Chapter 07
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Bree ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
‘Huh, could it be…?’
Did they want me to come to the library often?
Slightly surprised, I gazed quietly, and then Julios spoke.
“Don’t worry, brother! She’ll definitely come!”
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Exactly! Next time, let’s bring some cookies. How about that?”
“…”
Don’t make promises on your own.
Although these words were on the tip of my tongue…
‘I’m on probation anyway, so I don’t have anything to do.’
Above all, Ermano looked too sullen. It made my heart heavy for no reason.
“Well, even if not often, I’ll come occasionally.”
“Really?”
“I was right, wasn’t I, brother?”
Julios shrugged confidently. I raised my hand towards him.
“But there’s a condition.”
Then I smiled mischievously and said, “Julie, you have to call me ‘Sister’.”
Might as well sort out the titles while we’re at it. I can’t keep being called a witch by these tiny kids forever, right?
“Sis…!”
Julios, who was about to reflexively say ‘sister,’ closed his mouth.
“That’s absurd! Why would I call a witch ‘sister’…!”
“Huh, my ears must be acting up. Why do I keep hearing the name ‘witch’? Is it the demon calling me?”
“…”
Julios closed his mouth abruptly and instinctively looked around.
As if being frightened was embarrassing, Julios looked at me resentfully. I sighed as if pitying him.
“What do I do about this? Julie will absolutely not call me that.”
“When did I ever…!”
“What about Ermano?”
Ignoring Julios’s objections, I looked at Ermano.
“…”
Ermano, looking embarrassed, lowered his gaze, then repeatedly looked up at me. Seeing him hesitate and ponder, I found myself smiling involuntarily.
No, this won’t do. I need to stop teasing now. That was what I thought.
“Sis… sister.”
With a strained but clear voice, Ermano called me, grabbing the hem of my clothes.
“Sister, will you come again?”
Then, with clear eyes, he blinked and tugged lightly at my clothes.
“…”
For a moment, I was speechless.
It was just a playful comment to tidy up the titles, especially to tease Julios…
‘He’s so cute…!’
Looking at Ermano like that, I felt a strong urge to come again.
“Okay, I’ll come again.”
I smiled warmly and patted Ermano’s head. He seemed to like it, blushing and smiling bashfully.
‘So adorable…’
Smiling at Ermano, I asked. “Do you like studying, Ermano?”
“Brother is really smart!”
The answer came from Julios. Julios spoke with a proud expression, as if it was his own achievement.
“He always gets a perfect score on tests. Professor Benito always praises him.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
This time, Julios looked even more delighted, responding with a bit more emotion.
‘Wait a moment. Then…’
By now, it should be time for their class. Why are they still in the library?
Come to think of it, when we first collided, the kids were going in the opposite direction of the study room.
‘So the servants are probably looking for them.’
Sensing something strange, I asked the kids.
“So, you don’t have class today?”
The moment I asked that…
“…”
The youthful smile faded slowly from Ermano’s face.
“…I don’t want to go to class.”
Ermano mumbled, bowing his head with a whisper.
“Why? Don’t you want to study anymore?”
“….”
Ermano hesitated, lowering his head and avoiding eye contact. It seemed like he was reluctant to answer.
At the moment Ermano hesitated and his lips quivered slightly, Julios swiftly intercepted.
“We’ve already learned everything. That’s why there’s nothing more to learn. Right, brother?”
“….”
Julios tightly held Ermano’s hand.
“Brother.”
“….”
As Julios urged again, Ermano slowly nodded.
Is it because of the mood?
‘Something seems different with the kids…’
Then it happened.
“Master Ermano! Master Julios!”
Footsteps echoed, and servants, both male and female, came running towards us. They, who were running in a hurry, trembled when they spotted me.
“Milady, what brings you here with our young masters…?”
“Is it strange for me to be with the children?” At my question, the faces of the servants turned pale.
“Oh, no, not at all!”
“So? What’s the matter?”
“Well…”
In response to my question, a maid hesitated to speak.
“The young masters’ class time has long passed. However, today, they escaped again.”
As if the words were true and had been sought for a long time, beads of sweat formed on the foreheads of the servants.
“If it’s alright, may we go fetch the two young masters?”
“No, we won’t go!”
Julios shouted loudly. The servants then looked distressed.
“Young masters… If you skip today’s lesson too, we’ll be scolded.”
“But…!”
“Hurry, please. The Count is waiting.”
“Please. Alright?”
As the servants pleaded, Julios tightly sealed his lips.
“Or… did milady have some business with the two young masters?”
One of the maids asked cautiously, glancing at me. The other servants all turned to look at me simultaneously. As if blaming me for preventing them from attending the lesson, their gaze was somewhat resentful.
“What’s going on here?”
Feeling a growing sense of discomfort, I furrowed my eyebrows. At that moment, a maid with striking red hair approached me.
