Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 4

The rose garden of Leontine’s residence. Two maids with buckets of water were hiding and whispering behind the rose bushes.

“Our Lady will be expelled, right?”

“Well, that’s only natural. It’s uncertain whether she’s an illegitimate child or not, and the new young master has come…”

“But don’t you think they have a good relationship? With our lady’s usual temperament, she should’ve lost her mind by now…”

“I know right. They look like a painting when they stand side by side like that.”

This house’s servants talk a lot. Tidwell thought as he heard their conversation.

The maids whispered, thinking that they were hiding themselves well. But Tidwell’s sharp hearing allowed him to hear their conversation easily.

‘I don’t think she can hear them.’

Tidwell’s gaze turned to a woman whose head was tinier than his.

A woman who wore a pink bonnet that matched her outfit. She was the woman who would soon become Tidwell’s new sister as planned.

And that woman confused Tidwell yesterday.

To begin with, he did not believe when Ravia said she wasn’t interested in her position.

Of course, Duke Leontine was also at fault for saying, “That’s because she’s uselessly greedy,” after Ravia’s departure. But even before that, Tidwell was a man who didn’t know the word ‘trust’.

‘But you’re just a human, so there’s nothing special about you.’

He was a man who lived in the black-world. He had seen every human’s rotten aspects.

Humans are filthy. That sentence was deeply ingrained in Tidwell’s mind.

Ever since he lost his whole family and was roaming around the back alley, distrust was inscribed on his body.

Betrayal was the only thing that comes back when you trust a person. Because people only care about their own interests.

‘So what she says can’t be true.’

Ravia’s afterimage was painted in Tidwell’s chilly gaze.

An indifferent and pathetic figure. She resembled a divine being who decided to leave everything behind.

Her figure that looked as if she was going to disappear was so dangerous that even Tidwell was almost fooled.

If it weren’t for the words that Ravia left behind.

-”You might not know, but I knew this would happen. One day someone will show up and take everything from me.”

Take everything from me.

Tidwell noticed a small lingering feeling in that sentence.

He was familiar with all kinds of negative emotions. Had he not noticed such blatant lingering feelings, he would have had to reflect on himself.

However.

‘I don’t understand.’

Her trick to make him let his guard down was so shallow. Plus, her melodramatic way to gain his pity.

She was like a winter frost that would crumble if he grabbed it. Chilly was not enough to depict her. She was like a piece of thin and stinging ice. As beautiful as the snow in the sunshine.

Yeah, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Am I this weak in the presence of a beauty?

He couldn’t help but wonder.

The woman, who noticed his gaze, opened her mouth.

“Are you disappointed that I took you for a walk instead of tea?”

“I don’t enjoy tea that much. So it’s alright.”

“Yes. Since you just wanted to be with me.”

She spoke as if she knew everything. A voice that didn’t contain warmth, yet her tone was sweet.

Her lace parasol swiveled around.

“Because you were curious about me.”

Am I right? Ravia smiled softly at Tidwell.

A smile that looked like a thin ice sheet during the day. Transparent and dazzling as ever.

He didn’t notice when she did it, but she already held a bundle of broken roses.

The gardener didn’t cut it for her, rather she just picked the head of the flower carelessly.

The woman tilted her head and smiled as she held the flowers.

“If I’m wrong, deny it.”

“You’re not wrong.”

With his clear affirmation, Ravia’s face was filled with the satisfaction of having guessed it correctly.

In the meantime, Tidwell’s words continued.

“I’m curious about you, sister.”

His weary smile. Also his relaxed yet persistent gaze.

Under the pressure of his gaze, Ravia held her breath.

And then she asked back.

“Why?”

“Because there’s no animal that won’t cry when its possessions are taken away.”

“You have a very improper way of speaking. How can you refer to someone as an animal?”

“Am I wrong?”

Ravia didn’t answer. Her silence itself was an acknowledgment.

In addition, it was Tidwell’s warning that he would not condone any ridiculous word games here.

The blue gaze choked her breath. It was Tidwell’s specialty to prevent his opponent from turning away.

It was because humans were naturally able to sense a predator even if it didn’t bare its teeth.

A person’s sixth sense, or the so-called hunch, was more sensitive than expected. So it was easy to notice and be wary of those who reveal their superiority.

However,

“What difference will it make if I hide my intention from you?”

Ravia didn’t care. Her gaze was composed. No, she was indifferent.

“Of course, I’d be lying if I say I don’t have any lingering feelings and regrets about losing my position. But, I don’t have a hobby of throwing eggs at rocks. It’s only a desperate effort if I attempt to push my way here. My father is already thinking of taking you as his successor.”

I don’t want to fight you. She calmly thought as she dropped her gaze.

She saw a rose that was broken a while ago.

Her situation was like this rose.

A rose that bloomed beautifully, but it was plucked out and had no single branch to attach itself to. If it stayed here, it’ll wither soon.

‘So I have to go somewhere else.’

Clearing away her emotion, Ravia raised her eyes. And there was Tidwell.

Whether he was mulling over Ravia’s words or determining whether her words were true or not. It was an unknown expression.

But one thing is for sure. The boundaries were clearly relaxed.

Since it had turned out like this, Ravia decided to give him extra information.

“Plus, I will be married soon.”

The fact that she would leave this family soon. Tidwell’s eyes grew bigger when he heard her declaration.

Ravia smiled when she saw her brother’s honest reaction.

“If I’m not a successor, a political marriage is a natural step. Did you forget?”

“….Yes.”

“If I’m really interested in becoming a successor, I would refuse to get married, don’t you think so?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“So you can trust me. I’m not interested in this family.”

Ravia looked down again. It was because she didn’t have the courage to smile at his face.

“I’m going to leave, so nobody can look down at me….. It will be enough if I could find love and live on.”

Really, that was all. It was only after she assured herself again that Ravia could smile and raise her head.

“If I am reborn as a vulnerable flower, I want to bloom as much as I can.”

You take this, Tidwell. It’s an improved version of roses that can be found in Leontine’s residence only.

Ravia handed over the rose she was holding to Tidwell. Their fingertips brushed.

Tidwell, who received the rose, was about to say something. Unfortunately, Ravia couldn’t continue her conversation with him.

“My lady! Master is looking for you!”

Because the servant sent by Duke Leontine intervened between them.

Well, I’ve said everything I want to say. Ravia looked back at Tidwell without any remorse.

“Did you hear that? My father probably wants to discuss my marriage.”

There was no answer. He was just staring at Ravia.

But Ravia didn’t wait for his answer, so she left.

‘Now you won’t be wary of me anymore.’

That was exactly what she thought.

***

Duke Leontine’s call for Ravia did not go far from what she had expected.

“Get married.”

It was so that Ravia wouldn’t be uselessly greedy to be a successor. That story was also mentioned in [He and Her Spring].

‘All of them rejected me because they despise me.’

Ravia, who recalled the original story, laughed briefly.

The novel described the process of Ravia turning crazy in detail, including an episode about her marriage.

From throwing a whole vase filled with water to people who were talking about marriage, or sabotaging the carriage of her suitors so that they couldn’t arrive at the mansion.

The author explained that she used her cleverness to obstruct the marriage, but she couldn’t beat the will of Duke Leontine and surrendered in the end.

She can’t help it. Even now, her feelings were similar.

Duke Leontine frowned as if he was displeased with Ravia’s expression, who laughed bitterly.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s funny.”

Always discrediting me and raising me with contempt, and after choosing the right man for his successor, he just sold me to another family.

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