TBRFC 14

Chapter 14

“Welcome to the main residence, young miss.”

I gave a deep little bow to the elderly man greeting me so politely.

“Have you been well, Butler Grandpa?”

The Abner family’s butler, Roger, was a handsome old gentleman with a small frame and a neat appearance.

He smiled warmly.

“I have been quite well. And how about you, young miss? Have you adjusted comfortably to life in the east wing?”

“Yep.”

I glanced back at Miel and Soya standing behind me.

“I’ve been doing great thanks to Sister Miel and Sister Soya.”

Then I pointed farther behind them toward the kitchen staff gathered together near the garden.

“And the food is suuuper yummy too.”

“Hohoho.”

Roger burst into laughter.

“Hehe.”

I laughed along with him.

Ever since I resolved a few days ago that I should at least become half as capable as Hiana—

I had been diligently carrying out the plan I came up with.

I had already made myself familiar with most of the servants working in the mansion, and I had grown close to the people in the kitchen as well.

Those were the fruits of constantly pestering Miel and Soya to take me on walks.

The operation was called:

‘Making Allies in the Abner Estate.’

There was only one reason I came up with such a plan.

Life never flows the way you want it to.

In other words, nothing can truly be predicted.

Especially my previous life.

When I was born—surprise, no parents.

One day I was living in an orphanage, and the next I suddenly became the daughter of the Longton family.

And the moment the family’s real daughter returned, I was left all alone.

Not to mention my ending had been an unexpected death by poisoning.

‘Still, this is my second life.’

I had already learned that no matter how smart you are, it’s useless if your relationships with people are terrible.

That was why my goal in this life was to achieve the dreams I failed to accomplish before.

‘This time, I’ll become the head of the Alchemy Academy… or the master of the Magic Tower.’

Even if I couldn’t reach that level, at the very least, I didn’t want everything I built with my own hands to be stolen by someone else again.

To do that, I first needed to establish a solid position for myself in academia.

Once I gained enough recognition, I’d be able to wield influence like other scholars…

‘And when I’m older, I’ll finally be able to freely research the things I want, right?’

For example, the reason I had regressed.

‘I definitely saw a thesis once called “Regression Is Also a Form of Magic.”’

I was curious whether my regression might somehow be connected to magic.

‘For now, I’ll study within House Abner and even establish an academic society under the Abner name.’

If they took me in, I promised I would become useful to the Abners.

That had been my vow.

If nothing else, that was one promise I absolutely wanted to keep.

‘Sharon Abner was the only person in my previous life who truly recognized me.’

And the seal she gave me had, in the end, practically saved my life in this one.

‘Let’s just repay them as much as I once elevated House Longton’s prestige.’

The Abner family knew almost nothing about magical studies, which meant that with just a little effort from me, there was limitless potential for development in magical industries.

Then, once I became old enough to stand on my own, I planned to leave the ducal house without hesitation.

After that, I’d simply live well and comfortably.

Doing everything I wanted to my heart’s content.

“It seems I’ve kept you standing here too long, young miss. Shall we head inside?”

At that moment Roger gestured toward the entrance of the main residence.

I hurried forward and tightly grabbed his hand.

“Yep! Grandpa!”

Roger’s eyes widened slightly as he looked down at me.

“Yes, of course.”

But as though nothing had happened, he soon smiled kindly again and nodded.

His warm, wrinkled hand gently wrapped around mine.

“W-Wow…”

Holding tightly onto Roger’s hand, I stepped inside the main residence and stared with my mouth hanging open.

Perhaps because it was where Sharon Abner, the head of the family, stayed, the main building of the Abner estate was far more incredible than I had imagined.

It wasn’t simply that the walls and floors looked luxurious.

“S-So amazing…”

“Haha, do you like it? I haven’t even shown you the room you’ll be staying in yet.”

Was it about three times larger than the east wing?

A gigantic beast hide carpet covered the floor of the main hall.

Just looking at it made me wonder how such a creature had ever been hunted.

The walls were decorated with mounted wolves, bears, and giant antlered deer.

Roger crouched to match my eye level.

