Chapter 55

I thought she was dreaming.

Just as she was being stopped by the gatekeeper of the Hurnberg family, Amelia arrived at the perfect moment.

Seeing her clearly, Melissa was taken aback.

(Could it really be... Amelia...?)

She couldn’t believe her eyes.

In Melissa’s memory, Amelia was emaciated, with dirty skin and hair that was frayed and messy.

Her expression was always dark, fitting the name "Foul Lady."

But... what about now?

The Amelia who appeared before Melissa had undergone a noticeable transformation.

Her skin was white and radiant, and her hair was as smooth and silky as silk.

Her expression seemed to have a light in it.

Indeed, there was still a trace of her old self.

Although she had gained some weight compared to the last time they met, her body was still thin and unhealthy, and she was wearing a plain dress that Melissa recognized.

But, Melissa’s intuition whispered.

If she ate more and wore a proper dress with makeup, Amelia would be an incredible beauty... At that point, Melissa stopped thinking.

It’s impossible, it can’t be, her brain refused to accept reality.

She couldn’t accept it.

No, she didn’t want to accept it.

The idea that the clumsy Amelia, whom she had always looked down upon, could be a raw diamond that shone brilliantly when polished...

Her facial muscles twitched as Melissa spoke.

"It’s been a while, Amelia."

Out of old habit, and because she was distracted by Amelia’s appearance, she forgot to use polite language.

"Sorry, I meant to say, 'It’s been a while, Lady Amelia.' Just out of old habit."

Be careful, Amelia was now the Duchess.

If she treated her like she did when they were at home, the gatekeeper might become suspicious.

Despite feeling somewhat resentful, Melissa’s rationality was still intact enough to know she had to endure for now.

For now.

Then, she ordered Amelia to have the gatekeeper let her in.

As she approached, Melissa noticed something.

(Why does she have that gem...!?)

Seeing the pendant around Amelia’s neck, Melissa’s eyes widened.

It was the very item that she had desperately wanted, which she couldn’t get even after pestering the jeweler in the capital.

Moreover, the gem in the pendant was much larger and more beautiful than the one she had seen in the store.

Melissa had no idea that the gem in the pendant was a much higher grade, the "Crown Blood."

"Um?"

While Melissa was distracted by the gem, Amelia tilted her head in confusion.

(No, no...)

After checking her surroundings to be safe,

Melissa tried to maintain her composure and spoke without showing her agitation.

"You look well, Amelia. Still wearing such a dirty dress?"

Even when she tried to throw in a snide remark, Amelia only smiled politely.

When she brought up the preparation money, Amelia only apologized repeatedly.

The ease with which Amelia handled the situation made Melissa grind her teeth in frustration.

(I don’t like this...)

The moment she realized the emotion growing inside her was jealousy, Melissa’s pride was visibly hurt.

Her pent-up frustration began to boil over into anger.

As they walked to the mansion, guided by Amelia, who was completely unaware of Melissa’s feelings, Melissa was repeatedly reminded that this was indeed Amelia.

(No way...)

Her frustration and anger began to bubble up.

(Ah, I’m so angry...)

Her irritation grew, and her shoulders began to tremble.

Getting older, her temper had become shorter.

At home, she would have found some reason to vent her frustration, but this was the Duke’s estate.

Even Melissa’s rationality held her back from causing any trouble.

But the anger that had been ignited wouldn’t go away.

She wanted to find a way to release it.

Then, an idea struck Melissa.

(That pendant... Could you give it to me?)

It was a devil’s whisper.

She didn’t know where Amelia had gotten the gem, but it couldn’t have been from the Duke.

A gloomy and unlikable person like Amelia couldn’t possibly have received such an expensive gem, Melissa thought.

(I remember, Amelia used to collect strange stones in the garden...)

She must have picked up a stone somewhere and tried to make it look nice.

Yes, it must be that.

(Actually, that gem isn’t a Bloodstone. It looks similar, but the shine is completely different. It’s a different gem altogether... The store owner said it could only be found in the mountains of the North...)

Melissa’s interpretation was conveniently pieced together.

Desire came first, and the logic followed.

(Actually, there’s nothing wrong with me taking it from Amelia...)

A sly smile crept onto Melissa’s face.

After all the trouble she had gone through with the preparation money, it was only fair to take a gem or two as compensation.

No, she deserved it.

Melissa thought she was entitled to it.

Once all the delusions were in place, it happened quickly.

"By the way,"

"Kyaa..."

As she pulled Amelia’s arm, a scream rose.

Ignoring the frightened look on Amelia’s face, Melissa pointed at the pendant and said,

"Can you give that to me?"

She didn’t wait for a response.

Melissa smiled slyly.

She recalled past events from home.

Whenever Melissa set her sights on something and demanded it, Amelia would hand it over without a word.

This time, she would surely offer it with a “Please take it.”

(Actually, I’m doing her a favor by wearing a pendant that doesn’t suit her.)

The drastic change in Amelia seemed to have been erased from her memory.

In Melissa’s mind, she was already envisioning herself wearing the beautiful pendant, completely ignoring the fact that her own figure was growing wider with age.

"......No......"

Melissa’s eyebrow twitched.

"What did you say?"

She asked, lowering her voice.

That’s strange.

It couldn’t be that Amelia had said something she would never say.

"No...!"

This time, it was clear.