Chapter 1

This is the residence of the long-standing Mascaul family, whose history is as old as that of the noble family itself. Despite the many repairs over the years, the grandeur and beauty of the manor remain intact.

The number of windows is vast, and it seems impossible to clean them all in a single day, even with help. Nevertheless, I must clean them alone.

In the window I had just cleaned, a woman with hair the color of dayflower, slightly darkened, tied up loosely, and eyes the color of violets, filled with resignation, was reflected.

The woman in the window is Nadia Mascaul, undoubtedly the eldest daughter of the noble family.

"Still haven't finished cleaning here? If I'm embarrassed when guests come, it will be my fault. That woman's child is still a crybaby."

"Mother, don't blame my step-sister too much. She's always been slow, so it can't be helped."

Holding a wet rag in my hand, I watched as the current lady of the house, Lady Olga, who was dressed in splendid attire, ran her fingers along the window frame before cleaning. Her gaze was more contemptuous than her words, and her lips, painted with bright red lipstick, were twisted into a distorted arc.

Beside her, a girl with the same sweet honey-colored hair as Lady Olga sent a similar look with her violet eyes, just like her mother. Her face, praised by everyone for its delicate beauty, was filled with a sense of superiority.

Sadly, they are my current stepmother and half-sister.

"Well, Giselle is kind. To care for Nadia like that, she's a daughter to be proud of."

"Of course. Mother, teaching me cleaning with such patience is also very kind. But Mother, could you come and help me choose a dress for tomorrow's ball?"

"Sure. Nadia, make sure to clean properly."

They glanced at my attire, snorted, and then entered the wardrobe room.

"How tiresome..."

A kind person wouldn't treat their stepfamily like servants. The daily farce has become tiresome.

I returned my gaze to the window, confirming the image of myself that had been mocked. My outfit, a simple dress and apron, might be even more shabby than a maid's uniform. My face, identical to my biological mother's, had no makeup.

I smiled bitterly at my far cry from a lady.

To explain how I ended up here, it all stems from my father's infidelity.

My biological mother loved my father, the Marquis Mascaul. From my perspective as his daughter, he was very handsome, with soft, calm brown hair and bright violet eyes that contrasted with his hair color. In his youth, he was known for his numerous affairs.

Despite opposition from her family, my mother remained devoted to my father, and their love eventually led to their engagement.

However, my father's heart was not solely directed towards my mother.

Six months after my mother became pregnant with me, it was discovered that my father's mistress was also pregnant. This was not a welcome event, and my father began to spend more time at the mistress's residence, as if fleeing from the situation.

"Quickly, I must regain my youth and beauty. If I do, my husband's heart will surely return to the way it was back then—"

My mother, who was fanatically in love with my father, tried every means to win back his heart, but in vain. She eventually fell ill, both mentally and physically. When I was twelve, she succumbed to a severe cold and passed away.

"My only regret is... even at this moment, my husband is by that woman's side... What went wrong?"

Her last words were not directed at me but were a bitter lament over her failed attempt to regain his love.

The memory of the shock I felt as a child, witnessing the madness of love and the intensity of obsession, remains vivid.

Six months after my mother's death, my father's mistress and her daughter—my stepmother Olga and half-sister Giselle—moved into the Mascaul family residence.

Life changed dramatically after that.

To my stepmother, my mother was a hated rival, an obstacle to true love. She saw me as a living reminder of my mother and treated me with hostility. It was natural for her daughter, Giselle, to share the same mindset and view me as an enemy.

Despite receiving more of my father's affection than my mother and I ever did, it made no sense to me—this thought must have been evident on my face.

It didn't take long for my anger to be fueled, leading to my current situation.

My father's indifference to my treatment as a servant and his failure to reprimand my stepmother and half-sister only exacerbated the situation.

I had already given up on him as a father. However, I had hoped he would, at the very least, protect his legitimate daughter as the head of the household. This hope was quickly extinguished.

There is no family here. I don't want to be part of this group, and I always wish they would just leave me alone.

"Giselle would look good in a light pink."

"Really? But it might clash with the pink diamond my father gave me last time."

"What about moss green? I remember the one I ordered before has arrived."

"Oh, that's right, hehe."

As I continued cleaning the windows, I could hear the bright, lively voices from behind the wardrobe room door.

It's a world I have no part in.

As a noble's daughter, I should have had a baptism and debutante ball at fifteen, but two years have passed without any such events. I am kept away from society.

They tell the social circle that "Nadia has been depressed since her mother's death and has been confined to her room."

My stepmother even goes as far as to create a touching story, saying she doesn't force me out of my room but watches over me, while my half-sister takes over the social connections.

Despite this, they hold ostentatious tea parties in the manor. I can only watch from my confined room as the scene unfolds in the garden.

"…At least I have food, clothing, and shelter, so I should be grateful."

I repeated this to myself and started cleaning the next window.

Thank you for reading.

I plan to deliver the story daily.

As it's the first day, I will post up to the third chapter.

I will open the review section after the story is completed. If you notice any typos or errors, please let me know. If you have any other concerns, feel free to message me.

Thank you very much.