Chapter 12

* * *

A few days later, Angelus came to find Doah in person.

“Here’s the proof.”

He handed over a black card with the family crest elegantly engraved on it.

「Gold 6,800,000 Festa.

The above amount will be repaid to Ophelia Kredel.

―Fluvia Kredel, proxy for Angelus Kredel」

“In addition, an additional 500,000 Festa per month will be designated as an allowance for you to maintain your dignity.”

Doah was on the verge of letting out an admiring exclamation.

‘Wow… He really handed it over when I asked.’

If I consistently save this money for eight years, how would that be?

Buying an island, building a mansion, hiring servants, and living a carefree life for the rest of my life would be possible.

Seeing such a astronomical amount of money, a blueprint for the future involuntarily formed in Doah’s mind.

‘You do have some advantages.’

Being generous with money.

Doah looked at Angelus with renewed interest.

It felt like discovering a new possibility in him that he thought would be fortunate if he didn’t interfere in the future.

So, the possibility as a money bag.

‘My money bag…’

“What’s with that look in your eyes?”

Did Doah’s eyes reveal greed?

At Angelus’s pointed remark, Doah folded her eyes and smiled wryly, as if to say when she’d seen him as a cash cow.

“I’m happy. Now I can buy pretty and warm clothes.”

“….”

“Well, I can eat lots of delicious things, buy toys, dolls, books….”

Doah listed one by one the things that children of her age might desire, pointing with his fingers.

Even the great Angelus seemed to feel a slight pang of conscience, as he remained silent for a moment without responding.

‘To convert this money into cash while avoiding surveillance, it won’t work with ordinary luxuries. Is there anywhere I can use a large sum of money?’

Excited, Doah’s cheeks turned pink with excitement as he thought about how to convert the escape funds without arousing suspicion.

At least outwardly, he looked like a child happily receiving a gift.

“That much….”

“Huh?”

“I can buy you that much.”

What?

Doah widened his eyes and looked up at Angelus.

Perhaps even he was surprised by what he blurted out, as he shook his head with a trembling gaze and ran his fingers over his lips.

It was just a moment.

Angelus quickly regained composure, arrogantly tilted his chin, and said,

“I might have said something I shouldn’t have, right? Even if you’re a double, you’re a noble lady now. If you’re Ophelia, you should enjoy everything you want to the fullest.”

Oh.

Doah pressed her lips that were twisting with excitement to one side.

It was really unnecessary.

A plush and soft fur coat, fancy jewelry, cute dolls, intriguing toys, interesting fairy tales, beautiful flowers that are rarely seen in the northern regions….

All were things that Bunny, who had endured loneliness alone for two years, had desperately wanted.

‘Things that could be given so easily with just one word.’

To the shell that was Doah, it was being offered.

They say it’s like fixing the barn after losing the cow.

“Do you really mean that?”

Doah pretended to be pleased on the outside, despite the sarcastic thoughts inside. He then turned his gaze away with an awkward look and hid the cold, sinking eyes.

“If you have something you want, let me know.”

“Well, as long as it’s something Young Master gives, anything is fine….”

Whatever you give is useless, so it doesn’t matter what you give.

She sugarcoated what she wanted to say, revealing her white teeth with a big smile.

“Young Master is always busy without a break. You’ve already spent a lot of time because of me. From now on, I’ll handle it myself, so you don’t have to worry.”

“….”

“I didn’t expect you to give me this much money, but thank you. I’ll use it well.”

It was a well-rounded rejection.

Angelus looked at Doah in silence for a while, as if he had been pierced through.

“Angelus, let’s go play.”

“Will you play with me?”

“Sigh… you’re always busy, aren’t you?”

His already pale face, as white as the moon, showed a slightly bleak light.

Not knowing what memories Angelus recalled to make such an expression, Doah tilted her head in confusion.

“…From now on, you will take a break for about a month under the pretext of rehabilitation.”

After a brief moment of stiffness, he quickly blurted out.

“During that time, don’t get into any accidents and adapt quietly. We’ll resume your education when the time comes.”

Without waiting for Doah’s response, he abruptly closed the door and left.

‘Why is he like that?’

Quite a perplexing guy.

‘Well, his way of speaking is so old-fashioned, he sounds like an old man. But he’s only fourteen.’

It was the stormy age, full of ups and downs. In fact, Doah wasn’t very curious about it.

She carefully placed the proof document she held in her hands into a drawer.

Then, she pondered on the words Angelus left behind.

‘Educational activities will resume in a month?’

Doah recalled the man who had been in charge of Bunny’s education for the past two years.

