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Chapter 78
Holding Mei’s hand, I left the west wing.
The reception room where we were to meet Baron Jaeger was in the main building.
On the way, Lucillea chatted with Mei about Baron Jaeger and his adopted daughter, whom they were about to meet.
“First Marquis Diego, and now Baron Jaeger too. Don’t tell me adopting children has suddenly become a trend?”
At that, Mei smiled awkwardly.
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Right? It’s probably just because they’re good people.”
Lucillea continued brightly as she walked along.
“Adoption is a wonderful thing. It means someone gets a family.”
“That’s true.”
Mei tilted her head down at Lucillea and asked,
“Then, if you had the chance, would you want to be adopted too, Lady Lucillea?”
“Huh? Me?”
Lucillea’s eyes went round, and she replied firmly.
“Nope. Not me!”
“Why not? You just said it’s a good thing to have a family.”
“I’ve had enough of fathers to last me a lifetime.”
“…What?”
Mei blinked in surprise at Lucillea’s words.
‘Ah, that just slipped out.’
It wasn’t exactly a secret that Lucillea had a strong aversion to the idea of a father, but it wasn’t something she usually said aloud either.
She explained calmly.
“Well, the thing is… back in Mille Village, I actually had a foster father.”
“Yes…”
Mei nodded silently, already knowing the story.
“The memories from that time are awful. That’s when I realized—oh, so that’s what fathers are like.”
“…”
Of course, not all fathers are like that, Lucillea added with a smile. But Mei’s eyes softened in sadness.
“It’s really just because of those childhood memories, nothing else. Besides, I’m perfectly happy with my life now! I might not have a father, but I have you, Mei. And Serdian, and Irnel, and Kaelyn too!”
“…”
Hehehe. Lucillea laughed innocently and marched on with lively steps.
Just then, a group of maids walking down the corridor spotted her and greeted warmly.
“Lady Lucillea!”
“Oh! It’s the laundry maids!”
Even though she was busy with alchemy studies and herb cultivation, Lucillea never neglected to stop by the laundry room to chat with the maids.
Information was money, and most of that information came from the household maids!
That was how Lucillea saw it.
Thanks to that, she could also get herbs and alchemy ingredients at cheaper prices.
And of course, along the way, they had all grown very fond of her.
“Sisters!”
Lucillea waved happily, and the maids quickly approached.
They flinched for a moment upon seeing Mei, but soon looked back at Lucillea with warm smiles.
“The ointment you gave us last week! Thanks to it, the eczema on my hands is completely gone!”
“And not just that—look, my skin is so smooth now!”
The maids gushed in excitement, delighted that even their skin had improved.
“I’m so glad it worked. It was for healing, but if it makes your skin prettier too, even better!”
“Exactly!”
Lucillea nodded in satisfaction.
‘Heh, I tried it on myself first before sharing it, but I didn’t expect it to work this well.’
It had turned into a wildly successful clinical trial by accident.
Lucillea grinned.
“If you need more medicine, tell me first! I’ll whip up something amazing for you!”
“Of course! Oh, and here.”
One of the maids handed over a small basket.
“We brought different kinds of lollipops. Have one whenever you want a snack. But don’t forget to brush your teeth!”
“Wow! Really? Thank you!”
Lucillea received the basket with a beaming smile.
“I’ll enjoy them!!”
Clutching the basket of candy, she continued down the corridor with even lighter steps.
She glanced up at Mei.
“Word must’ve spread that I love lollipops.”
“How so?”
“Yesterday, the knights gave me lollipops too.”
Pfft. Mei covered her mouth, laughing.
“They asked me what Lady Lucillea likes, you know.”
“They didn’t need to get me anything…”
“That’s how much they appreciated the potion you gave them.”
Lucillea had shared her potions with the knights of the ducal house as well.
She called it “Tiger’s Vitality, Boosted!”
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary stamina potion sold in shops, but the contents were different.
Not only did it restore stamina, but it also helped repair the tiny muscle tears and strained ligaments caused by harsh training.
This went beyond simple recovery, reducing long-term injury risk and greatly improving the knights’ performance.
It was never meant as a clinical test, but they had become excellent statistical data nonetheless.
