Chater 03.
“What I need isn’t manpower—it’s a horse.”
From Gilbert’s mouth came the familiar words of refusal.
“It’s not the horse Your Grace wanted, but p-please don’t reject me. If I return empty-handed, my foster father won’t let me off…!”
“The circumstances are unfortunate, but no means no.”
Gilbert coldly ignored my tearful pleas. Begging pitifully wouldn’t suddenly make a household need a servant.
“So… you mean you don’t need any help?”
“Exactly.”
That didn’t matter. I knew the true identity of the daughter Gilbert had lost.
Recalling the contents of the book, the situation had completely changed.
“Then… raise her.”
“What?”
“I said, raise her.”
“What…?”
Gilbert was flustered by my shameless attitude, as if I were entrusting something to him.
Seizing the moment, I grabbed a handful of my hair.
For a moment, Gilbert’s pupils trembled like branches swaying in the wind. My silver hair was the same color as his late wife’s.
“How old did you say she was?”
“Nine.”
“Has she ever seen her biological parents?”
“No. She’s a war orphan.”
Separated by an accident shortly after birth, appearing now as a nine-year-old girl. Could it really be a coincidence?
“Don’t lie to adults.”
“I’m not lying.”
I wasn’t lying; everything I said was the truth.
“If what you’re saying is true…”
His hand rubbed his forehead slowly, then traced down his face. A serious gaze pierced me like an arrow, and a low sound of suppressed anguish escaped his lips.
After a short but deep moment of contemplation, Gilbert crouched down.
“You’re not… my—”
A trembling hand grabbed my shoulder.
“…No. That can’t be. My daughter is dead. She became a star in the sky, lost to the war.”
If he didn’t believe me, it didn’t matter. Staying in this house to carry out my revenge was enough—even if she wasn’t his real daughter.
I clasped my hands together.
Shiiiinnn!
The light gradually gathered into a small star atop my hands. Gilbert and I looked at each other, separated by the shining star.
“I may not be able to become a star, but I can show it to you.”
In this world, a special concept existed: Talent Manifestation, a technique that visualized a person’s talent in a visible form.
The form of a talent varied by aptitude. Combat types appeared as buildings, healing types as plants, summoners as animals—and for a mage, it was a star.
“Because… I’m a mage.”
Mages were special, especially in the empire at war with the Holy Nation that wielded divine power.
“I will surely be of use.”
I leaned forward, unable to hide my earnestness.
“Do you know? Orphaned young mages are taken by the royal family and used as child soldiers. Even if the emperor grants a title, I don’t want to return to the battlefield. That place is terrifying.”
I had grown up on the battlefield because my mother was a royal mage. Gilbert thought his wife had died in the war, but she hadn’t—she was still alive.
‘If only I can consider her alive in that state…’
Mother would be found eventually. If only to see Gilbert, unable to recognize his own daughter, get scolded by her, I would make sure of it.
But now wasn’t the time to reveal anything. First, I needed to target Gilbert’s weak spot while pretending to be innocent.
“Just until I grow up… I’ll do errands, cleaning—anything. Will you be my guardian?”
As the star vanished and tiny points of light flickered, the face that appeared in front of me was Gilbert’s dark expression.
Got it—he fell for it!
I was entrusted to a maid, washed, and changed clothes.
Gilbert had only a son, who was at the knight academy, so the only clothes I could borrow were the ones he wore as a child—boys’ attire.
Instead of a dress, I wore a tunic with pants. Wearing high-quality fabric neatly tied with my long silver hair, I looked, at a glance, like a well-bred young gentleman.
Deep eyes, as if set with rubies.
Silver hair shimmering like the aurora.
If looks alone mattered, could I be considered the empire’s top-tier villainess? Just cruel and stupid, but nothing else.
The maid covering her mouth gasped.
“Wow… dressed up, you look like a completely different person. Eve Maria isn’t that plain after all…”
“Huh?”
“Oh! Nothing! Now that you’re ready, shall we go? Master Gilbert is waiting outside.”
Stepping out of the dressing room, Gilbert leaned against the wall and glanced at me.
It suits you… looks good… or even ‘not bad’—I wished he would say something, but he silently led the way.
“Let’s go.”
Without a word, Gilbert walked across the garden. The estate was so vast that exaggeration aside, it rivaled the royal grounds.
Inside the building, luxurious ornaments crafted by court artists filled my vision.
‘How much is all this worth?’
Even if it translated to millions, for a great noble house that built wealth and honor over generations, it was insignificant. This was the main residence of the Duke Grimloire.
“Wow… amazing!”
I pretended to be awed, looking up at the ceiling fresco.
“What a magnificent mansion!”
Though my act was awkward, Gilbert wasn’t paying attention to me; he was busy fixing his untucked shirt.
“Why did you come here, anyway?”
“Huh? Ah… to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“You don’t need to know. If anyone is called inside, don’t draw your magic—just answer questions. Just in case, I’m also keeping this sword with you.”
Gilbert brushed a scabbard against my belt. The sword, about 40 cm long, was a small children’s blade, smaller than a longsword.
“Stay put outside and don’t cause trouble until I come out.”
Was that really something you say when handing someone a weapon? Without a word, Gilbert entered the room.
The large, firmly closed door left no gap. But I could guess who was inside and why Gilbert looked tense.
Around this time, the Empire, negotiating a ceasefire, had reached a calm phase. Even if it ended in failure, the military leaders being absent was a boon for me.
‘If he’s meeting that person, I can consider it a green light.’
I could have just said I came to request adoption—but no, I was making him sweat!
Leaning against the wall, I slowly collapsed from nervousness. My legs had gone weak.
But it seemed I wasn’t alone in the hallway.
“Hello?”
Someone approached softly. When Gilbert entered, I hadn’t noticed anyone nearby.
Sunlit blonde hair, delicate pink eyes.
Refined features and plump cheeks.
Even a walking porcelain doll wouldn’t be an exaggeration—she was dangerously adorable.
“No outsiders are allowed here. If you’re caught, you won’t pass.”
The main villainess, Eve Maria Grimloire.
I hadn’t expected to meet her so soon. As long as Eve Maria needed a mage, I would meet her eventually.
In my past life, I had been adopted as her elder sister and ruined my life.
‘But this time…’
Glancing at the meeting room with my mind’s eye, I faced Eve Maria expressionlessly.
“Oh? You don’t believe me? Really, the maid who snooped without permission was severely punished and kicked out.”
I knew about that incident.
The pink-haired, pink-eyed maid newly hired at the Duke’s house—she’d incurred Eve Maria’s wrath because of her obsession with pink…
“Hmm. Eve would have exaggerated that she eavesdropped on the meeting, but with her tongue and hands already cut off, it can’t be undone, right? Hehe.”
Her grin sent shivers down my spine. Truly, her corrupt personality remained as inhumanly pure as ever.
“My brother will overlook it this time, so escape before anyone sees you.”
Brother…?
No wonder her attitude was so warm. Could it be she mistook me for a boy because of my pants and tied hair?
Pfft! I barely stifled a laugh and greeted her in a low voice.
“Hello.”
