TVDML 06

Chapter 6

“Uh? Hiccup!”

Although I had clung to Baldwin before, this was the first time Baldwin kissed me first.

…I’ve won at life.

As I stared blankly, Baldwin grinned.

“It stopped.”

Baldwin murmured.

Then, my mom—who had been patting my back—burst out laughing.

“Oh dear, you adorable babies.”

I guess two cute little girls kissing looked sweet no matter what the actual situation was.

Mom hugged Baldwin and me at the same time and held us for a long while before picking me up at her side.

“Waaaah!”

“Time to go wash up. Come on.”

“Mom, I hate you!”

That was the strongest form of rebellion I could manage.

Mom ruffled my hair wildly as I struggled.

“I hate you too, really. Didi, come here. You need to wash your face again.”

Mom sighed like the world was ending.

Hehe.

I didn’t mean for this to happen, but I guess kids my age just turn out this way.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t act up much when I was little the first time.

I don’t even know why I’m acting like this.

Sorry, Mom.

“Mom, I love you! Heart boom boom!”

Mom couldn’t help but laugh as I clung to her side, firing off love arrows.

I mean it.

I really, really love you, Mom.

Even more than the original Laila ever did…

So don’t hate me, okay?

*

It’s been seven years since Didi and I were raised together.

Over those years, almost no one besides one nanny had been allowed to interact with us, so even though she was a noblewoman, my mom had long become a professional child-rearer.

It didn’t even take her a full hour to wash Didi and me, dress us in fresh new dresses, and tidy our hair.

“Didi. Who are you again?”

“Rudella.”

“Good. And what do you call me now?”

“Duchess.”

Baldwin replied calmly.

Mom’s eyes crinkled with sadness again.

Normally, I’d joke around to lighten her mood, but today, I kept my mouth shut.

“I’m sorry, Didi.”

Mom whispered with a face like she was about to cry, then kissed Baldwin’s forehead.

Honestly, I couldn’t quite understand how she felt.

In my previous life, my foster mother treated me coldly without a hint of guilt, just because I wasn’t her biological child.

After entering college… I never received a single allowance. I had to work part-time to support myself and struggled to maintain scholarships just to get through school.

I wasn’t even allowed to move out under the excuse that it was unsafe, and I wasn’t allowed to touch anything in the kitchen either.

It became my routine to secretly work part-time at a convenience store and fill my stomach with triangle kimbap.

The reason I was so drawn to this novel, Maze of Thorned Roses, was largely because of the character Robelia Lorobante.

A woman who always put herself at risk to protect her friend’s child, not even her own.

The very person who was now my mom.

I had thought it so many times.

If only Robelia had been my mom.

If only someone like that had been my foster mother.

That’s why I’d always been jealous of Baldwin.

And, eventually, I grew to like Baldwin too.

That was how Baldwin became my one and only favorite male lead.

Of course, my unwavering taste in characters played a role.

So when the original Laila died and Lorobante fell into ruin, I think that’s why I was even more heartbroken.

But that won’t happen this time, Mom.

Because I’m not that foolish Laila.

“I want a hug too!”

I hugged Mom and Baldwin at the same time.

“Jealous little thing.”

Mom laughed and pulled me into her arms too.

Her embrace smelled like warm sunshine.

I grinned at Baldwin as we faced each other.

“I’m not jealous! I just love Didi and Mom so much!”

“Oh hush.”

Mom kissed my forehead too.

Aah, so warm and wonderful.

“I love Lala too,” Baldwin said sweetly.

My honey pot.

Our little kitten must be living on honey.

“Mom loves both her babies so much!”

Once again, I thought—I’m really, really glad I ended up in this novel.

Of all the stories, this one.

And of all characters, I became Laila.

*

Robelia and Adolf nervously scanned the brunch hall, tension clear on their faces.

They had hosted a party once before, but that was just a simple meet-and-greet. This time marked the true beginning of social life.

“Nothing will happen… right?”

She wasn’t asking him—she was trying to reassure herself.

Adolf pulled her into a hug at her mumbling.

“Of course. Everything will go smoothly.”

He gently stroked her shoulder.

Then, the doors to the hall opened.

“Presenting Viscount Kindra, his lady, and their young son!”

