Chapter 2

Now Ludwig suddenly wanted to make it up to me by giving me a better kite. Why didn't he say so sooner?

At first, I only lost interest in continuing our session, but now I became a little angry.

I turned to face him with my front view in silence.

Ludwig could tell I was really pissed at him, but he didn't think my front view was worthy enough for him to placate me.

Thus, his mood soured, and he told me icily. "Turn your face away. You should know your place, Cliona."

Indeed, what was my place?

I was just an uneducated but pretty village girl who was destined to be passed from one man to another.

Ever since I was born, all I learned was how to charm men and how to seduce them.

People who didn't know better would think that I grew up in a bordello.

I was already lucky enough to become the kept woman of Prince Yeatling's scion because of my looks.

On top of that, I got to live a life of luxury in this remote dwelling. This was already a stroke of incredible good fortune for me.

How could I possibly throw a tantrum? What right did I have?

But so what if this was my status?

If men wanted to toy with me, why couldn't I turn around and toy with them too?

Two years ago, Leopold Wehr braved the northern wastelands to quell a rebellion on the frontier. He was bestowed the title of Northern General for his effort.

The King was so impressed by Leopold's ambition and courage at such a young age that he decided to arrange a marriage for him.

Heidemarie Utecht, the Governor's precious daughter and the most distinguished young lady of a prominent family, stepped forward of her own accord and offered to become the Northern General's wife.

This move broke the hearts of countless noble young men at court.

But none was more heartbroken than Ludwig Von Bergen, the scion of Prince Yeatling

Just the day before, he had proposed in grand style only to be rejected. The very next day, the woman he loved was asking to become another man's wife.

When Ludwig heard the news, he went to Maison Splendor every day to drown his sorrows.

Over the years, the proprietress saw my potential and spared no expense to groom me into a high-class courtesan.

Those few days when Ludwig came to drown his sorrows, I happened to be singing at Maison Splendor.

Through the sheer silk curtains, the young man sat in his snow-white suit, looking as though he were off-limits to strangers.

But when he tipped his head back to drink, his movements were so hasty that droplets splashed on his face. It was impossible to tell whether they were tears or wine.

So this was what a man looked like when he wept. It was indeed a captivating sight.

I knew I had finally found the buyer I had been waiting for all these years.

Since I had to hook up with a guy anyway, I might as well pick one I actually want.

I spent every penny I had secretly saved to find out about Heidemarie's tastes and style.

To my surprise, everyone who had seen Heidemarie said my side view was almost identical to hers.

I knew then that fate itself was on my side.

With only a week left before Heidemarie's engagement, Ludwig came to Maison Splendor all by himself.

I sent away the other singer who was supposed to perform today and changed into an outfit similar to Heidemarie's.

Success or failure hinged on today's performance.

On this night, Ludwig seemed to have lost some of his aristocratic composure and appeared rather flustered.

He dismissed all his attendants, leaving me alone to provide the musical accompaniment to his sorrow.

"If life were like our first meeting, why would the autumn wind weep for the delicate fan?"

I sang the same lyrics repeatedly, but Ludwig didn't interrupt me. That was when I knew he was completely drunk.

Furthermore, the drug was beginning to take effect.

Tonight, no one would bother us.

But how could a lowly village girl like me dare to drug the noble Prince Yeatling's scion?

Ludwig had been neglecting his duties and drowning his sorrows daily for Heidemarie. Therefore, he had already incurred Prince Yeatling's ire.

As for me, I was merely an innocent girl who was sought out by Prince Yeatling's men to help ease the scion's pain.

On closer inspection, this pampered young man, who had never done a day's work in his life, was indeed different from those village simpletons. Even his tears tasted sweet.

Our night was just getting started.

"Heidemarie, is that you?" When Ludwig opened his eyes and caught sight of my side view, he was overjoyed and pulled me into his arms at once.

This was perfect. I didn't have to make the first move.

The next day, when Ludwig woke up, the deed was done.

Thanks to my resemblance to Heidemarie, which aroused his tender feelings, I successfully became his kept woman.

The allure of a man's first time was immensely powerful, especially when what he was getting was a high-quality substitute.

Before Heidemarie's engagement, Ludwig showed up at my place every day.

He even sent someone to buy clothes and jewelry identical to Heidemarie's and ordered me to wear them.

Though he wouldn't let me speak, he treated me like a precious jewel in the palm of his hand.

His eyes were brimming with affection.

Thereafter, we enjoyed a blissful, idyllic time together.

Sometimes I would get so carried away that I actually believed I was Heidemarie and that I had found the one man who loved only me.

This lasted until the day Heidemarie got engaged officially.