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Chapter 18
“Because it isn’t mine.”
Perry shouted as he buried his face into the blanket.
“It’s weird!”
Yeah, I know. That it’s weird. It was hard to put my complicated feelings into words. Even someone utterly lacking in tact would be able to tell, just by watching them, whether they wanted to know or not.
That they truly treated me like family.
That I was receiving the familial love that Vanessa was supposed to have.
I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes tightly. Ever since I came back from Sent, their behavior had been strange.
‘Vanessa, if you’re not feeling well, you can rest today.’
‘I bought you a gift… I hope you like it.’
‘Vanessa, some rare tea has come into the trading house. Would you like to have tea together?’
Sherry no longer pestered me like before, and Dave would quietly leave gifts in front of my door without a word. On days when Dave returned from a business trip, I was almost afraid to open the door.
Whenever the count visited the trading house, he tried the whole time to strike up conversations with me, and their change was more burdensome than I could put into words. And that wasn’t all. Even if I merely mentioned the “Sen” in Sent, their faces would stiffen.
‘Sister, Lady Senri from Sent—’
‘No!’
I hadn’t thought much of it. I assumed it was just a meaningless whim.
But on the day the proposal arrived for me, I sensed the shift. That day became a turning point—the questions that had piled up inside me swelled like a balloon and burst with a loud pop.
‘I need to see the face of the bastard who says he’s taking you.’
‘Come with me. I go first.’
That thought crossed my mind: maybe I had ended up possessing something that Vanessa had desperately wanted but could never have—despite having no right to it myself.
“Ugh, you really seem different from normal humans.”
Perry’s groan pulled me out of my thoughts. He wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
“In what way?”
“It’s like you’re always trying to be alone.”
“There are people like that.”
Perry tilted his head, frowning, then suddenly sprang upright from the bed like a roly-poly doll and floated up in a small circle. His wings fluttered lazily.
“Come to think of it, you were strange from the start. Your aura was different from ordinary humans.”
“Manure?”
When I narrowed my eyes, recalling old memories, Perry quietly averted his gaze.
“Ahem. I didn’t say it because it hurt my pride, but the aura I feel from you isn’t manure.”
“Then what is it?”
“Hmm.”
Pressing a finger to his temple, Perry sank into thought.
“It’s similar to the aura of the fairy realm.”
His troubled gaze spun through the air and landed on me.
“So what I’m saying is—”
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
At that moment, a deafening roar shook the entire mansion, cutting Perry off. Just from the noise alone, I might have believed a wild boar or a bear had appeared.
“M-Miss!”
“Young master!”
“Milord!”
Along with the servants’ voices, the noise drew closer and closer. Then, just as suddenly as a thread being snipped with scissors, the thunderous sound stopped near the sitting room.
“Who interrupted me?!”
Perry glared viciously at the door. The commotion died down, and footsteps could be heard outside.
“Sherry, knock.”
“Dave, why do you always make me do the awkward stuff?!”
“Come on, Sherry. If you knock, Vanessa won’t get angry.”
“You’re just planning to hide behind me if she does!”
Listening closely, the voices were familiar.
Wait—this voice…
I walked over and grasped the doorknob. As I turned it, the scene outside came into view.
From right to left, Dave, Sherry, and the count were standing in a row, exchanging looks as they silently urged one another to open the door. Sherry jabbed Dave in the side with her elbow, then locked eyes with me.
“O-Oh, hi, Vanessa.”
Sherry waved awkwardly with a strained smile. The muscles around her eyes were twitching, making it obvious how forced it was.
Dave and the count pretended not to notice, admiring the decorations on the hallway wall. Dave let out a dry laugh.
“Haha… Is that so, Father? As expected, you have a refined eye for art.”
“I haven’t said anything yet, Dave.”
Unable to stand it, Sherry grit her teeth and tugged at the two men’s sleeves.
“Both of you, stop spouting nonsense and just say hello already!”
What in the world was going on? I tilted my head.
“What are you three doing here?”
Had it been a mistake to invite them into my room? Sherry lifted her chin smugly at Dave and the count.
“It’s your first time being invited into Vanessa’s room, right? Not for me.”
Hands on her hips, she struck a victor’s pose. Dave and the count nodded gloomily, whether to humor her or because they truly felt that way.
What kind of situation was this, really?
Before I knew it, Dave and the count had forgotten their gloom and were examining the room with curiosity, their eyes roaming everywhere. They looked unusually animated—almost like children visiting a friend’s house for the first time.
“Hoo…”
When I let out a shallow sigh, both Dave and the count flinched and focused on me.
