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Chapter 50
Rian, who had interrupted Paul’s words, looked up at him with a face full of tension.
“You said I should come see you.”
‘If I go to him, he’ll give me medicine and check your wounds.’
She recalled his voice, which didn’t sound like he was lying—she wanted to believe he wasn’t trying to deceive her—and met Paul’s gaze.
“So you said you’d give me medicine and check my wounds.”
She lifted her sleeve and showed her bruised body, wondering if he had perhaps been informed in advance.
The doctor’s expression darkened as he inspected the bruises.
“Where did you get these…?”
“I fell. But I’m okay, just please save my mother. Here’s some money too.”
Paul watched Rian extend her hand, and after a moment, he nodded as if he understood.
“All right, I understand.”
The next morning had arrived!
Excited, I woke up even before the sun rose, waiting eagerly all dawn for Lindsey and Hale to come in. Time seemed to drag endlessly.
I fiddled with the blanket with my toes, lay straight on the bed, glanced at the dark sky outside, frowned, closed my eyes, then opened them again—repeating this over and over until the sun finally rose.
And then—
“Good… morning, young lady…”
“Good morning! Lindsey, Hale!”
The moment the maids entered, I shot upright from the bed.
“Yes, good morning. You didn’t sleep, young lady?”
“I did! But I was too excited to sleep!”
Even I found my words a bit silly and let out a light laugh.
Hale looked at me with understanding and smiled.
“My little brother is the same on the night before a field trip.”
“You’re not going on a field trip, though. Why are you so excited just for lessons?”
“Because I am!”
Hehe, somehow I even felt an unshakable confidence that I’d succeed at drawing shapes today.
“Lindsey, I’m going to wash up!”
“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”
“Hale, what about the cookies?”
“They’re ready in the kitchen. They’ll bring them in time for your lesson.”
“Got it.”
Everything about this morning felt perfect, and I nodded in approval.
Then I jumped off the bed, and Lindsey brought me my clothes and water with a bright smile.
“What would you like to wear, young lady?”
“My sky-blue dress!”
“Understood, I’ll prepare it.”
The maid, Anne, placed the washbasin on the bedside table and smiled.
After getting ready and putting on the sky-blue dress, I even packed cookies to give to Liliana and went skipping down the stairs.
After being bedridden for a week, it felt like the midsummer heat had finally subsided.
The breeze seemed to carry a cool scent, and I realized that soon autumn would pass, and winter would come.
“The weather is a bit cool but still warm today.”
“Yes. The wind feels cool, but the sunlight is warm.”
Smiling at Hale’s agreement, I bounced down the stairs. I saw the male servants gathered, walking toward the lake.
“Looks like today’s the day for lake maintenance.”
I looked up at Hale’s explanation.
“Maintenance?”
“Yes. Leaves will soon fall, and it will get cold. If we don’t fix what needs fixing and clean what needs cleaning ahead of time, it’ll be tough all winter.”
I nodded in understanding. The lake was unusually deep and wide, so even a little negligence could cause accidents. And the surrounding landscaping was well maintained, which explained why the water was so clean and clear.
I looked back at Lindsey, realizing again what an enormous duchy this was.
“Lindsey.”
“Yes, young lady?”
“It’s cold today. If anyone goes in the water, it’ll get colder. Bring warm soup to the servants cleaning the lake.”
“Yes, I’ll inform the kitchen.”
I turned my gaze from the servants walking away and headed to the classroom.
I felt like I could fly from happiness.
—But then.
“You idiot. Do you even have abilities?”
Chandler sneered, pushing his face close, and I couldn’t respond.
I had used up so much energy during the morning class, and yet nothing had happened, leaving me drained.
“Hah.”
“Cheer up.”
Liliana’s comforting words were met with a snicker from Chandler as he crossed his arms.
“Do you know what the rumors are these days? People say you’re making up stories to avoid your grandfather finding out, that the Arina incident was your fabrication.”
“Fabrication,” I corrected his wrong word, burying my face in my desk.
I knew it was childish, but it made me feel better. And seeing Chandler snort angrily lifted my mood slightly.
“Hah.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay! Liliana, you’re being deceived by that liar. You can’t use your abilities. An ability-less ability user. What’s that? A fraud.”
He smirked, shaking his head in mockery.
When I looked away from his face, Olga laughed at me and the cousins.
‘Usher?’
Hah.
He really is a useless fraud. Always making people exhausted with ridiculous tasks.
Yes, I know I can’t blame Olga. I know, but… is she the only one I can blame now?
‘Should I write a letter to Dad?’
Dad also manifested abilities at six, just like me. Maybe it was similar… I shook my head.
If he knew I had abilities and side effects, it would just complicate things.
‘That’s why Grandfather doesn’t inform Dad.’
Everyone knows.
‘If Sharie and Essier found out, it would make everything uncomfortable and troublesome.’
And the people who fear Dad finding out the most were right there in the back.
I spent days thinking while bedridden.
Why were they suddenly so concerned with everything I did after ignoring me for so long?
Two generations of ability users.
And Dad’s reaction if he found out. That must have been what they feared.
If it were only Dad, it might be manageable. But with me involved, even the slightest intervention for my future is possible.
Grandfather seems to see that possibility as nearly 100%.
So, he’s determined not to tell Dad, no matter what.
Sighing deeply over these complicated family interests, I muttered,
“…So if you want to get kicked out, you might as well turn yourself in now.”
“Huh?”
I raised my head in daze, snapped out of my thoughts by Chandler’s words.
It was obvious from my gaze and expression that I wasn’t listening. Chandler’s lips twitched.
“You weren’t listening?”
“Yeah.”
“This is serious.”
“Gentlemen?”
Chandler raised his hand, and Olga stepped in to stop him. Chandler glanced back, let out a breathy whine, kicked the desk, and left the classroom. Jason ran after him in a hurry.
“That idiot Jason,” Liliana clicked her tongue and looked at me.
“Let’s go have tea. I brought snacks.”
“Huh?”
“Why, don’t you want to? I made your favorite chocolate cookies.”
“No.”
Liliana frowned, and I quickly shook my head, looking at Hale.
“I also made cookies.”
“Why?”
“For Lili.”
“….”
Hale handed me a box of cookies. Liliana’s expression flickered with countless emotions, all of them happy and overwhelmed.
She tried to suppress it, remembering that a lady shouldn’t show any emotions.
I blinked. “You don’t like it, Lili?”
For the first time, Liliana blushed and shook her head.
“No, I don’t dislike it.”
But her voice still imitated a proper lady.
I laughed at her cute expression and opened the box.
“Raspberry cookies you like, Lili.”
I smiled at the fresh scent filling the box, and Liliana suddenly stood up.
Rigid and determined, she walked toward me—
‘Is she going to hug me?’
I instinctively leaned back.
But contrary to my expectations, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to stand.
“Let’s go have tea.”
“….”
Right? Even if she liked cookies, suddenly hugging me was too much.
I nodded, cheeks flushed, overwhelmed by my own feelings.
