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Chapter 8
You Who Came Like a Dream (8)
“Huh?”
“Your big sister is quite capable, you know.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in the voice introducing herself. The calmness in her tone only made the truth behind it feel even more certain. Ronell held her breath as she stared at the woman carrying her.
To a child whose entire dream had been nothing more than “leaving that house,” a simple promise was engraved into her heart.
“So I can turn your dream into reality. And I will. Until then, think of this as a dream for now.”
“……”
“Though it’ll soon become reality.”
Ronell still couldn’t quite believe it, but she nodded anyway. Then she adjusted her posture and wrapped her arms more securely around Eicilla’s neck.
Eicilla listened quietly as the child began a hesitant self-introduction.
“Um… I-I…”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for saving me… but… um… I can’t use the Artes family name. I’m sorry.”
Isn’t that a relief?
Eicilla thought reflexively, only to see the child looking utterly dejected.
Oh dear. I can practically read every thought in that tiny little head.
She had clearly told the girl that she was about to become one of the richest people in the Ederka Empire.
But it seemed the child still couldn’t grasp it.
“I-I’m not really good at anything.”
“……”
“B-but… animals seem to like me a little.”
Ronell murmured it softly, almost like a confession, while Eicilla stayed silent, deciding to hear her out.
“Oh, and… I have thick hair.”
Getting my hair pulled hurts a little, but it grows back quickly.
At the child’s awkward addition, Eicilla grinned.
Yeah. One day, I really should go back alone and grab that countess by the hair.
“And…”
Ronell continued thinking seriously before finally lowering her head completely.
“That’s all. I’m sorry. I’m not good at anything—”
Mreeow!
At the sharp cry from below, Eicilla adjusted Ronell more securely in her arms.
“S-sorry.”
Was her introduction finally over?
Eicilla tried to speak, but Ronell was faster.
“B-but I’ll work hard.”
“……”
“So… if possible… please don’t throw me away…”
A furious cry rang through the night air, as if saying:
What nonsense is my servant spouting now?!
That cat’s really mad.
She’s meowing and yowling in every possible tone.
“Sweetie.”
“…Yes.”
Eicilla glanced down at the rich family’s pampered pet and muttered:
“About your cat.”
“Yes.”
“She’s a beast that only knows how to spend money.”
Struck by this sudden slander, Ruby immediately smacked Eicilla’s shoe with her paw. She scratched at it furiously with her claws, but Eicilla maintained an utterly relaxed expression.
Ronell stammered in confusion.
“O-oh… really?”
“But despite not earning a single coin herself, she’s ridiculously picky about only wanting the best.”
Fresh salmon flown in directly from icy seas.
Collars decorated with jewels so expensive even noblewomen would hesitate before wearing them.
And that wasn’t all.
If her cushions became even slightly less fluffy, she shredded them to pieces. And as for blankets, she would only accept ones made from the finest cashmere.
“Do you know what happens if you give her something that isn’t top quality?”
“W-what happens?”
“She throws every tantrum imaginable because it doesn’t suit her tastes.”
Ruby immediately exploded.
She bit at the hem of Eicilla’s pants and smacked her leg repeatedly with her tail. Naturally, she was furious after hearing someone badmouth her in front of her future owner.
Ignoring Ruby’s rampage entirely, Eicilla lazily concluded:
“Anyway.”
“……”
“That ridiculously fussy creature chose you.”
“T-thank you for saying that.”
I’m not just saying it—it’s true.
Eicilla nearly clicked her tongue but stopped herself just in time. If she did that now, the child would only shrink further into herself.
A self-esteem that had been ground down for years wouldn’t recover in just a few hours. Especially not when the child still believed this entire moment was a dream…
I’ll build her up slowly.
A child who was about to become unimaginably wealthy would be far too easy to take advantage of if she stayed this meek and lacking confidence.
Mitchell opened the carriage door for them, and before climbing in, Eicilla glanced up at the sky.
It was so clear and beautiful that she could understand why the child believed this was all a dream.
Looking at the stars scattered across the night sky, she had a feeling that perhaps she herself would never forget this moment either.
By the time they arrived at the Duncan estate, Ronell finally shook herself awake from her drowsy haze.
At last, focus returned clearly to her pretty light-green eyes.
Ruby walked confidently through the familiar doors, while Ronell simply stared around wide-eyed in every direction.
The interior was incomparably more extravagant than the count’s mansion.
A spacious marble entrance hall, spotless and gleaming. Chandeliers decorated with crystals of many colors.
Even the grand spiral staircase looked majestic and elegant.
“Do you like it?”
At Eicilla’s smiling question, Ronell hugged her tightly and gave a small nod. She looked so genuinely overwhelmed that it seemed almost innocent.
“Yes.”
“Is it pretty?”
“Yees.”
“What makes it pretty?”
Ronell blinked her golden lashes a couple times, then carefully looked around once more with an oddly solemn expression.
She couldn’t hide the slight trembling in her eyes.
