1.
At first, I intended to return the book I’d borrowed from the boy through a messenger.
Not only did I not know when I would see him again, but I was suddenly gripped by the fear of meeting him once more.
Since Anita Boellony’s home and the Edenbahir estate were about four hours apart by carriage, I didn’t have to worry about the book getting damaged if I sent a servant myself.
So, the day before the return date, I spent the whole day wandering through the bustling streets, racking my brain.
‘What would be a good reward?’
What kind of item would the son of a grand ducal family consider a gift?
The offering I painstakingly chose after much deliberation was a batch of dainty butter cookies baked by my nanny. No matter how I thought about it, there was no gift that could be measured by value more than cookies, and nothing I was prouder to present than my nanny’s skills.
The butter cookies, wrapped with such diligence, ended up looking quite decent.
Except for the fact that I had to deliver them myself.
“You might stay overnight, so pack everything the child needs.”
“Yes, Master.”
The father and daughter were once again visiting the Edenbahir estate. I couldn’t understand the affairs of adults. I only knew that my father had struggled for days for the sake of today.
‘It must be something important.’
The mere thought of having to meet those children again made my head throb, and I let out a long sigh. I promised myself I would never leave the room.
When my father discovered the book I had been hiding, he asked, “What is that book?”
“I borrowed it from the Edenbahir library the other day.”
“What?”
My father, flipping through the book, scolded me with a stern face.
“You must always ask for permission before borrowing such things, Anita. Do you understand? Never bring things home without permission again.”
But I *had* asked for permission…
However, I was afraid that if I revealed the boy’s name, he might go and interrogate him himself. I decided to hide what happened with Lancelot.
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
The carriage traveled for another four hours. Thanks to leaving as soon as the sun rose, we arrived at the Edenbahir estate just before noon.
“Pay your respects, Anita. This is His Grace, the Duke of Edenbahir.”
A gentleman as tall and elegant as my father bent his knees to match my height. He had the same blue eyes as Lancelot, and the same golden hair.
I recalled what my nanny had urged just before leaving the mansion.
[His Grace the Duke of Edenbahir is the nephew of the late former king, Schubehlik Ii, and cousin to the current King. He is a person of very high standing, so be mindful of your manners.]
A cousin who shared blood with the King. Tense from his incredibly lofty status, I greeted him in a trembling voice.
“Hello, Your Grace. I am Anita Boellony.”
A large hand reached out and took mine. It felt as warm as my father’s. I looked up at the Duke with puzzled eyes. I had expected his father to be cold, just like him.
“You have your father’s eyes, Anita. It’s nice to meet you. Have a pleasant time at Edenbahir.”
After the initial greeting, I clutched the heavy book and the box of cookies, scanning the first floor of the ducal estate, which now felt slightly more familiar. Something felt strange; the mansion was unnervingly quiet.
“Father. I don’t see my friends.”
Following the Duke of Edenbahir up the stairs, my father whispered to me, “That’s right. Today, the only one of your age here will be the young Lord Edenbahir. I’m busy, so why don’t you go and look at the garden?”
They weren’t here!
“Yes!”
I nodded with a thrilled expression. I searched every nook and cranny of the estate to find Lancelot, and finally found him sitting in a chair, lost in a book.
A strange blonde girl was with him.
‘…Who is she?’
Standing there blankly as our eyes met, the memories of that day flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning.
‘Could it be that she was one of those children from back then?’
My face turned deathly pale. Without even being able to meet the girl’s eyes, I rushed over and placed the book and the cookie box on the table. My intention was to return them quickly and leave.
“T-this is the book I borrowed the other day…”
“Who are you?”
But even that was delayed by the presence of the girl who had suddenly pushed her face forward. Her hair was a slightly whiter blonde than Lancelot’s, with playful green eyes. Her face was as round as a doll’s, with delicate, clustered features.
She wasn’t quite like Lancelot, but she was beautiful enough to compare to him.
“You’re really pretty.”
It wasn’t Anita’s exclamation. The girl whose name I didn’t know continued with sparkling eyes.
