Chapter 5 The Marquess Family
Lady Estelle Mullens was the youngest child of Marquess Elliot Mullens—the brilliant General of the Royal Knights of the Palace.
Her elder brother, Estefan Mullens, heir to the House, had recently been appointed Captain of the Royal Knights. Talented, composed, and sharp-tongued—far too sharp sometimes.
Estelle's mother passed away shortly after giving birth to her.
Yet despite growing up without a mother's affection, Estelle blossomed into a remarkable young lady—radiant, intelligent, and impossibly charming.
At a young age, she authored several literary works that remained ranked number one across the kingdom. Her name carried admiration wherever it was spoken.
Beautiful. Brilliant. Beloved.
The perfect noble daughter.
If only they knew.
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The chandelier's golden light shimmered over polished silverware.
So he already knows.
Her gaze slid toward me, curiosity laced with disdain.
My fork froze mid-air.
Marriage?
To Vladimir?
Oh my God, this is escalating.
Silence lingered for half a second.
A lie. Half a lie.
Their laughter followed me down the hallway.
They always say I look adorable when I'm mad.
Adorable?
Me?
With this mouth?
Yeah. Right.
But something bothered me.
They defended Vladimir too easily.
Too naturally.
There was admiration in their tone.
They know something about him.
Something I don't.
I may not be the real Estelle.
But they gave me love. Care. Warmth.
And every time I lie to them, guilt tightens around my heart.
That's why I need to succeed.
I need to survive.
Cutting off Vladimir should protect them.
Should.
But I'm so tired...
Yawns.
--------
I jolted upright.
My cheeks were wet.
My chest hurt.
That wasn't just a dream.
It felt like a memory.
Who was that? Why did it hurt so much?
I reached for the novel on my bedside table.
The story. The villain kidnaps the princess.
But why?
There were no detailed scenes about Vladimir pursuing her.
No explanation. No emotional buildup. The narrative was fragmented.
Incomplete.
There's something missing. Something hidden. And I will find it.
But first— I need to meet the female lead.
Early the next morning, I slipped into the capital wearing my carefully prepared commoner disguise.
According to the novel's timeline, this was around the day the Princess sneaks out.
She loves wandering the capital.
Adventurous.
Curious.
Or... suspicious?
You can never trust appearances.
Humans are far more dangerous than ghosts.
Hahaha.
Oh!
Sunflowers!
thud!
I crashed to the ground.
A man had bumped into me and kept running without even glancing back.
How rude.
A handsome knight approached in full uniform, offering his hand.
He looked at me with amusement.
Probably wondering why the girl who just got knocked over was laughing.
Optimism, people. It's called optimism.
Oh?
Flirting instead of chasing the thief?
Bold.
Sir Clyde Ramsbury.
The male lead.
I dragged Ollie away at lightning speed.
Oh my gosh.
He's even more handsome in person.
Brown hair. Brown eyes. That knightly aura.
And those shoulders—
Focus, Estelle!
I refuse to get involved with the male lead.
Absolutely not.
----
Now that the male lead is here, the Princess must be nearby.
According to the novel, their first meeting happens in a shady alley.
The Princess—disguised as a commoner—gets harassed.
Then the hero saves her.
Classic.
Predictable.
And right on cue—
There it is.
Ollie ran.
I should stay back.
That's the smart choice.
But—
The Princess was struggling.
Two drunk men cornered her.
Disgusting.
No.
I can't watch this.
The men turned.
They looked furious.
Oh no.
Why did I open my mouth?
My knees are shaking.
This was not in the plan.
Not in the novel.
And definitely not safe.
...Why do I feel like I just triggered something far bigger than a cliché scene?