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Chapter – 08
“…Huh?”
“So you really are satisfied. As expected, I’m better than that Duke who only looks decent on the outside, right?”
“Y-yes, of course. You’re the best, Marquis.”
“Good. If anyone asks, make sure you say it. Tell them I was the one who gave you that teddy bear. The Colin who gave you a teddy bear so precious that you had to stitch it back together.”
“Haha… ha…”
“Now let’s go have dinner. Yesterday I let you eat in your room in case you were shy, but not today. Today is a family meal.”
Even though I usually react well to most things, this time I genuinely had no idea how to respond. The Colin Marquis family was far beyond my imagination.
‘This is like getting a vaccine booster for dealing with people like this. So this is the kind of humans I’ll be dealing with in the future. I need to stay sharp.’
I smiled brightly and grabbed his hand.
“I love it!”
He seemed slightly startled when I took his hand and gave an awkward laugh.
“A family meal… I’ve never had one before. Only with friends from the orphanage.”
“Good. Dinner should already be prepared.”
“Yes!”
“And from now on, I’ll assign you a maid. You won’t be uncomfortable while staying here.”
“Temporarily?”
“Ah—n-no. P-permanently.”
Although he treated me very well, there was always that faint sense that he was thinking something else—like I was something valuable to use and discard. His true nature slipped out naturally.
“I misunderstood you for a moment! I thought you might treat me like something to use and throw away!”
“H-how could that be? A special child like you is very precious. I even donated a lot to the temple to bring you here.”
“I see.”
“But honestly, those temple people are no different from bandits. Taking so much money just to allow adoptions… they’re all thieves.”
“But I heard the people at the temple are all kind…”
The moment I defended the temple, a wrinkle formed sharply on his forehead.
“Rubi—”
“It’s Rubié.”
“Yes, that. The temple people are absolutely not good people. They’re clever merchants—nothing more.”
“Merchants?”
“Yes. There’s only one truly good person in this world. Rubié. Remember that clearly.”
“Okay! Who is it?”
“Me.”
For a moment, I almost laughed at how shamelessly he said it.
“You, Your Grace?”
“Yes. Just the fact I brought you here without reason proves it. So if anyone asks, tell them I’m the kindest and best person in the world. That’s how you repay me for spending so much to bring you here. Understood?”
“Yes!”
Satisfied with my cheerful answer, he smiled and led me to the dining room.
As expected, there was no one else there. Almost like he had anticipated it, he guided me to a seat, and the so-called “family dinner” of just the two of us ended quickly.
From that day on, Marquis Colin took me to “family dinners” every day.
On the first day, he personally escorted me back to my room, but after assigning me a maid, he only accompanied me to dinner.
A few days later, during an otherwise ordinary family meal, he looked at me with a serious expression.
“Rubié. Tell me—what kind of power do you have? Can you project it outward?”
So this was the question he had been waiting to ask. As expected, Marquis Colin wasn’t particularly bright. Or maybe he simply thought I was an easy child to manipulate.
“I’m not really sure! But if I did have something like that, wouldn’t the priestesses have already locked us up and extracted it?”
“Hm…”
“But, Your Grace. Aren’t your children eating separately? I haven’t seen them since the first day. I thought family meals meant everyone eats together…”
“They… eat in their rooms for now. Don’t worry about it. They’re still young and immature.”
“I see.”
Of course I knew the truth. The twins, realizing the Marquis wouldn’t side with them, were plotting to bully me when he wasn’t around.
“One day, you’ll all eat together.”
“Yes.”
“But Rubi—”
“It’s Rubié…”
“Right. Rubié. Once you discover your power, you must tell me first. Understood?”
“Yes!”
But I already knew what my power was. And I had no intention of telling him.
‘If you find out, you’ll never let me go.’
I smiled sweetly at him, hiding my thoughts.
After dinner, I returned to my room with the maid he assigned me.
And there, Andasia was waiting.
She had already torn the giant teddy bear into pieces.
“You really are the worst.”
The moment she saw me, she looked horrified. I ignored the teddy bear and waved at her.
“Hi, little sister.”
“I’m not your sister! Why would I be your sister, you orphan trash hybrid!”
“Orphan trash hybrid? You shouldn’t say things like that in a family. Andasia, I think you might need temple training. Your mouth is too dirty.”
“Stop talking nonsense and changing the subject.”
“Me? Changing the subject? Oh, you had something to say. Go ahead, little sister.”
Gritting her teeth, Andasia pointed at the teddy bear.
“Did you do that to the teddy bear my father gave you?”
“Oh, that teddy bear? I wonder why it looks like that.”
“Stop pretending!”
“I’m not pretending—wait, Andasia, are you seriously saying I did that?”
“Oh, look at her acting innocent!”
“I’m not acting. I literally fixed it. You were the one who tore it apart first.”
“I didn’t do it! You’re the one who ruined it!”
I glanced at her calmly.
‘So this is the extent of an eight-year-old’s mind.’
Still, Andasia continued her performance.
“Don’t lie! You pretended to fix it, but you took your anger out on it! That’s why orphans are trash! My father treated you so well, and this is how you repay him? People like you are always the same!”
She lifted her chin arrogantly.
I shook my head slowly.
“I didn’t do that.”
Maybe I should play along with the child’s little game.
“Then who did? This is your room, isn’t it?”
“That’s true. But I didn’t do it.”
“Then who would? Whose side do you think Dad will take? Mine or yours? It’s obvious he’ll choose blood over you.”
“True.”
“So behave. We don’t want to kick you out, but I can’t stand you acting all high and mighty. If you’ve got any sense, tell Dad you’d rather sleep in some dusty attic. And don’t dare want anything. Got it?”
So childish. In the end, all she wanted was something that small.
“Why aren’t you answering? Answer me.”
