Chapter 2
#002. Half-Madeleine
The carriage arrived at a beautiful and magnificent mansion. Olivia looked up at the mansion. She was intimidated by the splendid exterior without realizing it. A large carriage stopped in front of the entrance. The door of the carriage opened, and a man stepped out. He was handsome enough to catch the eye at once, but what captivated Olivia's gaze was definitely his silver hair, as cold as moonlight. It was the first time she had seen hair the same color as her own. So Olivia blurted out.
“Are you my father?”
Even without hearing an answer, her intuition took over. That man was her father, the one her mother had told her about. The man's eyes slowly turned to Olivia. The moment their eyes met, Olivia felt something sink deep inside her. That man, her father, did not welcome her.
“……We'll have to assign her an etiquette teacher first.”
His cold voice reached her ears. The brown-haired man quickly gestured to the people next to the gate. Soon, the gate opened silently. From the jewel-like chandeliers on the ceiling to the carpet on the floor, the mansion smelled warm and pleasant. Her father strode into the house. Olivia, not knowing what to do, followed after her father.
“Gio, you're bac—”
That's when it happened. A sweet voice was abruptly cut off. A beautiful woman coming down the stairs widened her eyes and looked at Olivia. Aside from her mother, she had never seen such a beautiful woman.
“Gio. Just who is this child?”
“Hazel. I told you I would never send Esella to the Imperial Palace. I needed someone to send in Esella's place.”
Unintelligible words were exchanged. The woman, seemingly shocked, ran back up the stairs.
“Hazel!”
Her father followed after her. Olivia, left alone in an instant, clenched her fists tightly. People who had appeared from somewhere were murmuring.
“She does seem to have Madeleine blood. Look at that luscious silver hair.”
“What is going on? I never thought the Duke would do something like this.”
“Green eyes, though. To think such lowly blood would be mixed into the noble Madeleine.”
Even though she didn't understand everything, she knew it wasn't good. Just then, someone appeared with a clap of their hands.
“Everyone, back to your places and get to work.”
At the appearance of the old gentleman, the people quickly disappeared. The old gentleman made eye contact with Olivia.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, miss. I am Albert Langcheison, the butler of Madeleine.”
His voice was kind, but the butler's eyes did not smile.
“……Olivia.”
“You must be tired. I will show you to your room first. Anna.”
At the butler's words, an older woman walked over.
“Bathe the young lady and show her to her room.”
That was the extent of the conversation. She hadn't had lunch or dinner, but no one asked Olivia about it. She missed her mother. * * *
“Well, from the look in her eyes, she's bewitching. Her mother must have been a street dancer. She's on a different level than Lady Esella.”
Anna said to the servants surrounding her with a haughty air. One of them noticed the thread anklet next to Anna.
“But what's that? It's pretty.”
“Want it? It's from Turningbell.”
“Is it the young lady's? Ew. How dirty.”
One of the people who had been laughing threw the thread anklet into the trash. And they added to Anna's story. No wonder she was screaming and crying yesterday; she was just naturally wicked. Lowly blood is all the same. In an instant, stories about the new young lady and her mother spread throughout the Madeleine Dukedom. The Duke, after hearing the butler's report, ordered as if he were organizing items.
“Assign her a nanny who is tight-lipped so she can't spread useless rumors.”
“Yes.”
The butler bowed his head. A tight-lipped and cheapest nanny. The story that the nanny had been kicked out for harassing the young master she had served in her previous home was irrelevant to the butler. * * * The hands brushing her hair were gentle. Olivia blinked her uneasy eyes. The room decorated in pink and sky blue was pretty. There were no rats climbing onto the bed either. But Olivia wasn't happy. She had been robbed of her thread anklet, and she had nothing of her own here. She couldn't leave the room either. The only person she could see was the new nanny who had arrived a few days ago. Olivia spoke cautiously.
“Um, Nanny. I want to go outside today.”
The nanny said kindly.
“You can't, miss. You know that.”
“……Why?”
“The Duke is heartbroken when he sees you, miss.”
Olivia shrugged her thin shoulders. The nanny said even more kindly.
“You know the Duchess has taken to her bed, right?”
Olivia widened her eyes and looked at the nanny. The Duchess, was she the beautiful woman who had run up to the second floor back then?
“I, didn’t know.”
“You probably didn't. No, even if you did, you should pretend you didn't. The prestigious Madeleine Dukedom has become a laughingstock because of you, miss.”
