Chapter 29
“There’s nothing to feel excited about. We’re just going to my house.”
I answered lazily with my eyes closed.
Eugene looked at me as if she couldn’t understand.
“But it’s been years since you’ve been there. Aren’t you excited?”
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t excited, but I didn’t want to show it.
I purposely tried not to have any expectations.
The fake Rivera was still with them. As long as she was there, my brothers would never believe I was real. They had the “real” Rivera right in front of them.
That’s why I deliberately acted indifferent.
If I got excited and then went there only to be ignored, I would look pathetic. I didn’t want to embarrass myself.
“Then… is there nothing you want to do at the duke’s residence? Any place you want to visit?”
I opened my eyes, which I had closed.
‘Things I want to do, places I want to see.’
Right after my body changed, there were many. The first thing I wanted to do was confront the fake Rivera.
Why it happened to me, how our bodies were switched, why she apologized after taking my body… I had so many questions that I kept inside, waiting to ask her.
But as time at the orphanage went on, my curiosity faded.
I had nothing to argue about anymore.
Instead of anger, longing had grown. I just wanted to see my family.
No matter the reason the fake Rivera had, it didn’t matter now.
“I just want to see my brothers.”
That was all I truly wanted.
“…I see. So the thing you wanted most was already decided.”
Eugene scratched the back of her neck, embarrassed that she had even asked the question.
“Oh.”
A thought suddenly came to me, and I spoke softly.
“Now that I think about it, there is a place I want to go.”
“Where? Your room? The garden?”
“No.”
I smiled slightly and looked at Eugene.
“Do you want to come with me?”
“Me too?”
Eugene asked reluctantly. I nodded.
Even if it was unusual for someone else, it seemed okay to take Eugene along.
“…Alright then.”
Eugene agreed without much hesitation.
After a long journey, we arrived at the duke’s residence.
Stepping out of the carriage, I quietly looked around.
The mansion I had longed for, dreamed of, and missed so much was right in front of me. My heart was overwhelmed; it almost didn’t feel real.
“Are you the guests invited by the Crown Princess?”
My feelings were interrupted by the maid who had approached.
When Eugene and I looked at her, she bowed politely.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am the maid in charge of guiding you.”
Her unfamiliar face told me she hadn’t worked long at the duke’s house.
Even though we were guests sent by the Crown Princess, they had only assigned a relatively inexperienced maid to guide us. It was obvious they looked down on us, knowing we were commoners.
‘Typical Kevin.’
I remembered my eldest brother and chuckled. Instead of feeling annoyed, I felt glad. Kevin was just as I remembered.
“I will guide you to your rooms.”
“Rooms?”
I frowned.
I had expected to be called directly to the reception room as soon as we arrived, since we had asked to come quickly. But for some reason, the maid was guiding us to our lodgings.
I tilted my head in mild displeasure.
“So we can’t meet them right away?”
The maid hesitated for a moment before answering.
“…Actually, something came up for the princess. I’m sorry, but it seems conversation will be difficult for a few days.”
“Then you should have said so earlier…”
Eugene muttered beside me. We had rushed here as quickly as possible, only to be left waiting. No wonder she was annoyed.
‘Something came up?’
What could it be? They had summoned us so urgently; there must be a reason why we couldn’t even talk, unless they intended to waste our time.
“….”
There was no way to find out yet, so I decided to learn more gradually after entering the mansion. At least we had safely arrived. There was no need to rush.
“Rive.”
Just as we were following the maid into the mansion, Eugene called me.
“You said there was a place you wanted to go at the duke’s residence, right?”
She must have remembered what I said in the carriage. Eugene shrugged.
“I doubt we’ll have much to do once we get to the room. Might as well stop by now while we can.”
She had a point. It was a good suggestion. Once we got our rooms, we might not be able to go out freely, so now was the chance.
I spoke to the maid.
“Um, there’s a place I want to stop by for a bit. Could you wait while we go?”
“Where? I cannot leave guests alone, so I will accompany you.”
“No, I don’t want that.”
When I refused firmly, the maid’s expression changed slightly.