Robelia and Adolf nodded politely.

The children waited at the back.

Once the hall was filled with guests, Laila and Baldwin would enter.

Today was the day Baldwin, under the name Rudella, would make new friends.

No one would ever suspect that the true heir of Winchester was here.

So… it’ll be okay.

Even though I thought I had slept peacefully, my hair was a mess, but Mom’s hands brought it back to life.

She braided it neatly on both sides and tied it with ribbons.

“Did you sleep well, sweetie?”

“Yes!”

I nodded eagerly, and she gave me a kiss on each cheek.

I jumped off Mom’s lap, and next it was Baldwin’s turn to be seated.

She began combing Baldwin’s hair, then paused in thought.

“Your hair’s too short to tie up… hmm. I think you’ll need a thick headband. Didi, we might need to grow your hair out for a while. Is that okay?”

“Like Lala’s?”

“Yes, like Lala’s.”

“Okay. Lala is pretty.”

This kid. At least he’s got good taste.

I squirmed a bit.

Actually, I take after Mom.

And Mom is really beautiful.

So me being pretty is an undeniable truth of genetics.

“Yup, I know,” I said proudly.

“What? You know you’re pretty too, Lala?”

“Yup! I take after Mom, so I’m super pretty!”

“Oh, so now you love Mom? Weren’t you yelling at her earlier?”

That was then. The past is in the past.

Come on, Mom.

I clung to her leg and smiled sweetly, and she patted my head.

Baldwin soon finished getting his hair done and hopped off Mom’s lap too.

“Now, hold hands tightly. Don’t let go!”

Mom solemnly reminded us.

“If you do well today, I’ll give you a reward tomorrow.”

“A reward? What kind?”

We have to get this in writing. No changing your mind later!

“Didi, is there anything you want?” she asked Baldwin first.

He tilted his head and replied,

“I want to learn swordsmanship, Duchess.”

Mom gave a sad smile at his clear, careful answer.

From now on, she was no longer ‘Mom’ to Baldwin—but the ‘Duchess.’

That must have hurt, because she pulled both of us into her arms and whispered,

“Alright, Didi. I’ll let you do anything you want. I promise.”

Oh! Sword training already?

Then I had a job to do as a successful fangirl.

I needed to make banners, go cheer him on…

There was nothing I wouldn’t do to support Baldwin!

He was destined to grow up into a remarkable swordmaster.

All male leads do.

Touch magic—become a grand mage.

Pick up a sword—become a swordmaster.

It’s one of the unbreakable rules of romance fantasy novels.

Baldwin would grow into a brilliant knight just as planned.

Ains, too, would walk the path of a knight, but his progress was always a bit slower.

Baldwin inherited Winchester’s exceptional physical prowess and sword skills.

Ains, on the other hand, didn’t receive such overwhelming talent.

Isn’t the male lead supposed to be overpowered?

See, see?

Baldwin is the male lead.

No matter how I looked at it, I had definitely grabbed the right golden rope.

Fufufufufu.

Baldwin, my one and only.

I tightened my grip on his hand.

It was almost time for him to meet the female lead.

Alright, Baldwin! Time to charm everyone!

Be brave and bold!

Mom led Baldwin and me into the hall.

The brunch party hall was packed with children our age and noble adults.

They were the ones who chose to spend a lazy weekend afternoon here.

They had probably come to see me.

The one and only heir of House Lorobante.

Laila Lorobante.

“That girl is the one…”

“And next to her is the nanny’s daughter, right?”

“I heard she was chosen as Lady Laila’s study companion.”

“Oh dear. Countess Bymond, who tried so hard to get her daughter that spot, must be devastated.”

“Just look at her face—she’s clearly upset.”

That was the gist of the murmuring.

The adults must have thought I couldn’t understand them, but they were dead wrong.

Do they even know how old I am?

Fortunately, no one seemed suspicious about Baldwin’s true identity.

“Lala, greet everyone.”

“Hello! I’m Laila Lorobante!”

“And the child next to me is Didi. Rudella?”

“I’m Rudella.”

It was our public debut.

I could feel the tension of Mom and Dad being passed down to me.

I held Mom’s hand tightly and smiled, and she smiled back at me.