Chapter 11
“If it’s not that, then what other reason could there be? There’s no way someone like you would have raised her so lovingly, right?”
“……”
“The way you acted in the illusion might have been a performance to win the child’s favor. Everyone knows you’re the type to sell your soul for the sake of your family, don’t they?”
Eliza’s cold gaze bore into Kalec like a knife.
“So, keep the child by your side for now and observe her. In time, you’ll figure out whether she’s useful or not.”
Logically, it made sense. There could be some secret involving the child or the house where they supposedly lived together. Maybe he was just waiting for the right time to use the child as a tool for the family’s sake.
‘Use… tool…’
But why did those words bother him like a thorn under his skin?
“Huh? Theo is getting sucked between the cushions! What should we do? Uh, excuse me, do you have a baby chair here?”
“We don’t have that kind of thing.”
“Ugh…”
Maybe it was because those kids seemed too weak and insignificant to be discarded as mere tools.
Kalec shook his head.
‘I must refrain from having excessive emotions.’
The weak 27-year-old Kalec had already been laid to rest at his funeral. The 22-year-old Kalec would be different. He had to be different.
N/ Technically, Kalec is now 27 Years old, But he lost five years of his memories so he considers himself 22 years old.
‘Anyway, I have to regain my memories. Keeping that kid around for a while wouldn’t be too bad. After all, it’s better than letting her run around outside and blabbering nonsense, hm.’
He finally opened his mouth.
“Fine, kid.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll allow you to stay here for the time being. But…”
“…?”
“One month.”
“What?”
Lirin tilted her head.
“If I don’t regain my memories within a month, you’ll have to return the ring and leave this mansion.”
“I’m not leaving even after a month…”
The child glanced at the floor briefly but soon replied with a bright smile again.
“As long as I can stay with Dad, that’s fine by me!”
“Hah… Can you stop calling me Dad?”
Kalec grumbled in annoyance, and the child gave an awkward smile.
“Oh, I guess it’s a bit much since you don’t have your memories, right?”
Why does she look so discouraged?
Without realizing it, Kalec hesitated before speaking.
“…Three times a day.”
“Yay!”
Her small legs, dangling from the large sofa, swung excitedly.
Kalec stared at her tiny knees.
There was a large bandage on the knee from yesterday’s fall, but it looked like it might come off soon.
‘Even the bandage looks filthy, clinging loosely like that.’
Without thinking, he reached out his hand, but then stopped.
‘Is muscle memory… real?’
He found himself instinctively tending to the child, as if it were a habit.
‘I need to stay sharp. If I treat her too kindly, it might be difficult to kick her out later.’
He then put on his most stern expression.
The conversation was over. He planned to tell her to leave his sight.
“If you’ve said all you need to, go to the infirmary immediately.”
“…?”
Wait. Why did I just mention the infirmary?
Kalec hoped that the clever little girl didn’t understand what he meant. But…
“Huh? You’re telling me to go see the renowned physician of the Duke’s mansion right now? Why?”
I didn’t quite say it like that…
‘What should I say now?’
His blue eyes wavered slightly.
“…Aren’t you planning to be a maid?”
“Oh, right. Yes!”
“Actually, a physical examination is mandatory for maids in Wintervalt.”
“Oh, I see! A physical exam! By the way, can Theo get one too? He’s been a bit runny-nosed lately…”
Kalec averted his gaze and muttered under his breath.
“One family member of the servant is eligible for health benefits.”
“Wow! That’s amazing! We’ll be back soon!”
The child ran off, leaving only a gust of wind in her wake.
Kalec stared blankly at the empty space, then lowered his head in defeat.
‘What am I even doing?’
This is bad. His body kept betraying his mind.
***
I followed Secretary Ruska’s lead to the Duke’s personal infirmary.
There, I underwent a brief check-up, and my knee injury was treated meticulously. The medicines available here were far superior to anything in an outside clinic.
Theo, whose nose had been runny, happily gobbled down some sweet syrup.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
Feeling the blatant stares of the servants observing me, I arrived at an incredibly spacious room.
“Wow…”
“Is this really a room? It’s bigger than our cabin.”
‘So, this is what it feels like to have a rich dad.’
I never knew this feeling before because I never had a wealthy father.
