-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Furious Uncle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Duke Superion guided Lellia to the room Elizabeth had lived in before her marriage.
Although the maids had just cleaned it, the room seemed to have always been kept immaculate.
Lellia gazed at the charmingly decorated room.
She had felt it at the cabin, but this place was even more imbued with her mother's taste.
And she loved it.
‘Besides, there's no chance of the brothers, Cedric and Damian, taking it away from me.’
Her mother's room was divided by archways without doors into a large living area, a bedroom, a bathroom, a dressing room, and a study.
It was so spacious that the fact she could now live here felt like a dream. It seemed even better than the solitary cell she had stayed in at the temple.
Lellia explored every nook and cranny of the room, tracing her mother's presence.
And Duke Superion trailed after her, watching her every move.
“Ah, I have something for you.”
“…Yes?”
Duke Superion led Lellia to the living area within the room.
On the table was an unfamiliar box.
“Open it.”
At the Duke's words, Lellia carefully opened the box.
Inside the box lay a glittering golden object. When she carefully lifted and opened it, a clear, beautiful melody flowed out.
“It's a music box.”
Lellia said with a happy expression.
“Yes, it was a gift I intended to give to Elizabeth. She always loved music boxes, ever since she was a child.”
“Ah…”
At his words, Lellia felt her chest fill with a warm sensation. She hugged it preciously to her heart.
“This is in place of your mother's gift, and from now on, I will give you many things of your own, Lellia. You must not refuse them; you must accept them all. Understood?”
“…Yes.”
When Lellia replied, the Duke patted her head as if he was proud of her.
It was then.
A knock came at the door—no, it was closer to a loud banging.
Duke Superion's brow furrowed. Soon, the door opened, and someone stormed in with angry steps.
“…Gasp!”
Startled, Lellia instinctively hid behind Duke Superion.
“…Father!”
The person who had opened the door and entered was a young man with an angry face.
It was one of her mother's brothers, the one Lellia had seen at the cabin.
“Wait…”
Carius, who had stormed in angrily, caught sight of Lellia's face just before she hid behind the Duke and froze.
He had come here in a rage after hearing his father had brought some child home… but he never imagined it would be *that* child.
He blinked his eyes as if in disbelief.
Then, his face flushed red, and he shouted, seething with anger.
He had never once dared to show anger in front of his father, but this time, he couldn't hold back.
“Father! Why is the child the Imperial Palace is looking for here? What in the world are you doing! Damn it, do you even know whose daughter she is?”
When the Duke didn't answer, he continued to shout.
“And how…! How could you bring her to this room! Can you even call yourself a father after this?!”
Carius was practically wailing. Tears streamed from his eyes, which were bloodshot with fury.
“How, how…! To think you would bring the daughter of Iris, of all people, here!”
Carius glared at Lellia, his teeth clenched. If he had his way, he would drag that child out and throw her out immediately.
It wasn't enough that she invaded his sister's cabin, but now a room in the main castle! It was beyond absurd.
Even now, the sight of her hiding snugly behind his father's back made the nape of his neck prickle.
“…You pathetic fool.”
Duke Superion clicked his tongue and looked at his seething son.
“Father! Don't you know the Emperor is looking for that child right now?! Come out here! How dare you hide behind someone!”
Carius yelled at Lellia, who was hiding behind the Duke.
Lellia tensed up, seeing him even angrier than when she had met him at the cabin.
It was then.
“Aargh!”
The Duke, who had been watching the whole time, suddenly pinched Carius's cheek.
With one cheek caught in his father's grip, Carius stared at him with bewildered, incredulous eyes.
“How dare you lose your temper, and in front of whom! And you can't even recognize your own niece… you pathetic fool. Don't you feel sorry for Elizabeth?”
“Et go o' me! (Let go of me!)”
Carius shouted, his cheek still pinched. The Duke narrowed his eyes and released his cheek with a shove.
One of Carius's cheeks was bright red.
“N-niece? What are you…”
Carius clutched his reddened cheek and furrowed his brow.
Just then, Lellia, who was still hiding behind the Duke, peeked her head out and looked up at him.
‘He looks furious. I guess he has every right to be…’
He was that angry when he saw me at the cabin, so it's understandable he'd be livid thinking I've invaded this place too.
Carius looked at Lellia with confused eyes. Then, as if regaining his senses, he turned to his father.
“…Have you gone senile… Aaargh!”
This time, his other cheek was pinched hard.
