Episode 8
I woke up when I heard a commotion.
People were murmuring about something, and among the voices I could recognize were my mother’s and Grand Duke Crayton’s.
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I sat up in bed.
Only then did I notice my mother’s back, Grand Duke Crayton, and someone I had never seen before.
It was understandable for my mother and the Grand Duke to be there, but the clothing of the third person in the room was very distinctive.
It was the priest’s robe of the temple that served the Goddess Duana.
The Goddess Duana, called the Mother of All Gods. Priests who served her possessed the ability to heal people.
The priest from the Temple of Duana who had come today must also have healing powers.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a high priest.
Only after recalling that did I realize what the three of them were doing.
The biggest reason I had wanted my mother to meet the Grand Duke—
was to cure my mother’s illness.
Fortunately, it seemed that the Grand Duke had summoned a priest to save her.
Before I regressed, the doctor in Delphia Village had not been skilled enough to cure my mother’s illness.
Bringing in a capable physician required a lot of money, and we simply didn’t have enough to afford one.
That was why I had been so determined to meet Grand Duke Crayton. But now that we had returned to the Crayton household, he had immediately summoned not just an ordinary doctor, but the High Priest of the Temple of Duana without any delay.
“At this rate, she will need treatment once a week for a full three months.”
It seemed that a lot had already happened while I was asleep, as the priest spoke respectfully to my mother and the Grand Duke.
Even after bringing in such a skilled high priest, treatment still had to continue for three months.
That made me realize once again how serious my mother’s illness really was.
Surely it would be cured after all this… right?
Hiding my worries, I waited for the adults to continue talking.
“Can it be cured?”
As if he shared the same concern as me, Grand Duke Crayton asked the priest of the Temple of Duana.
The priest smiled gently and nodded.
“Yes. If we proceed with the treatment as I explained, she will make a full recovery.”
“Ha, that’s truly a relief.”
The Grand Duke let out a long breath of relief.
I also relaxed after hearing the priest’s words.
“By the way, is that little lady the Grand Duke’s granddaughter?”
If the priest hadn’t suddenly pointed at me and asked that question, I might have thrown myself back onto the bed in relief.
At his question, both my mother and the Grand Duke turned their gaze toward me.
Then, looking slightly puzzled, they confirmed it.
“That’s right. She is my daughter’s child.”
“In that case, it would be good to examine the young lady as well.”
“Me?”
At the priest’s unexpected words, I widened my eyes and looked up at him.
I wasn’t the only one surprised.
The Grand Duke and my mother also seemed to understand what the priest meant by “examination,” and their expressions stiffened.
“What do you mean…?”
“Hazel disease is hereditary. It cannot be said that the child will definitely have it, but statistically the chances are high, so it would be best to examine her as well.”
My mother and the Grand Duke both looked at me in shock.
Feeling burdened by their gazes, I awkwardly shrank my neck.
“I’m fine, though.”
The Grand Duke seemed to interpret my words differently and gave a bitter smile.
“Yes, child. You’ll be fine.”
After briefly reassuring me, he turned back to the priest.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you examine Mirabel as well? Please check carefully. I ask this as an old man’s request.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The priest of the Temple of Duana approached me, knelt down, and held out his hand.
“Could you place your hand on mine?”
I did as he said and placed my hand on top of his.
A bright light began to shine from our hands.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t worried, but before my regression there had been nothing wrong with me, so I waited calmly for the result.
After a moment, the light began to fade.
The priest smiled reassuringly.
“Fortunately, the young lady shows no signs of the disease. However…”
His words trailed off.
The Grand Duke and my mother watched him anxiously, waiting for him to continue. I also glanced at them before looking back at the priest.
“The young lady has an astonishing ability to accept divine power.”
“What does that mean?”
“She may be able to handle divine power. Young lady, if you have the time, would you be willing to visit our temple later?”
It was an unexpected offer. He looked straight at me with a gentle smile.
After hesitating, I spoke carefully.
“If I can handle divine power… can I heal other people like you, Priest?”
“We cannot yet know exactly what kind of ability you possess, but those who wield divine power generally have healing abilities.”
“Then… could I cure my mother’s illness too?”
“It’s a difficult illness, so it wouldn’t be easy, but it should certainly be possible.”
The priest answered with a gentle smile, as if he knew exactly what I wanted to hear.
“Then I’ll go. Later, for sure.”
As I answered, I felt a little sad.
If I had been able to use divine power before, my mother wouldn’t have died in the past.
“Good. You’ve done well.”
Grand Duke Crayton said to the priest with a pleased smile.
“Yes, then I will take my leave.”
The priest bowed to the Grand Duke and then greeted my mother and me before quietly leaving the room.
“That’s a relief. At least it’s an illness that can be cured.”
The Grand Duke laughed heartily and pulled my mother into a hug.
My mother smiled softly, slipped out of his arms, and beckoned to me.
I got down from the bed, put on my shoes, and ran over to hug her.
Just like the Grand Duke had done earlier, she held me tightly.
“All of this is thanks to our Bell. If it weren’t for Bell, I probably…”
My mother trailed off and hugged me even tighter.
I knew what she meant without hearing the rest, but there was no need to say it aloud.
Everything was going well, so there was no need to bring up unpleasant words.
After letting me go, my mother gently stroked my hair.
The touch was so careful and soft that I smiled faintly.
Watching this, the Grand Duke lightly placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke.
“Well then, now that the examination is finished, shall we go have breakfast? Some time has passed, so Brian might be worried.”
After washing up, I held my mother’s hand and headed to the dining room.
Brian and Elliot were already there.
“You’re here. Come sit down.”
Brian said, pointing to the seat across from him.
