Chapter 04
Hidden Truth and the Secret Ally
“Lady Rebelia, the Lord is calling for you.”
It was deep into the night when Damon, without any explanation, came to my room and said Father wanted to see me.
I sat across from my father, who calmly sipped his tea. I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long.
“From what I’ve heard from the servants, that girl has always been poorly behaved—not just today.”
“……”
“Starting tomorrow, someone else will assist you. So don’t take today’s incident too personally.”
He spoke so gently. It almost made me scoff.
He acted like he had no idea how the servants had been treating me all along.
Was he pretending I’d believe that? Or did he expect I had no choice but to believe it?
I gave a calm smile.
“If I’d known it was this easy to fix, I would’ve told you sooner, Father.”
“Yes. It’s nothing difficult, so rely on me from now on.”
“……”
“After all, we’re each other’s only family.”
His voice was sweet, but his pitch-black eyes sharply studied my face.
I stared at him, but his mention of being my “only family” left me speechless.
Then Father opened his mouth again.
“Don’t tell me… you’re still waiting for Anna.”
At the sound of my mother’s name, I flinched.
Seeing my reaction, Father sighed.
“She abandoned you and ran away. Still, a mother is a mother.”
“Can we stop talking about this…”
“I didn’t want to say this either, but… maybe if not for Heidi Eliana, your life would’ve been different.”
“Heidi Eliana?”
I frowned at the sudden mention of her name.
“Your mother didn’t love me. She loved Edwin Eliana—Heidi’s father.”
What?
My mouth opened slightly. I was stunned.
It felt like someone had slammed a hammer into my head.
Last night, Father told me something I could have never imagined.
“So… Mother loved Edwin Eliana? Heidi’s father?”
I had known she didn’t love Father.
I had even considered that she might’ve loved someone else.
But… Heidi’s father?
If he wasn’t lying, was this what the reader reviews meant by “outrageous twists”?
I sighed softly as I mulled over something I’d never be able to confirm.
“Our marriage was arranged, but I truly loved your mother. When she told me she loved another man, I was willing to step aside.”
Father had said that, hiding his wrinkled face with a hand.
I just listened blankly.
“Maybe Edwin loved her too. But he never returned to Anna. His wife was already pregnant with his child.”
“That child was Heidi Eliana, Rebelia.”
His words froze me in place.
Then, leaning close to my ear, he whispered softly:
“So, the reason your mother and you were never happy… was because of Heidi.”
That was when I understood why he called me last night.
He wanted me to hate Heidi.
He wanted me to believe she stole everything that was meant for me.
“If not for her, maybe even the Crown Prince’s side would’ve been yours.”
Rebelia’s jealousy toward Heidi…
Maybe it wasn’t just about Delphian Zeroth.
My mind raced. And before reason could catch up, my mouth spoke:
“I hope Heidi ends up more miserable than me… Please, Father. Help me. Please help me!”
Seeing Father’s smile, I realized I’d said exactly what he wanted to hear.
“Yes, Rebelia. Don’t worry. Father will help you.”
Thinking about that night, I clenched my fists—only to hear a new voice behind me.
“N-nice to meet you, my lady. I-I’m Beth.”
A young maid with short, orange-tinted hair bowed deeply.
Frowning at the unfamiliar face, I recalled Annie being dragged off by the Piace knights yesterday.
“So you’ll be assisting me now?”
“Y-yes! I’ll serve you well, my lady!”
“What about the other girl?”
“Pardon?”
“The one with curly brown hair. What happened to her?”
Beth’s eyes trembled.
“I-I don’t know.”
She didn’t seem to realize that her answer was an answer in itself.
I stared at her silent face for a moment, then stepped into the carriage.
As I sat and closed my eyes, I heard Beth exhale in relief.
The carriage jolted into motion.
Beth sat stiffly, her nervous posture slowly easing.
Her hands, which had been fidgeting, relaxed.
Her tongue stopped darting out over her dry lips.
Staring out the window, I asked casually:
“Will guests from the Hestonian Empire be attending the ball?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard yesterday at the boutique that this ball celebrates the reopening of Lemstone trade after a ten-year break.”
Of course, no one told me that at the boutique.
I was baiting her—to get her to speak.
Beth hesitated briefly, then nodded.
“Y-yes. I heard guests from Hestonia will attend, though I don’t know exactly who.”
“I see. Thanks for answering.”
I smiled warmly. Beth blushed.
I turned back to the window.
Father only brought up Heidi now—to poison my feelings.
And now Rebelia needed a proper dress to suit the grand Piace house.
This ball…
It was for welcoming Hestonia’s delegation.
To celebrate the return of Lemstone trade.
And yesterday, Father met that red-eyed man.
“Who was the person with you yesterday?”
“Just a merchant from Hestonia delivering goods.”
But that man wasn’t just a merchant.
His aura said otherwise.
The Hestonian delegation…
“Callier Esperos.”
“Excuse me?”
Beth tilted her head at my mutter. I shook my head.
Nothing.
But now I wondered—was the novel’s first scene hiding more than I thought?
In the novel, Callier Esperos kidnapped Heidi with the help of his friend, the mage tower lord, Lafer Wizard.
But being in this world myself, I was starting to think… maybe Father had a role too.
“Zeroth is a boring country.”
“Huh?”
“It feels like a sword—cold, rigid.”
“Are you… a tourist?”
The small vendor, munching on strawberry sugar candy, asked the man casually.
The man looked unimpressed and replied:
“Something like that. But is it always this peaceful here?”
“Well, peace is good, right?”
“No monster waves? Krakens? Not even a Fenrir?”
“W-what?!”
The vendor blinked in confusion.
As he processed what he just heard, he quickly waved his hands.
“Oh no, those things only happen in the cursed land—Hestonia. Nothing like that here!”
“Cursed land?”
“You haven’t heard? They say the Grand Duke of Hestonia is so greedy, the gods cursed the land.”
“……”
“That’s why so many monsters appear there.”
The man gave a curious smile.
The vendor looked at him nervously.
“Y-you’re not from Hestonia, are you?”
“Luckily, no.”
“Phew! You had me worried!”
“I mean…”
“Huh?”
“Just kidding.”
The vendor finally relaxed.
The man picked up a green grape sugar skewer and smiled faintly.
Crunch. The thin sugar shell cracked, releasing a sweet juice.
As he chewed, the vendor muttered in awe:
“That really scared me…”
The man replied with a playful tone:
“That reminds me…”
“Y-yes?”
“I heard a rumor. Crown Prince Delphian Zeroth is known to be gentle and peace-loving.”
“Oh yes, he’s a wonderful man.”
“Unlike the greedy Grand Duke of Hestonia.”
The vendor nodded as if that were obvious.
“But what if someone steals what the Crown Prince treasures most?”
“Pardon?”
“Say… someone takes the flower he cherishes more than anything.”
“A flower?”
“Would he still love peace then, I wonder…”
“Two strawberry candies, please.”
A woman’s voice interrupted.
He turned.
A young woman with violet hair and sky-blue eyes stared at him, emotionless.
Then she turned to the vendor:
“Two strawberry candies.”
“……”
“Quickly, if you please.”