Lucillea lowered her eyes, but her lips curled in a sly smile.
“At this rate, all my teeth are going to fall out.”
Happily musing over this, she entered the main building.
Just then, from the opposite hall, Elbadin and Serdian were walking toward them.
Lucillea waved enthusiastically.
“Your Grace! Serdian!”
She skipped over, lifting her skirt politely as she greeted Elbadin.
Elbadin glanced at the basket and remarked,
“Those will rot your teeth.”
Lucillea hugged the basket protectively.
“I brush diligently, you know?!”
“You should eat something nutritious. No wonder you’re not growing taller.”
“Maybe not nutritious, but they’re full of love.”
“…Love?”
“Yes! They’re gifts from the maid-sisters, full of love.”
“…”
“And besides, I’m in my growth spurt! I’ll grow tall no matter what I eat!”
At that, Elbadin gave a quiet chuckle.
Together, they headed toward the reception room.
Serdian, looking ahead, said,
“Thanks… for the potion.”
Lucillea giggled softly.
“Drink as much as you want. Don’t hold back. You’ll get it free for life!”
“….”
Serdian’s gaze flickered toward her, then back ahead.
At that moment, Elbadin spoke up between their exchange.
“It was impressive.”
Trailing behind him, Lucillea tilted her head.
“What was?”
“The potion.”
“Ah…”
“To think you’d notice what was lacking in the existing version and add to it. A good attempt.”
“…”
When Lucillea didn’t reply, Elbadin glanced back at her.
“What?”
“Well… it’s just strange hearing Your Grace actually compliment me.”
Elbadin turned forward again.
“…I didn’t think I was stingy with praise.”
“You are stingy…?”
“If that’s how it feels, then perhaps you should reflect on whether you’ve truly done anything deserving of praise.”
“….”
Lucillea pouted and turned to Serdian.
“Did His Grace just tell me to reflect on myself?”
“….”
Serdian turned his head the other way, shoulders twitching faintly. Mei, walking behind, also stifled a laugh.
Lucillea followed suit with a small giggle.
And so, with light chatter, they arrived at the reception room.
The door opened.
Several people were already seated inside.
At the far end, by the window, sat Baron Bartold Jaeger and his adopted daughter.
To the side, Irnel and Kaelyn, who had arrived earlier, sat neatly.
The children from the Special Training Unit were all gathered again.
Baron Jaeger had requested the meeting, saying he wished to greet the children he had met previously at the barony.
Irnel and Kaelyn exchanged glad glances with Lucillea, and she responded with a smile.
As Elbadin entered, Baron Jaeger rose and bowed deeply.
“It is an honor to see you again, Your Grace.”
“The road wasn’t too harsh, I hope?”
“I hardly noticed, eager as I was to see Your Grace.”
“Good. Please, sit.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The greeting and seating went smoothly.
But then.
Lucillea couldn’t take her eyes off the baron’s adopted daughter.
‘…What’s with her?’
A strange chill crept up her spine, a feeling difficult to put into words.
And it wasn’t just Lucillea who felt it.
Serdian, the aides, even Irnel and Kaelyn.
All of them wore uneasy expressions, as if something was off.
Amid that odd atmosphere, Cookie whispered cautiously,
[Lucy, that girl…]
‘Yeah?’
[She looks like Serdian.]
‘….’
If even her parrot noticed, then it wasn’t just her imagination.
It was true.
The girl Baron Jaeger introduced as his adopted daughter resembled Serdian.
‘Well, since Serdian looks like His Grace, then technically, she looks like the Duke.’
Black hair. Red eyes. That calm, detached air.
Surely everyone in the room was thinking the same thing.
As all gazes fell on the girl, Baron Jaeger introduced her to Elbadin.
“This is the child I mentioned before. Her name is Elise.”
“….”
Elbadin gave a slight nod, showing little interest, not even looking at the girl.
But then came the problem.
Introducing his daughter, Baron Jaeger said,
“Lady Elise, pay your respects. This is Grand Duke Descartes, His Grace Elbadin—the father of your ladyship.”
What…?!
The moment he spoke, every eye in the room, except Elbadin’s, snapped toward the girl.
