MDCHC 02

Chapter :〈002〉

“Hasn’t the Earl of Aitley already changed private tutors several times? Was it the fifth tutor?”

“No. It’s already the sixth. And apparently, the latest one had to quit because his leg was broken.”

“My goodness! Don’t tell me the one who broke his leg was—”

“Yes. The eldest son!”

“My goodness!”

My goodness!

When some noblewoman I didn’t know gasped in shock, I too was left with my mouth hanging open. A troublemaker destined for disaster shows their true colors early. Daniel was still just a child, which meant my ex-husband was still a child right now too—yet he was already breaking a tutor’s leg!

Poor Daniel.

Just imagining Daniel growing up to marry that kind of ruffian, and the suffering she would endure, made my chest ache. And that wasn’t even misfortune of the present—it was trouble that wouldn’t arrive for at least another ten years.

I wonder if she’s being neglected right now?

Since the Earl of Winchester was currently single, there was no stepmother yet to play the role of abuser. Which meant that at present, Daniel was simply being neglected by her indifferent father.

Would Daniel be upstairs?

I glanced sideways toward the staircase leading to the second floor. Today, the Camellia Mansion had only opened certain first-floor rooms—the Camellia Hall and a few parlors serving as powder rooms—to guests. The second floor had a rope blocking access, but no one was actually guarding it.

Should I sneak up for a quick look?

At first, when I came here, I’d only hoped to see Daniel from a distance. But after hearing about my ex-husband’s outrageous behavior, my heart ached even more for her. I wanted to see her badly now.

I wanted to tell her, who knew nothing of the future, that even if things were hard right now, a happy ending was waiting for her someday—so she should hang in there.

And so, I found myself tiptoeing toward the stairs. The party was lively, and no one cared where a plain baron’s daughter wandered off to.

The power of being unremarkable was that no one noticed when I slipped away to the stairs. Soon I was standing in the upstairs hallway, which split into two directions.

Which one is Daniel’s room?

In the Pomots barony, where I was the third child, my room was located midway down the right-hand corridor. But I had four siblings, plus a married older brother and his child all living under one roof. Daniel, being an only child, might have her room somewhere else.

Given their relationship… maybe her room’s at the farthest end?

Her father was certainly indifferent to her. It wouldn’t surprise me if her room was placed as far away from his as possible.

As I was glancing around, I noticed a faint glow of light spilling into the dark corridor on the right.

I crept toward it and found a door slightly ajar, with a sliver of light escaping from within.

“…Could it be?”

I peeked in curiously, and just then, I heard a voice from inside. My ears instinctively tilted toward it.

“There must be so many delicious things, and everyone must be happily dancing, right?”

It was a clear, young girl’s voice. In this mansion, there was only one young girl.

“Shall we dance too, Tosoon? Hmm~ mmm-mmm~ mmm~”

Along with her humming came little hopping noises, the rustle of clothing brushing against itself.

Oh my gosh! So cute!

I could picture Daniel holding a doll and dancing all by herself, and the image was so adorable that I screamed internally.

My tiny little bean, Daniel! Aaaah! She must be so cute!

Afraid I might actually squeal aloud, I quickly clamped both hands over my mouth, trembling.

“No, Tosoon. I have no strength. I’m dizzy.”

“…?”

“No one’s brought me food today because everyone’s been so busy. I’m so hungry I have no energy.”

What? Are they insane? How can they let her starve, no matter how busy they are?!

The world seemed to go black before my eyes. I tore my hand from my mouth and knocked on the door without a second thought.

“Y-Yes?”

Her small voice sounded startled by the sudden knock. She spoke as if there was no one in the world who would come looking for her, and my heart ached sharply at that.

I knew what that felt like—thinking that no one wanted me, that no one would ever come for me.

“May I come in?”

“…Yes.”

She hesitated at the unfamiliar voice, but soon gave her permission.

I opened the door carefully so she wouldn’t be frightened. A spacious room came into view, filled with antique furnishings befitting a noble’s mansion—a large bed, several wardrobes, an old, heavy desk, and ornate candlesticks.

And in the middle of it stood a small child.

Her plain dress was outshone by the heavy curtains, her thin frame dwarfed by the massive furniture, her small body seeming almost lost against the big bed. She didn’t match the room at all.

Why does her room look like this? You could tell me it belongs to a seventy-year-old man and I’d believe you! And with that dress, who’d ever guess she’s a count’s daughter?

“Hello, Daniel.”

I swallowed my rising anger and gave her a warm smile.

“Who… are you?”

She looked up at me with wide, frightened eyes.

“My name is Neary. I’m a guest visiting your house today.”

When I crouched down to her eye level, the fear in her gaze faded slightly.

“This house is wonderful! Thank you for inviting me.”

“I didn’t invite you…”

Daniel trailed off, clearly embarrassed to be thanked for something she hadn’t done, and hugged her rabbit doll tightly.

“But it’s still your house, isn’t it?”

“….”

She didn’t answer, nor did she meet my gaze, as if this place wasn’t really her home.

“Oh! Do you like cookies?”

At the word “cookies,” Daniel’s head snapped up, her eyes sparkling.

“As it happens, I have some cookies. Would you like one?”

I opened my handbag and pulled out cookies I’d wrapped in a handkerchief earlier—snagged from the downstairs refreshments in case she might like them.

Would a young noble miss really be swayed by something so simple? I’d wondered, but in the end, a child is still a child.

“….”

She seemed torn, glancing between me and the cookies. Her expression practically drooled, but her wariness toward me kept her from accepting them right away. She was like a stray kitten—hungry for the treat, but too cautious to approach.

“If you don’t want them now, that’s fine. You can have them later. I’ll just leave them here.”

Guessing she wouldn’t eat in front of me, I placed the handkerchief with cookies nearby and stepped back. It really did feel like feeding a stray cat.

“I should get going now, Daniel.”

“Mm—yes?”

Her eyes flicked toward me briefly, but then returned to the cookies.

“Someday, a good day will come.”

Knowing her future, I could say that with certainty. Even if it was hard now, happiness was waiting ahead.

“…If I’m a good girl?”

She asked with clear, innocent eyes.

“No. You don’t have to be a ‘good’ girl.”

I shook my head. I knew what had happened to her because she’d been too good. I hoped she’d be a little less so—so she wouldn’t endure everything in silence.

“You’re precious, Daniel. So you’ll definitely be happy.”

Leaving the room so she could eat her cookies, I stepped into the dark hallway again. Luckily, the stairs I’d come up were lit from below, so I wouldn’t lose my way.

Yes! Mission complete!

Just a few more steps and I’d be at the stairs. I could go right down and pretend nothing happened—no one would know I’d been upstairs.

“No. We can’t move the troops from Sturry Hill. It might look small, but it’s a strategic stronghold.”

Suddenly, a door on the opposite hallway burst open and a man’s curt, decisive voice rang out.

I—I have to hide!

Frantically, I looked around. I grabbed the nearest doorknob, praying it was unlocked—but it wouldn’t budge. I glanced around again, but the other rooms were too far away, and there was nowhere to hide in the middle of the hallway.

“So what we can do right now is hire nearby mercenaries who can join us quickly, or detach a small force from a nearby garrison.”

What do I do?!

The man’s voice was getting closer. I took a step back without thinking, only to feel the wall behind me. Even as my eyes darted around for escape, I heard two sets of footsteps heading straight toward me.

No hiding place.

What do I do?!

I clamped my hands over my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut.