady Margareta.’
I felt sorry for the small boy who had blundered in front of someone with strength, wealth, power, and temper to spare. Perhaps it was because he reminded me of Charlie.
But I couldn’t move.
I didn’t know what “being myself” meant. How should I act to be true to myself?
Sometimes, I even doubted whether everything that had happened to me was just my imagination.
‘Everything will change. Everything I thought I knew.’
This world felt strange and unfamiliar.
Waves of fear crashed over me.
And I… Even as I longed to break away from Cecilia,
‘What would Cecilia have done?’
Without realizing it, I clung to thoughts of her.
Pathetic.
Pathetic to the point of madness.
Why, Riana? What are you so afraid of?
I couldn’t understand. Even though I couldn’t quite believe I was alive, or that I’d returned to the past…
The fear I felt now was real.
I’d vowed so earnestly, right before I died, to finally live my life as the main character!
The hot blood streaming from my head, the pain, that wretched feeling—it was all real.
It wasn’t fake… so why am I thinking of Cecilia? Why am I just standing here? I could step forward and do something!
I was terrified of missing a precious opportunity. If I couldn’t even face this changed event, could I ever live apart from Cecilia?
“Miss Riana. Miss! Are you all right? Should we postpone your move into the dormitory? No, this won’t do. We must return to the manor at once.”
Blue eyes locked on me.
The knight was peering into my face. My dazed mind snapped back to reality.
Margareta was blocked from view by the knight’s back. He was daring to hold my arm, and through the uniform sleeve, I could feel the warmth of his hand.
Only then did I realize—my whole body was trembling. My hands were ice-cold.
“Miss Riana. Forgive my rudeness.”
I couldn’t say a word.
No words would come. Even if I tried, only a feeble whimper would escape. All I could do was nod, and the knight lifted me up and helped me into the carriage.
When I sat shivering, he unfolded a thick blanket from the seat and wrapped me snugly.
He really didn’t have to do all that…
“I’ll drive the carriage swiftly. We’ll arrive soon, so please don’t worry. I will see you safely home.”
His blue eyes looked straight at me.
“If you’re anxious, I’ll stay right here.”
No, that’s not necessary.
But I nodded anyway.
The embers of fear burning inside me only grew. I nodded furiously, and he calmly gave instructions to the other knights, showing no surprise.
When he sat across from me, the carriage—which had felt cold and empty—suddenly seemed full. Just seeing his large figure in my view made me feel a little calmer.
“I apologize. I have no handkerchief.”
He patted his chest apologetically, searching for one. This time, I shook my head vigorously.
My body wouldn’t obey me.
How humiliating, how shameful. Eighteen years old and acting like this! Even for a thirteen-year-old, this would be too childish and weak, wouldn’t it?
Tears streamed down my face. I was so embarrassed, but I didn’t even think to wipe them away. With the blanket wrapped around me, it was awkward to pull out my hands, and honestly, I didn’t want to.
So cold.
Colder than the northern wind I’d faced during winter break at the academy. It felt like I could hear the wind clawing sharply at the trees, as if I were left all alone in that freezing world.
I closed my eyes.
The tears wouldn’t stop. But it wasn’t just from fear.
Pathetic.
Even in this moment, I clung to Cecilia, thinking of her and comparing myself, tormenting myself for it.
“Lady Marleta Torenta, what’s going on? Oh my…! Are you all right, dear?”
A bright, clear voice I knew well rang out from the commotion outside.
Cecilia.
It was definitely Cecilia’s voice.
“Wa-wait!”
Instinctively, I pounded on the slowly moving carriage roof and shouted.
“Yes, Miss.”
The knight knocked on the partition to the coachman, and the sound of hooves slowed as the carriage came to a stop.
My heart was pounding. This trembling was different from before.
Like a spell had lifted, my frozen, frightened body suddenly moved freely.
It was a strange feeling. Really strange.
Somehow, my tears had stopped. I flung open the carriage door and peeked at them.
“Miss!”
The knight, startled by my sudden leap, grabbed me, but I ignored him and fixed my eyes on Margareta and Cecilia.
“Who did I hear, if not… Cecilia Menthesen?”
At the sound of her name, Margareta paused her raised hand and turned her head.