“Really pretty. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“…Me?”
Not you?
“Yeah, you. What’s your name?”
I…
My mouth wouldn’t open. At some point, I had become afraid to reveal my own name. More accurately, ever since that incident a week ago.
What if word got around that I wasn’t a noble, so I shouldn’t associate with them? What if this child called me a mongrel, too? What if I couldn’t say anything like last time and stood there stiffly like a fool?
“Hurry!”
“Ah, Anita Boellony.”
At the pestering, I answered before I knew it. The girl puffed out her chest with a confident smile.
“Is that so? I’m Claunia House. I’m Uncle Edenbahir’s niece.”
“Uncle Edenbahir’s… niece?”
Then what did that make us?
“It means she’s my cousin.”
It was Lancelot. *Tsk.* Clicking his tongue lightly, he lifted only his head, still sitting in the chair.
“Don’t associate with that fool. She’s already dim-witted; she’ll get even dumber.”
Who was he calling dim-witted?
‘Could it be… me?’
I was inwardly shocked. In my life, this was the first time I had been called dim-witted. Was my nanny’s constant praise that I understood two things when taught one just empty flattery?
I regained my composure and cleared my throat.
“Hello, Lancelot Edenbahir.”
The boy glanced at my face before turning his eyes back to the book.
“The book.”
“I brought it here. And this…”
*Hoo.* I exhaled the breath I had been holding and held out the box I had brought to Lancelot.
“Thank you for lending me the book.”
“Just leave it there.”
Ah, is he not going to try it? Of course, he didn’t have to eat it right away, but… I put the box down with a sense of disappointment.
“So she can talk? I thought she was a mute.”
Claunia, who had pushed her face forward again, rattled off criticisms of Lancelot in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. As I stood there with an embarrassed face, not knowing what to do, she grinned and nudged my shoulder.
“I’m just kidding. That’s just how much he doesn’t open his mouth. He ignores nine out of ten things I say. Isn’t he annoying?”
“Stop blabbering in my bedroom and get lost.”
At Lancelot’s complaint, which came as if he had been waiting for it, I tilted my head to look around the room.
‘So this was a room connected to Lancelot’s bedroom.’
It was a warm and cozy space like my own room, and there was nothing particularly special about it just because it belonged to the heir of a grand ducal house.
“Look at that. All he knows how to say is ‘get out,’ ‘get lost,’ and ‘you’re noisy’!”
“Hin allow.”
“What did you say?”
“It means get lost. Get lost.”
“Speak in your mother tongue! Are you making fun of me for being a fool?”
“At least you’re self-aware.”
Claunia, who had been arguing noisily, grabbed my hand and pulled me to sit on the sofa next to her. Having found a useful ally, she hugged my arm with a look full of spirit.
“It’s okay, Anita. Don’t listen to a word he says. It’s fine if we’re ignorant. My grandmother said it’s okay for pretty girls to be ignorant.”
It was the first time a peer had linked arms with me upon meeting, so my upper body stiffened with tension.
“She said if you have a good heart and make friends well, you can be happy even if you’re ignorant. Lancelot has a filthy heart and no friends, so he must be miserable.”
Is it alright to say such things to a relative? Contrary to my worries, Lancelot looked as if he weren’t even listening.
“Anita, you look pretty and kind, so you must have many friends. Don’t you?”
Friends.
[Your father is a mongrel with no dignity, no status, and no background. The daughter a mongrel bears must be a mongrel too, so it’s right to keep your distance so you don’t get tainted. Do you understand now?]
Why did that voice have to come to mind?
Anita’s eyes began to well up with tears.
“Huh?”
Claunia, who had been staring in a daze, stood up with a fuss.
“D-d-did I say something wrong?”
That couldn’t be. She had done nothing wrong.
What do I do? My mouth wouldn’t open, so I swallowed my tears with all my might and shook my head.
“I don’t know what the problem is, but I’m really, really sorry! I won’t do it again!”
That’s not it. I shouldn’t let that child apologize. I struggled to open my lips, which I had kept tightly sealed.