Chapter 116
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117.
"Your cute face makes even this hairstyle suit you wonderfully."
It seemed as though Rebecca's mouth was filled with candy—each word directed at me dripped with sweetness.
Beneath the faint moonlight, Lily, who had been studying Rebecca's face intently, suddenly spoke.
"You're beautiful."
"Hm?"
"Your eyes sparkle like stars in the night sky. Now I understand why my brother wants to marry you. You're so beautiful."
"Oh... thank you."
Caught off guard by the unexpected compliment, Rebecca rubbed the back of her neck. It was a word she had scarcely heard since the blisters had appeared on her face.
"What you said today, Rebecca—you weren't lying, were you? You promised to tell my brother about me?"
"Yes. I promise."
Rebecca held up her pinky finger.
"I'll do my best to help you find happiness."
"Then what should I do for you in return?"
"Hm?"
"I was taught that everything has a price. That there is no such thing as meaningless kindness. What do you want from me, Rebecca?"
'Is that really all she's asking for?'
In Lily's cold tone, Julian suddenly came to mind—from the victory banquet.
I had thought they shared no similarities, but blood truly could not lie.
Both possessed the same sharp wariness, as though they had never truly trusted anyone.
"Just... don't hate Julian too much. That's all I ask."
"Is that truly what you want from me?"
Lily's brow furrowed deeply, as though she could not quite accept this.
"Yes. Actually, you don't even have to do that. Just live as you wish. Eat what you want, do what you want, and live freely."
Perhaps because I was projecting myself onto her.
I genuinely wished for Lily to grow into a happy person.
I wanted to apply salve to the great wound carved into that small chest, to wrap it in bandages.
The scars already etched upon her heart would never disappear, but I hoped that at least they would fade into mere scars she occasionally glimpsed.
Even if it was a great wound now, by the time Lily had grown as much as I had, it would surely have become a small scar.
'Live as I wish...?'
Could she truly live that way?
Lily, who had grown up in a world of endless prohibitions, felt my proposal was like a tale from a distant land.
But if—if only it were possible.
Lily hooked her pinky finger around the one I extended.
Though it was merely fingers touching, a subtle sense of solidarity began to take root.
And in that moment, Lily saw hope for the first time in her eleven years of life.
Though it was a trivial gesture, her heart pounded as though she had sworn a solemn oath.
With a brightened face, Lily's lips curved upward.
"Since you shared another secret with me, I'll share another secret with you."
"What other secret could there possibly be?"
Lily glanced around cautiously before gesturing Rebecca closer.
Struck by her newfound caution, Rebecca suppressed a smile and leaned in to listen.
"I'll tell you my real name. My real name is Liliana Vanini."
"...!"
Rebecca's face drained of color in shock.
* * *
Liliana Vanini.
In my previous life, there was no one who didn't know her name.
And for good reason—she was the Empire's first female knight.
Even as a child, she had earned consecutive victories without flinching among burly soldiers.
She had ultimately claimed the honor of becoming the youngest commander.
I recalled hearing she had secretly married a knight from the same battalion.
I remembered admiring her as she rode confidently, parading through the streets.
I had thought that if I were reborn, I should become someone like Liliana.
'So that Liliana is this Lily.'
Now that I thought about it, her pink hair fluttering like petals and her crimson eyes were identical to Lily's.
I had never considered it because Lily hadn't inherited Johannes Castle.
After finishing my recollection of memories with Lily, I sat in the Garden and sipped my tea. Then I recalled the conversation I'd had with Julian last night.
When I asked him to arrange a meeting with Lily, Julian hesitated in a most uncharacteristic way.
'Do you really need to meet her? She's leaving this place anyway. You don't have to see her.'
But faced with my firm resolve, Julian agreed to at least allow us to exchange greetings.
Yet even that wasn't enough.
I persisted and pushed until I finally secured an evening meal with Lily.
'There's definitely something I don't know.'
If Julian, just as Zeppelin had done to me, was keeping Lily confined.
If he was severing her from the world under the pretense of cherishing her.
'What on earth should I do?'
Someone could be an angel to one person and a terrible demon to another.
A long sigh escaped me unbidden.
"You seem to have something troubling you."
Kanna, who had been sitting beside me reading a book, asked gently.
Here, Kanna had even less to do than when she had stayed at Ophelia's Estate.
Despite being a commoner, everyone treated her as though she were the Empress's attendant.
Kanna guessed that Julian must have issued separate orders.
Such lavish treatment was unfamiliar to her, and it felt as awkward as wearing ill-fitting clothes.
Still, people are creatures of habit, and Kanna had gradually begun to find satisfaction in days without chores.
Most of all, she delighted in becoming my secretary and spending so much time with me.
"I'm always worrying about something. Like whether Zeppelin might sleep with his legs stretched out."
"I heard that since you struck the Count last time, he's been reluctant to go out. He'll probably only appear at official events once his bruises fade."