Clearing my throat awkwardly, Theo and I wandered around the vast bedroom, taking it all in.
“Well then, let me introduce myself again. I am Ruska Higgins, the Duke of Wintervalt’s chief secretary.”
At some point, Ruska had changed into a sophisticated jacket, reverting back to his efficient, professional demeanor.
“Miss Lirin, you will be treated as a guest at the Duke’s estate. Of course, you are free to do whatever you wish within these walls.”
“Yes! I’m Lirin Valt, 8 years old.”
“Ew.”
“This is Theo Valt. He just turned three, and he’s asking for your kind care, just like I mentioned earlier.”
As I translated Theo’s intentions, a hint of confusion appeared in the secretary’s eyes.
“I’ve been curious since earlier, but it seems Lord Theo hasn’t learned to speak yet…?”
“Ahh!”
I quickly covered Theo’s ears, who was standing next to me.
“L-Lirin?”
“Shhh! Theo doesn’t speak because he chooses not to!”
I whispered fiercely, my eyes narrowing. Ruska immediately clamped his mouth shut.
“Please don’t say things that could hurt my brother’s feelings. And no saying the word ‘abandoned’ either!”
Worried Theo might overhear, I mouthed the word “abandoned” rather than saying it aloud.
“Hm… I see. My apologies.”
Ruska quickly offered a clean apology and stepped back. His expression, alternating between Theo and me, seemed strangely thoughtful.
Taking the confused Theo with me, I walked to the window.
When I handed him the last boiled potato from my bag, Theo beamed with joy, nibbling on it slowly.
The vast landscape of the Duke’s estate spread out beyond the window.
‘From a distance, it looked dark and foreboding like a demon king’s castle.’
Up close, it still looked dark and foreboding like a demon king’s castle.
“Theo, look over there. There are so many pretty buildings beyond the Duke’s walls. It’s so different from this place. Ah! Look at the sunset! It’s the same color as your hair, Theo! Wow, is it because the leaves are bathed in the sunset? They look like they’re blushing. What do you think?”
“Woo!”
As usual, I was chatting away when I suddenly felt a heavy gaze from beside me.
When I turned my head, I met the eyes of the secretary, who was staring at me intently.
“I see. It’s a good strategy.”
“Huh?”
He casually flipped through one of the many books he had tucked under his arm.
“I don’t know much about child-rearing, but it says here that a baby’s linguistic development is greatly influenced by their surroundings. Isn’t that why you’re so chatty, Miss Lirin?”
Wait, did he just politely call me loud?
‘Ugh.’
But judging from the secretary’s serious expression, it didn’t seem like he meant any harm.
“Now that I think about it, you speak very well for an 8-year-old, Miss Lirin. Of course, the average language development level for an 8-year-old is also mentioned in this book.”
I laughed awkwardly and turned my head away.
‘I can’t exactly tell him that seeing the future made me a bit smarter than my age.’
“I talk a lot because I learned it from my dad…”
“Your dad… You mean His Grace, the Duke?”
The secretary asked, looking a bit taken aback.
“Yes. And my dad said it’s important to talk to Theo a lot…”
I trailed off after saying that.
‘Now that I think about it, why did my dad become so chatty and lively? He’s almost like a different person compared to how he is now.’
Even though he had lived in a mountain village for five years, that’s quite the personality shift, isn’t it?
‘Ah.’
Suddenly, I recalled something Aunt Masha had once told me.
“Lirin, you were slow to speak too when you were little, just like Theo. You hardly showed any emotion, so honestly, you were even more worrying than him.”
“Really?”
“Yes. There was one time when you went missing… You were trapped in a closet, not crying or making any noise, so we couldn’t find you for hours.”
“What?!”
“Your dad, Alec, was really shaken up by that. I think that’s when he started to become more talkative and expressive. Maybe he was afraid you’d grow up just like him—stoic and quiet.”
“Wow…”
My lips parted in astonishment.
‘Dad changed because of me.’
In my dreams, Kalec was a figure of nobility, pride, and reputation—everything a perfect aristocrat should be.
But the Alec Valt I had lived with under the green-roofed house was different.
‘Dad tried his best too.’
He had willingly changed himself, sacrificing everything, just to raise me well. Realizing that made my heart ache.
“Secretary, what about Dad?”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
