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Episode 26
“Take care of her only enough so she doesn’t die. Half her blood may be from a lowly maid, but the other half is still Dantal’s. If we raise her, she may prove useful later.”
“Just make sure she doesn’t appear before my eyes.”
Valentina knew very well.
The Duchess of Dantal deliberately let rumors about her—the illegitimate child—spread unchecked, all for the sake of selling her at a high price later.
That was how rare spirit users were. Especially ones whose powers passed down through bloodlines.
Because of that, ever since she had arrived at Rose Castle at the age of seven, she had never once set foot outside.
And yet, the story of the Dantal family’s youngest daughter who could command the flower spirits spread far and wide, like the scent of roses surrounding the castle.
The Duchess surely hadn’t anticipated what those rumors would eventually bring.
Then one day, Valentina, who had been living like the dead at the castle’s highest, most forgotten tower, was summoned by the Duke himself.
“You will be leaving the castle and staying in the capital for a while.”
The feeling must’ve been like that of a death row inmate who suddenly received parole.
Valentina struggled to hold back the laughter bubbling up.
“When you arrive at the Vladislav mansion, find anything that could be used against Count Valloze and report it back to me. Damn them. To think they’d call it embezzlement when I use the gold from my own land as I please—what nonsense.”
From the Duke’s irritable muttering, Valentina quickly grasped the situation.
‘So he wants me to play the spy, huh.’
That was something she could do easily.
As long as it meant she could leave this filthy place.
And even when she first met Rodion Vladislav, her thoughts didn’t change.
“So you’re Valentina.”
“I have a younger brother around your age, but he’s frail. If you don’t mind… would you be his friend?”
In that moment, Valentina immediately realized why Rodion had chosen her among all possible candidates.
“Do you want me to grow herbs for him?”
A guilty look flashed across Rodion’s face.
He must’ve felt bad about seeking her out for his own purposes.
But Valentina actually felt relieved.
If he wanted something from her, then as long as she received payment in return, there was nothing to fear.
When she left Rose Castle, the family mage came out to see her off—leaving her in a foul mood.
“I shall pray to my constellation for the young lady’s safe return.”
Damn bastard.
Praying for her safety to a constellation that cursed people?
It was less a send-off than a threat from the Duke himself.
The mage’s life was in the Duke’s hands, so it was a warning not to do anything unnecessary.
Valentina only pretended to nod obediently, but inside, she was already plotting never to return.
From that moment on, Valentina fabricated everything.
Her entire life was a lie anyway—so what was one more?
On the very first day, she deliberately tripped and let flowers bloom to prove her usefulness to the Vladizev household.
She purposely let slip that she was an illegitimate child, then observed how people’s attitudes shifted, distinguishing friend from foe.
And she behaved diligently, making sure not to earn the servants’ resentment.
Luckily, unlike Rose Castle, everyone soon warmed up to her.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan.
But then—
Valentina stood before the mirror, studying herself closely.
Reflected back was a girl as lovely as a flower bud about to bloom.
And yet—
“How did he know?”
How did he know she was actually a boy?
Valentina’s heart raced with unease.
No one knew this secret—neither the Duke and Duchess, nor their brute of a son.
Only Valentina’s birth mother had known.
‘Seriously, how could anyone look at someone as pretty and angelic as me and think I was a boy?’
At least, he didn’t seem to be speaking from certainty.
‘He looked clueless enough… maybe it’s just intuition?’
Still restless, Valentina lingered by the mirror.
Finally, the maid who looked after her came.
Apparently, the precious second young master—who had been throwing tantrums about having to befriend a stranger—was finally willing to meet her.
Valentina put on her most docile smile and followed the maid to Lev’s room.
Nothing mattered more than winning Lev over.
After all, officially, she was here as his playmate.
Once alone in the room with him, Valentina greeted shyly, wearing her prettiest smile.
“Hello, I’m Valentina.”
“……”
The boy looked utterly ill-tempered.
His face was pale, his arms and legs thin, devoid of muscle.
Everything about him screamed: I’m sick, so I’ll do whatever I want.
Valentina thought, I handled the brute son of the Dantal family. How hard could it be to manage a spoiled ten-year-old?
So she smiled sweetly and spoke again to Lev, who looked at her with clear distaste.
“Sir Rodion told me a lot about you. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I—”
“Why is a boy wearing a skirt?”
The sudden strike made Valentina’s shoulders jolt.
For a heartbeat, silence. Their gazes clashed, probing each other.
Then, tears welled in Valentina’s lilac eyes and rolled down like pearls from her lashes.
“Wh-why would you say something so cruel? Did I… do something wrong?”
Her delicate voice trembled.
Her lashes were wet with tears, her fragile expression pitiful enough to make anyone want to comfort her.
But Lev remained unyielding.
“If not, then lift your skirt and prove it.”
“……”
He didn’t budge, as if utterly convinced of her secret.
Valentina’s head dropped. Her hands, clenched tightly in front of her, trembled as though with shame.
Lev clicked his tongue and shrugged.
“Fine then. If you won’t do it yourself, I’ll have Melody check.”
His hand reached for the bell cord.
“…You little shit.”
“W-what?”
Lev, who had lived his whole life coddled like a hothouse flower, had never heard such vulgar words.
But when Valentina raised her head again, her face was free of irritation, smiling as sweetly as before—as if Lev had only imagined it.
“You—what did you just say?”
Valentina’s smile deepened. She stretched out her hand and whispered—
“Rose.”
Instantly, a fluffy fur stole appeared around her neck.
From it rose two large pointed ears, and beadlike eyes snapped open.
The desert fox, which had been biting its own tail and curled neatly like a scarf, stepped onto Valentina’s shoulder, stretching lazily.
At the same time, a bright yellow flower bloomed in Valentina’s palm.
She lifted it to her lips and blew softly.
A cloud of pollen scattered, filling the room with a sweet fragrance.
Lev, covered in the golden dust, waved his hands irritably.
“What the—what are you… huh?”
The particles shimmered in the sunlight like snowflakes before melting away.
But it wasn’t the pollen dissolving—it was Lev’s vision.
His sight swam, his head went light.
‘This… this is…!’
He tried to cover his nose and mouth, but it was already too late.
Stumbling, Lev collapsed onto the bed.
Through his heavy, flickering eyes, he could see Valentina.
She seemed to glide toward him like a lotus across a pond, her beauty dreamlike, almost unreal.
“To tell a girl to lift her skirt? That disqualifies you as a man.”
What nonsense, complaining about someone wearing a skirt.
Lev wanted to snap back, to bite out harsh words.
But his eyelids grew too heavy, and sleep claimed him before he could.