“Milady, I apologize, but can we take the two young masters…”
“This is odd.” I interrupted the maid’s words before she could finish.
“It sounds like you’re saying I’ve been holding onto the children until now.”
“…”
I threw a deliberately twisted reply, but the maid did not deny it. It seemed like she acknowledged that my understanding was correct.
“M-Milady…”
The atmosphere became increasingly awkward. The complexion of the servants who had been observing our exchange gradually turned paler.
It was at that moment.
“Ugh, how annoying. We got caught again because of the witch.”
Julios’ blunt words shattered the subtle tension in the air.
The servants stammered, “Y-Young Masters, calling Milady a witch is a bit…”
“Why not call a witch a witch? What should I call her then?”
Even in the face of the servants’ objections, Julios didn’t bat an eye. Instead, he casually put his hand in his pocket as if to show off.
“Well, there’s no help for it. We’ll deal with the witch later. Okay, brother?”
“…Yeah. Let’s do that, Julie.”
The twins answered and moved away from me, heading towards where the servants were.
“Apologies, Milady.”
The servants apologized on behalf of the twins for their impoliteness. However, whether it was fortunate that they were going back to class or not, the servants’ faces were brighter than before.
“Well, please go quickly. We’ll guide you.”
“Come this way.”
As if their hearts had changed, the servants quickly led the twins away.
“…”
Even the maid who had made me uncomfortable bowed and retreated with them.
Before disappearing completely, Julios glanced back at me, tilting his head. Unlike when he called me a witch, his original clear and innocent gaze had returned.
‘No way…’
Is he trying to help me?
The thought crossed my mind, and I soon shook my head.
Why would those kids help me?
‘Anyway, this makes me look like a criminal.’
It felt a bit unfair, but the servants had only come to find their runaway masters secretly.
But with the infamous troublemaking lady present with their masters, it was easy to misunderstand.
In that case, I would become the one who needlessly harassed the servants, and the story would go back to Lyas, the twins’ father and the one who had summoned me.
“Then, I’ll become the one who committed mischief again.”
I didn’t want that. What I wanted was to live quietly, receive a mild scolding from Duke Peregrine, and then be driven out to a remote territory.
Living a peaceful life in a quiet and fertile land, living the life of a wealthy villainess.
“Just thinking about it feels great.”
I thought so as I turned around. It was then that I collided with someone coming from the other direction.
A middle-aged man with narrow eyes and a beard, looking somewhat surprised as he gazed at me. He soon smiled and greeted me.
“Hello, Milady. It’s been a long time since we met outside.”
I felt truly sorry to the person offering the greeting, but honestly, I couldn’t remember who he was.
“Who are you?”
“Do you not recognize me?”
His smiling lips stiffened. Clearing his throat, he said, “I am Mentis Veldine, Milady.”
The moment I heard that name, memories from Daphne’s recollections reminded me of who he was.
Mentis Veldine.
As Peregrine’s cousin, Veldine was also from a distinguished family known for both knighthood and scholarly pursuits.
Mentis was the same age as Lyas, but had not yet married.
“Milady, you don’t often come out of your room, so I understand if you forgot.”
Although I hadn’t said anything, he chuckled as if he understood by himself.
“Well, there have been various things going on.”
But his last remark bothered me. Frowning, I asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means not to worry too much. After all, men are more inclined to roam around and explore rather than settle down. Unlike before, if you patiently wait, he’ll come back soon.”
What is he saying now?
Sometimes the nonsense is so creative that words fail to describe it.
Sighing, I leaned to the side and put my hand on my waist in a crooked posture.
“So, you’re saying if I wait quietly, Roderick will come back?”
“That’s correct.”
He nodded decisively.
“Engagements between noble families aren’t easily broken. Moreover, gentlemen who want to propose to a lady who has broken off an engagement aren’t so common. Duke Peregrine will do his best to prevent that…”
“No need.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I don’t need it, like marriage or anything.”
No matter how prestigious the noble family’s daughter is, once she gets married, she takes on her husband’s name.
‘Am I crazy to give up Peregrine’s golden spoon?’
Moreover, Roderick had already considered another lady before the engagement was broken.
If it weren’t for Daphne’s poisoning incident, he would have continued the engagement while pursuing another lady.
“Such a guy is not worth it, even if they were given to me on a silver platter.”
At my firm words, Mentis blinked.
“What… What nonsensical words are these?”
“Why? Is it strange that I don’t want to get married?”
“Of course!” Mentis raised his voice as if it was absurd.
“An unmarried lady is a disgrace to the family! Above all, a lady should have a man as her protector!”
“Oh, really?” I said with a sly smile.
“Then I should avoid marriage even more. If someone like you becomes my husband, that would be hell.”
As if realizing something, I added with a smirk.
“So that’s why you’re still unmarried.”
Oh well. I patted his shoulder with a pitiful look.
“You’ll find a good match. At least in your next life.”
At that, Mentis’s face crumpled completely.
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