Chapter 4
#04
I ran to my room as soon as I got home. I had to take a book from the bookshelf and check if what I read was real, or just a déjà vu.
"No other dog can replace that dog. Being a substitute for someone is unfortunate."
Ricardo answered.
"You, you, you! You bad thing!"
After checking the passage in the book, I unknowingly punched the book with the worst curse I could muster.
My memory was accurate. I wish I were stupid so I wouldn't remember it so accurately!
"So, does this book become some kind of prophecy?"
I bit my lip and glared at the book.
I wish that was a person, not a book.
If I glared at a person, they would tremble and be so scared that they would answer immediately, but because it was a book, there was no change.
"That can't be. Me, an evil woman? That can't be, right? That's ridiculous. This stupid book!"
I grabbed the pages of the book right in front of me. Feeling the rustling of the paper in my hand, I pulled the pages.
I wanted to tear this ridiculous book apart.
"Huh?"
But the book didn't budge.
"Eek! Eek! Eeeeeek!"
I gritted my teeth and tried to tear the book with all my strength, but the result was the same.
Have I been too lazy with horseback riding lately and become weak?
No. Even if I am a fragile noble young lady, I should be able to tear a book, right?
"Then burn and disappear!"
I threw the book into the fireplace that was warming the room. No matter how sturdy it is, it's just paper, right?
I laughed at the arrogant book and watched it burn.
1 minute.
2 minutes.
5 minutes.
10 minutes…….
"Why isn't it burning!"
The book, which was clearly made of paper, didn't catch fire at all, and was just lying comfortably on the fire. As if enjoying a bonfire.
When I took it out with the tongs next to the fireplace, the book came out unscathed without a single scorch mark.
"No way. Where is there a book that doesn't burn? Isn't this made of paper?"
I bit my lip as I looked at the completely undamaged book.
Could it be…….
I flipped through the pages of the book. There were no crumpled marks anywhere. Even though I clearly crumpled the book a little while ago to tear it.
The feeling of crumpling the paper was still vivid in my palm, but the book boasted neat pages as if nothing had happened.
"No way……."
Now I had no choice but to admit it.
That this is no ordinary book.
"If, really if, the story goes according to this novel……."
Soon they will meet. At the Saint George Festival.
Their first meeting was neither fateful nor romantic.
The commoner girl from the countryside is mesmerized by the festival in the capital, which she has never been to before, and meets a pickpocket, and Ricardo catches him, and the two meet.
After a few chance encounters, the two fall in love. A very passionate love.
The obstacle to their beautiful love was Ricardo's fiancée and a terrible villain, Bianca, me.
Obsessed with Ricardo, who is trying to leave her, hating Maria, and jealous of their love, she commits evil deeds one after another, and eventually tries to poison Maria.
Then, eventually, all her evil deeds are revealed, and she loses her life to Ricardo's sword.
"...I don't want to."
I quietly repeated the ending of the novel and muttered.
"I don't want to die."
I have a beautiful appearance, enormous wealth, and a high position, so why should I die?
"I don't want to die like that."
I quietly closed the book.
The chaos that had been clouding my mind until just now was slowly sinking like sediment.
Fortunately, this novel hadn't even started yet. The Saint George's Day, the first start of the novel, was still ahead.
"There must be a way."
To find that way, I reluctantly opened the book again.
Hoping that there would be a hint in it.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and two maids came in with wash water.
I, who was already sitting at the table reading a book, quietly closed the book and entrusted myself to them to get ready.
It was a book that I had half-read and closed in anger before, but this time I read it all with cold eyes.
I read the passages where I appeared or was mentioned repeatedly three times more.
In the book, I was described as a self-centered woman who mistakenly believed that Ricardo loved me, spoke carelessly to people around me, and especially looked down on those of lower status than myself.
In addition, she was extravagant, thought she was the most beautiful in the world, believed that her words were unconditionally right, and considered disagreeing with her words a sin.
As Ricardo and Maria's love deepened as the novel progressed, I was almost like a crazy woman who was acting out.
"Young lady, what dress would you like to wear today?"
"Anything."
I chose the dress on special days, but basically, I wasn't that picky about clothes.
In the first place, I only chose clothes that suited me according to my taste, so anything I wore looked good on me.
I have such an easygoing personality, so you call me a villain?
