Luana crossed her arms over her chest.

"So, did you know that I and Mr. Rey were going to be roommates, Mare?" The woman's voice sounded heavy, with an equally heavy exhale.


Mare, who was in front of Madame Lueic, nodded faintly with a furrowed brow.

"Do you have to sleep separately, Mad-I mean, Luana?" Mare replied with a questioning sentence as well. "Isn't that the way it should be?"

Luana was silent. Mare was right, she thought to herself. But for whatever reason! This marriage still didn't feel real to her because, until this morning, she was still a girl working at the Collins family residence.


But all of a sudden, everything went wrong. She turned into a swan from her original form of an ugly duckling.

She put on her wedding dress, stood in front of witnesses besides the man she had only seen for a few minutes, and assumed the status of Mrs Rey Lueic not long after.


Leaving the building to the waves and cheers of the invited guests, who had no idea that she was not the real bride.

She was just a substitute who expected Beatrice Collins to return immediately.

"It's true," Luana slumped her shoulders. The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, as she knew she would have to share the same air with Rey tonight. Just thinking about it made her shudder in horror.

By the way, the two returned from Kornmarkt half an hour ago. Rey actually approached the girl at the designated coffee shop, then continued their afternoon walk until they finally turned the corner to return to the hotel.

Luana went straight to her room, while Rey chose to join Jovi, who was waiting for him in the lobby. Wordlessly, the noble simply walked away as if he had not spent time with Luana earlier, as if Luana was not there.

"Come on, Luana. You need to get ready." Mare's voice broke Luana's reverie, as the young girl raised her head to meet Mare's gaze.

"I didn't prepare any special clothes for the dinner," Luana said honestly. "Should I just wear this dress?" she asked as she looked down at her clinging dress.

Mare shook her head quickly. Of course, she couldn't because the dinner that Luana and their master would be attending was one of Rey's business trips, which were supposed to be his honeymoon trip with Beatrice.

"You don't have to worry, Luana," Mare exclaimed happily. "I've prepared it, of course, following orders from the master. Now get up, shower and get ready. You don't have long time left."

Luana exhaled, again still sounding heavy. She had no idea what kind of dinner she would attend, as she had never mingled with important people.

Mare had moved from her previous position to open the closet, selecting a peach-coloured dress with flowing bracelets. It was not too revealing. Instead, it looked exquisite, which implies the high status of Rey Lueic's family.

Luana prepared as Mare had said, washing her body with quick movements. Coming out of the bathroom a few twelve minutes later, the girl's bead lit up when she found Mare waiting for her with a dress on display.

It was beautiful.

And somehow, the dress fit Luana's body perfectly, showing a feminine side of the woman that could not be covered up.

The scattered floral accents added to the beauty, showcasing Luana's alabaster white shoulders, which looked so smooth.

The fake Madame Lueic looked so stunning now.

Mare helped Luana polish her face, rolling the woman's hair to reveal a clearly defined neck. Mare was sure her master would have difficulty swallowing when he saw his wife later, which made Mare smile happily.

Luana was still looking at her reflection in the mirror when suddenly the door to the room opened. Rey appeared from the other side of the door, briefly holding back his steps as his bead met Luana's.

Noticing how ready Luana looked, Rey suddenly felt claustrophobic. Luana averted the gaze first, getting up from her dressing table to go to another seat.

"You can come out, Mare," Rey ordered in a cold tone as Rey's steps swung into the room.

The atmosphere was awkward, and Mare hurriedly excused herself. Closing the door and leaving Madame and Mr. Lueic in the closed room.

Rey approached. Luana's figure was still the object of his unchanging gaze, making Luana even more naughty as she received Rey's beady gaze.

The woman stroked her hand, untangling the awkwardness and embarrassment that arose simultaneously. Her mind kept spinning, asking if she deserved to wear such a beautiful dress on her body. She repeatedly asked if this moment was honest when she sat in front of the dressing table, looking so unbelievably beautiful.

Rey hissed softly.

"Are you ready?" he asked casually. Before Luana could answer, the man was already speaking again. "Now you don't look like a substitute. You look like a real bride."

Luana didn't know how to react. It was a big jab at her. Reflexively raising her head, she returned Rey's gaze, which she had been trying to avoid.

The man's tone sounded very cold, contrasting with how he spoke when they walked down Kornmarkt earlier.

Luana chose to keep her lips sealed. She stood on the threshold of the bed, still wringing her fingers down there.

"I've never been to a banquet before," Luana said honestly. She suddenly thought there was no point in lying and hiding that fact from Rey because that was the reality.

Rey tilted his head, his bead squinting as a faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"You never?" he asked incredulously. "Really?"

Luana nodded her head hesitantly. Wondering if Rey would now start to suspect her because what noble had never attended a dinner, anyway? Regretting being too honest, Luana could only bite her lip.

Rey was still watching the young girl closely, swallowing hard. His blood rushed uncontrollably, with a wound that again felt heartbreaking.

That dress should have belonged to Beatrice.

That dress was designed and ordered to be used by Beatrice, his fiancé who had fled to the other side of the world. Until now, Rey had not even managed to sniff out Beatrice's whereabouts, making him half-sad after seeing how Luana looked so beautiful in that dress.

It was as if the dress was created for her to wear.

Rey cleared his throat, pulling back his almost-vaporized consciousness. Luana was still standing there hesitantly, with her hands still twisted.

"You don't have to do anything," Rey said firmly. Precisely and without hesitation. He looked intently at Luana, pausing to think what words to say next.

"You just need to stand beside me and smile," Rey said again. "Just pretend to be my bride, like you've been doing since this morning."

Rey turned around after he finished his sentence, stepping into the bathroom to take turns cleaning up. The swing of the man's steps was firm but hurried, caused by the rumbling in his heart.

Leaving Luana still rooted to the spot, Rey slammed the bathroom door until a loud thumping sound could be heard.

Luana shuddered. Looking at Rey's no longer visible figure, the young girl took a deep breath. Stroking her chest as if she was begging for strength.

"Patience, Luana," she comforted herself. "This will all end. Let's pray that Madam Collins finds Beatrice quickly so you can leave here and be free again. Patience, you just have to be patient."

Luana tried to calm herself down, but somehow, Rey's words seemed to hit her in the right place. The more Luana repeated the sentence, the more her energy drained. She didn't realise she was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring straight at the soft sheets.

Rey himself took a deep breath, leaning against the cold bathroom wall. The water hit his body, which was no longer covered, and Rey closed his eyes to concentrate on his own thoughts.

He wondered if he had been too harsh or if his words had hurt her-Luana Casavia.