Chapter 55 – The Night of the Plan
I was just about to push open the library door when I froze in surprise.
It opened too easily. I had barely touched it, yet the heavy wooden door swung wide as if by magic.
Then I realized why.
Sir Wendell was standing right outside.
“Uncle Wendell?” I blurted.
Before I could say another word, I hurriedly tried to hide the two books I was holding behind my back.
“Um, this is, uh…”
But Wendell moved faster than I could finish. He smoothly took both books from my hands, didn’t even glance at their covers, and tucked them neatly under one arm.
Then he held out his other arm toward me — clearly telling me to come over.
I hesitated only a second before stepping closer. The next thing I knew, he had lifted me easily into his arms.
While he quietly walked toward the main building, I looked up at him and asked softly,
“Why are you here, Uncle?”
“I was just passing by,” he said simply. “I saw the door opening and thought I should check.”
“Oh… I see.”
I glanced at the books in his hand.
‘Come to think of it, they don’t even have titles on the covers.’
I’d read that, long ago, it used to be fashionable to leave book covers blank — and I guess that was true after all.
‘Well, that explains why he’s not asking questions.’
Honestly, I had been worried he’d scold me for taking books without permission.
‘But hey, fine by me!’
Feeling more at ease, I turned my gaze up toward the darkening evening sky.
Before long, we reached the main building.
“I’ll be going now,” Wendell said with a polite smile after setting me down in front of my door.
I waved enthusiastically as he turned to leave, then quickly slipped into my room — clutching the books tightly to my chest.
“Lady Lia! You’re finally back!”
“Did Sir Wendell bring you?”
Miel and Soya rushed over the moment I came in, smiling brightly.
They each took one of the books from my hands and guided me toward the table.
On the table sat a perfect little plate — fresh strawberry cake and a glass of milk, prettily arranged.
“Wow! Cake!”
My mouth watered instantly.
As soon as I picked up my fork, Miel began to chatter.
“We were so worried! If Miss Anne hadn’t told us you were in the library, we would’ve searched the whole estate. What were you studying this time?”
“Umm, just something I was curious about for my medicine research…” I mumbled, stuffing a big bite of cake into my mouth.
Miel giggled. “You shouldn’t overwork yourself, my lady. Children need to sleep well, eat well, and play! Too much studying isn’t good.”
Soya nodded eagerly. “Y-yes! Lady Lia spends far too long sitting at her desk for her age.”
“And the Viscount,” Miel added with a pout, “instead of stopping her, he keeps giving her more lessons!”
As always, their concern for me turned into mild scolding of Owen.
I shifted uncomfortably, a hint of guilt prickling in my chest.
‘If only they knew I’m the one overworking him.’
But of course, they didn’t.
“My lady, really, you should study less,” Miel insisted.
“R-right. You should just play with your friends from the orphanage instead,” Soya said. “Please?”
Their lecture went on and on.
I half-listened, smiling weakly while thinking to myself,
‘But if I stop, you two will be the first ones to lose your jobs.’
That was the truth.
From what I’d seen, Sharon Abner was in serious danger.
The branch families and the elder council were determined to overthrow her this time.
‘That meeting I overheard… that was honestly shocking.’
I’d known her relationship with the branch lines was bad — but not this bad.
‘They’d find fault with the way she breathes if they could.’
How she’d managed to survive this long was beyond me.
Then a thought struck me.
‘Maybe that’s why…’
In my previous life, the first time I’d ever met Sharon Abner was at Hyana Longtern’s first research competition party — the one celebrating her victory.
Duke Longtern had been so proud that he’d even invited his old rival, Sharon Abner, to the grand event.
That was the day Sharon Abner had looked straight at me and said—
“That winning formula didn’t come from Hyana Longtern, did it? It came from you.”
She’d figured it out instantly — a secret only Hyana and I knew.
“Lambert must be threatening you. Why live like that? Isn’t it a waste of such a rare talent?”
Her calm, composed face as I stood there pale and speechless… I could still picture it clearly.