Thankfully, Perry had worn himself out from his earlier anger and fallen asleep; otherwise, this would have been exhausting. Wanting to avoid wasting time, I spoke.
“You must have been very confused. I should have apologized to all three of you, but I’m sorry. I’ll take care of the matter regarding the proposal, so—”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Pardon?”
“How is this your fault, Vanessa?”
Dave frowned as he adjusted his glasses. I stared at him, eyes wide in surprise. Of all people, Dave saying something like that was unexpected. Then again, he had been especially kind to me lately.
On the day of the banquet, he believed my excuse about being ill and sent tea good for colds to my room, checking on me from time to time outside the door.
“Vanessa, if you’re fine with it, the family will firmly reject the proposal.”
“That’s right, Vanessa. You don’t need to worry.”
“Yes, don’t worry about it.”
I slowly looked around at Dave, Sherry, and the count. It was something I had caused—did I really need to make everyone uncomfortable over it? If things worked out with Gerred, it would all resolve itself.
“No. I’ll handle it myself. It happened because of me, so I should take responsibility.”
Sherry drooped the corners of her eyes in disappointment, but I deliberately ignored it and continued, steadying my breath.
“More than anything, I’m sorry for damaging the family’s reputation and the image of the trading house because of rumors about me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Sherry reached for my hand on the table, but I twisted away.
“Vanessa…”
She stared blankly at her own hand, her face frozen in shock.
“You didn’t tell me directly, but I know the trading house is having a hard time.”
“That isn’t true.”
The count turned his gaze toward the wall. His eyes, lacking a destination, held not reproach but the look of a parent watching a child wander aimlessly.
I deliberately changed the subject.
“By the way, how did the renegotiation with Baron Gerred turn out?”
“How did you know about that…?”
Dave looked startled, then shook his head with a serious expression.
“That’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”
“Even though it’s related to me?”
The count and Dave turned back with eyes wide as lanterns.
“Vanessa, how do you know about that?”
“I happened to hear the staff talking when I visited the trading house. They said the contract negotiations are having difficulties.”
Dave gave me a suspicious look. What choice did I have? I couldn’t exactly say, A fairy heard it and told me. After a brief pause, I spoke with resolve.
“Please leave the trade route renegotiation to me—”
“No.”
“That won’t do.”
I was cut off by Dave and the count before I could finish.
Sherry lifted her head and stared at them in confusion. Did they really distrust me that much…? I might look like this, but I was used to dealing with people now.
“Tsk…”
The count groaned, pressing hard at his temple. Dave looked ready to track down the staff member who had spoken carelessly, his eyes gleaming coldly behind his lenses.
Knowing Dave’s personality, he would interrogate every employee to find the culprit. Feeling sorry for the staff, I leaned forward and clasped my hands together earnestly.
“Please. As a member of the family, I want to be of help too.”
After some time, the count and Dave leaned toward each other and muttered.
“It’s her first request, but I don’t want her to meet that man. What should we do?”
“If we refuse, Vanessa will be deeply disappointed.”
They fell into a mire of indecision.
“Why? What’s going on?”
Sherry tugged at their clothes, puzzled.
“Ah!”
She suddenly clapped her hands in realization.
“I see, Vanessa. Have you taken an interest in the trading house?”
“What?”
“You should’ve just said so…”
Sherry smacked her lips and shot Dave a dissatisfied look, as if she were ready to take his position if I said I wanted it.
I had no idea what misunderstanding she’d jumped to, but no—absolutely not. Despite my signals, her misunderstanding only deepened.
Dave and the count didn’t give permission easily. There was no helping it. I lowered my gaze to my knees and deliberately showed disappointment. Moments like this made me wonder if I really had become Vanessa.
“If you don’t trust me…”
“Of course we do!”
“That’s not it!”
“Distrust you?!”
The count, Dave, and Sherry all raised their voices at once, faces distorted as if rehearsed, seemingly afraid I might misunderstand.
I mean, it wouldn’t have been that strange if they did…
After a long moment of deliberation, the count finally seemed to make up his mind and looked straight at Sherry. Despite his stern tone, he still couldn’t quite meet my eyes.
“There will be one condition. You must go together with Sherry.”
“With my sister?”
Sherry, not even understanding what was being discussed, simply grinned and nodded enthusiastically at the idea of going with me.
“I don’t know what it is, but I like it, Vanessa!”
I bit my lip, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes. I understand.”
Having to take Sherry along would be troublesome, but if I refused the condition, I wouldn’t get their permission at all.
