The duke only returned late in the evening.
As the one who had brought back the missing crown prince, he would likely be summoned to the palace several more times.
It seemed he had sent a messenger earlier to tell me to eat dinner first, but I had already told Garnet that I would dine with the duke.
Because I had something to tell him tomorrow.
I spoke to the duke, who was eating in front of me.
“Duke, I have a favor to ask.”
At my words, Miller, who was sitting beside me, also lifted his head.
“Go ahead.”
I took a deep breath and began the words I had prepared.
“There are children who are very precious to me. They’re all as young and weak as I am. They’re still trapped in the Troy Orphanage I escaped from… crying under the abuse of the director.”
At those words, Miller clattered his spoon down.
“You were abused too?!”
I lowered my head miserably and nodded faintly.
“That woman… I should’ve killed her when I had the chance!”
The duke raised a hand toward the agitated Miller, signaling him to calm down, and then turned to me and said,
“Tell me what you want. I’ll not only rescue those children, but also ensure that the orphanage director is punished.”
I pretended to hesitate. I had to warn them that what I was asking could be dangerous.
“Well… at the orphanage, when children turned fifteen, they were taken somewhere. I’m sure it wasn’t adoption. I once overheard the director in her office, and she clearly said—”
This was something I truly had heard in Rayola’s room.
“She said, ‘This one’s a big boy, so he’d be good as a laborer in the illegal mines. So how much will Duke Cablos’s house pay this time?’ She also said it was hard raising him and demanded a high price.”
I asked naively, as if I were truly wondering about the fate of my departed friends.
“Where is Duke Cablos’s estate? If I go there, can I meet my friends?”
As expected, after hearing my words, both the duke and Miller looked grim.
Of all people, it had to be the Cablos ducal house. Right now, they were being criticized by the concubines and the aristocratic faction for assisting the crown prince back to the palace. And the Duke of Cablos was essentially the leader of the noble faction.
Bringing the crown prince back could be justified as a duty, but exposing the dark deeds of the Duke of Cablos—deeds that were tacitly accepted across the empire—was something even the Duke of Rayes couldn’t decide lightly.
This could lead to a war between houses.
Even if the duke refused my request, I wouldn’t blame him.
‘Then I’ll have no choice but to hire a guild to rescue at least the kids still at the orphanage…’
“If that is your request.”
Just as I was lost in thought, the duke spoke.
With a very kind smile. Like that of a father looking at his daughter.
“There’s nothing I won’t do for you. The Duke of Cablos’s lot has gone too far for too long. And now they dare touch my daughter? Unforgivable.”
Miller also nodded at the duke’s decision.
“But if I grant your request, what will you do for me?”
What could I do? I have some experience with childcare… I’m good at hide and seek… want to fold origami together?
Thinking like that, I was honestly embarrassed by how little I had to offer.
As I hesitated, unable to speak, the duke smiled and said,
“Call me Dad.”
“Then… I’ll be your brother? Ugh, that title is really cringey. But I want you to call me that anyway.”
“Dad… Brother…?”
As Miller had said, those words felt oddly embarrassing after so long.
It seemed he had been bothered by the distance implied when I called them “duke.”
Calling him Dad… that was his request?
And that’s all it took?
A flood of question marks filled my head.
“We can’t openly declare war between ducal houses. But at the very least, our ducal house’s shadow knights can rescue the children who’ve already been taken.”
“That’s enough. There’s no need to save those who willingly participate in crimes. Thank you… Dad.”
He gently patted my head.
“Let us know whenever you need something. We’re family now.”
He stood up first, saying he’d gather a few trusted knights.
Only Miller and I remained.
I turned to him and asked something I had also wanted to ask the duke.
“Have you ever considered… that I might not be the real daughter of this house? Why are you so kind to me? Is it just because I resemble her?”
At my rambling, Miller said,
“We’ve been cautious, yes, thinking you might feel that way.”
He chuckled like a mischievous boy.
“But neither Father nor I see you that simply.”
I looked at him, my eyes trembling. For some reason, my nose stung.
“You now have the strongest support system in the world. So do whatever your heart desires.”
Miller said that, gave me a light tap on the head, and got up.
“……”
Garnet was quietly standing behind me.
In a barely audible voice, I asked her,
“Garnet, do you really think… I deserve this?”
I had convinced myself that I was just a stranger who had appeared out of nowhere to them.
Maybe the affection I saw in their eyes was actually directed at the name “Ravellia Jeanne Rayes.”
I thought maybe I was just a stand-in wearing the shell of that name.
Even if I truly was the daughter of House Rayes, until the truth came out, reality could still be twisted.
Just like how a painting can’t be verified as genuine until it’s appraised.
That’s what I thought… yet in that moment, I felt like a fool.
The moment I stormed out of that orphanage, this body and name had become mine—no disguise, no imposter.
Why didn’t I realize? There hadn’t been a single ounce of falsehood in their gaze.
Maybe it was because it had just been so long since I’d faced something this heartwarming.
