Startled, Lephonia opened her eyes wide.
It was late at night, and the moonlight was swallowed by the darkness.
A boy was riding on the back of a silver wolf-like creature, peering toward Lephonia’s terrace from the air.
The boy, who appeared to be several years younger than Lephonia, had a strikingly handsome face that left a strong impression even at a glance.
He looked no more than nine years old at most. His jet-black hair, darker than the deepest night, shimmered like the inverted sky, and his eyes, brighter than the sun, glowed with a dazzling gold.
‘A face I’ve never seen before.’
Lephonia never forgot a face once she had seen it, and this was one she did not recognize.
“Who are you?”
The boy did not answer her question. Instead, he silently observed the terrace, as if confirming something.
“I really didn’t think you’d survive.”
“What?”
“I’m glad to see you alive. Right?”
The boy muttered to himself, as if unsure of his own words. His voice, tinged with a subtle sorrow, carried a dangerous edge.
Telling someone who was obviously still alive that it was good they were still alive, this boy clearly had no manners.
“Then I’ll need to confirm the events that will happen in the future.”
“What?”
“Ha. See you again.”
“What do you mean by… Aargh!”
Before Lephonia could finish her question, the boy, who had left behind those strange words, turned his body. The silver wolf he was riding kicked off with its feet, and a gust of wind strong enough to make it hard to keep one’s eyes open swept through the air.
When Lephonia opened her eyes again, the boy had already disappeared.
‘…What just happened? Did I fall asleep standing? Was it a dream?’
Lephonia blinked up at the empty sky.
* * *
‘Fall asleep standing? That couldn’t have been a dream. Tsk.’
Shifting her posture with a sharp movement, Lephonia recalled the brief memory from the night before.
He came, said something strange, and left. Because of that boy, she hadn’t slept a wink.
‘He clearly said, “I’m glad to see you alive.” Does that mean he thought I was dead?’
But no matter how hard she thought, it was a face she’d never seen before.
‘Just thinking that the heirloom might be hidden somewhere makes my head feel like it’s going to explode. What’s with him…’
Lephonia bit her lip and pressed her temples tightly. But there was no strength in her fingertips, so it didn’t help much.
‘Then… is it possible he mistook me for someone else?’
But the boy had looked her straight in the eyes. That intense gaze made it hard to believe he’d confused her with anyone else.
‘Could it be… the Pope sent him?’
Lephonia considered the possibility and clicked her tongue.
‘If the Pope sent him, he wouldn’t have just left like that. He would’ve killed me on the spot.’
The Pope had never taught her to spare her enemies.
‘I really don’t want to get involved in anything annoying…’
Growl.
Just then, her stomach, which had been quiet until now, let out a loud growl. Sleeping late had clearly thrown off her usual mealtime.
Humans really are creatures of adaptation.
‘Since when did I start having breakfast regularly?’
There was even a time she had been thrown into a dungeon, left to starve in a pit for failing a mission given by the Pope.
And now, missing just one meal made her stomach complain this much?
Lephonia lightly tapped her belly with her palm.
“Don’t get used to comfort. This is only temporary.”
Growl.
Her stomach continued to grumble pitifully despite her scolding.
“I’m going to eat soon. Just hang on a little longer.”
Growl.
Her stomach insisted again, demanding food first.
“Don’t you have any pride?”
Growl growl.
“A stomach with no pride, huh.”
As if she had no choice, Lephonia grumbled as she rubbed her belly.
“Fine. I know it’s not a matter of pride. If you’re going to whine like that, there’s no helping it.”
After finishing her hygiene routine neatly, Lephonia pulled the call string and rang for attendance.
She figured it would be better to fill her stomach first.
It was too noisy otherwise.
After a short pause, there was a knock. When Lephonia told them to enter, the bedroom door opened and two maids stepped inside.
“My Lady, did you sleep well?”
“Good morning, my Lady. Did you have a nice dream?”
The maids assigned to Lephonia were from the main building, Buddy and Becky.
They were the ones who had helped her wash and bring the young masters’ clothes when she first arrived at the mansion.
“Yeah.”
Even the nickname “Phonia” had made Lephonia so shy at first it was almost cringe-worthy, but after hearing it repeatedly, she had grown indifferent.
Anyway, she was going to hear it often while staying in this mansion, so she couldn’t be bothered to react.
“The Duke had dinner earlier today because of work. He said not to wake you up unnecessarily, my lady.”
“It’s fine.”
Lost in thought, Lephonia now felt ashamed that she had been weak enough to let her voice tremble.
After washing her face and changing into a dress, she sat in front of the mirror.
‘Busy with work.’
Lately, while wandering around the mansion, she noticed the maids were always busy receiving sudden, unexpected guests.
“Will you be having your meal in the pretty greenhouse in the garden today?”