"That terrible vanity of his remains unchanged."
"Simplicity suits him perfectly."
"Indeed. I wish he could remain simple forever...."
"Are you perhaps worried that the Count will counterattack?"
Rebecca rubbed her temples as if the thought were bothersome.
"I suspect it may be time for that. Even the greatest fool regains their senses after taking enough blows. I fear I've struck him too many times."
"He deserves far worse. Next time, please allow me to be the one to strike him."
Rebecca burst into laughter at the sight of Kanna's fierce expression.
Watching her resolute hands, I recalled how Kanna had subdued Zeppelin in an instant.
"Kanna, could I ever become as strong as you?"
"Pardon? You are already sufficiently strong, Rebecca."
"No, I mean physically. My wrists are like twigs with no muscle, just as Julian always says."
"Pay no heed to such unkind remarks."
"Could you teach me?"
At Rebecca's words, Kanna drew a sharp breath. The very thought of teaching Rebecca thrilled her, yet it felt presumptuous.
However, most of the techniques she wielded had been learned shoulder-to-shoulder in the back alleys.
Though some were innate, the physical endurance she had cultivated through years of fleeing since childhood had enabled her growth.
Moreover, what she employed were complex assassination techniques that could only be mastered through repeated real combat.
Unfortunately, beyond building foundational physical strength, there was little she could impart to Rebecca.
After a moment of deliberation, Kanna spoke.
"I lack the talent for teaching. Would it not be better to ask the Duke?"
"Julian?"
"Yes. From what I observed last time, he employs a very textbook-standard form of combat."
"You mean that would be more effective for me?"
"Precisely. There should be a curriculum designed so that even the frailest young nobles can learn it, making it quite useful."
"Very well. I'll ask Julian about it."
"By the way, what shall we do about that adorable little spy who's been watching us for the past few days?"
Kanna gestured toward Lily's Separate Quarters with a subtle glance.
At her words, Rebecca looked toward the window where Lily was.
As Rebecca's eyes met hers, Lily hastily ducked below the windowsill.
Yet unable to suppress her curiosity, she peeked out with only her eyes, keeping her gaze fixed on Rebecca.
It was such an endearing sight that even Kanna, who rarely laughed, let out an audible chuckle.
Rebecca waved toward Lily.
At her greeting, Lily started in surprise and jumped to her feet.
After a moment of fidgeting, she began waving her hands enthusiastically.
Watching her bright greeting, my heart grew heavier.
I must keep my promise to that child.
The sunlight drawing near the horizon burned fiercely.
* * *
Julian, drenched in sweat, had been heading toward the upper bedroom when something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned his steps toward the Kitchen.
The Kitchen, bustling with evening meal preparations, was filled with mouth-watering aromas.
Julian savored the aroma of the food with evident pleasure before summoning the head chef separately.
"Prepare an additional serving for this evening's dinner."
"Pardon? Are we expecting a guest?"
"No. Lily will be joining us for dinner as well."
"Lily, you say...."
The head chef, searching his memory, suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Ah, you mean the young orphan lady in the Separate Quarters?"
At the word "orphan," Julian's brow furrowed slightly.
Though I had spread the rumor myself, it always felt deeply uncomfortable whenever the servants referred to Lily as an orphan.
"Yes. That child will be coming."
Julian turned to leave, but hesitated briefly before adding a few more words.
"I'd like you to prepare something the child enjoys this evening. I believe she's particularly fond of cheese-filled sausage grilled, if I recall correctly."
"Oh? You know her preferences quite well, don't you? Yes, that's right. Whenever cheese sausage appears on the menu, an extra plate is invariably sent to the Separate Quarters."
"It's good that she has a healthy appetite. Still, we must maintain nutritional balance, so prepare an abundant salad as well. Omit the tomatoes she dislikes, and dress it with a refreshing kiwi vinaigrette. For dessert, a carrot cake with reduced sugar will do. Despite her small stature, she doesn't seem to care much for overly sweet things."
"Yes, of course...."
"What's with that reluctant expression? Did you not understand my instructions properly?"
"No, sir. I simply didn't expect you to know the young lady so well. Since you've always kept her confined to the Separate Quarters, I assumed you had no interest in her."
At the head chef's words, Julian stammered.
"W-what interest? She's a member of my household, so it's only natural that I look after her."
'Though it took you over half a year just to learn her name properly....'
The head chef pouted his lips slightly. But he soon shrugged his shoulders and returned to the bustling kitchen.
The sudden menu change meant there was much work to be done. Still, he was grateful that Julian had informed him early.
"Pair the main course with cheese sausage, omit tomatoes from the salad! Change the red velvet cake to a sugar-free carrot cake!"
"Yes, Chef!"
Julian cast a quick glance over the kitchen, now operating with sharp discipline, and turned to leave.
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book Publication
January 12, 2022
Author
Long night sky
Publisher
Desert fox
Published by
Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission Received
naver.me/54VzzLSn
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blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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