After Hailey and Adger agreed on the terms of their contract marriage, they returned to their rooms to rest.
Hailey walked into her room and saw Lia standing by the window. Hearing the door open, Lia turned around.
"My lady, you're back," Lia said. She was still skeptical about the man who had saved them.
"So, my lady... what did you talk about?"
Hailey felt conflicted. She didn't want to hide things from Lia, but she didn't want to talk about her past life.
Hailey wasn't even sure if she could face Cedric again in this life without shivering in the first place.
"Me and Adger... we're planning to get married," Hailey said, looking at Lia.
"What? My lady, you... you can't marry someone you just met," Lia said, alarmed.
"Don't worry. It's not a real marriage. And I did plan to marry someone anyway. I think Adger is the best choice," Hailey replied.
Lia still couldn't shake her worries. Her mistress had planned to marry a man she had only just met. How could she not be concerned?
But Hailey knew Adger was the better choice. He might be able to help her with his knowledge about the story...
"But, my lady, how are you so sure your brother will give up his position as head?" Lia asked.
Why would anyone willingly give up the position of head of a Count household?
Hailey didn't really understand it either. But she knew it would happen.
She clearly remembered her brother's signature on the documents giving up his claim as head of the family.
Back then, since she hadn't yet graduated, she wasn't eligible to become the head of the Sinclair estate.
She had never actually cared about the estate. She was Crown Princess, so her focus had been on impressing her fiancé, Cedric.
Hailey thought maybe she should ask Adger if he knew anything about why her brother had stepped down.
She lay down on the bed, thinking about Adger's words.
She had already lived this life once, but there were still so many things she didn't know.
Could she successfully take over the Sinclair estate?
And now that she knew her parents had been killed, could she find the evidence?
The Next Day
Adger and Hailey both signed the marriage papers. According to the law, they were now a married couple.
Lia, however, was still worried about her mistress marrying some random man.
Four years ago, she had seen Hailey change overnight, becoming more mature, more composed.
So, this sudden decision shocked her.
How could her lady recklessly marry a man she had just met?
But in the end, Lia chose to trust Hailey... though she silently vowed to keep a close eye on Adger.
Adger and Hailey returned to the tavern and retired to their separate rooms, choosing to rest for the day.
The Following Morning
Hailey once again asked Lia to stay in the room. She wanted to speak to Adger privately.
Lia, though reluctant, simply nodded. As much as she wanted to protect her mistress, she respected her wishes.
A few moments later, Adger and Hailey were sitting across from each other in a private dining room, sharing a quiet meal.
Unlike their tense conversation from two days ago, the atmosphere was much more relaxed now.
Hailey set her fork down and looked up.
"Adger, do you know why my brother gave up being the heir of the Sinclair family?"
Adger furrowed his brows, thinking back to the novel.
"I don't know," he said, shaking his head.
"Actually, I don't think he ever wanted to give it up. I remember a scene where he was talking to Cedric, he said something along the lines that you were the reason he lost the heir position, and that you'd done... some awful things."
Hailey frowned.
"What do you mean I did awful things? I barely ever talked to my brother. He never seemed to care about me in the first place."
Adger shrugged.
"I don't know how you're involved exactly, but your brother did say that. I also remember others in the novel commenting that you were... a despicable person. Even your own brother supposedly joined hands with Cedric to bring you down."
Hailey sat back, stunned. Her brother? Helped Cedric?
The same Cedric who ignored her, his fiancée, and was openly seeing another woman?
Anger started to bubble inside her.
Now that she knew her own brother had worked with Cedric, her resolve to take control of the Sinclair estate only grew stronger.
Adger continued, his tone calm but serious.
"Hailey, like I said, you were the villain in the novel. The author never showed any scene that might make the reader sympathize with you. Only the ones that painted you as the antagonist. That's how the main couple's story was made more dramatic."
Hailey clenched her fists under the table.
She had been labeled a villain... when she had done nothing wrong.
She had to uncover the truth.
Why did her brother hate her so much? What had really happened?
She took a deep breath and slowly picked her fork back up.
"So, I guess people were happy when Cedric and Cynthia ended up together? And Cynthia, she was the Saintess, right?" Hailey rolled her eyes.
Adger paused, thinking.
"Actually... the author never finished the story. After your execution, Cedric announced that Cynthia would be his future empress, and that was it. A lot of people wanted the author to continue, but they never did. So, it was never confirmed whether Cynthia was the Saintess or not. But, being the heroine of the novel, she should be."
Hailey looked at him. "Wait, so the novel didn't end?"
Adger shook his head. "It didn't."