“Well, that’s because he harbors resentment towards us…”
Lady Eleanor spoke hesitantly.
She still couldn’t let go of being treated as the parents of an honorable war hero.
But Masera was a cold-hearted man.
“I don’t want to bear the disgusting Vicente name, but I need a title to obtain railway construction rights. If you don’t want to give up the title, you can die protecting your honor like the noble you claim to be.”
Masera’s chilling gaze was still vivid before her eyes.
He may look fine on the outside, but he was a man without blood or tears for those who went against his wishes.
“If there are adoption records, what’s the problem?”
At Helene’s question, she hesitated with an uneasy expression.
“We were afraid to seek her out, fearing she might harm us or drive us away.”
To this, Helene replied in a nonchalant tone.
“As it happens, Brigadier General Vicente is abroad. It’s plenty of time to persuade Cynthia while taking refuge in a safe official residence.”
With public opinion to consider, could Cynthia turn her back on her husband’s adoptive parents? Helene took Lady Eleanor’s hands and spoke in a gentle voice.
“I’ll explain the situation to the Dowager Duchess and ask her to write a letter requesting protection for you two.”
This was the answer Lady Eleanor had been hoping for.
If it was an order from the Dowager Duchess of the ducal house, even Masera wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
Helene continued with a serious expression.
“Aunt, make sure to have my sister repay the debt before the Brigadier General returns.”
“I understand.”
I see, she wants the sister to resolve it before he returns and things get noisy. The Duchess wouldn’t want to get caught up in her brother-in-law’s commotion either.
“I’d prefer my sister’s husband to be from a noble family rather than having no background.”
Lady Eleanor nodded in agreement with Helene’s words.
‘It’s the Dowager Duchess’s order, what can he do? It’s strange to still hold a grudge over something from so long ago.’
* * *
I returned to the official residence and entered the empty bedroom.
Masera was away at a meeting of allied nations.
‘Who on earth should I discuss this with?’
I casually asked Dahlia and Diego for information about the “House Vicente,” but they only knew some of the facts.
“They showed up at the ducal gathering? It must be for money. They owe the Brigadier General a debt and lost their title to him.”
I didn’t know the details either, only vaguely guessing that they were “people who gave him unpleasant memories.”
Seeing how Masera would start to talk about them but then stop, it seemed he had been desperately trying to erase those memories. He probably wouldn’t even like me mentioning it.
I understood well the feeling of not wanting others to know about my misfortunes.
“What should I say when he returns…”
I sat on the sofa, Masera’s designated seat, and pondered.
Suddenly, I felt vibrations coming up from the floor.
Rumble rumble rumble-
“This again.”
I curled up and looked up at the shaking chandelier.
It wasn’t a serious earthquake; the ground would shake weakly around this time.
Thud.
At that moment, a few books fell from the bookshelf onto the floor.
It hadn’t shaken enough for books to fall… Could it be a supernatural phenomenon?
I looked around, startled.
“Maybe it’s a message I’m sending from the future.”
Imagining myself shouting ‘No! Notice my message!’ from behind the bookshelf, I shrugged.
As I went to pick up the fallen books, one open book caught my eye.
It was a weekly magazine titled ‘The Fastest Guide to Latest Law Revisions’.
I read the open page.
“…Revision of the Adoption Family Law?”
Knock knock.
Just then, Eugene entered in his pajamas with a timid knock, hugging a pillow tightly.
“I came specially in case big sis was scared. I’ll stay by your side while you sleep.”
“Oh my, I was about to go to you, thinking you might be trembling in fear. I’m a step too late.”
In reality, we both desperately needed each other. Because we were scared.
Eugene entered the room and stared out the window.
“It’s strange, when the ground rumbles, a red aurora appears. The color of big sis’s eyes.”
As he said this, Eugene naturally sat on the bed.
“They say the aurora is the other side of the world where dead people are reborn. If you whistle while looking at it, you can talk to people from the other world.”
I whistled a few times, embedding a confession.
Big bro! It was actually me who snuck yummy-yummy yogurts from the fridge one by one!
Sis, are you still reading novels there? If by chance you’re reading romance novels… figure out where I am and give me a hint!
After whistling earnestly, I rubbed my tingling lips and asked.
“Who told you this?”
“Uncle Masera told me. He said when he was little, he heard this story and practiced whistling. To reach his parents.”
I wonder what Masera’s real parents were like.
They must have been good people, right? They must have given him enough love for him to live on steadfastly without crumbling, even alone.
* * *
The next day, a shocking event occurred.
The Vicente couple, who had only persistently sent letters and never visited, barged into the official residence.
“They came claiming to be the Brigadier General’s legal parents. They even brought past adoption records.”
Diego said with cold sweat on his forehead despite the frigid weather. Even he, Masera’s closest aide, seemed unaware of this fact.
“Upon verification, the adoption records turned out to be genuine, not fabricated.”
Cynthia thought as she looked at Diego, who couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
For them to act so aggressively now means something even more frightening than approaching Masera has happened. Or they received advice from someone.
“Lady Cynthia. Should I send a telegram to the Brigadier General?”
“No, the Brigadier General is attending an important meeting right now.”
So I’ll handle this.
Cynthia calmly descended the stairs.
In the hall stood the Vicente couple with their luggage, and a middle-aged man who looked like a good-for-nothing.
Lady Eleanor lifted her chin haughtily and spoke.
“I told you clearly, didn’t I? That I am the Princess’s mother-in-law. Dowager Duchess Rukanosa also wrote a letter asking to help us, relatives of the ducal family.”
The middle-aged man who looked like a good-for-nothing standing next to her grinned.
“I am Masera’s uncle. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I need to stay here for a while. In a way, this is all because of that bastard who stole our family name.”
Even Count Vicente’s younger brother, Oliver Vicente, had joined in.
As Cynthia looked down at the three with an incredulous expression, that’s when it happened.
“You people…”
The butler Milchenko, with a scar on his face, turned pale the moment he discovered the three. Then he roared with indescribable fury.
“How dare you show up here!”
