Chapter 18
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Chapter 18
The Backyard, standing at the threshold between spring and summer, overflowed with blossoms and verdant foliage.
As Rachel and I settled at a table in the Backyard, the Maid soon appeared, wheeling a trolley toward us.
Already catching the sweet aroma drifting through the air, I swallowed eagerly and asked.
"Wow, what a delicious smell! What's today's treat, sister?"
"Chocolate fondue and orange juice. Since chocolate can be heavy, they thought fresh juice would be nice."
The Maid, who had grown familiar with me through her comings and goings at the Estate, explained kindly with a smile.
As the Maid arranged the refreshments on the table and her eyes met Rachel's, she hastily bowed her head.
"W-well then, I shall take my leave, Miss."
Then, catching my silent "thank you" mouthed at her, she offered a warm smile before departing.
'Rachel doesn't seem close with the Maids either.'
Watching the Maid's retreating figure and then Rachel alternately, I studied Rachel's expression carefully.
Rachel had never been one to display emotions openly, but since just moments ago, she seemed even more withdrawn than usual.
More precisely....
'Ever since encountering the Duke earlier.'
Over the past fortnight spent with Rachel, I had come to understand certain things.
First, Rachel rarely spoke about herself.
Second, the only people Rachel maintained any real communication with were the Nanny and Sally.
Yet neither of these seemed to stem from inability, but rather from Rachel's own reluctance to engage with the outside world.
And that "outside world" included the Duke—her only family.
'Still, since he's her only family, getting along with him would surely be good for Rachel's emotional wellbeing.'
Sipping the refreshing orange juice thoughtfully for a moment, I broached the subject gently.
"Rachel, is there anything troubling you? Any worries on your mind?"
Rachel seemed unlikely to volunteer information first, so I decided to probe from my end.
Rachel then looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Friends are supposed to share their true feelings with each other. When something upsets you, they comfort you. When something angers you, they take your side. They even share secrets that can't be told to others. That's how you become closer friends."
"There's nothing like that in particular."
Rachel answered flatly.
'Hmm, perhaps she's never shared such things with others and isn't even aware of them herself.'
I decided to provide more direct examples.
"I have a worry."
"A worry?"
"Well, it's...."
As I trailed off deliberately, I noticed Rachel's interest in my words piqued slightly.
I continued with a knowing smile.
"My father cut off contact with his family when he married my mother. His family opposed the marriage very strongly."
"...Family?"
"Yes, my father's family. Even when I sometimes ask about my grandparents, he won't answer, and when I suggest we reach out to them, he just laughs it off."
"...."
"I wish he would reconnect with them and live happily together now. I'm sure my mother in heaven would want my father to be happy with his family too."
I brought up this story partly because it was a genuine concern of mine, but also because I hoped Rachel and the Duke would see themselves reflected in it.
Rachel listened to my story with a surprisingly serious expression before responding.
"Perhaps your father fears that your family won't accept him."
"Fears?"
"There's no guarantee that family will forgive unconditionally. If they don't, he'll certainly be hurt."
"Hmm...."
"And he might even resent his family for it."
As Rachel spoke, his eyes seemed tinged with loneliness.
As if he were speaking of his own experience.
"I hadn't considered Father's perspective, but you're right—that could be it."
I watched Rachel intently, and seizing the moment, I took another step forward.
"Then, do you have any grievances or worries about the Duke?"
"...No. Nothing like that."
The moment I directly mentioned the Duke, Rachel flinched slightly, but that was all.
Instead, he retreated further, as if caught off guard.
'Tsk, perhaps the timing isn't right yet.'
I clicked my tongue in disappointment and smiled warmly as I spoke.
"Then I'm relieved. If you ever have worries in the future, please tell me."
"Tell you?"
"Yes. That's what friends do—share both joy and sorrow!"
"...."
"Of course, you don't have to force yourself to speak, but please don't keep painful things buried in your heart."
As I said this, I gently patted Rachel's hand.
Just as Rachel was staring intently at my hand and my eyes, the Nanny appeared.
"Young lady, it's time for your next lesson."
Rachel and I attended all other lessons together, but there was one exception.
The successor's lesson—Rachel attended that alone.
'In truth, it's probably magic training rather than a successor's lesson.'
They never told me exactly what the lesson was, but I had a rough idea from the original work.
The original mentioned that Rachel had been secretly training in magic since childhood, hidden from the Emperor.
'I wish I could learn magic too.'
In truth, my condition could be easily resolved if only I could use magic.
If I could expend my excess mana through spellcasting, I wouldn't suffer from mana overload.
However, even though everyone in this world possessed a certain amount of mana, not everyone could become a mage.
To become a mage, one's mana "vessel"—the container itself—had to be naturally large from birth.
But my "vessel" was the same size as any ordinary person's.
There was no hope of me ever becoming a mage.
I clicked my tongue in regret and bowed to Rachel.
"Until tomorrow, my lady."
Rachel gave a slight nod instead of a verbal farewell and headed toward the Estate.
I expected the Nanny to follow Rachel as she always did, but today, for some reason, she remained at my side.
"I'll see you off today."
"Oh, that's kind of you, Nanny, but you must be busy."
An ominous premonition made me protest, yet the Nanny smiled knowingly and led the way forward.
I had no choice but to follow her.
Rather than cutting through the interior of the Estate, the Nanny guided me around the Mansion Exterior.
As we entered a path where few people ventured, the Nanny finally spoke.
"Vivian, do you know what treason is?"
"I've learned it's the crime of insulting and threatening the Emperor and the Imperial Family."
"You understand well. Then do you also know what becomes of those who commit treason?"
"I've heard the Emperor metes out severe punishment."
"More specifically, three generations are destroyed. The parents who raised the traitor are hanged, the traitor is beheaded, and their children are sent away as slaves to foreign lands."
"...."
"For reference, hanging means death by rope around the neck, and beheading means death by having one's head severed by a massive blade."
The Nanny's chilling tone made me flinch.
Though I possessed memories of my past life and already knew this, it was far too graphic and cruel for a nine-year-old child to hear.
"And anyone who aids a traitor becomes a traitor themselves, subject to the same punishment."
"...Why are you telling me this?"
I asked, furrowing my brow, and the Nanny answered with a faint smile.
"Rachel has committed treason against the Emperor."
"...."
"Which means being by her side puts you in danger—and Curtis Rohan, whom you love, as well."
"...."
"I'm telling you this because you seem unaware. I hope you'll leave her side before you're put in danger."
The Nanny didn't know that I was already aware of this fact.
The moment I heard those words, Rachel's cold demeanor and the way she had pushed me away came flooding back.
[You're afraid of me too, aren't you? You're worried that being with the child of a traitor will ruin you and your family.]
Only then did I truly understand.
'She's the one who frightened Rachel's friends away like this.'
At the same time, my body grew cold with rage, and I began to tremble.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org