Chapter 8
What Sylvia thought was just light… actually had a faint form.
They were small—about the size of a finger—with wings as big as their tiny bodies.
‘Are these… really like the fairies from stories?’
Sylvia stared in wonder and connected with the mysterious beings.
The fairies happily gathered around her, flying in circles.
Every time their wings fluttered, soft light sparkled from them.
The Duke of Werner, who had been watching Sylvia, suddenly widened his eyes.
“…You can see them? These lights?”
His voice trembled slightly.
Sylvia turned toward him.
If he was asking that… then normally, people couldn’t see them.
“Yes, I can see them. Can’t you, Duke?”
The Duke shook his head.
“All I can see is light. Most people can’t even sense that clearly.”
“What…? Then…”
Sylvia looked around in confusion.
To the Duke, they were just light.
But to her—they were clearly visible.
Even if they were slightly transparent.
“Go a little closer. You might even be able to communicate with them.”
Still dazed, Sylvia stepped forward.
The fairies followed her.
They looked… happy.
As if they were glad to meet her.
For some reason, Sylvia’s eyes began to burn.
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
She didn’t understand why.
Was it because the scene was so beautiful?
Or because these fairy-like beings welcomed her?
She couldn’t tell.
Then—
A tear fell down her cheek.
She quickly turned to the Duke.
She was about to say they should go back—
But then she saw him.
The Duke looked even more emotional than she was.
“…Duke?”
Sylvia called him softly.
He slowly walked toward her.
“Vivian… you really are Vivian!”
He whispered to himself—
And suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
Even though his body was large, Sylvia didn’t feel uncomfortable.
He was being very careful.
“I’m sorry, Vivian… for losing you.”
The Duke broke down in tears.
His emotions flowed through his trembling breath.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
Was it because of the fairies?
Or because the Duke’s emotions affected her?
Sylvia’s feelings, which she had been holding back, suddenly burst out.
“From now on, I will protect you, Vivian… I’m sorry, for being such a poor father.”
Gathering courage, Sylvia hugged him back.
The fairies floated around them—
As if they were comforting the two.
That was Sylvia’s last memory of that day.
* * *
Warm sunlight shone on her face.
Sylvia frowned slightly as she opened her eyes.
Unlike usual, she woke up feeling completely refreshed.
She blinked slowly, trying to clear her mind.
Then she tilted her head.
‘Where… am I?’
Still half asleep, she couldn’t understand her surroundings.
But soon—
She remembered everything.
“…Ah, right.”
Wrapped in soft blankets, she recalled the previous night.
The glowing fairies in the central garden.
The Duke’s emotions.
And how she lost consciousness.
‘What was that…? Fairies that give off light…’
She had always thought such things only existed in stories.
Yet she had seen them herself.
‘I want to go there again… and check if they were real.’
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Miss, it’s time to wake up. May I come in?”
It was Melody.
“Come in!”
Sylvia quickly sat up.
The door opened, and Melody entered with a cart.
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
“Yes, I did. Good morning, Melody.”
Then Sylvia asked,
“Can I ask what happened yesterday? I don’t remember clearly.”
“You collapsed while walking in the central garden with the Duke. He carried you to your room himself.”
“The Duke… carried me himself?”
“Yes. Also, I’ve brought water for washing.”
“Thank you.”
The lukewarm water felt pleasant.
Sylvia gently washed her face.
When she finished, Melody handed her a towel.
After drying her face, Sylvia followed Melody to the dressing room.
Just like yesterday, several dresses were prepared.
“I just need to choose one again, right?”
“Yes.”
Sylvia looked through them carefully.
This time, she felt slightly more used to it.
Though still a bit shy.
“I’ll wear this one.”
Today, she chose a blue dress.
After getting dressed with the maids’ help, she headed to the east dining room for breakfast.
Julia was already there.
“Good morning, Julia. Did you sleep well?”
Julia looked up from her book.
“Yes.”
It was a short answer—
But Sylvia was satisfied.
After Sylvia sat down, Julia spoke again.
“I heard you saw Undine yesterday.”
“Undine?”
Sylvia blinked.
“It’s a water spirit. The ones flying in the central garden.”
“Those fairies… were spirits?”
Sylvia’s face brightened.
“So I didn’t imagine it.”
“Didn’t you know?”
“Not at all.”
Julia nodded.
“Then it’s confirmed. You really are Vivian Werner.”
Sylvia didn’t answer.
She just smiled softly.
She still wasn’t sure.
‘Am I really Vivian…?’
Everything pointed to it.
But she still couldn’t fully believe it.
After hesitating for a long time, she asked—
“Do you really think I’m Vivian?”
Julia looked at her calmly.
“Why do you think you’re not?”
“Everything is different. You and I…”
Julia slowly looked her up and down.
Then nodded.
“If we talk about appearance, yes. You’re very different. You don’t even have the blue hair of our family.”
“…Then why do you believe I’m Vivian?”
Julia answered honestly.
“If I only look at your appearance, I wouldn’t think you’re my sister.”
Sylvia stayed silent.
Then Julia continued—
“But your power tells the truth. Only you and I in this family can see Undine.”
Sylvia hesitated.
“But… that’s all. I can’t make it rain like Vivian in the stories…”
Julia replied calmly—
“You’ll find out when you go to the temple.”
