Chapter 09
At that same time, Chadman was at the training grounds.
The servants watching him practice clicked their tongues, shaking their heads as if nothing unusual had happened. They muttered that he was truly relentless, training as calmly as ever despite the earlier commotion.
Chadman liked the sword because when he swung it, stray thoughts usually disappeared.
But today, his mind was as noisy as a marketplace.
Roksina….
For some time now, his youngest sister had seemed extremely suspicious.
The sister who used to hide in her room and shrink from others’ gazes had suddenly begun lifting her chin and arguing with Renzard.
He didn’t see Roksina often, but he was certain she had never carried such a bold air before.
Whenever he happened to run into her, she always gave off a gloomy presence. Even when Renzard crossed the line with his words, she would silently endure them.
But the Roksina just now….
She had refuted Renzard clearly, point by point. Even using the word cowardly—a word no four-year-old should reasonably know.
It wasn’t wrong, though.
That didn’t mean her words were incorrect. As she said, their mother’s death was not Roksina’s fault.
Chadman knew that much. That was why he had warned Renzard for making such absurd accusations.
Of course, there had been no need to concern himself beyond that.
Still… the temple being the reason Mother died….
He had never once considered that possibility.
After all, the temple was always supposed to be pure and righteous. No one doubted that.
But after hearing Roksina’s words, there were far too many strange points to ignore.
Why didn’t Father call a priest that day?
The Heinox Chadman knew would have sold the territory itself if necessary to bring a priest.
Yet on the day their mother died, not a single trace of white robes had appeared at the Tanzeric estate.
If only even an apprentice priest had come….
Excessive bleeding. A fever far beyond normal range. Both could have been quickly resolved with even a small use of divine power.
But because the temple did not move, the Duchess of Tanzeric passed away without receiving even such simple treatment.
Even while drinking water mid-training, Chadman kept hold of his sword—until the realization struck him that perhaps their mother’s death had not been a simple case of postpartum fever.
The sword slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.
In his mind, the temple had an obligation to help House Tanzeric. No matter what payment had been agreed upon, Tanzeric should have been a priority.
“After all the donations Mother gave them…”
Priscilla Tanzeric—the former Duchess who bore Chadman, Renzard, and Roksina—had donated an enormous sum to the temple every September while she was alive.
As a child, Chadman once asked why she gave so much, wondering if it wasn’t excessive even for faith.
Priscilla had answered like this:
“If someday one of us is in danger, the temple will help us first.”
The value she donated each year was enough to build two grand mansions with ease.
She had given it purely for her family’s safety.
And yet the temple, knowing her sincerity, turned away.
“Bastards…”
A harsh curse escaped Chadman’s lips—unsuited to his innocent face.
It was anger at the temple, and guilt toward himself.
I never once doubted the temple.
If Roksina hadn’t spoken today, he might never have known.
Overcome by rising fury, Chadman picked up the sword he had thrown and began swinging it violently.
Meanwhile, after hearing that Renzard and Chadman had been summoned by Heinox because of the kitchen disturbance, I had worries of my own.
I feel like I’ve been completely marked because of this….
The true power in this household was Heinox.
He hated noise. There was no way the commotion between Renzard and me had left a good impression.
Damn Renzard—what a mess this turned into.
My plan to uncover the truth behind Priscilla’s death and live peacefully in this estate had already gone awry from the start.
Grinding my teeth, I recalled Renzard stubbornly insisting on his nonsense.
“Renzard… seriously, he’s no help to my life at all.”
“My lady…”
Anne looked around nervously in case someone overheard.
“It’s fine. No one comes to my room except Renzard—”
Knock knock—
“Lady Roksina, are you inside?”
…Someone’s here?
“Who— Oh! Head maid!”
Anne opened the door and quickly bowed at the familiar face standing outside.
“Oh, Anne. Is the young lady inside?”
“I’m here.”
I approached while licking cookie crumbs from my fingers. The head maid bowed politely.
She’s older than me, yet she has to bow to a little kid… she must have it tough too.
