Chapter 07
It’s natural for a knight’s hands to be rough, and yet he said that made me “unrefined”? And he even brought up my background… This is a complete insult.
I thought, since I was still just a child, that the worst I could do was throw a tantrum or show a little displeasure… I had underestimated things.
I felt all the energy drain from my body as I listened to Calix’s shocking words.
“Do you not even remember deliberately spilling water on your mother, crying and throwing tantrums because you hated being engaged to a worthless noble, and insulting our family?”
I bowed my head deeply at that.
“Olga…”
As soon as Calix finished speaking, faint memories of Laila started surfacing.
“It was true.”
All the questions about why Calix hated Laila so much were now answered.
“Damn it.”
I muttered a curse under my breath. Even though it had been the actions caused by brainwashing magic, there was only one thing I could do right now.
I stood up and bowed deeply to Calix.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I’ll also apologize properly to the Duchess.”
“….”
“I’ll never behave that way again. I’m truly sorry.”
As I lowered my head in sincere apology, Calix seemed a little surprised by my behavior. He remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean. People don’t change. I don’t believe someone like you.”
He said coldly and turned his back, walking away.
By the time I lifted my head, Calix had already gone far ahead.
Shaking from shock and embarrassment, I slumped into the chair.
“So that’s why Calix hated Laila so much.”
Once I roughly understood the situation, I felt indignant.
It was frustrating to apologize for something I hadn’t done, and upsetting to realize that I was the one who hurt my beloved the most.
The original story’s setup was tightening around me like a noose, and I couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding.
“Ugh.”
For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes.
In my previous life, I was someone who never cried, even when people ignored me for being an orphan.
But now…
“I guess I’ve really become a ten-year-old child.”
The official first meeting with Calix had been a disaster, and my plan had already run into trouble before it even began.
I felt despair at the cruel reality and tried to wipe my falling tears with my sleeve.
“…?”
At that moment, a white handkerchief embroidered with laurel appeared before my eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
It was Lavina.
I should have been happy to be alone with her, but strangely, the tears wouldn’t stop.
Without a sound, Lavina approached and handed me the handkerchief.
“Ah…”
To show such a pitiful sight in front of my beloved… I stared blankly at Lavina, tears dangling from my eyes.
“Tears are falling like jewels from your beautiful eyes.”
Her words caught me off guard, and my face flushed.
This woman—why is she flirting with me?!
Lavina gently wiped my tears and patted my back with warm hands.
A spring breeze brought her subtle, clean scent, and my sadness calmed somewhat.
Calix’s words kept flashing through my mind. Then I realized something.
“Do you not even remember deliberately spilling water on your mother, crying and throwing tantrums because you hated being engaged to a worthless noble, and insulting our family?”
I hadn’t done that.
That had been the original Laila’s actions. Yet…
“I don’t want Lavina to hate me too.”
The desire to be forgiven overtook everything else.
I stood up and bowed to Lavina.
“I’m sorry. I remember now. I apologize for behaving so badly until now.”
Lavina’s gaze wavered slightly.
She seemed surprised by my sudden change.
“….”
“If you want, I’ll apologize to the Duke’s family and accept any punishment you deem necessary.”
Lavina’s red eyes stayed fixed on me without a word.
She was upright and just, but ruthless to her declared enemies.
Feeling that Lavina might not forgive me, I fiddled nervously with my innocent nails.
After a long silence, she slowly spoke.
“Punishment… you say?”
I felt like my knees went weak and bowed deeply.
At that moment, Lavina placed her hand gently on my head.
I flinched in surprise.
“Huh?”
She carefully stroked my head with a gentle smile.
“Then… may I call you ‘Lala’?”
I shot up, startled.
“Eh?”
“When Sierra and James call you by a nickname, I felt a little jealous. And I know you didn’t like me calling your name before.”
Was she joking? In this situation?
Her expression seemed playful, but it didn’t feel like a joke.
Could she really be serious?
I rolled my eyes in disbelief.
Lavina shrugged and continued.
“Calix’s nickname came from your husband, so it wasn’t easy to use it for him.”
Smiling lightly, Lavina was the very image of beauty. I found myself staring at her, almost hypnotized.
“May I call you ‘Lala’?”
“Eh? Yes! Of course! But I’ve done so many wrong things…”
I hesitated, trailing off.
In her calm, gentle voice, Lavina continued.
“Your name, ‘Laila,’ is actually a combination of my name, Lavina, and your mother Sierra’s name.”
“…!”
I had no idea my name came from both Lavina and my mother.
“Since Sierra and I decided it together, I don’t think James even knows. He’s so weak to Sierra that he always goes along with her. He probably had no say in your name at all.”
Lavina laughed cheerfully.
“I didn’t know my name was connected to two people.”
I struggled to process my confusion. It was surprising and fascinating at the same time.
“Since the accident, Laila has changed a lot. Then I will also forget the past memories.”
“Really?”
I couldn’t believe Lavina would forgive me so easily.
She added a warm smile.
“Hmm, and about Calix…”
My heart skipped a beat as she brought up Calix.
“Calix is from the north, so he’s a bit rough, right?”
I snapped my mouth shut like a clam.
Not “a bit rough”—his gaze could kill someone.
I shivered remembering the way Calix looked at me.
“He’s actually a kind child. He mostly grew up in the north, so his social skills are lacking, which worries me.”
Kind… kind, she said?
At that moment, I realized that Lavina and I might have very different definitions of “kind.”
“I hope you don’t treat him too formally just because you’re engaged.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head.
“Tying you and Calix together with an engagement wasn’t what everyone wanted. But for other nobles, marriage is a business for profit.”
I had forgotten—
I was the daughter of the Marquess of Brillston, a great noble family.
Lavina’s expression darkened.
“The engagement is meant to protect you from being used in adult political struggles.”
I nodded immediately, understanding.
The Tracia Marquisate was the only long-standing noble family in the empire and a guardian of the north, protecting it from monsters.
They had always been loyal to the emperor, but after the unexpected death of the second crown prince, the remaining crown prince ascended, and the imperial family and my father, James Brillston, grew distant.
Even during a major northern landslide, the imperial family provided no help.
The current Turvad Empire emperor was a greedy man, only looking out for himself.
So my father, with wealth rivaling the imperial family, would have been the number one target of suspicion.
And I was his daughter…
I had wondered why Lavina, who had been mistreated by nobles as an illegitimate child, got her son Calix engaged early, but it was to protect a precious friend’s daughter.
Learning these hidden circumstances, which weren’t in the original story, was astonishing.
At the same time, I panicked thinking about how I could make up for what the original Laila had done to Calix and the Marquisate.
Lavina, who had silently watched my increasingly gloomy expression, muttered:
“You never know what people will do. If Calix ends up displeasing you, just kick him later.”
Pft—
I barely held back a laugh, covering my mouth with both hands.
“Sierra was one of the most beautiful women in the empire. If a good person comes along for you, then you can break off the engagement and remain friends with Calix.”
I nodded, almost hypnotized by her warm smile.
A pleasant breeze brushed my collar.
“Lala. There’s one thing I want to ask you.”
Feeling good thanks to Lavina, I blinked and waited.
“Why is someone as young as you filled with fear of death?”
