Tale 1
Adelina Medallian

Dying at a young age of 26 might be the worse thing that could happen to Loraine, a normal accountant living a very normal life.

She admits, she has a shitty personality. She speaks her mind without considering the feelings of others.

Maybe it’s KARMA that she died early.

So when she opened her eyes once more, she made an oath to be a better person.

But—

Why does she transmigrated inside a book?

And why does she have to be reborn as Adelina Medallian? An extra who will die early.

Is this rebirth some sort of a joke?

It could have been better if she was reborn as a baby, but to awaken inside this body two years before her expiration date, isn’t that too cruel?

Loraine wonders why most isekai’d heroines never wanted to return back to their own world when all she wanted right now is to go back to her mundane life on Earth.

Was it because she’s aware that she will be dying soon as Adelina Medallian?

Or maybe it’s because she’s just not cut out for sh!ts like this? She suddenly became a noble lady for Pete’s sake!

Adelina Medallian is famous for being soft-spoken, graceful and elegant. She is Loraine’s total opposite. Loraine used to lead a group of gangsters during her highschool days. She may be smart, but she’s famous in their neighbourhood for being a troublemaker. She only started to fix her life when she became an adult.

Adelina Medallian is an extra in the novel [Queen of Hearts]. In the novel, Adelina died four years before the novel began, she’s the first wife of Duke Niklaus who  was killed by the villainess’ Daniella Agrielle who wants the duke for herself.

That was Adelina Medallian’s only purpose of existence in the novel.

Fnckng sh!t.

She sometimes wonder if god is just bored or something.

She got transmigrated inside a novel, so why can’t she be the heroine? Why an extra? And an extra fated to die early to top it off!

Adelina didn’t even have a screen time in the novel because she’s already dead before it even started!

Wtf is this? What is she suppose to do?

Loraine, now Adelina, paced back and forth inside her room.

“Duchess, is there a problem? Are you feeling unwell?” asked Sabrina, a daughter of a Count and her only Lady in Waiting.

Based on Adelina’s memory, Sabrina is a friend from her academy days. She willingly followed her to the Dukedom of Sullivan in the north were it’s snowing all year-round to become Adelina’s Lady in Waiting.

She’s a friend.

“Is it because of the Duke again? It’s almost four months after your marriage, but he’s still giving you a cold shoulder.” Sabrina felt sad for her friend.

Adelina couldn’t respond. She’s troubled because of the duke, but for a completely different reason!

Sabrina knew Adelina’s feelings for the duke since they were young, but the duke who’s still inlove with Lilianna Heronia, keeps ignoring Adelina’s existence even though the two of them are now married.

To be honest, Loraine thinks this is for the best. She is not Adelina who’s devoted and inlove with the duke so she’s not hurt at all. She is just occupying this body accidentally. And she thinks being ignored is better than being despise.

The Duke believes that the reason why he couldn’t be with Lilianna was because of Adelina.

And because the Duke is the Male Lead on this novel, wouldn’t it be too scary if he decides to make her suffer?

This is not the capital, this is the northern territory far from the prying eyes of everyone. If the duke wants to starved, imprison or torture her, who would she cry to then?

So don’t you think being ignored is the best situation?

However, Sabrina have a different opinion.

“How can he be this heartless? Is he not aware of the rumours circulating in the entire kingdom? Everyone is criticizing you because of him! Why is this society so unfair to women? If a man is giving his wife the cold shoulder, they criticize the woman instead of the man! It’s not your fault if he’s such a heartless jerk!” Sabrina lamented

It’s true.

This is a man’s world.

Women were treated unfairly. They were always the one who gets criticized for everything even though they were not the one at fault! Even if they get hit in public or be physically abused in private, people just turn a blind eye to it.

In the novel, everything changed because of Lilianna Heronia.

As the heroine that is deemed as the genius of the millennia, she rose to fame when she lead a group of soldiers to battle during the war at the end of the novel.

She possess the Legacy of Attraction so everyone is naturally attracted to her. Not just the Duke, but all of the other love targets were willing to die for her!

With her Dual Legacy, Lilianna became a respected duchess with equal rights as the duke.

The novel promotes women empowerment, which is one of the reasons why Loraine fell inlove with it.

But at the same time, Loraine felt that the author of [Queen of Hearts] is just too extreme and cruel to women! She set this world like that in order to elevate Lilianna’s status as a pioneer of strong women in this world. But who is she to judge? She’s just a reader.

However, now that she’s inside the novel, she just want to punch that author in the face!

“Duchess, I just can’t understand why the Duke’s doing this to you. You’re pretty, smart, and elegant. You’re obviously better than that backstabber Lilianna! You’re one of the most popular lady in the entire kingdom! Not to mention, you’re the only daughter of the Marquis of Medallian! What more does he want?!” Sabrina ranted

Adelina is not from a simple background. She is the only daughter of the Marquis of Medallian, one of the five major families of the Kingdom of Lionel.

The Marquisate of Medallian lorded over Rigelgard, the region east of the capital. Their family was known as a house of intellectuals who bore scholars and geniuses throughout the years. They amassed wealth through commerce and trade.

The Marquisate of Agrielle is their rival for hundreds of years. The Agrielles lorded over Rosenburg, the region west of the capital. Their Legacy is related to fire control so they’re a family of blacksmiths and alchemists.

The southern region called Brandergard is govern by the Duke of Salvatores, their land is surrounded by the sea, they are famous for their flourishing maritime commerce, and of course, they are known as the paradise of seafood and pirates. Their territory is famous as the most notorious land in the entire kingdom.

And lastly, the Dukedom of Sullivan governs over Lancaster, located in the northern region of the capital. As a military house, they produced many generals and outstanding warriors throughout the years. They were both feared and respected by the entire populace of the kingdom.

Sabrina’s lamentation is understandable. It was never mentioned in the novel, but based on Adelina’s memories that Loraine inherited as she occupies this body, it turns out that Adelina, Sabrina and Lilianna were friends back in the academy.

Adelina was Niklaus’ fiancée ever since they were five years old.  And Lilianna is clearly aware of Adelina’s feelings for Niklaus.

Adelina once saved Niklaus’ life, but due to some misunderstandings, Niklaus thought that it was Lilianna who was his saviour. The two became a couple in the academy, and Adelina was criticized because she can’t even make a man happy and make him stay. Which is unfair to be honest. Why is that her fault? He’s just a playboy! Period!

Sabrina was so furious of Lilianna’s betrayal. Their friendship with Lilianna ended there and then.

These things were never mentioned in the novel. It only stated that Lilianna once saved Niklaus’ life, it never mentioned that it was actually Adelina who saved him!

The novel overly glorifies Lilianna and Niklaus’ love story. But is everything in the novel true?

Loraine wonders just how reliable were the information from the novel were?

But that’s not important! Don’t worry Lilianna, even if you’re actually a b*tch, I, Loraine Lopez, now Adelina Medallian, swears to never get in the way of you and your beloved duke and your harem of love targets! As much as I fantasized about being a heroine with my own harem of bishounen, I still love my life!

***

That night was unusual.

The duke was home and so, Adelina was forced to have dinner together with her “husband”.

Awkward silence prevails on the dinner table.

Adelina ate awkwardly, she wanted to complain about the complicated table manners that nobilities have to follow.

There’s currently several knives and forks on the table. It’s as if she’s a monster with several hands.

But of course, with Adelina’s memories, Loraine was able to easily adjust and follow the proper etiquette of a noble lady.

Niklaus who was seated across her, noticed her unusual expression.

“Is there something bothering you, Duchess?”

His sudden question caught Adelina off guard, she almost choke on a piece of meat that she was about to swallow.

She immediately chug down an entire glass of water, her reaction caught Niklaus’ attention.

She seems different from usual. He thought.

“Are you alright, Duchess?”

‘Do I look fine? It was your fault! After ignoring me for three months, you casually talk to me as if we’re close!’ Adelina complains in her heart.

“I-I’m fine.” She just answered, obviously half annoyed

Seeing her obvious annoyance, Niklaus smiled, “How is the life here in the north? Are you having a hard time managing the household?”

