"Okay. What was the reaction?"
Duke Ludwig called Philip, who guided Edith to the mansion.
"She followed my guidance well, and she unexpectedly grasped the structure of the mansion. She especially liked the Sistine Hall, where the artwork was displayed."
"Did you notice anything strange?"
"No. Not at all. Rather, contrary to rumors, she showed a very dignified appearance."
"Hmm! Count Riegelhoff must have trained her for that much."
Duke Ludwig, frowning, tapped the end of the armrest of the chair with his fingertips. Even though she was trained by a snake, Edith was definitely different from the rumors. Even at yesterday's wedding, apart from the vulgar dress she ware, she greeted the guests with elegant posture, and though she was tired, she showed her smile all day. Even Killian did such a rude thing during the ring exchange. She kindly kissed the children and behave so calmly to make the atmosphere in the wedding hall wouldn't become awkward. It didn't fit any of the popular rumors that she was arrogant and complacency.
'Rumors are supposed to be stimulating, but...'
In fact, he and his wife had prepared their hearts for the news that she would come to say her greetings this morning. We already heard that Killian didn't stay in the bride's room last night. He was sure that she would argue and complain about how he educated his children and whether she was ignoring by herself. Edith must have had a lot to say. But she literally comes to say her greetings. He tried to provoke her on purpose, but he it only ended up being counterattacked.
'Killian, he made things difficult. When this happens, we have nothing more to say!'
It's not because he didn't know that Killian loved Lizzy. Duke Ludwig adored Lizzy like his own daughter and planned to take her as his daughter-in-law. However, he had to hold Count Riegelhoff leash so he wouldn't be attaching himself Arhduke Langston, that why he didn't refuse their proposal of marriage Edith to his family. Although he felt sorry to Killian, he couldn't give the daughter of the Riegelhof family to his heir, Cliff and after persistent persuasion, he finally married Killian and Edith
"Don't force me to do more than a couple on paper."
Killian walked away, looking like he had lost his soul after leaving that word behind, and he couldn't say anything. However, since Edith was rumored to be such a wicked woman, he thought that even if Killian neglected her, he would still have a reason to throw Edith later. But he didn't expect Edith was so quiet. . . .Duke Ludwig sighed, and Philip coughed low next to him and added his words.
"Actually.... On her way back through the competition, Mrs Edith witnessed Master Killian having a tea on the balcony opposite."
"Witnessed? Don't tell me...!"
'Witness' At the words , the Duke Ludwig made a grim look.
On the balcony of the convention hall, Lizzy and his two sons often had tea time there.
"Yes. . . . Mr Cliff and Mr Killian were having tea with Ms Lizzy there."
The duke covered his forehead with his hand. Yesterday was the wedding. And the groom didn't even spend the first night in the bride's room. She even saw the groom flirting with another woman the next morning. Even if the Duke was Edith, there was nothing to say because it would make the blood rise upside down.
"There must be a mess."
"That's. . . ."
"What did she say? Did she seem to have a way to soothe him?"
Philip was not unfamiliar with the duke's nervous mood. Ediht's reaction was surprising him as well.
"Well. . . She didn't care at all."
". . . . Yes?"
"I don't know what she thought inside, but she didn't make a fuss or get angry on the spot. She just moved as if she hadn't seen anything."
Even Philip himself couldn't believe what he was saying, and he wasn't confident in his voice. And Duke Ludwig couldn't say anything for a while. Because it was ridiculous.
After thinking about it for a long time, the conclusion he made was this in the end.
"It means that Edith Riegelhoff is not easy either. Tsk."
* * *
After returning to the room and having breakfast and lunch with the food brought by the maid, I reorganized the current situation by basing it in the sun on the balcony attached to my room. I've already given up a lot of things in this villain possession romance novel. but I felt like it would be hard to survive.
'The best thing is to be part of this family and spend the rest of your life comfortably. But does it work so easily?'
I promised to give up my husband's love and be satisfied with my well life, but it was only possible for the people in this house to accept me.
'Shall I be honest about my situation and appeal to compassion?'
Until now, all of my appearances were made by my father. I was actually a daughter abused by my father if i appealed. After thinking about that, she shook her head.
'There's no way people of the Ludwig family will believe what I say. Besides, why did Killian accept this marriage in the first place?'
If he knew I wasn't even worth being a hostage, he would immediately annul the marriage. Then I wouldn't be able to go back to Count Riegelhoff, and I'd be thrown out penniless. What the worst is, she could have been murdered for betraying her family.
'Then what about getting divorced and leaving?'
According to my marriage vows, in case of divorce, I will receive a small mansion for life. Enough money to live for the rest of my life. It would be the safest way, but I thought I must find out first if this divorce was possible with only women in this world. Besides, even if I wanted to get a divorce, I had to prove that I wasn't my parent's helper, and there was no guarantee that my parents wouldn't come and harass me.
'That's a headache. Maybe I should run away at night?'
Maybe this is the most realistic way.
'Now that i have to assume the worst, i need to figure out how the world is going on and save money?'
Of course, it was a measure assuming the worst situation, and the ultimate goal is to quietly stick to a corner of this family and live a happy life.
'Anyway, I think I made a good impression in front of the Duke and Duchess Ludwig today. Let's continue to focus on those two in the future. I think It would be nice to look good on Lizzy too...'
Lizzy Sinclair. A woman destined to be the protagonist of this world. However, until she came to the Ludwig family, her life was not easy. The children of the Sinclair family did not recognize Lizzy as their sister and constantly bullied her. To them, Lizzy was like a doll that they could bully and play with.
'While the Duke and Duchess Ludwig stayed at the Sinclair house, the Duchess became interested in Lizzy because she had saved the Duchess from falling into an accident...'
At that time, the Duke and his wife, who learned of Lizzy poor life, were angry that the young and good Lizzy was abused and received the right to Lizzy instead of the large amount of money lent to the Sinclair family. Thanks to this, even though Lizzy has a surname of Sinclair, the Sinclair family could not claim any rights to Lizzy, including parental rights.
'So what a hit Lizzy must have hit when she married Cliff.'
He could have grabbed a piece of the duke's son-in-law, but rather, he became the enemy of the duke and stepped on the course of downfall...
'In any way, Lizzy is a character who has a lot of luck in this world.'
If Lizzy was on my side, I could easily escape from the fate of death. Actually, it was the first thought that came to my mind after possessing Edith, but I was worried about it because I was strangely reluctant.
'Is it because Edith set up Lizzy's as her enemy in the original story? I'm not very feel comfortable dealing with Lizzy.'
Maybe that is the matter of course. Because Lizzy and Edith have a relationship that can't be spared like water and oil. Even if it is not a matter of character, how can the man I love embrace the woman he loves? Of course It wasn't a condition for me, but I didn't want to get close to it, maybe because I knew that Lizzy was the one who brought Edith down.
'In this current situation, if you try to force yourself to get along, they may be misunderstood. it's better to be kind but keep a proper sense of distance.'
But it was impossible to leave my hands blankly.
'Aside from being close, first of all, let's investigated the three people unnoticed'
If you know your enemy, you can win every battle. A basic research is essential to survive in this world, Perhaps the most important thing in the investigation was the three main characters. The next day, I decided to dress as simple as I could and observe the three from afar, pretending to figure out the internal structure of the mansion after holding my opera binoculars.
'As I find the place where Lizzy is, the other two will naturally follow.'
I remembered the original story and searched for places where Lizzy might be. The assembly hall, courtyard, terrace on the second floor, and garden.
'I finally found it! But why are you outside? Is it still cold?'
Under a large tree in the garden, she was reading a book in a perfectly drawn figure.