Episode 131

The moment I heard that eccentric tone of voice—

Like a lightning strike, I suddenly remembered the identity of the old man I had completely forgotten!

Come to think of it, his hair looked white, but had an oddly silvery tint.

He was none other than the Duchess’s father, and the Duke’s father-in-law.

And Edwin and Joshua’s maternal grandfather…

‘Marquis Tebron…!’

I looked up at the broad-shouldered old man with a shocked expression.

The reason I came to the Duke’s household in my previous life—

It was precisely because of Marquis Tebron.

When I had just turned eight, Marquis Tebron stayed at the Duke’s estate for about two years.

Because of the hereditary illness that would later lead to Joshua’s death.

He often suffered from unexplained chest pains, and wounds on his body wouldn’t heal properly.

He hadn’t been on good terms with the Duke, but for the sake of treatment, he came up to the capital alone without any prior notice.

But during that time, he was suddenly attacked by a demonic beast and gravely injured.

To make matters worse, the bleeding from the wound wouldn’t stop due to the hereditary disease…

When the Duke heard the news, he immediately set aside his resentment and moved Marquis Tebron to the Duke’s estate right away.

And he spared no effort—financially or emotionally—to save him.

‘…Come to think of it, that means Diana failed to heal him back then, too.’

As I recalled that now distant past life, a sudden realization struck me.

About the true circumstances behind how I came to the Duke’s household.

Back then, Logan was still alive and well, so there was no way they would have called me before Diana, who was known to be far more talented than me.

But in the end, Diana failed to heal Marquis Tebron—so the opportunity rolled its way to me, who had been rotting away in the temple.

Just like in this life, when Diana again failed to heal Joshua, and the chance came to me.

And surprisingly, Marquis Tebron slowly began to recover thanks to my meager healing powers.

Of course, Grandpa Gordon’s treatment was involved back then too.

So I can’t confidently say I played the key role—just like how I can’t take full credit for Joshua’s current recovery…

Still, when it comes to healing the Tebron family’s hereditary illness, I seemed to be more suitable than Diana.

Thinking that, a pang of guilt stabbed through me—because I couldn’t save Joshua in my previous life.

‘But… why is Grandfather here at this time?’

As I was immersed in distant memories of the past—

A question suddenly arose.

In this life, unlike before, Marquis Tebron hadn’t been attacked while traveling to the capital.

That’s because we had identified Joshua’s illness early on as hereditary, and that opened up close communication with House Tebron.

I made sure the medicine and treatments prescribed to Joshua were also shared with them, as a preventative measure.

Fortunately, Marquis Tebron’s symptoms weren’t as severe as Joshua’s, so his condition could be improved with medication alone.

And maybe that effort paid off—by the time I turned eight, there was no visit from Marquis Tebron to the duke’s estate.

And yet—

“Such disrespect—why won’t you answer when an elder is speaking to you?”

Maybe he didn’t like how I just stared up at him silently without replying—Marquis Tebron suddenly burst out in anger.

“Huh? Uh… Y-Yes, that’s right, but…”

Only then did I hurriedly nod.

Then, I quietly added,

“…But we’re not living together.”

Marquis Tebron—Edwin’s maternal grandfather—hadn’t liked me much in my previous life either.

But people like that weren’t rare, so I didn’t take it to heart.

Still, there was one thing that had bothered me—

Despite me being the one who healed him, he showed a clear preference for Diana and actively supported her engagement to Edwin.

‘Even if I’m not the best, saying we’re living together is just rude.’

Honestly, I thought I was past the point of having to hear that kind of talk.

After all the money I’ve earned…

I was pouting and sneaking glances at Marquis Tebron when—

‘Huh…?’

Suddenly, I noticed an orange glow flickering around his right foot.

Alarmed, I looked up—and saw the same orange glow on the left side of his chest.

Tiny, like the size of a bean—just like the lingering traces of the illness in the now-healthy Joshua and Edwin.

Remnants of the hereditary disease.

But the orange glow around his right foot was significantly larger than the one on his chest.

‘Why is it concentrated in his leg…?’

“Tsk, tsk.”

As I furrowed my brows in concern, Marquis Tebron clicked his tongue and started to walk past me.

Even with a cane, he limped.

Panicked, I reached out to stop him.

“Um, Grandfather, is your right leg… hurting—”

Smack—!

It happened in an instant.

A dull thud, and suddenly sparks flew before my eyes.

“Ack!”

The pain followed a beat later.

I instinctively clutched my throbbing forehead and groaned.

“Owww…”

“How dare you touch me! And who are you calling grandfather?”

Through eyes welling with tears from the sting, I barely looked up—only to see Marquis Tebron glaring, his cane raised in the air.

Apparently, he had whacked me with it.

“Th-That’s not what I meant…”

I stammered, trying to explain.

But at that moment—

“What do you think you’re doing?”