It was understandable. A commoner boldly speaking like this in the duke’s house would be surprising.
Eugene let out a small laugh, as if she expected my behavior. Growing up together, she was used to me acting this way.
“…Then at least tell me where you’re going. If anything happens, I need to respond immediately.”
It was fine as long as she didn’t follow. Just saying it would make both sides more comfortable.
I glanced around. Apart from the maids and this maid following us, no one else was nearby.
I whispered just enough for the maid to hear.
“…?”
Her expression changed slightly at hearing the location.
“…It’s not a restricted area, so it’s fine. But… why are you going there?”
The maid looked genuinely puzzled.
I grinned.
“I just want to pay my respects to the head of the family.”
“….”
The maid frowned but didn’t hide it anymore.
Still, as she said, it wasn’t a restricted place, and it was outside, so watching us there would be easy if needed.
“…Understood. Then I’ll guide you there.”
“I know the way. You don’t need to guide me. It’s nearby, so we’ll be back quickly.”
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief when I said I knew the way.
But she didn’t try to argue and stayed with the other maids quietly.
We left, promising to return quickly.
“Why did the maid react like that?”
Eugene asked as we walked.
I smiled faintly.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
It didn’t take long to get there. Since it was close to where we were, we left the maid behind and went alone.
Eugene looked around in surprise.
“This was the place you most wanted to visit? …A cemetery?”
“Yeah.”
As she said, we had arrived at the family cemetery, where the ancestors of our house were buried.
I carefully looked at each tombstone and stopped at one.
“This one.”
“…?”
Eugene froze and looked at the tombstone.
“Whose grave is it?”
“My father’s.”
Eugene’s eyes widened in shock.
The place I had wanted to visit most at the duke’s residence was my father’s grave.
After ten years, I wanted to at least pay my respects. I also wanted Eugene to meet him.
“You and the director took care of me like a father would for so long. I really wanted you to meet him.”
“My mom already did everything. I didn’t really…”
Eugene scratched her cheek shyly.
Even though she said she hadn’t done much, she had taught me as much as the director.
I still had many shortcomings, but Eugene had helped me reach this point.
“….”
I stared at the tombstone and spoke.
“My father passed away when I was twelve.”
It was sudden, but Eugene didn’t think it strange.
After blinking blankly, she seemed to realize something and spoke cautiously.
“…After the body swap.”
“Yeah.”
I smiled bitterly.
As Eugene said, my father passed away after I had switched bodies with the fake Rivera.
I wasn’t by his side at the end. After he died, I only heard the news briefly in the paper.
I cried a lot when I heard about his death. But as a commoner, I couldn’t even attend the funeral.
That’s why I wanted to at least greet him now.
Even if I was a belated, imperfect daughter, I wanted to show my face.
I ran my hand over the tombstone, a faint smile on my face.
Many feelings swirled inside me as memories of my father returned.
“….”
Eugene watched me silently and spoke.
“I’ll wait ahead. Take your time.”
She seemed to be giving me space.
I smiled and nodded. Eugene glanced at me and walked back the way we came.
After she left, I sat down heavily.
“Ah, this is nice.”
The weather was bright and sunny.
Normally, I would hate sitting on the dirt, but today it felt fine.
I focused on my father’s name on the tombstone.
“Dad… do you remember me?”
I used the casual nickname I had only used when I was very little. For now, I didn’t care who could hear me.
I smiled, resting my chin on my knees.
“…I hope you remember me.”
The more I spoke to myself, the more my smile faded.
I pictured my father in my mind.
In my memory, he was kind. Unlike the cold, distant duke he was said to be, he always smiled at me.
I loved the smile he showed only to me.
“….”
Overcome with emotion, I buried my face in my knees.
My memories were faint now. Soon even these might fade.
I clung desperately to what I could remember, holding onto traces of my father.
I whispered through my tears.
“…I hope you remember me.”
I knew he couldn’t hear me.
“…I hope you know I’m really your daughter… even now.”
Even knowing this, I still spoke the words aloud.
Though I couldn’t be by his side at the end, I wanted to be his daughter until the very last moment.
