Chapter 2
In a cozy rural village in the Muton Duchy, located some distance away from the ducal castle,
Priscilla wrapped herself tightly in a robe, covering her face carefully.
She feared that someone might recognize her as the Duchess.
Even more so, the younger version of Priscilla.
She entered a small but clean-looking inn and only removed her hood after unpacking her belongings in the room.
“I still can’t believe it…”
Priscilla vividly remembered how she had looked before her death.
Worn out, exhausted, and haggard.
Her skin had been dull and lifeless, her eyes hollow, and her hair brittle and split at the ends.
She wasn’t even that old, but her dark and blotchy complexion showed no trace of vitality.
That shocking image was seared into her mind.
Yet now, the reflection staring back at her in the inn’s mirror radiated youth and energy, something no amount of jewelry could replicate.
Setting aside the question of how she had suddenly become younger,
Priscilla began calmly thinking about her plans moving forward.
‘Should I go to the capital and accuse Brian Muton of attempted murder?’
But her opponent was the head of the Muton Duchy, blessed with divine favor.
He must have already fabricated a story claiming Priscilla had discovered his infidelity and thrown herself off the cliff.
Claiming her innocence and accusing her husband in court might not work.
Moreover, who would believe her if she said she had inexplicably become younger?
They might even accuse her of using black magic.
‘More importantly, if he finds out I’m alive, he’ll definitely try to kill me again.’
Revealing herself without any safeguards would be dangerous.
‘…I need to find Franz as soon as possible.’
As a mage, he might be able to uncover the cause of this bizarre phenomenon.
Determined to keep her identity hidden, she decided to find a carriage heading to the western region where her brother lived first thing tomorrow.
With her plan settled, Priscilla lay down on the bed.
The events of the day had worn her out, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
***
Meanwhile, Brian Muton returned to the ducal castle with a light step.
It felt as though a massive burden had been lifted. Humming, he read through the suicide note he had forged for his wife.
Hmm. It’s well-written, very well-written.
No one would suspect Priscilla’s suicide now.
As he raised a celebratory glass to himself, he suddenly recalled how his wife had looked in her youth, clicking his tongue.
Back then, Priscilla had been the most beautiful lady in the capital.
Even as she aged, she had remained rather pretty.
“It’s a bit of a waste, but, well…”
It couldn’t be helped. Starting anew required discarding the old.
Besides, he already had a mistress who was younger and prettier than Priscilla.
Once the funeral was over, he would marry her. He planned to announce that she was the person who had healed his broken heart after his late wife’s tragic passing.
But there was a problem. Despite an extensive search, Priscilla’s body could not be found.
All they had managed to recover were her shoes, floating in the water.
‘Surely, she isn’t alive, is she?’
Growing uneasy, the duke greatly expanded the search area.
If Priscilla Muton were alive, it would spell trouble for him. He had to find her quickly and finish her off.
But things didn’t go as he planned.
Two days passed, and still, no news came.
In the meantime, the duke’s children, who had received word, arrived at the Muton Duchy.
“Father, the estate feels a bit tense.”
“Is it because of her? She’s not around, is she? You’ve taken care of her properly, right?”
Eric Muton and Evelyn Muton, who had entered the study, immediately asked about Priscilla.
Both of them had resented their stepmother, who was close to their age, for different reasons.
They hadn’t opposed their father’s plan to replace his wife.
“I pushed her off the cliff to make it look like a suicide, but her body hasn’t been found.”
“What? Then she’s not dead?”
“I don’t know. She might have been swept away by the current and ended up somewhere, or maybe wild animals devoured her. Or perhaps she survived and crawled out alive.”
The duke sighed at the end of his words.
Hearing that there was a chance Priscilla might still be alive, the siblings’ expressions hardened.
“She could come back alive?”
“We have to find her quickly and finish her off!”
“Shh, Evelyn. Don’t raise your voice so carelessly. What if someone hears you?”
Evelyn flinched at her father’s reprimand, crossing her arms and shutting her mouth.
As the duke lit a cigar, a sudden thought crossed his mind, making him frown.
“By the way, why did you two bring the Crown Prince here?”
Theodore Johannes Trisanne.
Eric’s close friend and the Crown Prince of the Trisanne Empire was also currently at the duchy.
“It wasn’t me, Father. Evelyn is the one who invited him.”
Eric raised both hands in surrender, tattling on his sister.
Evelyn glared at her untrustworthy brother before shrinking her shoulders.
While preparing to return to the duchy, the Crown Prince had unexpectedly visited their estate.
Having harbored feelings for him for a long time, Evelyn impulsively suggested he come along, leaving Eric with no time to stop her.
“I just thought it’d be good to let him know about her unfortunate death…”
“Something like that will make the news eventually anyway. Why drag him all the way here?”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Evelyn apologized with a sullen expression.
Seeing her so dejected, the duke’s heart softened slightly.
