ATRF C5

Chapter 5

“When exactly are you going to stop calling me Lancaster?”

“What?”

“Ever since that night we spent together… you haven’t called me by my name.”

“What I call you—”

“No.”

Leonel slowly stepped closer to Dalia.

“Call me Leonel, like you used to.”

Lifting one corner of his lips in a slanted smile, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Dalia stared at him blankly.

Whenever he smiled at her like that—so temptingly—the small dimple at the edge of his lips always struck her as especially charming.

“Dalia.”

His gentle, sweet voice curled languidly around her ears.

But just as Leonel’s lips were about to brush against her ear, her eyes snapped open.

“—Hah…!”

Dalia bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath.

‘That dream again….’

After steadying her breathing, she grabbed the water on the table and gulped it down. Then she ran her fingers irritably through her hair.

It had already been five months since she conceived. Her belly had begun to swell noticeably, making it impossible for her to even think about going outside.

If she stepped out wearing only a chemise dress with her protruding stomach, she would surely be met with endless criticism.

Dalia pulled the curtains aside.

The sun was already high in the sky. Perhaps because of the baby, she had been sleeping more and more lately.

Still drowsy, she sat down at her desk.

Her body felt heavy and tired, but she couldn’t stop her research.

If she didn’t earn a living through her findings, there would be no one in this household to bring in money.

Letting out a small sigh, Dalia opened the parcel on her desk.

A newly discovered ancient document had arrived the previous night via owl post.

“I wonder what this one contains. Hopefully something profitable…”

Wearing thin gloves, she carefully transferred the brittle, timeworn document onto a glass decoding plate.

It was so old that parts of it had crumbled away, and stains covered its surface, making it difficult to decipher.

“Hmm… I suppose I’ll have to use a reagent.”

After gently brushing off the dust, she poured a magical solution produced by the Imperial family over the document.

The transparent liquid dripped thickly across the surface.

Where the solution touched, faded letters began to reappear vividly.

“Hm?”

Her eyes narrowed as the characters surfaced.

“A method to dispel sorcery…”

As she deciphered the text, it described a potion capable of breaking spells.

‘It’s not like sorcery is even real.’

Though she studied such things, Dalia didn’t truly believe in their existence. Still, she began copying the contents onto fresh parchment. It might be useful to Grid, the second son of the Noirrose Count family, who had a talent for alchemical research.

“Lanc—”

Just as she was about to continue decoding—

“Dalia.”

The Count of Noirrose entered the room, carrying a tray with a light meal.

“…I’ve been thinking.”

After setting the tray on the table, he approached her desk.

“The baby… let’s send it to a distant relative.”

“…I’ll handle it myself.”

Dalia set down her quill and moved to sit at the table.

“It’s already beyond the point where you can decide that.”

“Father.”

Eating the mild soup, she spoke calmly.

“It’s fine. I said I’ll take care of it.”

Since returning from Princess Arabella’s banquet, Dalia hadn’t left the estate.

Growing anxious, the Count had been visiting her room three times a day.

Though he seemed to be trying to help, she didn’t want any of it.

As long as he didn’t go around saying unnecessary things, that was enough.

Still, fortunately, the Count had kept his promise not to inform Duke Lancaster.

“…Very well. Then… have some strawberries too.”

“Where did you get the money to buy strawberries?”

“Can’t I at least do this much for my daughter who’s expecting…?”

You never did before.

She swallowed the rest of her thought and popped one of the plump strawberries into her mouth.

“When your mother was carrying you, she loved strawberries above all else…”

“…I see.”

Perhaps because of that, the strawberry somehow tasted even sweeter.

Dalia ate another, chewing slowly, while the Count watched her with a satisfied expression.

“Father!”

The door burst open with a knock. It was Crio.

“Oh—Sister, you’re awake. Are you feeling alright?”

“Mm.”

“Father, I have something to tell you…”

After checking on Dalia, he glanced at her cautiously.

Noticing his hesitation, Dalia set down the strawberry stem and stood up.

“Crio.”

Judging by his expression, he was probably short on tuition.

She took out her research funds from the drawer and held them out to him.

“Here. This month’s research money.”

“N-no!”

Normally, he would have accepted it with a sly grin, but this time he waved his hands and shook his head.

“Lately… I’ve been tutoring the children of Baron Teriviche’s family.”

“You? Tutoring?”

Dalia asked in surprise.

“Yes! Fortunately, the Baroness thinks well of me, and the pay is quite good! I think I can cover my own tuition now. And Father has been giving me some allowance lately too. So…”

“Allowance?”

Dalia’s gaze shifted subtly to the Count.

He avoided her eyes, rolling his own awkwardly.

“So, Sister… you don’t need to worry about me. You should rest… you need to take care of yourself…”

Crio trailed off, his face reddening with embarrassment.

Then he gestured to the Count and left the room first.

As the door closed, the Count chuckled awkwardly.

“Everyone… is trying their best.”

“…I thought you all were living without a care. This is surprising.”

Well, they had heads on their shoulders. They must at least understand that if she gave birth without a father present, it would bring disgrace upon her.

Each of them was finding their own way to survive—perhaps that was something to be relieved about.

Dalia let out a faint scoff, followed by a quiet sigh of relief.

“…I’m sorry, Dalia.”

The Count finally managed to mutter an apology in a small voice.

Seeing that, her expression darkened. He hadn’t wanted this future either. The publishing business he had painstakingly built collapsing so completely couldn’t be entirely his fault.

“Get some rest.”

The Count turned to leave after Crio.

But then something caught Dalia’s eye—a wound on his arm, as if it had been cut by something.

“What happened to that injury?”

She asked as neutrally as possible.

The Count stiffened like an un-oiled machine and answered awkwardly.

“Ah, this? You know, I used to be quite skilled with a sword. Got this glorious wound fighting seventeen men at once—”

“That doesn’t look old… it looks recent. And what’s this about allowance?”

“N-no need to worry about it. Just focus on your health, alright?”

He brushed it off and hurried out of the room.

Something felt off.

These were the same men who had always held her back. What were they plotting now?

‘There’s no way they’ve suddenly matured. If they had, it would’ve happened long ago.’

Having almost no trust in her family, Dalia sat back down, idly eating strawberries as she waited.

After some time had passed, she quietly got up and left the room.

If it was an important discussion, they would likely be in the Count’s study.

She went outside and circled halfway around the estate. Since it wasn’t large, she soon reached the window of the study.

‘For once, the shabby estate is useful.’

In grand mansions, eavesdropping through windows would be impossible—but here, the fact that the building was still standing was already a blessing.

Dalia spread a handkerchief beneath her and settled down by the window.

Holding her breath, she soon began to hear hushed voices.

Judging by the five familiar voices, the whole family was gathered.

“It’s practically blackmail now…”

“I don’t think we can hold out any longer.”

“We can’t keep this hidden.”

“They’re about to storm in at this rate, Father…”

Blackmail? Storm in?

At the ominous words, Dalia covered her mouth.

Had they incurred debts? That would explain everything.

But soon, she realized exactly who the one threatening them was.

“We’re coming in!”

At the booming voice, her head snapped toward the front gate.

Ridiculously enough, standing there were several knights—and…

‘Lancaster…!’

Through the bars of the gate, she saw Leonel, radiating killing intent.