Chapter 110
No matter how much I avoided looking in the mirror, I still had to wash my face, brush my hair, and adjust my clothing to go about my daily life.
I had convinced myself that this wasn’t my face and tried to ignore it, but there was no mistaking something I had seen all my life.
Of course, I couldn’t compare myself, who had always looked slightly timid despite pretending to be confident, to the grand duchess, who exuded elegance and dignity even while standing still.
But her features, her overall impression… and, most notably, her hair color and eye color, shades I had never seen on anyone else before, were eerily similar to mine.
“How could this be…?”
“P-Princess!”
Just then, Diana, who seemed just as shocked as I was, exclaimed with wide eyes.
Now that she mentioned it, the grand duchess did resemble the princesses from the fairy tales Diana loved to read.
At Diana’s outburst, the grand duchess, who had just stepped down from the carriage with the grand duke’s escort, turned her gaze toward us.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, tilting her head in an elegant manner.
“You are…?”
“She is the young lady of House Elard.”
Perhaps worried that Diana might be reprimanded for her lack of decorum, Ascart quickly stepped forward to explain.
The grand duchess glanced at Diana, who was still staring at her with her mouth agape, then nodded.
“I thought as much. The eldest was like this, and now the youngest takes after him as well.”
She let out a cold scoff, but it was fleeting.
Soon, her pale face grew hazy with emotion.
“Ascart, I’m glad to see you in good health. Congratulations on your graduation.”
Ascart hesitated for a moment before nodding silently.
“The marquis is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“I see. Let us go.”
With graceful composure, the grand duchess turned and began walking ahead.
Ascart gave me and Diana an awkward smile before instructing the attendant beside him,
“Escort Lady Elard and… the child safely back to the duke’s estate by carriage.”
As the attendant left to fetch the coachman, I remained standing there, staring blankly at the grand duchess’s retreating figure.
Bianca, who was following behind her, turned and gestured at me, but I was too dazed to wave back.
“Sister, sister!”
Diana suddenly tugged at my sleeve urgently.
I exhaled the breath I had been holding and forced myself to turn my gaze away.
Diana was looking at me with an anxious expression.
“W-What is it, my lady?”
I couldn’t hide the tremor in my voice as I asked.
Diana leaned closer and whispered in my ear,
“Sister, she looks exactly like you! Is she your mother?”
“…!”
I widened my eyes in shock.
Seeing my reaction, Diana gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.
After a brief pause, she slowly lowered them and spoke again, her voice trembling,
“Is this a secret too?”
***
The walk to the drawing room was silent.
Ascart had long grown accustomed to silence, but perhaps because it had been so long since he last saw his parents, a strange discomfort and awkwardness welled up from deep within him.
“How did things become so strained?”
Once, their family had been warmer and happier than any other.
But after his younger sister disappeared at birth, his father spent all his time searching for her, while his mother grew frail and weak. The once-close family had slowly begun to fracture.
It felt like there was a gaping hole in his chest.
Yet, thinking of his lost sister, whose very fate was unknown, made him feel guilty for even indulging in such sorrow.
“You’re here.”
The marquis, who had been anxiously waiting in the drawing room, immediately stood up upon seeing the grand duchess.
“…Father.”
“You look unwell. The journey must have been difficult.”
“Yes, a little.”
“I see. Now that I’ve seen you, you should go rest. Your room has been prepared.”
For all his longing to see his daughter again, the marquis found himself at a loss for words now that she stood before him.
The grand duchess simply gave a faint nod, too exhausted to respond properly.
The grand duke, seeming a bit awkward, exchanged a brief nod with the marquis before gently supporting his wife.
As the marquis watched his son-in-law escort his daughter away, a wave of loneliness washed over him.
He clicked his tongue and turned around… only to notice his grandson standing frozen in place.
“Ascart, why are you just standing there? You haven’t seen your parents in so long, yet you’re not going with them?”
His words came out gruff despite his true feelings.
Ascart offered a faint smile.
“I just… thought they might be too tired right now.”
“Ahem. And the others? I heard they arrived the moment my message was sent. If they’re still here, I can have them brought in…”
“I already sent them back by carriage.”
The marquis frowned at Ascart’s response.
“Why such a rush…”
“Well… I thought Mother might feel uncomfortable around young children.”
His words left the marquis speechless.
