Chapter 98

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 98

Chapter Title: Shadows at the Banquet

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After finishing my conversation with the ceremonial officer and returning to Lady Camilla, the atmosphere was in disarray.

The lady was glaring at the noblewomen with rare anger in her eyes.

"I have no face to show my child. It's because even at my age, my judgment of people is so poor that I invited the wrong guests. You all have no business coming to an event introducing my child."

I groaned inwardly.

On the 8th, people would flock to the Duchess Ballua's party rather than mine. It was better for me if they simply withdrew the invitations rather than leaving the host's table empty.

Of course, that would mean her ladyship would be criticized for letting emotions cloud her judgment and neglecting the child's education.

'She's thinking of me.'

I quietly took her ladyship's hand.

She glanced at me briefly before brushing past the noblewomen.

The noblewomen hurriedly curtsied to her, but she didn't acknowledge them.

Her ladyship remained silent the whole time. Only after touring the entire second floor did she grasp my shoulders and meet my gaze.

"I'll make a new invitation list with those who share a connection with me. They're not the type to be blinded by immediate gains, so you needn't worry about the party."

"Yes, Godmother."

I answered obediently and hugged her waist.

"There are eyes watching, and yet..."

She said that, but without any sign of displeasure, so I grinned and replied.

"But it's you, Godmother!"

"Such a spoiled child."

Considering her ladyship's temperament, I was probably the first child to cling to her like this.

'Lionel is shy, so he wouldn't act spoiled with her.'

Sure enough, her ladyship seemed quite pleased with my antics, her eyes softening into a gentle curve.

I smiled innocently like a child, but in my head, I was furiously plotting something devious.

'I memorized the faces of those who subtly rejoiced when she said they weren't needed.'

After parting with her ladyship, I returned to the mansion.

As I stepped down from the carriage, Laura took my hat and said,

"Little One, a gift arrived from the estate today!"

"A gift?"

I widened my eyes as if wondering what it could be, and Laura chuckled, glancing toward the mansion.

I tilted my head and entered the mansion. Then, upon seeing the familiar faces, my eyes grew huge.

"Dalia! Linda! Uni!"

My face lit up instantly, and I ran to them. The maids cried out "Kyaa!" and hugged me tightly.

"How did this happen?"

These three had even heavier crimes compared to the other Duvered employees, making it hard for them to leave the estate.

"Lady Javelin summoned us!"

"Auntie did?"

"Yes! She resolved our travel restrictions in exchange for us serving you well!"

I took a deep breath and looked at my aunt among the employees.

'Even for Auntie, this must have been difficult.'

She'd been poring over documents day and night lately, even leaving the house—this must have been why.

It wasn't something that could be done with a few words. Only the Emperor or the Pope could pardon criminals. Dealing with either would have required immense effort. The amount of funds involved was unimaginable.

"Thank you, Auntie!"

"I'm glad you're happy."

She bent one knee to my level and smiled warmly.

"Now no one can take your people away—not even the state. Of course."

'Ah...'

She must have been bothered all this time by assigning my maids to Mireyu during that incident.

"This can't fully make up for hurting you, but..."

"Auntie, I'm hungry."

I changed the subject to signal she didn't need to apologize, and her sharp eyes softened.

Reassigning staff was common, and with Mireyu constantly fainting and throwing tantrums, she had no choice but to approve.

Besides, she must have been concerned about the family's attitudes.

Daddy and my brothers were tied up with Mireyu, but they prioritized me. Even while preparing for the capital trip, the family made time for me, but they never sought Mireyu first.

For Auntie, who believed Mireyu was the little bird, she must have wanted to do something—anything—for her.

Auntie smiled bitterly and stroked my hair.

"Alright. I'll have the kitchen prepare a meal. Go wash up and come down."

"Yes!"

I grabbed the maids' hands and climbed the stairs.

Entering my room, the maids scanned every corner with hawk-like eyes.

"The bed's too hard! Little One prefers something much softer!"

"The clothes are too frilly! What if our Little One trips!"

"Kyaa! Who put scented candles by the bed? They give her headaches!"

I watched them bustle about, tidying the room with a mix of crashes and bangs, and inwardly marveled, 'Hoo...'.

The capital room was already nice, but after so long with them, it felt far more comfortable under their touch.

