Chapter 81

TL: Zimming

“I asked you all what happened.”

As Javelin’s voice became colder, Lea hesitated and said,

“It’s an accident that happened during the conversation. She’s too young so her emotions are still fragile.”

“It’s the child of fate that you’re covering for.”

“……It’s my fault.”

Javelin glanced at me, but she only sigh and said nothing.

Meanwhile, Mireille stared at the beautiful woman who hugged her.

“Who are you……?”

“Javelin Ariage. I’m Risette’s best friend, and your aunt.”

***

“Are you really Mireille’s aunt?”

When she almost fell down, Mireille smiled in Javelin’s arms.

“Yes. I’m your aunt.”

“Mireille didn’t know I had such a wonderful aunt. That’s amazing!”

Javelin smiled and rubbed Mireille’s cheeks.

“Let’s go, little miss.” the servants said in a small voice to me standing by the door.

I nodded and left.

When I went out to the hall, the chairman was standing nearby.

“Chairman!”

I intentionally called him as he stiffened. He must have been watching what happened inside through the half opened door like me.

Me and the chairman headed for the greenhouse.

In the greenhouse, I held the juice that the maids brought me.

“It’s already spring. Time flies, doesn’t it?”

“……”

“Don’t force a smile on your face.”

I drank the orange juice in my hand.

“It’s not a big deal. Just, just a little fight with my little sister.”

“Not a big deal…why are you in such a miserable state these days?”

“No, I’m just thinking of the old days.”

The longer I am alone, the more sad I am. Because it reminded me of the old days.

In my first life, I was Mina’s shadow. In the second life, whenever the Vallua’s family were eating together, I could only see them from a distance.

‘Let’s not get depressed.’

I tried to think positively.

Let’s think positively!

Dubbled’s family adored me very much. But after Mireille arrived, the attention will be on her.

But even now, Henry and Isaac often come to see my condition.

“In the end, I heard that Javelin assigned the maids to Mireille’s side. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because she’s dad’s daughter.”

Because I know how much my father, who is most precious to me, missed the child.

My brothers didn’t express it either, but sometimes they stare blankly at the child, which is said to resemble the Duchess.

As I looked at the chairman, he sighed.

“A letter came from Seria. She seems to have caught the tail of the person who ordered your kidnapping five years ago.”

“How?”

“She found someone who was involved in a slave auction while working at the top of hope. She said she would deliver the news to you as soon as possible.”

I nodded.

We discussed a few more stuffs about the chairman and the top of hope, I also asked him to look at the progress of the long-distance travel tool that Veronica was making.

The sun was already setting when I came outside after finishing the conversation.

While walking down the red-colored corridor, I ran into Johann.

“Johann.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I have just finished talking to the chairman. Are you back from the family dinner?”

Today, Javelin is here, so we’re going to eat with the whole family.

While I was in the greenhouse, a maid came to pick me up, but I refused because I thought it would be uncomfortable for them.

“No.”

“Why?”

“I hate noisy places.”

“I see.”

“Did you eat?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s do it together.”

“……what?”

“Let’s eat together.”

I widened my eyes.

‘It’s the first time Johann asked me to eat with him.’

I said, “Wa, wait a minute!” as I grabbed a servant who had passed by and asked him to make dinner.

“Where should I put it?”

“Well, that’s……”

While I was thinking about it, Johann said,

“To the third floor herb garden.”

“Yes.”

Was there a herb garden in the castle?

Johann passed by me and said,

“It’s a place where my mother used to go often and managed it. It is not managed now.”

“Ah.”

I walked alongside Johann, answering like that.

I wondered where the herb garden was, it was at the end of the corridor. I didn’t even know that was a door because it was hidden by the tapestries

‘I’ve never been here before.’

The field was completely untouched. The soil was parched, and the surrounding area was all grass that had been dried.

On the right edge of the field, there was a table on the gazebo.

Only that table was wiped clean.

I was surprised when Johann took off his shoes and walked there.

“Can I?”

“This is the place where my mother said she used to lie down if she got tired of managing the field.”

After I read the letters exchanged between the Duchess and father, I could tell that the Duchess was a very interesting person.

I giggled. Then John asked,

“Why do you laugh?”

“Because she seems to be an interesting person.”

“She’s similar to you.”

“Me? Didn’t Mireille look like the Duchess?”

Mireille seemed to look very similar to the Duchess.

“Well. I think you look more like my mother.”

It was not so bad to hear I resembled a beautiful and charming woman like the Duchess.

The food arrived in the middle of my brief little chat with Johann.

When I put a caprese salad on my mouth, I was fascinated.

