Chapter 123
“…What’s with that smile?”
“At least it doesn’t seem like we’re thinking the same thing.”
Hestia tilted her head, unable to understand the mysterious comment.
“Even if you quit, you won’t be leaving the duke’s house right away, right?”
“No, I’ll have to take it step by step. I need to tell His Majesty that I’m changing my guardian to Luciard too.”
“So that’ll take a few months at least.”
Anna patted Hestia’s shoulder with relief, making Hestia pout.
“You sound like you don’t want me to come home.”
“Well, would you be happy in my place?”
Anna’s wide eyes startled Hestia.
“A grown-up daughter breaks off her engagement and comes back to live at home—what kind of parent would be happy about that?”
“Dad would be…”
“He doesn’t count. I just don’t understand. Why break off your engagement with someone as good as Lord Luciard?”
“So I should just marry him even if I don’t want to?”
“Why not?”
Hestia was sure Anna must be wearing a mask of shamelessness to say something so bold. As she sighed, a familiar thought popped into her head.
‘Why not? You’re already engaged—marriage isn’t a big step.’
Luciard had joked about marriage before, but lately, Hestia couldn’t tell what he was really thinking. They used to be on the same page when they made the fake engagement, but now things felt off. He was being more sly—hard to tell if he was joking or serious.
“He’s confusing…”
“Hm? What did you say?”
Hestia shook her head quickly, thinking that telling Anna about Luciard would only earn her a smug smile.
“No, nothing. Anyway, I’ll probably be back home early next year, so just be ready.”
“Oh dear, there’s no room left in this house.”
“What? Come on, I still have my room!”
“That room’s going away. And seriously, where does a grown woman think she’s going? Back to her parents’ house?”
Anna clearly had no plans of letting her stay.
‘So that’s how it’s going to be?’
“Fine then, I’ll just build a new house nearby.”
“…A house? With what money?”
“Who says I don’t have money? I’ve made a lot as a guardian. You know those gems coming into Byron? They’re all from the mine Winston invested in.”
She had bought the mine cheaply from Baron Sears and started full-scale mining last year. The “Tears of the Jewel” that Gus had once spoken of really existed. It was filled with precious stones far beyond anything they had before.
“I own half of it.”
Because Gallian had objected to buying the abandoned mine, a clause was added—Hestia and Winston would each invest half. Once mining began, Gallian regretted it deeply, thinking, ‘If only Winston had invested more, that money would be ours…!’
“Plus, I’ve earned plenty from my own work.”
She had been too busy to spend money, so she had a lot saved up.
“Nice try, but you won’t be kicking me out with no money!”
“…Whose daughter is this, being so cheeky?”
“Just taking after my lovely mother!”
“Enough. If you don’t understand how your mother feels, you can just leave.”
Anna pushed her daughter out with a laugh.
“Dad’s working… Where’s Elvin? I saw Annie and Eric.”
“He started helping your dad full-time after the Milky Way Festival.”
Hestia widened her eyes in surprise.
“Elvin? But he’s still only 15!”
“He’ll be 16 soon.”
Hestia always saw her younger siblings as people she had to protect, so she was shocked Elvin was working now.
“You started working at that age too. What’s the big deal?”
“Yeah, but Elvin doesn’t have to start early. Dad’s healthy, and he could just go to the academy…”
“He should’ve gone already if he was going to. But Elvin said he’s already learned everything from Lord Melvin and doesn’t need it.”
Hestia felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
‘You started working at 15 too. If you can do it, why can’t I? I’m 15 now. Put as much effort into me as you did into yourself.
“Seems like all your achievements lit a fire in him. Maybe he’s worried about keeping up.”
The second child always has pressure to follow the brilliant eldest. Elvin’s sincerity moved the Frost couple, and now they were teaching him strictly—just like they had with Hestia.
“He’s working at the Frost Foundation. Since you’re going to check out Byron anyway, go see how he’s doing.”
