The day of Yulianna's birthday celebration had finally arrived. Everyone in the manor was busy preparing for the upcoming gathering. Some were brimming with excitement, wondering how the celebration would unfold. Well… everyone except the celebrant herself.
"And that's what I'm talking about!" Vein clapped his hands, beaming with excitement as Yulianna emerged from the fitting room.
He examined her from head to toe—every angle radiated perfection. Even the designer hadn't expected that a dark red dress would suit her so flawlessly. It complemented her hair and accentuated her skin, making her golden eyes shine brighter than ever.
"Honestly, this surpasses all my expectations. I never imagined I could create something like this, my lady. This is, without a doubt, the finest piece I've ever made," Vein added, his voice filled with pride.
Yulianna, on the other hand, simply stared at her reflection in the mirror. She hadn't blinked since seeing how stunning she looked in the dress for her birthday tonight. She was completely captivated by her own perfection.
Damn, I look so beautiful. This woman seemed to have it all—wealth, status, power, even irresistible beauty. It was a pity she hadn't lived long enough to enjoy it.
Sighing, Yulianna's eyes flicked to the black lace covering both of her arms. She wanted to remove it, to escape the throbbing pain creeping from her wound. But that was exactly why she had insisted on this style—this dress had been designed to her specifications for a reason. The coverings were a disguise, meant to prevent suspicion about her arm. The last thing she wanted was for rumors to spread that she was cursed, her life at stake.
"Well, that's not the kind of response I expected. I'll assume, then, that it has nothing to do with the dress I tailored for you. Shall we talk about what's bothering you instead, my lady?"
Hearing this, Yulianna pulled herself together and turned to him with a small smile. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. And I'll tell you—this is the most well-designed dress I've ever worn in my life. You did a fantastic job on this one."
The man chuckled but kept his gaze fixed on her. "I know that. If it were something else, then you shouldn't have come to my shop today. I could have delivered the dress to you personally later, you know."
"Well, apart from that… I'm here for another reason," Yulianna said, heaving a sigh. "I wanted to ask you about something I'd forgotten before."
The designer's attention sharpened. "Oh? I've heard about what happened at the river. I just didn't realize you'd lost part of your memory. Anyway, what is it?"
Yulianna's grip tightened on the edge of her dress as a sharp pain shot through her arm. She almost cursed at the sudden surge of throbbing, knowing that the body she now had could only tolerate so much.
"D-Did I mention Lord Micael to you before?"
Hearing the name, Vein's expression grew serious. His brows arched as if he were deep in thought. "Yes, you did."
His brief answer made Yulianna sigh in relief—but his next words crushed her hope again. "But we're not going to talk about him, my lady. If that's why you came here today…"
"Why not?" she asked, her voice tinged with distress.
"Please don't make me repeat myself, Lady Yulianna."
Desperate, she followed him as he moved toward the shop's window. "Please, don't do this, Vein. I really need to remember what I said to you before so I can find some answers."
But Vein remained firm. His expression shifted from jolly to frigid, as if he knew something she hadn't—or perhaps it was because she had already forgotten.
"I'm not going to do what I did before, my lady. You have to accept and understand that."
"Why not?"
"Because the last time I told you about him was the day you drowned in the river. I'm not repeating that mistake. Pardon me, I have other matters to attend to."
It was the same day she had drowned herself? Just what the fuck did she know about him that scared her so much she would attempt suicide?!
Yulianna needed answers. There were still questions left unanswered.
But Vein was no longer in the room. The man had completely left while she wrestled with the puzzle alone. Now she was more flustered and puzzled than ever. Yulianna could only run her fingers through her hair, each stroke thick with desperation.
What about him? What the fuck did you discover, woman, that made you try to kill yourself so easily?!
"Ugh! Goddamn it!" Yulianna exclaimed, collapsing onto the sofa. She massaged her temples, closing her eyes. "I wish Mira were here to keep me sane. I'm losing it, trying to solve this fucking problem that isn't even mine."
I'm using her body now. That makes it my problem too, damn it.
Yulianna stayed still for a moment, focusing on her breathing. Once calm returned, she opened her eyes, determination and courage burning anew. She massaged her wrist and cracked her fingers.
