I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 104

A proud smile spread across Kardel’s face as he looked at the jewel pin.

“See? I told you so.”

Before knocking, Diana examined the house she believed to be Lillian’s. It was located in an area of Periona inhabited by the impoverished, and consequently, the building was shabby beyond belief.

The exterior was grimy with a poorly finished paint job, the tiny windows looked as if they provided no ventilation at all, and the doorknob was old and rattling. Of course, it looked much better than the house Diana had lived in during her days in the slums. However, for Lillian—who had likely grown up without ever getting a drop of water on her hands—it was a pitifully humble residence.

Diana stood on her tiptoes to peek through the window. She couldn’t see much because of the curtains, but the interior seemed just as meager as the outside.

To think Sister is really in a place like this…

Diana stared blankly at the jewel pin reflecting the light. This was the place. Lillian was truly living in this house.

“Well, we should verify it.”

“…Ah.”

“Knock. At this hour, she should be inside.”

Finding Lillian had taken a long time, but the real work started now. As Kardel said, they had to confirm she was actually home. If the owner wasn’t there, days of effort would go to waste.

If she is really in there…

If Lillian was inside, Diana had to explain everything as quickly as possible. For instance, introducing herself to the sister who likely never knew of her existence and explaining the dire situation they were both in.

“Hurry up.”

Kardel’s prompting snapped her out of her hesitation. To avoid Ersivan’s suspicion, they had to return to the Duchy today. Arriving early would give them time to establish an alibi and ensure the staff kept their mouths shut. The sun was already beginning to set; there wasn’t much time left before their scheduled departure.

Diana approached the door, nodding. Her heart was racing for some reason. Cold sweat trickled down her clenched fist. While her mind felt icy and numb, her throat felt scorching hot every time she swallowed hard.

The sense of achievement in finding Lillian didn’t last long. A massive wave of fear suddenly washed over her. The fact that she had to face Lillian—the original heroine and the sister whose life she had technically taken—filled her with dread.

“If it’s too much, let’s stop here for today. We know the location now, so coming back won’t be a problem.”

Noticing her trembling hand, Kardel realized she was pushing herself too hard.

Next time…

Hearing that, Diana felt a foolish sense of relief. Even the trembling in her hand subsided.

But will there be a next time?

They had succeeded in avoiding Ersivan’s eyes this time by luck, but there was no telling what would happen next. Or Lillian might move to another residence. If that happened, they might never find another clue; it would truly be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

She had to do it. Everything was ready, so there was no need to delay. Diana knew very well that running away from reality only led to a broken future.

“I’m okay.”

Diana bit her lip to steady her resolve. she straightened her slumped shoulders and took a deep breath. Just as she finally reached for the door, she turned to the equally tense Kardel and asked softly.

“Kardel. If you don’t mind, could you give us a moment of privacy?”

“I can, but… why?”

“I suspect my sister would be reluctant to let a strange man into her house.”

It was merely an excuse, but it was a perfectly reasonable one. He vanished shortly after, his face clearly showing his disappointment. Diana felt sorry for the man who had helped her for days, but she had no choice. Whether Kardel was trustworthy or not, the fact that he knew her identity was dangerous enough. She couldn’t allow him to know the intricate details of Lillian and Diana’s circumstances as well.

After checking her surroundings one last time to ensure no one was watching, Diana knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

The texture of the old door was unpleasant. It wasn’t hard, yet it wasn’t soft; it felt like knocking on a wooden board soaked in rain.

“Who is it?”

A lovely voice answered almost immediately.

“If it’s the milk delivery, you can leave it out front! I’ll pick it up in a bit!”

It was the voice Diana had tried so hard to emulate, the one she had only ever imagined in her head. Even through the long sentence, she could hear every word clearly. It might have been because her pronunciation was precise, but it also meant the walls were thin and the soundproofing was poor.

“…It’s a visitor.”

