Chapter 10
“Huh? He didn’t call me by mistake? Then is it because of class? But last time, Dikal definitely said I did well…”
In fact, during our last lesson on sentence structure, Dikal had told me I seemed to have a talent for the Imperial language.
Even though I had started learning it quite late, he’d been impressed by how quickly I grasped sentence structure.
“Feels a bit like bragging.”
But it was true that I learned quickly.
He’d seen plenty of outstanding students at the academy, so he wouldn’t have said something like that just to flatter me.
He wasn’t the type to curry favor with nobles.
“Then what is it?”
As question marks filled my head, Heinox’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“I heard there was some commotion.”
“Yes.”
“Why was that?”
So it was about that after all.
Heinox was asking why I had raised my voice. Depending on how you heard it, it could sound like scolding—or concern.
“No way.”
It would be nice if it were concern, but that couldn’t be it.
The cause of Priscilla’s death still hadn’t been revealed, and Heinox remained indifferent as ever.
He had loved his wife deeply. He’d gone to the battlefield to escape the pain of losing her. It wouldn’t be strange if he still felt uncomfortable looking at me.
“Ah! Th-that’s because…”
What should I say? That Renzard picked a fight? That he insulted the duchess first?
But I didn’t want to say that Renzard had insulted the duchess.
Just as this child’s body sometimes made me childish, Renzard was still only a child too. He probably hadn’t said it with malicious intent.
Until the truth was revealed, I was in a weaker position before Heinox. I had to show that it wasn’t entirely my fault—while also appearing repentant.
What should I say?!
My eyes darted around. I had to say something, but I couldn’t think of a good excuse.
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Renzard wanted my apple pie!”
“…What?”
Damn it. That was such a ridiculous excuse. As expected, Heinox looked like he thought he’d misheard.
“Renzard… wanted your apple pie?”
“…Yes.”
“So you fought because of that?”
“…Yes.”
Technically, it wasn’t wrong.
Until Renzard arrived, I’d been happily enjoying snack time with Puichi.
So yes, Renzard had started it by picking a fight while I was eating apple pie.
“…You caused turmoil in the Tangerique household over nothing more than apple pie.”
“Nothing more?”
I blinked at his words.
The only reason Heinox could dismiss apple pie like that was because he didn’t know Puichi’s skills.
If he had tasted Puichi’s desserts even once, he’d never speak so lightly of them.
Maybe I was fixating on the wrong part—but it was true!
Puichi was an incredible cook. Every dessert I’d eaten these past few days had tasted heavenly.
My cheeks, noticeably plumper than when I first possessed Roxina, were proof of his skill.
Still, Heinox looked unconvinced.
“Is that truly the only reason? You fought because Renzard tried to take your apple pie?”
If you asked whether that was the only reason… not exactly.
But I couldn’t very well say, “Apple pie was just an excuse. Renzard picked a fight because he couldn’t stand seeing me happy—the one who killed Priscilla.”
I couldn’t bring up Priscilla in front of Heinox.
The duchess whom everyone in the estate missed. And Heinox most of all.
Even at the moment Roxina was executed in the original story, he had still longed for Priscilla.
And now, only four years after losing his wife—if I brought up Priscilla…
He might throw me out of the estate. No—he definitely would.
I had only mentioned doubts about Priscilla’s death to Renzard because I thought it might help uncover the truth later. I hadn’t wanted it to reach Heinox so soon.
Bringing up the duchess here was impossible.
And beyond all that, I didn’t want to wound someone still drowning in grief.
The image of Heinox smiling the day he granted my request surfaced in my mind.
“Still… we’re family now.”
For someone like me, who had no parents and no distant relatives, this was my first family.
I had tried not to grow attached—but it wasn’t easy.
It wasn’t quite affection yet. But I still held hope that once everything was revealed, I could become a real member of this family.
I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.
Like I once was.
A faint, self-mocking smile escaped me.
—
Heinox couldn’t understand the Roxina before him.
Why did she look so lonely? Why couldn’t she tell the truth? He had no way of knowing.
He didn’t know how to comfort a child.
It had always been Priscilla who soothed Renzard and Chedman. All Heinox knew was strict discipline.
