I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 4

Author – Cherry_Blossom

“Beautiful.”

That‘s what Erna thought at the sight of her reflection in the mirror.

She didn’t mean to say it out loud, but after being in Charlotte’s body for 8 years, it often felt like she was looking at someone else.

Feeling awkward at the sight of the duchess, fiddling with her hair, the maids standing behind whispered among each other.

‘She’s doing it again’

‘Do you think there’s something strange in the pills she takes?’

‘No way, there’s only nutrients’

Mielle glared at Rose and Ellie for badmouthing their madam, and gracefully slipped a compliment.

“Your beauty is truly outstanding, Madam”

The duchess turned back to face her, with an expression that encouraged her to say more.

“Uh-your features are small and delicate, yet your eyes are defined, making you look both graceful and elegant.”

Seeing the duchess nodding at Mielle’s words, Rose followed along.

“Truly madam, your eyes are the prettiest I have ever seen.”

“That’s true! I always hear compliments about the madam’s eyes, they say they look like well crafted jewels.”

“Is that so?”

Erna, who would normally cringe at such words, unconsciously turned back to her reflection and started feeling her own face.

Unlike Charlotte who had dark brown hair and hazel eyes, the woman reflected in the mirror had cat-like eyes of a rare purple color, and pitch black hair like silk threads, stretching to her waist in a light wave.

A small face with fair skin, and rosy cheeks.

A face that was long forgotten.

A figure that said she had grown up preciously like a princess.

She thought she looked more beautiful at 24 than she remembered herself at 16.

If there was one thing lacking that would be…

Her eyes glanced on her chest, disappointed.

‘I’m sure Jonas was breastfed by his nanny.’

A slightly plump chest like a bird instead of a grown woman, and not much different than her teenage figure.

It was much lighter compared to Charlotte’s body.

As Charlotte was 4 years older, it might have been reasonable, but even her figure at 20 was more mature than her Erna’s.

Leaving that thought behind, Erna proceeded to choose from the earrings Mielle had displayed before her.

✰✰✰✰✰

On normal days, one could hardly tell it was spring due to the cold weather in Massila, but the weather that day was warm,and suitable for a walk.

After a short stroll in the garden, Erna settled in the greenhouse, reading her book in Mielle’s company.

The duchess’ garden was large enough to be called a small forest.

At the end of the tree road was the greenhouse.

It was a gift from the duke to his wife when she was pregnant.

Rare Dahlia flowers with blue petals decorated the right corner of the greenhouse.

Charlotte, who was interested in herbs and plants, personally experimented on them and succeeded in turning its original light pink color into blue.

Lifting her head from her book, Erna stroked the delicate flower petals admiringly.

‘How fascinating.’

On the left corner, were a variety of long plants called Tumriss, of yellow and orange mixed petals and large green leaves, with sunflowers carefully placed ahead of them.

According to Mielle, Tumriss was a plant from Khan, a small kingdom located on the western side of Rasmodia.

Though people called it the sand kingdom, unique plants and flowers grew on its soil and had great use in herbal medicine.

The green branches that covered the glass-walls, with small pink and white flowers sprouting at its ends, combined with small pots hanging from the low ceiling, made the view look like a painting.

‘I liked spending time in the greenhouse.’

It was both a beautiful and a good place to relax since she had a lot on her mind.

Today was the day the duke and duchess would share the room.

But before she could come up with an excuse to avoid the duke, a different sense of discomfort rose in her chest.

『The duchess spent most of her time in the greenhouse.』

As the sentence popped in her head, Erna was once again reminded of her fate in the novel.

Even the beautiful flowers from Khan served as a reminder of the inevitable future.

The Khan kingdom was the homeland of Zachary’s second wife, Leona.

Leaving a sigh behind, Erna left her seat.

‘Let’s just leave for now.’

“Are you already heading inside, madam? It’s such a waste to spend time indoors when you can enjoy this beautiful sight.”

Behind her thoughtful words, Mielle was only making an excuse so that she could laze around some more.

“Yes, we’ll be heading back. It’s getting a bit chilly in here.”

✰✰✰✰✰

As she headed towards the library, Erna found Jonas coming out of his class.

‘How hard it must be, for a small child to have such a busy schedule.’

Zachary adapted a much lighter schedule for Jonas than the one he had as an heir, but Erna still found it too heavy for a child.

“Mother.”

When Jonas proceeded to give a formal greeting, Erna stopped him and gave him a light hug instead.

“How was your class?”

“It was alright… Mr.Harold said that I was learning history well.”

“How wonderful. I’m proud of you.”

Erna patted the young child’s head and smiled at him affectionately.

He always seemed flustered when she made such comments, but his rosy cheeks would show that he enjoyed her compliments.

“You still have some time before your next class, right?”

“Yes”

The child looked at her with excited eyes.

The more she approached him, the more he started expecting from her.

‘My efforts have paid off well.’