Chapter 13
‘He called me ‘hey’, but then used my name?’
Estelle instinctively turned around. Lucas was standing with his head lowered, his fists clenched tightly.
It was the first time she had seen him look so unsure of himself.
Does he have something to say to me?
Seeing Lucas was unpleasant enough at the dining table, but running into him beforehand and having to face him like this made the situation even more uncomfortable.
“Do you have something to say?”
She spoke first, thinking he might just stand there forever otherwise.
“The, uh, door—it’s fixed now. You saw that, right? I told the butler to have it repaired quickly.”
“…The door?”
From his hesitant response, Estelle realized that the early repair of the door was thanks to Lucas pushing for it.
It wasn’t even urgent, and there was no need for him to do that.
Lucas normally wouldn’t have cared about such things, which made it even stranger.
Estelle found his unexpected kindness unsettling.
Then again, was it really kindness? After all, he was the one who had broken the door in the first place.
There was no need to thank him.
“I see.”
Lucas suddenly lifted his head and looked at her with an expression of disbelief, as if to say, Is that all you have to say?
“The repair cost will be charged to you. Since you’re the one who broke it.”
Having spent her life walking on eggshells around others, Estelle could easily guess what kind of response Lucas was expecting from her.
How laughable.
That was precisely why she didn’t want to give him the reaction he wanted.
She didn’t want to continue the conversation, so she turned and resumed her steps toward the dining room.
Lucas followed behind her, narrowing the distance between them.
They were heading to the same place, so it was inevitable, but Estelle found it irritating that he was walking so close to her.
Ugh, my stomach hurts.
On top of everything, taking digestive medicine on an empty stomach seemed to be causing a dull ache.
“Are you… sick or something?”
“…No. I’m fine.”
Lucas didn’t miss her discomfort and moved to walk beside her.
“Fine, huh? You’re sweating. This isn’t fine. I’ll tell Father you’re not well—just go upstairs and rest. Do you have a fever or something—”
Estelle slapped away Lucas’s hand as he reached out to check on her.
“You—”
Her face burned at the sight of his hand, now reddened.
It wasn’t intentional. She had just been startled by the unfamiliar situation, and her reaction was instinctive.
“I told you I’m fine.”
“You… never mind.”
Lucas seemed to reach his breaking point, suddenly picking up his pace and entering the dining room ahead of her.
Left alone in the hallway, Estelle felt a pang of frustration.
Why does it feel like I’m the bad guy here?
This was someone who wouldn’t have cared if she collapsed right in front of him. At her funeral, he had spent the whole time impatiently waiting for it to end.
And now he’s suddenly apologizing and telling me I can call him “brother”?
She wished he’d just ignore her like before. If he had, she wouldn’t have to feel this way now.
It’s temporary. There’s no way it’s genuine.
She was tired of opening up to people and being disappointed in the end.
Taking a deep breath, Estelle forced herself to let it go and walked into the dining room.
“Father, what happened earlier was so funny. I can’t stop laughing just thinking about it.”
Melody’s cheerful laughter filled the air.
“You really are something else,” the Duke of Winchester replied, looking at her with fondness.
“…You’re here?”
When his gaze shifted to Estelle, his expression immediately turned cold.
“Sit down.”
Estelle scanned the room, deciding where to sit.
The Duke was seated at the head of the table.
To his right sat Lucas, resting his chin on his hand and deliberately avoiding her gaze.
To his left was Melody, beaming as she playfully complained about being hungry.
Choosing a seat was tricky. Sitting next to Lucas would surely ruin her appetite, but sitting next to Melody would stir gossip among the servants.
By tradition, seating in the dining room was arranged by birth order. If she sat beside Melody, people would undoubtedly start talking about how it symbolized Estelle being beneath her in rank.
She didn’t like the idea of becoming fodder for the servants’ gossip, so she hesitated.
“Sister, what are you doing? Come sit next to me.”
Melody tilted her head, gesturing for Estelle to sit by her.
Doesn’t look like she plans to move.
In situations like this, proper etiquette dictated that one should vacate their seat or leave it open for others.
Or at least sit somewhere else entirely.
“Sister?”
Melody blinked innocently, showing no intention of yielding her spot. Letting out a sigh, Estelle resigned herself and moved to sit beside her.
“You stand up and give your sister your seat.”
“…Dad, did you just say that to me?”