"Well, if this can't be solved by piecing together puzzles, then I'll solve it the way I'm good at. It's been a long time since I punched someone in the face."
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The bell above the bakery door chimed softly as Yulianna stepped out, cradling a small box of cherry cake in her hands. She had planned to go straight home after the dress fitting—and after getting no answer from Vein—but the sight of the mouth-watering cakes in the bakery window stopped her in her tracks.
Well, I don't know what kind of trouble awaits me tonight. Might as well enjoy this moment of peace with a large slice of cherry cake.
Excited to taste what she had bought, she paid no attention to the darkening sky. Instead, she hurried back to the waiting carriage and indulged in her treat. Yulianna savored each bite, closing her eyes as a surge of happiness washed over her.
The sweetness of cherry still lingered on her tongue when Yulianna realized the carriage had taken a turn she didn't recognize. At first, she paid it no mind—country roads often twisted like uncertain thoughts. But what caught her attention were the relentless turns and the looming sight of a dense forest ahead.
Her survival instinct kicked in, and she clutched the edge of her dress as the realization hit her.
Damn these jerks! What are they up to now? I can hardly get a moment of peace, and they're at it again!
Yulianna's hands curled into fists, her jaw hardening at the sight of the forest they were barreling toward. The carriage rattled along the rough road, tossing her about so violently that peeking outside was almost impossible. The situation worsened when the sky thundered and rain began to pour in heavy droplets.
Goddamn it! How am I supposed to escape in this weather?! I still have a fucking throbbing wound! How am I supposed to survive unscathed?!
Perhaps the reason Yulianna felt so desperate was that she was now trapped in a fragile body. She couldn't stop it from trembling with anxiety, fearing she might not make it out alive this time. Yes, she had an unparalleled fighting spirit—but that was all. This body could be shaken easily by even the slightest threat.
With her instincts screaming for survival, she tied her hair and ripped the edge of her dress. She hadn't made a move yet, but sweat was already streaming down her forehead like waterfalls.
Yulianna tightly wrapped her wounded arm with the handkerchief she carried. Then she steadied herself, inhaling and exhaling deeply, focusing on the carriage window. Breaking the door would be useless—it was locked from the outside. Her only chance of escape was through the window, before they realized she had uncovered their motive.
Yulianna kicked the window so hard that the glass shattered on her first try. She wasted no time and threw herself out of the moving carriage. She landed with a thud, her muscles aching—but her struggle for survival wasn't over. The carriage came to a halt, and two hooded men—whom she hadn't noticed earlier at the bakery—were attempting to catch up to her.
Yulianna forced herself to her feet and began running, gritting her teeth as she went. She didn't know how long she had been running, but she managed to put some distance between herself and them. With no sense of direction in the dense forest, she finally hid behind a massive tree and collapsed onto the ground.
She panted heavily, barely holding herself upright as sweat and rain soaked her from head to toe. There wasn't a single person in sight to ask for help, nor was Yulianna familiar with her surroundings. They had planned this carefully.
She had no strength left to complain, and even if she did—it would be useless. All she could do now was keep moving, no matter how much her body wanted to give up.
Yulianna thought of the things she would do if she survived. The thought made her momentarily forget the pain as she pushed through the forest, directionless but determined. From somewhere in the distance, she could hear voices—they were still pursuing her.
The thought of being caught sent adrenaline surging through her, making her move faster than she ever had. She was barely breathing when she noticed a faint light ahead, flickering through the bushes. Hope sparked inside her—it might lead to another path.
But that hope crumbled when she stumbled over a hidden root and tumbled down the forest slope, branches clawing at her sleeves as she rolled helplessly toward the cliff's edge.
Yulianna managed to grab onto some branches jutting out just before the drop, her exhausted body threatening to pull her down. She let out a desperate whimper—part anger, part hopelessness—as her hand began to slip in the rain.
Fuck this. Even in this life, I can't enjoy a single thing. What a waste.
She could never cry—not once had she allowed herself to. Instead, she let out a sarcastic laugh, loud and ragged, almost a scream of rage questioning the heavens. The last thing she had expected after buying her favorite cherry cake was to wonder if she would even make it home.