Chapter 7
“Of course, it’s true that we didn’t know much about the friendship between the two of you. Unfortunately, the Countess died shortly after giving birth to Khalia, and the Duchess didn’t get a chance to tell us about it before she died.
How fortunate that we now know this truth through the newly discovered diary of the Duchess.
With this long lie, Obert put a period to it.
The Viscount, in the midst of this incredible fabrication, could only open and close his mouth, unable to speak for a while.
Meanwhile, at the viscount’s side, they were nearing the end of uncovering the traces the viscount had left.
Carriages from Desmiere, filled with Barden’s belongings, were lined up in front of the main gate, waiting to leave.
“…Even if this statement is true, you cannot suddenly claim to be Khalia’s guardian. We have been living happily ever after! As Khalia’s guardian, as Count Estelle’s representative, I have handled everything without any problems! Isn’t that right, Khalia?”
Cornered, the viscount even asked for my approval.
If I were to extend my hand to the wrong person, it would be a fountain of foolishness. I mocked and ridiculed him to my heart’s content.
“Your Grace is well aware of Barden’s past efforts. It is fortunate that we can now relieve him of his burden.”
“It was no burden!”
The Viscount seemed on the verge of losing his mind. He protested vehemently.
“It cannot be allowed. Yes, I must meet His Grace, the Duke! In person! If I meet him and talk to him, he will understand that something is wrong.”
“What do you want to achieve by meeting him?”
“We must have a detailed conversation!”
“No matter how long you talk, nothing will change. I came here as Duke Desmiere’s representative. My will is His Grace’s will.”
“Aaaargh!”
The viscount screamed loudly as if in despair, spinning in place. He tore at his hair.
“This is all completely absurd! Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the Empire. A sudden claim of guardianship overnight, and to make matters worse, the events of fourteen years ago?! Besides, it is our side that is closer to Khalia! Mixed blood? Even if all this is true, His Grace is only a guardian of Khalia and has no direct relationship with her!”
He muttered like a madman.
“Even now, go to His Majesty, or rather, ask the other nobles at the club… This is an unthinkable farce. How could this happen?”
“But it is Desmiere.”
Obert said simply, as if that were a magic word that could resolve all disputes.
The Viscount had put his hands on his head in anguish and looked up at him with a blank expression.
There was silence for a few minutes.
“It seems to be settled.”
Breaking the silence, I took a step forward. The Viscount family shifted their gaze like goblins, following my actions.
“Viscount Nardin, Viscountess, Helena.”
The servants and carriages gathered in a line at the main gate.
“Leave my villa.”
The disoriented viscount stared intently at the tip of my hand, then glanced at the viscount’s building, turned his head toward the main gate, and returned his focus to my hand.
He moved his lips several times as if to say something, but in the end he couldn’t say anything and fell silent.
The viscount’s wife and Helena stared at the ground, looking bored.
“Let’s go…”
Finally, the viscount parted his lips and patted his wife on the shoulder.
As a family, they leaned on each other and supported each other, gradually moving away from each other.
When they reached the main gate, the coachmen of the carriages guarded by Ewan and Moore exchanged a few words before boarding an empty carriage.
“Let’s go!”
The coachmen of the carriages they boarded began to drive the horses. Other carriages followed one by one, leaving through the main gate.
The assembled servants either followed the carriages or scattered, murmuring among themselves, until they gradually disappeared, one or two at a time.
I stood motionless, watching the people leave. Not one person was left behind.
As the situation calmed down, the servants, including the butler who had been standing behind me, and Desmiere’s servants returned first.
Finally, only I, Obert, and two guards remained in the mansion.
“Shall we go, my lady?” Obert suggested.
“I understand.”
There was one last carriage left to take us to the Duke’s residence.
As I walked toward it, I turned and looked at the mansion for a moment.
The three-story mansion seemed unusually quiet and desolate today. A melancholy wind was blowing in my heart.
My house, tainted with shame…
Since my father’s execution when I was seven years old, I have never been able to return to the estate.
From the day we moved to the capital, I lived here until I turned nineteen and died.
