# 37 -
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Yuan said the exact same thing in her previous life.
That their wedding rings should be blue sapphires.
Because he wanted it to match the color of Miss Enohater's eyes.
It was her previous self who was so moved by these words that she immediately nodded.
Very stupidly.
But because of what Seret saw as a romantic proposal from Yuan, she ended up being ridiculed.
It was the day I was invited to a tea party hosted by Lydia shortly after the wedding.
"The Duchess of Frecktwister's wedding ring isn't a diamond? Is that... a sapphire?"
Mrs. Shimkins asked, looking at the ring on Syrett's finger.
“Yes, it is a sapphire.”
Seret smiled shyly as she looked at the ring.
Just seeing him made her happy because it reminded her of what Yuan had said.
He was a gruff man, but he could be considerate in small matters like this.
It made her think that maybe he didn't quite hate her after all.
As soon as Seret finished answering, the noble ladies and misses exchanged glances and began to smile.
Their reactions made Seret feel strange.
She felt like they were making fun of her.
“Why did you choose sapphires?”
Mrs. Shimkins looked at Syrett in disbelief.
“His Highness said he wanted our wedding rings to match my eye color.”
Seret answered, looking at the faces of those around her.
At her words, the women began to laugh lightly.
"It was Yuan's idea? Why would Yuan do that?"
Lydia tilted her head, as if she found it strange.
“Exactly. The Duke couldn’t possibly not have known about it.”
“He said he wanted it to match the color of the Duchess's eyes.”
“Oh my God, come to think of it, Lidya’s eyes are also sapphire blue, right?”
At Miss Grint's words, the group burst into laughter.
Siret blushed.
She couldn't understand why they were reacting this way.
“Everyone, stop. You'll hurt Seret's feelings.”
Lydia tried to calm them down. She then gently placed her hand on Seret's shoulder and apologized on behalf of everyone.
Strangely enough, Lydia's apology made Seret feel even worse.
But she forced herself to smile and thanked her kindly.
“Is it strange that a wedding ring is made of sapphires?”
Seret asked cautiously, watching their reactions.
"Who uses anything other than a diamond for a wedding ring? It's not like a fake wedding."
“Fake marriage?”
At Mrs. Shimkins' words, Seret's heart sank.
“Among the nobility in the capital, any wedding ring that is not a diamond is not even considered real. It is basically a cry to everyone that your marriage is fake.”
Miss Simpkins spoke excitedly, fully aware of how pale Syrett's face was.
Even after being insulted like this, Seret couldn't say a single word in response.
She couldn't even confront Yuan about it—because if he admitted it was true, it would hurt her even more.
“The sapphire is beautiful. This is really romantic.”
Recalling her previous life, Seret gave Yuan a faint smile.
The look on Yuan's face—how did you know that?—made her want to throw the tea in his face.
He must want the whole world to know that this marriage is fake.
She was completely comfortable with that.
The more he acts this way, the better.
It gave her something else to write in her diary.
Seret curled her lips into a smile and stood up from her seat.
She was about to say that she would excuse herself when Yuan spoke first.
“Don't you like it?”
"What?"
“The wedding ring should be made of blue sapphire.”
Yuan's expression was stiff as he looked at her.
“No, it doesn't matter.”
Sapphires or diamonds—what difference does it make?
The ring is worthless and has no meaning anyway.
Seret's expression was indifferent.
“Your face shows otherwise.”
“Please do not misunderstand my expression. I am so moved by Your Highness the Duke’s words that I might cry.”
Siririth clasped her hands together and put on the best face she could.
Yuan laughed lightly at that.
For someone who claimed to be moved to tears, her expression was extremely fierce.
“Is it because it's not a diamond? If you just wait a little—”
“No, not at all. I love sapphires.”
Siret interrupted and got up from her seat.
Yuan looked at her.
Those blue eyes—bluer and brighter than any sapphire—were staring straight at him, so his throat went dry.
He swallowed, his Adam's apple moving, and a quiet sigh escaped his lips, heavy with the desire pressing in his chest.
“I love him so much he's driving me crazy, so I'll go now. Have a good night, Your Highness the Duke.”
With a polite smile, Seret bowed and left the tea room.
She closed the door, leaving Yuan alone.
He leaned back in the chair and tilted his head back.
Seret's blue eyes remained clearly stuck in his mind.
His fiancée became more defiant by the day, and the more she did, the clearer his desire became.
A twisted longing—to make the woman who kept screaming with her entire being that she didn't want to be his give into submission.
“I am abnormal.”
Yuan muttered to himself, covering his face with one large hand.
Even with his eyes covered, Seret's blue eyes did not disappear.
***
Lydia quietly tore up the letter she had just received.
The torn pieces flew to the ground.
It was a letter from a maid who planted her inside Freaktwister's mansion.
Syrett and Yuan picked out their wedding rings today, she said.
"So they're getting married after all. He's marrying her, not me."
Yuan Frecktwister, the man she undoubtedly thought was hers would become another woman's.
Lydia let out a cold laugh.
There is only a short time left for their wedding.
