I couldn’t help but feel grateful for his consideration, but also strangely embarrassed.
‘I was planning to handle it on my own soon.’
Although I had momentarily postponed it when Lucio unexpectedly arrived, I had already decided that I wouldn’t just passively endure the situation.
‘But how did things end up like this…?’
“Hmm… sister?”
Diana, who was lying on the bed, called out to me with heavy, sleepy eyes. Thinking she was still asleep, I paused reading the fairy tale book and got lost in my thoughts for a moment. Then I realized and read the last sentence.
“And the princess lived happily ever after with her knight.”
After hearing the perfect ending, Diana closed her eyes and smiled softly.
Due to Allen’s incident, I felt guilty for being absent-minded throughout the reading of the fairy tale.
As I brushed my disheveled hair and gently stroked my forehead, Diana turned towards me with a smile and spoke in a voice that seemed like she could fall asleep at any moment.
“Sister, Dana wants to… live happily with sister.”
Feeling a pang in my heart upon hearing the innocent confession of the child who was already hurt, I struggled to hold back my emotions.
“Forever?”
Suppressing the welling emotions, I asked softly, and the child nodded slightly.
“Yes. Forever…”
With those words, Diana fell asleep.
I tightly closed my eyes and silently gazed at Diana’s peaceful face as she slept.
It felt like I was about to cry.
No one has ever cared for me like this before, and I don’t know what to do.
When I first followed Duke Elard, I was light-hearted.
Although Diana likes me, I thought it was because she was young and didn’t have anyone to rely on.
That’s why I gave Jack his position back and planned to bide my time until I became independent by preparing various things.
‘Even though there have been moments when my heart wavered for the people in the Duke’s household who treated me well.’
Still, I hadn’t changed my decision to leave someday.
While I considered Tarenchium my eternal home and dedicated my loyalty to it, I didn’t want to repeat the past of settling down somewhere only to eventually be abandoned, just like betrayal.
However many times I resolved not to have expectations, the heart doesn’t move as I think.
In fact, even now, just because I’m by Diana’s side, I was being disliked regardless of my efforts.
“Why does it feel similar to when I was in Tarenchium?”
At times like this, I become fearful and think that I want to leave immediately.
But the reason I continue to endure and suppress my feelings…
“Hmm.”
Even as I toss and turn, I feel as though the face of the young child holding onto my finger is imprinted on my chest.
Even after the change in environment and reuniting with my family, I didn’t want to leave this child who consistently treated me the same way.
‘If I can stay by Diana’s side, even if it means giving up on my dreams of becoming wealthy or traveling freely…’
Knock.
Just as my sentimental thoughts were interrupted, the sound of knocking reached my ears.
Quietly descending from the chair and opening the door, I saw the Duchess and the housekeeper dressed in outing attire as if they had come straight from outside.
“Oh my, is Diana already asleep inside?”
The Duchess, peering inside the room, lowered her voice.
“Yes, Madam. Did you just arrive?”
I heard that she attended the tea party hosted by the Empress today.
Quickly examining her complexion, she didn’t seem to have a displeased expression.
‘That’s right. I need to prevent the Duchess from suddenly collapsing.’
I don’t know much about having a proper family, but if Diana were to lose a loving mother overnight, it would undoubtedly leave a deep scar on her heart.
Recalling another reason why I should stay in the ducal estate, I followed the Duchess, who suggested we have a conversation for a moment.
On the way to the Duchess’s room, she spoke to the housekeeper.
“As Diana will soon be invited to the tea party hosted by the Princess, please tell the etiquette teacher to focus more on royal etiquette.”
“Yes, understood.”
As the housekeeper replied, bowing her head, our eyes met for a moment.
In her gaze, which seemed to be glaring at me, I momentarily forgot to breathe.
Startled, I closed and opened my eyes, and the housekeeper, looking elsewhere with an indifferent gaze, appeared as if what I just saw was a delusion.
‘But it wasn’t a delusion.’
I can detect animosity from others faster than anyone else.
Moreover, I can’t mistake such cold, glaring eyes.
‘Come to think of it…’
I recalled the uneasy feeling I had when I was with Lucio.
“Helen.”
When Lucio called the housekeeper by that name.
Watching her closely while holding my breath, I could tell.
Her breath faltered for a moment.
The housekeeper quickly composed herself, suppressing her own unease.
I glanced at Lucio discreetly, but he seemed completely disinterested.
However, I found it strange and unsettling that the usually composed housekeeper showed a fleeting moment of vulnerability.
