IBVS 03

Chapter 3

Time passed quickly. It had already been over a week since I came here.

During that time, the things I learned were that Sierra was the precious only daughter of the Count Hecas family at the age of twenty-eight, and that there was a seven-year age gap between her and Duke Vine Glade.

And also…

That I was the outcast of the ducal household…

For example, during the entire week, I hadn’t even seen a single strand of the little puffballs’ hair. Naturally, I never ran into the Duke either, and we even ate separately.

‘Well, just looking at the residence arrangement says enough.’

Usually, the Duchess’s quarters were located in the main residence, but Sierra’s living quarters were in a detached building slightly away from the main mansion.

Considering they made the Duchess stay in the kind of annex usually reserved for guests, it seemed the Duke truly intended to make Sierra nothing more than a Duchess in title only.

Haah… Seriously, it brings tears to my eyes. Actual tears.

Because of that, my plan to get close to the three siblings was practically headed straight into the trash. How was I supposed to become close to them when I never even got to meet them?

“H-Huh?! My lady, are you crying?”

Jane, with her orange-tinted brown hair, hurried over in shock while holding a teapot.

“No, it’s just that something got in my eye.”

I waved my hands dismissively and shook my head.

Jane looked at me worriedly and muttered,

“Whew, my lady… You’re really not sick these days, right? You don’t even go shopping anymore. You used to collect every new design the dressmakers released practically every other day, but lately you barely even go outside…”

Come to think of it, Jane subtly roasted me sometimes.

Though, of course, she was saying it out of concern.

“It’s spring. Maybe that’s why everything feels boring and tiresome.”

As I said that, I stared out the window with a wistful expression like some frail heroine.

Just as Jane said, after arriving here, I’d been so busy gathering information that I hadn’t had the luxury to indulge in extravagance like the original Sierra did.

‘Besides, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about clothes for the next hundred years.’

Just like Jane said, Sierra must have gone shopping nonstop because her dressing room looked as if it contained every dress and accessory in the world.

‘Well, at least there’ll be plenty of assets to take with me after the divorce.’

While I stared outside thinking that, Jane must have found me pitiful.

“Then, my lady, how about going on a picnic for the first time in a while? I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare a picnic lunch.”

“A picnic? Is there even anywhere to go within the ducal estate?”

“Of course! The estate is bigger than it looks. There’s even a pond. Ah! And there’s a zelkova tree nearby. If you enjoy a picnic under it, I’m sure you’ll feel refreshed.”

As Jane enthusiastically explained with both hands waving around, I nodded reluctantly.

Though internally, I actually thought the timing was perfect since I’d been feeling restless.

As expected, Jane was the only one who truly cared about me. It was honestly ridiculous that instead of building affection points with the protagonists, I was busy bonding with my personal maid.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll go to the kitchen.”

“Okay. Thanks, Jane.”

When I sincerely smiled lightly and thanked her, Jane’s brown eyes widened in surprise as she was about to leave.

“Uh… My lady, did you just… smile?”

“Maybe? But why are you so surprised? You look like you just saw something impossible.”

“N-No! It’s just… it’s my first time seeing you smile. I-I’ll be right back!”

When I tilted my head in confusion, Jane hurriedly shut the door and left with a flushed face.

The moment she left, a loud crash sounded from outside.

Looks like she fell again.

Honestly, she could be pretty clumsy. She was always bumping into things or tripping over.

And yet she always walked around grinning happily.

Her positivity was honestly impressive.

Still… was my smiling face really that strange?

Because of Jane’s reaction, I picked up a hand mirror and forced a grin.

My full lips curling upward looked pretty enough, but—

‘Gasp— what is this murderous smile?’

For some reason, it looked incredibly sinister. Like… if the evil stepmother from Snow White smiled while looking into a mirror, it would probably feel exactly like this.

I understood why Jane had been startled. Even an adult like her practically ran away in shock.

If I ever met the children later, they’d probably be horrified too.

So I practiced smiling naturally as hard as I could.

A little while later, Jane returned saying everything was ready.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window at just the right moment. The nice weather made my steps feel lighter for no reason.

“Let’s go, Jane.”

And so, I headed out for the picnic.

“Wow! My lady, look at that carp! Isn’t it huge?!”

“Yeah, it is.”

“My lady, look at the birds over there! Aren’t they adorable?”

