TRL 31

Chapter 31

When she lifted her head, he was already close by. Bloodshot eyes. A large hand rested on her head.

“You’ve grown up beautifully.”

“…!”

The unexpected words made her eyes widen. The Duke stroked her hair and smiled.

“I’m proud of you.”

“…Me?”

“You’ve had so many difficult and trying moments, yet not only did you overcome them safely, but you also achieved countless victories and even made friends you could trust with your life.”

The Duke pulled her close, holding her tightly as he said,

“Dad is truly proud of you.”

Rita held her breath.

Beautifully grown… proud of me?

Though she had never imagined hearing such words, perhaps she had secretly wanted to hear them. Perhaps she wanted someone—especially her family—to acknowledge that she had lived her life earnestly.

That thought struck her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be this moved. Warmth spread through her stiff body, and her heart raced.

Perhaps… no, indeed… my family…

She looked at the others while nestled in her kind father’s embrace.

Her mother was crying.

“Thank you, my daughter. Thank you for telling me, and thank you for growing up so well despite all the hardships…”

Her mother approached and gently took her hands, caressing them.

Leonhardt gave a bitter smile.

“Liri, no matter how much you’ve changed, you’re still my sister. Ten years have passed, and many things have happened, so it’s natural if we feel a little awkward or unfamiliar with each other.”

He took a deep breath and added,

“But what does that matter? We’re family, Liri. We just need to get used to each other again. Just like you told us today, we can keep talking and slowly rediscover each other.”

“Exactly as you said.”

Rihardt responded, furrowing his brow as he glared at her.

“Hey, why are you looking at us like you’ve made some solemn vow? Did you think we’d deny ‘Rita Pascal’? Sure, it pisses me off that you had to suffer so much, but we’re not going to treat it as if it never happened.”

He reached out and ruffled the hair of the girl in her father’s arms.

“You’ve been through a lot, and you’ve come back well, Rita.”

Rihardt called her “Rita,” not “Liri.” At that, Leonhardt made an awkward smile and said,

“Right, welcome back, Rita.”

“Brother, copying me late, huh?”

“Shut up.”

The Duchess, despite the tears streaming down her face, chuckled briefly at the brothers’ bickering, then looked at Lillietta with a melt-in-your-hands tenderness.

“How should I call you, dear? Which do you prefer?”

Rita couldn’t answer immediately. Her throat felt tight. Swallowing, she managed to say,

“It doesn’t… matter. Any name…”

“I see. Whether Liri or Rita, you’re still Lillietta, right?”

Her mother, smiling with tear-filled eyes, cupped her cheeks and whispered,

“Then I’ll call you Liri. You’ve grown into such a wonderful adult, but to me, you’ll always be my beloved little Liri.”

The Duke quietly laughed at his wife’s words. Feeling his laughter through the embrace, he smoothed back her hair that had been tousled by Rihardt’s rough ruffling and said,

“Dad will call you Liri too. No matter how amazing of an adult you are, you’ll always be Dad’s adorable youngest daughter, Liri.”

“Well, if you and Mom call me that, then what does that make us, the ones who called her Rita?”

Rihardt interjected gruffly. Leonhardt smiled broadly.

“It makes us brothers who treat our wonderfully grown youngest as an adult.”

“Wow, you’re really good with words at times like this, brother.”

The family burst into laughter.

Rita stared blankly at them, feeling her eyes grow warm. Rihardt chuckled, lightly poking her nose.

“What’s this, our youngest is crying? Touched?”

“…Shut up, Rih Oppa.”

“You can cry. Actually, cry. You cry, and I can cry properly too.”

Rihardt’s smiling eyes were red. Lillietta laughed in disbelief, then tears welled up. Once they started, they wouldn’t stop easily.

Was it because she was grateful? Because it finally felt like home? Because her family was still her family?

She didn’t know. She couldn’t explain it.

Lillietta cried freely, without shame, because she was not alone.

Even after Lillietta finished sharing her story, the family didn’t leave the parlor overlooking the grounds.

They stayed, gathered around the fireplace, their eyes red, talking late into the evening as the sun set and night came.

“That night… I can’t believe it was that young maid who lured you… sigh.”

“Technically, it was that archmage. Rita was right. Keep an eye on the maid for now, but that wretched Pascal—or whatever his name is—needs to be caught and interrogated.”

“Pascal… I have no idea who he is. I guess it’s natural he’s from another world… I don’t know his motives, but he will surely face Raskyle’s wrath.”

“Our daughter must have been so scared that night… and yet she’s recalling and talking about it… are you okay? Shall you sleep with Mom tonight?”

They expressed anger, comfort, and care regarding the night of her kidnapping.

“The investigation of the magical traces on the slipper fragments and coffin pieces will be handled by Dad. He has contacts at the capital’s Mage Tower.”

“I’ll investigate where and how that coffin was made. It’s unlikely such a large coffin was brought in from outside the Raskyle estate, so it was probably made inside.”

“Liri, I’ll have trustworthy maids keep watching Hanna, so don’t worry too much. If she’s uncomfortable or something bothers her, let me know. Remember her? Hanna, the maid child…”

“…She has a story. It’s complicated, and I can’t explain it now. Liri, the amethyst you’ll receive later will explain it well.”

“That Pascal guy might be a dark wizard. Actually, he’s definitely a dark wizard after doing what he did. I’ll look up info on dark wizards and see if the temple has records of other worlds too.”

They discussed how to handle the future.

Alongside heavy topics, they also shared light conversation, as if trying to make up for the years apart.

“Wow, the beast was that big? You fought something like that?”

“Firearm magic is very different from the shooting we know. Rita, could you show me sometime?”

“Right, you didn’t see it, right? She blew off a wyvern’s head in the city in one shot! From quite a distance…”

The Duchess shot a glance at the Duke.

“I think it’s your fault Rita picked up the gun, no matter how you look at it.”

“Ahem.”

“Oh, she looks so happy.”

The Duke cleared his throat and addressed Rita.

“Liri, how about going hunting with Dad next time?”

“Liri, your father might be so happy he could die, so be careful.”

“Ahem, ahem, my lady.”

The Duke cleared his throat again. Rita smiled slightly.

“Sure. We never went hunting together when I was little, so now that I’m grown, let’s go together.”

Her answer made the once-stern Duke grin widely. Rihardt laughed at the sight, only to get lightly hit by Leonhardt.

The Duchess, covering her mouth as she laughed, looked at Rita with fond exasperation.

“By the way, the social season is coming up. Do you remember what that is?”

“Uhm, the time spent in townhouses in the capital? From spring to summer…”

“That’s right! During the social season, from April to August, nobles from all over gather in Raskyle’s capital to mingle. There are countless balls, banquets, big festivals, and hunting events.”

Clapping her hands, the Duchess blushed like a young girl, eyes sparkling.

“Liri, how about debuting this social season? We need to announce your return to everyone! A debutante ball at the Cream Dome, celebrating your return!”

“You’re joining the social season this year?”

Leonhardt asked in surprise. The Duchess quickly replied,

“Of course! Our daughter has returned! We must celebrate her return with a grand party, don’t you agree, dear?”

“Hmm, indeed. Raskyle’s princess cannot have her return go unnoticed. The first party of the season should mark Liri’s debutante ball, as you say.”

The young marquis, blinking at the exchange between the Duke and Duchess, smiled.

“Then it’s a party to announce Raskyle’s return. We must prepare properly.”