Crimson Eyes
It is often said that every child is born to be loved.
I was not.
My name is Lily.
I was born in the Western Duchy, one of the three great powers that divided the kingdom: the East, the North, and the West. The West belonged to Duke Harrington, a land of golden fields, magnificent castles, and noble families.
Yet to me, it was nothing more than a beautiful prison.
I never knew my father.
And my mother…
I often wondered whether she had ever loved me at all.
When I was young, I would wait by the window, hoping she might smile at me, pat my head, or call me her daughter, even once.
But all I ever received was a cold stare.
Then she remarried.
From that day onward, I ceased to exist in her eyes.
She devoted all her affection to her new family.
To my stepfather.
To my stepsisters.
To everyone…
except me.
I was never invited to family dinners.
Never celebrated on my birthdays.
Never comforted when I cried.
I learned something very early in life.
Some children are loved.
And some are merely tolerated.
I belonged to neither.
I was unwanted.
At times, I wondered what I had done wrong. Was I born at the wrong time? Was my existence a mistake?
No matter how hard I tried, my mother’s expression never softened when she looked at me.
It only grew colder.
I spent most of my days alone.
I read books because books never abandoned me.
I watched the stars because they listened when no one else would.
And every night, I made the same wish.
Please… let someone love me.
Perhaps that wish was my greatest mistake.
Because in my desperate search for love, I made choices that destroyed everything.
I trusted the wrong people.
I sacrificed the people who truly cared for me.
And in the end…
I died betrayed, abandoned, and alone.
If I had known how my story would end, I would never have wished for love in the first place.
Darkness consumed me completely.
Then—
I gasped.
My eyes flew open.
A cracked ceiling came into view.
For several seconds, I could only stare.
The faint scent of dust lingered in the air. Morning sunlight filtered through a small window, illuminating the cramped room.
No…
I knew this room.
The old wooden cupboard with its broken handle.
The faded curtains.
The narrow bed.
The chipped table in the corner.
This was my room.
The same small, dusty room at the end of my mother’s mansion.
I sat up abruptly.
“What…?”
My voice came out as a whisper.
I looked around in disbelief.
“No… This can’t be…”
I was dead.
I remembered it clearly.
The cold dungeon.
The pain.
The darkness.
I had died.
Then why was I here?
I touched my face with trembling fingers.
Warm.
I was breathing.
I was alive.
“What is happening…?”
Panic rose within me.
Had the Lord taken pity on me?
Was this a dream?
Had I gone mad?
Then suddenly…
I went still.
Memories flooded my mind.
My mother’s face twisted with disgust.
The sting of her hand across my cheek.
The endless punishments.
The nights I spent crying alone.
The days I was locked in this very room.
Then came another voice.
A cruel, mocking laugh.
My elder sister.
She looked down at me as though I were filth.
“If there is a next life, Lily, pray to become an insect. At least then you’ll have some worth. You can become animal feed.”
My hands clenched into fists.
Even now, I could hear her laughter.
Every insult.
Every bruise.
Every humiliation.
I remembered it all.
Then…
I remembered the end.
Blood.
Warm blood.
Her blood.
I remembered my trembling hands.
I remembered the dagger.
I remembered her horrified eyes.
And I remembered…
killing her.
A shudder ran through my body.
I lowered my gaze to my hands.
They were clean.
No blood.
No dagger.
Nothing.
I closed my eyes.
Slowly, I drew in a deep breath.
I was back.
Back in the room where my misery had begun.
Back before the betrayal.
Back before my destruction.
A bitter smile formed on my lips.
Perhaps the Lord had heard my final prayer.
Perhaps this truly was another chance.
When I opened my eyes again, there were no tears in them.
Only cold determination.
I would not beg for love anymore.
I would not waste my life chasing affection.
And I would never again become a pawn in someone else’s game.
This time…
I would learn the truth.
This time…
I would protect myself.
And this time…
those who destroyed me would pay for everything.
Those who had destroyed me would pay for everything.
Then, as if a forgotten door had been forced open, another memory surfaced.
The Imperial Family.
My breath caught in my throat.
In my first life, the Empire had not fallen by foreign invasion or natural disaster. It had been devoured from within.
The Second Prince.
Even now, his name sent a chill down my spine.
I remembered the day the news spread across the kingdom. The palace gates had remained shut for three days, and when they finally opened, horror awaited those inside.
The Emperor and the Empress had been murdered in their own chambers.
