Chapter 64
64
I was so surprised that my eyes widened.
'That's the Duchess's name!'
I examined the narrower ring. Sure enough, there were letters engraved on it.
'Theodore...'
It was then.
"Theodore."
Before I could finish reading the letters on the ring, a voice came from the doorway.
A woman, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, was staring at me.
"Who are you? Why are you in my room?"
Smooth, soft red hair that reached her chest.
The clear blue eyes, the symbol of Dubled.
A bewitching mole under her eye and on her cheek.
I knew the person with the beautiful appearance and low, sweet voice that made everyone who passed by turn around at least once.
My aunt, Javelin Ariege.
"I asked why you were in my room reading Lisette's note."
Javelin's room?
I almost jumped in surprise.
I definitely didn't come in on purpose.
This place was too small and shabby for the Duke of Dubled's younger sibling, who oversaw the Capital estate, to stay in, so I never dreamed it would be Javelin's room.
"Well, I..."
I was stammering, trying to find the words to answer.
"Take this!"
A dagger flew in with Isaac's voice. Javelin lightly turned her body and caught the sword between her index and middle fingers.
"Your skills are shallow. If you're going to attack from behind, you should have hidden your presence."
"Who knew you'd be able to block it? It was just a greeting."
Isaac, who had been grinning and approaching Javelin, widened his eyes when he saw me through the open door.
"Shortie!!"
He rushed over and frantically checked me over.
"I didn't know you were here. Are you hurt?"
"I blocked your sword, so I wouldn't be hurt."
When Javelin said in a quiet voice, Isaac shouted.
"Shortie is fragile and her heart gets hurt easily!"
Javelin's face became subtle, and I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.
Isaac frowned and said.
"What did you do? You didn't bully Shortie, did you?"
"No! No!"
I quickly stopped Isaac.
Even if it was a misunderstanding, it was my fault for entering someone else's room without permission. I should have checked Javelin's room in advance. I never imagined she would be using a small room without windows.
I got up and approached Javelin.
"I'm LeBlaine Liset-"
"Child of Destiny."
She just stared at me without saying anything else. But I wasn't flustered because I had heard about her personality.
She doesn't let people get close to her, and she's cold to others. Some people were proud to have even exchanged greetings with her, since she didn't even accept greetings.
"Baby Bird."
Just then, Leah approached, having found me.
"You were here."
"Am I invisible, Leah?"
"Of course not. I was just worried about the Baby Bird's mealtime."
Leah, who had risen with a smile, bowed her head.
Javelin, who had been staring at Leah, unfolded her arms. Her fine hair flowed smoothly down to her collarbone.
"When will you become mine?"
With those words, she lightly lifted Leah's chin with her finger.
The maids who had come with Leah blushed and looked dazed.
Even though she had such a cold personality, Javelin's popularity soared. More so with women than men.
She was-
The Capital's girl crush.
The woman who made young ladies wave placards shouting, 'Please take me too!'
She was the Empress's First Guard Captain and the commander of the White Horse Knights, a unit of female knights.
-Javelin Ariege.
Leah smiled softly.
"You're being too playful."
"It's no fun if you're not flustered."
She crossed her arms again, nodded for us to leave, and closed the door.
"Shall we go, Baby Bird? His Excellency is waiting."
"Okay."
I nodded and took Leah's hand.
When I went down to the dining room, Dad and Henri were sitting facing each other. Isaac, who had followed me, sat down first and pulled out a chair for me.
The meal began only after I sat down.
Isaac, who had moved the milk cup to me, said.
"Aunt came by."
Henri, who had cut the meat and put it on my plate, asked.
"Aunt?"
"Yeah. She was with Shortie."
"Did anything happen?"
I nodded at Henri's words.
"She just asked who I was. I went into Javelin's room without knowing it was..."
"It's understandable that you mistook that room."
Henri stroked my head, apologizing for not telling me in advance.
"Shortie, Aunt is a really, really scary person. If you're not careful..."
As he said that, Isaac drew his hand across his neck. I flinched and gripped my fork tightly.
Javelin's energy was truly fierce. Even though she was a half-sibling, I thought she was indeed Dad's sister.
"Don't scare her. Aunt would never lay a hand on a woman."
"You never know. She hates the Temple more than anyone in Dubled."
That was also a famous story.
I heard a story from when she was Lady Valois, that Javelin, who was said to drink like a fish, got drunk one day and said.
[I lost three precious people to the Temple.]
I don't know all three, but I can be sure of one.
Empress Elza.
Adrian's biological mother, who died of illness.
Most people thought it was a death from illness, but those close to the Empress, and I, noticed.
It wasn't a death from illness, but a suspicious death.
It took less than a month for her, who had been healthy, to start suffering and die.
It was only concluded as a death from illness because the Priests said it was a disease caused by contaminated Divine Power.
Javelin seemed to think it was the work of the Temple in collusion with Empress Yvonne. And so do I...
'Ugh, how much must she hate me, who was sent by the Temple.'
I think I know why her eyes were so cold.
"Once Aunt gets angry, she's the most reckless person in Dubled."
When I looked at Leah as if to ask if it was true, she nodded awkwardly.
'Heeek!'
I thought with a pale face.
'I must never do anything to offend her. ...But I already have!'
I went into her room without permission and even read the letter.
The fact that she kept the letter containing Dad and Lisette's memories without giving it to Dad must mean it has a very special meaning.
I read something so precious without permission, so I have no excuse for being disliked.
How can I make up for it?
'Should I give her a gift or something?'
After the meal, I went back to my room and asked Leah.
"What does Javelin like?"
"Well, I don't think I've ever seen her show her likes or dislikes since the Duchess passed away... But why?"
"I want to get along with Javelin."
"How kind. That's good news for Javelin. She's a lonely person."
Javelin is lonely?
I tilted my head.
She is the queen of society and attracts many followers. Just the news that she will attend a party is enough to make the venue shake, so invitations come from all over.
"All her friends have passed away, and she hasn't been able to attach her heart to anyone."
"Friends?"
"The late Madam and Her Majesty the Empress. She especially cherished Madam. She was as excited as the master and mistress about the birth of the fourth Young Lady."
"The fourth... I know, Baby Bird, right?"
That was the nickname of Dad's fourth child, who died before being born.
The whole estate was happy to hear from the Wizard that the fourth child was a daughter.
Dad must have been the same, because there were small shoes for girls in the drawer.
At first, I didn't know they were for the fourth child. I was curious about the words written on the shoes, so I asked Noth.
He hesitated for a moment before answering.
[They belong to the fourth Young Lady. It was her nickname. The master was looking forward to her so much that he had baby shoes made in advance.]
"That's right."
"Originally, the middle name should have been Lisette... Ah."
I understand why she cut me off when I introduced myself to Javelin.
'Because I, the child sent by the Temple, received the fourth child's name.'
I felt a little heavy-hearted.
'Everyone would have been happy if Baby Bird had been born safely.'
Then Lisette wouldn't have died in childbirth, and Dad and Javelin wouldn't have had to be lonely. The brothers would have lived happily with their own sister.
I was thinking that, but Leah's expression darkened.
She seemed to be worried that I would get on bad terms with Javelin.
Leah knelt down in front of the door and met my eyes.
"You'll be able to get close to Javelin. The Baby Bird looks a lot like Lisette."
"Me...?"
I have seen portraits of the Duchess.
Unlike me, who has light brown hair, she had brilliant and beautiful blonde hair, and she was beautiful enough to attract everyone's attention.
I've changed a lot in this life, but I'm not at the level that can be compared to Lisette.
"You don't look alike at all. I have these slanted eyes, but Lisette's eyes are so gentle."
When I raised and lowered the corners of my eyes, she chuckled.
"Not the face, but that aspect."
"That aspect?"
"You sometimes say things that are surprisingly similar to Lisette."
She playfully grabbed my instep.
"This mole is also similar to Lisette's. So I feel like the Baby Bird is like the late fourth Young Lady-"
"Leah."
It was a sharp voice.
Leah and I flinched and turned our heads. It was Javelin.
Her energy was much colder and more violent than before, and I was intimidated and hunched my shoulders.
"Who said she was Lisette's daughter?"
Leah's face turned pale.
Javelin seemed to cherish Leah, but she was said to be ruthless if she didn't like something.
'I've heard it before, even before the regression. Javelin killed her own people without hesitation when they angered her.'
I quickly approached Javelin.
"Um, um! Leah didn't mean that, she didn't say I was Lisette's daughter! She was just trying to comfort me. Because I said I wanted to get along with Javelin! So!"
When I waved my arms and spoke urgently, Javelin's eyes narrowed.
"Why do you want to get along with me."
"Because we're family..."
When I said in a barely audible voice, Javelin's face became strange.