“What, do you mean?”
“You didn't know this either?”
The nanny covered her mouth and looked at Olivia as if she were pitiful. The hands brushing her hair became increasingly rough. Ah, ah. Olivia whimpered softly, but the nanny only muttered, "Poor young lady."
“Goodness. It seems no one has told our young lady the truth. This nanny should tell you.”
The nanny smiled sweetly.
“It's all because you came to this house, miss.”
“…….”
“The Duke and Duchess, who never argued before, are fighting too.”
“…….”
“The eldest young master is watching his every move, and the second young master has started crying every night.”
“…….”
“Poor Esella, who was once a precious only daughter, has been reduced to the second daughter.”
Olivia's heart pounded. No. A faint denial escaped her lips, but the nanny said as if hammering in a nail.
“It's all because of you, miss.”
“No, it's not.”
“Miss. I told you on the first day. This nanny never tells lies.”
Cunning words, like a snake, kept knocking on Olivia's heart. The nanny had said that on the first day. With that gentle face, she would never lie to her. On that day, the nanny had washed her with warm water. She had given her white bread, soup, and even fruit she had never seen before. She had even read her fairy tales when she went to bed. Could it be true? Olivia kept shrinking. Was it all because of her? Her young face was filled with confusion. The nanny, seeing that face, said sweetly as if coaxing her.
“This silver hair doesn't suit you at all, miss.”
“My hair?”
“Silver hair is the symbol of the Madeleine Dukedom. It's not hair that should belong to someone like you, miss. You were able to enter this house because of this silver hair, weren't you?”
She couldn't understand everything the nanny was saying.
“I came here because I'm… my father's daughter.”
“No. It's all thanks to this silver hair. Do you think you could have dared to come here if it weren't for this silver hair?”
The nanny's eyes flashed. Then, she grabbed Olivia's arm painfully. Ah, Olivia groaned, but the nanny didn't loosen her grip.
“Shall we cut this hair today?”
“N-No, I don't want to.”
Olivia tried to shake off the nanny's arm. It was the hair that her mother had always combed so beautifully. She didn't want to lose any more traces of her mother when she didn't even have her thread anklet. The nanny sighed softly.
“You're really selfish, miss. Do you want the Duke and Duchess to keep suffering as they look at this silver hair?”
Sobbing, Olivia finally burst into tears. There was no one to comfort her, and the nanny continued to coax her. In the end, Olivia's hair was cut. Olivia burst into tears once more at the sight of her hair, which was sparse as if mice had gnawed at it, but the nanny laughed, saying it was the most fitting look for her. After that, the nanny didn't bring her proper meals. Only once a day. A piece of coarse barley bread and a glass of water were all she got. Those days continued. Dust flew in the uncleaned room. No one cared about Olivia. Olivia was constantly hungry and thirsty. One day, it was a night when the nanny didn't return. Olivia quietly left her room. She was hungry. If she could find the kitchen, there would be something to eat. She had no idea where the kitchen was in this house, but it was better than staying in her room. But Olivia immediately regretted coming out into the hallway. The wide, quiet hallway was dark and scary. Olivia, walking while holding onto the wall, fell. Normally, she would just dust off her knees and get up, but not now. Lying on this soft silk carpet made her feel like her mother would come. She wanted to see her mother and burst into tears when—
“Who's there?”
At the beautiful voice, Olivia slowly raised her head. She thought she saw a glimmer of light, and then someone approached Olivia. Olivia, dazzled by the bright light, was startled when she saw the other person's face.
“You…….”
It was the Duchess. The Duchess, with her luscious brown hair and brown eyes, looked as if her cheeks were somehow thin and painful to Olivia. The nanny's words came to mind.
“You know the Duchess has taken to her bed, right?”
“You fell.”
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
The words came out almost simultaneously. Unlike Olivia, who was trembling without properly hearing the lady's words, the lady tilted her head for a moment.
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
Olivia apologized in a voice so small it seemed to disappear.
“What are you sorry for?”
“For you being sick. It’s because of me. I’m sorry.”
“……Who told you that?”
“……The nanny.”
The lady let out a soft sigh. Olivia bit her lip tightly, even more frightened by the sigh. But then, a warm touch landed on her head.
“Why is a child like you out here alone at this hour?”