Their severed heads had been displayed upon the castle walls, swaying beneath the crimson banners of the Empire.
A warning.
A declaration.
A son had slaughtered his parents and claimed the throne with bloodstained hands.
The memory made my stomach twist.
Then came the First Prince.
The rightful heir.
The man beloved by the people.
He had been branded a traitor and executed before he could even defend himself.
The entire Empire descended into chaos. Noble houses turned against one another, the streets ran red, and loyalty became a death sentence.
I lowered my gaze.
There was someone else.
Someone whose face I could never forget.
For a long moment, I did not allow myself to think his name.
If fate had been kinder…
If I had made different choices…
He would have become my husband.
A man who had shown me kindness when I had known nothing but neglect.
A man who had never once looked at me with pity or contempt.
And yet, because of the greed and madness that consumed the Imperial Palace, he too had met an unjust end.
He had died without committing any crime.
Without receiving justice.
Without even being given the chance to live.
A sharp pain settled in my chest.
In my first life, I had been so desperate to be loved that I had failed to see the tragedies unfolding around me. I had mistaken obsession for affection and promises for truth.
I had been blind.
Blind to the conspiracies.
Blind to the ambitions of others.
Blind to the people who deserved to be protected.
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
This time would be different.
I had returned before the bloodshed.
Before the betrayals.
Before the Empire was drowned in sorrow.
And if fate had truly granted me another life...
Then perhaps I had been brought back for a reason.
Perhaps this second chance was not merely for revenge.
Perhaps…
it was to change the ending of those who had died unjustly.
Including him.
The room suddenly felt stifling.
Lily rose from the bed and slipped outside before the servants had begun their morning duties.
The manor was quiet.
Only the distant whistle of the winter wind echoed through the corridors.
Without hesitation, her feet carried her toward the terrace.
The moment she stepped outside, a sharp gust of cold air brushed against her skin.
Snow.
Tiny white flakes drifted from the gray sky, dancing through the air before settling upon the stone railings.
For a moment, Lily simply stood there.
Watching.
In her first life, she had never paid much attention to such things.
She had been too busy yearning for affection.
Too busy chasing people who would never love her.
But now...
The sight of falling snow felt strangely precious.
As though she were seeing it for the first time.
She extended her hand.
A snowflake landed upon her palm.
Delicate.
Fragile.
Beautiful.
It melted almost instantly.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"So this is what I failed to notice..."
She whispered the words to herself.
Unaware that she was not alone.
From the shadowed balcony of a distant tower, a pair of eyes rested upon her figure.
Silent.
Observing.
Watching the girl standing alone beneath the snowfall.
Yet Lily remained completely unaware.
A familiar voice suddenly shattered the silence.
"Helena! Wait for me!"
Lily's expression immediately cooled.
She turned.
Two young women stepped onto the terrace from the opposite entrance.
Helena.
The eldest daughter.
Proud, beautiful, and cruel.
Beside her walked Jennifer, the middle sister.
Unlike Helena, Jennifer possessed a gentler appearance, though Lily knew better than to mistake kindness for innocence.
The two sisters had not yet noticed her presence.
Jennifer hurried after Helena, excitement evident in her voice.
"Have you heard the news?"
Helena barely glanced at her.
"What news?"
"The Northern Prince is coming to the Western Duchy."
Helena immediately stopped walking.
"What?"
Jennifer nodded eagerly.
"I heard Father discussing it with the guests yesterday. The Northern delegation is expected to arrive within a few weeks."
Helena's eyes brightened.
Everyone in the kingdom knew of the Northern Prince.
A man surrounded by countless rumors.
Jennifer lowered her voice dramatically.
"They say he carries the blessing of the Ice Flower."
"The Ice Flower?" Helena repeated.
Jennifer nodded.
"According to legend, if the Northern Prince acknowledges a woman, he grants her an Ice Flower. It is considered the greatest blessing of the North."
Helena let out a soft laugh.
"As if obtaining such a blessing would be easy."
"Exactly!"
Jennifer quickly agreed.
"I heard that even when the Imperial Princess greeted him during a royal banquet, he barely reacted."
She leaned closer.
"They say his expression never changes."
Helena raised an eyebrow.
Jennifer continued in a hushed voice.
"And there was an incident during the feast."
"What incident?"
"A dancer made a mistake during her performance."
The younger girl's voice dropped even lower.