He was a father who adored his daughter, and more importantly, Evelyn was his precious successor.
“No, no. Evelyn, you’ve done nothing wrong. Eric! You should have handled this better!”
“…This is my fault, Father?”
“Then whose fault is it? Evelyn’s? Mine?”
Eric, who had questioned him in disbelief, soon had no choice but to yield under his father’s stern gaze.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
“Good. From now on, take better care of your sister. Evelyn’s mistakes are your mistakes too!”
“…Yes.”
Eric clenched his jaw in frustration, while Evelyn, now confident again, spoke up.
“Anyway, shouldn’t we inform His Highness the Crown Prince that she’s dead?”
“Of course. Now that it’s come to this, we must make the most of His Highness’s presence.”
To prepare for the possibility of Priscilla returning alive, it wouldn’t hurt to plant unfavorable rumors about her with the Crown Prince.
On that note, the duke decided to personally deliver the tragic news to him.
He sought out the Crown Prince, who was strolling through the garden.
Even from a distance, the tall, slender figure standing with a hand in his pocket was striking.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
As the duke approached and offered his greeting, the handsome young man with a cold demeanor turned to face him.
With jet-black hair, piercing blue eyes, a sharp nose, and a sleek jawline,
his composed lips made him look like he had stepped out of a painting.
Looking down at the duke, the Crown Prince slowly parted his lips.
“There aren’t any daffodils in this garden.”
“Pardon? Ah, Evelyn prefers bright and colorful flowers, so she had them planted instead.”
The duke subtly boasted about his daughter’s beauty.
Theodore, however, showed little reaction and casually changed the subject.
“By the way, I don’t see the Duchess.”
“Actually, I have something to tell you regarding her, Your Highness.”
The duke, putting on the most sorrowful expression he could muster, handed Theodore the forged suicide note.
Theodore took the paper with his long fingers, skimmed it, and handed it back without much expression.
The duke wasn’t surprised.
The Crown Prince, despite being young enough to be his son, was famously indifferent and cold-hearted.
“We are currently searching for her body to at least arrange a proper burial.”
“Is that necessary?”
“…Pardon?”
“She willingly ended her life, wanting to disappear from the world. Shouldn’t her wishes be respected?”
Caught off guard by this unexpected remark, the duke blinked in confusion.
Theodore’s lips curved into a faint smirk.
“If you’re so determined to recover the Duchess’s body, I’ll assist you.”
“Uh… No, Your Highness. That won’t be necessary.”
The duke waved his hands in refusal, but Theodore didn’t seem to care.
He leisurely placed a hand on the duke’s shoulder.
“Coincidentally, I brought a few knights I trust. I’ll deploy them to search for the Duchess’s body.”
“There’s really no need to go that far…”
“Don’t be so reluctant, Duke. I owe the Muton Duchy for all it has done for me.”
With a subtle but firm tone of authority, the duke found himself unable to refuse.
Things were not unfolding as he had planned.
***
Priscilla had bought herself new clothes, shoes, and a hat at the market.
Wearing a simple dress and tying her hair back, she now appeared to be an ordinary commoner instead of the Duchess.
Through the innkeeper, she was introduced to a merchant heading west to sell goods.
Although she had to crouch in the leftover space of the merchant’s cart, it was better than nothing.
The merchant planned to leave in three days. Until then, Priscilla intended to stay holed up in her inn room.
During this time, there was no news of her death or disappearance.
It wasn’t a good sign. It seemed likely that someone suspected she was still alive.
She had hoped they would simply think she was dead.
Sighing, Priscilla went downstairs to have a meal.
She had just sat at the most secluded table and taken a bite of her food when it happened.
“Excuse me. Is the innkeeper here?”
A group of knights barged into the inn.
Among them, one wore a uniform bearing the Muton Duchy’s emblem, making Priscilla’s face stiffen.
“I’m the innkeeper. What brings you here?”
“We’re looking for someone. Have you seen a woman in her mid-thirties with green eyes and golden bobbed hair recently?”
As expected, they were investigating whether Priscilla was still alive.
“No, I haven’t seen anyone like that.”
Hearing the innkeeper’s casual reply, Priscilla let out a silent sigh of relief.
But it wasn’t time to relax yet, as one of the knights followed up with another question.
“Then, has anyone suspicious or unfamiliar come by recently?”
“Well, not particularly… This is an inn, after all. Strangers come and go all the time.”
“I see. If you happen to come across anyone resembling the woman I described, please report it to the local authorities immediately.”
“Understood.”
Priscilla pulled her hat down further, waiting anxiously for the knights to leave.
The group repeatedly emphasized their instructions as they turned toward the entrance.
Just as the sound of their heavy footsteps began to fade,
“Wait.”
One of the knights suddenly stopped and pointed directly at Priscilla.
“Who is that person over there?”
—
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