The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 119

“Resemble… him? In the eyes?” Caught off guard, Shailoh asked back before she could stop herself.

 

“Yes. They are almost identical. The almond shape, and the slightly upturned corners of the eyes…” Rohan paused for a moment, as if overwhelmed with emotion, then steadied his breathing. “When I first caught sight of you, I was startled. It felt as though the late duke had returned…”

 

“…I see.” The thought that she resembled her biological father, a man whose identity she had only recently learned and whose face she had never even seen, stirred a strange feeling in Shailoh’s chest.

 

“Rohan.”

 

At Declen’s soothing call, Rohan pulled himself together and soon gave a small smile.

 

“This old man’s being far too sentimental. Please forgive me, Milady.”

 

“It’s alright.”

 

“You may speak casually to me.”

 

“That’s…”

 

No matter that she was the northern duke’s sister and the ducal lady, it felt awkward to speak informally to someone so much older than herself. Shailoh had once lived as Lady Diponz, but after that life collapsed like a sandcastle, that feeling only grew stronger.

 

“Maybe later.”

 

“But—”

 

Here in the North, where the Yesiol ducal family was revered almost like a faith, it was unthinkable that the one and only ducal lady would use honorifics toward her subordinates. The horrified Rohan was about to add something, but Declen quietly cut in.

 

“Anyway, Rohan, I’d like to wash up. And I’m hungry.”

 

“Ah!” Only then, seeming to remember what he’d overlooked, Rohan bowed his head deeply. “My apologies. I received word and thought you’d be arriving around this time, so I’ve already prepared bathwater and your rooms in advance.”

 

As Rohan glanced behind him, a maid who caught his signal stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

 

“This is the maid who’ll be attending you, Milady. Her name is Rosemary.”

 

“It’s an honor to meet you. Please feel free to call me Rose, Milady. I’ll devote my body and soul to serving you.”

 

She looked to be seventeen, maybe eighteen. A girl in a black uniform with an apron tied over it. The sight of her brought two other maids to Shailoh’s mind. Doris and Anne.

 

Shailoh hadn’t been able to grant Anne’s wish to become a palace maid, but she had given the girl enough money to live in comfort for the next five years, so she worried less about her. During the escape, Anne had done nothing more than deliver a letter. She hadn’t been involved in anything else, so Shailoh believed she would be safe. She’d made Anne promise again and again never to speak of the letter.

 

The problem was Doris. What had happened to her after she heard of Shailoh’s fate? The thought gnawed at her. Doris was so capable and so good-natured that Shailoh was sure she’d be loved wherever she went and live well. Even so… she was like Shailoh’s sworn sister.

 

While Shailoh was lost in thoughts of the friend she’d left behind, Rohan, perhaps mistaking the ensuing silence for concern, spoke up quietly. “Rose may be young, but she’s the most capable with her hands and the quickest on the uptake. She’s more useful than the other maids. However, if after keeping her by your side you find that she doesn’t suit you, simply let me know.”

 

“I wasn’t doubting Rose’s abilities. It’s just…” Shailoh had been about to bring up Doris when she remembered Declen standing beside her. She couldn’t start whining to the very man who had barely managed to get her out of that place. “I was just thinking about something else. There’s no need for you to devote your body and soul to me… In any case, I’ll be in your care, Rose.”

 

As she spoke, Shailoh unconsciously held out her hand again, an old habit. Once again, no hand reached out to meet hers. Instead, Rose bowed deeply and replied politely. “I will do my utmost to ensure that you experience no discomfort while staying here, Milady.”

 

Feeling awkward, Shailoh drew her hand back.

 

With a gentle smile, Rohan asked. “Then would you like to wash first, Milady?”

 

“I’d like that.”

 

“Rose.”

 

“I’ll show you the way, Milady.”

 

Nodding, Shailoh turned to Declen. “Then I’ll see you later, Brother.”

 

“Sure,” Declen answered with a faint smile.

 

* * *

The room was larger, more luxurious, and more beautiful than she’d vaguely imagined. While Shailoh looked around, Rose quietly explained, “Before we brought you here, His Grace had every piece of furniture in this room commissioned from a master craftsman, all in rosewood.”

