Chapter 6

***

“Princess, do you really want to marry that Grand Duke Bashke?”

‘His Majesty is too much, how did he allow the Princess to marry such a person!’ Madame Verdel was restless as she circled Isabelle, who was packing her bags.

“My decision has not changed.  So can you help me pack?”

Why a princess doesn’t have money? Isabelle retraced her past memories as much as possible and took her valuables.  She had only two pairs of shoes.  In the meantime, she left one pair on the beach.

‘It’s really stupid.’

Isabelle tapped her fists on her stuffy stomach. ‘But anyway, what do I want to do?’

‘I don’t know if I want to live or die.’

‘Even if there is hope that I will be able to live since I met Snow White away from the original ‘The Little Mermaid’….’

When she thought of the same death that came on the same day, everything became helpless.

‘ If I die one more time, will I go back to my original world?’

‘Oh right. I drowned in the river.’

‘So am I going to the underworld?’  Isabelle sighed and looked out her window involuntarily. The blue sea seen over the fortress wall.  A big rock and behind it…

‘Wait, what is that red seaweed?’

There was no way that the red thing floating on the sea was the old seaweed.  When she looked closely, she saw blue eyes staring at her like a barnacle next to a large rock.

‘Unless I’m seeing things, that’s definitely the Little Mermaid.’

“Verdel, come here for a second.”

“What’s going on, Princess?”

“Is that only visible to me?”

Isabelle pointed to the Little Mermaid, half of her face above the surface of the water.

‘It’s scary. Is it a horror movie or what?’

“What is it? …  I can’t see it.”

“There it is, the red-haired girl.”

At the same time Isabelle pointed clearly to the large rock, the Little Mermaid dived into the sea and hid.

“Princess, do you see a ghost that drowned in the sea?”

“…  All right, Verdel.”

The Little Mermaid seemed to have misunderstood something, but that was up to her to figure it out.

Isabelle waved her hands and finished packing her things.

In the big bag, there were only a few dresses and undergarments.  The king said she was precious, but she ended up with only two pairs of earrings and a few slender rings that Maria had handed down to her.

‘For a villain with a bad personality, her life is very modest.’

As soon as she regressed last time, she took the prince’s hand and left the kingdom.

Packing things with her own hands, she saw the original Isabelle’s life again.

‘Who are you? How did you live?’

Isabelle wondered as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.  The villain’s eyes, which seemed to bite her if she touched it, seemed somewhat empty.

***

Isabelle came to the Neveland Empire by ship.

The Grand Duke’s estate by the sea was as bustling and lively as the capital of the Empire. After crossing the sea and passing the port lined with foreign merchant ships and trade ships, Isabelle arrived at the mansion of the Grand Duke, her mouth widened in surprise.

‘If the mansion was more glamorous, it would have been treason.’

In her previous life she had nothing to do with Grand Duke Bashke, so she did not know.

Prince Edwin hardly even mentioned the Grand Duke’s name in front of Isabelle. Verdel looked at Isabelle with a sad face.

She seemed to be worried by the thought that her master would die on her first night.

‘By the way, the servants are all expressionless.’

Seeing the servant whose expression was dry, like an emotionless doll, reminded her of the woman she had left behind.

‘When I think of those ghastly things that rushed to eat me as a child, what’s this……’

What memory is this?

Isabelle stopped her steps and grabbed her head.

With the sound of metal scraping the floor, her old memories vanished like smoke.

A chill was added to the cold sweat that rose in that brief moment.

“Princess?”

Verdel, who was following her, called out to Isabelle and reached for her hand. Isabelle unconsciously slapped her hand hard.

For a moment, Verdel’s expression hardened.

“It’s nothing, Verdel.”

“…should I call a doctor?”

“No, it’s okay.”

Isabelle smiled awkwardly and followed Snow as he led her to the parlor.

***

Snow guided Isabelle to her residence.

He left the grand mansion and walked to the rear garden. Verdel blocked Snow’s path.

“Where are you taking the princess?”

“To show her where to stay in the future.”

Snow’s words, polite to Isabelle, were cold to Verdel.

He pointed to a tall tower that rose like a lighthouse in the corner of the large rear garden. The shape of the tower, made of large, white bricks, harmonized well with the grand mansion.

“Not bad, huh?”

He thought that this was about right.

However, Verdel’s reaction was unusual.

”You’re going to show the hostess of the grand duchy such a shabby place!”

“No, Verdel. That’s the tower, but it’s more glamorous than the palace I used to live in.”

Isabelle patted Verdel’s shoulders, sending a signal that it was okay, but Verdel seemed to understand it in another meaning.

“Look at this. If my princess sees that and how surprised she is, her face will turn white and…!” 

‘Wait a minute. I’m not ready to make a facial expression yet.’

Isabelle tried to hide her expression of satisfaction, but Snow was quicker.

“Well, the Princess looks quite satisfied.”

“…I laughed because I was speechless, Sir Snow.”

She roughly made up an excuse, but the witty Snow nodded his head, laughing like a snake. Isabelle quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, what is the reason for my residence to be in such a secluded tower?”

“It’s because of the curse of the Grand Duke.”

