Vengeance Should Be Grim And Regal - Chapter 2
Translator and Editor: Hue and Tea
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Chapter 2
I have traveled back in time.
This was Cecilyn’s conclusion after listening to the Duke’s nagging and double-checking the date.
Otherwise, she would be too overwhelmed.
Azellan, May 1482.
Seven years before April’s death. I have returned to the day the tragedy began.
“This is a miracle.”
After much thought, Cecilyn accepted it as a miracle. It wasn’t just that time had been turned back. April, who had died, was alive.
That alone was a miracle. Besides, today was the day to see the First Prince and make amends. It was before the tragedy.
There was a time that could be turned back.
“Maybe I can change it.”
In the past. Cecilyn Brioden was a spoiled brat who couldn’t do anything. In other words, she was stupid and misunderstood her younger sister.
Also someone who shouldn’t have been born in the first place. An illegitimate bastard. Cecilyn Brioden was such a presence for everyone.
And the tragedy began the year Cecilyn turned seven.
-Have you heard?
-They say the new Duchess is the Duke’s first love. Oh dear.
Her mother died, and the woman became none other than the Duke’s ‘first love.’
Former lovers separated by a strategic marriage. The Duke’s people, of course, knew the new Duchess. So the servants at the time naturally thought that the two would marry.
But her family was in disarray, and the marriage fell apart, and instead a daughter of another family naturally became Duchess.
This person was Cecilyn’s mother.
It was a marriage arranged for purely strategic reasons.
The problem is that Cecilyn was the child born of that strategic marriage.
How foolish, what were they thinking?
The daughter of an intimate and loving lover versus the daughter of a woman who became his wife through a strategic marriage. People chose the former, April, without hesitation.
Cecilyn never had a chance.
The indifference and rejection she had taken for granted since childhood. Cecilyn realized too late that the treatment she received was not natural at all. The more time she spent with April, the more it became apparent.
But the indifference had been there for a long time. The more April shone, the deeper Cecilyn fell into the abyss.
When her mother was ill, her indifferent father grieved and stopped eating when his first love died. When Cecilyn begged him to save her mother, it was April who shunned her, begging with all her heart and soul.
-As a sister, can’t you give a little to your younger sister?
-How greedy. She is so greedy, just like her mother.
-Follow April’s example. How polite and kind she is.
Everyone looked after April first, and Cecilyn, who had already lost her mother, was ignored. After the Duchess died, the discrimination against her worsened.
When it was decided that Cecilyn would marry the second prince, she erased April from her heart. It was the result of all the misunderstanding and rejection that had built up.
I won’t let it happen again this time.
Cecilyn thought carefully about the past.
When she refused the proposal of the first prince, everything had gone wrong.
When Cecilyn refused the first prince’s proposal of marriage, the palace was at a loss and instead proposed a marriage between the second prince and April. The fact that the second prince, Frederick, liked her had played a part in this, of course.
Of course, Cecilyn refused the proposal…
‘He fooled everyone.’
The second prince’s performance was perfect. He whispered sweet love to April. He deceived everyone, even Cecilyn.
But in the end, it wasn’t love that the second prince whispered to April. His goal was to use her as an “experimental subject” to support his ambition.
‘He killed the Sword Master.’
The biggest obstacle to becoming Crown Prince was the First Prince, who was revered as the Sword Master. He couldn’t be killed with ordinary poison. So the second prince targeted April to kill the first prince. The reason was that it was easier to manipulate a commoner than a noble lady.
Because it was fun.
He used April for such a reason and subjected her to cruel torture. Cecilyn would never forgive him.
Overthrowing the second prince was Cecilyn’s only goal.
“Snap out of it.”
After arranging her intricate thoughts, her vision finally cleared.
While the maid left to fetch water, Cecilyn quickly organized her remaining thoughts. The confusion remained, but there was no time to dwell on it. The moment she became aware of reality, she had to seize the opportunity.
But first she had to change herself. Not stupidly endure everything, but according to her nature.
But what was going on?
“Here is the prepared water.”
What was she doing?
“……”
Cecilyn looked at the water before her. Maybe it was the good weather, but even the foreign substances in the silver bowl were clearly visible. As she gently washed her face, she looked at the dirty water between her fingers. To think she had gotten used to it. She inadvertently tasted déjà vu.
“Lina.”
“Yes, miss.”
Cecilyn gazed calmly at the maid, who looked down after removing her hand from her face. How long had it been? The maid’s shoulders, which had been straight, were slowly drooping inward.
“Is there something you need?”
Her tone was rude and unintentionally insulting. Cecilyn blinked softly.
“Aren’t you thirsty?”
“Pardon?”
Employees are generally not allowed to talk back to their masters. Breaking the rules of Brieden Manor, the maid narrowed her eyes.
Cecilyn also narrowed her eyes like a catfish and pulled up the corners of her mouth. When the maid’s attention was diverted by her smooth lips, Cecilyn quietly picked up the bowl of water.
