That incident

That incident

After hearing everything from Din, Becky couldn't believe it. It felt like coming into this world and possessing this body was just a dream—until reality hit her.

The magnitude of the trouble she had caused was unimaginable. She couldn't even guess how many soldiers had already lost their lives because of her reckless behavior.

The realization of how deeply Elizabeth hated Leonardo now made sense. That hate, like a toxin running through her veins, made Becky shiver in disgust.

She sat on her luxurious bed, her nails digging into the fabric as she tried to picture the battlefield from the frontlines. The vividness of her imagination made her feet turn icy.

"If I'd come sooner...maybe I could've stopped this tragedy," she whispered to herself, voice trembling.

Her chest tightened with anguish, each breath becoming more laborious. Her eyes burned with regret and rage—too much for a mere college student to bear.

The cold wind slipped through the partially opened window, cutting across her skin like sharp blades. Becky stood, her silk dress clinging to her body with every gust.

The mist of her breath swirled in the air, and the thought of soldiers enduring such cold while bleeding, starving, and sleepless pierced her heart.

Swish!

Din draped a thick blanket over her shoulders.

"It's freezing! What are you doing standing by the window without any extra layers?" Din asked, her tone flat as usual.

Becky's gaze remained fixed on the swirling winds outside. Her hand moved to clutch one side of the blanket, fingers tightening.

"Din..."

"Yes, Milady?"

"Do you think anyone can survive this cold?" Her voice was soft but heavy with sorrow.

Din froze, startled by the unfamiliar question. Her master was infamous for her cruelty and cold heart—yet here she stood, mourning the plight of faceless soldiers.

"I...don't think so," Din answered hesitantly.

Becky's grip on the blanket deepened. "Yeah...you're right," she said, voice trembling with restrained fury.

She stood motionless, eyes unfocused as if lost in a storm of thoughts. Behind her, Din stood equally still, trying to decipher the subtle but undeniable shift happening before her eyes.

________

The Next Morning

The sun rose as it always did, casting golden rays through the leaves, where birds chirped the same endless arguments and bees danced from flower to flower. Yet, something felt different that morning—a restlessness in the air.

THUD!

The crash of a vase shattered the early calm, sending Din sprinting toward the room.

"Milady?" she called, breathless as she pushed the door open.

The sight before her froze her mid-step.

Becky stood in the center of the room, twirling in a white gown that shimmered in the morning light. Diamonds and pearls sewn into the fabric sparkled like frost, while silver strands of hair cascaded down her shoulders. The dress hung low across her chest, exposing delicate collarbones like carved marble.

"Oh...looks like I woke you up," Becky said, voice soft, but the cold glint in her eyes sent a chill through Din.

Even in chaos, Elizabeth's gaze rarely wavered, her sharp eyes giving her a predatory aura that could unnerve anyone.

Din quickly lowered her eyes. "No, Milady. I woke up early but didn't disturb you, thinking you'd rest longer."

She stepped closer, eyes flitting across the room. Dresses lay discarded on the bed, a damp towel slouched across the chair. Her gaze landed on the elegant dress Becky wore—a dress that required several attendants to secure.

Did she do this herself?

"What were you trying to do?" Din blurted without thinking, immediately regretting her words.

Before Becky could respond, Din hurried forward to collect the strewn fabric.

"This dress was trickier than I thought," Becky said, eyelids half-lowered as if the morning's exertion had drained her.

Din crouched beside her, adjusting the gown. "It's not your fault, Milady. There are too many layers...it usually takes multiple people to secure it properly," she said gently.

Becky's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Sliding her fingers through Becky's hair to twist it into a bun, Din hesitated before asking, "Is there...somewhere you wish to go today?"

The question escaped her lips unbidden, her voice betraying the curiosity she couldn't suppress.

A faint smile spread across Becky's lips. Din's heart skipped at the sight—it was an unfamiliar expression for a woman known for her cold indifference.

"I'm going to meet Father today," Becky said softly.

The words hit Din like a blow to the chest.

Father?

That word felt foreign coming from Elizabeth Augustine.

The memory of Elizabeth's childhood flooded Din's mind. Frederick Augustine had adored his daughter, showering her with love and gifts. People gossiped that if Elizabeth laid her eyes on the imperial crown, her father would wage war just to give it to her.

But that love soured as Elizabeth grew cruel. She punished servants for minor mistakes, shattered priceless artifacts during tantrums, and disregarded every moral lesson her father tried to teach her.

The final fracture came on a winter morning when Elizabeth pushed her four-year-old brother into a frozen lake.

Alex barely survived, saved only by a knight passing by.

That day Frederick had carried his son back to the mansion without sparing Elizabeth a single glance. The girl had stood there in the snow, watching her father's back retreat until it vanished through the grand doors.

And now...she wanted to see him?

Din's hands faltered for a moment before resuming their work.

______

A grand hall buzzed with the laughter and chatter of servants as they busied themselves with their daily work. Amidst the lively sounds, the grand dining hall stood out, its long table being adorned with one luxurious dish after another.

Frederick sat at the center chair, his hair neatly combed back, the silver strands trailing toward his neck. His hands were clasped together, resting on the table as he observed the lively interaction before him with a stoic expression. Across from him, his wife, Nora, giggled as she chatted with their son.

"And just like that, Mrs. Salinas showed off her umbrella to me," Nora said, adjusting the plates on the table.

"And then?" Alex asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and the edges of his lips pulling into a genuine smile.

"Then the same," Nora said, laughter spilling from her lips. "I showed her the velvet shoes you brought from the West." She chuckled louder. "Oh, you should've seen her face—it was worth watching." Her eyes flickered from Alex to Frederick and back to Alex again. "She even said I was lucky to have such a loving son."

Her voice softened with each word, the sparkle in her eyes dimming.

Alex immediately caught the shift in her expression. The corners of his lips faltered before he forced them upward again.

"Next time, I'm going to get you dresses from the Western Kingdom," he said with forced enthusiasm. "Although their style is...a bit revealing...but I'm sure the king will gift me something appropriate if I request it."

Nora gave a hollow giggle, her laugh lacking its usual warmth. "Yes...yes, of course."

Frederick remained silent, his gaze heavy as he watched the interaction unfold. He understood the unspoken pain hanging in the air, but he lacked the heart to join the conversation.

Sometimes, silence feels like a dull, persistent ache. But saying the words aloud might tear apart the fragile threads of hope still lingering in the room.