006. Nadia’s Resolve
After the commotion at my birthday party, Count Lenart decided to stay a few more days at the capital mansion, worried about my health.
Later, I heard from my governess that Count Lenart had even gone so far as to forbid all visitors from entering, to ensure I could rest.
Not only outsiders, but even Mila and Liam weren’t allowed into my room.
‘I only felt a little dizzy from the fire scare… he’s really overprotective.’
On top of that, Count Lenart set aside all his duties and spent entire days in my room.
“Papa, don’t you have to go to work?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll stay here until Nadia rests and feels better.”
“But I’m okay…”
“No, no! You were so startled you even fainted. The physician said you need several days of proper rest.”
I had clearly heard the physician say I was perfectly healthy. That lying dad of mine.
Despite my grumbling, I didn’t dislike the feeling of being doted on as the cherished youngest daughter.
Since he would be by my side for a few days, I decided to take this opportunity to learn more about this world I had possessed and the Lenart family.
Having arrived alone in a strange world, I had been bewildered, but I couldn’t afford to stay that way and risk collapsing along with my family—I needed to build some background knowledge.
“Then, Papa, let’s read books. I want to.”
“All right. What would you like to hear? Shall I read you a storybook?”
“Hmm… no. I want to know history!”
“History of the Empire? Of the Edmons Empire?”
“Yes!”
“That might be difficult at your age… I’ll see if there’s a book you can easily read.”
Tilting his head thoughtfully, Count Lenart returned shortly with several thick books in hand.
“Since Liam has been learning history lately, I brought his textbooks. And, of course, our family’s history is inseparable from the Edmons Empire, so I also brought a collection of our ancestors’ portraits.”
Count Lenart settled by the head of my bed and opened one of the heavy books.
The first page showed two maps. He pointed to the first map and began to speak.
“Long ago, this Empire was divided into many small countries. About a hundred years ago, Edmons I ended a long war, unified the territories, and established the Edmons Empire, ascending as its first Emperor.”
I followed his finger with my eyes, focusing on his words.
“Currently, His Majesty Emperor Ludwig Edmons III rules the Empire. From His late Empress, he has one Crown Prince, and with the current Empress, one Crown Prince and one Crown Princess…”
Hmm, do I really need to know the imperial genealogy in such detail?
Listening to Count Lenart’s calm, steady voice made me drowsy.
As he continued to elaborate on how the Lenart family had contributed to the Empire’s formation, recounting the achievements of our ancestors, my eyes gradually closed.
For three days, I repeated the cycle of eating the meals Count Lenart brought me, listening to his stories, and falling asleep.
“Now I’m bored.”
“Nadia, what did you say?”
“I’m so bored!”
By the fourth day, having roughly gathered the information I wanted, I stomped my little feet and shouted like a child reaching her limit, ready to leave the bed.
Finally, Count Lenart seemed to believe I had fully recovered and allowed Mila and Liam, who had been waiting outside every day, to enter my room.
The children who had been lingering outside the firmly closed door burst in.
“Nadia! I was so worried about you.”
“Why did you have to collapse like that? You’re so fragile…”
Liam handed me a letter, written in his uneven scrawl, muttering under his breath.
Mila giggled and whispered to me.
“Liam got scolded badly by Dad that day. Then he came to me, saying he wanted to write you a letter and needed help.”
I took the letter.
Though I couldn’t yet read the writing of this world, I could guess its contents from the illustrations.
It was telling me to get up quickly and play together.
‘I’ve never received a letter like this from my family before.’
As I gazed quietly at the unreadable letter, my vision blurred.
Having a family who genuinely cared for me still felt strange, but all of this had been granted to me in this life.
Was someone trying to make up for the childhood I had never been cared for?
Tears fell, soaking the paper.
“Nadia! My little sister, why are you crying? Are you still in pain?”
“Ah, no… it’s nothing…”
“What? Could it be that my letter moved you?”
Mila hugged me tightly, patting my back, while Liam stood awkwardly, shy and unsure.
When Count Lenart’s warm hand stroked my head, I finally broke down and cried out loud.
Surrounded by my bewildered family, I sobbed my heart out and made a vow.
All right. Since this is the way things are, I’ll live once as the loved youngest daughter.
And I will protect this happiness for as long as I can.
Because safeguarding the Count family is the same as protecting my own happiness. Let’s see if I can make it work.
I’ll find a way to make sure my sister doesn’t die,
So that Dad’s heart doesn’t break,
And Liam doesn’t have to leave for the battlefield.
The next morning, our whole family set off by carriage toward the estate.
One carriage was packed full with my birthday gifts, so Dad, my sister, Liam, the governess, and I had no choice but to ride together.
“Little Miss, since the mistress is tired, please come this way.”
The governess said awkwardly to me as I clung tightly to Dad.
I shook my head, burrowing deeper into Dad’s embrace.
“It’s fine, governess. The carriage is narrow anyway, so one child has to sit here. Don’t worry about Nadia—just watch over Mila and Liam. I suppose she’s just craving her father’s arms today.”
When Dad raised his hand to stop her, the governess bowed apologetically, looking embarrassed.
I leaned back comfortably, relieved.
“Nadia, would you like to lie down across Papa’s lap?”
Dad removed my shoes and adjusted me so I could rest comfortably.
Though the carriage jolted roughly, the cushioned seat was surprisingly soft and comfortable.
I watched his handsome features as he read the newspaper and silently admired him.
‘Even from this angle, no flaws. Truly handsome. How can a middle-aged man’s skin be so fair and flawless? Baby-soft.’
My thoughts bounced around.
‘Luke’s skin was fair too, though his hair was so dark compared to our family—so pretty.’
Curious, I asked.
“Papa, where does Luke live?”
Dad looked up from his newspaper and regarded me gently.
“Luke… you mean the nephew of Duke Edgal, I suppose.”
“Duke Edgal?”
“He’s the elder of the most influential family in the capital. When I was young, he sometimes taught at the Academy.”
“Then Luke is a duke?”
“Well, he’s a distant nephew living at his estate. I heard he just came up to the capital briefly.”
“I see.”
“Come to think of it, I believe he was there when you collapsed. You were too dazed to greet him.”
“Yes! Luke was right beside me when I fainted.”
“Is that so? You’ll have to thank him next time you meet. Or maybe send a letter to Duke Edgal first when you arrive.”
Dad muttered to himself, returning to his newspaper.
Even while the carriage swayed, Dad seemed unfazed.
Feeling queasy from the unfamiliar motion, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
The carriage rolled steadily toward the estate.
We left early in the morning and traveled diligently, but frequent stops for the children meant we only reached the estate the following day.
“Finally, we’re here!”
Liam, who had suffered the most during the long journey, stretched and exclaimed.
I slowly got up and lifted the carriage window cover.
Outside, green fields stretched as far as the eye could see.
The closer we got to the lord’s castle, the more workers I noticed.
Everyone’s expressions were cheerful, and as the carriage passed, they respectfully lifted their headscarves and bowed.
‘This estate seems well managed.’
I smiled, pleased that Dad was a model lord.
If he were a greedy lord exploiting his people, I would have felt guilty living comfortably on their labor.
Lost in thought while watching the scenery, the carriage entered the lord’s castle.
‘This will be my new home…!’
Clutching my elephant doll tightly, I tried to hide the nervous excitement in my chest.
Finally, the carriage stopped and the door opened.