The Duke of Winchester was clearly looking at Melody when he spoke, and the only one she would call “sister” was Estelle.
Melody, visibly flustered, looked back at the Duke for clarification.
Did he really just tell Melody to give up her seat?
Estelle was just as shocked.
She had always been told to yield to Melody. Never once had the Duke asked Melody to step aside for Estelle.
“Hurry up. That seat is your sister’s by right.”
When the Duke spoke again, Melody’s face turned bright red.
Unaccustomed to such treatment, Estelle found her reaction rather awkward.
Maybe I should’ve just sat next to her after all.
“Miss Estelle, perhaps you could sit here instead?”
The butler suddenly intervened, pulling out a chair directly across from the Duke.
The seat of the lady of the house…
It was a place that had always been empty since there was no one to fill it.
‘It’s your fault your mother died!’
‘If it weren’t for you… Alicia would still be alive. It should’ve been you instead of her.’
The memories surged into Estelle’s mind, making her shut her eyes tightly.
After causing her mother’s death, could she really sit in that seat?
“It does seem fitting. When the lady of the house is absent, the eldest daughter traditionally takes her place.”
“Indeed. The food will be served soon, so please take your seat, my lady,” the butler added, beaming with satisfaction at the Duke’s agreement.
Refusing to sit there would seem strange, so Estelle reluctantly sat down.
As soon as she did, the Duke’s face came into clear view, making her drop her gaze to avoid looking at him.
“Brother Lucas, is something wrong? You don’t look happy.”
Melody addressed Lucas, who was nervously fidgeting with his napkin, shredding it bit by bit.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Tell me what’s bothering you. I will fix it for you, okay?”
“I said there’s nothing wrong!”
Irritated by her persistence, Lucas slammed his hand on the table.
“B-brother!”
Startled, Melody began hiccupping.
“Lucas Winchester. Your father is present, and this is how you behave? Apologize to Melody immediately.”
The Duke poured a glass of water and handed it to Melody while scolding Lucas.
“…I’m sorry, Melody. I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Lucas apologized, visibly uncomfortable as he tried to console her.
“I-it’s okay. I shouldn’t have pried,” Melody replied, waving her hands and forcing a smile.
Watching her grit her teeth to hold back tears, Estelle found it oddly amusing. Her vantage point across the table made her feel like she was watching a play unfold.
At that moment, the food was brought in. Appetizers, a glistening roasted turkey, fresh salmon salad with a reddish hue, and an array of freshly baked bread were laid out on the table.
For Estelle, whose stomach was already upset, the dishes seemed far too rich.
The salmon salad was the lightest option, but unfortunately, she couldn’t eat raw food.
She resigned herself to nibbling on the cherry tomatoes from the salad instead.
Lucas remained silent, while Melody, still visibly upset, poked at the turkey with her fork.
The occasional clatter of cutlery was the only sound breaking the heavy silence.
Estelle tried her best to ignore the Duke, who had been glancing at her from across the table.
Why did I even come? I should’ve just stayed in my room.
Regret filled her as she neared the end of her meal, realizing she had made the decision to come out on impulse to gauge Melody’s reaction.
Dessert was served: a cream cake.
Eager to leave, Estelle picked up her fork, slicing into the cake.
…Peach?
Inside the cake’s layers, a peach compote oozed out.
“Oh! It’s my favorite peach cake!”
“You mentioned you’d been craving it lately, so I had the kitchen prepare it just for you,” the Duke said with a satisfied smile.
“You’re the best, Dad! I’ve been dying to eat this!”
While Melody was overjoyed, Estelle froze in place.
She was severely allergic to peaches. Even touching them caused hives, and consuming even a small amount would result in her throat swelling shut.
“Why aren’t you eating, sister? If you’re full, can I have it?”
“…Sure, go ahead.”
The Duke stopped Melody, who was reaching for Estelle’s plate.
“Melody, I’ll give you my portion instead.”
While well-meaning, the Duke’s gesture did little to help Estelle, who couldn’t eat the cake anyway.
What’s gotten into him today? He usually insists I give in to Melody.
Pushing her plate toward Melody, Estelle smiled sweetly.
“Go ahead, Melody. You can have it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m allergic to peaches, so I can’t eat it anyway. Better you enjoy it than letting it go to waste.”
Estelle kept smiling, meeting Melody’s gaze directly.
Do you understand, Melody? You’re not taking it from me. I’m giving it to you because I don’t want it.
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