🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 5
It was the butler of the Edelvine Duke’s household—the same man who had been standing beside the Duke yesterday.
The butler strode toward me and my father, who were both staring at him blankly.
“Hello, Vivian.”
My father, who had been wary of the butler, lowered his gaze to me.
“Vivian~?”
Unlike his usual gentle eyes that always softened whenever he looked at me, his golden gaze had sharpened slightly, demanding an answer.
It was a silent question: How does this man know you?
Pretending not to notice his gaze, I turned away and greeted the butler instead.
“Hello, butler. What brings you here? Did you come to buy bread?”
“I’ve come for another matter.”
“Another matter?”
Instead of answering, the butler lifted his eyes and looked at my father.
“I am Owen, butler of the Edelvine Duke’s household. May I assume you are Vivian’s father, Dias Hesen?”
“Yes, that’s correct….”
“Then I will be direct.”
The butler, who had briefly glanced at me, continued.
“The Duke wishes to take your daughter as a companion for the young lady.”
“Gasp—this is huge!”
For me, who had been waiting for any chance to enter the ducal household, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
However, my father’s brows furrowed slightly.
“I’m not sure what you mean all of a sudden….”
“After hearing about Vivian yesterday, the Duke seems to have recognized her potential.”
My father shot me a sharp look upon hearing that I had met the Duke.
This man is killing me with his eyes alone.
I subtly avoided his gaze and hugged his waist.
The butler would definitely scold me later, but for now, this was damage control.
The butler continued.
“Vivian will attend lessons and study together with the young lady. Anything she needs will be fully supported under the name of Edelvine.”
“….”
“Ah, of course, she would only need to come to the estate three days a week.”
Even aside from my goal of approaching Rachel, this was a very good offer.
I was certain my father would accept.
But…
“I appreciate the offer, but she still has much to learn. She is a precious child to me—more precious than anything—but she may not be ready to be the young lady’s companion.”
“Huh?”
I silently screamed at my father, who had refused outright.
No! This is such a good opportunity!
I grabbed his side in desperation.
“Dad! We need to talk.”
Then I forcibly dragged him away, turning back to the butler.
“Please look around the shop while you wait, sir. It’ll only take a moment!”
I pulled my father into the alley beside the bakery.
But before I could speak, my father was faster.
“Vivian, why did you go there?”
His voice and gaze were colder than usual.
Tch. I was planning to get away with some cuteness and whining… this won’t work.
I quickly changed tactics and muttered an excuse.
“I was just curious… I only went to look outside, but I ran into the Duke.”
Of course, I couldn’t meet his eyes.
My father stared at me for a moment and sighed, speaking gently.
“I’ll talk to the butler. Let’s just not go to the estate, alright?”
As he turned to go back, I urgently grabbed his sleeve.
“No! I have to go there, Dad.”
“Why do you have to go there?”
He had noticed I had another reason.
I almost answered honestly—but swallowed the words just in time.
I can’t say I know this from the original story.
Rachel’s body, which absorbs surrounding mana, was kept secret from the Emperor to avoid political pressure.
That meant I shouldn’t know about it.
And I definitely can’t say this is a novel world.
I quickly chose my words carefully.
“I want to cure my illness.”
But that only made things worse.
My father’s already pale face turned ghostly.
“W-why suddenly? Are you getting worse? Are you hiding something from Dad—”
“No, no! It’s not that! I’m fine, calm down!”
I quickly soothed him before he panicked further.
“I just… want to get better quickly and live a long, healthy life with you. I don’t want you worrying.”
“….”
“The Duke probably knows skilled doctors and mages in the capital. If we ask, maybe they can help?”
Despite my earnest plea, my father still looked reluctant.
His eyes looked almost sad.
But I can’t back down this time.
Usually, I would give in when he looked like that—but not now.
This was literally about my life.
And beyond that, it was also for him.
After a long silence, my father finally raised both hands in surrender.
“Alright. Let’s ask the Duke.”
At last, I got the answer I wanted.
A smile spread across my face.
It was a dramatic negotiation victory between father and daughter.
The Next Day
I rode the carriage sent by the Duke’s household and entered the estate.
“Wow!”
Even though I had entered through a side gate a few days ago, coming through the grand main gate in a carriage felt completely different.
Only then did it feel real—I was about to meet Rachel.
Soon, the carriage stopped.
Before getting off, I quickly checked my appearance.
This is my first official meeting with Rachel—I need to look nice.
I checked whether my hair was messy.
Pinched my soft cheeks for no reason.
Smoothed out the wrinkles in my dress from the ride.
Then finally stepped out of the carriage.
“Welcome, Vivian.”
The one who greeted me was, of course, the butler.
“Hello, sir.”
“Welcome, Vivian. I will inform the young lady, so please wait in the greenhouse.”
“Yes.”
After the butler went to Rachel’s room, a maid guided me to the greenhouse in the back garden.
When she left, I was alone in the greenhouse.
I sat at the table in the center and looked around.
Wow… they really are rich.
Even though it was a villa in a small resort town, not the main estate or town house, the greenhouse was enormous and grand.
As I admired the exotic birds chirping on the branches, I suddenly heard the door behind me open.
But the one who entered was—
“Why are you here again?”
Not Rachel, whom I had been waiting for, but Sally.
Seeing her irritated expression made me feel oddly pleased.
I smiled brightly and greeted her.
“I’ve been invited as the young lady’s companion. Let’s get along, Sally.”
I even held out my hand.
Sally scoffed.
“You?”
She slapped my hand away and shouted.
“Who are you?!”
“What?”
“Who let someone like you in here without my mother’s permission?!”
I let out a small laugh.
“Does the Duke need your mother’s permission too?”
“…What?”
Sally’s furious expression twisted into shock.
No matter how arrogant she was, she couldn’t go against the Duke.
“Why don’t you go tell your mother that ‘the Duke brought a beggar from the marketplace to be the young lady’s friend without permission’?”
“You—!”
Unable to contain her rage, Sally glared at me and stormed out.
I stuck out my tongue toward her disappearing figure.
Anyway, Rachel is taking her time…
But then—
Thump.
Suddenly, my heart slammed violently in my chest.
Breathing became difficult.
A sharp, tearing pain spread through me.
“Ugh….”
Mana overload syndrome usually came without warning—sudden and severe like this.
It was familiar… but never something I could get used to.
There was no cure. No way to ease it. Only endurance.
I staggered to my feet.
I should hide somewhere until it passes.
The Duke’s household didn’t know about my condition yet.
Even if it wasn’t contagious, they wouldn’t want a sick child as the young lady’s companion.
More importantly, I intended to fix it through Rachel anyway.
But I didn’t know how long the attack would last.
If Rachel saw me like this, I would have to explain everything.
Better to avoid her for now.
Clutching my chest, I reached for the greenhouse door.
But then…
Huh?
The door opened from the outside first.
And I lost my balance, falling forward.
Straight into someone’s arms.
“I-I’m sorry—”
As I hurriedly lifted my head—
Our eyes met.
It was the same child who had been watching me through the window for the past few days.
