KDPCD 20

After fooling around in the training room, it was time to return home. We called the nanny and sent Ryuspel away, then stepped outside the mansion.

Looking up at the sky, I saw that it was covered with clouds, making the weather gloomy.

“Looks like it might snow soon……”

The capital, located in the eastern part of the empire, was a place where the changes of the four seasons were especially distinct, making it easy to feel the passage of time.

At my words, Sion and Mostin laughed.

“Belladey! We’re going to visit Sion’s villa this winter, right? You couldn’t go last year because you were taking care of your mother!”

“I’m going to be very busy then.”

“Busy? Of course, you’ve been busy managing the mansion lately.”

“Still, won’t you take it easy during winter? We even renovated our villa recently……”

At Mostin and Sion’s words, I smiled brightly.

“Because the time is finally coming.”

“What time?”

The time to drive Father out of the capital.

I didn’t answer and only smiled.

Seeing my smile, Mostin stared at me suspiciously.

“That smile is the one you make when you’re planning to cause trouble…… Don’t plan something fun all by yourself. Let us join too!”

“Hmm, I’ll let you join if it turns out to be fun after I try it first.”

“Ah, that makes me even more curious. Tell me~.”

“Hm, since you’re asking so desperately, I feel even less like telling you.”

I answered like that and climbed into my family’s carriage.

“I’ll be leaving now. If you want to spar again, challenge me anytime, Mostin.”

“Good! Next time, I’ll last longer!”

“I’ll decide our lesson schedule and let you know, Sion.”

“I’m fine anytime, so just choose whenever it’s convenient for you.”

“Have a good evening, everyone.”

I said that and straightened my posture. The servant of the Duke of Fredo, who had been waiting nearby, closed the carriage door.

Soon, the carriage began moving.

Since it was winter, it became dark quickly, and there were no people on the streets. Thanks to that, we arrived at the Alton family mansion faster than when we had left.

‘I secretly wanted to brag that I’m good with a sword now, but thanks to Sion and Mostin, I got that out of my system.’

Starting next year, I should gradually reveal my abilities to others as well.

With a more cheerful mood than usual, I entered through the front door.

At that moment, Emily approached me.

“Lady Belladey.”

“Why do you look like that? Did something happen?”

“That is……”

Emily quietly whispered to me.

The moment I heard her words, my refreshing mood was completely crushed, and I immediately changed direction.

The place I headed toward was the greenhouse in the annex.

As I headed there without hesitation, Rover, who had been anxiously pacing in front of it, brightened when he saw me.

“L-Lady Belladey! You’ve arrived!”

Behind Rover was the tightly closed greenhouse door.

A faint sound of music leaked through the gap beneath the door, and my expression hardened.

Because it was the symphony Mother used to listen to frequently with Meldor.

Rover, who was standing beside me, hurriedly made an excuse after seeing my expression.

“I and the other servants tried to stop him, but he was extremely stubborn……”

“I’ll handle it. You all step back.”

After saying that, I opened the closed door with force.

As soon as the door opened, the music became louder.

I walked inside, pushing through the sound that assaulted my ears.

The scenery inside the greenhouse had not changed much from back then.

If I had to point out one difference, it was that not a single one of the beautiful flowers that had once bloomed there remained.

Well, that was only natural.

I had planned to fix it after driving Father out of this mansion.

Like the season outside, the greenhouse was bleak and lifeless. No lights were turned on, making it dim inside.

Fortunately, faint light entered through the enormous windows, so I walked through the greenhouse without caring.

Soon, I saw a familiar face.

“Meldor.”

Meldor didn’t answer.

He was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed.

It was the same sofa where he used to sit with Mother often when she was alive.

I walked straight toward him and turned off the gramophone beside him.

The loud music that had been painfully striking my ears finally stopped.

Only after silence returned did Meldor open his eyes.

“Why did you stop the music without permission? Turn it back on immediately.”

“You’re the one who should answer. Who gave you permission to be here? And what is this gramophone? It seems you don’t remember what Father said. This place is now under my management.”

At my words, Meldor frowned.

“This was Mother’s place.”

“You’re the one who ruined it. Now it belongs to me.”

“Hah, is that so?”

Meldor snorted and glared at me fiercely.

“Then turn this place into somewhere where I can listen to music. Didn’t you originally persuade Father by saying you would make me understand?”

At those words, my expression hardened.

Seeing me like that, Meldor chuckled.

“Mother’s favorite hobbies were taking care of this greenhouse and listening to music. So if you decorate this place for music appreciation, I’ll acknowledge you too.”

“I’ll handle this place however I want, so go listen to music in your own room.”

“It’s an order, Belladey Alton.”

Meldor lowered his voice and stared directly into my eyes.

