In such a never-ending and fast-paced cycle, coincidences and chance meetings always happen. Of course, it was the same with rendezvouses made on purpose. 

It had been six months ever since she met that guy who shared the same face, body, height, and everything physical with that fellow from her original timeline.

After the first meeting, several more followed.

It had only been a little more than half a year since she became Elizabeth Seymour but each every other day that pa.s.sed seemed to be filled with memories of that pretty-faced dog, er, William.

She would be very hypocritical if she were to say that she didn't enjoy those days.

She was happy. The sweet and amusing moments with her new family and that person allowed her easily acclimate in this world.

Yet she would be deceiving herself too if she said she didn't feel like so many things was not right.

At first, the girl thought that everything was making sense.

However, she discovered that her suddenly becoming someone else was as weird as this world seeming more perfect than a fairy tale... 

It was another day and Ver, no, William Cromwell visited the ducal castle again. The weather was very nice and sunny. Actually, she couldn't even remember if it ever rained here.

Earlier, when they went out of the reception area, they all smiled due to the playful rays of lights that fell on their skin.

How could a world be this beautiful? She asked to herself. A smile adorned her face, yet her heart was sinking deeper into an icy pond.

Almost after an hour of laughter and idle talks, Wendy watched him laid out a slightly huge box, showcasing a beautiful silver necklace there which had a ruby the size of two thumbs put together.

It was lying half-sunken on a red velvet-like cus.h.i.+on inside the box. The luminous reddish glow of the precious stone was so captivating. Even though its color was darker and deeper in shade, it reminded her of a tall dancing fire...

'd.a.m.n... It's probably more than 40 carats...'

While Wendy was dumbfounded, the man smiling in front of her looked as if he had just not taken out something worth a fully furnished luxurious mansion. 

"I'm sorry for being so daring. When I saw this beautiful gem that reminds me of your most favorite color, I just couldn't stop thinking of giving this to you. Would you please allow me to personally put this on you?"

Her long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly moved her gaze from the ruby to the smiling man before her. Shortly, her lips slightly parted, and then a soft beam made way to him.

"Allow me to thank you in advance for this trouble."

The man who was intoxicated by the enchanting smile laughed, still warmly looking at her. "It's no trouble at all, milady. If I may say, it's an honor. Out of the hundreds of thousands of gentlemen yearning for your affection, only I was given this opportunity." 

A few seconds later, Wendy's blonde hair was swept to the side, revealing a pristine porcelain white neck that appeared almost translucent upon being kissed by the sunlight.

Behind her stood the man trying to put the necklace on her. His action was so gentle and careful, as if he was so afraid that even the slightest touch would damage or bruise the fair skin.

Right now, if there was only a huge mirror in front of Wendy, she would be able to see the man's eyes burning with uncontainable love and gentleness for her.

They were in the gardens. Amidst the flowers and gra.s.ses, the two appeared so close and affectionate.

'Look at this two...'

A few meters behind them the maid Martha kept staring at the man, afraid of what he would do to the sole heiress of this ducal residence if she didn't watch them.

Actually, the maid was no longer just watching them. But glaring. Her hawk-like eyes sending warnings to the visiting gentleman to not do anything more that would possibly harm her young miss' reputation.

The place was so beautiful that the beauty of the garden of Eden would be questioned due to it, and both Wendy and William were like the finis.h.i.+ng touches that intensify its splendor.

If this scene would ever be made into a painting, Martha could already see it becoming a legendary masterpiece.

Yet, she would gladly crash the scene if it would mean saving her lady from a bad wolf.

Of course, that would only be if the heir to the dukedom of Cromwells ever overreached his bounds.

So far, this man seemed to be already doing it...

His stares were fiery and affectionately dangerous. William seemed to be prolonging his fingers' stay on her lady's neck.

Martha coughed.

"Ahem."

Wendy got surprised hence she stepped forward and then turned around.

A second later, a smile appeared on her lips, which the nineteen-year-old young man only managed to see for a couple of seconds since she immediately lowered her head, as if she was feeling shy.

"Thank you. I like your gift."

She maintained another meter distance from him while her fingers were playing on the red gem serving as the pendant.

'Red... huh... Quite pretty.'

"I'm glad you liked it."

The one with Ver's face barely restrained himself from holding her hands and pulling her into his embrace. Proudness oozed out from his eyes, as he watched her gazed lovingly at his present.

However, if only the man looked closely enough, he would realize that despite allowing him to place it around her neck, she didn't truly feel that happy about the gift.

'The face is the same...'

'The voice too...'

'He's very sweet in words and a very fine gentleman.'

She thought to herself these as she remembered how this guy treated her like a princess this past half a year.

Those were very surreal memories. The reason why even though she told herself to escape once she had a good grasp of everything here, she stayed.

Unfortunately, her guesses were correct. And she could no longer fool herself that she liked this world, or the person standing a meter from her. 

'This version of this pretty-faced dog seemed to be the ideal him that I have in my mind, the one I'm wis.h.i.+ng for every time that he annoys me.'

She felt her chest tightened under her corset.

It was so suffocating to breathe.

The precious stone lying above it felt so heavy, yet because of its weight that she realized something very obvious from the very beginning.

The walk in the gardens resumed. Martha was behind them, ensuring no harm would fall upon Wendy. 

One instance, the guy tried to play a prank on Wendy's personal maid by throwing a thin dried branch that he got from who knows where. As the older woman jumped around and screamed 'Snake! Snake!', looking away from them a few seconds, the playful ducal heir whispered to her ears, 

"... I can't wait to see you in a white bridal gown floating down the aisle towards me."

That time, she didn't know why she suddenly saw the illusion of 'him' saying the same thing, in a threatening and unromantic manner that would definitely make everybody around facepalm. 

William gave her a happy smile, amused at her shyness.

He was unaware that Wendy only looked down to hide her misty eyes, whispering to herself,

'... I really dislike that I'm tearing up for no good reason.'

...

After excusing herself from the guy and then hiding inside her room, she took out her diary, something she only started doing half a year ago in her twenty-one years of existence.

In reality, all the pages in her diary only have information about her 'own' memories and theories. Every weirdness that she encountered was recorded down, afraid that if she didn't, she would lose herself and completely become Elizabeth Seymour. 

Wendy took a deep breath. 

Unparalleled seriousness showed on her face as she grabbed her quill pen and sat before the study table. It was made out of rare wood, something that she requested to be brought inside the room.

"... I felt like I've been a huge idiot. Why did I waste so many precious pages describing how this world is a sham!" 

On the latest page of the small notebook, Wendy furiously wrote five large words that briefly summarized her current situation, words that she doubted for so long and only whole-heartedly accepted today. 

'Nothing but a d.a.m.nable dream!'

...

...

Not at webnovel.com?

Say no to piracy! 

Go here!

=>Link to the original site: https:///book/12734433505930905/The-Sinners'-Queen