"They say the prince ordered her execution immediately."
For a moment, silence settled between them.
The wind carried fresh snow across the terrace.
Helena crossed her arms.
"So the rumors are true."
"A cold-hearted monster."
Jennifer shivered.
"I wouldn't dare stand in front of him."
Neither of them noticed Lily.
But Lily's gaze had grown distant.
Because unlike everyone else...
She knew those rumors better than most.
And she knew that some of them were true.
While others...
were carefully crafted lies.
Jennifer shivered as another gust of winter wind swept across the terrace.
"I heard something else as well."
Helena glanced at her.
"What is it now?"
Jennifer lowered her voice, though her excitement was impossible to conceal.
"The Northern Commander has already crossed the western border."
Helena's expression sharpened at once.
"The commander?"
Jennifer nodded.
"That is what Father said. The Northern Prince may not have arrived yet, but his commander entered the Western Duchy several days ago. Preparations for the delegation have already begun."
Helena's eyes gleamed.
"So it is true."
"Everyone in the manor is talking about it," Jennifer continued. "The nobles are already searching for ways to attract the Northern Prince's attention."
A faint scoff escaped Helena's lips.
"As expected."
She brushed a snowflake from her sleeve.
"If the rumors about the Ice Flower are true, every unmarried noblewoman in the West will be competing for the opportunity."
Jennifer laughed softly.
"I would not be surprised."
The sisters continued their conversation as they walked farther along the terrace.
Soon, their voices faded into the distance.
Silence returned.
Only the gentle fall of snow remained.
Lily stood motionless.
The Northern Commander had already entered the West.
That single piece of information stirred something in her memory.
A date.
A season.
A moment she had long since forgotten.
Her eyes widened.
"No..."
Her heart skipped a beat.
Slowly, she looked down at her hands.
The hands of a young woman.
Not a child.
Not the broken prisoner she had become in the end.
A young noblewoman.
The realization struck with startling clarity.
The Northern delegation had arrived when she was eighteen.
And according to Jennifer...
the commander had already entered the Western Duchy.
Which meant—
Lily's breath caught.
"I returned to this point?"
The whisper vanished into the winter air.
If her memories were correct, then only two years remained before the Empire began its descent into chaos.
Two years before the deaths.
Two years before the betrayals.
Two years before blood stained the palace walls.
A strange mixture of relief and dread settled over her.
She had not returned to her childhood.
Nor had she returned too late.
She had been given time.
Enough time to prepare.
Enough time to uncover the truth.
Enough time to change the future.
Snow continued to fall around her.
For the first time since awakening in this life, Lily allowed herself a small smile.
"Two years..."
The words left her lips like a promise.
"This time, I will not lose."
The smile faded from Lily's lips.
The snow no longer seemed beautiful.
It felt cold.
Painfully cold.
A sudden memory surfaced.
Helena.
The dungeon.
The smell of blood.
Lily's fingers tightened around the stone railing.
She could still see it as clearly as if it had happened yesterday.
She had been lying on the dungeon floor, her body covered in bruises and wounds. Every breath had felt like a struggle.
Yet Helena had not been satisfied.
Even as Lily hovered on the edge of death, her elder sister had continued to torment her.
Helena had crouched beside her, elegantly dressed in silk while Lily lay in chains.
A smile had curved her lips.
Cruel.
Triumphant.
"Look at you."
The words echoed through Lily's mind.
"You spent your entire life chasing things that were never yours."
Then Helena had seized her hair and forced her to look up.
"You should be grateful, Lily."
Grateful.
The word alone made her want to laugh.
Or scream.
Helena had stolen everything from her.
And Jennifer...
Lily's gaze darkened.
Sweet, innocent Jennifer.
The sister who always concealed her poison behind a gentle smile.
She remembered the coronation hall.
The golden throne.
The cheers of the nobles.
And Jennifer standing beside the Emperor.
Wearing the crown that should have belonged to Lily.
The title.
The authority.
The future.
Jennifer had taken it all.
Not once had she looked back.
Not once had she shown regret.
The snowfall seemed to slow around her.
Lily closed her eyes.
For years, she had begged for affection.
For years, she had endured humiliation in silence.
She had hoped.
Forgiven.
Endured.
And what had it earned her?
Betrayal.
Mockery.
Death.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"No."
The wind carried the single word away.
When she opened her eyes again, they were colder than the winter sky above.
She would never seek their approval again.
Never crave their affection.