Reagan said it would probably be around the end of the year, but for some reason it was brought forward to the spring.
There was very little time left to separate them.
That worthless woman would steal Yuan in front of her.
She couldn't help but laugh again and again.
“Anita.”
Lydia shook the bell string and called to her.
Moments later, Anita rushed into the room, panting.
“Write a letter asking if I can visit soon.”
Lydia spoke softly, looking at Anita's tense face.
“Excuse me?”
Anita blinked, not understanding Lydia's sudden command.
Lydia motioned for her to come closer.
As Anita approached, Lydia motioned again, asking her to bow.
As soon as Anita bent her waist, Lydia's sharp hand slapped her cheek.
“Write the letter, Anita.”
Her cold tone stabbed Anita's ears.
“Please tell me who sent it...”
Anita trembled, unable to meet Lydia's eyes.
“Anita, who was this letter from?”
“It came from a maid in the Frecktwister family.”
Anita replied, barely able to breathe.
“So where do you think I'll be visiting?”
“D-Duchy of Freaktwister...”
Anita stammered.
"You said you'd be my hands and feet, right? If you keep being this slow, I'll start to hate you. I promised I wouldn't hit you again, and yet here we are."
Lydia looked really upset as she spoke.
“I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess. This is all my fault.”
Anita quickly shook her head.
“Get the stationery and write a letter to Seret. Tell her I will visit her soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Anita rushed out of the room.
“Anita is very disappointing. I only keep it because it is useful...”
Lydia sighed, staring at the door through which Anita had exited.
Anita had a special talent—she could perfectly imitate other people's handwriting.
So whenever Lydia didn't feel like writing, she had Anita do it for her.
Sometimes, when Crown Prince Henderson or Crown Princess Christine were bothering her, Lydia would make Anita forge their handwriting to write letters.
She would have Anita write sarcastic or reprimanding letters addressed to her, then bring them to the Emperor, claiming they were real.
Every time, the Emperor would get angry, and Lydia, with her innocent face, would plead with tears not to punish them.
"Please pretend you didn't see it. I don't want them to hate me more."
The Emperor was touched by her tears, and he always forgave them.
And so Lydia quietly sowed discord between father and son.
“I want to do the same between Yuan and that woman.”
Lydia muttered with a gloomy expression.
Her face looked angelic, but the words and thoughts that came out of it were not at all.
Since Seret stole Yuan from her, it is only fair for Seret to suffer.
You should not take what belongs to someone else.
Siret took what was hers—
So she deserves to be punished.
This punishment will come from Lydia herself.
Her lips gently curved into a smile.
***
The finished wedding rings were placed in front of Seret.
They looked exactly identical to their sisters in their previous lives.
Oval blue sapphire surrounded by small diamonds—
Its deep blue sheen looks as if the sea itself is trapped within it.
Seeing the ring, identical to the one before, Seret felt strange, as if the chain of fate had closed around her again.
She let out a deep sigh.
The sight of this ring brought back memories she didn't want to remember—
Memories of Lydia taking Yuan's wedding ring and throwing it on the ground.
This was when Lydia was a resident of the ducal palace.
Late winter, just before the baby is born.
Seret went to the greenhouse because she wanted to see some flowers.
She thought that seeing her might ease her anxiety and sadness a little.
Will the baby be born safely?
Will things improve between her and Yuan after giving birth?
The flowers in the greenhouse were her only comfort during those dreary days.
But as she walked among them, she suddenly stopped.
In front of her, she saw Yuan and Lidya.
Lidya's face was full of anger as she shouted at Yuan.
“Get rid of that wedding ring first!”
In an instant, Lidya snatched the ring from Yuan’s hand and threw it to the ground.
Yuan didn't pick it up.
He stared at her with a deadpan expression.
“Get rid of Seret too. Get her out of my sight.”
Tears streamed down Lydia's face.
Yuan wiped it gently.
Then he leaned closer, as if he wanted to kiss her.
Seret couldn't bear to watch any longer.
She turned away, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
Back in the present, Seret closed the ring box with a sharp click.
At that moment, she heard a knock, and the butler announced that Lidya had arrived.
That's right—Lydia said she would visit today.
Seret sighed and made her way to the reception room.
She hid her annoyance behind a bright smile as she entered.
“Lydia.”
Siret welcomed her as if she were welcoming an old friend.
Lydia's reaction was equally warm.
She stood up from the couch and smiled brightly.
“Seret, was your trip to Mushili good?”
Lydia asked in a gentle voice.
“Thanks to you.”
Seret smiled sweetly.
Inside, she was full of distress, but she carefully hid it behind her smile.
How long did she have to pretend to be friendly with this disgusting woman?
Just being near her was exhausting.
Despite her true feelings, Seret kept a gentle face
And I sat down to have tea with Lydia.
They chatted gently, pretending to be enjoying themselves.
Lydia then casually brought up the topic of marriage.
“Are your wedding preparations going well?”
“Yes, thanks to my aunt, it was easy. We just received the wedding rings we ordered.”
"You received them? Can I see them?"
Lydia's blue eyes sparkled as she asked.