Snow explained, “At night, the entire mansion is filled with the cries of the beast. They say that every night the Grand Duke, who has turned into a beast, goes to high places. So if you’re in that tower, you’re safe.”

“If the princess is brave enough, she can stay in the mansion…”

“No, I prefer the tower.”

“Thank you. It’s where the Grand Duke’s brides- to -be have stayed for generations, so I’m sure it won’t be inconvenient.”

“You’re giving me the room where twelve people died?” 

‘What? What if a ghost comes out?’

Isabelle swallowed her worries and frowned hard. Even her haughty face was furrowed, and the atmosphere was bleak. Snow, who was relaxed, also avoided looking at her as if he was burdened.

“Only for a few days, but if it bothers you, I’ll find you another place to live.”

“I’m a bit perceptive, but let’s spend a day or so and then we’ll see.”

Chicken Isabelle winked one eye at Verdel.

“What do you think, Verdel? Did I look cool?”

“Yes, you did. Fortunately, you grew up to be a full-fledged young lady. Princess.”

“……………”

“Snow, you’re moving fast.” 

‘Hurry up and hurry up, Princess.’ Verdell chuckled awkwardly as she hurried forward.

***

After sorting out her luggage, Isabelle stopped by the mansion where the Grand Duke was staying.

The interior of the mansion was clean, but there was a small amount of strange furniture. Most of the antique furniture was new and had sharp cuts on them.

Even the parlor, where they received guests, was empty.

‘He turns into a beast every night. Did he smash it all?’

Numerous claw marks visible on the floor, which could not be covered with carpets.

Isabelle shrugged her shoulders and quickly changed her posture.

‘You’re doomed to die anyway, so don’t be afraid.’

Isabelle raised her chin proudly and sat down at the table that smelled brand new.

She then began to write a marriage contract with the Grand Duke.

After signing, the Grand Duke presented the contract to Isabelle.

“The wedding will take place on the day the Princess desires.”

It was exactly three months later, the day Isabelle had died in the previous regression.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Is there anything else you need?”

“I just need plenty of money to spend.”

Isabelle proudly demanded money.

The Grand Duke didn’t think that a woman the size of the princess would make such a request? His purple eyes opened a little wider.

“I’ve written down in the contract the gifts and dignity maintenance fees to be given to His Highness the King.”

“Give me more. Before I die, I’ll use it as much as I can.”

“Well then……is this enough?”

The Grand Duke wrote down the amount of money he would pay Isabelle each additional day at the bottom of the contract.

The lesser amount he wrote without hesitation was only ten thousand darien. In Korean won, it was calculated that she would receive ten million won a day.

“It’s crazy. I heard you have a lot of money, but isn’t this a bit much?”

She wanted to react nonchalantly, but the sheer number was suffocating her.

“You don’t like it?”

The Grand Duke tilted his head as he looked at Isabelle, who was gasping.

“Well…… I think it’s fine.”

“Good. Do you have any other requirements?”

“No, that’s good enough for me. By the way, what about the Grand Duke?”

“?”

“Does the Grand Duke have any requirements for me?”

The Grand Duke paused at Isabelle’s question.

Because so far, the brides had only demanded what they wanted from him, and no one had ever asked him if he had any needs.

“Well, I can’t think of anything else to say, except don’t run away until the wedding.”

“You’re not as greedy as I thought.”

“What could I possibly want from the Princess?”

“Something like, let’s not fall in love with each other because it’s too much trouble.”

“Ha.”

Love?

The Grand Duke just laughed.

“I have no such plans, though. Do you plan to love me, Princess?”

“I don’t either. I was just giving an example.”

‘What is it? This guy’s reaction is a bit annoying.’

‘Did my eyes fall on the top of my head just because he’s handsome?’

‘If only my face was as good as my sister’s, I’d be the kind of beauty anyone would fall in love with.’

Isabelle patted her cheek and stared at the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke met her steely gaze without hesitation.

“You can do it if you want. The Love you were talking about.” (GD)

“What?”

“If you need that, I’ll play along with you even if it’s fake.” (GD)

There was not an ounce of self interest in the man’s face as he said he would play along.

“You have great confidence, but your charm isn’t that great.” (Isabelle)

‘That’s enough. I don’t like men anymore.’

Isabelle snickered and grabbed the contract.

“Grand Duke? What happens if I survive?”

“From then on, I will do as you wish.” 

The Grand Duke answered Isabelle’s question without hesitation.

It was a question he was used to hearing. Most of the women who jumped at the chance to marry him thought they were the only one special.

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Okay. If I survive, you’ll keep the conditions as they are now.”

A life of freedom and luxury that she would enjoy with 10,000 darien every day. Isabelle was happy just thinking about it, but the chances of survival were slim.

It’s still good. It’s the beginning of happy freedom.

There was no need to struggle to survive in the Imperial Palace like the first and third lives. 

‘If I’m going to live a sad life anyway, I don’t want to squat and cry in a daze.’

‘If I’m sad about my limited fate, I’m going to hit my head on the steering wheel of a foreign car and cry.’

‘I’m going to sit in the VIP lounge of a department store, I will live a luxurious life and then die!’