Never forgive them.
Her mother, who had treated her existence as a curse.
Helena, who had delighted in her suffering.
Jennifer, who had stolen everything she possessed.
Every one of them would pay.
Slowly, Lily raised her hand and allowed a snowflake to melt against her skin.
A life as fragile as ice.
That had been her before.
Not anymore.
"I will make you regret it."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I will make you regret every wound you inflicted upon me."
The snowfall continued.
"I will make you regret every tear I shed."
The cold wind howled across the terrace.
"I will make you regret treating me as though I were worthless."
For a moment, silence answered her.
Then Lily's lips curved into a faint smile.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Terrifying.
"And when everything you treasure is slipping through your fingers..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"...you will regret allowing me to live."
The vow vanished into the winter air.
But somewhere deep within her heart...
it became a promise.
The vow had barely settled in her heart when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Lady Lily.”
Lily turned.
A maid was approaching from the terrace entrance, carrying a wooden tray.
Recognition flashed in Lily’s eyes.
Martha.
One of Rachel’s personal maids.
A woman who had never missed an opportunity to make Lily’s life miserable.
The maid stopped before her and offered a shallow bow that contained no respect whatsoever.
“Lady Lily, you should eat something.”
Her lips curved into a mocking smile.
“It has been three days since you’ve eaten.”
Lily’s gaze dropped to the tray.
The food was barely recognizable.
The bread was hard and discolored.
The vegetables had long since spoiled.
A sour odor rose from the plate.
It was the sort of meal even stray animals might refuse.
Yet Martha held it out as though presenting a royal banquet.
“Your mother is truly generous.”
The maid sighed dramatically.
“Lady Rachel is such a compassionate woman. Despite everything, she still allows a burden like you to remain under this roof.”
Lily remained silent.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the tray.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
This food.
This day.
A cold realization settled over her.
So it was today.
The day of the necklace incident.
The corner of Lily’s mouth twitched.
How could she have forgotten?
In her first life, this had been the beginning of another nightmare.
Back then, she had been starving.
Three days without food had left her weak and dizzy.
Even so, she had refused to eat the spoiled meal.
When she complained, Martha had flown into a rage.
The woman had struck her across the face.
Again.
And again.
Accusing Lily of being ungrateful.
The commotion had eventually drawn attention.
Not Rachel’s.
Not Helena’s.
Not Jennifer’s.
But the Dowager Duchess.
The elderly matriarch of the household.
The only person in that manor who had ever shown Lily even a trace of kindness.
The old woman had immediately questioned why such food had been given to a noble lady.
For a brief moment, Lily had thought someone would finally stand up for her.
For a brief moment...
she had believed justice existed.
How foolish she had been.
The next morning, the household had erupted into chaos.
Rachel’s necklace had disappeared.
Servants searched every room.
Every corridor.
Every corner of the manor.
And then, as if by magic...
the necklace had been discovered among Lily’s belongings.
Lily could still remember the expressions on their faces.
The accusations.
The disgust.
The satisfaction.
No one had listened to her explanation.
No one had believed in her innocence.
Not even the Dowager Duchess had been given the opportunity to defend her.
The verdict had already been decided.
A thief.
That was the label they gave her.
And Martha...
Martha had personally enjoyed carrying out the punishment.
The maid’s hand had struck her face so hard that she could barely hear afterward.
Lily remembered collapsing onto the floor.
Remembered the laughter.
Remembered Rachel watching everything unfold without the slightest concern.
The memory faded.
Slowly, Lily lifted her gaze.
Martha was still standing there.
Still holding the tray.
Still wearing that same mocking smile.
Exactly as she had all those years ago.
For a long moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Lily smiled.
A calm smile.
One that caused an unexpected shiver to run down the maid’s spine.
Because for the first time...
Lily was no longer remembering the past.
She was thinking about the future.
And this time...
she knew exactly what was about to happen.
"And this time..."
Lily's smile deepened slightly.
"...I know exactly what is about to happen."
Martha frowned.
The expression on Lily's face unsettled her.
It was wrong.
The timid young lady she knew would have lowered her head by now.
She would have apologized.
Trembled.
Endured.
Yet the woman standing before her seemed like an entirely different person.
Lily glanced toward the tray.
"What is this?"
Martha blinked.
"What?"
"The food."
Lily's voice remained calm.
"What exactly is it?"
The maid's expression darkened at once.
"What does it matter?"