"Now, Little One, shall we change your clothes?"

Linda smiled kindly and led me to the dressing room. She swept her eyes over it sharply, like a heron snatching a snake, then picked out my favorite outfit.

I changed, washed my hands with a good scrub, and went downstairs.

The dining room had gathered everyone—Auntie, Daddy, and all my brothers.

"Escorting the little one at the imperial banquet is my job."

"Says who?"

"Quiet. The first party's escort is the father's duty."

Ishak, Henri, and Daddy were glaring daggers at each other.

'This topic again.'

For days now, these three had been on the verge of blows over who would escort me at the palace banquet.

Tired of their bickering, I sat beside Yohan with a weary look.

He placed a napkin on my lap and asked,

"For dinner, meat or fish?"

"Meat!"

He relayed it to the butler, and soon a large, perfectly grilled slab of meat arrived.

'Meat... so good.'

My eyes sparkled as I eagerly dissected it with my knife. Popping a perfectly sized piece into my mouth felt like fireworks exploding in blissful delight.

Yohan placed something on my plate—a small piece of the salmon he'd been eating.

'I don't really like fish.'

Back in my beggar days, I'd gotten sick from discarded fish. Even after joining the Duvereds, I avoided it.

'But it's from Yohan...'

I eyed the pinkish, well-grilled flesh hesitantly, then squeezed my eyes shut and shoved it in with a gulp.

'What is this? It's delicious!'

I gasped, eyes widening, and covered my mouth with both hands.

"You okay?"

"Yes!"

"It's grilled salmon. Even better with the chef's secret sauce."

He dipped a piece in dark sauce and fed it to me.

'I know this sauce. It's soy-lemon.'

Soy sauce mixed with lemon juice and ground tangy green herbs.

Dipped in it, it was even tastier.

'I had no idea it was this good. What a waste of life.'

I gazed at Yohan's plate with teary-eyed gratitude.

"Have you decided who you want to escort you?"

The moment Yohan asked, everyone's eyes in the dining room fixed on me.

I focused on the fork he offered and mumbled, "No." He twirled it once, spinning my head around too.

"How about me?"

Enthralled by the salmon, I nodded eagerly.

"Yes!"

"...!"

"...!"

"...!"

Yohan fed me the rest with an arrogant smirk.

"Good."

'Delicious!'

Cupping my flushed cheeks, lost in munching the salmon, I didn't notice.

Daddy, Henri, and Ishak staring at me like the sky had fallen.

And so time passed, bringing the day of the banquet.

I arrived at the palace banquet hall entrance, arm in arm with Yohan.

As we were about to enter, I glanced back.

Daddy, Henri, and Ishak looked gloomy.

'Maybe I should've said I'd take all four in turns.'

The rest of the family had been in foul moods for days because of Yohan, making the poor staff and officials suffer.

As I looked at them with a 'What now?' expression,

"Young Lady."

"Godmother!"

Lady Camilla and her following noblewomen greeted me at the entrance.

I quickly let go of Yohan's arm and approached them.

"You're lovely as ever today."

"It's because I'm wearing Sharon's dress!"

The noblewomen's eyes widened.

"Sharon? The one who turned down even the Empress Dowager's order? How...?"

"She's close friends with Auntie."

"Ah, I see."

As we chatted lightly, the surroundings grew noisy.

"Duke Ballua and his wife..."

"Today... the mid-range teleportation circle..."

"To His Majesty the Emperor..."

Amid the whispers, the Ballua Duke's family entered, striding across the hall with unusual confidence.

"Hahaha! Duke Duvered!"

Duke Ballua, scanning the hall, spotted me and Daddy nearby and approached.

Suddenly, memories from my second life flooded back, leaving me breathless.

The whistle of the whip slicing air, the duke's footsteps as he dragged me down the stairs by my hair—they echoed in my ears.

My chest tightened repeatedly, so I twisted my skirt hem.

That was when.

"Leblain?"

Daddy's gentle warmth touched my fingertips.

"You alright?"

"...Yes."

It soothed me like magic.

It's okay.

I won't get hit by that hand anymore.

The me who used to hide trembling in the closet at the mere sound of footsteps is gone.

I didn't avert my gaze from Duke Ballua striding toward Daddy and me.