Staring into the mirror in disbelief, Estella’s memories poured into Seo-yi’s mind like a waterfall. Though they surged all at once, they didn’t overwhelm her—instead, they etched themselves in like a stamp on a contract, swift and final. She even felt a strange sense of something tightly blocked finally bursting free.

“I… I’ve become Estella.”

From her childhood, where she suffered constant scorn, to the age of forty-nine, falsely accused and executed—the memories were vivid, as if they had happened just yesterday. The pain, the humiliation, the rage… they weren’t someone else’s memories. She could feel them as if they were her own. And now she understood just how desperately Estella had begged for someone to live in her place.

Estella, foolishly kind until the end, had given up her final meal to an old beggar woman. She handed over warm soup and soft bread, and the woman devoured them like a starving animal before asking Estella her wish.

“If only I could go back in time… that’s what I’d wish for.”

It was a useless wish, but she’d meant it with all her heart.

And when, like a miracle, the chance was granted, Estella hesitated. Even if she lived again, would she fall into the same trap, trusting Katrin until her dying breath? The fear of repeating that mistake haunted her. In the end, she chose the powerful soul of Yoon Seo-yi—and the god, disguised as the old woman, gladly granted Estella’s final wish.

—I heard your prayer.
The smile on the old woman’s face, the dreamy, distant voice… Seo-yi could remember it all.

“Then what about me?”

Seo-yi had been content with her own life.

She had clawed her way up to the top—
How many times had she nearly died trying?
And now this? A useless body, a weak mind, a life abandoned even by the people who claimed to love her?

Seo-yi seethed.

“I didn’t do anything wrong except live the best I could. Even if you’re a god, this—this isn’t right.”

Her clenched fists trembled as rage overtook her… then suddenly, a thought struck her.

What if I can change it?

If she’d died in that explosion, but was now alive in another world, in another time—then this was a second chance. A chance to reshape both Estella’s life and her own. She had the memories of both lives. That was enough.

Having sorted through her thoughts, Seo-yi slowly raised her head and faced the round face in the mirror. Her boiling emotions had cooled, replaced by a strange clarity.

First things first—start with what she could control.

Unlike Yoon Seo-yi, whose hardened features made people afraid to even speak to her, Estella had a soft, doughy appearance. Her neck was barely visible beneath the fat, her limbs were small and stubby in proportion to her body. But when Seo-yi looked closely, she could admit it wasn’t all bad—those bright sapphire eyes, that sunny blond hair, the pale porcelain skin…

“A scratched-off lottery ticket, maybe?”

As Seo-yi examined the unfamiliar face in the mirror, a knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

The reply flowed from her lips naturally. Seo-yi flinched, startled by how easy it was—then remembered again: she was Estella now.

She was both Yoon Seo-yi and Estella Cardeine. Two complete selves, fused perfectly within one body. It felt like being a method actor who couldn’t take the mask off.

The door creaked open and a woman walked in, smiling sweetly—a woman so beautiful she seemed almost unreal.

Seo-yi caught her breath without meaning to.

“Good morning, Sister. You’re up early today!”

Pink hair like spring cherry blossoms. Pale green eyes like young shoots. A petite frame a full hand shorter than her own. A delicate waist you could wrap your hands around. Even her voice was gentle and sweet. This was Katrin—Estella’s younger half-sister.

Katrin’s eyes quickly scanned Estella’s body, and the corners of her lips lifted into a cheerful arc.

How had Estella not seen it before? That glint in her eyes—she wasn’t admiring, she was confirming superiority.

“Yeah. I woke up early.”

Estella was still in her nightclothes, while Katrin was already perfectly dressed. Her neatly brushed hair shone with a silky sheen. Her light makeup enhanced her already delicate features.

Katrin clasped her hands together as if in prayer and smiled brightly, like a primrose in bloom.

“That’s perfect! After tea, come take a walk with me. The roses in the garden are in full bloom. Wouldn’t it be lovely to fill your room with a big bouquet? What do you say?”

Her voice rang like jade beads rolling on a silver platter.

Listening to her, Seo-yi imagined jade beads, though she’d never actually seen them.

Katrin placed the tray she carried onto the table and smiled radiantly. The familiar scent of her filled the room—lavender and warm milk. Every morning, Katrin would make Estella lavender milk tea herself, bringing it with sweet cookies to her sister’s room.

She did what even the maids weren’t expected to do. A loving little sister who cherished Estella above all.

Or so it had seemed.

