The Monstrous Grand Duke's Fake Lady

“Please don’t take my stuff and do something like this!”

“How can I know if it’s truly yours or not?”

“Because this really is mine!”

“You really……!”

“What’s with all the fuss over there?”

The breaths of those two suddenly came to a halt at the harsh voice that had been exuded from behind the door. The real voice of Alexia’s that Vivian could finally hear after such a long time was still oppressing as always.

“If you have any business then enter, if not, just screw off.”

The one who had first regained her senses from Alexia’s bellow was the maid. She quickly opened the door and gave a 90 degree bow.

“Forgive me for the sudden visit, My Lady. But I think this is something that I can’t just let it off.”

“What on earth is it?”

“I think that this person has stolen one of your possessions.”

“My possession?”

Alexia then turned to Vivian.

Vivian unintentionally flinched at Alexia’s gaze. As if she was already annoyed with Vivian, her eyes slowly continued scanning all over Vivian and when she finally saw the hat that was in her arms, she stopped at once.

Alexia’s expression underwent a strange change, but it only lasted for a moment. After switching back to her previous expression, she started speaking to the maid—not to Vivian.

“Are you talking about that hat?”

“Pardon? Yes, yes.”

The maid became flustered at Alexia’s words, which sounded as if the hat was simply unfamiliar, before lowering her waist down even further.

“But that isn’t mine, though.”

“Pardon? But—”

“There is no way that dowdy hat would actually suit me. Don’t you agree?”

“That is right, however…….”

The perplexed maid could no longer lift her head that easily. As the expected scenario didn’t unfold right in front of her, it was clear to see that she herself had become flustered all over.

Alexia peered at Vivian with a rather unusual expression, but she soon turned her head as if she was already sick of her. Her gaze then turned towards the maid who still hadn’t raised her head yet.

“So, did you come to see me right now just because of that mere hat?”

“Th-that, My Lady.”

“You are here after you‘ve finished organizing all my luggage, right?”

Immediately at that icy voice of hers, the maid quickly shook her head and bowed even deeper. It was to the point that if she were to lower her head a little more, she would have definitely touched the ground.

“If not, get out—before I call the others.”

“Yes, yes!”

The maid ran out in haste after listening to Alexia’s sharp words.

Looking at how she desperately tried to hide her flushed face from Vivian, it seemed like she wouldn’t be disturbing Vivian any time soon.

Vivian eventually heaved a sigh of relief.

She didn’t really know what was going on, but it seemed like she had gotten some help from ‘that very Young Lady’. Even that said help was only speaking of the truth.

“You.”

Alexia’s voice had withheld Vivian, who was just about to leave after giving a bow.

“Where are you going?”

“Helping the others with organizing My Lady’s luggage.”

“Before that, isn’t there something that you should be telling me?”

Vivian was surprised at Alexia’s words which she quickly bowed her head once more. She had even forgotten to give her the report after such a long time.

When Vivian placed the hat that was in her arms straight onto the floor, Alexia’s gaze moved towards it.

“Well, there’s no doubt that it’s nothing after all.”

Right at that moment was when her heart had fallen at Alexia’s aloof voice.

“But nowadays, it seems like you’re simply deluding yourself.”

“Pardon? What’s that…….”

“A fake is merely just a fake. It’s unable to pursue the light that can only be emanated by the real one.”

Vivian’s lips immediately closed at that statement of hers—as if she truly understood what Alexia was trying to say.

Alexia then rose from her seat before scanning through Vivian once again.

Vivian who still had her head bowed, appeared to be displaying an act of obedience. Nevertheless, Alexia just lifted her feet and started stomping on the hat that was beside her with her own shoes.

“Understand? Just keep in mind that a fraud can never become a real one—at all.”

Vivian couldn’t respond in any way to the words which felt like a cold dagger that had pierced straight into her heart. She could only embrace the hat that had been cruelly trodden upon before leaving while bowing her head throughout.

On that same night, Vivian couldn’t fall asleep.