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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Weakest Person
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For some reason, I felt a pang of disappointment.
I even had the strange thought that it was unfair for Viscount Rose, of all people, to draw a line with me.
I tried not to show it and spoke in my usual cheerful voice.
“It wasn’t bad.”
“I-Is that so?”
Viscount Rose gave an awkward smile and glanced at me nervously.
…Sigh. The more mature Cheria has to be the one to understand.
I willingly changed the subject.
“I was talking about festivals with the young ladies, and they said nothing happens in the spring anymore. That means there used to be a festival, right? Do you know anything about it?”
But Viscount Rose, ungratefully lost in thought, asked a beat too late.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“The festival. I was talking about the festival.”
“The Slaughter Festival?”
This person is really not okay…
I narrowed my eyes. Viscount Rose gripped my shoulders.
“You really are upset! Let’s do something to lift your spirits right now! Tell me anything you want to do, buy, or anywhere you want to go!”
Already sulking, I grumbled.
“What’s wrong with you? It’s not like the world will end just because I’m a little upset. Why have you been acting like this?”
“Hup.”
Viscount Rose gasped.
I stared blankly at Viscount Rose.
“You’re acting strange today, Viscount Rose. You keep watching my every move, and you haven’t even given me the birthday present you were so confident about.”
“Th-That’s because, on second thought, I didn’t think the birthday present suited you very well!”
“What was it?”
“I-It was nothing! It had absolutely, nothing at all to do with Del!”
Viscount Rose waved their hands so frantically it was almost pitiful.
Aha, so they were planning to give me something of Del’s.
Did Kivrin object when they talked about the Sealing Spell?
Hmm, if so, it must not have been an ordinary item. Kivrin cares about me a lot, after all.
As soon as I looked reasonably convinced, Viscount Rose visibly relaxed and urged me on.
“Where should we go? Just say the word!”
“I want to go back to the castle.”
My words must have sounded like, ‘I don’t want to hang out with you,’ because Viscount Rose’s eyes wavered.
The bewildering events didn't end there.
Cesar was waiting at the entrance of Crescent Moon Castle.
He suddenly presented me with a box full of sweets.
“I wish to apologize to the Young Mistress for my previous rudeness.”
Huh?
First, I took the box. Not because of the sweets, but because I was worried Cesar’s arms would get tired!
Then, Cesar knelt.
Ack.
“Sir Cesar?!”
“It will only be a moment. Please, hear me out.”
“Uh… I can hear you just fine if you stand!”
Cesar remained steadfast.
“It has been five years since I was accepted into the Silentium family. I spent my childhood in an orphanage, and until I was officially adopted, I believed I was a commoner and received only the education befitting one.”
“…”
My eyes widened as I stared at Cesar.
Naturally, this was the first time I was hearing this.
He was a character who was barely even mentioned in .
“I know my ignorance is a grave sin that cannot be excused as a mere mistake. But could you not grant me one more chance?”
Cesar’s hands were trembling.
He was extremely nervous.
Ugh. He must have been stewing over what happened yesterday.
His complexion is pale, too. Did he stay up all night?
I crouched down in front of him.
“Did Mother say she was going to kick you out?”
“That is not the case, but…”
“Did the Silentium family say they would hold you accountable?”
“That, too… is not the case.”
“Then there’s no need to apologize like this. Just promise you won’t suddenly draw your sword and startle me again.”
Viscount Rose scoffed.
I shot a small glare at Viscount Rose and tugged on the hem of Cesar’s clothes, signaling for him to stand up.
…He’s not budging.
“The Young Mistress said she needed me. It is only right that I apologize.”
Kivrin said everyone but Cesar himself knew he was a parachute appointment.
His life in the knight order, not to mention his various relationships, must not be smooth.
Why did Emil recommend Cesar as the knight commander?
With his personality, he would have refused without a second thought if he’d known.
Viscount Rose finally snapped.
“Get up already, will you? How long do you plan on keeping Cheria outside?”
Only when they used me as an excuse did Cesar finally stand up.
Cesar bowed his head to Viscount Rose as well.
