Chapter 10

I was immediately taken to my room, where Yana quickly got me ready.

I changed into a brand new deep blue dress, and my hair was loosely curled with efficiency. As makeup was meticulously applied, I was undoubtedly a different person from the one in the mountains.

“What should I do?”

I never thought I would meet Zain so soon. I had expected him to be busy dealing with the incident and healing Mariabel’s emotional wounds.

“Lady Mariabel will be joining you as well.”

“Huh? Really?”

After all, I had left like I was running away after such bizarre behavior. I had hoped to be left alone, but perhaps the two of them, being so honest, had come to thank me.

With that, I had no choice but to do one thing. I slapped my cheeks to muster up my courage.

“Miss, you’re still in the middle of your makeup, please stop.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I had to pretend nothing had happened in the mountains, regain my composure, and see this through as Grace.

When I finished getting ready and stood up, the woman reflected in the full-length mirror was none other than the beautiful villainess, Grace Sentsberry.

“...Alright.”

I took a deep breath and headed to the parlor, with Evan following behind.

When I entered the parlor, Zain and Mariabel were sitting side by side. I bowed slightly and said, “Good afternoon,” then sat down across from them at the table.

Seeing Zain for the first time in a well-lit place, he was so beautiful that my eyes were dazzled. It was even more so because the ultra-cute Mariabel was sitting next to him.

“I’m sorry for the sudden visit. After the questioning at the Knights’ Guild, I came straight here.”

“I’m sorry, I was the one who was selfish.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Mariabel, like me, was a completely different person from the one in the mountains. I was glad she seemed to be doing well, and I glared at the maid to hurry up and bring my tea.

As soon as the teacup was brought out, I took a sip and gently placed it back on the saucer. Zain then spoke.

“After that, I heard the details from Mariabel again. Without you, she would have definitely died.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

“My sister is here because of you. Thank you.”

He didn’t ask why I was there, perhaps out of consideration.

Indeed, even though Zain is a villain, he treated me politely because I had saved the only family member he had, Mariabel.

He also politely thanked Evan, who was standing behind me. As expected of the protagonist, he’s a good person.

“No, it’s all thanks to Lady. I just responded to your passionate desire to save Mariabel.”

“...”

I was very happy, but I didn’t want to say anything unnecessary right now. Mariabel’s face showed gratitude in response to Evan’s words.

“Lady Grace, even though you were so frightened, you still protected me...”

In Mariabel’s mind, the incident with the wild herbs was that I had lost my composure out of fear. It wasn’t wrong.

“Thank you so much, really.”

“...Yes. Please be more careful in the future.”

“Um, if it’s not too much trouble, could we, Mariabel and I...”

I couldn’t bring myself to make any villainous moves towards Mariabel, who had gone through such an ordeal.

Moreover, Mariabel looked at me with an unusually sparkling gaze, as if she were looking at someone she admired. And because of Evan’s words, she even asked me to call her by her first name.

Zain, who had been staring at me with his two golden eyes, called out my name, “Miss Grace.”

“Please let me thank you for risking your life to save my sister. I’ll do anything I can.”

At that moment, I clenched my hands and thought, “Here it comes!”

Zain must know that the greedy and privileged Grace has everything. That’s why I thought he would grant my wish.

– The only path left for me now is to somehow become his lover and make Zain fall in love with me.

Although it’s different from the original relationship with Grace, if I can make his heart hurt a little when we part, everything should be back to normal when I cruelly reject Zain in front of Charlotte a year later.

Honestly, I have no idea how to make the perfect handsome man in front of me fall for me. It seems impossible to make him like me while pretending to be a villainess, but I’ll think about that later. For now, I need to get back on track.

With that in mind, I smiled and spoke.

“Then, would you be my lover?”

The moment I said that, Zain’s narrow eyes widened in surprise. Mariabel, sitting next to him, covered her cheeks with her hands and blushed.

“...Me, your lover?”

“Yes. I’ve always admired you, Lord Zain.”

His face clearly showed that he thought I was lying.

Grace had never shown any signs of such feelings before, so his reaction was natural. The whimsical Grace suddenly wanted Zain one day.

“...Alright. If that’s what you wish.”

Although he clearly wasn’t enthusiastic, Zain quietly nodded. Despite the fact that he must have found it unbearable, I felt a warmth in my chest at how good a person he was.

“Thank you, Lord Zain. I’m so happy.”

I vowed in my heart to make sure this would lead to Charlotte’s happiness, and to endure for one year.

“Oh, how wonderful! For my brother and Lady Grace to be lovers... how well they suit each other...!”

On the other hand, Mariabel, with a dreamy expression, must have seen me as a completely different person.

Zain, with a blank expression, said, “I’ll contact you again,” and stood up. Even though it was just for show, it was hard to believe that such a beautiful person was my lover.

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

“Lady, please have tea with me as well.”

Mariabel, who naturally called me “Lady,” smiled like an angel and followed Zain.

“Well, see you again.”

“Yes.”

After seeing them off, I sighed, feeling that I had managed to get back on the story’s track.

“Now I understand why you asked about the Duke first, even after losing your memory. It was the power of love, wasn’t it?”

“...Maybe.”

Evan looked very moved, but the problems were still piled up, or rather, there were only problems.

“First, I need to make him like me a little.”

My starting point for his affection was definitely negative. For someone like me, who has no experience in love, it would undoubtedly be a terribly difficult journey, and a sigh escaped my lips.

– I couldn’t have imagined that I would eventually be the one who wouldn’t let go, even after Zain broke up with me.

And so, with a slight head start, the story of Grace Sentsberry began.

This concludes Chapter 1. I’m glad Evan is popular. Thank you for your continued support.