The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 3 - Sadie Arclight 2

“Sadie…!”

When I returned to the hall, my parents immediately hugged me tightly. My mother’s eyes were very red—maybe she had been crying.

“I’m sorry. You were going through something so painful, and I didn’t even notice…”

“Sadie, I’m truly sorry.”

“Please… don’t apologize!”

Being in my parents’ arms for the first time in ten years felt so warm, and once again, my vision started to blur. They weren’t at fault. The one to blame was the person who took over my body, Gerald’s body, and everyone else’s too.

After I pulled away from them, I turned to face Gerald. Looking at him again, I realized just how handsome he was. Seeing him stand up smoothly made me feel relieved—at least he didn’t seem to be in pain.

“Well then, I guess I’ll try going back home now.”

“Gerald, thank you so much. I want to go with you too, but I think if I go now, I’ll just be a burden…”

“It’s okay. Still, I didn’t realize—you’re actually very beautiful.”

“Hehe, you too.”

We looked at each other and laughed at how strange our conversation was.

There’s no doubt that his parents, the marquis and his wife, must have heard all the bad rumors about me. That’s why it’s better if I’m not there during such an important moment, when he explains everything to them. It might cause misunderstandings.

“I’ll definitely help you, in another way.”

“Thank you. You’ve always been reliable, Sadie.”

But honestly, the only ways I ever helped him were with sewing and farm work. Now that I’m back to being a noble lady, I don’t have any knowledge or power. Is there really anything I can do?

I walked beside him to the entrance to see him off, but I still couldn’t shake the strange feeling. Not long ago, we were the same height. Now, he was taller by a whole head.

“They say I was a terrible woman before I returned to this body, but what about you, Gerald?”

“According to the count and his wife, I was a terrible womanizer.”

“What?”

Gerald was never good with women and barely spoke to anyone except Eliza and me. Now you’re telling me he was a playboy? We really had it bad.

“The moment I returned to my body, there were two different women clinging to both my arms. I got chills all over—I thought I was going to die.”

“Eh…?”

I felt like he would have a hard time from now on too. Ten years is probably a lot longer than we think. It won’t be easy to get rid of the bad image people have of us.

“Still, I wonder why we suddenly returned to our original bodies?”

“I have no idea. I’m also curious if everyone else got their bodies back too. Once things calm down, let’s try to find out together.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

We promised to contact each other soon and I saw Gerald off. Just like before, his presence gave me a lot of strength.

I couldn’t help but pray that his parents would believe his story too.

◇◇◇

I went back to the hall and sat on the sofa across from my parents. I gently took a sip of the tea placed in front of me—it was so warm, sweet, and delicious that I almost cried.

“Gerald told us most of the story. It’s hard to believe at first, but even from our point of view, something changed about you after the summer ten years ago. There are other things that come to mind, too.”

“Yes.”

“But more than anything, you now seem like a completely different person from the one who walked out earlier… Even though you’ve clearly changed so much, why didn’t we notice it before?”

“You were in such a terrible situation, and we…”

My parents looked like they were blaming themselves deeply. But really, who could imagine that their child had been replaced by someone else? After all, children’s personalities can change a lot. Expecting them to notice was asking too much.

“But still, I’m glad I could return safely. I’m sorry for not being a good daughter all this time.”

Looking at my parents again, they seemed very tired. I must have caused them so much trouble. Even though I know it wasn’t my fault, my chest still ached.

“Actually, while you were getting ready, we received the official papers from the Langridge family canceling the engagement.”

“…I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s not your fault. This couldn’t be helped.”

Now that our ties with the marquis’ family are gone, there’s no doubt that the reputation and status of the Arclight family have fallen to the ground.

“Honestly, it was strange that the engagement lasted ten years in the first place… It wasn’t a beneficial arrangement for them at all.”

Mother was right. Their family had better status in every way.

And yet, they kept the engagement for ten years with someone like me, who was called a terrible woman. It was hard to understand.

“Why would they do that…?”

“Lord Rufus never abandoned you.”

“What?”

“He always said, ‘Sadie will understand someday.’ He must have believed that you’d come back to how you were before.”

I was speechless. I had never imagined he would say something like that.

“Actually, the only reason the engagement even happened was because Lord Rufus insisted on marrying you.”

When we were kids, I was always with him. I really liked Rufus too. I remember my parents telling me we were engaged when I had just turned seven.

“Aside from us, your family, I think the only one who truly cared about you in that state was Lord Rufus.”

So Rufus didn’t abandon me, even though I was the worst, most unfaithful person. Maybe the reason he seemed so cold earlier… was because he’s actually the kindest one of all.

When I remembered his deeply sad expression, I felt like crying.

“For now, just rest for a while. I’ll prepare all your favorite things, my sweet Sadie.”

At Father’s kind words, I nodded deeply.

From now on, I won’t have to wake up at sunrise to the loud cries of birds, or sew by candlelight late into the night. Just thinking about that made me so happy I wanted to cry.

I’ve worked harder than anyone else for the past ten years.

For now, I just want to lean on my beloved family, eat what I like, and sleep in a soft, fluffy bed. And if possible, I want to talk to Rufus one more time.

That’s what I truly wished for.