Chapter 08
“Huh?”
“Your big sister happens to be a very capable person.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Aeshila’s voice.
Her calm, matter-of-fact tone only made her words sound even more convincing.
Ronell silently looked up at the woman carrying her.
To a child whose greatest dream had been nothing more than leaving that house…
A simple promise was engraved into her heart.
“So I can turn your dream into reality.”
“And I will.”
“So for now…”
“You can think of this as a dream.”
“…”
“But before long…”
“It’ll become reality.”
Ronell still couldn’t quite believe it.
Even so…
She quietly nodded.
Then she adjusted her arms around Aeshila’s neck, hugging her a little more securely.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally began introducing herself.
“Um…”
“I…”
“Yes?”
“Thank you…”
“For saving me…”
“But…”
“I…”
“I can’t use the Artes family name.”
“I’m sorry.”
That’s actually a relief.
The thought slipped into Aeshila’s mind automatically.
Then she saw the child’s crestfallen face.
Oh dear…
I can practically read every thought running through that tiny head.
She had just explained that Ronell would inherit ten percent of Reinhardt Duncan’s fortune.
Yet…
The child still hadn’t grasped what that truly meant.
“I…”
“I can’t really do anything well.”
“…”
“Animals…”
“They seem to like me…”
Ronell murmured as though making a confession.
Aeshila quietly listened.
“Oh…”
“My hair is thick.”
“It hurts when people pull it…”
“But it grows back quickly.”
Aeshila couldn’t help smiling.
One day…
I’ll have to come back here and rip out the Countess’s hair.
“And…”
Ronell seriously searched for something else.
Eventually…
She lowered her head.
“That’s all.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I don’t have any talents…”
“Meow.”
Ruby’s sharp cry echoed from below.
Aeshila adjusted Ronell more comfortably in her arms.
“S-Sorry…”
Perhaps Ronell thought her self-introduction was finally over.
Aeshila was just about to speak—
But Ronell beat her to it.
“B-But…”
“I’ll work hard.”
“…”
“So…”
“If possible…”
“Please don’t abandon me…”
Ruby exploded into an indignant chorus of furious meows.
What nonsense is my butler saying?!
The outraged cries echoed through the night.
That cat is absolutely furious.
He’s meowing in every possible tone.
“Little one.”
“…Yes?”
Aeshila glanced down at the wealthy family’s pampered cat.
“You know…”
“Your cat.”
“Yes.”
“He’s a beast that only knows how to spend money.”
Ruby immediately smacked her shoe with one fluffy paw.
He scratched at it with all his might.
Aeshila remained perfectly composed.
Ronell blinked in surprise.
“I-Is that so?”
“It is.”
“And despite never earning a single coin…”
“He’s an expert at recognizing only the very best.”
Fresh salmon shipped directly from icy northern seas.
Collars decorated with gemstones expensive enough to astonish noblewomen.
And that wasn’t all.
“If his cushion becomes even slightly less fluffy…”
“He tears it to pieces.”
“And he refuses to use any blanket unless it’s made from the finest cashmere.”
“…”
“Do you know what happens if you give him something cheap?”
“W-What happens?”
“He throws every tantrum imaginable.”
Ruby instantly began throwing a fit.
He bit the hem of Aeshila’s trousers before angrily slapping her leg with his tail.
Naturally…
He was furious after hearing himself being insulted in front of his future owner.
Ignoring his outrage…
Aeshila lazily finished her point.
“Anyway…”
“…”
“That ridiculously picky little creature…”
“Chose you.”
“T-Thank you…”
“…for saying that.”
It’s not just something I’m saying.
Aeshila nearly clicked her tongue.
She quickly stopped herself.
If she did that now…
The child’s confidence would only sink even lower.
There was no way years of shattered self-esteem could be repaired within a few hours.
Especially not when the child still believed all of this was just a dream.
Slowly.
Little by little.
A child who’s about to become unimaginably wealthy shouldn’t grow up lacking confidence.
Otherwise she’ll become the perfect target for swindlers.
Mitchell opened the carriage door.
Before climbing inside…
Aeshila looked up at the night sky.
It was so beautifully clear that she almost understood why Ronell believed this had to be a dream.
Stars glittered across the heavens.
For some reason…
Aeshila felt she would never forget this night either.
By the time they arrived at the Duncan estate…
Ronell finally woke from her sleepy daze.
The focus slowly returned to her beautiful spring-green eyes.
Ruby confidently strolled through the familiar entrance.
Meanwhile…
Ronell looked around in astonishment.
The interior was incomparably grander than the Count’s mansion.
A vast marble entrance hall.
A magnificent chandelier decorated with crystals of every color.
Even the sweeping staircase spiraling upward looked majestic.
“Do you like it?”
Aeshila asked with a smile.
Ronell hugged her tightly before giving a small nod.
She couldn’t hide her amazement.
“Yes.”
“Is it beautiful?”
“Yes…”
“What makes it beautiful?”