A wife’s duty is to manage the house. She controls the funds and manage and audit everything on her own.

As a modern person who worked at an accounting company, of course Loraine can manage something like this easily.

As a Medallian, everyone knows that Adelina is an intellectual woman, so the Duke’s question is more like an insult.

“Everything is good.” She answered simply, not willing to elaborate further.

“That’s great then. However, a problem has arisen on my end.” Niklaus

‘So? I should care because?’

Of course, Adelina couldn’t say that out loud.

“What’s the problem Duke? I do not want to be presumptuous, but if you need my help, just say the word.” Adelina

Niklaus smiled, “It’s like this, the North’s primary product is cheese. But we can’t seem to sell them these days.”

“You’re having trouble selling the stocks of cheese?” Adelina

The duke nod his head. “I heard you introduced a new type of cream, and because of that, the sales of cheese decreased over the last two weeks.”

Adelina immediately understood what he was implying. He is blaming her.

Cheese and butter were the most common partner of bread in the kingdom. And cheese is the primary product of the north.

However, a week after her transmigration, Adelina started a small business. She introduced a new type of Spread that goes well with almost all types of bread.

Milk Spread.

It’s milk and whipped cream added with enough sugar and was boiled and stirred for an hour of two.

She’s even planning to introduce new flavours next month by adding cocoa powder or earl grey tea to the milk.

But because of her booming business, the sales of cheese plummeted down.

Tsk, this annoying duke is even blaming her. Just say you’re incompetent! But of course, Adelina will never dare say her thoughts out loud. She still love her life.

“Ehem, I know a method that may help to increase the sales of cheese once again.” Adelina said

“Oh? May I know this method, Duchess?” Niklaus inquired with a playful smile. Somehow, Adelina’s annoyed face looks.... amusing.

“Why don’t you try to randomly put a gold coin inside a block of cheese? Then spread some posters to promote it?” Adelina suggested

This is the same concept as lottery from Earth. A block of cheese costs four copper coins. Won’t they earn more by selling an entire warehouse of cheese in the costs of a single gold coin?

Niklaus wasn’t expecting much from Adelina. Although they attended the same academy, men were the only ones granted with the privilege to learn about business, economics and marketing. So her suggestion surprised him a bit.

The method she suggested may not attract much attention from nobilities, but the common people will surely be willing to pay four copper coins for a chance to buy the lucky cheese with the gold coin.

He’s honestly impressed.

He always thought that this woman is merely a puppet of the Medallian Family used in order to get ties with the Sullivans. She’s meek, timid, and soft spoken. She never dares to even meet his eyes on their wedding day. But right now, he can clearly see her violet eyes that is being accentuated by her silver hair.

There is more to this woman than meets the eye.

“I will consider your suggestion, Duchess.” Niklaus smiled

If it was the original Adelina, she would probably be on cloud nine by now. But she’s Loraine. And upon hearing those words, she stopped herself from scorning him. Damn, dude my method is obviously the only solution you have. Stop acting so high and mighty. Saying ‘thank you’ won’t hurt you know.

She stop herself from rolling her eyes.

Seeing her unhappy expression, Niklaus was amused.

He suddenly recalled a faint memory from their childhood. When Adelina’s mother would often visit them along with her daughter to let her play with him.

Back then, she looks so pathetic in his eyes.

A girl with a bright smile, ignorant of the cruelty of the world.

“Should we build a snowman?” the young Adelina asked him.

“I prefer destroying them than building them.” He replied coldly

The young girl smiled innocently at him, despite the fact that they were the same age, her innocence and his matureness made it seem as though he’s talking to a younger child.

“That’s not really a problem! We can still play. I will build the snowman and you can destroy it after!” she said excitedly

“.......” he was speechless

He honestly like her a little bit back then.

But that innocent child changed after the death of her mother.

She grew distant and timid. She became a boring existence in his eyes.

However, the woman in front of him right now is probably the most amusing person he ever encountered.

She’s not like the innocent child from back then.

She’s not like the timid Adelina too.

This Adelina, is worthy of his attention.

~~~~~~~~~