“The Duke enjoys hunting. No matter how busy he is with work, he always leaves for the polar regions at least once a year.”

“W-What’s that?”

I pointed at a mounted specimen hanging on the wall beside the staircase leading to the second floor.

“That is a wolf from the northern Chantler Mountains. Much larger and far more aggressive than ordinary wolves.”

“Eek. A wolf…”

“You seem frightened.”

I hurriedly shook my head.

“I’m not scared at all!”

Even while saying that, I quietly averted my eyes from the wolf mount.

Roger chuckled and pointed elsewhere.

It was a massive corridor stretching to the right side of the main hall.

“This side contains the reception rooms used for important guests, as well as the Duke’s office.”

I nodded while watching sunlight pour through the windows.

‘So that means the Crown Prince must’ve escaped from here that day.’

I only learned later that the Crown Prince had apparently visited the Abner estate together with Crown Princess Karin that day.

Since Sharon Abner’s weapons business supplied the imperial palace.

‘He looked like he’d just gotten scolded by the Crown Princess too.’

Remembering how pale the Crown Prince had turned at a mere gesture from an attendant made me frown unconsciously.

‘…I wonder if he’s doing what I told him.’

He looked pitiful, getting pushed around at such a young age, so I had tried to naturally suggest a solution for him.

But whether things had actually improved was another matter.

‘…Whatever. I already told him. The rest is his problem.’

Do not interfere too deeply in other people’s affairs.

I’m already busy enough surviving myself.

That was the new motto I had decided on in this life.

“On the opposite side is the banquet hall and a smaller dining room used by members of the family. Would you like to take a look?”

Roger gestured toward the opposite corridor.

I immediately nodded with a bright smile.

“Yes! I wanna see—”

“Hey, Roger.”

A sharp voice suddenly cut through the air from behind us.

Roger and I both turned, eyes widening.

The main doors, which had been closed moments ago, now stood wide open.

Behind them were the visibly anxious Miel, Soya, several other servants, and—

“What, you couldn’t hear me calling? Why the hell aren’t you coming out faster?”

A man leaning crookedly against the doorway with a vicious scowl.

A man who looked exactly like Sharon Abner.

“…Young Master Jayden.”

Roger released my hand and hurried toward the entrance.

I looked down once at my suddenly empty hand before turning back toward Roger.

‘So that’s Jayden?’

Jayden Abner.

Sharon Abner’s son, and the only heir who would inherit the family after her death.

‘The problem is that he still hasn’t officially received the title of Young Duke.’

While I was thinking that, Roger spoke awkwardly to Jayden.

“My apologies, Young Master. My hearing has worsened, so I failed to hear you call—”

SMACK—!!

A heavy crack echoed through the hall.

Roger’s head snapped violently to the side.

His glasses flew off and clattered far away.

I froze where I stood, unable to believe what I had just witnessed.

Blood slowly gathered at the corner of Roger’s lips.

“Can you hear better now?”

A sneering voice rang out from across him.

I stared at Jayden in shock.

As though his hand had touched something filthy, he flicked the hand he used to strike Roger through the air.

“If your hearing’s gone bad, go find a healer. Or dig up some dark mage’s grave and fix it. Isn’t that what you should be doing?”

“…My apologies, Young Master.”

Jayden poked Roger’s right shoulder repeatedly with his index finger.

“Do I seriously have to teach basic things like this in my own house?”

“That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorr—”

“Shut up. Just go check who’s outside.”

Roger’s gaze turned toward the door.

Jayden narrowed one eye irritably.

“I was trying to act like a dutiful son for once and personally escort our guest. Instead, nobody comes running and now I’m pissed off.”

Then he abruptly turned and strode back outside.

A moment later, someone entered through the doorway.

“Ma—Marchioness Camilla.”

“Really, Roger. How long were you planning to keep people waiting outside, hm?”

Her hair was elaborately pinned up high, adorned with countless ornaments.

The fabric wrapped around her upper body looked obviously expensive at first glance.

And standing beside the hem of her dress—

“Mother, honestly. Ruby’s perfectly fine. You don’t need to rush because of me.”

A young girl stood there with a bright, cheerful smile.