"My Lord," Dylan lifted her skirt and greeted her guest elegantly. "It is an honour to have you visit my father's estate."

When he first arrived, an awestruck gasp escaped from her lips at Edwin's improved appearance. His grizzled hair had been neatly combed and he was dressed in an expensive suit which looked custom-tailored to fit his build. 

Thanks to his sudden arrival, the attendants around them were in a state of tension. They had been expecting a commoner to visit and were suddenly taken aback by the presence of the former Marquis of Frederique. 

'I guess he is a noble, after all. His grandson is an heir apparent, so I expected as much.'

"Dylan," Edwin said, smiling warmly at her. "There's no need for formalities between us. This grandpa is the same as always."

Dylan chuckled. "Yes, of course. Please follow me to the garden."

She was so excited. A person that reminded her of home in this mansion. For Dylan, every day at the mansion was another day she felt herself slowly going insane. Day by day she was slipping away under the act of her biological father's personality. 

Dylan smiled bitterly when she saw her father walking towards them. "Father."

The Duke gave Dylan an immediate look, asking for an explanation.

"This is the former Marquis of Frederique, Edwin de Frederique—the man who I told you would be visiting. He helped me and my mother during our times of need."

Friendlier than before, the Duke smiled brightly and looked at Dylan with an affectionate face, and asked to have lunch with both of them.

"Mr. Edwin," the Duke said, "you've had a hard time after coming a long way."

"I am hungry," Edwin admitted, taking his seat across from Dylan. "I am thankful for your daughter's invitation."

As soon as they were seated, the attendants moved hurriedly and neatly so that they made no mistake. A series of elaborate dishes filled the table in a matter of seconds. 

Dylan had taken a few sips of her usual tea when her father questioned her: "Dyl, were you aware of Mr. Edwin's status? I was under the impression that the man you spoke about was a commoner."

She shook her head and smiled awkwardly. "No, father. I only just found out about it recently."

"Don't scold the girl too much," Edwin said with a chuckle, his hands handling his utensils elegantly. "I frequent a small shop I own more often than I do my son's estate. I intentionally disguise myself as a commoner to avoid attention."

Dylan smiled while she poked at her food like a rabbit. She was still having difficulty with her eating, but did her best to hide it in front of her guest. Her hand slipped when she tried to fork a bean sprout, the utensil falling loose from her grip and hitting the plate with a clink.

"Goodness Ruenz," the Duke said with a sigh. "Since when did you poke at your food like that? Your table manners are normally perfect."

Edwin's hands froze upon hearing the Duke refer to the deceased Marquis of Ruenz. Dylan cast him a warning look—as if her eyes were saying, "please don't say anything."

She hung her head and mumbled, "Yes. My apologies."

"You're acting strange," the Duke said. "Is something the matter, my old friend?"

"No," she replied, desperately trying to change the subject. "I was just thinking that the food was delicious."

"Then have some more."

Dylan, speechless in shock and embarrassed that her guest was witnessing this, had to comply with his demands as if she had become a puppet. She forked at her food with proper etiquette, making it look as if she was actually eating.

'Please snap out of it. Please snap out of it.'

Luckily, the Duke didn't seem to notice and continued his futile talk with Dylan's guest. Dylan bit her lips enough for them to seep blood, deciding that it would be safest to pretend to eat and remain silent for the rest of dinner. 

"I'm afraid I won't be able to see you out," the Duke said, rising from his seat to shake Edwin's hand. "Thank you for taking care of Dylan. You're welcome here anytime."

Edwin smiled brightly. "Thank you for your hospitality." 

The Duke affectionately patted Dylan's head before leaving the room. 

After the door to the dining room clicked shut, Dylan hunched over and began gagging. Mina, who had been on standby near the wall, immediately rushed over and began gently patting her back. The servants often witnessed the Duke's episodes, but no one dared confront him or speak about them. 

"There, there," Mina comforted, gently patting Dylan's back. "Poor thing."

The truth was that Dylan hated having to act as the man who abandoned both her and her mother. She knew that a child's abandonment by a parent was one of the most grievous losses a child could suffer through. Her father abandoned her at a very young age, leaving her mother to do all the work in raising her. They starved when he had plenty to eat. It wasn't fair. 

"Just what's happening here?" Edwin asked.

"I think it's best if we talk somewhere else," Dylan said, using Mina's arm to stand. "The garden is lovely. Would you like to see it?"

***

Edwin was wary and looked around for the garden a moment before he spoke: "For four years, you said?"

Dylan nodded, her eyes lingering on the rose bushes. The garden was normally managed by the Duchess. Since she passed quite some time ago, Dylan was given the opportunity to manage it in her stead. They appeared a vivid red in the afternoon sun, a colour resembling both love and hate—a bitter representation of what she felt towards the Duke. 

"It's not as easy as it seems." She paused. "If I'm only loved for the parts of me that resemble Ruenz, how am I supposed to act anyway else?"

Edwin walked beside her, a little dazed at her words. "Is... Marquis Ruenz your biological father?"

There was a reason why Dylan's parents were kept a secret. Before he passed, Marquis Ruenz was a married man with two children. Dylan was his illegitimate child—born out of wedlock. Her existence was proof in itself of the Marquis' unfaithfulness and affair. 

'If my half-siblings found out about me, they'd spend the rest of their lives wishing I didn't exist.'

"Yes," she said quietly, "please don't reveal this to anyone else."

"Your secrets are not mine to tell. How could I?"

"You know," Dylan said, tilting her head up towards the sky above. "Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. This place and these people—they don't love me for me."

Edwin had originally thought that Dylan was an innocent and lovely child who regarded everything in the world as beautiful as flowers and clear skies. He only just realized that her world was far crueler than he imagined. 

Dylan's personality was all a sick and calculated act. From the moment she entered the Duke's mansion, she had been carefully planning and putting on a show to please those around her. From her mannerisms to her reserved personality—Dylan acted like the perfect young miss. 

'I'll play your sick game for now, but in the end, you won't win.'