Chapter 64

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 64

Chapter Title: Lady Javelin's Room

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I was so startled that my eyes went wide.

"That's the Duchess's name!"

I examined the narrow band of the ring. Sure enough, letters were engraved on it.

"Theodor..."

That was when it happened.

"Theodor."

Before I could finish reading the inscription on the ring, a voice came from the doorway.

A woman leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed was staring right at me.

"Who are you? Why are you in my room?"

Her sleek, silky red hair cascaded down to her chest.

The transparent blue eyes that symbolized the Duvered family.

Seductive beauty marks—one under each eye and one on her cheek.

I knew this woman, beautiful enough to make passersby turn their heads, with her low, sweet voice.

It was my aunt, Javelin Ariége.

"I asked why you're reading Lisette's letter in my room."

Lady Javelin's room?

I nearly jumped out of my skin in surprise.

I definitely hadn't come in on purpose.

This room was far too cramped and shabby for the Duke Duvered's sister, who oversaw the capital estate. I'd never dreamed it could be Lady Javelin's.

"Um, I..."

I was stammering, trying to find the right words to say.

"Catch!"

Ishak's voice rang out as a dagger flew toward her. Lady Javelin casually twisted her body and caught it between her index and middle fingers.

"That's a shallow trick. If you were going to attack from behind, you should've hidden your presence."

"Who said I was trying to hit you? It was just a greeting."

Ishak grinned as he approached Lady Javelin, but then he spotted me inside the open door and his eyes bulged.

"Little one!!"

He rushed over in a panic and fussed over me.

"I didn't know you were here. You okay?"

"She wouldn't have gotten hurt since I blocked your dagger."

As Lady Javelin spoke in a calm voice, Ishak bellowed.

"The little one's delicate—her feelings get hurt easily!"

Lady Javelin's expression turned subtly strange, and I wanted to crawl into a hole.

Ishak scowled and said,

"What'd you do? You didn't bully the little one, did you?"

"No! She didn't!"

I quickly intervened on her behalf.

Even if it was a misunderstanding, I was the one at fault for barging into someone else's room. I should've checked whose it was first. Who would've thought she'd use such a tiny room without even a window?

I stood up and approached Lady Javelin.

"I'm Leblain Li—"

"Child of Destiny."

She just stared at me without saying much else. But I'd heard about her personality beforehand, so I wasn't too flustered.

She didn't let people get close and was cold to outsiders. She didn't even accept greetings properly, so some people boasted about having exchanged words with her.

"Little One."

Lea approached then, probably looking for me.

"So this is where you were."

"Am I invisible to you, Lea?"

"Of course not. I was just worried because it's your mealtime."

Lea smiled softly as she stood and bowed her head.

Lady Javelin stared at Lea and unfolded her arms. Her fine, wavy hair gently flowed over her collarbone.

"When will you finally become mine?"

With that, she lightly lifted Lea's chin with her finger.

The maids who'd come with Lea blushed and looked dazed.

Despite her icy personality, Lady Javelin's popularity pierced the heavens—especially among women, more than men.

She was none other than—

the capital's ultimate girl crush.

The woman for whom young ladies waved placards screaming, "Please take me too!"

The Empress's top guard captain and leader of the all-female White Horse Order.

—Javelin Ariége.

Lea let out a soft chuckle.

"You're going too far with the teasing."

"No fun when you don't get flustered."

She crossed her arms again, nodded toward the door as if telling us to leave, and shut it behind us.

"Shall we go, Little One? His Grace is waiting."

"Yeah."

I nodded and took Lea's hand.

As we headed down to the dining room, Dad and Henri were sitting across from each other. Ishak, who'd followed me, sat first and pulled out a chair for me.

Only once I was seated did the meal begin.

Ishak slid the milk cup over to me and said,

"Aunt's here, huh."

Henri, who was cutting meat and placing it on my plate, asked,

"Auntie?"

"Yeah. She was with the little one."

"Nothing happen?"

I nodded at Henri's question.

"She just asked who I was. I went in without knowing it was Lady Javelin's room..."

"That room's easy to mistake."

Henri stroked my head, apologizing for not warning me sooner.

"Little one, Aunt's seriously, seriously scary. If you're not careful..."

Ishak drew his hand across his throat. I flinched and gripped my fork tightly.

Lady Javelin's presence was truly ferocious. Even though they were half-siblings, she really felt like Dad's sister.

"Don't scare her. Auntie would never lay a hand on a girl."

"You never know. She hates the temple more than anyone in Duvered."