Memories of running away from Ashley, pulling bugs out of the corridor and chewing bread in a closed room, kneeling and apologizing to the Countess and Helena on the stairs and in the hall, the dining room, the reception room…
For a moment, my lifeless self was reflected in the window like a mirage. It was my room on the second floor.
“My lady?”
Obert, walking ahead of me, called out in a confused voice when I didn’t follow. The apparition shimmered for a moment, then disappeared.
“Let’s go now.”
I straightened my spine and lifted the foot that had stopped.
“When I return, it will be as Countess Estelle.”
As the carriage left the Duke’s residence, gradually gaining speed until it was barely visible, I did not look back, not even once.
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“We have arrived.”
The carriage stopped. Obert announced our arrival.
The door opened from the outside and Obert, who had gotten out first, took my hand and escorted me.
“This is the residence of Duke Desmiere.”
He introduced the mansion as if I was here for the first time.
I looked up at the Duke’s residence for a moment as I stepped from the carriage.
It was completely different from yesterday, when I had come with anxiety, excitement, and restlessness, with a heart ready to take the biggest gamble of my life.
To think that I would enter Desmiere, a place I had no connection to in my past life, or rather, a place I had deliberately avoided due to the sinister fate with my father.
“Please come in.”
The intricate patterns on the elegantly carved front door opened from the inside.
“Welcome, Lady Khalia.”
Servants lined up on either side, bowing respectfully as if they had been expecting me. I glanced at Obert, feeling slightly nervous.
“Is His Grace elsewhere?”
“He has some business on the estate and went down temporarily. He promised to treat you with the utmost care, and starting tomorrow, a schedule of training and adjustment to the family will begin. He advised you to get some rest today.”
The servants waiting on either side sang in unison. I asked Obert, who seemed hesitant.
I hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but I certainly hadn’t expected to be greeted with such a cool reception. It was an extraordinary turn of events.
“I understand. Would you like me to show you around the mansion?”
As Obert gestured, a young maid approached. With a graceful bow, she greeted us, introduced by Obert.
“This is Aila Blainey, who will be your devoted maid, my lady. She is the third daughter of the famous author Blainey. You can tell her everything you need. You are also welcome to speak to any of the staff of the mansion, including myself.”
“I am Aila, my lady. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Her lowered head shook slightly. She seemed more like a playmate than a capable maid, a young girl of my age.
As she straightened, her gaze pierced me, and when our eyes met, she flinched in surprise before quickly composing herself.
Her trembling hand, clasped in front of her, betrayed her discomfort. She couldn’t meet my eyes and looked down at the ground instead.
Is she afraid of me?
Well, it doesn’t matter.
“…Alright then. Let’s have a quick look around the mansion and then I’d like to rest in my room.”
“I will lead you, my lady.”
Aila stepped forward. The people who had gathered dispersed to attend to their respective tasks, and Obert also left for his regular station.
“This is the annex.”
“Hello, my lady.”
Following Aila, I was given a brief tour of the reception rooms, dining halls, library, exhibition hall, banquet hall, and other areas, as well as the annex.
Every servant and maid I met along the way greeted me with surprise. Some hesitated and then stepped aside.
“That should be enough. Let’s go to my room now.”
“I will escort you to the third floor.”
The third floor contained my room and the personal quarters of the Duke’s family.
Duke Desmiere had not remarried since the death of his late duchess.
Among his family was a son who was the sole heir to the Duke’s title.
He couldn’t be much older than me, maybe only a year.
Walking down the corridor behind Aila, I asked.
“By the way, where is the Duke?”
Aila paused, and she turned back to me, speaking carefully.
“The Duke is not feeling well today and is resting.”
Although I maintained a calm facade, I couldn’t help but think that she feared I would lose my temper like a raging fire. It was clear that she was afraid I would erupt at any moment.
I had a rough idea of what was happening. Like father, like son.
It was possible that Duke Desmiere had indeed been called away to attend to matters in his domain…
It could also be that the Duke simply didn’t want to see me, or that he wondered why he should greet me and show up recklessly. With no Duke present, there was no one to restrain him.
“Let’s move on.”
Honestly, all I wanted to do was take a bath and get into bed. I let out a small sigh.
But it seemed like I hadn’t been given permission to end this long day.
“No, I’m not going to see that monster! Father decided all this without consulting me!”