 

Having spent enough time with Caleb to develop some appreciation for such things, even Shailoh could tell that the bed, display cabinets, console drawers, and every other piece of furniture were arranged in perfect harmony, like intricately crafted works of art. Even the position of a single flower vase seemed carefully calculated. It was enough to leave her in awe.

 

“This is… my room?”

 

“If there’s anything you don’t like…”

 

“No. I love it.” Shaking her head, Shailoh smiled happily. “To be honest, it’s more than I deserve.”

 

Perhaps surprised by the unexpected answer, Rose blinked quietly before shaking her head. “There is nothing that could be considered too much for Milady.”

 

“Rose?”

 

“Milady is the most noble woman in the North. Even if a princess were to visit the duchy, her authority wouldn’t compare to yours within these lands.”

 

Seeing the townspeople and Rohan welcome a ducal lady whose name and face they had never known, Shailoh had already sensed it. But now she truly felt what the Yesiol household meant to the North. It was strange for her since she had never been revered to such an extent before. Yet when she faced that blind devotion directly, it felt somewhat burdensome.

 

“I’m just an ordinary person. You don’t have to act as though you’re worshipping a goddess.”

 

“…” Rose’s composed and mature face, far too calm for her age, gradually crumpled.

 

Thinking she might be angry, Shailoh studied Rose’s expression, then abruptly sucked in a breath. “Oh my god, are you crying?”

 

“…If Milady… is dismissing me… then I should gladly leave…”

 

Rose had obviously misunderstood her. Seeing that she looked ready to burst into tears at any moment, Shailoh panicked and hurriedly denied it. “No! That’s not what I meant. I only meant that you don’t need to revere me to such an extent. I’m not some flawless person. I’m just an ordinary human being.”

 

“Really…? You’re not dismissing me? It’s not because you dislike me…?”

 

“Of course not!”

 

If Shailoh said she disliked her, Rose looked as though she might throw herself out the window at the very instant. Shailoh hurriedly grabbed her hands.

 

“We’ve only just met. How could I already like or dislike you? I literally just said I was counting on you.”

 

Only after Shailoh repeated that she wasn’t trying to get rid of her did Rose seem relieved. Her tears stopped, and she nodded.

 

“To serve Milady and the members of the ducal family is an honor beyond compare for my family. I will regard it as a blessing and serve diligently.”

 

“That’s not what I…” She had meant that such a submissive attitude made her uncomfortable, but apparently the message hadn’t gotten across. In the end, Shailoh surrendered and changed the subject. “Anyway, I feel a bit grimy, and I’d like to wash up.”

 

“The bath has been prepared.” Looking much more at ease, Rose politely led her to the bathroom.

 

Only after firmly refusing Rose’s insistence on assisting with the bath was Shailoh finally able to wash herself in peace. When she emerged, clean and refreshed, a beautiful dress and jewelry had already been laid out. If she refused help with those as well, it was obvious Rose would be devastated. So Shailoh allowed her assistance in dressing and adorning herself.

 

Soon afterward, following Rose’s guidance, she went to the dining room. Declen was already seated at the head of the table. Though they had only been apart briefly, Shailoh felt glad to see him and walked over.

 

“Brother.”

 

“Shailoh.” Declen looked her over, clearly taken aback for a moment by his sister’s changed appearance, and then his lips curved into a gentle smile. “You look absolutely beautiful.”

 

“It’s thanks to the dress and jewelry you gave me.”

 

“You’d be beautiful even without any of that.”

 

At the affectionate remark, enough to make her ears feel hot, Shailoh laughed awkwardly and sat in the chair a servant pulled out for her. As soon as she took her seat, the dishes they’d prepared began to come out one by one. Trout topped with sour cream, grouse sprinkled with spices and oven-roasted until it was perfectly golden and tempting, a tender veal dish, and more rich, delicious food filled the table to the point of bursting.

 

Mouth-watering, Shailoh picked up her fork, wondering what to try first. At that moment, Declen cut a piece of grouse into bite-sized portions, placed it on a plate, and held it out to her.

 

“Brother?”

 

“Grouse from the North is famous even in the southern territories.”

 

“That’s right. It’s a delicacy among delicacies. Please, have a bite. I’m sure you’ll love it,” Rohan, standing beside Declen, chimed in.

 

Shailoh nodded and lifted a piece of grouse to her mouth. The moment the flavor hit her tongue, her eyes flew wide open.