After watching the sky for a long time, I sat down on the cream and brown-colored chair where I usually read my books. I placed my head gently on the table where my book still lay, then whispered to myself:
"Next week, I'll be fully recovered. Then I have to start over… fix Liora's mistakes. No—my mistakes now. And begin a new life… haaa…"
I let out a deep sigh.
As I closed my eyes, the vision crashed over me again—no gentle dream, but a brutal glimpse of the fate that once awaited the old Liora.
She had woken from her coma, just like I had. Her body was weak, her mind confused, but hope flickered in her chest. She thought maybe… maybe her family still cared.
But then… she overheard the maids.
They whispered in the hallway, not knowing she was nearby.
"Did you hear? The Duke might adopt Lady Lilith. She might really become the next Lady of the house."
Liora's heart dropped.
She rushed to the door, swung it open, and grabbed the maid's wrist. Her voice cracked.
"What did you just say? Is she living here? But why!?"
The maid panicked. "M-My Lady, please… let go of my hand…"
She let go, hands trembling, and the maids quickly ran down the hallway. Liora was left standing there, heart pounding. Tears welled in her eyes as she wandered the halls—and then she saw them.
Her brothers. Cedric and Renald. Sitting in the tea room with Lilith.
Laughing.
Happy.
Without her.
Her steps were shaky as she entered the room. She reached out and grabbed Lilith's wrist.
"What are you doing here with my brothers?" she demanded.
Lilith looked at her calmly… then smiled. Cold and cruel.
She replied in barely a whisper, "Your brothers? They're mine now."
"No," Liora whispered, shaking her head.
"This is my house. My brothers. Nothing here belongs to you. I am Liora Dreadmoor, daughter of this house!" she said louder, her voice rising with emotion. Then she pushed Lilith—not hard, just enough to move her back.
But Lilith fell dramatically on her own to the carpet.
And Renald and Cedric—her own brothers—thought she had truly hurt her.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Renald shouted, running to Lilith. "Say sorry to her, Liora. You hurt her!"
Liora's lips trembled. "I-I didn't mean to. I didn't push her that hard…"
Lilith's eyes shimmered with tears.
Renald scowled at her. "You're unbelievable."
Cedric stepped in, cold as ever. "Haa… Liora. Just say sorry to her. Don't make a scene."
Liora froze. Her heart ached, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn't… I didn't mean to hurt her…"
But in the end, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry."
Cedric looked at the maids. "Take her to her room. She needs rest."
Liora's voice cracked. "Brother…"
But Cedric glared at her, and said nothing.
The maids led her away. She didn't speak again. She just cried. The room's door closed behind her like the slam of a coffin lid.
---
Days passed. Weeks.
She locked herself in her room, hiding her tears beneath her pillow. Nirelle stayed by her side through everything—gentle, quiet, kind. Bertram visited often, checking on her, his face filled with worry.
Cedric came only twice.
Not to comfort her—but to scold her.
"Stop acting like a child," he told her coldly. "You're damaging the family's honor. Don't make unnecessary trouble."
Then he left.
One month later, Bertram came to her room, holding a letter in his hands.
"My Lady… it's an invitation to a banquet," he said. "To celebrate the Crown Prince's victory on the southern border."
Liora's eyes widened. "The Crown Prince…?"
She smiled a little. After all this time, she thought… maybe she'd finally meet her fiancé again. Maybe he still cared.
She dressed carefully on the day of the banquet. Cedric escorted her. The hall was bright, filled with music, noble laughter, and the scent of wine and roses.
But as she entered, her eyes found him—her fiancé, the Crown Prince, standing beneath crystal chandeliers.
He wasn't alone.
He was standing beside Lilith.
Talking. Laughing. Drinking.
As if they had always belonged together.
Her heart cracked in silence.
Cedric leaned in and muttered, "Don't cause a scene. If you want to speak to His Highness, wait until after the banquet. Go to the side garden where nobles rest. Do not embarrass us. Speak privately."
She nodded.
But throughout the night, she couldn't bear it. Watching them smile, whisper, share glances…
When the banquet ended, she left the palace quietly and rode home alone.
---
As she entered the mansion, she saw Renald in the corridor.
"Brother," she said softly. "I want to talk…"
He turned to her slowly. Coldly. "What?"
"I heard a rumor," she said. "Is it true that Father will adopt Lilith? That she's going to live here? Tell me it's not true. It's just a rumor. Please… I'm your sister…"
But Renald cut her off, voice sharp like ice.
"Stop calling me brother. I'm not your brother."
Her breath caught.
"And yes," he said. "Lilith will be the new young lady of this house. Father will adopt her. Unlike you, she didn't kill our mother. She's not a disgrace. She's better than you in every way."
Liora's eyes filled with tears.
Then he turned to Bertram. "Prepare the carriage. I'll be picking Lilith up from the banquet."
He left without a second glance.
Bertram stepped forward, but Liora ran upstairs to her room, tears falling.
---
Days passed again.
Then, one morning, the Crown Prince came to visit.
Liora's heart raced. She thought—just maybe—he came for her.
She entered the guest room, hopeful.
But he sat on the cream and gold-colored sofa with papers in his hand.
"What… is this?" she asked.
"Annulment papers," he replied flatly. "I've signed them. Now you sign too."
Her world fell apart.
"Why? No… I don't want to. Why is everyone trying to forget me? Replace me with her? I'm sorry if I did something wrong. But I won't sign it. I won't end our engagement—"
"I don't like you," he said sharply. "I never even liked you."
Her hands shook. "But… you said you did. You said you liked me. Please… I'm begging you. Don't leave me."
His face twisted with disgust.
"You are nothing, Liora. Just a burden. No one wants you. Even your family has given up on you. How could you think this engagement meant anything?"
She clutched her chest—and collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Then everything went black.
---
When she woke, nothing had changed.
Everyone still ignored her. Everyone still praised Lilith.
But Liora didn't give up.
She worked harder than ever. She studied, trained, mastered every ladylike grace. For twelve grinding months, she molded herself into perfection.
She thought, maybe now… they would finally see me. Maybe now, I'd be enough.
After one year of hard work, one day, she dressed herself carefully in a refined gown, full of hope. She wanted to show her brothers. Show the Crown Prince how far she'd come.
But in the hallway… she overheard two maids whispering.
"The Crown Prince is in the Blue Rose Garden."
Her heart skipped.
She rushed out, thinking, He came to see me. I'll show him… I am now a perfect noble lady.
But when she reached halfway to the garden…
She stopped.
Her eyes widened.
And she froze.
Because what she saw there…
Shattered everything.