Estella stared at the warm milk tea for a moment, then slowly smiled at Katrin. For years, Estella had sipped that tea without suspecting a thing—not knowing Katrin had laced it with a fattening drug. She had believed, with tears in her eyes, that her sweet little sister’s kindness was genuine.

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

Her flat-toned reply made Katrin tilt her head in slight confusion. Just that slight motion was enough to take Seo-yi’s breath away. Even as a woman, she had to admit Katrin was disarmingly lovely. No wonder they called her the Jewel of Cardeine.

“Is something wrong?”

“Hm? No, it’s just… you seem different today.”

“Me?”

Estella flinched, caught off guard. But like Seo-yi always had, she masked her emotion with ease. The heat of Estella’s anger simmered just beneath the surface, cooled instantly by Seo-yi’s icy composure.

“You seem… calmer, maybe?”

“Ah… I think I might be catching a cold. I’m a bit out of it.”

“Oh no! Should we postpone the walk? I’ll tell Father and bring the doctor! Please, have some tea while I’m gone!”

Katrin rushed out, her steps so light it looked like she was floating rather than running. She moved like a butterfly fluttering through the air. Even her tiny feet seemed impossibly graceful.

“Oh no… Sister’s not feeling well. I must tell Father and fetch Doctor Alexis right away.”

Even as she left, she made sure to announce it for everyone to hear.

Katrin was adored by all for her beautiful face and angelic heart. And right on cue, the maids in the hallway whispered in admiration.

“She’s just the sweetest, isn’t she?”

“She really should’ve been the eldest daughter.”

“Shh! What if Miss Estella hears you?”

“How could she? She’s too fat to hear anything.”

“Heehee. True. Hey, did you see the new dress she had made?”

“The pink one with all the lace?”

“Oh god! Do you think she actually thought that looked good?”

“Shh! Don’t forget, sweet Katrin had it custom-made for her at Lily’s atelier.”

“Still, couldn’t she have matched it to her size a little better…?”

“Katrin always gives Estella whatever she wants. If she insisted, what else could Katrin do?”

“She’s probably planning to wear it to the ball.”

“I’m not watching. I’d die of secondhand embarrassment.”

“Shhh! At least pretend not to notice—for Katrin’s sake.”

Estella pressed her ear to the door, listening closely to the voices fading down the corridor.

They couldn’t possibly think she wouldn’t hear. That was the point. They wanted her to hear.

The old Estella would’ve just pretended she didn’t.

The maids had grown bold, unchecked even when they spoke insultingly to her face.

“I never even wanted that dress.”

Estella muttered, remembering. The only reason she wore that hideous pink lace monstrosity was because Katrin had worked so hard on it. She hadn’t wanted to hurt her sister’s feelings. But the frilly dress had only made her sluggish body look even more bloated.

“I’m never wearing crap like that again.”

Just imagining herself in that thing made her stomach turn. At the ball, she’d felt like she was suffocating under all those disgusted, pitying stares. She’d tried to escape—and tripped over the lace.

She remembered limping away in the torn dress, people snickering behind their hands.

Katrin had rushed out, her face the picture of concern, and draped her shawl over Estella’s shoulders.

With that angelic face. With tears welling up in her eyes like I was the one in pain.

“Sister, are you alright? Are you hurt? Let’s go home.”

“Katrin, you should stay. Enjoy the ball.”

“No way. It’s no fun without you. I’m happiest when I’m with you.”

Ah… my angel Katrin.
My beloved sister.
This time, I’ll rip off that angel mask of yours—piece by piece.

Estella shoved the tray of milk tea off the table.

Crash!

The delicate porcelain cup shattered across the floor.

“The game has changed.”

The sweet tea soaked into the carpet, its sugary scent filling the room.

Just then, the door flew open.

Katrin, flushed and breathless from running, gasped and rushed over in alarm.

For the briefest moment, her eyes twisted in annoyance. But in a heartbeat, she’d slipped back into her role—the sweet, doting sister full of worry. Her wide, innocent eyes sparkled without a trace of deceit.

It made Estella wonder if that flash of irritation had just been her imagination.

“Oh my goodness! Sister, what happened? Are you hurt? Is your hand alright? You must’ve been so scared!”

Katrin’s delicate hands closed over Estella’s thick ones.

And this is acting?

If it had been a drama, she’d have won a Best Actress award.

Estella, her expression carefully blank, slowly lowered her gaze.

“I’m sorry, Katrin. My hand slipped. You worked so hard on it, too.”

Acting, huh?
Two can play at that game.

Still holding Katrin’s hand, Estella put on her best sheepish smile.

Chapter 2

Comments