However, not wanting to show any sign of disappointment, Teresia kept a bright expression and chatted cheerfully.
During this time, Helmut also answered a few questions and seemed to gradually adapt to the atmosphere.
While they were spending time like this, the maids entered the room, pushing trays of food.
When they placed the food on the dining table, Teresia told Helmut to come over and seated the child in a chair.
Teresia sat where the teapot, teacups, and a three-tiered tray were placed.
She tried some desserts and pastries, further confirming that this was indeed her family’s main house in the capital city of Devarn.
“Eat a lot, Helmut. That way, you’ll grow tall and handsome.”
Teresia spoke as she watched the child hesitating to eat.
At her encouragement, the child cautiously took a piece of meat from the stew and ate it.
His already bright eyes sparkled, and from then on, as if breaking the ice, he began to devour the food laid out on the table.
Moved by this sight, Teresia ordered more fruits and desserts to be brought out.
Before long, plates of fruits and desserts were placed in front of Helmut, who had finished his meal.
Among them were fruits that were hard to come by as they were out of season.
Helmut ate these fruits along with desserts like strudels, tarts, and éclairs, one after another.
“Keep eating like this from now on. Well done.”
Teresia patted the child’s head and praised him after he finished eating.
***
“Miss, dinner is ready. You should go now.”
“…Ah.”
It seemed she had fallen asleep after tiring herself out from tidying up the additional bedroom connected to her room, which she prepared for Helmut.
In the Oppenhausen estate, the rooms used by family members traditionally had adjoining bedrooms.
Originally, these rooms were for the servants, but they were no longer used as such since servants were no longer housed there. This was because the policy was established to exclude early morning hours from the servants’ work schedule.
In any case, Teresia decided to have Helmut stay in that room for the time being.
It was likely that this unfamiliar mansion and its occupants would feel very strange to him. Since he hadn’t met any other family members, she thought it would be better to keep him close to her for now.
Although the room had been maintained, it looked too barren for a child to stay in, so Teresia added her personal touch to its arrangement, helping the maids instead of just giving orders. That’s why she had fallen asleep briefly out of exhaustion.
Thanks to her efforts, the room was soon ready, and Helmut was now sleeping in it.
Even though she had just woken up and had little appetite, Teresia recalled that in this household, she, her father, and her brother always had dinner together at 7:30 PM.
There was a rule that, unless something urgent came up, the family must dine together in the evening.
My brother and father… both died when I was thirty.
That had happened when the regime changed.
Now, the monarchy was a constitutional one, where the emperor retained some decision-making authority. However, when the regime changed, the imperial family was completely dismantled.
To ensure there would be no chance of reinstatement, all relatives of the emperor were captured and executed.
The few who survived managed to escape to countries beyond Devarn’s reach, but they were very lucky exceptions—likely no more than a handful.
Unfortunately, Teresia’s brother and father were not among those fortunate few.
And neither was Teresia herself.
How was my relationship with my family again…?
Thinking of her family’s untimely deaths, Teresia suddenly began to recall her relationship with them.
After marriage, I resented them a lot.
For sending her off to marry so early.
When her mother passed away, the atmosphere of the house became awkward. It wasn’t exactly good or bad—just ambiguous.
Before that, the family had been rather harmonious, but once the atmosphere shifted, it didn’t return to the way it was.
In such an environment, Teresia was married off immediately upon reaching adulthood, as per her father’s decision.
Why did they marry me off so early? Was it because I resembled Mother too much, and they didn’t want to see me?
The Oppenhausen family didn’t gain much from forming an alliance with the Brigelt family through marriage.
It was merely a politically arranged marriage meant to maintain friendly relations between the families.
If there hadn’t been any complications, it would have been a smooth process. But why did they marry her off five years before the typical marriageable age?
As her unhappy marriage dragged on, Teresia deeply resented her father for robbing her of her youth.
That resentment lingered even now to some extent.
When she arrived at the dining room, her father and brother were already seated.
After Teresia took her seat, the meal proceeded in silence until her brother, Heinrich, suddenly spoke.
“I heard you brought a child out of nowhere.”
“Yes, a little boy, about nine or ten years old.”
“Is that true?”
Her father, the Duke of Oppenhausen, joined the conversation.
“Yes. I almost had an accident, but the boy pulled me to the sidewalk and saved my life. I thought it was only right to repay the favor by becoming his guardian.”
“…And you made that decision on your own? I’m taken aback by how arbitrary you’ve become.”
“Well… it’s a bit sudden, but it’s not a bad thing.”
Her father and brother each offered brief comments on her explanation.
After that, there wasn’t much conversation during the meal—just some small talk about the day’s events.
Still, seeing her family after a long time felt strange.
It made her wonder if it was really right to survive on her own, leaving them behind.
It had already been several days since she had returned to being seventeen.
Teresia was still mulling over how to develop her abilities, where to flee to avoid marriage, or whether she should at least try to persuade her family.
The only thing she could do immediately was study languages, so Teresia focused on that.
Although she couldn’t fully concentrate.
Then, suddenly, Anna knocked on the door and entered. Teresia lowered the hand propping up her chin and looked at Anna as she came in.
“Miss, I’ve figured out some information about that boy, Helmut.”
“Oh, really? That didn’t take as long as I thought.”
“Yes, when I asked the shopkeepers, they all told consistent stories. It matches the identity we investigated as well. Here, take a look at this document.”
Anna approached and handed Teresia a sheet of paper.
Roughly speaking, it was an identity document concerning Helmut.
But then, what was this…
“This boy is that Helmut von Leppel?”
She couldn’t believe it.
***
[A few days before Teresia learned Helmut’s proper identity.]
That evening, after dinner, Teresia returned to her room, then went to Helmut’s bedroom to check on the boy as he slept.
It seemed he was sleepy, as he continued to slumber peacefully.
What should I do for this child?
Although it was an impulsive decision to bring him here, she was determined to take full responsibility.
It was still a story for much later, but if the boy wished it, Teresia was even prepared to go into exile with him.
First, she would have to teach this child, who hadn’t received a proper education. After all, she had nothing else to do.
Teresia thought about how she had spent her time at that age.
When she was seventeen, she had joined several social clubs but hadn’t found much interest in them. Instead, she had preferred wandering around with a few friends or spending time alone.
Yes, in that case, it would be better to feel a sense of fulfillment by teaching the boy.
Thus, starting the next day, Teresia sat Helmut in front of her and handed him paper and a pencil.
“Helmut, do you know how to write?”
“I used to know a little, but I’ve forgotten everything.”
“Oh, really? That’s good news. If you learned it before, you’ll be able to relearn it quickly.”
Helmut still seemed to glance around nervously, but he followed Teresia’s instructions well.
***
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