Her voice rose sharply.
"A worthless person should be grateful to receive food at all."
The mocking smile returned.
"Do you think you're still some precious young lady?"
Lily remained silent.
Martha mistook that silence for weakness.
As she always had.
"Eat it."
The maid shoved the tray toward her.
When Lily did not move immediately, Martha's irritation flared.
Without warning, she pushed Lily's shoulder.
Hard.
Caught off guard, Lily stumbled backward.
The chair scraped against the floor as she nearly lost her balance.
Martha snorted.
"Pathetic."
Lily steadied herself.
A strange feeling washed over her.
In her first life, she would have cried.
She would have lowered her head and silently accepted the humiliation.
Now?
She felt nothing.
Nothing except amusement.
Slowly, she rose to her feet.
Martha frowned as Lily approached.
The young woman stopped directly in front of the maid.
Then, to Martha's confusion, Lily reached out and touched the sleeve of her uniform.
The fabric was soft.
Expensive.
Far more expensive than a maid should have been able to afford.
Lily lightly brushed her fingers across the embroidery.
"This fabric..."
Her voice was thoughtful.
"It looks expensive."
Martha instinctively straightened.
Pride flashed across her face.
"Of course it is."
Lily hummed softly.
"I see."
Then she released the sleeve.
Without another word, she returned to the table.
Martha stared.
What was wrong with her?
Why wasn't she arguing?
Why wasn't she crying?
Lily sat down gracefully.
Her expression was perfectly calm.
Cold.
Unreadable.
A face Martha had never seen before.
Then Lily picked up a piece of bread.
And began eating.
The maid's eyes widened.
For three days, Lily had refused to touch the food.
Yet now she was eating it without complaint.
"Lady Lily...?"
No response.
Lily continued eating.
Slowly.
Methodically.
As though she had not a single concern in the world.
A strange sense of unease crept into Martha's chest.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then suddenly—
The piece of bread slipped from Lily's fingers.
Her body swayed.
For a brief second, the room became perfectly still.
And then she collapsed.
The chair crashed to the floor.
"L-Lady Lily!"
Martha's face turned pale.
The tray slipped from her hands.
Food scattered across the floor.
For a moment, she could only stare.
Horrified.
What if she died?
What if someone discovered the condition of the food?
What if Lady Rachel blamed her?
Panic surged through her.
Meanwhile, outside the manor...
Hidden among the snow-covered branches of a massive tree near the window, two men silently observed the scene.
Neither had made a sound.
Neither had revealed their presence.
One of them let out a low sigh.
"At last."
His companion glanced toward him.
"The second young lady has finally fainted."
The first man's gaze remained fixed on Lily's motionless form.
His expression was unreadable.
"Can you blame her?"
Snow drifted between the branches.
"Her mother was among those who helped destroy His Majesty and Her Majesty."
A brief silence followed.
The second man looked away.
"That has nothing to do with the girl."
"No."
The first man agreed quietly.
"It doesn't."
His gaze sharpened.
"Especially when she can barely survive in her own home."
Inside the room, servants had already begun rushing toward the commotion.
Martha stood frozen.
Terrified.
And amidst the chaos...
the man's eyes narrowed.
Something caught his attention.
For the briefest moment...
he thought he saw it.
The faint curve of a smile.
On the lips of the supposedly unconscious Lily.
A smile that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
The man's eyes darkened.
Interesting.
Perhaps...
the second young lady was not as helpless as everyone believed.
The room was silent.
The physician slowly withdrew his hand from Lily’s wrist and rose from his seat.
His expression was grave.
“Lady Lily’s condition is not good.”
The words immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Standing beside the bed, Rachel stiffened.
The Dowager Duchess frowned.
“What do you mean?”
The physician glanced toward the tray of food that had been brought as evidence.
“Her body is severely weakened.”
He hesitated.
“As well as showing signs of mild malnutrition.”
Silence followed.
The Dowager Duchess’s expression darkened.
“Malnutrition?”
Her gaze slowly shifted toward Rachel.
The older woman’s eyes narrowed.
“Rachel.”
The simple utterance of her name carried unmistakable authority.
“Has Lily always been given such food?”
The Duchess’s eyes swept across the room.
The peeling wallpaper.
The worn furniture.
The cracked window frame.
The room itself appeared more suitable for a servant than for the daughter of a noble household.
“Or has she always been kept in a room like this?”