I looked at her with sudden sympathy.
“Why are you here?”
The next words erased that sympathy immediately.
“The Duke has summoned you.”
“Ah…”
Here it comes.
After calling Chadman and Renzard with no word for me, I had briefly hoped I might be spared.
But of course he wouldn’t let it pass.
Even if I wasn’t the cause, I was still one of the parties involved.
“My lady?”
Her gentle face looked, in that moment, like a messenger from hell.
“Nooo…”
I knew it made sense for him to call me too, but—
“I don’t want to go…”
With a face like I was heading to execution, I followed behind the head maid.
I feel like a monkey being led into a cage….
The long corridor felt absurdly short today.
Servants who knew about the commotion looked at me with pity.
You don’t have to look at me like that—I know exactly what situation I’m in….
The head maid walked so quickly that we soon arrived before Heinox’s office.
“My lord, the young lady has arrived.”
“Send her in.”
“My lady, please enter.”
Then the head maid stepped aside to stand by the wall, as if her duty was complete.
“Phew…”
I took a deep breath to steady my trembling heart before opening the door.
The first thing I saw was—
“You’ve come.”
Heinox. Smiling.
“G-Good afternoon…”
Mom…
I instinctively bowed and darted my eyes around.
Why is he smiling like that? That’s more unsettling than if he were angry….
My heart pounded wildly. I forced myself to breathe deeply.
Even if you enter a tiger’s den, you survive by keeping your wits about you.
Besides, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’ll apologize for causing noise and leave confidently!
Flare your tiny nostrils, Roksina!
I raised my head—
And Heinox was no longer smiling. His face had returned to its usual stern expression.
I quickly lowered my gaze and fidgeted with my fingers.
“Sit first,” he said with a heavy sigh.
“Yes…”
The sofa was still too tall for me.
But I couldn’t complain today.
Even if I had only stood against an insult to the late Duchess, it was also true that I had caused a large disturbance in the estate.
I wish the sofa were even taller.
If it were so high I couldn’t climb it, I could have pretended to struggle and collapse from exhaustion.
Then he might’ve told me to go back to my room and talk later….
But now it was impossible to pretend.
I had already climbed this sofa several times before. And Heinox wasn’t foolish enough to miss such a shallow trick.
Scolding my past self for having practiced sofa-climbing so diligently, I gripped the seat cushion tightly and hauled myself up.
Heinox watched silently as I scrambled onto the sofa with my short legs.
“Roksina.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know why I called you?”
“Yes…”
“And what is the reason?”
“B-Because I did something wrong…”
I answered in a tiny voice.
But there was no immediate response.
He must be even angrier than I thought.
Since I was staring down, I couldn’t see his expression. All sorts of dreadful possibilities filled my mind.
Did he call me to scold me for the disturbance? Or because I talked back to an older brother?
Heinox might generally be indifferent, but he was still the head of the house.
He strictly controlled his estate and valued the clear line between master and servant.
In the original story, he was described as the model of a cold, disciplined lord.
And I had completely overturned the estate’s atmosphere.
Maybe it wasn’t entirely good that I became friendly with the servants….
Surely he won’t hit me?
I cautiously glanced up.
House arrest?
My shoulders jerked in alarm.
Absolutely not!
I had so much to do.
Study the imperial language with Dikal.
Eat Puichi’s apple pie.
Take walks with Anne.
Later, visit the temple to uncover secrets. Find the mine and strengthen House Tanzeric.
For now, I had even planned to mend relations with Renzard and Chadman.
Cold sweat began to form.
But showing fear would only make things worse.
Heinox had frighteningly sharp perception. The slightest twitch of my face wouldn’t escape him.
So I lowered my head even further.
After a long silence, Heinox spoke with a deep sigh.
“Raise your head, Roksina.”
“Yes… yes.”
Phew….
Fortunately, he didn’t look particularly angry.
If anything, he seemed… conflicted. Deep in thought.
“I did not call you because you did something wrong.”
