Chapter 6
No wonder it was so quiet in the carriage.
Pathetic and predictable.
Although they had effectively taken over Apellemeon, the two siblings still had to use the Penton family name officially.
If they had gone around introducing themselves as “Apellemeon” in my absence, people would have mocked their delusion. They might even have been accused of trying to steal the family name.
This was why Julius, despite slyly using the nickname “Duke of Apellemeon” in private, only ever introduced himself publicly as “Junior Baron Penton.”
Naturally, Bartol and Demeyra—who already saw themselves as the successors of the dukedom—must have always been dissatisfied with this. They likely saw today, with me present, as both a crisis and an opportunity.
They must have thought that if the three of us entered together and were vaguely introduced as “young master and lady from Apellemeon,” I’d be too caught off guard to object.
That way, it would appear as though the Apellemeon succession issue was still unresolved.
And more importantly, it would seem as though the daughter of the Apellemeon family had acknowledged their status as equal to hers.
In Bartol’s case, this kind of introduction could even be seen as a way to formalize our engagement.
“Was your name Roy?”
“Pardon?”
I stepped closer to the attendant and looked up at him. The crowd inside the banquet hall began to murmur again, but I didn’t waver.
“For a royal attendant, your handling of affairs is severely lacking.”
“M-my lady!”
“The Founding Emperor awarded the dukedom to two founding families and decreed that their direct descendants be addressed differently from the children of other noble families. Don’t pretend you didn’t know.”
“…”
“Though a formal succession hasn’t occurred, I’m the only direct child of the late Duke Bael Apellemeon. I never gave up the title, so it’s only proper that I be introduced as a ‘lady of the duchy,’ not just ‘miss.’ Don’t tell me you didn’t know that?”
When I smiled coldly, Roy flinched.
“Y-young master Bartol said that the lady—no, the duchess—might feel uncomfortable being addressed differently from the others…”
“Did you confirm that with me directly?”
“…”
“And these two weren’t even born in Apellemeon, nor are they registered under the family. So how should they be introduced?”
Roy, who was a head taller than me, swallowed nervously as he looked down. His eyes darted between me and Bartol, full of panic.
“Y-young master and lady of Penton…”
“Then why was Apellemeon mentioned at all?”
His hand instinctively covered the ring on his pinky. I swiftly reached out and grabbed his hand.
“D-duchess!”
“A bribe, then.”
“No! It’s nothing like that! Young master Penton and I have simply crossed paths on occasion. It’s just a friendly gift…”
“You said it was a friendly gift. Bribes usually come disguised that way. But referring to these two as people of Apellemeon and introducing me alongside them means you’re interfering in the succession matter.”
“T-that was never my intention…!”
“Attendant Roy, what is your family name? Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of what you were about to do?”
“Ugh…”
Sweat dripped from Roy’s face as he gasped for breath, clutching at his chest.
‘More naive than greedy, it seems.’
Judging from his panic, he wasn’t in cahoots with Bartol. He was just someone easily manipulated by fools like him.
I was considering how to deal with this slow-witted and unlucky man when suddenly, a shadow leapt between us.
“What are you hesitating for, Father? Just give that trash back already!”
The shadow—a young maid with chestnut hair—yanked the ring off Roy’s finger and tossed it to Bartol.
“No more bribes. Now apologize to the duchess!”
She scolded Roy, forced his back into a bow, and lowered her head as well.
“Ray Danes apologizes on my father’s behalf! He suffers from lingering illness after a long-term disease, and he no longer understands family succession matters. He only kept his position because of his pleasant voice, so please forgive him.”
“I—I’m sorry!”
Roy finally came to his senses and apologized.
“Father…? Ray Danes?”
Startled by the daughter’s sudden appearance, I found both her face and name strangely familiar.
“My lady, I sincerely apologize on my father’s behalf,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I understand if you must report this offense to the palace, but if you could allow time for his treatment…”
Thump.
“Cough, cough!”
She patted Roy’s back, and he awkwardly coughed.
