Chapter 80
‘Why did it end up like this?’
The dining hall of the eastern annex.
Elbadin, Serdian, Lucillea, and Elise sat facing each other at a massive dining table.
On top of the precarious silence, the faint clinking of utensils echoed quietly.
‘It was Elise who suggested we eat together, so why are we here too…?’
Just a moment ago, when Elise had suggested they share breakfast, Elbadin had cast Lucillea a peculiar glance.
—“Since food happens to be prepared in the east annex, let us dine there together.”
And so, dragged along, they ended up in the annex dining hall.
The sudden visit of the Archduke had thrown the eastern annex kitchen into chaos.
Serdian, too, was equally surprised.
Lucillea had shown up, trailing not only Elbadin but also Elise. Serdian’s eyes had widened slightly when he saw them.
‘I’m sorry! I didn’t know it would turn out like this!’
Lucillea tried to apologize with her eyes, but Serdian simply returned to his usual expression and shook his head slowly.
Once the meal began, it was Elise who broke the awkward silence.
With flawless dining manners, she lifted her spoonful of soup and spoke to Elbadin in a bright voice.
“The chef of the Archduke’s estate seems to be excellent whether it’s the main building or the annex.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes!”
Elbadin gave only a curt reply. Even though it could have been an embarrassing moment, Elise was undeterred, this time turning her gaze toward Serdian.
“We haven’t even greeted each other properly, have we?”
“…”
Elise gave him a kind smile.
“Would it be alright if I called you brother?”
“…”
But Serdian didn’t spare her so much as a glance. He simply continued to stare down at his plate, eating in silence.
It was blatant disregard.
Yet Elise didn’t flinch in the least.
As if she had already anticipated such a response, she only let her eyes droop slightly, as though saddened.
“Perhaps because I suddenly gained both a father and an older brother, I feel a bit awkward too…”
With lowered brows, she added softly:
“But I’ll try my best to get used to it.”
At that moment, Elbadin set his water glass down and spoke in a calm tone.
“No conclusions have been reached yet. Using such titles now is premature, so restrain yourself.”
“Ah… I wasn’t thinking.”
“I’m sorry…” Elise bowed her head, embarrassed.
Watching the scene, Lucillea finally realized something.
‘Ah… I wasn’t the only one unsettled by this.’
Serdian…
His heart must be more troubled than anyone’s.
In this world where bloodlines were paramount, the appearance of a true child meant that Serdian’s position as heir could be overturned at any moment.
‘It also means that everything I tried so hard to protect could be shaken.’
Lucillea had two reasons for not revealing she was Elbadin’s biological child.
First, she had no trust or expectations of a “father.”
Second, she wanted to prevent the Archduke’s branch family and retainers from using her existence to topple Serdian.
She had believed that was the best way to prevent things from heading toward the original revenge ending.
But now, things had changed.
‘With that girl’s appearance…’
All her efforts could end up wasted.
Lucillea herself disliked this situation, but perhaps Serdian was now feeling the same unease he had in the original story.
‘And if that girl’s existence is announced…’
Then the branch family and retainers might begin to move in earnest.
‘Even though my existence still hasn’t been revealed…’
If that happened, even without Lucillea being exposed, the new girl “Elise” might play the role of villainess and drive Serdian out.
At that point, Cookie cautiously asked:
[So what do we do, Lucy? Are we just gonna let her steal our bowl of rice?!]
In truth, maybe this situation wasn’t all bad for Lucillea.
Now that someone else had appeared claiming to be the true child, the suspicion that Lucillea might be the real daughter had dropped dramatically.
That should have been a relief…
‘Like hell it is!’
[ …! ]
No, this was wrong.
‘I can’t just sit back and watch Serdian get miserably driven out of the Archduke’s house like in the original story!’
Nor did she want to see his blade turn against the Archduke’s family—or against Elbadin himself—because of it.
‘I refuse to let this household fall into ruin because of a child whose authenticity we don’t even know.’
[ Ooh! Then Lucy’s gonna step up?! You’re gonna shout, “I’m the real daughter! Everyone else, scram!” ]
‘No.’
[ Eh? Why not?! Isn’t that the best way?! ]
‘Look at me. Who would ever believe it?’
[ Ah… ]
Cookie sighed.
Right now, Lucillea had brown hair and brown eyes.
She didn’t resemble Elbadin or Radia in the slightest.
Naturally, she still didn’t know the conditions to undo the appearance-changing spell.
‘On top of that, I lied about my age too.’
She couldn’t suddenly announce, “Actually, I’m eight years old!”
‘And the only proof I have is that piece of dress fabric…’
Meanwhile, Elise not only had the fabric, but also a necklace—an item Elbadin had immediately recognized as Radia’s.
‘And she has Baron Jaeger as a strong witness, with his testimony too.’
If Lucillea now claimed, “I’m your daughter,” or “I’m also your daughter,” it would only seem laughable and absurd.
[Then… does that mean we just sit back and do nothing?!]
‘For now…’
Then suddenly—
‘Wait.’
It was true she couldn’t reveal herself as the daughter right now, nor would anyone believe her if she did.
‘But maybe I can still stop things from following the original storyline.’
[ Ooh! How?! ]
Clutching her fork tightly, Lucillea glared at Elise.
‘I’ll make that girl my ally!’
[ Whaaaat?! ]
Heh heh heh. Lucillea laughed inwardly.
‘Did you forget? I’m the one who managed to become friends with that iron-walled Serdian!’
[ Ohhh! That’s right! ] Cookie nodded as if he’d just remembered.
‘No matter how clever she acts, that girl’s still only eight years old mentally.’
Compared to Lucillea, who had lived a whole past life, Elise didn’t even come close!
‘First, I’ll befriend her and slowly get to know her.’
This wasn’t something to be rushed.
It was time to recall her original determination—to prevent Serdian’s descent into darkness.
‘I’ll have to carefully approach her, so that Elise doesn’t end up being manipulated by the branch family or retainers in my place.’
So that she wouldn’t end up becoming the villainess instead.
‘And if I do that, I might find out…’
Which adults were trying to use that girl as a fake.
‘If I expose them, this troublesome situation might clear up somewhat.’
At this point, Lucillea had no other options anyway.
Even determining whether the evidence Baron Jaeger brought was real would take time.
In the meantime, it would be wise to gather whatever information she could through Baron Jaeger and Elise while they stayed in the Archduke’s estate.
As Lucillea mulled over these thoughts, picking at her food—
“Do you have something on your mind?”
Elbadin asked her.
“Eh?!”
Startled, Lucillea looked up, meeting his eyes.
“You seem unusually troubled.”
“Ah…”
Had she been too obvious?
Quickly schooling her expression, Lucillea shook her head.
“No, of course not. What could I possibly have to worry about?”
She scratched her cheek awkwardly as she answered, and Elbadin gave a small nod.
“I heard your herb cultivation is progressing well.”
Oh, the herbs!
At the mention, Lucillea’s face lit up, and she nodded rapidly.
“Yes! Grandfather Arkel got me some rare herb seeds from the eastern continent, you know? I didn’t expect them to grow, but so far they’re doing really well. All thanks to Your Grace supporting my private garden!”
All hail the Archduke’s funding!
At her words, Elbadin gave a faint smile.
“Well done.”
Ehehehe… Lucillea laughed sheepishly at the compliment, which she still wasn’t used to hearing from him.
At that moment—
“Was it me…? Did I make things uncomfortable?”
Elise’s trembling voice broke into their conversation.