If he sternly reprimanded them, they would nod tearfully. And even if they didn’t understand, Priscilla would hug them and their sulking would fade.
But Roxina’s situation was different.
Priscilla was no longer by her side.
And Heinox was still clumsy.
“What should I say to comfort a daughter? Should I hug her?”
Unfortunately, the more unsure he felt, the more his expression hardened and his voice dropped.
So instead of sounding comforting, he sounded harsh.
“Speak truthfully. If you lie, you will be punished.”
Punished?
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Punished for not speaking the truth? When I was keeping my mouth shut because of him?
That careless remark was enough to shatter the emotions I had been holding back.
“I-I told the truth! Renzard got angry first, and I got angry too!”
The more I thought about it, the more it welled up inside me.
“Renzard did that in front of Puichi and Anne, and I didn’t want to just sit there quietly…”
I saw Heinox’s eyes widen in confusion—but I didn’t have the spare capacity to care.
Punishment—from someone I’d hoped to be family with.
“What was I supposed to do? Stay quiet like always?”
“That’s not what I meant—”
His words didn’t help. They sounded like belated excuses.
Pathetic.
“What am I to Heinox?”
If he truly believed I had killed his wife, what must he feel, listening to me like this?
It was miserable.
“I’m sorry. I was rude. I’m truly sorry.”
I took a deep breath and looked at him. His face was still stiff.
“I told the truth. I didn’t lie. Not even once.”
There was no response.
A long silence fell between us.
After what felt like ages, Heinox finally spoke.
“You were talking about Priscilla.”
“…?”
My racing heart froze cold.
He had brought up Priscilla himself.
“Why didn’t you mention that?”
I couldn’t say, “Because you’d be angry.”
“That wasn’t the reason.”
It was—but it was the best answer I could give.
Heinox stared at me for a long time.
“So it wasn’t because of that…”
Then he stood.
“If that’s what you say, then so be it. You may go.”
“…Huh?”
I hadn’t expected to be dismissed so easily.
“May I really leave?”
“Yes.”
“Then… I’ll go.”
As I reached for the door, his flat voice followed.
“Don’t forget to come after class tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
As I left the study, a strange feeling settled over me.
Why did his reminder sound… slightly kinder than usual?
—
“Miss, are you awake?”
“Mm…”
I woke to knocking.
Anne entered when I answered sleepily.
“Anne?”
She usually let me wake on my own.
“It still looks like morning…”
The sun was still low.
But Anne hurried over and pulled me up.
“No, Miss!”
“Whyyy…”
“You’re having breakfast with the Duke.”
“With the Duke—what breakfast—”
Oh.
Memory struck.
“Breakfast!”
After my fight with Renzard, when I’d gone to report to Heinox, he had said:
“Starting tomorrow, you will have breakfast with me.”
His reason had been absurd.
“I’m busy. Breakfast is the only time the whole family can gather.”
What nonsense.
Who had been neglecting Roxina all this time?
“Ugh… why is he like this…”
Anne smiled gently.
“The Duke wants to see you. Don’t you want to eat with him?”
“No.”
Heinox wasn’t the type to summon someone just because he missed them.
“I don’t want to go…”
“He’s already in the dining hall. We must hurry.”
She sat me down and brushed my hair.
“I was worried, you know.”
“About what?”
“That he might ignore you after returning from the battlefield… or hate you.”
“…Why?”
“Because you did nothing wrong.”
Her smile looked faintly sad.
“You’ve changed a lot lately.”
I flinched.
Did she notice the soul change?
She laughed softly.
“That’s not a bad thing. You’re brighter now. You used to barely speak or leave your room.”
“…Do you like me better now?”
She shook her head.
“I like both the old Miss and the current Miss. They’re both you.”
“….”
“But I hope you stay bright and confident like this. Don’t be crushed by guilt.”
“…Okay.”
“So you must have breakfast with the Duke! Chin up. You’re Lady Priscilla’s final gift.”
A gift.
Anne held out her hand.
“Let’s go, Miss.”
I stared at her hand, then took it.
“Okay.”
Let’s go.