“Then please rest for now.”
As usual, the housekeeper turned around with a stiff posture and a slight nod of her head.
‘What is she hiding?’
Whether it was my professional instincts kicking in or the fact that I couldn’t read her thoughts from our first meeting, I had a premonition that there was something secretive about the housekeeper.
“Lia, come inside.”
At that moment, the Duchess opened the door and gestured towards me with a gentle smile.
“Madam, are you tired? What’s the matter?”
As I entered, asking her questions, a slight unease crept over me, wondering if Bianca had sent me another letter. I hadn’t even finished composing a reply.
“Lia, I heard about today… that starting from tomorrow, you’ll be working in the main library?”
But my heart sank for a moment upon hearing her words.
It was clear that the housekeeper had told her about it.
‘Perhaps the Duchess has also learned about the mistreatment I receive from the maids.’
Looking at the Duchess with eyes shaking as if in an earthquake, she smiled and spoke.
“That’s great news.”
Strangely, the Duchess seemed excited.
“When you’re at the library, you’ll have the opportunity to read many good books. But don’t do the cleaning or organizing of the books alone. Be sure to call for other maids. Understand?”
“Yes, I will.”
I answered with a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it seemed that the housekeeper hadn’t given her a detailed account and only provided a brief explanation.
That’s when it happened.
“Um, about Lucio…”
The Duchess swallowed nervously, as if she was on edge.
“….?”
“Lucio might be a bit difficult for you since he has a different temperament from Allen and Diana… but it would be great if you could help him for a while.”
“Me? But why?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise and asked in confusion.
I had no idea why she suddenly brought up such a topic.
The Duchess seemed to understand my perplexity and added with a smile.
“Lucio isn’t someone who normally keeps people by his side. I’m sure it’s because he liked you that he made that decision.”
“…That’s not true. Maybe it’s thanks to Miss Diana?”
“Like that would happen. Even though I didn’t personally raise him, he’s still my son. Don’t you think I know what’s inside his heart?”
She denied it and affectionately ruffled my hair.
“Our Lia is just as clever as Lucio, so I’m sure you’ll learn a lot even from his side.”
It was embarrassing to be put on the same level as the genius Lucio, but somehow the Duchess’s mood seemed to have calmed down, and I couldn’t argue back.
As I looked at her, curious about what she meant by not having personally raised him, the Duchess fell into contemplation for a moment and then smiled.
“Lucio has always been smart and responsible since he was young. He would study and train in swordsmanship diligently without being told. As a mother, I was naturally proud and impressed, but at the same time, I worried. So I adjusted his class schedule several times and even let him sleep in a little later, but the elderly advisers ran like scared rabbits and said that I was trying to ruin the succession of the dukedom. They even suggested that Lucio should live in the capital instead of the territory. At first, I strongly resisted… but in the end, I was overwhelmed by the advisers’ pressure. Of course, Lucio himself wanted to live in the capital the most.”
“…”
“Ultimately, he grew up so splendidly, but I’m still not sure if it was the right decision.”
Suddenly, I remembered the distance I felt between the jubilant Duchess and the stoic Lucio.
It seemed that she had the same thoughts, as she smiled bitterly.
“It seems like Lucio feels uncomfortable because he couldn’t raise you by his side like Allen and Diana. He even seems to prefer Helen.”
“That’s not true.”
Seeing the Duchess’s face becoming endlessly gloomy, I quickly retorted.
“While His Highness may feel awkward not being able to meet the Duchess often, he definitely doesn’t feel uncomfortable or has a closer relationship with the housekeeper.”
This wasn’t just words of comfort.
Although today was the first time I witnessed a proper conversation between them, I never got the feeling that Lucio treated the housekeeper in any special way.
“Except for calling her by her name.”
Like with anyone else, he was cold and indifferent.
But it seemed that the Duchess didn’t think so.
“Lia, you’re kind.”
“That’s not it…”
“It’s okay. Helen has been taking care of Lucio since he was young in the capital. So it’s not strange for her to feel more comfortable with him than me.”
I wanted to refute the Duchess, who was pretending to be okay, but I couldn’t and felt disheartened.
In truth, I wanted to say it.
If there was even a slight human and warm aspect to Lucio, who everyone said was as cold as ice, then it must have come from the Duchess.
If it wasn’t for the Duchess, he would have undoubtedly become an even more detached and cold person.
‘For example, he wouldn’t have the kindness to give a street beggar child a piece of chocolate.’
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on September, 30.
Want to read more?