“Mhm…”

Thirty minutes into the picnic, I already wanted to return to my quarters in the annex.

Perhaps because she kept worrying that I looked depressed, Jane chattered nonstop until my ears hurt.

Before transmigrating, I thought I was pretty energetic myself, but after meeting Jane, I realized that had been a misunderstanding.

She was an extrovert blessed by the heavens themselves.

Being beside her felt like my energy was being drained away.

For nearly thirty minutes, Jane pointed at every possible object while praising how beautiful and adorable the world was.

At one point, she even giggled while saying passing bugs looked cute.

Looking at her now, maybe she was the one who actually wanted to go out and simply used me as an excuse for the picnic.

“Jane, stop. The world is truly beautiful. Thanks to you, I’m so happy. So… can’t we sit down somewhere now?”

When I spoke in a completely soulless textbook-reading tone, Jane flinched at my lifeless eyes.

“Ah, sorry, my lady. I was just so happy to be outside again that I talked too much. Shall we go to the zelkova tree I mentioned earlier? It’s a little uphill, but it’s not far.”

“Sure.”

Following Jane uphill, we arrived at a huge zelkova tree.

The tree looked ancient, as though it had stood there long before this place even existed. Fresh green sprouts had just begun blooming on its branches.

Though it didn’t provide much shade yet, the sunlight wasn’t harsh, so Jane spread out a picnic blanket beneath it.

After eating the sandwich Jane handed me, I blankly stared into space before suddenly flopping spread-eagle onto the blanket.

Jane looked slightly startled, but soon came over and gently fixed my hair.

Lying flat while staring up at the sky, I watched fluffy clouds drift across the blue heavens.

It was astonishingly peaceful.

‘Will I simply grow old and die within this estate?’

My memories were fragmented, so I didn’t know what Sierra had done all this time, but if I continued living quietly without clashing with the three siblings, maybe I could avoid death.

Of course, it would be nice if I could build affection with the siblings and spend my life happily with them.

But to them, Sierra wasn’t family.

Even the Duke himself had stripped Sierra of every duty she could perform as Duchess. In other words, he intended to leave her with only the bare minimum authority while cutting off all her limbs.

A scarecrow of the ducal estate.

An invisible person.

A Duchess in title only.

“How frustrating.”

Oops. I accidentally said my thoughts aloud.

Jane would definitely start fussing again.

I rolled my eyes toward her, but unexpectedly, Jane avoided my gaze and said nothing.

Which somehow made things even more awkward.

As I desperately searched for a way to break the silence, Jane unexpectedly spoke first.

“Ah! My lady, I forgot to bring your shawl. Could you wait a moment? I’ll be back quickly.”

“Hm? Ah… okay. I’ll read this childcare book while you’re gone. Take your time. And don’t trip again.”

“Yes, don’t worry. But if anything happens, scream for me! I’ll come running immediately. Understood? Promise me!”

“What is there to worry about… We’re inside the ducal estate. It’s not like something dangerous would happen.”

At my words, Jane looked like she wanted to say something, but swallowed it down instead before smiling.

“…I suppose you’re right. Still, if something does happen, you absolutely have to call for help.”

Her expression looked oddly serious, so I nodded.

After Jane disappeared into the distance, I fumbled around and picked up the childcare book.

Lately, I’d been diligently reading it in case I ever encountered the three siblings, though the problem was I had nowhere to actually use the knowledge.

“Hmm… ‘Age five. A period where concentration develops. They become interested in observing and testing objects. As their sense of self develops, possessiveness becomes stronger, making tantrums more common.’ That’s exactly Belcas’s age.”

What did Belcas look like?

The adult Belcas I saw in my dream resembled the Duke, but also felt different.

If Duke Vine Glade looked angelically handsome, Belcas gave off the feeling of a mischievous young boy filled with freedom.

Truly, genes never lie.

“Hmm… I want to see the little puffballs~ I really want to see them~”

As I pitifully muttered to myself like that, I suddenly heard rustling coming from the bushes.

Normally, I would’ve ignored it as the sound of some small animal moving around, but Jane’s earlier warning made my body tense up for no reason.

I was surprisingly cowardly, after all.

“W-Who’s there?!”

Startled, I shot upright and shouted toward the bushes—

And then, an utterly unexpected figure suddenly popped out from between them.