Hestia nodded slowly, still surprised.
‘Elvin working…’
In her previous life, around this time, he had been working in a stable to earn money. He got bruises, kicked by horses—it was rough.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror in the hallway. What she saw was a noblewoman full of elegance. Regular massages and skincare by maids, expensive dresses and jewelry—it was all a big contrast.
‘Back then…’
Back then, her hair was dry and messy, her skin cracked from neglect, and her face looked tired from constant stress. Now she looked confident and poised.
‘If I’ve changed this much, Elvin must have too.’
The biggest change? Her parents were still alive.
Hestia placed her hand over Anna’s and hugged her tight.
“Mom, you know I love you so much, right?”
“What’s gotten into you? If you’re trying to win me over, it’s not going to work.”
Maybe because they just argued about the engagement, Anna still seemed upset. Hestia couldn’t help but laugh.
Later
“Elvin! Working hard?”
Elvin frowned as his sister suddenly barged into the office. Hestia beamed at him, and behind her, Luciard quietly slipped away.
With a sigh, Elvin turned away.
“I finished this. Check it over and let me know if there are mistakes.”
“Yes, sir. But your sister’s here…”
When Raven nodded toward Hestia, Elvin clicked his tongue.
“Tch. I don’t have a sister.”
“What do you mean? I’m right here!”
Hestia placed her hand on his shoulder, and Elvin cringed.
While she ruffled his hair, Hestia turned to the smiling man nearby.
“Long time no see, Raven. Have you been well?”
“Always. And you, Miss?”
Raven had joined the Frost Foundation two years ago. Despite being from an orphanage, he had a high education.
‘He always reminds me of Albert. I just can’t like him.’
She had even investigated Raven along with Albert, but found no connection—just a small gap in both their resumes after graduation.
‘Nothing turned up, even after digging.’
Still, she couldn’t shake her suspicions. But firing Raven was tricky—he did the work of five people. Losing him would leave a big hole.
“Learn quickly, Elvin. You need to handle at least the work of three people.”
She half-meant it—when Elvin became more capable, maybe she could finally get rid of Raven.
“Why would you say that? I’m not some genius. I’m just barely keeping up.”
Elvin took her words more harshly than intended. He knocked her hand away and sat down without even looking at her. Hestia was taken aback.
Then Raven whispered to her.
“Elvin is very talented. He picks things up quickly. But… it seems he compares himself to you and feels the pressure.”
Only then did Hestia understand why Elvin was acting so sensitive.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Elvin was sharing a desk with the regular employees.
The desk Hestia used before was now taken by Raven, and since Elvin was still learning, it was hard to give him a private office.
In many ways, people probably compared him to how Hestia used to be.
‘…That must really hurt Elvin’s pride.’
For the first time, Hestia realized that all the hard work she had done for her family could now feel like a heavy burden to someone else.
“Miss Hestia, may I have a word with you? I have something important to discuss about the gemstone supply.”
“…Okay.”
Hestia looked away from Elvin and followed Raven into his private office.
Once the door closed, Elvin, who hadn’t looked at his sister even once, finally raised his head to look toward the office.
He was happy to see her again, but deep down, he was feeling jealousy and insecurity toward her.
Now that he had started working seriously, Elvin began to understand just how incredible his sister’s achievements were—
how naturally talented she was, and how impossible it seemed to catch up to her.
Even though he was the one who would inherit the title as the firstborn, he sometimes wondered if Hestia might end up becoming the heir instead.
‘Thanks to her, I’ve had an easy life and even got to study under a great teacher…’
But even with all that gratitude, he still couldn’t stop feeling jealous.
The mix of appreciation and envy was painful.
“She’s really amazing, huh?”
A soft voice spoke as a hand landed gently on Elvin’s shoulder.
Startled, Elvin looked up.
“…Luciard.”
“Is the work hard? When I first started learning, just trying to keep up gave me a headache.”
Luciard smiled kindly, and Elvin pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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