"So you want to be the same as her?" After his words fell, even through the dark, he saw as her frown had deepened and her body stiffened. She was visibly enraged now…

"The same as her? I don't murder a child over some competition." Lilith's eyes darkened as she tried to not lose her temper completely. She understands that Charles said that with good intentions but she couldn't help but feel deeply angered. Same as Evelina? Clearly she isn't as horrible as that mad woman…

"I… sorry." If he were to push further, he's afraid it might end up with an argument between them. He still remembers how explosive her temper was once her last string of patience broke. Hm, the Skyler family seems to have passed down their fierce anger issues through the generations…

Seeing him lower his head and avoiding her eyes, it returned her rationality slightly. She paused and regretted raising her voice. She remembered Evelina would too sound extremely frightening when she raised her voice in the midst of anger. But surely she's less scary than Evelina. Lilith stared at Charles and joined him to stay in silence. He's just reminding her to prioritize her happiness but… She's simply acting out her plan to rightfully avenge her wrongful death, why must he say it in a way that would point her out of being just as terrible as that sister of her's? Wasn't he the one that said he would support her in carrying out her revenge?

'Ugh, what am I thinking? He said it with good intentions. Stop overthinking, Lilith. What I have done to her isn't nearly as bad as what Evelina did to me! Ruining everything like that, she deserves all the torture I have prepared for her. Why should I spare her mercy? She didn't spare any for me…'

"Nevermind all of that… I understand what you're trying to say, Charles." She reached over and gently patted his shoulders.

"Mhm. Aside from messing with Evelina, what else do you do these days?" He asked.

"... Um, playing with the royal children, reading, embroidering, painting, and talking with Marie." Lilith answered.

"Aside from those, any new interests?" He chuckled. As he thought, her life mostly was just like before her second life. He felt sad she was wasting her opportunity to branch out her interests and try something new.

"Well occasionally, a weird emperor would send me gifts and ask me to meet him outside in the garden to fill in the loneliness in his heart." She smirked with a sly charm. Her words stunned him for a second. Weird? What's wrong with him wanting to spend time with the girl he loves during his only spare time, that unfortunately was when the sun had set.

Seeing his adorable shocked face, she couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps she was being greedy and selfish. He has long revealed his love for her and she had denied him. Yet she still keeps him close like this, giving him hope even though she herself doesn't know if she can return his feelings. She was greedy for his affection and selfish for doing so.

Selfish and greedy. Was her revenge selfish and greedy? But the more she thought about it the more she wasn't sure. Evelina was already miserable yet she still craved for more of her misery. Lilith felt disgusted, Evelina ruined her life and made countless of her tears fall in the past, why should she take pity now? She can't be so soft hearted. Though Evelina seemed done, Lilith still had much in store. Of course, she couldn't forget the other people who have wronged her. The Bailey family had not been dealt with.

In Chase's situation, finding out that Evelina, his 'true love', never loved him could be considered to be enough for her revenge. He's living a worthless life. She knew how much he craved for true love instead of a cold engagement. In the past she had given it to him, yet he was so foolish as to even throw it away. Now that he doesn't have it, his life returns to dullness and loneliness. The Bailey family, they deserve the worst for having lied and betraying her!

Lilith was lost in her mind, Charles could tell just by the dazed look in her eyes. He remembered that certain dazed gaze well. Back then, the little Lilith would return to her room with anger after a bad day of being ridiculed by other young ladies for her past as a beggar. She would be lost in her mind, planning how she would deal with them all. Remembering her cute face looking angry and serious like that, it made his heart soften.

*************

Evelina looked as if she was about to explode with anger, her fists were trembling and as she raised her hand, Lia said something else.

"Don't try to kill me. The head maid knows I am here and if I don't show up anytime soon, she will know what you did. She can report to the second princess and that certainly won't be good for you now would it?"

"You traitor!!" Evelina madly shrieked. How dare this lowly maid betray her!? Is she not aware of the consequences!? Evelina will definitely destroy her and make her kneel until she cries for mercy! All she needs to do is… is…

Oh that's right. She can't do anything. Everything she had came from how others perceived her and how valuable she seemed to her father. Now she lost it all. What can she do? Even a lowly servant dares trample all over her now! It's all because of that dear sister of hers that has risen to the skies! She had nothing now yet Lilith has everything now. She must be happy right!? Thinking about it all, Evelina wanted to cry. Really cry. But how can she? How can she cry before this traitor!?

"Oho? The miss wants to cry? How pitiful, just cry. Kneel and beg. If you do so I might just think about treating you gently!" Lia laughed in delight as she opened Evelina's jewelry box and put some in her pocket right before Evelina's tearful eyes. She had always wished for a day she could step all over these proud and arrogant masters!