“Oh, to be caught in such tragedy when my brother passed just a month ago! What must our mother in heaven think?”
As tears streamed down her cheeks, even Roy’s bull-like eyes began to fill with tears.
“Mother… brother…”
Ray’s tearful voice, the endless stream of tears, her bowed head, and sorrowful expression—her pitiful act almost moved me.
I could hear sniffles from other attendants down the corridor. Even the clueless Bartol and Demeyra beside me were listening to her intently. Demeyra’s eyes even looked a little red.
I probably would’ve believed her too—if something hadn’t clicked in my mind.
Ray Danes.
In my first life, I recommended her to the Imperial Palace, and she eventually became the head maid.
In my second life, she became Grace’s right hand, the mastermind behind Grace’s angelic image.
I’d only seen her in person a couple of times, but I remembered her vividly.
A master of improvisation, an actress who could move a stone to tears, the tearful Ray, the eloquent Ray.
Who would’ve thought I’d meet her here? She was probably working now as a low-ranked palace maid.
“If you show mercy just once, I’ll never forget this grace… I’ll repay it even if I have to become an ox or horse…”
“I won’t hold you accountable.”
Ray, still sobbing while sneakily watching my expression, widened her eyes.
“Pardon?”
“I won’t punish your father. So please, drop the act.”
Ray immediately wiped her tears and blinked at me.
“Act… was it that obvious?”
“Ray Danes. Isn’t your mother still running that café in the capital? ‘Mama Danes’? And your brother’s set to inherit it.”
“You—you knew that?!”
Of course I did. I gained the most weight in my first life eating cookies from that place.
“Nobles rarely visit…”
“I’ll say it again. I won’t hold you accountable. I won’t report it. I won’t raise the matter with the palace.”
As she nervously rolled her eyes, I took a step closer and spoke firmly.
“But I will remember your promise to repay this grace. And I intend to collect right now.”
“…Please tell me.”
Ray swallowed hard. Her gaze now strangely more serious, locked with mine.
“If you’ve seen through it all and still show mercy… then yes, this is a debt we must repay.”
“First, introduce me and those two fools behind me exactly like this.”
I leaned toward the stiff Roy and whispered something.
“…Yes, as you command, Lady Apellemeon.”
Roy responded.
“Second, Ray, tell me your desired job conditions. And when changing jobs, consider the Apellemeon duchy as your top choice.”
“Huh? Excuse me?”
“Not right now. I’m not in a position to hire anyone just yet. But if I contact you within a month, we’ll talk then.”
“…”
Ray stared at me in a daze. I didn’t wait for her reply and moved in front of Roy.
“We’re quite late for our entrance.”
“Yes, my lady! Let’s go in!”
Roy clenched his fists and answered with determination.
“I’ll announce you exactly as you instructed.”
“Wait, Roy…”
Bartol tried to interject, but Roy’s sharp gaze silenced him.
“Sir Bartol tried to manipulate me into giving the royal voice to the duchy’s succession dispute. I nearly lost everything.”
“T-that’s an exaggeration…”
“Please don’t speak to me again. Not in a tavern, not anywhere.”
Bartol’s face crumpled in shame. Demeyra’s cheeks flushed as well.
I ignored them both and stood once again before the banquet hall doors.
“I’m going in.”
“Now entering!”
Roy shouted in a loud, clear voice.
“Granddaughter of the Empire’s Great Sage, Duke Ardel Apellemeon!”
His next words widened the eyes of everyone inside and outside the hall. I didn’t need to look back to know that Bartol and Demeyra were fuming with rage.
“Daughter of the Empire’s Sword and Shield, the Golden Knight, Duke Bael Apellemeon!”
I stepped slowly into the banquet hall.
“The only lady of House Apellemeon—Lady Iris Apellemeon!”
Brilliant lights flooded down on me, and hundreds of eyes turned in unison toward me from below the stairs.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
The title I had reclaimed after so long, the name I would never again lose—didn’t sound too bad at all.
