CH 3

Ella’s body had a different idea. Her body naturally moved into the duke’s arms, and she smiled. Eyes filled with deep trust looked straight into the duke’s eyes. “Don’t worry, father. Maylin went overboard again. Look! I’m totally fine.”

Words popped out of Luciella’s mouth. It was something Ranhee would never have been able to have done before. This was natural for Luciella. Not noticing Ranhee’s confusion, the duke’s face became relieved as he looked at Luciella. His daughter was so precious and kind but she could also at times be a handful.

“You look fine to me too. But we should still wait for Baron Hillis. We don’t want you to be sick like before, don’t we? He’ll be here soon.”

When Luciella was six years old, she hid her illness so she could go outside and make a snowman. As a result, she became gravely ill for ten days. The illness continued to linger in Luciella even as she became the empress. Ranhee wasn’t sure which part of the novel’s storyline she had transported to. All she knew was that Luciella was currently a young lady belonging to the duke’s family. It was most certain that the duke and duchess would interpret Luciella’s fine as not fine. It would be better to wait for Baron Hillis’s arrival.

“Of course, father. I’m sorry I made you worry.”

The duchess comforted her and told Luciella that it wasn’t her fault. Ranhee was overwhelmed with an unfamiliar feeling as the duchess held her in her arms. Feelings of longing, remorse, gratefulness, and guilt overwhelmed her. Tears began flowing down her cheeks. 

“Honey, it’s our job to worry about you. We’re happy that we still have you in our arms. Don’t cry now. Your tears make us sad. Look at your beautiful eyes! Tears don’t suit you.”

Luciella’s uniquely colored eyes matched that of her mother’s. The duchess smiled as she comforted Ranhee. Ranhee’s guilt-filled heart pounded.

‘Mom… Dad…‘ Words that she threw away deep in her heart came back to her. For the first time since Ranhee had become Lucilla, she smiled. Tears dropped for the last time. 

The reason Ranhee transmigrated into this novel wasn’t important to her anymore. All she wanted was to be someone’s daughter again. Ranhee wanted to be the daughter of this family.

‘Maybe my dream was realized in another way.’

If this was Ranhee’s new reality, then this was an opportunity of a lifetime. Everyone believed Ranhee was Luciella, so all she needed to do was change her mindset. If she could do that, she could have the perfect family again. There was no need to waste more time thinking about this anymore. She didn’t know why she was sent here, nor was there any way to send her back. Both of these thoughts influenced Ranhee’s decision.

‘From now on, I’m Luciella A. de Constance.’

Ella who became Luciella instead of Ranhee stretched her hands to her mother. Ella felt happy when her mother naturally bowed down at her lovely daughter’s gesture and embraced her.

‘I will not lose this embrace. Never. I will never put them in any danger. I will never let them down. 

“I will never let tears drop from Luciella’s beautiful eyes. I’ll be your happy daughter. I’ll also be your joy. So please be with me forever.”

Ella determined herself to keep this promise again and again. 

The events from that morning ended just like that. Maylin would’ve been punished for her actions if she was working for an ordinary noble family. The duke, however, praised Maylin’s actions and told her she had his permission to do it again. They were happy that Maylin was very attentive towards their daughter’s wellbeing. Not only that, they were happy to see their daughter’s desire for their love. It’d been many months since they last saw their daughter like that. Duke Constance was well-known for his cold demeanor, but when he was with his family, he was a daughter-doting fool. The duke’s love that she had read from the original novel now overwhelmed her. At times watching the duke’s happiness made her forget that she was actually 38 years old.

Thanks to Ella’s overwhelming desire for his love, the Duke couldn’t erase his smile even until he was going to work

The duke had a difficult time going to work. He wanted to spend his day by his precious daughter’s side. It was only when he finally left, an ordinary day at the Constance household could begin.