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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Mera's Assignment
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Chapter 52
“I was loyal to the duchy, but I never really intended to devote myself to it. My family isn’t as distinguished as Viscount Lington’s, you see. I only applied because the salary was high.”
“…”
I felt the urge to bite my nails.
How much help could an ordinary eleven-year-old—not someone on their second life—be to a duchy?
Winter and Menelik were good people to me. I knew they wouldn’t abandon me even if I wasn’t useful.
But that alone wasn’t enough.
In , the two of them died far too early.
I’d succeeded in getting Kivrin out of the Snake Pit, but it still wasn’t enough.
I wasn’t fully prepared for the future that was coming.
“But I came to learn that the Duchess is a thoughtful master. The Duke and the Young Lord, while certainly not ordinary, have never treated their subordinates poorly. What I’m trying to say is, this isn’t the Mayol estate. You don’t need to be so anxious. We still have plenty of time, don’t we?”
“…”
As she spoke, Mera took my hand in hers.
No one in the Mayol household had ever held my hand so gently.
Thanks to her, my senses started to return.
There was still… plenty of time.
…Everything Mera said was right.
“Mera, you really are an angel…”
The words slipped out, and Mera cleared her throat with a little cough.
“Since the Young Madam has called me an angel, I suppose I’ll have to do something audacious to help you realize that.”
Mera went to the table and scribbled something on a piece of paper. Then she pressed it into my hand.
“I’ll take full responsibility if anything happens, so please make sure you do what’s written here!”
It was the first time Mera had ever given me an assignment.
While I was still bewildered, Mera ushered me out of the bedroom.
I stood in front of the door and looked down at the paper.
Three peculiar requests were written on it—things that seemed both easy and difficult.
First, ask the Duchess to spend time with you.
Second, ask the Duke for an allowance.
Third, go out and have fun with the Young Lord.
Hmm… Shouldn’t I ask for the first or second as a reward for some kind of achievement?
Winter was already busy, and I’d just received an incredible birthday present from Kivrin.
My conscience pricked at the thought of asking for an allowance on top of that.
As if sensing my hesitation, Mera called out from behind the door.
“I’ll be cheering for you!”
Mera was willing to take responsibility for this.
She had clearly resolved to do this for my sake.
Oh, what the heck. I should at least give it a try.
I left the hallway.
Soon after, I ran into Menelik.
He greeted me cheerfully.
“How was your outing today?”
“I-It wasn’t bad.”
It was a third-rate answer to his question.
I swallowed hard.
My nervousness made me crumple the paper in my hand.
Menelik’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“Is there something you want to say? Feel free.”
“Well… um…”
What if Menelik gets angry? Surely he wouldn’t divorce me just for asking for an allowance, right?
I glanced at Menelik uncertainly.
Nah, no way. My father-in-law isn’t that kind of person… is he?
As I wavered, a memory surfaced.
—I’m disappointed. There’s not a single part of you, from your head to your organs, that’s worth any money.
My heart plummeted.
My biological father, Isteban Mayol, had always used formal language with me.
When his ridicule reached its peak, he would even call me ‘Lady’ Cheria.
It was a meticulous and deliberate way of showing he wouldn’t develop even an ounce of affection for me.
Cheria’s father… my biological father… was that kind of terrifying person.
Isteban had even hated that the name Mayol was attached to mine.
That was why the duchy had to skip procedures like an engagement ceremony and finalize the paperwork first.
Th-this doesn't feel like a good omen.
A cold sweat trickled down my back.
With the memories of my past life gone, I could no longer treat the past before my possession as someone else’s story.
I was now Cheria herself, who had only happened to realize that this was the world of a novel.
—Don’t expect anything. You don’t have the right.
I was about to take a step back without realizing it.
Mera’s warm voice mingled with Isteban’s.
—This isn’t the Mayol estate.
R-right.
Mera wasn’t wrong!
My father-in-law won’t kick me out!
“Cheria?”
Menelik called to me, a worried look on his face.
I hadn’t backed away because I was scared of him. Not wanting to be misunderstood, I spoke quickly.
“I know there’s not a single part of me worth any money, from my head to my organs, but can you give me an allowance?”
“…What?”
His reaction was much colder than I’d expected.
Oh no, was I wrong?
“I-I’m not asking for a lot…”
I mumbled, shriveling up.
Even a single coin would be more than enough!
Menelik’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ll give it to you. So stop trembling.”
Menelik tossed aside the stack of documents he was holding and swept me into his arms.
Then he started walking somewhere.
Hoping those documents weren’t urgent, I tried to explain.
“I didn’t back away because I was scared of you! I just had a bad thought for a moment…!”
“I don’t get angry over things like that.”
Only then did I feel a sense of relief.
Menelik and Isteban really were different.
Isteban would never look back on the past.
He would never regret the things he said to his child or worry about me the way Menelik did.
I let the tension leave my shoulders.
Menelik asked nonchalantly.
“Does this ‘bad thought’ have to do with the Count’s family?”
How did he know?
Before I could answer, Menelik warned me.
“Don’t even think about lying.”
…I take back the nonchalant part.
His voice was as calm as ever, but his eyes were quite fierce.
The combination of gold and verdant green did nothing to soften his expression.
Still, I could tell he wasn't angry at me, so I was less tense than when I had asked for the allowance.
“How much do I have to tell you…?”
“Everything.”
“…”
“This is a rare opportunity. I don’t usually listen to this kind of talk.”
I tilted my head.
My father-in-law has always been a good listener, though.
Seeing the fine silver hair swaying just before my eyes reminded me of Kivrin.
The last handful of wariness I had, which had been worn away like sand, vanished completely.
“I have a lot of things bottled up.”
As I showed my willingness to spill everything, Menelik’s expression softened slightly.
The memories of Cheria being mistreated in the Mayol household were as vivid as if I had experienced them myself. But since I’d never had the chance to complain, I had suppressed the anger and injustice.
“I’m sure you weren’t allowed to have ice cream, of course.”
“There’s that, but also! The Count told me not to expect anything because I was useless. But he told my sister she could have anything she wanted because she was a saintess.”
Isteban was partly to blame for my sister’s personality.
It wasn’t for nothing that I’d dreamed of becoming a patricide as soon as I became Cheria.
Menelik raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t call him ‘Father’?”
“I’m not allowed to use the words ‘Father’ or ‘Mother’.”
“…And the reason is?”
“He said it was upsetting enough to have to invest in me just because I was his child, so I shouldn’t make him feel even worse…”
I heard the sound of teeth grinding from above my head.
Before I could look up at him, Menelik spoke.
“It doesn’t bother me. I’m not investing in you out of obligation, and I don’t regret a single bit of it.”
“Uh… thank you…?”
I tilted my head again.
“Father?”
That’s what he wanted me to call him, right?
I was so sure I was right, but apparently not.
Menelik gently bumped his forehead against mine.
“Wrong. You should have asked me to annihilate the Count’s family.”
Eek.
“If you cause trouble, Father, won’t Mother be the only one who gets busy…?”
“Right, and I’ll stay idle.”
I strongly object!
We soon arrived at Menelik’s office.
The door opened on its own, without him touching it.
I glanced around, wondering if there was a magic stone attached, as Menelik set me down in the seat of honor.
Gasp, this chair is still so comfortable!
Menelik rummaged through a desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. He handed it straight to me.
“That’s a lot, so tell me if you need more.”
It’s not coins?
I took it, trying to recall the currency denominations.
“Thank you! I’ll use it sparingly!”
“You have one month.”
“…”
An allowance with an expiration date.