With a sneer, Margareta brought her hand down again on the boy, who let out a cry and collapsed to the ground. His bare knees, exposed by short pants, were scraped and bleeding.
“My Lady! Please stop! Why are you doing this?!”
Cecilia hurriedly blocked Margareta from reaching the boy. Her voice trembled with fear.
Huh?
Cecilia was trembling.
Her skin, luminous like moonlight, and her eyes, usually so clear and intelligent, now held unmistakable fear.
“Why should I? And who are you, anyway?”
“……”
Am I seeing this right?
“Is… is Cecilia trembling?”
“Yes. She certainly is.”
The knight beside me replied in a clear voice, eyes narrowing.
I’m seeing this, right? But the Cecilia I remember never trembled.
“It is a noble’s duty to educate disrespectful commoners… And what right do you have to command me? I haven’t permitted you to speak. Ah, do you presume to interfere just because you’re close to Lady Riana Credere?”
Her voice was full of mockery.
“What… No! I’m only saying this because it’s the right thing to do. How could you strike such a young child…?”
Cecilia pleaded with Margareta.
Pleaded? I always thought Cecilia would scold her. I imagined Lady Margareta, cowed by Cecilia’s righteous tone, leaving the scene with a red face.
But reality was the complete opposite. People in the square started to leave, afraid to get involved. Some glanced at Cecilia with scowls, muttering under their breath.
Of course, many were glaring at Margareta too. Margareta just scoffed, sweeping her gaze over them.
“Baroness Menthesen. I’d heard you lacked manners, but I never imagined it was this bad. Shouldn’t you first apologize for your rudeness to me?”
“…But! My Lady… Wouldn’t it be better to let this boy go now?”
“Then will House Menthesen compensate for this garment?”
“……”
Cecilia couldn’t answer. The barony’s finances were in shambles. She couldn’t even offer to pay, not even as an empty promise. Margareta seemed to know this, her lips curling up.
“You. Will you pay for it? I’ll let you off with a beating if you can. If you can pay, then that’s fine.”
Margareta smiled sweetly.
At this, the boy’s face crumpled and he slammed his head onto the ground with a loud bang.
“Wh-what are you doing! Stop it, you’ll hurt yourself!”
“Let me go! Miss… Miss, I’m really sorry. I can’t pay, I have no way… Please, please help me. Please hit me more. Sob. Miss, please… please. I meant no harm, sob, it was truly an accident. Please forgive me, Miss…”
The boy shook off Cecilia’s restraining hand and prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the ground.
Cecilia quickly tried to cushion his forehead with her palm, but he was stronger. The back of her hand, trapped beneath his head, turned red. She let out a pained gasp.
The boy, pushing away Cecilia’s help, continued to bow toward Margareta. His face was streaked with tears, his voice shaking as he forced out his words.
Each time Cecilia tried to stop him, he slammed his head even harder, until at last blood streamed down from his brow.
“Please, stop!”
“No, you have to go! You can’t help me, Miss. Please, just leave!”
But instead of Margareta’s mocking laughter, the boy’s reproach flew at Cecilia. He glared at her, full of resentment. It seemed he believed that, if not for her interference, a few more slaps would have been the end of it.
Perhaps he was right. Margareta, offended by Cecilia’s intrusion, might now never forgive the boy.
“Even a child can see what you can’t, Baroness Menthesen. Next time, mind your manners. Just because you’re acquainted with a duke’s daughter, don’t imagine you’re their equal. You’re just a backwater noble with no power, wealth, or influence. Know your place.”
“How can you say that… When we enter the academy, everyone is equal! You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”
Margareta gazed at the shrill Cecilia as if disgusted.
“You actually believe that? That everyone’s equal? Ha! Instead of aspiring to bring prosperity to your barony as a great leader, you cling to such delusions. It’s obvious how you’ll fare at the academy.”
Cecilia’s face was flushed with frustration, tears streaming down. Even as she cried, she seemed to shine.
Where are Cecilia’s attendants? Why aren’t they taking care of her?
“You. Just go back…”
Margareta, looking bored now, pointed at the boy with a finger, but was interrupted by someone stepping in.
“And what about me?”
“Evan…?”