Chapter 81

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 81

Chapter Title: Mireyu's Fury

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"What happened?"

As Lord Javeline's voice grew icy, Lea hesitated before speaking.

"It was an accident during the conversation. The young lady is still too young to control her emotions."

"The way you're covering for her... she must be the Child of Destiny."

"...It's my fault."

Lord Javeline glanced at me but swallowed a sigh and said nothing more.

In the meantime, Mireyu stared wide-eyed at the beautiful woman holding her close.

"Who... are you...?"

"Javeline Ariéju. Reset's closest friend... and your aunt."

Mireyu gasped sharply at the tender smile that seemed to melt everything away.

"Are you really Mireyu's aunt?"

Mireyu, who had perked up as if she'd never nearly collapsed, beamed from Lord Javeline's arms.

"Yes. I'm your aunt."

"Mireyu had no idea she had such a cool aunt. This is exciting!"

Lord Javeline smiled faintly and rubbed Mireyu's cheek with her knuckle.

"Appearing so late after burning up your aunt's insides with worry, and now you're excited."

"But it's not Mireyu's fault."

Lea's eyes clouded over at those words, but she quickly forced a smile and replied, "That's right."

The maids standing awkwardly by the door whispered to me in small voices, "Shall we go, Little One?"

I nodded and stepped out the door.

In the hallway, the steward was waiting.

"Steward!"

I greeted him brightly on purpose, but his face was stiff. It seemed he'd been watching the scene inside through the open door, just like me.

The steward and I headed to the greenhouse.

Alone in the greenhouse, I picked up a glass of juice the maids had brought.

"Spring's already here. Time flies, doesn't it?"

"......"

"Oh, right, I mentioned choosing a familiar. Who do you think would be best? I was thinking the angel holding the torch might be good."

"Don't force a smile."

I swirled the orange juice with the straw.

"It's nothing. Just a little squabble with my sister."

"If it's nothing, why do you look so forlorn?"

"I'm not. I was just thinking about the old days."

The longer I spent alone, the sadder I got. Memories of the past kept surfacing.

My first life, watching Duke Amities and Mina from the shadows. My second life, swallowing tough bread while peeking at the excited Ballua family preparing for a banquet.

'Don't get depressed.'

Positive thoughts.

Positive thoughts!

The Duvered family adores me. It's just that Mireyu hasn't been here long, so they'll share their attention with me soon enough.

Henri and Ishak already check in often, making sure I've eaten.

"I heard Lord Javeline assigned the maids to Mireyu's side. You always turn things around in other situations—why stay quiet this time?"

"Because she's Father's daughter."

I knew how much my precious father had longed for his little bird.

My brothers never showed it, but they sometimes stared blankly at the little one who resembled the Duchess.

I looked straight at the steward, and he let out a faint sigh.

"A letter came from Seria. It seems they've caught the tail of the 'guest' who ordered your kidnapping five years ago."

"How?"

"They found someone working at the House of Hope who was involved in the slave auctions. She said she'll report back the moment she makes contact."

I nodded.

We discussed a few more things about the Hope Merchant Guild and the steward, and I asked him to check on the progress of Veronica's long-distance teleportation circle.

When we finished talking and stepped outside, the sun was already setting.

As I walked down the red-tinged hallway, I ran into Yohan.

"Lord Yohan."

"What are you doing here?"

"I just finished talking with the steward. Have you eaten?"

With Lord Javeline here today, the family would dine together.

A maid had come to fetch me from the greenhouse earlier, but I'd refused, not wanting to be in an awkward spot.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I hate noisy gatherings."

"I see."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Let's eat together."

"...Pardon?"

"I said, let's eat together."

My eyes widened round.

'Lord Yohan inviting me to eat together for the first time.'

I grabbed a passing servant and said, "Prepare dinner!"

"Where shall we set it?"

"Hmm, well..."

As I pondered, Yohan spoke up.

"The herb garden on the third floor."

"Yes, sir."

There was a herb garden in the mansion?

As I looked at him questioningly, Yohan passed by my side and said,

"A place Mother tended to in life. It's unused now."

"Ah."

I followed Yohan, replying as I went.

I wondered where on the third floor a herb garden could be, and it turned out to be at the end of the hall. A tapestry hung there, so I hadn't even known there was a door.

'I've never been here before.'

The plot was utterly neglected. The soil was bone-dry, surrounded only by withered, twisted grass.

On the right edge of the field stood a strange table that looked like a gazebo or a platform.

At least that spot was spotlessly clean.

Yohan kicked off his shoes and climbed up, startling me.

"Is that okay?"

"Mother had it made because she'd get tired tending the garden and want to lie down spread-eagled."

I'd sensed it from the letters between the Duchess and Father at the capital mansion, but the Duchess had been quite the character.

I giggled. Yohan asked, "What?"

"She was so unique."

"You take after her."

"Me? I take after Mireyu."

Mireyu, with her gentle features, seemed modeled after the Duchess.

"Maybe. But to me, you resemble Mother more."

"Sure, sure. If you say so."

Being told I resembled a beauty like the Duchess, full of charm, didn't feel bad at all.