Rachel’s expression froze for a brief moment.
Only a brief moment.
Then she sighed softly and lowered her gaze.
“No, Mother.”
Her voice remained calm and measured.
“This punishment is only temporary.”
The Dowager Duchess frowned.
“Temporary?”
Rachel nodded.
“Lily stole my necklace.”
A trace of disappointment entered her expression.
“It was the necklace my husband gave me on our wedding day.”
She paused.
“I merely wished for her to reflect on her actions.”
The room fell silent once again.
On the bed, Lily slowly opened her eyes.
Perfect.
Everything was unfolding exactly as she remembered.
The same accusations.
The same excuses.
The same lies.
In her previous life, she had remained silent.
This time...
she would not.
Lily slowly pushed herself upright.
“Mother.”
Her weak voice immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Rachel’s expression tightened.
“Lily, you should rest.”
But Lily continued as though she had not spoken.
“I did not steal the necklace.”
The room became still.
The Dowager Duchess immediately stepped forward.
“My child, you should not strain yourself—”
“I do not even know what the necklace looks like.”
The old woman’s words were cut short.
For a moment, surprise flashed across her face.
Rachel’s expression darkened.
“Lily.”
Her tone became softly admonishing.
“You are still weak.”
“You should stop making excuses.”
Lily lowered her gaze.
Inside, she almost laughed.
Excuses.
How familiar.
How convenient.
The Dowager Duchess looked between the two women.
“If the matter is not settled...” she began slowly, “...why was she punished so severely?”
Rachel answered at once.
“It was not an ordinary necklace.”
Her hand clenched slightly.
“It was a gift from my husband on our wedding day.”
The room quieted.
Lily watched them all.
The physician.
The servants.
The Duchess.
Rachel.
A strange feeling passed through her.
It had been years since the Dowager Duchess had last visited the manor.
She rarely involved herself in household matters.
She likely believed Lily lived as any noble daughter should.
Comfortably.
Safely.
Respected.
How ironic.
Because everyone in this household knew the truth.
Every servant.
Every maid.
Every member of the family.
They all knew exactly how she was treated.
No one had ever stopped it.
No one had ever spoken against it.
But Lily kept those thoughts to herself.
Now was not the time.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly.
“Mother.”
Rachel looked at her.
“You said the necklace was made of diamonds, correct?”
A flicker of confusion crossed Rachel’s face.
“Yes.”
Lily slowly turned her gaze.
Toward Martha.
The maid immediately stiffened.
Lily smiled faintly.
The same harmless smile she had worn her entire life.
“A necklace with diamonds like those?”
The room followed her line of sight.
Toward the glittering earrings hanging from Martha’s ears.
Toward the jeweled bracelet around her wrist.
Toward the expensive embroidery woven into her uniform.
The silence that followed felt suffocating.
Martha’s face drained of color.
And for the first time since entering the room...
fear appeared in her eyes.
Fear flickered in Martha’s eyes.
The Dowager Duchess noticed it at once.
“Search her.”
The room fell silent.
“M-Milady?”
Martha’s voice trembled.
The Duchess’s expression remained cold.
“You heard me.”
Several servants stepped forward immediately.
Martha dropped to her knees.
“Your Grace, please! Lady Lily is framing me!”
Panic sharpened her voice.
“I have served this household faithfully for years. She is lying!”
No one responded.
The servants began inspecting her belongings.
The jeweled bracelet.
The earrings.
The embroidered handkerchief tucked into her sleeve.
One by one, the expensive items were placed on the table.
The room grew increasingly quiet.
Lily watched from the bed.
Her expression remained composed.
Yet within her, a faint smile stirred.
So it could change.
The future.
The thought sent a strange sensation through her chest.
In her previous life, she had endured every accusation in silence.
She had allowed others to determine her fate.
But now?
One small action.
One different choice.
And the future had already begun to shift.
Martha broke into tears.
“Your Grace, please!”
The Dowager Duchess’s expression darkened.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
The elderly woman’s voice carried clearly through the room.
“You stole from your mistress while serving under her roof.”
“N-No!”
Martha shook her head frantically.
“It was not my idea!”
Rachel visibly stiffened.
Martha pointed toward her desperately.
“I was only following Lady Helena’s orders! Lady Helena told me to torment Lady Lily! She told me—”
“Enough!”
Rachel’s sharp voice cut through the room.
The maid fell silent.
The Dowager Duchess’s eyes narrowed.
