Alive and Well

"Hurry up!"

Bree held her breath as Aima hastily fastened the corset. After a few weeks of freedom, Bree was back in her corset, and it felt annoying. Her breath was so constricted. Bree couldn't believe she used to endure wearing corsets like this. With remarkable speed, Aima dressed Bree and tidied her hair. They had to move quickly.

"Is it done?" Bree examined herself once again in front of the mirror as Aima put on a necklace around her neck.

"Done, Duchess. This is the last one," Aima said.

Bree nodded, somewhat satisfied with her appearance, though she preferred the pants she wore earlier. This look reminded her of the weak, old Bree.

Bree took a deep breath, pushing away all the negative feelings, and walked out.

Bree rushed towards the castle terrace, where her father would receive a warm welcome. But even in her hurry, Bree was a bit late. Her father had dismounted, greeted by Rad.

Bree's steps halted before reaching the door. Her throat tightened as she gazed closely at her father. He was alive, breathing, and looking joyful despite the fatigue on his face.

Her father was still alive. Bree repeated this fact twice in her mind to dispel the haunting images from the past.

Her father was alive. Unharmed, not bleeding, and not cold like she remembered. Tears welled up in Bree's eyes as she saw her father smiling while shaking hands with Rad and receiving pats on the back.

He turned and caught sight of Bree, his smile widening. "Mon trésor!" (My treasure)

Tears streamed down freely. It was her father's endearing term for her, and Bree never thought she would hear it again after witnessing his burial.

Regardless of revenge, regardless of the cynical and cautious attitude she displayed, Bree ran to embrace her father. She immersed herself in the warm hug that she never thought she'd experience again.

"Mon trésor? Bree? What's this?" Trey Donovan, of course, welcomed Bree's embrace, but that didn't mean he understood what Bree was feeling. Especially after Bree cried so openly in his arms.

"What's wrong, Bree?" Trey continued to ask, stroking Bree's head, who was now shaking it slowly.

"I just missed you." Bree said. The reason made sense, but it didn't seem convincing.

"Hmm... What's wrong? Did they mistreat you here?" Trey asked without sounding stern, but his eyes remained fixed on Rad, who appeared impassive. Rad's gaze slowly shifted to Bree's back. He was curious about what Bree had said.

However, Bree didn't need to think about answering that question because her father had asked the same thing when he saw her a bit down before. Her father had asked her the same question before, although she hadn't cried as much as she was now, but he still expressed concern using the exact same words. So Bree would give the same answer again.

"Not at all, Father. I have received excellent treatment here. And I'm happy to be here. Marseille is such a beautiful place. I can find many subjects to paint, and the people are friendly."

It was the exact same answer Bree gave before. Even though what she experienced before was far from beautiful, a life full of emotional torment made Bree want to go home almost every day.

But at that time, Bree didn't complain to her father about anything because this arranged marriage had to continue. She also didn't want to make her father sad or feel guilty for arranging her marriage with Valois. Bree maintained that attitude for the second time because it was for her father. Bree's attitude towards others might change, but not towards her father.

Bree reverted to the old Bree. Answering with a soft and calm voice, she addressed her father's other questions.

Rad furrowed his brow in amazement as he watched Bree act so differently in front of her father. She seemed like a different person; even her tone of voice was different. A fascinating difference to Rad, adding to the mysteries that had piled up around Bree.

"If it's just that, why are you crying?" Another voice with a higher pitch chimed in from behind Trey. Amber appeared with a smile on her face. Her words were spiteful, but her face was full of smiles.

Bree and Amber shared a resemblance in hair color, thanks to their father. But their faces were vastly different.

Bree's sweet face exuded a serene beauty, while Amber's allure was intoxicating. Her beauty would attract many at first sight. Bree wasn't surprised when Rad was captivated by her.

"Do I need your permission to cry? I cry when I want to!" It was the new Bree. The old Bree never retorted to anything Amber said.

Amber looked surprised and annoyed at Bree's resistance, but, of course, she held back her anger, not wanting to embarrass herself.

"You look healthy. I'm glad you're okay." Trey nodded and walked inside. Inside, they met Irene and Blanche.

Trey greeted them both as usual, and this scene reminded Bree of something.

In the previous timeline, when her father came with Amber, Irene and Blanche also participated in the welcoming, being friendly and hospitable. But after her father and Rad had passed, there was an incident that hurt Bree deeply.

Irene openly praised Amber's beauty, saying she would prefer Amber as her daughter-in-law. A brief statement that hurt Bree until her death. It made Bree lose even more confidence. And Bree wouldn't allow that to repeat itself. She didn't know if Irene would say the same thing now, but according to Bree, prevention was better than regret.

Bree approached Irene and took her hand. Bree's stomach churned with disgust at touching Irene's hand, but she managed to smile.

"Father, I'm here and very happy because Lady Irene treats me so well. She's gentle and caring." Bree lied smoothly, complete with a cheerful face.

The lie surprised some of the servants who were part of the welcome, including Aima and Campy, who looked extremely shocked. Rad, on the other hand, had the same expression, his face unchanged.

Almost everyone in the castle knew about the ongoing conflict between Bree and Irene. Bree's lie was truly astonishing.

"Lady Irene is always comforting when I miss home. I couldn't be happier here. Isn't that right?" Bree looked at Irene with a wide smile, while her eyes blinked rapidly. A clear signal.

"Yes, absolutely. I'm very happy to have... Bree as a... daughter-in-law. She's always... cheerful."

Irene stuttered along with Bree's lie—unwillingly—and Bree smiled satisfactorily. Bree and Irene resolved the issue. Irene would never again consider Amber her ideal daughter-in-law.

There were two reasons why Bree did this. Firstly, she wanted to make her father more convinced that she was happy here. Secondly, she had 'instructed' Irene to admit it loudly.

This way, Irene would never think of Amber as her daughter-in-law again. She had publicly announced to the world that Bree was her beloved daughter-in-law. Threatening with a secret was indeed enjoyable. Bree successfully diverted Irene.

Next to Trey, Rad stood. His face remained impassive, but the corners of his lips seemed to twitch. He was holding back laughter, as what Bree did to Irene, according to him, was brilliant.

Bree, who fought against him, was annoying, but Bree fighting against others was entertaining for Rad.