Chapter 140

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 140

Chapter Title: The Confession

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"Daddy!"

I deliberately acted overjoyed as I scampered straight to Daddy. Propping my chin on his desk, I stretched out my arms and tugged at his collar.

"I missed you so much. Like, really missed you."

His impassive gaze slowly swept over me as I beamed up at him. The chill in that look made my legs go weak; my grip tightened instinctively, and I flinched.

'Damn, I let it show...'

I tried to calm myself and flashed Daddy the brightest, most innocent smile I could muster.

'Can't let him catch on. I can't lose my family.'

"I'm hungry. Lady Mayju from the palace said I had to eat recovery meals, so it's been oatmeal every single day. And you know, recovery food isn't sweet or salty—it's just bland—"

"Long-distance teleportation circle."

"Pardon?"

"Elixir of Youth."

"...!"

My eyes went wide at the sudden mention of the teleportation circle, but I clutched the hem of my dress when he brought up the Elixir of Youth.

Everyone knew I'd developed the teleportation circle with Veronica's help, but the Elixir of Youth was different.

Its development and distribution had absolutely nothing to do with "Lady Duvered."

"Hope Merchant Guild."

And there it was—the name I least wanted to hear from him. My head dropped as I trembled, and a blade-like gaze pierced the top of my skull.

"When will you finally tell me everything?"

"H-How...?"

"I hoped it wouldn't take me dragging it out of you first—and that your response wouldn't just be questions."

"..."

Daddy's eyes were crystal clear, unflinching.

"I... well, I..."

"And not excuses, either."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I knew it all along. Fooling the Duke Duvered—a man who waged bloody political battles daily among cunning veterans—was next to impossible.

'But I just wanted to stay a little kid in front of Daddy a bit longer.'

Admitting I'd orchestrated the poison incident wasn't hard. The problem was what came after. If he asked why I'd done it, I'd have nothing to say.

I couldn't tell him I knew Marquis Nodelli was behind the assassination attempt on him. Or that we had to secure the water source the Nodellis planned to claim first.

Revealing that would mean admitting I'd regressed three times. That I wasn't the temple's chosen Child of Destiny.

'The family would be disappointed.'

They might even be horrified.

Scared of me.

They might not see me as family anymore.

For five whole years, I'd deceived the people who'd loved me like their own. I'd played the innocent, clueless child to win their hearts while scheming in the shadows.

Sure, it was all for Duvered, but that hardly meant they'd forgive five years of lies so easily.

What would they think if they learned the child they'd adopted out of kindness wasn't a child at all—and that my goal was to latch onto Duvered's power just to survive?

'I wouldn't forgive me, either.'

Even if they forgave me by some miracle, things between us would change.

We might never have that peaceful, happy home again.

'If I lose my family again...'

[I'm disappointed in you, Leblain. I regret the past decade or so thinking of you as my child.]

[I truly thought of you as family. As sisters who could rely on each other. ...Just go, Leblain. I don't want to see you right now.]

Memories surfaced from my first life—words from Duke Amities and Mina.

Back then, I'd been wrongly accused of poisoning, but this time? No injustice to cry over. I'd deliberately deceived my family.

[How pathetic I must've looked, scrambling to survive. It's horrifying. You're truly a creepy kid, Leblain.]

Even the one person I'd called a friend across all my lives flashed through my mind—the moment I'd revealed my secret to her.

Daddy leaned back deeply in his chair and slowly crossed his legs.

"Leblain."

"..."

"Leblain Duvered."

"...I'm sorry. I was wrong."

"..."

I burst into sobs, wringing my hands desperately. Desperately, desperately.

"I'm sorry! Your Grace, forgive me. I was wrong. Please don't hate me."

Seeing me collapse to my knees in tears, Daddy rose from his seat.

"It wasn't to harm Duvered. I just... I just wanted to live. I didn't want to be a sacrifice again. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Tears poured down my face, blurring my vision entirely. But I kept my eyes fixed on Daddy as he approached.

"Forgive me. Don't abandon me...!"

"...Blain."

"I'm sorry. I'll do better. I can do better. So please, please..."

"Leblain!!"

His shout—sharp with anger—snapped me back. I squeezed my eyes shut then opened them; the tears finally spilled free, clearing my sight.

Daddy's face was twisted in pain. Deep pain.

"Don't make me any sadder than this."

My desperately twisting hands fell limp, and Daddy pulled me into his arms.

The warmth of the person I loved most seeped into my trembling body. Clutching at his waist, I wailed at the top of my lungs.

I never wanted to lose this warmth.

I could die a thousand more times.

My body could shatter, my soul torn to shreds—it wouldn't matter.

'Let me stay Leblain Reset Duvered forever.'

Henri glanced at Ishak, who had his ear pressed flat against the wall, scowling.

"Quit fooling around and sit down."

"Why isn't she saying anything? Did Father make her cry again?"

Yohan grabbed Ishak by the nape and shoved him into a chair.

The three brothers had been eavesdropping ever since Leblain and Theodor's conversation began.

They'd suspected her poisoning story didn't add up from the start. And Yohan, who'd been there, was certain the "timely" butterfly was Leblain's divine power at work.

Above all, their father—who doted endlessly on his youngest—hadn't visited her once in the palace.

Something huge had gone down, no doubt.

With Leblain returning today, it was obvious they'd talk. So the brothers had been lurking in the room next to Theodor's study.

"So what gives? Why'd the kid poison herself? And what's this 'wrong' stuff?"

Ishak demanded impatiently, and Henri kicked his shin.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"Idiot."

Ishak might be clueless, but Henri and Yohan had figured it out.

Leblain was hiding something massive from them.

So whatever she said, they wouldn't be shocked...

'What?!'

Henri's eyes widened. Yohan froze, staring toward the study.

Henri clutched his forehead, his confusion plain for once.

'No way.'

Impossible.

Time magic didn't exist.

Yohan gripped the sofa armrest, face pale with shock.

Was she pranking the family? Or too entangled with the temple to speak freely?

Their minds raced with possibilities.

"Ah."

Ishak nodded casually, as if it were nothing.

"That's why she was so mature."

"What?"

"When she was little. A four-year-old saying stuff like a grown-up. ...And she ate carrots well, too."

Ishak crossed his arms and nodded sagely. "So that's it." Henri scowled.

"You're actually buying that? There's a limit to stupidity..."

"The kid said it."

"..."

"You guys are idiots? She's our little sister, so even if she's lying, we believe her."

Henri and Yohan stared at Ishak, eyes slightly wide.

Yohan let out a short laugh, and Henri chuckled, tilting his head.

"What if she backstabs you?"

"I'll give her a good scolding."

"You scold Leblain? Right."

Then voices resumed from Theodor's study.

Henri had thought his father shared nothing with Ishak, but in this moment—facing someone he loved—they were spitting images.

Leblain sniffled innocently through her explanation, and silence blanketed Theodor's study.

Yohan spoke up.

"Where's William Ballua's corpse buried?"

"Limbs torn off and hung at the city gates? It's dust by now."

Yohan's fist clenched.

Henri glanced sideways.

Ishak—who should've been raging—was oddly subdued. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, brows furrowed.

"What? Why the long face?"

Henri prodded, and Ishak asked seriously.

"...She's lived three lives, so is the kid my older sister now?"

"What?"

Ishak sounded glum.

"Do I have to call her 'big sis' instead of 'kid' now?"

Henri stared at him like a worm on the roadside.