“If you ever need help, send me a letter. I’ll help you, no strings attached.”
She had given me her personal seal that day and left.
But I never used it.
There were many reasons, but in the end… I simply didn’t have the courage.
‘And by the time I thought maybe I should reach out—’
Sharon Abner was dead.
Just like that.
“Ha! Serves her right. The Abner family must have torn itself apart from the inside.”
“Looks like we can finally relax now, Father.”
The Duke of Longtern and his sons had been delighted.
But deep down, everyone knew her death wasn’t natural.
I had been certain she was murdered.
How could she not have been?
Even as the Duchess, she’d always stood alone.
No matter how much recognition or success she earned outside, the Abner family itself never truly accepted her.
That’s why people used to say Sharon Abner’s worst enemies were within her own house.
‘Maybe even back then, she died because of internal power struggles.’
I thought about that seriously as I tasted the sweet cream melting in my mouth.
Then nodded to myself.
‘Yeah… after ten years of that kind of pressure, I might’ve died too.’
Just like I had, in my past life — after enduring too much, for too long.
“I’m done!” I said cheerfully, setting down my fork.
Soya wiped the strawberry cream from my lips.
“Time for bed, my lady. Do you want something to drink before sleeping?”
Miel handed me a warm cup of milk.
I took it gratefully and drank it down.
Then, pretending to sound a little hesitant, I began the line I’d prepared.
“Um… you see…”
Both women looked at me with curious eyes.
“I had a scary dream last night, and I don’t want to sleep alone…”
“Oh, dear! You should’ve told us earlier!” Miel exclaimed, opening her arms wide.
“Then tonight you can sleep with me—”
“I want to sleep with Mika!” I said quickly.
“Huh?”
Miel froze mid-hug, looking confused.
I felt a pang of guilt but pressed on.
“Can’t I? Mika likes sleeping with me too…”
And that part was true. Back at the orphanage, Mika and I had shared a bed often.
Miel and Soya exchanged glances, then nodded.
“O-of course, my lady. I’ll bring Miss Mika here. You can sleep together.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
I clapped my hands happily — or at least pretended to.
The truth was, I didn’t want to sleep.
I wanted to plan.
A secret strategy meeting — with Mika.
***
“Ten grape candies.”
“Twenty!”
“…Thirteen. I can’t give you more.”
“Fifteen!”
I sighed as I met Mika’s determined gaze.
“Fine. Fifteen.”
“Yay! Deal!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down! We’ll get caught!”
Giggling, Mika dove under the blanket.
I frowned but followed her.
“So, promise?” she whispered. “You’ll give me fifteen grape candies if I help you go to the west wing tomorrow?”
“Yes, promise. But you have to bring Lawrence with you.”
I held up the teddy bear I’d prepared.
Mika looked at me like I was hopeless.
“Okay, fine. But Lia, you really are like a little sister sometimes.”
“We’re only a month apart! How am I the little one?”
“Because you act like it! Seriously, you want to show your teddy bear around the mansion?”
She shook her head dramatically, then whispered gravely,
“Lia… I didn’t want to tell you this before, but… your bear’s dead. Even if you take him on a tour, he can’t see anything.”
I stayed silent, turning my back to her.
But Mika kept talking.
“I didn’t want to shock you, but yeah — all dolls are dead! I just found out recently myself.”
“…”
“But since I really want those fifteen candies, I’ll help you this time. So, what do I do? His name’s Lawrence, right?”
I almost laughed.
‘Oh, Mika… you have no idea what this “little sister” of yours is plotting.’
Mr. Lawrence wasn’t just a teddy bear.
He was a fully functional spy device — a magic stone recorder hidden inside one glass eye.
And the left eye, sewn shut with thread that absorbed sound? I’d already removed that.
‘All I need to do is drop it somewhere along the hallway — specifically in front of his room.’
The room that once belonged to Jaden Abner.
The man who had inherited the Duke’s title right after Sharon Abner’s death.