Ronell blinked twice.
Then…
With a very serious expression…
She carefully examined everything around her again.
Trying desperately to describe it.
“It’s gorgeous…”
“And colorful…”
“Um…”
“It looks like…”
“Somewhere the Emperor would live…”
“So…”
“…”
Finally…
She gave up.
“It’s…”
“Really beautiful.”
Seeing Ronell nervously watching her reaction…
Aeshila smiled warmly.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Thank you.”
“Aisa.”
“Yes, my lady?”
A middle-aged woman happened to be coming down the staircase.
She immediately quickened her pace.
Neatly dressed…
She wore a warm, approachable smile while executing a flawless bow.
Her ash-brown hair was pinned elegantly with jeweled hairpins.
Dimples appeared naturally whenever she smiled.
Overall…
She gave an exceptionally kind impression.
“Aisa.”
“This little lady is Ronell.”
“She’s the next owner…”
“…or rather…”
“The next butler chosen by Ruby.”
“Oh?”
“So this is the young lady?”
Everyone in House Duncan already knew the contents of Reinhardt Duncan’s outrageous will.
When they first heard its final clause…
Most of them had joked that whoever inherited the fortune would have to devote their life to serving that impossible cat.
Aeshila gently set Ronell down.
Ruby immediately rubbed against the girl’s thin legs.
Even Reinhardt…
Ruby’s longtime butler…
Rarely received that much affection.
Aisa was left speechless.
Watching her nervously…
Ronell timidly bowed.
“M-My name is Ronell.”
“I’m sorry for disturbing you so late at night.”
Behind her…
Aeshila silently poked her own cheek with one finger.
Smile.
It was an unmistakable signal.
Aisa immediately beamed.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ronell.”
“I hope we’ll get along well.”
“Ah…”
“Y-Yes…”
“It’s nice to meet you too…”
Ronell answered in an almost inaudible voice.
She was clearly afraid of adults.
Her eyes constantly trembled as she watched Aisa’s every movement.
A child raised like this…
Aisa carefully hid her expression.
No matter where one went…
There were always adults unworthy of being called human.
“Little one.”
Aeshila gently brushed Ronell’s golden hair aside.
Ronell instinctively flinched.
Then slowly relaxed.
Wonder filled her eyes as she looked around.
She still believed this was a dream.
A dream…
Aeshila almost reminded her that it wasn’t.
Instead…
She decided against it.
The child needed sleep first.
Once she woke tomorrow morning…
She would realize this was reality.
“Go with Aisa.”
“Take a bath.”
“Change into some soft pajamas.”
“And sleep well.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes…”
“Thank you…”
“I’ll be quiet…”
“And go straight to sleep.”
Aeshila suppressed the irritation rising inside her.
Children were allowed to be noisy.
If they caused trouble in public, that was one thing.
But inside their own home?
Who cared?
Maybe I should visit House Artes again…
And teach them what real noise sounds like.
She reluctantly abandoned the tempting idea.
“Our rooms are well soundproofed.”
“Even if your cat tears the place apart…”
“No one will hear a thing.”
The same went for Aeshila herself.
No one could hear her rampaging either.
“B-But…”
“I’ll still behave…”
“You can do whatever you like.”
“And whether you’re quiet or not…”
“There’s no one in this house who’ll scold you.”
“…”
“If anyone does…”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll crush them.”
She made the promise casually.
Then gently stroked Ronell’s head one last time.
Aisa carefully offered her hand.
After a moment’s hesitation…
Ronell timidly took it.
Ruby happily swished his tail as he followed his new butler.
Together…
The three slowly disappeared down the hallway.
Aeshila watched until they were completely out of sight.
Then…
She immediately turned toward the staircase on the right.
Taking two steps at a time…
She climbed to the third floor.
She strode straight toward the last room in the corridor.
The people of House Duncan…
Possessed remarkably sharp instincts.
Perhaps intuition was a better word.
Their intuition bordered on precognition.
And at that moment…
Aeshila knew.
BANG!
Without even knocking…
She violently threw open the door.
A man lounging lazily while reading a book slowly looked up.
His previously drowsy eyes sharpened the instant they landed on Aeshila.
The relaxed atmosphere vanished.
An icy tension filled the room.
“Behind my back…”
Aeshila spoke calmly.
Her voice had been stripped of every emotion.
Cold.
Pale.
Like the final chill of winter.
“When exactly did you cause trouble?”
The moment she’d seen Ronell Artes—
No.
Simply…
Ronell—
She had known.
That child…
…is a Duncan.
That was why she had brought Ronell home.
Even if it looked almost like kidnapping.
As the heir of House Duncan…
She couldn’t abandon a blood relative.
“Answer me.”
“Teriot.”
Her sharp crimson eyes bored into the man.
Teriot Duncan.
Son of Reinhardt Duncan.
And…
Aeshila’s own father.
She waited for an answer from that utterly useless—
Good-for-nothing freeloader who never left his room.