She also remembered the books she had been reading during her spare time.

[Basic Etiquette in Social Circles]

[The History of the Continent]

[The Art of Decline Era]

[War Era and Literary Thoughts]

A significant portion of the book’s content subtly differed from what Bunny had learned from the private tutor. This could be one of two things: either the private tutor’s competence was lacking, or intentionally distorted knowledge was imparted.

“I wonder if he will be in charge of Bunny’s education again this time.”

That would be ideal.

Around the time when the red glow in Doah’s eyes surfaced, a knock echoed, and a familiar maid cautiously stuck her head through the door crack.

“Milady, I’ve gathered maids to temporarily take care of you…”

It was the clever maid from back then.

* * *

Despite being perfectly fine, why on earth would I need nursing?

Although Doah attempted to refuse, the maid said, “Milady, um, please.”

It was evident that the attempt failed.

Doah looked down at the soup the maid had attentively prepared, feeling uncomfortable due to the excessive affectionate gaze.

The maid’s name was Ruby.

She was the maid who took over the food that Salvador left behind for the servants.

‘What on earth have you been saying about me?’ Doah wondered as she looked at Ruby.

She wanted to ask.

What on earth had been said that the servants collectively volunteered to take care of Doah.

“Lady, my arm is about to fall off.”

“I’ll… I’ll eat.”

“No, you can’t. It’s too heavy!”

It was the first time she heard that a spoon could be heavy.

But Ruby was serious.

“Lady, I heard from the doctor that you are malnourished.”

At that, another maid shed tears and sympathized.

“Malnutrition, that’s really unthinkable. How much pain must you have endured not to eat properly all this time?”

A few days ago, Bunny was diagnosed with malnutrition by the court physician.

But was it plausible that the Kredel Lady suffered malnutrition due to abuse?

If she wished, she could have eaten high-quality dishes anytime.

The maids conveniently misunderstood. They thought Ophelia had been so sick that she couldn’t even swallow properly, hence the constant neglect of meals.

“Please take a bite. Our lady, things will get really bad if you keep this up, right?”

“Please. Come on, ah…”

Touch it, and it might break; blow a wind, and it might fly away.

Even though she was known to be suffering from a severe contagious disease, there was no hesitation in approaching her.

It was their first meeting as Ophelia, yet they treated her as if she had been with them for decades.

‘They probably came voluntarily, but…’

She hadn’t expected to be so favored for leaving the food that Salvador had given her.

“Probably because Ophelia is considered a symbol of peace, loved by everyone.”

Doah thought, looking at the maids who seemed desperate and sincere.

‘Grandmother comes to mind.’

Someone who, without any intention, simply waited for the day to die and lifted up the young Doah.

Of course, the grandmother didn’t excessively baby Doah like this.

“Eat. A living person should live.”

“What’s the meaning of me living?”

“Don’t say that. Even if you ride on a very prestigious name, if you treat yourself like crap, you’ll live a life just as crappy as crap.”

Still, she was more affectionate and kind than anyone else.

“Doah, you are a spring tree. For a spring tree to blossom, it has to be spring. Since the spring tree in your fortune has become the supreme king and formed a forest, all you have to do is wait for winter to pass.”

“Can I survive until then?”

“The spring tree is a symbol of strong vitality, rooting in the Eastern land and overcoming harsh winters. If you try to cut down a spring tree, the axe will get damaged instead.”

You’ll become stronger than anyone else, so don’t worry.

Grandmother said so.

Even though Doah talked about flowering in spring, it seemed she had no doubt, as if stating an obvious fact.

Doah ended up waiting for a horribly long and harsh winter.

She learned how to endure winter.

Thanks to that, a life that had been miserable like a candlelight could shine a little, just like the light of a candle.

‘In the end, I died before spring came.’

Yet she was still alive. With a vitality stronger than anyone else.

Since the fortune follows the one who takes action, even in her current body, Doah was still a spring tree.

‘Yes, I should eat. I need to eat to live.’

To welcome the new spring, she had to live.

Doah thought so and slowly opened her mouth.

“Oh my, how beautiful. Enjoy your meal.”

“Try another bite.”

“Doesn’t it upset your stomach?”

Of course, she still hadn’t adapted to such blatant babying.

Doah hesitated with her mouth open, nodding her head.

Due to the awkward atmosphere, each movement felt squeaky, like it lacked grease.

‘Why are they being so persistent?’

Perhaps it was because she wasn’t used to such unconditional kindness.

While she was having such thoughts,

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, a sharp knocking sound echoed.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

It was a very nervous sound, far from being polite.