That was a famous story too.

There was a tale from her days as Lady Ballua. Like a cracked barrel spilling wine, Lady Javelin—rarely drunk—once slurred,

"I've had three precious people stolen by the temple."

I didn't know all three, but I was sure of one.

Empress Elsa.

Adrian's birth mother, who had passed away.

Most thought she'd died of illness, but those close to the Empress—and I—knew better.

It wasn't a natural death; it was suspicious.

The once-healthy woman fell ill and died in less than a month.

The priests called it a disease from corrupted divine power, closing the case as a natural death.

Lady Javelin seemed to believe it was the temple's doing, in league with the Empress Dowager. And me too...

"Ugh, then she must really hate me, the one sent by the temple."

I could see why her gaze had been so cold.

"Once Aunt gets mad, she's the most reckless in all Duvered."

I glanced at Lea, who gave an awkward smile and nodded as if confirming it was true.

Eek!

My face drained of color as I thought,

I absolutely can't do anything to annoy her... But I already have!

I'd barged into her room and read her letter.

The letter containing memories of Dad and Lisette, which she kept instead of delivering to him—it surely held special meaning.

I had no excuse for reading something so precious without permission.

How could I make up for it?

Maybe a gift...

On the way back to my room after the meal, I asked Lea,

"What does Lady Javelin like?"

"Well... Since the Duchess passed, I've never seen her show strong preferences... Why do you ask?"

"I want to get along with her."

"How kind of you. That's good news for Lady Javelin. She's such a lonely soul."

Lady Javelin was lonely?

I tilted my head.

She was the queen of high society, followed by throngs of admirers. Just the announcement of her attending a party sent the venue into a frenzy; invitations poured in from everywhere.

"All her friends have passed, and she can't open her heart to anyone."

"Friends?"

"The late Madam and Her Majesty the Empress. She especially cherished Madam. She awaited the fourth lady's birth as eagerly as the master and his wife."

"The fourth... I know, Baby Bird, right?"

The pet name for Dad's fourth child, who never got to be born.

They'd been thrilled to learn it was a girl from the sorcerer, and the whole castle rejoiced.

Dad must have too—there were tiny girls' shoes in his drawer.

At first, I didn't realize they were for the fourth. Curious about the word on them, I'd asked Nos.

He looked troubled for a moment before answering.

"They belong to the fourth lady. It was her pet name. The master was so excited he had baby shoes made in advance."

"That's right."

"She was originally supposed to have the middle name Lisette... Ah."

Now I understood why Lady Javelin had cut me off during my introduction.

The name meant for the fourth child was given to me, the temple's gift.

My heart grew a little heavy.

If Baby Bird had been born safely, everyone would have been happy.

Then Lisette wouldn't have died in childbirth, Dad and Lady Javelin wouldn't be lonely, and my brothers would've lived happily with their blood sister.

As I thought that, Lea's expression darkened.

She must be worried I'd fall out with Lady Javelin.

At my door, Lea knelt to meet my eyes.

"You'll get along with Lady Javelin. You resemble Lisette so much, Little One."

"Me...?"

I'd seen the Duchess's portrait.

Unlike my pale brown hair, hers was a radiant, beautiful blonde that drew every eye.

I'd changed a lot in this life, but I was nowhere near Lisette's level.

"I don't look like her at all. My eyes are sharp like this, but hers slanted down so gently."

I demonstrated, lifting and lowering my eye corners, and she chuckled.

"Not your face—your mannerisms."

"Mannerisms?"

"Sometimes you say things so similar to Lisette, it's startling."

She playfully grabbed the top of my foot.

"Even this birthmark is shaped like hers. That's why I feel like you're the late fourth lady reborn—"

"Lea."

It was a sharp voice.

Lea and I flinched and turned. It was Lady Javelin.

Her aura was far colder and more violent than before. I shrank back, intimidated.

"Who said she's Lisette's daughter?"

Lea's face turned ashen.

They said Lady Javelin cherished Lea, but she showed no mercy when crossed.

I'd heard even before regressing: Lady Javelin killed one of her own without holding back when angered.

I hurried toward Lady Javelin.

"Um, wait! Lea didn't mean that—she wasn't calling me Lisette's daughter! She was just comforting me. Because I said I wanted to get along with you! So!"

As I flailed my arms and spoke urgently, Lady Javelin's eyes narrowed.

"Why would you want to get along with me?"

"Because... we're family..."

My voice trailed off meekly, and Lady Javelin's expression grew peculiar.