Becky asked as she brushed Lephonia’s hair. Her hair, tangled and stiff from not being combed for a while, finally softened after being brushed and moisturized.
Today, Lephonia tied her hair prettily into twin tails and remembered the greenhouse. The greenhouse in the garden was quite far from the main building.
‘Ah, I see now.’
Lephonia smiled.
“Why? How about the dining room?”
Lephonia pretended not to know anything.
Buddy, who had picked out a pretty hairpin, smiled as she answered,
“Because a guest is visiting today, the main building will be busy and chaotic. Is there anything specific you’d like for breakfast? If you tell me, I’ll let the head chef know!”
“Hmm. Anything is fine.”
As Lephonia stammered and crossed the living room, she glanced at Becky and Buddy’s expressions. Both sighed quietly at her answer.
It was certain now.
‘Looks like the vassals from the Duke of Craytan have arrived.’
Lephonia smiled, as if she had been expecting them.
No one had told her the vassals were coming, but it was obvious.
Even if visitors arrived unannounced and in a hurry, few were received politely at the main building.
It was something anyone could figure out with a little thought.
‘They must be coming to oppose me after hearing about my adoption.’
That’s how aristocratic society worked.
Vassals were loyal to the duke, and if their lord went astray, they were the first to try to set him straight.
Taking in a child with an unclear identity, someone no one knew, and suddenly claiming her as the duke’s daughter? There was no way the vassals would see that kindly.
‘From the start, I thought it was strange how easily I was accepted without any objections.’
Since she had learned everything about noble society from the Pope, it all felt natural to her.
‘Besides, since the documents were already submitted, it’s probably impossible to sway the duke’s mind now.’
Maybe because everything was tied up with paperwork, she felt relatively at ease, even with the vassals around.
Duke Craytan had taken in Lephonia to ease his guilt over losing his daughter.
There was no reason for him to change his mind or show leniency.
‘It was fortunate I managed to complete the documents quickly and submit them to the Imperial Palace, even if it meant shedding blood.’
Thanks to the doctor’s quick treatment, Lephonia glanced at the scar on her finger, which wasn’t too serious.
‘The main building will probably be in turmoil for a few days.’
The decision wouldn’t change, but the vassals might not back down easily after coming all this way.
It was clear they would pressure Lephonia by staying at the mansion, especially if the Duke refused to meet them.
‘There are ways to steer the family’s affairs in a favorable direction and prove it to the vassals.’
But Lephonia had no intention of taking the lead in managing the family’s affairs.
If a child had to step in to fix things, then the family was considered already fallen. That was the head of the family’s role. And Lephonia had no desire to take it on, even if offered.
‘Good thing.’
Lephonia clutched her rumbling stomach and spoke, as if barely restraining herself.
“…Buddy.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Is the Duke in the conference room right now?”
“…Pardon?”
Lephonia had never been the one to go to the Duke first, so Buddy was surprised when she suddenly asked about his whereabouts.
As Buddy turned to look at her with a startled expression, both he and Lephonia’s gazes shifted down the hallway. Their eyes met.
Buddy quickly averted her sad eyes. That alone was enough of an answer.
“Hoop.”
With an involuntary sound, Lephonia suddenly sprang from her seat.
“My lady, my lady! Where are you going?”
Lephonia energetically moved her short legs and left the room, with Buddy and Becky hurrying after her.
“To see the Duke.”
“…What?”
Without bothering to explain further, Lephonia marched down the hallway toward the conference room, her small steps determined.
* * *
Conference Room.
“Sudden adoption? That’s quite a drastic decision, Your Grace.”
“If the child has caught your eye, wouldn’t it be better to bring her in as a protégé, Your Grace?”
The conference room buzzed with the voices of the gathered vassals.
“No one is saying we shouldn’t celebrate the birth of a new lady. But if the child ever covets the duke’s position in the future—”
“What will you say to young master Haverian and young master Pellenz?”
“This is not the time for such discussions. The adoption has already been decided. Let’s confirm the documents first…”
“We must investigate thoroughly. Did you check if there were any criminals among the child’s bloodline, Your Grace?”
“Are you saying we should accept the adoption without question? We know nothing about who gave birth to her, where she was raised, or how she grew up. What if she carries a contagious disease?”
“But rather than wasting time trying to find a lost lady whose fate is still uncertain—”
Bang!
As the murmurs died down and the whispers grew louder, Duke Craytan slammed his palm onto the desk.
The hardwood desk didn’t break, but it trembled from the impact.
Sensing the menacing energy in that shake, the vassals instantly fell silent.
“I allowed freedom of speech, but now you’re crossing the line.”
His rough voice rasped, as if he was swallowing back his anger.
“I’m adopting my own child. Do I even need your permission to do that?”
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