My mother sat opposite Brian, and I sat beside her. Elliot was sitting across from me, looking straight at me.
His round, sparkling eyes staring at me felt so unfamiliar and awkward that I turned my head and looked toward the Grand Duke instead.
He was seated at the head of the table, giving instructions to a maid.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Startled by Brian’s sudden voice, I looked at him.
I had thought he was talking to my mother, but he was smiling warmly at me.
“Ah, yes. I slept comfortably.”
“That’s good to hear. Niece, if there’s ever anything uncomfortable while you’re staying here, tell me anytime.”
“…Okay.”
I forced a smile that didn’t quite reach my lips.
Brian smiling and speaking kindly to me felt very strange.
If my memory was correct, Brian was known as the “Iron Duke,” a fierce and cold man.
Before I returned to the past, I had once seen him during an expedition to subdue monsters.
Back then, instead of smiling, he had stared at the monsters with eyes sharp enough to devour anyone nearby.
And he had stood at the front, slaughtering them mercilessly.
The brutality and calmness he showed without even changing his expression…
I couldn’t believe at the time that Brian was the older brother of my mother, Cornelia Crayton.
That powerful image was still engraved in my mind.
Yet the Brian sitting in front of me now was smiling foolishly, none of that cold aura remaining.
It made me wonder if he was really the same person.
Maybe the Duke of Crayton I knew and this Brian were two different people.
“But…”
Brian suddenly spoke to me while I was lost in my thoughts.
He was frowning as if something bothered him.
In an instant, he became the cold and fierce Duke of Crayton I had seen before—the intimidating man who stood before monsters.
Just from his expression, the atmosphere around him changed completely.
So he really was the same Duke I knew.
But why was he suddenly making that expression?
What made him angry all of a sudden?
Was it because of my answer?
Why? I had just answered normally.
Surely he didn’t dislike me from the beginning.
Considering how happy he had seemed to see me earlier and how he had just told me to speak if I felt uncomfortable, he clearly liked me.
Which made it even more confusing.
Why had Brian’s mood suddenly changed?
“Hmm…”
A heavy sigh escaped Brian’s mouth, and I flinched.
I wished he would just say whatever he wanted, but for some reason he kept opening and closing his mouth without speaking.
If this continued, the awkward situation would last until the meal began.
So I had no choice but to speak first.
“Um… Uncle, is there something you want to say to me? Did I do something wrong?”
Because I assumed his sudden anger was my fault, my voice became quieter.
Just as I wondered if I should repeat myself in case he hadn’t heard, Brian gave an awkward smile.
“Am I difficult for you?”
It was the first thing he said after a long silence.
“Huh?”
I blinked stupidly, not understanding what he meant.
“Well, it’s natural that you’d feel scared and unfamiliar with an uncle you’re meeting for the first time. I’m sorry. I should have tried to be more comfortable…”
Brian lowered his voice and muttered as if talking to himself.
I blinked, not knowing how to react.
In short, the face he had made earlier hadn’t been anger—it had been embarrassment.
Seeing his smile only made me more confused.
“Honestly, brother. I’ve told you many times, haven’t I? When you stiffen your face like that, you look scary.”
Seeing me frozen, my mother held my hand and scolded Brian.
“When you frowned just now, Bell got so scared she couldn’t even speak.”
“Did I really?”
Brian asked, looking like he had no idea what expression he had been making.
My mother nodded as if it were obvious.
Brian looked like he was about to cry as he turned to me.
“If I scared you, I’m truly sorry, niece…”
His voice was completely drained of strength.
I was still overwhelmed by the many sides of Brian I was seeing.
More than anything, the image of the Duke of Crayton I had seen before returning to the past remained in my mind.
So the “embarrassed” expression he had shown looked intimidating enough to me.
And that had just been embarrassment?
As I continued blinking without answering, Brian’s shoulders slumped.
“Perhaps it would be better if I ate separately today.”
He sighed deeply and seemed ready to stand up.
Watching him, the Grand Duke coughed in annoyance.
Surely he was going to stop Brian…
“Then why did you bother talking to Mirabel and scare the child?”
Contrary to my expectations, the Grand Duke scolded Brian and glared at him.
His gaze seemed to say, *Why aren’t you leaving already?*
“Father, I’m truly sorry, but it seems I should eat breakfast alone today.”
Elliot, who had been quiet until now, supported the Grand Duke’s words.
Brian shot Elliot a sharp glare.
Elliot simply shrugged, as if he was used to it.
“If you keep doing that, Mirabel will get frightened.”
“Elliot, you brat. Just wait.”
Brian stood up while saying something that sounded like a line from a third-rate villain.
He really seemed about to leave the dining room.
Thinking I couldn’t just keep watching, I hurriedly spoke.
“No, Uncle! You can eat with us.”
Brian turned back to me with a bright expression.
“Really…? Is that okay? You’re not afraid of me?”
Not wanting to crush the hope on his face, I smiled and nodded.
“I’m just not used to you yet. If we meet often from now on, won’t it get better?”
“…Good heavens.”
I thought it would just end with him thanking me, but Brian looked deeply moved.
“It seems you’re the only one here who defends me like this. Mirabel, my niece. If anyone ever tries to harm you, tell me immediately. I’ll make sure to cut off that bastard’s breath.”
After wiping away the tears that had gathered in his eyes, Brian quickly sat down again.
Elliot looked at him with an indifferent expression and spoke.
“That’s exactly the problem, Father. You shouldn’t say such scary things. It has the opposite effect.”
Brian narrowed his eyes and glared at Elliot.
“Elliot, we’ll see about that during training today.”
“Huh? But today is our day off from training.”
“Well… is it really?”
Just as Brian finished speaking meaningfully, the maids began bringing in the food.
