Autumn, 3 years ago, Cheonan.
At a Mono mart near Hye Rin's family house.
Hye Won looks at her elder sister for the millionth time and couldn't hold her silence.
"Hey Hye Rin, why have you been sighing since you woke up? It's getting annoying at this point."
Hye Rin looks at her sister with tired eyes.
"I had a weird dream today. I had a stepmother and step-sister, they didn't treat me that badly at first but the dream got progressively worse to the point they succeeded in killing me. It felt like everyone in the dream turned on me."
"The main thing I remember before waking up is me laying in a coffin with my step sister with red hair closing it... The red hair and the grin on her face still creep me out."
Hye Rin rubs her arms feeling herself getting goosebumps.
"I don't remember other details but I felt really scared, sad and empty when I woke up."
Hye Rin says placing a tub of pistachio Ice cream in their shopping basket.
"That's one weird dream! Do you want to get exorcised?"
Hye Won says getting a smack on the back in return from Hye Rin.
"I probably placed my pillow wrong..."
The two siblings continue their shopping unaware that there's someone listening. The man brings out his phone from his pocket dialing a number.
??: "Hello, editor Woo."
??: "I think I have an idea for the next hit manhwa."
~~~~~
Present time, Vivian Sullivan's bedroom
"Vivian...Just what have I done to deserve this from you!"
I stare at the cat go sit on the window sill with my hand tangling my hair like a crazy person.
"If I'm really stuck here, then there's no time to cry! Ordering clothes can barely do anything!"
Ruby enters the room with some clothes in her hands. She looked stunned and came towards me with a smile.
"Is something wrong, my lady? It's weird that you're awake by this time, it's only half past 8."
It seems the only thing I have in common with Vivian is waking up late.
I drag Ruby and sit her on Vivian's, well my bed. I look through the room to find some paper, brush and ink.
"Do you want to play pretend?"
Ruby looks at me confusingly before responding.
"Aren't we a little too old for that?"
I smile and shift a center table towards Ruby, which was a little difficult. Then I spread a paper on it.
"I want to play detective. And our case is..."
*Drumroll*
"Vivian is missing!"
Ruby has a suspicious look on her face as she slowly stands up.
"But, you're here."
Frustratedly, I push her back on the bed.
"That's why it's called play pretend!"
Calming myself down and not being able to think of another way. I kneel down and take the ink brush in my hand.
"I'm in the mood to play detective and you, my friend will play along."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Detective Rin, here to investigate your missing friend, Lady Vivian Diane Sullivan."
"Can you tell me EVERYTHING you know about her?"
I make sure to emphasize "everything" but Ruby is still looking as confused as ever.
"Well, Lady Vivian is nice and shy..."
I gesture my hand to Ruby implying her to go on but she's still silent.
"Fine. Let's gossip."
I drop the brush and sit beside Ruby on the bed.
"Countess Della doesn't like me right?"
I say slowly getting closer to Ruby who shifts back a little.
"Of course, she hates your gut. It's rare to find a woman who likes her husband's mistress's child."
"Not to talk of having to raise one."
As expected, everyone likes to gossip. Ruby brings her hand to her mouth realizing what she's just said.
"I would like to know though, what are the servants in the house saying about me being a mistress daughter?"
Ruby gives me an anxious look before repositioning herself and clearing her truth.
"Well, since you're asking, I'll gladly tell you."
I smile and reposition myself, getting ready for the hot tea.
"To tell you what the servants think, we have to start from the beginning."
"It was a very stormy and rainy night...
16 YEARS AGO
Madam Della is pacing around her living room with a worried look on her face. She had put Letitia to bed over 3 hours ago but her husband is still not back. Everyone is asleep except for Madam Della and a horse keeper who the madam is unaware is watching her.
(Ruby's Voiceover: The house at that time was very small and only the Count's family and only 5 servants worked there.)
Suddenly, the front door opens revealing Sir Jude Sullivan drenched in the rain. The madam runs towards him but comes to a stop when she realizes he wasn't alone.
"What is that?"
Madam Della asks.
"This...This is my daughter, Vivian and she's three years old."
Sir Jude responds.
In disbelief, Madam Della stumbles towards her husband and drags the girl who's hiding behind his legs out.
"You were able to have an affair and raise a kid without me knowing!"
"If you didn't show her all this while why are you bringing her here now? Why!"
Madam Della yells at her husband in anger, accidentally pushing down little Vivian. Madam Della watches as her husband runs over to the now-crying kid and tries to wipe her tears.
"You'll come to regret this! You and that thing you call a child will definitely pay for this."
Madam Della says furiously then returns to her chambers.
(Ruby's Voiceover: Anyone who saw this site would have expected the Countess to divorce the Count or for her to commit a horrible deed towards him, but then...)
The Sullivan household receives wonderful news, Sir Jude is now a Count. His brother who was supposed to take the post eloped with a woman taking his child with him and some money of course.
This miracle couldn't let the Count leave her husband as she's now a Countess. Later on, the tiny Sullivan house started growing into a mansion, and the people working there also expanded. As everything grew, so did the kids.
There was not much rivalry between the kids going up.
Letitia, who's 2 years older than Vivian shined brightly. Not only does she excel in literature but in arts as well. As the years went by, she became a role model for all the ladies in the town of Bredane. She even got summoned to the palace once.
(Vivian/Hye Rin: What about Vivian?")
(Ruby's Voiceover: Well, she...)
While Her sister got all the praise and finest things, Vivian was planting flowers. She could have shined just as much as her sister did but due to the Count being absent from the mansion most of the time, this gave Countess Della the freedom to maltreat Vivian all she wanted.
The only thing that wasn't messed with is her garden that the Count had personally made for her. Thanks to the treatment from the Countess, all the servants in the house take Vivian as a big joke and no one follows her orders just not to get on the Countess's bad side.
(Ruby's Voiceover: Except me of course, since I'm your only personal maid and your only friend.)
FLASHBACK IS OVER
"In conclusion, that's the story of your life and the servants see you as a joke."
Ruby says feeling proud of herself for being a good storyteller.
"What about Letitia? I have an idea what she's like but I'd like to hear it from another perspective."
I say urging Ruby to talk.
"Well, Lady Letitia... I'm not sure how I should describe her. Okay, listen."
"Countess Della always expresses her hatred to you openly so you know she's an enemy but Lady Letitia?"
Ruby repositions herself and shifts closer to me.
"Whenever you went to tea parties, gatherings or the other ladies come by, Lady Letitia always tries to put you in a difficult spot and then rescue you to get praises for herself."
"When the other ladies bullied you she'll pretend not to see but if someone points out the fact that you're sisters then she comes in pretending to be a lifesaver."
Ruby has a disgusted look on her face as she talked.
"So Letitia is one big sly fox. Noted!"
Let's get my facts straight now.
Vivian is a joke and I am now Vivian meaning I'm a laughingstock to the whole household and everyone that knows me.
I'm a 19-year-old from a mistress and Letitia is 21 years old from a Countess. I have no social presence whatsoever or any form of authority or gracefulness.
"I might as well start making myself known from the household."
"By the way Ruby, how old are you?"
Ruby stands up and heads towards the door.
"I'm 24, and it's time to take your bath"