It was strange. She was supposed to be bedridden because of her. The nanny said she would hate her very much. But the voice asking her sounded somehow warm. Olivia slowly raised her head. A ticklish anticipation rose within her. And the moment her eyes met the lady's, Olivia said without realizing it.
“I’m, hungry.”
As if on cue, Olivia's stomach rumbled. The lady stroked Olivia's head once more at the sound from her empty stomach.
“Okay. We need to get you something to eat first. Can you get up?”
Olivia nodded. As she got up, the lady, who had been lowering her gaze, straightened her body. And she held out her hand to Olivia. Olivia looked back and forth between the hand and the lady's face with wide eyes.
Then, the lady took Olivia's small hand. The lady's hand touching hers was so soft and warm. It felt like her hand shouldn't be touching it. Olivia quickly tried to pull her hand away, but the lady held Olivia's hand even more firmly.
“The stairs are even darker. It will hurt if you fall.”
The lady's voice was warm. Olivia followed the lady with her head down. She had regretted coming out until just now. But now she thought it was a good thing she came out. * * * There was soft white bread, soup filled with meat, fresh salad, and even yellow fruit juice on the table. Delicious food was abundant, but Olivia couldn't readily pick up her fork.
“Eat up. You look hungry.”
The lady sitting right in front of her said. But even after hearing those words, Olivia only slightly raised her head and looked at the lady's face.
“You don’t like bread very much?”
“I like it, a lot.”
“Then eat. You won’t grow if you keep being hungry.”
“Eat more, baby. You won’t grow later if you’re hungry?”
Strangely, it felt like her mother's playful voice was overlapping with the lady's words. So Olivia reached out and grabbed the bread without thinking. It was the first time she had ever had such sweet and delicious bread. Olivia's gaze was entirely focused on the food. Because of that, Olivia didn't notice that the lady's eyes were on her skinny, emaciated arms, or her strangely cut, rat-bitten hair. After finishing the food, Olivia drank her orange juice and rolled her eyes.
“Why is your hair like that?”
The lady spoke first. Olivia hesitated for a moment before answering.
“……I cut it.”
“Who cut it like that for you? It was neat a few days ago.”
“……The nanny did.”
“Your nanny?”
“Yes.”
One of the lady's eyebrows rose. Olivia wiggled her fingers. Somehow, the lady seemed angry. It was all because of her.
“……I’m sorry.”
Her voice was barely audible. She could feel the lady's gaze on her, but she couldn't raise her head.
“The nanny said she had to cut it more. But I said I didn’t want to, so she only cut a little.”
It seemed like she should have just let the nanny shave her head when she told her to. But she wanted to leave even a little bit.
“……What did the nanny say when she told you to cut your hair?”
“……She said that if my hair stayed the same, both of you would be heartbroken.”
“……Anything else? Did the nanny say anything else to you?”
“……She said that both of you are having a hard time because of me. That everything here is so gloomy because of me.”
Soon, a light sigh escaped. It felt as heavy as if the sigh was piling up on her shoulders. She wanted to see what kind of expression the lady was making. At the same time, she didn't want to see. She wanted to run away from this warm room to her cold room. She wanted to hide somewhere where no one could see her. It was then. A soft hand stroked her cheek. Olivia raised her head at the warm touch. The lady was looking at her.
“I’m going to make this clear.”
“……”
“This isn’t your fault. Little one.”
“They, said it was my fault.”
Olivia mumbled. It was strange. The nanny said it was all her fault. But the lady, who was supposed to be bedridden because of her, said it wasn't her fault. Olivia gripped her clothes.
“No, it’s not.”
The lady's voice was strong. The hand gently lifting her chin was careful. The lady wasn't smiling, but she wasn't angry either. Olivia parted her lips. Surely, the face she saw running up to the second floor back then looked like it had received a huge shock.
“Really, I, didn’t do anything wrong?”
At that moment, the lady smiled as if she was crying. Olivia closed her mouth without realizing it. The lady slowly stroked Olivia's cheek and answered.
“……Of course. It’s not your fault.”
The fault lies with that bastard. A quiet voice followed, but Olivia couldn't understand the meaning of those words. She just liked this warm feeling that she hadn't felt in a long time, and she liked the beautiful lady who said it wasn't her fault. Perhaps it was because she was relieved, but her eyelids began to droop. She tried to force her eyes open, but her eyes kept closing. She felt like she would have good dreams today. She faintly heard the lady's voice.
“Bring that child’s nanny to me, immediately.”