A heavy silence settled over the chamber.
Then she spoke.
“Take her away.”
Martha’s face went pale.
“Your Grace—”
“Fifty lashes.”
The words landed like a hammer.
“Afterward, remove her from the estate.”
Martha collapsed completely.
“No!”
She crawled forward.
“Please! Please have mercy!”
But no one paid her any attention.
Two guards stepped forward.
Rachel’s fingers tightened around her skirts.
For the first time, genuine concern appeared on her face.
Not for Martha.
Not for Lily.
For Helena.
If Martha were expelled...
If she revealed everything she knew...
The rumors would spread throughout noble society.
People would learn how Helena treated her own sister.
How Rachel had ignored it.
How the household had allowed it.
The scandal alone would tarnish the family’s reputation.
Rachel immediately lowered her head.
“Mother.”
The Dowager Duchess looked toward her.
Rachel bowed respectfully.
“I will handle the matter personally.”
The room fell quiet.
Lily watched the scene unfold.
A strange feeling rose within her.
Rachel.
Always bowing.
Always lowering herself.
Always seeking approval.
For a brief moment, another memory surfaced.
Years ago.
Long before Lily was born.
Rachel had not loved the Eastern Duke.
Her heart had belonged to another man.
The Western Commander.
A man she had pursued with blind devotion.
Yet the Dowager Duchess had opposed the match.
A condition had been imposed.
Rachel would first marry the Duke.
Bear his heir.
Fulfill her duty.
Only then would she be permitted to pursue her own happiness.
And so she obeyed.
Desperate for love.
Desperate for acceptance.
Desperate to earn the favor of the woman standing before her.
The irony nearly made Lily laugh.
All her life, she had wondered why she had become the way she was.
Why she chased affection from people who never intended to give it.
Why she sacrificed everything for a few scraps of kindness.
Now she understood.
She had inherited it.
Not her mother’s appearance.
Not her mother’s status.
But her weakness.
That desperate hunger to be loved.
Lily lowered her eyes.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Sad.
Bitter.
Understanding.
Mother...
You and I were never so different.
Both of us spent our lives chasing love.
Both of us abandoned reason for affection.
Both of us destroyed ourselves for people who never truly chose us.
Her gaze slowly lifted toward Rachel.
But there was one difference now.
Lily’s eyes turned cold.
Clear as crystal.
Sharp as winter ice.
I am not that person anymore.
And I never will be again.
I am no longer that person.
And I never will be again.
Lily lowered her gaze.
The room continued to move around her.
Rachel was speaking to the Dowager Duchess.
The servants were dragging Martha away.
Voices rose and fell.
Yet Lily paid them little attention.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
In her previous life, she had surrendered everything for love.
Her pride.
Her judgment.
Her future.
Never again.
This life belonged to her.
And this time, she would not throw it away for anyone.
Not for promises.
Not for affection.
Not for love.
Outside the manor, hidden among the snow-covered branches, the two men remained silent.
The younger man watched the scene below with interest.
Then he glanced toward his companion.
"You seem unusually interested in the second young lady."
The other man did not answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the room.
More specifically...
On Lily.
The younger man followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
A brief silence followed.
"She is unusual."
The answer was simple.
Yet his eyes never left her.
An eighteen-year-old noble lady.
Neglected.
Sheltered.
Raised within the confines of a manor.
That was what the reports said.
But the woman he had just witnessed did not match those descriptions.
The way she redirected suspicion.
The way she remained calm under pressure.
The way she manipulated the situation without raising her voice.
None of it belonged to an inexperienced girl.
It was the composure of someone who had survived far worse.
Someone who had spent years navigating dangerous situations.
The contradiction irritated him.
Nothing about her made sense.
Then his gaze settled on her eyes.
Bright blue.
Clear as winter skies.
For some reason, he found himself staring.
The color was far too striking.
Far too noticeable.
Annoying.
His brows furrowed slightly.
Those eyes are irritating.
The thought appeared without warning.
Yet strangely...
He did not look away.
The younger man caught the direction of his gaze and smirked.
"Oh."
The man's expression darkened instantly.
The younger man immediately raised both hands.
"I didn't say anything."
A lie.
His grin made that obvious.
The observer ignored him and turned his attention back toward the room.
But for the first time in a long while...
His curiosity had been genuinely awakened.
And somehow...
The girl with the irritating blue eyes was the cause of it.
