Chapter 23
Anyone could tell from Caleb’s expression that he had actually said what was being accused. Thank goodness he was still a kid who couldn’t control his facial expressions… But on the flip side, how could such a young child say something so awful?
…That was when Saldir nudged me in the ribs. I looked up at him, and he silently mouthed something. It looked like he was saying, “Act pitiful.”
Act pitiful…? Oh no way. That suggestion made me look forward again, a thought flashing through my mind. I let my shoulders droop and tried to put on the most sorrowful face I could manage.
“I’m truly sorry, Lord Wintel.”
I let out a deep sigh and lowered my gaze. My eyes were fixed on the end of the bed where Caleb was lying. I silently hoped my expression looked appropriately forlorn.
“I meant to mediate between the two, but I ended up… letting my limbs act ahead of me. I made a grave mistake.”
I blinked deliberately at the word mediate. I had to look as pitiful and regretful as possible.
“…But Lord Wintel happened to be standing in the path of my flailing limbs, and that’s how the accident happened… I promise it won’t happen again.”
“You just flailed around and I happened to be there? That’s just you saying you hit me! And when did you ever try to mediate anything? You just barged in and attacked me!”
At first, Caleb let out a hollow laugh in disbelief, then burst into outrage.
But now that I thought about it… Caleb didn’t look much like a patient with cracked ribs and possible hearing loss in his left ear. He seemed way too energetic. Well, I was glad he looked healthy—but wouldn’t it help him more if he pretended to be more injured? Shouting like that wasn’t doing him any favors.
Just as I was silently clicking my tongue, Horné raised a hand.
“That’s enough.”
The moment she raised her hand, everyone—myself included—turned their attention to her.
“There are conflicting accounts here.”
She spoke expressionlessly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked around.
“But these children weren’t the only ones there. We should ask another witness.”
“By another witness, you mean…”
Count Wintel asked with a flustered face. Horné smiled at him.
“Your daughter.”
Just then, the door opened, and a familiar girl walked in with two maids. It was Myra. Horné smiled gently at her, as though she had been waiting all along.
“Perfect timing. You’ve calmed down a bit, I see.”
Myra’s eyes were still a little puffy, but she looked more composed than earlier. Of course, the moment she saw us—and Caleb—her face hardened again. But Horné addressed her with a far gentler tone.
“I’d like you to tell us what happened, Lady Wintel.”
“…Um. That is…”
Myra looked nervously between me and Caleb. Her eyes trembled, then turned to look at Count and Countess Wintel. She pressed her lips together tightly, then lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Mother, Father.”
“What?”
“I was being stupid…”
Myra began to cry again. Count and Countess Wintel looked at each other in shock.
“Big Brother said he’d take me home after his training… so I tried not to get in the way and just waited in the corner… but I guess he didn’t like that…”
Tears started to stream down Myra’s cheeks.
“He said Father’s true intention was for me to use the Duke of Sielcar’s name to climb the social ladder… that I didn’t understand what Father really wanted… He was trying to teach me, but the Sielcar children misunderstood…”
Count and Countess Wintel turned pale almost instantly. They glanced at Caleb, then quickly moved toward Myra.
“Did Caleb really say that to you?”
“I don’t really know… but Mother, Father.”
Myra looked at them with tearful eyes.
“Is being sold and getting married really the same thing?”
Count and Countess Wintel froze stiff on the spot. Jindel and Horné’s expressions stiffened as well. Of course they did. Everything this little girl was saying—while blaming herself, no less—was proof that Caleb had belittled and mocked his younger sister to the point of near abuse. And beyond that, it meant the Wintel family was abusing and discriminating against their own children in front of other noble houses.
“Caleb, how could you—”
“Ah. Aah…”
As Count Wintel turned toward Caleb, the Countess squeezed her eyes shut and suddenly collapsed backward. The Count rushed to catch her, but she seemed to have truly fainted.
Chaos broke out instantly. Everyone rushed to help the Countess, while others shot sharp glares at Caleb. No one said anything outright, but everyone in the room knew. Caleb had said those things. And the Wintel family was pushing this child to the brink of abuse.
…But while everyone else was thrown into confusion, I turned my gaze toward Myra. She was already looking at me. The moment our eyes met, Myra mouthed something silently. It looked like she was saying something…
I recognized the shape of the words and widened my eyes.
“Thank you so much.” …That’s what she said just now.
No way.
A thought flashed through my mind, and I blinked in shock. So just now—was that crying not real? Was it an act? Just like when Saldir had nudged me to put on a show?
I only managed to squeeze something out because Saldir gave me a hint, but Myra… she really looked like she was crying from the heart. And that was acting?
I was stunned, but also a little convinced. Right—Myra had always been clever.
Even if the environment shapes a person, maybe one’s core doesn’t change.
Could it be that the sister I had always cherished and loved was still the same?
A few days later.
“Duh. Of course I acted like it was my fault. That way, Mom and Dad would feel sorry for me. You could tell right away. Even a dog could figure that out.”
Myra grinned as she bit into her cotton candy beside me. The tearful, pitiful girl from a few days ago was nowhere to be seen.
I looked at her, thinking about everything that had happened after her dramatic “confession.”
After Myra dropped her emotional bomb, the entire situation flipped. It was as if our family and the Count’s roles had completely reversed—Count and Countess Wintel bowed their heads to us. Caleb might be the heir of the Count’s family, and he could act like a tyrant at home. But…
That kind of behavior couldn’t be shown outside. If word got out that the Count’s heir lacked basic chivalry, or worse, that the family abused its own children, it would block any future prospects for the Wintel family’s offspring. And to make matters worse, the one he had acted out in front of was someone from the Duke of Sielcar’s house—possibly the worst person to offend.
The Count and Countess apologized, didn’t even argue about the medical fees, and quickly left. Meanwhile, our parents took the opportunity to make a deal—letting Myra recuperate at our estate for a while. Of course, the Count and Countess couldn’t refuse.
And just like that, our household had gained a new member—Myra Wintel.
Even if she was technically a guest, it wasn’t unusual for noble daughters to have playmates of similar status in a household like ours.
