I Reincarnated as the Daughter of the Runaway Sub Heroine

 

I didn’t pay attention to what he was saying next to me and instead focused on my own thoughts.

Even if my mom miraculously recovered, the problem was what would happen next. It was painfully clear that if I just stayed by Father’s side and got involved in the rebellion, it would spell the end for both my mother’s and my own lives.

So, it might be better if my mom and I quietly escaped as soon as she recovered.

Of course, it would be best if my dad gave up on the rebellion, but he was a person who didn’t listen to anyone, including my mom. And I didn’t want to risk my life to try to convince him either.

If I insist on running away, Mom will definitely follow my wishes. Mom listens to whatever I say.

But if I get caught by the Grand Duke when I run away, hell will open up. And if he found out that my mom’s escape was because of me again, he might even try to kill me. He was a man who was obsessed and cold-blooded.

As I was thinking this, goosebumps rose all over my body. Suddenly, a large building came into view.

“Where are we…?”

It was none other than Salle Castle. The place where the Lord of Salle lives.

Salle was a small village just below the territory governed by Grand Duke Iskas, facing the neighboring country, the Ram Empire.

Mom and I settled here a year ago after moving around several places. There were many job opportunities here since it was a border town.

“Why are we here…?”

But Salle Castle was a place I wanted to avoid as much as possible.

Seeing my bewildered look, Jas said.

“It will be difficult to receive treatment outside the barracks. Don’t worry. His Highness will soon come here with Miss Olivia.”

Right now, Grand Duke Iskas has set up a separate military camp near Salle. Salle Castle was too small to accommodate his entire army.

He had brought his troops to this area because of the demons that had been frequently appearing nearby.

Grand Duke Iskas has long been a shield for the kingdom, combating the Demons that threaten it while also preventing provocations from the Ram Empire to the east. He truly acted as the shield of the Castoria Kingdom. 

Hence, Grand Duke Iskas’ nickname was the Shield of the North or the Guardian Dragon. As a member of the royal family, Grand Duke Iskas was both the most essential figure to the kingdom and the one most restrained by the royal family.

Therefore, on the other hand, I was curious about what would happen after the ending of the original story.

In the original story, all conflicts were resolved with the death of Grand Duke Iskas. Afterward, an epilogue showing the Duke and Duchess happily raising their two children was the ending of the original work. 

However, Grand Duke Iskas’ death meant the disappearance of the kingdom’s shield. I wondered if there was any chaos after that.

“Sir Jas Rikaind?”

As we entered the castle, the old butler of Salle Castle came out running. He looked quite surprised at the sudden arrival of the army.

“What’s the matter?”

“Tell the lord of the castle that we need to use this castle for a while due to an urgent matter. And prepare a room and a doctor, as a critical patient will be arriving soon.”

He was saying this as if it were nothing, but of course, the lord of Salle Castle couldn’t refuse the Grand Duke’s request.

“Yes, understood. But what about the child…”

The butler’s wrinkled eyes turned directly to Jas.

He and I were already familiar with each other. This was because I had been coming here every day for about a week since Mom started getting sick.

Jas Rikaind, who didn’t know this, seemed to ponder my position once again but soon gave a suitable answer.

“This child is with us due to a special circumstance. Please prepare a separate room and take care of their needs.”

“Ah, I understand…”

The butler replied with a somewhat bewildered expression.

It was to be expected. Just yesterday, I had been coming and going here as the ‘punching bag’ child, but now I suddenly appeared with the Grand Duke’s knights.

After my mom got sick, I needed money to buy medicine and see a doctor. But our household was already struggling to make ends meet, and there was no way we could afford such a large sum of money.

Should I resort to pickpocketing on the streets? While pondering such depressing thoughts, the neighbor next door offered me a job, asking if I would give it a try.

The Lord of this place had a son, and coincidentally, they needed a child to take beatings in place of that son.

In my desperate situation, I immediately agreed to do it. I didn’t want to get hit, but I was only 6 years old, and I didn’t have many options for making money. I was actually grateful for the opportunity.

However, on the first day as the child taking beatings, I realized why this position had fallen to me.

The Lord’s son was truly beyond help. His head was like a stone, and his personality was downright violent. At nine years old this year, he was still struggling with basic reading that even I had grasped long ago. With language skills like that, not to mention other subjects, it was hopeless.

Whenever he got a problem wrong from the teacher, the person punished was me. I wanted to quit this job several times, but because of Mom’s medical bills, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and endure.

“Here, use this room.”

The maid guided me to the room. Jas said he had things to take care of before the Grand Duke arrived and left me with a message to rest in my room.

I stopped the maid from leaving.

“Excuse me…”

The maid turned around, looking annoyed.

“What is it? Hurry up and say it. I’m busy because of the sudden arrival of the Grand Duke’s people.”

“Where will the patient who is coming to this castle be staying?”

The maid thought for a moment before answering.

“I think they’re going to use the Madam’s room. But what’s your relationship with those people?”

When I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say anything, the maid sighed.

“Never mind. I don’t care about your business. Just don’t wander around and stay here. Got it? If you cause any trouble, I’ll be the one who gets scolded.”

With those words, the maid hurriedly left the room.

The lord’s wife had passed away two years ago after giving birth, leaving her room empty for a long time. Since they weren’t prepared for sudden guests, they decided to use the room that was normally well-maintained.

While the maid told me to stay quietly in the room, I couldn’t bring myself to comply.

I saw the Grand Duke riding in through the window, with my mother in his arms.

I immediately dashed out of the room. Having been here several times before, I knew exactly where the lord’s wife’s room was.

When I arrived there, the Grand Duke had already entered the room. Shortly after, I saw the doctor urgently entering. I tried to go inside as well, but the guards stationed at the door blocked me.

“Let me in! My mom is inside!”

I kept trying to get in, but I couldn’t break through the solid barrier of guards.

I was enraged. It made no sense that I, the only family member, couldn’t go inside.

What if I couldn’t see my mom’s face and she ended up dying like this…?

Her condition was so bad that the doctor had told me to prepare myself mentally. It might be the last chance to see my mom’s face.

“Ugh!”

But in the end, I was pushed away by the soldier’s hands, stumbling far back. Just as I tried to get up and rush back…

“What are you doing to a child!”

Jas appeared there. He scolded the soldiers and gently helped me up from where I had fallen in the corridor.

“Are you alright?”

I quickly nodded and grabbed him, shouting, “Mister—no, Sir Knight, please let me into the room. I must see my mother.”

“That’s…” he hesitated, as if unsure how to respond, when the door suddenly opened.

Standing there was Grand Duke Iskas. I was relieved to finally have someone who could let me into the room, but soon realized that wasn’t the case.

Grand Duke Iskas glared at me with a cold gaze. To be precise, it was a look that seemed to want to kill me right then and there.

For the first time, I felt the essence of what novels often describe as ‘killing intent’. It was a ferocious emotion possessed by someone who truly wanted to kill and had the capability to do so.

Exposed fully to that gaze, I was frozen in fear, unable to move a muscle.

“Get rid of ‘that’ right here, right now,” he thundered. He referred to me not as a person but as an object. Then he warned the knights guarding the door.

“If I hear another disturbance outside this door, I’ll have your heads.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Without sparing me another glance, the Grand Duke closed the door.