It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 99

Arne opened her eyes. It was still dark. Not even a sliver of sunlight seeped through the early dawn.

She frowned, wondering why she had woken up so early.

— “What is the meaning of this?”

A low, gloomy voice of a strange man. It was because of the man named Giscal von Edelheit, who had suddenly returned to the mansion today and claimed to be her brother.

No, even calling him “brother” felt undeserved. He had never once shown his face at the mansion, and only appeared now because the Marquis of Edelheit had fallen gravely ill.

After living selfishly abroad his whole life, the reason for his return was obvious.

To inherit the Edelheit title.

Since leaving the mansion at a young age, he hadn’t even shown himself in the territory, let alone the estate. Yet now, simply because he was the eldest son, he shamelessly appeared as the successor.

Arne was so furious that she shouted in frustration.

“Huh—ah, my lady?”

The maid waiting outside the room responded in a startled voice, suddenly awakened.

Arne glared at the door and sprang up. She dragged on her slippers and flung the door open. The gray-haired maid assigned to her today was hastily wiping the drool from her lips.

“How dare my personal maid sleep in front of her mistress?”

The maid stammered in panic.

“N-no, I wasn’t sleeping. Not at all, I swear.”

“Now you’re lying too?”

Arne kicked the maid hard. The maid screamed and fell backward. Arne looked down coldly at the maid struggling to get up.

“If you ever show such disgrace again, you’ll never set foot in this mansion again!”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Arne slammed the door shut before the apology was even finished.

Everything annoyed her. A personal maid should be alert all night, ready to respond to her mistress’s call. But this one had the audacity to sit and sleep?

The maids in this mansion pretended to be obedient but secretly looked down on her. They always did. That’s probably why no one told her.

No one had informed Arne that Giscal von Edelheit was returning.

Not the maids, not the head maid, not the butler, not even… her father.

“Sigh.”

Arne exhaled deeply. It had been months since she’d seen her father’s face. He shut himself in his room, staring at her mother’s portrait, never once calling for Arne.

When she forced the door open, his crimson eyes glowed in the dim room. In the past, she could glimpse disdain or faint anger in them. Now, they were lifeless, like a doll’s—void of emotion.

Thinking of those dull, blood-red eyes brought back today’s irritation.

Giscal von Edelheit.

When he grabbed her hand to stop her from hitting the maid, his eyes were the same shade of red. The man who had returned after years away looked at his sister with the same eyes as their father.

Eyes devoid of even a shred of familial affection.

In those eyes—filled with surprise, anger, and disappointment—Arne saw her own miserable reflection.

She had never expected anything. Giscal von Edelheit was nothing more than an unwelcome intruder.

Arne opened the window. Cold wind wrapped around her thin nightgown. She didn’t close the window or wrap her arms around herself. She simply stood there, letting the chill wash over her.

Her anger, sparked by the foolish maid—or rather, the shameless brother—finally began to subside. As her heart calmed, a desperate voice from the previous night echoed in her mind.

— “I want you.”

A clear, gentle voice tickled her ears. She had brushed off the confession at the time, but now she realized there was another reason she couldn’t sleep.

It had been a troubling night.

That man—the Crown Prince of the Empire, Erich—had confessed to her last night. And it wasn’t the first time.

Arne recalled the first time she met the handsome prince. Back then, he wasn’t the Crown Prince. He was a young prince overshadowed by his brothers.

A prince with no supporters, barely noticeable in the palace.

The powerful nobles of high society elegantly ignored him. He always left the grand ballroom early, disappearing into the dark corridors.

It was in one of those corridors that they met—or rather, collided.

At the time, Arne looked nothing like a noble lady. She had just caused a scene at the banquet, her dress torn and her hair disheveled.

She had come out alone to clean the sticky whipped cream off her hands after confirming that the host had sent someone to the Edelheit mansion.

Having accomplished her goal, she had no intention of lingering in the ballroom. She just wanted to rest until someone from the mansion arrived.

Then she bumped into someone.

“What the—?”

She realized the person she’d collided with was a prince. She should have apologized immediately, but she only flinched.

Because the noble Prince Erich was looking at her with admiration.

Arne admitted it—there was nothing about her at that moment worthy of admiration. Plenty to mock, yes.

The other princes had all clicked their tongues at her. She thought maybe the corridor was too dark and she’d misread his expression. But when she looked again, Erich’s gaze hadn’t changed.

“You’re amazing.”

He even offered a compliment. Arne stepped back, frowning. She thought the prince must be a little strange.

“Um… I need to wash my hands.”

She mumbled and tried to pass him. But Erich blocked her path.

“I’ll go with you.”

“What? Why, Your Highness?”

Her defensive reaction was natural.

Sensing her rejection, Erich tightened his lips and reached out. He grabbed her hand—her sticky, cream-covered hand.

He showed her his now cream-smeared hands.

“Now I have a reason to go too.”

“…”

Caught off guard, Arne walked the long corridor with the prince. Erich didn’t say much, just quietly walked beside her.

He didn’t speak until they returned to the ballroom. At first, Arne watched him cautiously, but by the time she washed her hands, she kept a polite distance and didn’t pay him much mind.

At the entrance to the ballroom, she saw a familiar face.

Ortland, the butler, was bowing to the host’s butler. Arne ignored him and looked around, searching for someone.

But no one was there. Once again, the person she waited for hadn’t come.

Realizing this, Arne turned and walked quickly in the opposite direction. She didn’t even notice the prince following her.

She ran until she reached a dirty storage room where no one would come. She sat down.

She was out of breath. She wanted to cry.

“Are you crying?”

It was that prince’s voice again. Arne quickly looked up to confirm. Sure enough, Erich’s expressionless face was right in front of her.

“I’m not crying.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes with her lace sleeve. Erich pretended not to notice and crouched beside her.

“You followed me here?”

“Yes.”

Erich answered lightly. Arne couldn’t understand and asked again.

“Why?”

“I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while.”

“With me? You, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t make sense of it. Arne leaned back, thinking the prince must be a little odd.

“Why would you want to talk to me?”

“When I see you, I’m reminded of my past self.”

She understood even less. The conversation was going nowhere, and her frustration grew.

Arne stood and brushed off her dress.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. If you’re staying here, I’ll take my leave.”

There was no reason to stay in a dirty storage room with the prince. She just wanted to be alone.

As she passed him, Erich spoke.

“How long do you plan to hold on to someone who’ll never look back at you?”

Arne froze. Her eyes turned fierce as she looked down at Erich—like a child whose secret had been discovered.

“I followed you because I wanted to see when you’d finally give up.”

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