“You’re the cherished lady of House Rayes. More than worthy.”
That was Garnet’s answer to my question.
Morning came.
The finest bedding, the luxurious sunlight streaming in through the window, the grand, geometric garden outside… none of it felt familiar.
Knock knock—
“Coming in, my lady.”
It was Garnet.
“Oh, you’re already awake?”
“Where’s the duke— I mean, Dad?”
“He’s still working. He had to prepare testimony and evidence for the crown prince’s return. Young Master Miller trains in the morning at the training grounds, as always.”
After a pause, Garnet smiled warmly and added,
“Normally, neither of them eats breakfast together. But today, both are waiting to have breakfast with you.”
I couldn’t contain the flutter in my heart as I let Garnet help me get ready.
“So Dad hasn’t slept at all…?”
I asked with concern as she helped me dress.
“He suffers from severe insomnia. This isn’t unusual. You don’t need to worry.”
Garnet smiled as she brushed my long hair.
Even though it had only been two days of care with expensive oils, the silver hair that had looked dirty at the orphanage now shimmered in soft waves down my back.
‘The unique color of innate mana…’
Rayes silver hair was nearly white, indicating purity. Mine, though, was a bit darker than white, lighter than gray—a decent silver.
And the soft pink glimmers throughout represented the color of my mana.
In the novel, it was described as “filthy” and “impure,” but the reflection I saw in the mirror was beautiful, like a doll.
My light green eyes sparkled in the light, and the silver hair looked anything but dirty.
If I had lived in Korea, I probably would’ve rushed to a salon asking to copy this look.
This wasn’t a setting error, but rather a result of Ria suffering through everything at the orphanage—even breaking her leg—and slowly losing her brilliance.
She had come to hate her own reflection so much that, after arriving at the duke’s, she had smashed every mirror because she couldn’t stand her “impure” silver hair.
‘She used to be so beautiful…’
Garnet braided one side of my hair prettily and dressed me in a dark red frilly dress.
All the dresses that had been loose last night had been tailored overnight to fit me perfectly.
Following Garnet out of the room, the girl in the mirror looked every bit the daughter of House Rayes.
I wondered what kind of reaction Rayola would have to this version of me.
As I walked to the dining room, I passed several busy servants already working early in the morning.
Some looked at me with curiosity, others with suspicion.
And then—
‘What’s with that man…?’
A man stood at a distance, gripping the doorframe and crying as he looked at me.
I stared at him, puzzled, and Garnet explained.
“That’s Chef Shrimp.”
“Ah…! So that’s what he looks like in real life!”
After she said that, his curled mustache really did look like shrimp whiskers, and his slicked-back auburn hair reminded me of a shrimp’s shell.
“The shrimp soup yesterday was amazing!”
It really was.
Especially the fried shrimp-head cube topping—perfection.
I gave him a big thumbs-up.
And then the chef, who had been hanging on the kitchen door like a fish in a net, let go and collapsed to the floor in tears.
At my startled expression, Garnet giggled and said,
“Chef Shrimp has worked at Rayes all his life but rarely received praise from the lords. This might be the first time since the late madam complimented him.”
Smiling, Garnet ushered me into the dining room and closed the door behind her.
The breakfast that Chef Shrimp had poured his soul into was already laid out, and Dad and Miller were seated.
“Good morning, Dad, Brother Miller.”
I greeted them and took my seat.
Dad still looked tired, just like the other day, but he smiled at me nonetheless.
‘That sharpness from before is completely gone.’
Miller smelled of cool water, probably having come straight from training after a shower.
“Mmm, this is delicious!”
I said as I tasted the shrimp cocktail salad. The toppings and handmade sauce were excellent.
Someone in the kitchen burst into quiet sobs at my words.
“I’ve assembled the knights. First, we’ll rescue the 20 or so children still at the orphanage, then interrogate the director to find where the others were sent and dispatch the shadow knights there.”
Dad was already preparing, planning according to my request.
“Right now, the noble faction has their swords pointed at us. If this mission is traced back to House Rayes, it’ll be trouble. Publicly, the story is that you and the crown prince escaped from the orphanage, and Rayes knights found you and brought you home. That’ll hold up.”
He looked at Miller as he spoke.
Advising him not to get too emotional and blow things up.
“I know, Father.”
From today onward, all the children must be safe. They had to be rescued from the infamous hands of Cablos. It would not be easy—but the Rayes family was doing it just because I asked.
“Dad, Brother, thank you. Really, thank you.”
At my words, both looked at me and smiled.
“We’re just grateful you escaped that orphanage and came here.”
Miller, sitting beside me, gently patted my head.
“I’ll go to the orphanage with you.”
“Are you sure? That woman you feared will be there. She can’t hurt you now, of course, but just seeing her might be painful.”
Miller had a point. I was scared of seeing Rayola again.
She used to get even angrier when I cried. That’s why I never learned how to cry out loud.
But I had to face her. For the kids. And for myself.
“Yes, I’ll go. I need to end this vicious cycle.”
