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Chapter 10
“…Really?”
“Yeah. And I saw a bright light, but I passed out soon after. It hurt too much.”
I had only a small hope that Daniel might understand what I was talking about. It was hard to watch an innocent person being cast out with nowhere to go.
Daniel’s face was full of worry as he pondered something with that small head of his.
“Tell him to come; I have something to inform Father about.”
The maids, trembling with fear at his instruction, jostled each other to leave first, creating a small commotion.
An awkward silence followed. It was unbearably hard to bear this moment. I didn’t know what to say, and even swallowing felt difficult. In the end, I relaxed my body and stared at the ceiling.
‘Maybe this is for the best. I can finally report the cause of the illness. Aria might feel guilty, but this is a necessary step.’
I took a deep breath, resolving to steel my heart even if I had to see Aria sad and suffering.
Not long after the maids left, the door opened, and Duke Maynard appeared.
“So, you’re finally awake. Are you feeling any discomfort?”
I shook my head. My eyes closed naturally at the rough but gentle touch on my forehead.
“So, what’s the matter, Danny?”
Still stroking my forehead, Duke Maynard addressed Daniel.
Daniel was still holding my hand tightly. I felt some unease, so I clumsily squeezed his hand back.
“It might be due to Aria’s divine power.”
“What do you mean?”
“Riela said it. She said it hurt when Aria held her hand. It stung and made her feel uneasy inside.”
At Daniel’s words, Duke Maynard seemed slightly taken aback.
“…I understand what you mean. But that alone doesn’t make it the cause.”
“Then we can research it!”
“Danny.”
At the soft call, Daniel pressed his lips shut. Seeing Daniel’s dissatisfied expression, Duke Maynard patted the back of his head.
“If you’re not careful, you could insult the gods. Wouldn’t that make Riela uncomfortable?”
Not uncomfortable at all…
It seemed like things wouldn’t go the way I wanted, so I swallowed hard and spoke.
“Um…”
Both Daniel and Duke Maynard turned their heads toward me at my voice.
Hmm. Looking at them now, they really resemble each other. I guess Daniel will look like that when he grows older?
For a moment, I got distracted by the scenery that I could watch all day without getting tired, then I finally gathered my thoughts and spoke.
“Daniel is right. It hurt when Aria held my hand. A white light entered me. It really hurt.”
I emphasized “really,” and Daniel gave Duke Maynard a look like, “See?”
Duke Maynard moved his lips as if to say something but, overwhelmed, let out a low sigh.
“What are the chances that the children’s words are correct?”
“Ah, well, we’d have to check, but to my knowledge, there are no records of allergic reactions to divine power.”
Startled by the sudden question, the court physician quickly responded, flattening himself against the floor.
“No records…”
He flinched at his own low whisper.
“I’ll provide all the support needed for research, so investigate divine power. I want results as soon as possible.”
“I-I-I’ll do my best!”
Joy at the life extension mixed with fear, knowing he had to produce results that would satisfy Duke Maynard quickly, was evident in his voice.
After the physician left, Duke Maynard brushed his hair back nervously.
Truly, a good father produces a good son.
While admiring the striking appearance of both of them, Duke Maynard turned to me.
“Did it really hurt when Aria’s hand touched you?”
“Yes. I remember clearly because I had just taken the medicine.”
“I see. Thank you for telling the truth. Don’t worry; I’ll find a way to heal you.”
Even as the butler summoned him, he reassured me repeatedly that everything would be fine.
Once he left, only Daniel and I remained in my room.
“Aren’t you going?”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“No, well, there’s a lot to do. Lessons, homework… and I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Daniel’s face looked slightly hurt at my excuse.
“Alright, I’ll go. If you need anything, don’t move; ask the maids.”
I nodded eagerly to show trust, but he still didn’t leave.
When I urged him to go, he finally moved. Hand on the doorknob, he spoke without looking back:
“And don’t hate Aria. She didn’t do it on purpose. She must be upset too.”
The door closed with a thud.
Though it was one-sided advice, it didn’t hurt my feelings.
Free at last, I closed my eyes to sleep.
“…I can’t sleep.”
Even wrapped in blankets to my head, I couldn’t fall asleep. My mind kept returning to Daniel’s worried expression.
“Now that I think about it, I didn’t ask that. I couldn’t because Daniel was there, but I have to ask today.”
It was time to uncover the truth about “Riela Maynard” that I had seen in Aria’s book.
After resting for several days, my body had recovered enough to move without anyone complaining.
“Miss, you’re not wearing your necklace.”
A maid called loudly, holding the blue magical stone necklace.
I had only taken it off briefly, but Daniel had insisted I wear it no matter what in the future.
I fastened it securely so it wouldn’t loosen no matter how much I ran and finally left my room.
“I feel alive.”
Taking a deep breath with my chest expanded, the maid chuckled softly.
But I was serious. Even in the same mansion, the air in the corridor felt different from my bedroom.
I walked down the hall with excitement. It would have been better without the maids trailing me, but Duke Maynard’s strict order to have them attend me left me no choice. I became the person in the mansion with the most maids at my disposal.
‘Even the Duchess wouldn’t have this many.’
While walking, I heard Aria’s voice somewhere.
I perked up and looked around. The maid lowered her gaze respectfully.
“Are you looking for something, Miss?”
“I think I heard Aria’s voice. Is she in class?”
“Yes, she’s training under Priest Russell, the holy priest.”
“I see. That’ll take a while, right?”
“Probably. I’ll inform Aria’s maids.”
“That’s okay. Let’s just go to the Duke first!”
I pointed ahead like a knight charging into enemy lines, and the maids giggled along the way.
“Yes, I came because I have something to ask.”
My teacup was placed on the table. He watched me as I blew on it and took a sip, then took his own.
Frowning at the scalding heat, he poured out half and added lukewarm water.
Less bitter, less hot, I could drink it in one gulp.
“I came to ask something. Can you spare a moment?”
“Of course. Tell me what you’re curious about.”
After a pause, I took a deep breath and asked:
“I heard that I might be joining the Maynard family. Is that true?”
“……Where did you hear that?”
He looked genuinely surprised. I relaxed at how easily he could answer.
“Aria told me. But it’s not her fault. Please don’t scold her.”
“What fault could she have? It’s my fault for carelessly letting it slip while she wasn’t listening.”
He rubbed his face with both hands and paused in thought. Could I really become Riela Maynard?
“Yes. I was preparing to bring you into the Maynard family.”
“Did something happen to my parents?”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Just tell me everything. I can understand.”
When I said, “I can understand,” I meant I could comprehend even difficult matters. He took it as, “No matter how serious, I can handle it without being hurt.” His face was shadowed with worry.
“I was entrusted with your care by Count Hound. He’s always in danger, and I’m the only person he can fully trust.”
He frowned and sighed deeply, struggling to tell the story.
Perhaps because I wasn’t Riela Hound, I felt nothing compared to his distress.
“Riela.”
He called my name. I nodded reassuringly.
“Count Hound—your father—asked that if something happened to him, you be accepted as his daughter. And I agreed to do so.”
That meant Count Hound had encountered a major problem—possibly death or something equally dire.
“What about my mother?”
Normally, both the head of the family and the matriarch could inherit authority. If no matriarch existed, inheritance would typically pass to a collateral branch.
But Duke Maynard ignored that possibility and said he would adopt me. Something about it felt off.
“I’m not sure if I should tell you this……”
He hesitated, avoiding my gaze. I glared to signal he couldn’t leave without telling me. He sighed resignedly.
“She ran away.”
“…What?”