Evelina felt a great amount of energy rush over as her rage overthrew her rationality before she stood up and slapped Lia. She didn't hesitate to use all her strength for that slap. Lia fell and so did the jewelry box she was holding. As it hit the ground heavily, a part of the wooden box broke off. The young lady who held a delicate and pretty appearance glared daggers at the maid with a swollen and red cheek.

"Shut up. You think you're important now or something? Hah. You're nothing to that b*tch sister of mine. You're just a temporary useful puppet, once you lose your purpose, you are nothing. I know how she is. Don't forget your place, trash. Even if you give a pig a crown, it's still a pig." Evelina sneered after spitting on Lia.

"Y-you! You think you're in a place to act like this to me!? You are nothing right now, Evelina! You're merely a powerful duke's daughter in name!" Lia struggled to stand up. Her cheek was swelling and it was very painful.

"At least I'm not an arrogant, money-hungry lowly maid who dares try to step over their master." Evelina retorted.

"You b*tch!" Lia grabbed Evelina by the hair and tried to scratch her face but Evelina grabbed her wrist just in time. The two struggled, each pulling each other's hair. Eventually Evelina lost her balance and Lia scratched her pretty face. The scratch mark wasn't very obvious or too large but it was red and some parts were beginning to bleed. Evelina hissed with pain as Lia got up and left with a, "Hmph!"

"Ughh!" Tears fell as Evelina with her dishevelled appearance cried.

***********

[With nothing that wasn't valuable to be destroyed, Duke Skyler resorted to simply screaming when frustrated. Due to this, the servants have been uneased and more and more of them are choosing to quit to avoid the possibility of becoming a target for when the duke is in a fit of anger. Both the young lady and young master have been locking themselves in their rooms. The halls are usually quiet if not for the occasional shouting of the Duke that could be heard even rooms away. These days, Lia has been monitoring lady Evelina however it is very difficult. Once Lia tries to enter the bedroom of the young lady, the two would always get into a fight. Thus Lia could only wait outside.]

"Look how far you've fallen, Eve."

Underneath the sunlight shining through the window, Lilith read the report sent by the head maid of the Skyler estate in a relaxed manner. It always gives her peace of mind knowing the Skyler family is slowly destroying itself.

"Miss, I brought some snacks! I have never made these kinds of cookies before, I hope you like them!" Marie walked in with a plate of fresh baked cookies in her hands. Her smile was as warm as the sunlight. Though many things have changed, Marie is still the same.

"Thank you, Marie." Lilith nodded. Marie put down the plate of cookies before Lilith and smiled. As Lilith gave the cookies a taste, Marie told her what she had been up to recently.

"Miss, this morning I saw a female cat and a kitten lurking in the garden. I managed to lure them out with some food. I think they are a pair of mother and daughter! They are both so cute and although they appear to be strays, their fur isn't too dirty! Both of them were very friendly too! I gave each of them a hug and I can confirm, they are extremely huggable! All morning, the mommy cat and the kitten didn't leave each other's sides! They are so close!" Marie told her story while making hand gestures. Her tone was very optimistic and cheerful, just like always. After a pause, she added, "Just like you and me, miss!"

"Yes, yes. Marie, you should look out for some kittens. I read that it is most common for cats to have more than one kitten, so perhaps that kitten isn't the only one and the others are just lost." Lilith laughed amusingly as she told Marie.

Marie gasped before saying, "You're right, miss! Oh no, those lost kittens might be hungry! I must go save them!" Soon after she finished serving Lilith, she left.

Lilith sighed as she watched Marie go, "That girl…"

*************

Though Lilith's days were mostly peaceful, attending her usual classes with the empress, playing and spending time with the royal children, and also partaking in some social gatherings, occasionally chatting with Charles when they got to meet, a certain someone was definitely having the worst time of their life.

The head maid of the Skyler estate reported how Evelina had attempted to kill herself multiple times.

However each time she was caught by Lia.

Due to the indifference of both her family and the servants, Evelina wasn't cared for like she used to. Her once beautiful appearance has grown to be haggard looking, dull, and her face now seemed sickly pale. Her body became much thinner than before and her lips no longer possessed the enchanting color it once had.

Today, the emperor had personally set the wedding date for Evelina and Rulias. Most of the time, getting a marriage bestowed by the emperor was a rare honor but it was clear to everyone that it wasn't supposed to be taken as honor…

Not long before the wedding date was announced, Evelina and Rulias agreed to meet to discuss about the wedding.

Rulias was quite excited, he hadn't really spoken to Evelina for a long time. Even when her reputation amongst the nobility began to plummet. He stuck by her side. This wasn't the first time someone had tried to frame Evelina. Many had tried before but this is the first time it had gotten this bad. He was quite conflicted on what to do. He had many questions in mind to ask her but when he arrived to see her in the Skyler estate, he was stunned into silence.

What happened to her? This wasn't the graceful lady Evelina he knew at all.