"How would you like your hair done?"
"Just brush it."
Just brushing it made my hair look luscious. I brushed it 100 times every night, treated it gently when washing it, and used the best oils.
I used the best products for smooth and fine skin, took special care not to get sunburned, and paid attention to what I ate and how I slept.
It was a beauty I had worked so hard to achieve.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I think I'm pretty, so what?
"Young lady, what jewelry would you like to wear?"
"This and this."
I chose a sapphire set from the jewelry box. It was a precious item that my father bought me as a gift for my seventeenth birthday. But I had about 70 more jewelry sets besides this.
I have money, so I spend it, so what's the problem?
I snorted inwardly. Some of Bianca's appearances in the novel were strange women even I thought, but some seemed to be distorting obvious facts strangely.
"Young lady, what shoes would you like to wear?"
"Shoes are……."
As I was looking at some of the shoes that had already been chosen, my eyes went to the maid standing next to me. It was the child who had chosen ridiculous shoes yesterday and I had asked a question.
"You."
"Ye, yes?"
"You said those shoes were pretty yesterday, right?"
I pointed to the shoes with the white corsage. Then the child's face turned as white as the shoes.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I have committed a sin worthy of death."
Suddenly, the maid prostrated herself on the floor, and I, who had only asked a question, suddenly had to receive her bow.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Miss."
For some reason, the maid seemed about to cry again.
What did I do? I just asked if it was true that she said those shoes were pretty yesterday.
"Please don't fire me. My mother passed away early, and my father is now lying down with a leg injury. If I get fired now, there will be no one to earn money for our family."
…I didn't ask.
"I'm still at an age where I should be growing, but I can't eat well, so all five of my younger siblings are short. The youngest cried all night yesterday because he was hungry and couldn't sleep."
…I mean, I didn't ask?
"If I get fired, all seven of us will starve to death. Please don't fire me, Miss."
The maid sobbed and begged me. I had no intention of firing her at all.
"Is that the shoe you said was pretty yesterday?"
I pointed to the shoes with the white corsage and asked again.
“…Yes, that's right.”
As if she had received a death sentence, the maid finally answered, shedding tears.
"I'll wear those shoes today."
Another maid, who had been restless next to me, quickly took out the shoes and knelt in front of me to put them on.
It was the worst coordination for the red dress yesterday, but it was a decent match for the yellow dress I was wearing today.
"Not bad."
I looked at myself in the mirror and muttered. When I turned my head to look at the maid, the child was still crying with a blank expression.
"Give that child a silver coin for choosing matching shoes."
“…Yes?”
“…Huh?”
Both the maid who was trying hard to please me and the maid who was crying were looking at me with stupid expressions.
If I told the Butler that I told them to give her a silver coin with such a stupid expression, they wouldn't believe it, right? I hate stupid kids.
"It's okay. I'll go and tell him. I was going to meet the Butler anyway. What's your name?"
"Pa, Pa, Panya."
"Your name is PaPaPanya?"
Even if she is a commoner, her name is too strange?
"Ah, no. Panya! Panya Risolde!"
Panya shook her head violently and told me her name again.
"Okay, Panya. Make sure to get the silver coin from the Butler later."
"Thank you! Thank you, Miss!"
"Okay."
"Thank you, Miss!"
"Okay."
"I will never forget this favor for the rest of my life!"
"Stop it and call the Butler to my room."
I cut off Panya's endless greetings.
At this rate, I might be receiving this child's greetings all day long. Then she wouldn't be able to receive the silver coin herself.
Fortunately, Panya nodded and wiped away tears at the same time, and left the room with the other maids, and soon after, the Butler was standing in my room in their place.
"Did you call me, Miss?"
"I'd like you to do some background checks."
"Who would you like me to investigate?"
The middle-aged Butler, who had served the Croford Family for generations, was good because he didn't add or subtract anything from my story.
People with the Croford name were his masters and gods, and the object of unconditional obedience.
And the Croford Family also showed absolute trust in his loyalty and shared our wealth and power generously.
"Maria Bellona."
I told the Butler the name of the heroine of the book I had read.
"I don't think I've heard that name before."
"She's a commoner woman from the province of Anchini."
"A commoner woman?"
He raised his eyebrows as if it was truly unexpected.
If he knew what I was going to say next, his eyebrows might reach the top of his head.