As we chatted idly, the food arrived.

I popped a whole caprese skewer—tomato and mozzarella neatly stacked on a biscuit—into my mouth, and bliss exploded on my tongue.

'The west wing chefs are incredible.'

The Duvered ingredients were top-quality, turning anything into a gourmet delight.

After devouring the three capreses on my plate, I picked up my fork to tackle the pasta.

That's when Yohan wiped the corner of my mouth with his napkin.

"Eating with your face all messy. Just like Mother."

As the eldest of the three brothers, Yohan seemed to remember the Duchess vividly.

I'd thought he wouldn't have seen her much, raised under the late duke, but it was good he had so many memories.

"The Duchess was an adult, but she ate messily?"

"Especially watermelon. A fruit from the Ruskun region that Mother loved, so Father got it for her often."

"I know watermelon. We eat it a lot in summer. So we really are alike in that."

Just then—

"Yaaah—!"

A scream-like shout rang out.

I whipped around to the door in shock. Mireyu stood there, face beet-red, fuming.

"Who do you think you are? Who are you to say you look like Mom?!"

"......"

"You don't share a drop of blood with Mom! Mom's daughter is Mireyu—why are you saying you look like her?!"

With that, Mireyu charged and shoved me—thwack! I tumbled to the floor in an instant, rubbing my throbbing tailbone.

"What are you... Agh!"

Pasta strands, basil, and salad lettuce flew at me wildly.

Mireyu, in a frenzy, grabbed handfuls of food and hurled them.

"Take it back! Take it back, I said! Sneaking off with big brother and spouting nonsense, you fake!"

"Stop it!"

"Thought I couldn't find you hiding? Like a rat!"

I clenched a fistful of dirt.

"A rat?"

"That's right! People said so. You're adopted because Mireyu was gone. Father brought you in as my stand-in! If you got adopted thanks to Mireyu, at least act grateful—Kyaa!"

Mireyu's body floated up.

It was Yohan's magic.

He scowled, staring at Mireyu clutching food in both hands.

"Let me down! Put me down, big brother! Waaah—!"

As Mireyu burst into loud wails, people rushed in at the commotion.

"Young lady, what... Oh my god!"

The servants paled at the sight of her floating midair and tried to pull her down.

But Mireyu, held aloft by magic, wouldn't come down easily.

Crack—!

A bursting sound echoed from somewhere. Lord Javeline had severed Yohan's spell with her aura.

Mireyu plummeted—thud—to the floor. Having fallen on her butt like me, she wailed even louder.

"Waaah, owww!"

"Young lady..."

Lea hurried to hug the child.

By now, the rest of the family had entered the herb garden. Father furrowed his brow, while Henri and Ishak gawked at the mess in disbelief.

I brushed off the food and stood.

Mireyu kept bawling her head off.

"It hurts! It huuuurts—!"

Seeing her scream like that, Father grimaced and nodded at Henri.

Henri sighed and reached out to Mireyu.

Vmmm—.

With a faint vibration, a rune lit up on the back of Henri's hand, and Mireyu's reddened legs returned to normal.

'Ah, right.'

Henri was one of the rare mage healers.

Not divine power, so only minor wounds, but Mireyu's butt probably didn't hurt anymore.

"What happened?"

At Father's question, Mireyu sniffled.

"Big brother was here, so I came... but then..."

"Speak properly."

"Sister said she looks like Mireyu's mom."

Yohan said flatly,

"—So you shoved Leblain and threw food at her."

The family's faces hardened. Mireyu trembled faintly and whimpered,

"But she is Mireyu's mom. Sister's been with the family forever, so they're all close, but Mireyu isn't. Only Mom treasures Mireyu, so if sister takes even Mom away... then Mireyu..."

Ishak snapped,

"What nonsense is that?!"

"That doesn't justify shoving Leblain and throwing food."

Henri added coldly, and Mireyu's shoulders hunched.

Lord Javeline spoke up.

"Enough. It was just a child's anxiety acting out."

"Auntie!"

"Aunt Javeline."

Henri and Ishak called out, but Lord Javeline silently regarded Father.

"If Your Grace had paid more attention to the little bird, she wouldn't be lashing out at the Child of Destiny like this from insecurity."

"Nonsense is a talent of yours."

Father retorted lowly, and fire flashed in Lord Javeline's eyes.

"If the little bird had grown up properly in Duvered as she should have, would this have happened? It's our collective failure for not protecting her."

Father and Lord Javeline's gazes clashed sharply.

"I'm fine!"

Everyone's eyes turned to me as I shouted.

"I'm okay."

"But, little one..."

"It was nothing. Just food, didn't hurt much. So don't fight, okay?"

The room fell silent.

I approached Lea and looked at Mireyu in her arms.

"Mireyu."

Lea carefully released the child. Meeting my eyes, she stubbornly stared at the floor.

Pretending to gently stroke her shoulder, I whispered,

"What's your connection to Duke Ballua?"

"...!"

Mireyu froze for a moment.

Every outburst from her had been Duke Ballua's signature phrases.