“Stop interfering with Mother’s memories and mine. If you want to act important, do it in your own territory.”

Mother and Meldor’s memories……

I formed a crooked smile.

Meldor really knew exactly how to touch my deepest wounds.

I suppressed the anger rising inside me and looked at him.

“Father was the one who entrusted this place entirely to me. Are you planning to disobey Father’s orders now?”

No matter how much he tried to intimidate me, the owner of this house was still Father.

At my words, Meldor frowned and stood up from the sofa.

“You’re really going to change this place according to your taste? Do you think Father will just allow that?”

‘Of course he won’t.’

That was why I was waiting until after driving Father away before fixing this place.

I hid those thoughts and responded to his hostile gaze with a mocking smile.

“Meldor, your mother’s birthday is approaching, so I think you’re becoming sensitive…… Don’t take your anger out on me for no reason. I have no intention of being your punching bag anymore.”

“Who said I was taking my anger out on you?!”

“You did it just a few days ago. Already forgotten?”

A few days ago, I had encountered Meldor in the mansion hallway after his training.

The moment he saw me, he sneered.

“Some people train day and night without rest, while others leisurely ride horses and play around.”

“If you’re dissatisfied with that, hurry up and finish your training so you can go see Alexander. Don’t blame me just because your progress is slow.”

“Damn it! You’re just a parasite who does nothing!”

After shouting that, Meldor threw the wooden sword he was holding at me.

Of course, I easily caught it and politely returned it.

“Next time, I won’t return the wooden sword like that.”

I’ll completely destroy it.

At my words, Meldor’s expression twisted.

Before he could respond, I spoke first.

“Now go back to your room.”

“Why should I? Do you really think I’ll do whatever you say?”

Meldor glared at me fiercely before collapsing onto the sofa.

Seeing that, I raised one corner of my mouth and turned around.

“Really? If you’re going to keep throwing a tantrum, then live here, Meldor. I’m going back to my room.”

If he stayed here, it was his own loss.

When Meldor suddenly went to the greenhouse, I wondered what his intention was.

But if he was just sitting there pitifully with a gramophone, I could ignore him.

As I walked toward the door without hesitation, I heard Meldor shouting angrily behind me.

Ignoring him, I left the greenhouse.

Outside, Emily and Rover were waiting for me.

I briefly told them:

“I think Meldor is just throwing a tantrum. Leave him alone and return to your duties.”

“Yes, Lady Belladey.”

“Understood!”

I headed back to my room.

As I walked through the long hallway, the attempts I had made over the past six months came to mind.

I had tried to talk with Meldor as well.

The reason Meldor ignored and hated me was obvious.

He spent most of his day suffering through training and lessons, while I was relatively free.

‘From Meldor’s perspective, he must have thought he was the only one studying desperately while I played around every day.’

That was why he treated me carelessly and said hurtful things.

Cleverly, he never spoke harshly to me in front of Mother and Father.

He complained and ignored me, but he controlled himself from doing extreme things like throwing objects or using magic.

That was why Mother always said this when I asked her for help.

“Meldor must be having a hard time. Belladey, you’re his older sister, so you can put up with your younger brother’s complaints, right?”

Back then, I had no choice but to accept it.

But I had no intention of doing that anymore.

Actually, since Meldor had grown older, I thought that perhaps if we talked calmly, we might understand each other……

‘That was such an unrealistic hope for me.’

Before we could even have a proper conversation, he provoked my anger.

Every time, my fists tightened several times, but I desperately endured.

If I physically touched Meldor and he reported it to Father, I could lose my authority over managing the mansion.

That was how fragile my position still was.

‘What was I thinking, trying to have a conversation with someone who had ignored me since the day I was born?’

There was also the option of telling Father about Meldor’s actions.

But that would only return me to the beginning.

After hearing me out, Father would most likely blame me first.

Then he would give Meldor a simple warning.

But he wouldn’t impose any serious punishment.

After that, Meldor would retaliate against me, and eventually, unable to endure it any longer, I would grab him by the collar.

If Meldor reported that to Father, the same conclusion would repeat itself.

While thinking through this dilemma, I reached a simple conclusion.

‘What I truly fear is the relationship between Meldor and Father.’

As long as we lived in the same mansion, Meldor could approach Father too easily.

And then I could never create the situation I wanted.

‘That’s why I’ve been waiting until now.’

Mother’s birthday was approaching.

That was when the original story began.

‘Soon, I’ll be able to send Father away from the capital.’

The physical distance created between a close father and son.

Leaving Meldor alone without the protection of Father meant he would fall directly into my hands.

“I’m really looking forward to that moment, Meldor.”

Yes.

It wouldn’t be long now.

Thinking about that moment, I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.

“Hehehe……”