Eicilla barely suppressed a laugh at the adorable sight while the child desperately gathered every descriptive word she knew.
“It’s flashy… a-and colorful, and um… it looks like where His Majesty the Emperor would live, so… um…”
In the end, the child summarized weakly:
“It’s really pretty.”
Seeing Ronell nervously watching her reaction, Eicilla smiled brightly.
“I’m really glad you like it. Thank you. Aisa!”
“Yes, young miss?”
A woman who had just been descending the stairs quickened her pace as she approached.
The middle-aged woman wore neat clothing and a warm smile while carrying herself with impeccable etiquette.
Ash-brown hair pinned up with ornate jeweled hairpins. Gentle dimples resting on smiling cheeks.
Overall, she gave a kind and charming impression.
“Aisa, this little lady here is Ronell. She’ll be Ruby’s next household—no, her next owner.”
“Oh ho, this young lady?”
Everyone in the Duncan estate knew about the eccentric Reinhardt Duncan’s will.
The moment they heard the final clause, they had all jokingly—and half seriously—offered condolences to whoever ended up having to dedicate their life to that ill-tempered cat.
When Eicilla carefully set Ronell down, Ruby immediately rushed over and rubbed herself against the girl’s skinny legs.
Even Reinhardt, Ruby’s longtime servant, was often ignored by the cat. This was the first time Aisa had ever seen Ruby act this affectionate.
For a moment, she was speechless.
Meanwhile, Ronell—carefully watching Aisa’s reaction—greeted her timidly.
“M-my name is Ronell. I’m sorry for disturbing you so late at night.”
Behind her, Eicilla poked her own cheek sternly with one finger.
Smile already—that was the signal.
Aisa immediately broke into a bright smile and bowed politely.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Lady Ronell. I look forward to taking care of you.”
“U-um… yes. I-it’s nice to meet you too.”
Her voice trailed off awkwardly as she mumbled that she looked forward to it too.
Anyone could tell the girl was terrified of adults. Her eyes kept trembling as they followed Aisa’s movements.
Oh dear.
It was painfully obvious what kind of environment the girl had grown up in, and Aisa struggled to keep her expression composed.
It seemed worthless scum existed everywhere.
“Sweetie.”
Eicilla casually brushed back Ronell’s golden hair.
The child reflexively flinched, but slowly relaxed again.
Her eyes wandered around the mansion with nothing but awe, still completely detached from reality.
She still thinks this is a dream.
Eicilla almost reminded her again that the dream wouldn’t end—but stopped herself.
Putting the child to bed came first. Once she woke up after a good night’s sleep, she’d surely realize this wasn’t a dream at all.
“Go wash up with Aisa, change into soft pajamas, and get some good sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, thank you… I-I’ll sleep quickly and won’t make any noise.”
Suppressing the irritation rising in her chest, Eicilla smiled as gently as possible.
Children are allowed to be noisy.
Sure, it’d be troublesome if they were loud in public, but at home? So what?
Should I go back to the Artes estate and teach them what real noise sounds like?
Regretfully suppressing that impulse, Eicilla replied promptly:
“The rooms here are well soundproofed. Even if your cat causes chaos, nobody will hear it.”
Of course, nobody heard her causing chaos either.
“B-but still… I won’t run around. I’ll behave…”
“Do whatever you want. Whether you behave or not, nobody here will scold you.”
“……”
“And if anyone does—tell me.”
I’ll crush them.
Eicilla made that promise casually as she stroked Ronell’s hair one last time.
Aisa carefully held out her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, the girl timidly took it.
Excited to be with her servant, Ruby swished her tail happily beside them.
Then Aisa and Ronell began walking down the hallway together, the atmosphere between them awkward but not unpleasant.
Watching their retreating figures, Eicilla abruptly turned toward the staircase on the right the moment they disappeared completely.
She climbed two steps at a time and strode straight toward the last room on the third-floor corridor.
The people of the Duncan family had exceptionally sharp instincts.
Perhaps “intuition” was a more accurate word than “instinct.”
In any case, their senses bordered on precognition.
And because of that—
Eicilla knew.
Bang—!
Without even knocking, she violently shoved the door open.
A man reclining half-lazily while reading a book lifted his gaze.
The moment his hazy eyes landed on Eicilla, they sharpened instantly. His previously relaxed demeanor gained an edge, and a cold tension filled the room.
“Behind my back.”
Eicilla spoke calmly.
Her voice sounded bleached of all emotion—cold and pale, carrying the chill of winter’s final season.
“When exactly did you go and cause trouble?”
The moment she saw “Ronell Artes”—no, simply “Ronell”—Eicilla had known instinctively.
That child was a Duncan.
That was why she had brought the girl here, even if it bordered on forceful.
As the heir of a family, she couldn’t abandon blood-related kin.
“Answer me, Terriot.”
Her eyes flashed dangerously as she glared at the man.
Terriot Duncan.
Son of Reinhardt Duncan, and Eicilla’s own father.
That damned—utterly useless—shut-in bum.