Then she stood and handed it to the maid.
“Drink.”
“Pardon?”
“Drink.”
Before the maid could answer, Cecilyn spoke first.
“You haven’t even had anything to drink since you washed me this morning, have you? So I’ll take care of that, here, water.”
“Oh, miss.”
“Why?”
This is clean water.
Cecilyn cocked her head. The maid was noticeably upset.
“Miss, please calm down for a moment…”
Cecilyn’s personality wasn’t good. No, she was devious. The oppressive environment had twisted her personality. But because she had been despised for so long, Cecilyn killed her own personality over time. The part that the maids emphasized was the good Cecilyn.
Her overly submissive behavior, her extreme indifference, and years of gaslighting had eaten away at Cecilyn. As a result, the maids talked about her every night from the moment the dirty nature died alone.
But what’s this attitude?
“Have you gone deaf?”
Lina began to wonder if the woman in front of her was the same person she had seen before.
Her hair, her eye color, her appearance and her body were all the same as yesterday, but the aura she radiated and the way she spoke had changed completely overnight.
Like someone else.
“Kyaaak!”
While trying to assess the situation, her head suddenly felt cold. Lina was drenched and screamed. She took a deep breath, and her lips trembled.
The servant’s formerly dry clothing was now wet and cold.
Even as she examined her wet clothes, water dripped from the ends of her hair. Watching her, Cecilyn smiled in satisfaction.
“How is it?”
Why didn’t she do this from the start? Cecilyn looked at the empty bowl without wiping the grin from her face. Then she threw the empty bowl to the floor.
The servant had been examining herself and, startled by the sound of the broken bowl, shouted again.
“Isn’t it refreshing? The water is clean and perfect for quenching your thirst.”
“Oh, Miss!”
Slap!
The servant’s small head turned to the side. Before she could blink, she was slapped across the face and stuttered without a word.
Cecilyn looked down at the hand that had just struck the servant. She had only struck her once, but her hand was already swelling and turning purple.
What a weak body she had.
Yes, I’m back.
When she opened her eyes, it had been seven years. Well, no one in the world would believe such nonsense, but Cecilyn was grateful that nonsense had become reality.
But no matter how far back she went, it was still the same.
“I’ve been irritated for a long time.”
“….”
“Shut up.”
Why is everything the same?
What happened this morning was immediately reported to the Duke.
“I heard you splashed water on the servant.”
But this kind of reprimand was nothing new. Cecilyn didn’t bother to reply. Instead, as she quickly finished the refreshing plate of prawn dumplings, she heard a sigh from beside her.
“Your temper is getting worse every day. Who do you take after?”
“….”
“Aren’t you going to answer me this time?”
Cecilyn chewed her dumplings without answering. She knew that answering would only be a waste of energy. In fact, this was almost the first time she had shown such rebelliousness. But the Duke scolded her as if she had always been like this.
Besides, the Duke was no longer someone Cecilyn needed to impress. Having returned to the past, she had no intention of repeating the same foolish mistakes as before. Even if it meant doing something, “Father.” Even if no one knew where her life would take her, the day would come when she would miss that name. But it was not bad, the thought was even somewhat comforting.
“The maid’s actions were clearly wrong.”
Cecilyn smiled softly at April’s statement. She felt terribly guilty. Once again, April had done her best for her. She could not express her gratitude here. Suddenly being kind to a sibling she had despised so much? Everyone would be suspicious. There would be many watchful eyes. At another time it might not have been a problem, but now she had to understand the situation.
“Can you just behave as usual?”
Since she had decided to overthrow Frederick, she could not afford to make mistakes by letting her emotions get the better of her. ‘I don’t have the courage to approach him as a friend.’ She held a knife in her mind. Cecilyn was capable of realizing her mistake and regretting it. She was not that unscrupulous. Instead, she would do her best with what she could do now.
“Of course, you too, elder sister…”
“Yes.”
Cecilyn put down the knife and fork she was holding. As she raised her head and looked at her, the two sets of eyes, similar yet different, met.
“I was wrong this time, too.”
“!”
It was a statement that blamed no one but her own willfulness. When she so readily admitted her own stupidity, the room fell silent. Even April, usually so calm about everything, seemed quite surprised and her big eyes blinked.
“Ha…”
She had expected it, but the reaction was still quite obvious. Of course, it wasn’t that her reaction was disrespectful. It was just that she now realized how low her reputation was.
Well, it was her own fault. Cecilyn finally burst out laughing and slowly got to her feet.
She had no appetite.
“So if you want to punish me, please let me finish the task first.”
“……”
“It would be better to scratch my hands or my skin. My skin could have been turned over on a day like this, when I almost met the prince.”
The blue wall fell quietly.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
She had nothing more to say. Cecilyn rose from her chair and walked straight out of the dining room.
Regaining her senses, April called after Cecilyn, but Cecilyn still didn’t turn back. After taking a deep breath, Cecilyn gestured to the maid.
“Let’s go.”
It’s time to prepare.
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