A voice as cold as ice dropped beside me, sending chills down my spine.

“Your Grace…!”

When had he arrived?

The Duke, his expression twisted in fury, was glaring between me and Marquis Tebron.

Then, with concern in his eyes, he looked at me.

“Are you alright, Belze?”

“Huh? Ah… y-yes, I’m okay.”

I forced a smile, gently touching my forehead that was still warm from the blow.

The pain had been sharp enough to make my eyes water, but thankfully, it wasn’t hard enough to leave a lasting injury.

‘Should I be relieved about that or not…’

As I was caught in that ambiguous emotion—

“Showing up unannounced and doing this in someone else’s home—is this how you behave?”

The Duke turned his gaze away from me and fixed a cold glare on Marquis Tebron.

Even under the Duke’s fierce stare, the old man remained unfazed.

“Can’t I come and go as I please in my own grandson’s house?”

“You’d think by now, you’d remember that this is my house.”

“It’s all going to be Edwin’s in a few years anyway. Don’t be so petty. Tsk.”

“Ha.”

The Duke let out a laugh—one of disbelief.

But it was only for a moment.

He quickly hardened his expression and, with a flick of his eyes toward me, said coldly,

“Apologize to Belze. Now.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“You hit her with your cane just a moment ago.”

“Hmph.”

This time, it was the marquis who scoffed.

“I have nothing to apologize for—to an ignorant commoner who knows nothing of manners or respect.”

With an expression of disbelief, he looked between me and the Duke, then tossed out his words.

“If anything, that girl should be grateful to me. She committed the grave sin of speaking disrespectfully to a noble, and all she got was a tap with a cane.”

“Still as rude and eccentric as ever, I see. The world’s changed a lot these days—resorting to force only gets you talked about behind your back.”

“And you’re still as uncultured and insolent as ever. Who carries on chatting endlessly while keeping a guest waiting? What sort of etiquette is that?”

“I’m not so sure. You don’t really feel like my guest.”

Zap!

Sparks practically flew between them.

Watching the two unyielding men clash, I jumped in quickly.

“I-I’m really fine, Your Grace!”

The Duke finally looked at me, pulling his eyes away from the glaring match.

“You must be tired from such a long journey. I’m sorry, Belze—for letting you go through something like this.”

Trailing off, the Duke turned to the butler and instructed him to summon the physician.

“Go upstairs and rest until Gordon arrives.”

“It’s really not that bad.”

I said carefully, glancing at the marquis.

But the Duke was firm.

“You never know. It might bruise.”

“Tch. Aren’t you just precious?”

The marquis muttered mockingly, but the Duke didn’t acknowledge him.

With no other choice, I followed his suggestion and headed upstairs.

‘I really want to get a closer look at Grandfather’s right leg…’

Getting smacked on the forehead with a cane was unfair, yes.

But I don’t want Marquis Tebron to be in pain—or worse, die.

During the two years he was bedridden in my past life, Edwin had a rough time, probably thinking of Joshua the entire time.

Even if they didn’t get along, the marquis’s love for his grandsons was genuine.

The fact that he passed on his title to Edwin while still healthy was proof enough.

And now, Joshua is even alive in this life.

Making sure no more dark clouds hang over the Duke’s household—that’s part of my mission, too.

‘But… will I get another chance?’

As I climbed the central staircase, glancing over my shoulder again and again—

“Come in, then.”

The Duke let out a quiet sigh and finally allowed Marquis Tebron inside.

* * *

“Tch! Not even a mark. Why drag me all the way here for a simple scrape!”

Just as the Duke suggested, I had Grandpa Gordon examine my forehead—and afterward, I left my room right away.

Because I was still curious and concerned about Marquis Tebron, whom the Duke had ended up letting inside.

‘Why did he suddenly show up at the Duke’s estate? And what was that injury on his leg…?’

The situation was so different from my previous life that my head was a mess.

I rushed down to the first floor, but neither the Duke nor the marquis was in sight—maybe they had moved somewhere else.

At this point, the easiest way to check if the marquis was still on the premises was simple:

Just see if the Tebron family’s carriage was still parked outside the front entrance.

I had just approached the door to check when—

Clack—

The door swung open and someone stepped inside the mansion.

“Oh? Josh!”

I recognized him instantly.

Since this year, Joshua had been attending the academy, and he was wearing his school uniform—there was no mistaking him.

I raised a hand cheerfully to greet him.

But—

“……!”

Joshua walked right past me without even making eye contact.

I froze, startled.

He had occasionally come home with a gloomy face, maybe from arguments with his friends, but this was the first time he completely ignored me like this.

Bang!

The sound of a door slamming shut rang out right after, and I stood there in shock, mumbling to myself.

“What is wrong with everyone in this house today…”

It looked like I’d have to add Joshua to the investigation list—right next to Marquis Tebron.

TL/N: NOooo Josh dont ignore the baby!