“Pardon?”

“I would very much like to speak with the owner. Could you please open the door?”

In contrast, Diana’s voice was incredibly small. Her voice trembled, causing her words to slur slightly. Silence followed.

She wondered if she was being ignored as a peddler or something similar. Honestly, even Diana thought she was acting suspiciously. She was about to knock again, thinking the owner might come out if she became a nuisance, when she heard rustling from inside. Finally, the door opened.

The kitchen looked cluttered, as if she had been preparing dinner. A delicious aroma seeped through the crack of the slightly opened door. Diana peeked at the interior before shifting her gaze to the owner of the house.

“A visitor? Who…?”

A woman with the exact same face as Diana, but with an entirely different aura.

It was Lillian Mernard.

“…May we speak inside?”

“You should tell me who you are first. I can’t let a stranger into my home so easily.”

Lillian seemed highly guarded, perhaps knowing that security here was weak compared to the Count’s estate. Furthermore, since Diana was wearing a robe, her face wasn’t visible, which likely made her seem ominous.

It can’t be helped.

She had intended to take off the robe only after getting safely inside, but it would be a disaster if Lillian shut the door now. Her nervous hand reached for the fabric. As she pulled the hood back, golden hair—identical to Lillian’s—was revealed. Right beneath it was a face that was a mirror image of the woman standing before her.

“What the…?”

“Is this enough of an explanation?”

Even without a close look, Lillian would know better than anyone that they shared the same face. Diana quickly pulled the robe back over her head, fearing she might be spotted by others.

“Now, may I come in as a guest? Sister.”

Diana added the title she had never uttered before. Lillian was flustered again by the unfamiliar term, but she pretended to be composed and invited Diana inside.

Since there was no separate guest table, the two sat at a small kitchen table. Despite her calm entrance, Diana was incredibly tense. She couldn’t guess what kind of questions Lillian would ask.

A question about whether they were really related? A question about how she had been? A question about how she found her?

…Or would she show hatred for being a twin?

The endless speculation made her head throb.

“Oh, would you like some tea? If you haven’t had dinner, you’re welcome to eat with me. I just baked some bread.”

Contrary to Diana’s intense theorizing, Lillian’s first question was remarkably humble. Above everything else, she asked if Diana had eaten. Diana instinctively touched her stomach. It still felt full, so she wasn’t exactly hungry.

“Wouldn’t I be taking your dinner?”

“No! I always make extra, so it’s fine! Every time I try to make a little, it feels like it’s not enough, so I’ve been increasing the portions lately.”

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll join you.”

Despite her inner thoughts, the acceptance jumped out of her mouth. She seemed to have been completely disarmed by Lillian’s sparkling eyes. Honestly, no one could resist that piteous gaze. Lillian rushed straight to the oven and beamed, saying the bread had been baked to a perfect golden brown.

“…Oh, it looks delicious.”

Since Lillian brought the bread out so confidently, as if seeking praise, Diana offered a compliment. Lillian’s cheeks turned a shy pink. She seemed to take a real liking to Diana, bringing out various items.

Warm milk, fruit jam she had made herself a few days ago, and even aged cheese for dessert.

She’s very affectionate.

Diana tried to decline the overwhelming amount of food, but Lillian insisted. She even started nagging her under the guise of concern asking why she was so thin, if she was eating well, and if she was sleeping enough.

Even though they were sisters, this was their first time meeting and they knew nothing of each other’s backgrounds. Diana couldn’t quite grasp Lillian’s internal thoughts, but she was certain of one thing: just as in the original novel, Lillian was a lovely person.

“I was thinking of making tea. Do you have a specific kind you like?”

“I’m not picky. I like most teas.”

“Then I’ll brew the tea leaves I bought at the market yesterday!”

Lillian hummed a tune as she put the kettle on. She looked so adorable swaying her shoulders to the sound of the boiling water that Diana finally burst into laughter.

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