“My apologies. But… why do you call the Young Mistress by her name?”
Unlike when Kivrin had pointed out their informal speech, Viscount Rose lifted their chin.
“I have the right.”
After watching my every move all this time…
I was tempted to say they didn't out of spite, but I stopped myself.
I’m strangely soft when it comes to Viscount Rose, too.
Is it because their mental age is younger than mine?
Tilting my head, I said to Cesar.
“Then I’ll ask you to be my escort the next time I go out, Sir Cesar.”
Cesar’s face instantly brightened.
“Thank you for your grace. I will absolutely not disappoint you this time.”
As I watched Cesar return to the training grounds, Viscount Rose suddenly shoved their face in front of mine.
“What about me? You’re not taking me?”
“You can be my escort, and we can have Sir Cesar be your escort.”
I said it casually, suddenly remembering Winter’s comment about needing an escort for her escort.
“I can beat that guy, you know?”
I ignored Viscount Rose’s protest and went inside the castle.
Mera happened to be tidying up my bedroom.
She greeted me with a bright smile, as always.
“Welcome back, Young Mistress. The sun was so nice today that the blankets dried quickly. Did you enjoy the tea party?”
It was the second time I’d been asked that question.
“It wasn’t bad.”
After giving a half-hearted wave to Viscount Rose, who couldn't enter the bedroom now that they were officially my escort knight, I asked Mera.
“Mera, was Viscount Lington kicked out?”
Mera’s expression showed she finally understood why I had given such a vague answer.
“You must have heard at the tea party. That’s right. It may seem like a simple punishment, but its implications are significant. If he doesn’t achieve some distinguished merit in the near future, he’ll even be stripped of his title.”
“But I got hurt because I’m bad at flower arranging.”
Suddenly, Mera’s eyebrows furrowed with force.
“No teacher would have a child handle scissors right from the start, nor would they give them flowers with thorns.”
“…”
Huh? Really?
My mouth hung open.
It was my first time doing flower arranging, so I had no idea!
It wasn't just Kivrin’s potential abuse I had to worry about.
I was a very easy target, too.
Mera tossed aside the blanket and came closer to look at my face.
“Her Ladyship handled it quietly at the time so as not to startle you, Young Mistress… Ah, Viscount Lington’s daughter was on the tea party list, wasn’t she? Did she dare blame you for what happened?”
Mera turned me this way and that, checking if I was hurt anywhere. Her eyes were practically shooting fire.
I muttered sullenly.
“How could I not even realize I was being bullied for being bad at flower arranging? I thought I was quick on the uptake.”
Ugh, how frustrating.
I didn't even recognize it was happening, so I completely missed my chance to get revenge myself.
“Lady Cheria.”
Suddenly, Mera called my name in a serious voice.
Having grown used to the title ‘Young Mistress,’ I looked at Mera with fresh eyes.
“Lady Cheria, you are the weakest person in the Nectarian family.”
“…”
My angel is suddenly hitting me with words!
As my pupils trembled, Mera clenched her fists.
“What should a weak person do?”
“Uh… get strong quickly? So they’re not a burden?”
“No! They! Must! Be! Protected!”
I blinked in surprise.
Mera huffed.
“I heard the Mayol countship provided our Young Mistress with only the bare minimum of education. One meal a day, and you were only allowed out once a month, right? In such a terrible environment, how could you possibly learn whether flower arranging is done with your hands or your feet?”
But in exchange for that, I had my past life’s memories…
Then, suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped off in my head, all my thoughts vanished.
When the switch turned back on, all my memories of my past life were gone.
Wh-What?
Who was I in my past life?
What was my name?
How old was I?
It was strange.
I could remember the plot of , but my other memories felt as if they had been carved out of my mind.
I truly felt like I was eleven years old.
What is this?!
Mera, misinterpreting the reason for my shock, gently soothed me.
“Young Mistress—our Lady Cheria—you have to think of being cared for as the natural state of things. You should be causing trouble all over the place, just like my little brother.”
My body trembled from the excessive shock.
This can’t be happening! What’s the point of only remembering the novel’s plot?!
I can’t be the competent Cheria like this