After a brief silence, the marquis huffed and turned on his heel with an exaggerated scoff.
“It’s not what you think! I just bragged about the marquisate’s cake, but now I won’t be able to keep my word, that’s all! Hmph!”
His tone dripped with regret and disappointment.
Even Ascart, who wasn’t usually perceptive about such things, could see through his grandfather’s true feelings. He smiled faintly.
But only for a moment.
His expression soon darkened again as he turned to look in the direction where his mother had disappeared.
He had thought seeing his parents again after so long would fill him with joy.
But it hadn’t. Not at all.
***
“This is uncomfortable.”
The Grand Duchess, who had just lain down on the bed, suddenly spoke.
Startled, the Grand Duke, Bianca, and the maids looked at her in concern.
“My lady, are you feeling unwell? Should I call a physician immediately…?”
“No, my body is fine.”
“Then is the room uncomfortable, Your Grace?”
“We prepared it just as you like, using your usual bedding, but perhaps the change of location is unsettling. I’ll make arrangements right away—”
“It’s none of that. Leave.”
Before the maids could fuss any further, the Grand Duchess raised her hand, dismissing them.
She then turned her gaze toward the Grand Duke and Bianca, who were still looking at her anxiously.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes, my love?”
At her call, the Grand Duke immediately sat down on the bed and met her eyes.
“What is it?”
“You should leave as well.”
“What? Me too?”
“Shouldn’t you go to the Imperial Palace? By now, the news must have reached them.”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that.”
“I’m saying this because I find it uncomfortable.”
“Ah…”
The Grand Duke finally realized that she was referring to him as the source of her discomfort, and his face flushed red.
Unable to disturb his wife’s rest any further, he rose to his feet.
“Then, please rest well. I’ll be back.”
As the Grand Duke quietly left the room, Bianca also bowed and was about to follow when…
“Was that the child?”
“Pardon?”
The Grand Duchess, who had closed her eyes, slowly lifted her head and asked,
“The young maid standing beside Lady Elard earlier. Was she the one you had been exchanging letters with?”
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
Bianca hadn’t thought the Grand Duchess had paid much attention to Lia, who had been by the young lady’s side.
Slightly surprised by the unexpected question, she nodded.
“I had a feeling, but she’s even smaller than I expected. Honestly, it’s ridiculous! What kind of place puts such a tiny child to work?!”
The Grand Duchess, slightly agitated, began to cough, clutching her chest.
Bianca, alarmed, quickly handed her a glass of water. After drinking a few sips and catching her breath, the Grand Duchess spoke weakly,
“I’ll have a word with Duke Elard, so don’t worry.”
“Ah… Yes.”
It seemed the Grand Duchess believed Duke Elard was committing a terrible crime by making a child work.
But Bianca knew that wasn’t the case.
She had seen for herself that Lia, whom she had reunited with, was far healthier and brighter than before.
Perhaps that was why, though she had been happy to see the child, her heart felt slightly heavy.
‘I had planned to bring her back to the Grand Duchy this time.’
And yet… she had been too caught up in her own desires to consider something important.
How must the Grand Duchess feel upon suddenly encountering a girl around the same age as the lost Grand Princess?
‘She’s supported so many children, yet she’s never once met them face to face.’
She had acted indifferent earlier, but the way she spoke now made it clear that she cared.
At that moment, the Grand Duchess, as if she had said all she needed to, closed her eyes again and waved a hand dismissively.
Bianca silently observed her for a moment before quietly closing the door behind her.
***
I stood in front of the full-length mirror.
Soft pink hair, reminiscent of cotton candy, framed a small, delicate face with finely shaped features.
Most striking of all were the large, round eyes—deep pink, like precious gemstones—staring straight back at me.
‘Is this really me?’
Confronting what I had long denied made my heart feel as if it would burst.
‘Now that I think about it, my eyes droop slightly at the corners, just like Ascart’s.’
I had always liked the gentle look in his eyes.
The thought that I might resemble him sent a nervous tremor through my chest.
“Sister?”
In the mirror, Diana tilted her head curiously.
She had been quiet as I asked, but waiting had likely grown tiresome for her.
“My lady.”
Having finally made up my mind, I knelt to meet Diana’s gaze.
Looking into her clear, lake-blue eyes, I slowly parted my lips.
“I have something to ask. Please answer honestly.”