‘The chefs are really good.’

The quality of the ingredients was so good that they always gave us the best taste.

After removing all from my plate, I lifted a fork to attack the pasta.

Then Johann rubbed my mouth with a napkin.

“That is how my mother used to ate it too.”

Johann is the oldest of the three brothers, so his memory of the Duchess was still clear.

I thought he wouldn’t be able to meet her often because he was educated under his predecessor, but it’s fortunate that he seems to have a lot of memories about his mother.

“Duke’s wife is an adult, did she also eat it like this?”

“She also liked watermelon. It’s a fruit only grown in a faraway place, but my mother liked it so much that my father often bought it.”

“I know the watermelon. I eat it often in the summer. I also really like it.”

After I said that, there was a scream.

“Aah—!”

When I looked at the door in surprise, I saw Mireille.

“Who are you! Who are you to say you look like my mother!”

“……”

“You didn’t have mom’s blood! Mom’s daughter is Mireille, why are you saying that!”

Mireille, who said so, ran and pushed me. In an instant, I felt a throbbing pain in my back.

“What are you do— ahh!”

Pasta noodles, basil, and lettuce from the salad flew.

Mireille, who was angry, threw the food towards me.

“Go! Go away! Take your big brother away and don’t talk nonsense! You fake!”

“Stop it!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you if you were hiding? What a rat!”

I got up from the ground.

“A rat?”

“You’re right! People say that. You were adopted because they didn’t have Mireille. If you’re adopted because of Mireille, you should at least show signs of being thankful to— ahh!”

Mireille’s body floated up.

It was caused by Johann’s mana.

He frowned and stared at Mireille, who had food in both hands.

“Get off me, big brother! Ahhh—!”

When Mireille began to cry loudly, people who heard the commotion ran in.

“Lady, what……oh my god!”

The servants, who found the child floating in the air, tried to drag her down.

However, Johann didn’t stop.

Suddenly, I heard a rupture somewhere. It was the sound of Javelin breaking Johann’s mana.

Mireille fell to the ground. She frowned and cried even louder.

“Lady……”

Lea quickly hugged the child.

Before I knew it, other family members were in the garden. Dad narrowed his forehead, Henry and Isaac looked at the chaotic place with a puzzled look on their faces.

I shook off the food on my dress.

In the meantime, Mireille cried out.

“It hurts! It hurt—“

Seeing the screaming child, Dad frowned and gave a sign to Henry.

Henry sighed, and reached out to Mireille.

With a small vibration, Henry’s mana came out on the back of his hand and Mireille’s red leg returned to its original color.

‘Oh, that’s right.’

Henry was a rare healer among mages.

Since it is not a divine power, only small wounds can be healed.

“What’s happening?”

Mireille spoke at father’s words.

“Because my oldest brother is here, I came in……but…”

“Speak.”

“My sister said she looked like Mireille’s mother.”

Johann spoke in an angry tone.

“— so you pushed Leblaine and threw food to her.”

The faces of the family have hardened. Mireille murmured with a shiver.

“But it’s Mireille’s mother. My sister is close to everyone because she stays here for a long time, but Mireille isn’t. My mother would be the only one who cares about me if she was still alive…”

Isaac said,

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

“That’s no reason to push Leblaine and throw food.”

When Henry was added coldly, Mireille cried even more.

Javelin opened her mouth.

“Stop it. Didn’t she do it because the child was anxious?”

“Aunt!”

“Aunt.”

Henry and Isaac called, but Javelin looked at Dad silently.

“If you cared more about the child, she wouldn’t have been so anxious and had a fight with the child of fate.”

“You’re saying nonsense.”

Javelin’s eyes were filled with amazement when dad answered with a low voice.

“Would this have happened if the baby had originally grown up in Dubbled? It’s the fault of us both for not keeping child safe.”

Dad and Javelin’s eyes were on each other.

“It’s alright.”

All eyes were on me as I shouted.

“I’m okay.”

“But kid……”

“It wasn’t a big deal. It didn’t hurt much because it was food. So don’t fight, okay?”

The people all shut their mouths.

I approached Lea and looked at Mireille.

“Mireille.”

Lea carefully let the child go. The child stared at the floor stubbornly.

I whispered gently on the child’s ears.

“You, what’s your relationship with the Duke of Vallua?”

“……!”

Mireille hardened.

“If you’re hiding, I’m afraid I can’t find you. You’re a big rat.”

“If you’re lucky to be adopted by a prestigious family that has produced a few great scholars, you should at least show signs of gratefulness.”

Everything she shouted was what the Duke of Vallua had said in my past life.

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