Chapter 22
I instinctively felt like I had just witnessed something I shouldn’t have. I quickly turned my gaze away from Rashid and tried to read the room.
The atmosphere had completely frozen over following Duke Bacaris’ comment. It showed no signs of thawing. This only strengthened the credibility of the theory that Duke Bacaris was trash.
Given how likely that theory seemed now, I couldn’t leave Rashid alone with him.
Yes, I needed to speak with the Duke myself before Rashid had the chance to.
Just then, Duke Delphinium, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“Let’s discuss that matter later, in private.”
His tone sounded displeased. It was likely for the same reason as my older brothers. Though I’d been brought in to replace his biological daughter, he couldn’t tolerate me covering over her memory.
I had never once asked to be treated like a real daughter, nor had I ever hoped for it. But when faced with such blatant discrimination, even non-existent bitterness can suddenly surface.
My emotions prickled, and I stabbed the innocent meat with my fork.
Duke Bacaris responded to Duke Delphinium.
“Very well. Have I interrupted your meal? Please, continue.”
His reply was unexpectedly agreeable. But I had already lost my appetite and was feeling full. Even though he told us to continue eating, I didn’t feel like picking up my utensils again.
My body hadn’t consumed food for a long time before, so my stomach was smaller than most kids’. I hadn’t even eaten that much, but I already felt full.
It was frustrating that I couldn’t eat more of this delicious food. I clenched and unclenched my fists as frustration bubbled over at my unsatisfying stomach capacity.
Looking down at my forearm under the table, I saw how thin it was—unnaturally so for a child my age.
Seeing that only reaffirmed my resolve: I’d stretch my stomach so I could one day eat to my heart’s content.
I quietly set down my fork and waited for the meal to end. Looking around, everyone else was still eating.
Noticing that I had stopped, Rashid leaned in and whispered quietly,
“Was it not tasty?”
His voice was full of concern. I lowered my head and whispered back,
“No. I’m just full. Why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m full too.”
I was about to sit up straight again when Rashid gently tugged on my arm. I thought he had more to say and turned my head toward him.
In that moment, our heads bumped into each other.
“Ugh.”
“Ow!”
We both grabbed our heads and groaned in pain. Naturally, all eyes turned toward us.
I burst out laughing. The situation was so ridiculous I couldn’t help it. Rashid, seeing me laugh, joined in.
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I laughed heartily, uncaring of the confused looks around me.
To be able to laugh like this, without worrying about the people around me—even I thought I might be crazy. But I just couldn’t stop.
Once the laughter died down, I finally noticed all the stares. Everyone except Rashid was looking at me in shock. My raised cheeks slowly returned to normal.
‘Did I do something improper for a dinner setting?’
Sensing the mood, I decided to speak first before anyone could scold me.
“I’m sorry. That was inappropriate during a meal.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Duke Delphinium immediately responded.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile like that since you came here.”
Hearing that made me wonder if I hadn’t smiled enough until now. But no—hadn’t I smiled like the happiest person alive when I got that building?
I didn’t know how to respond, so I stayed quiet. Duke Delphinium looked back and forth between Rashid and me, then sighed.
“…Seems I’ve no choice.”
He looked resigned and turned to Duke Bacaris.
“Let’s speak privately after dinner.”
“Very well. Your office?”
“Yes.”
Duke Bacaris wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded.
With their conversation finished, the table once again fell into awkward silence.
“We’ll excuse ourselves first.”
At last, the long and awkward meal came to an end. Duke Delphinium and Duke Bacaris were the first to leave. I offered a slight nod in farewell.
Then Theodore, Lucian, and Kaiden also stood. Their expressions remained just as stern as when dinner began.
“You don’t need to worry about that marriage talk. It doesn’t apply to you.”
“I’m not worried.”
Theodore offered those words before leaving, followed by Lucian.
“Don’t even dream of marriage. I’ll die before that happens.”
Kaiden said nothing. He simply glared at Rashid, who was still standing next to me, then walked out.
Thus ended our strange and uncomfortable dinner.
Feeling things were mostly resolved, I started toward my room—but Rashid called out to me.
‘What now?’
“Lacetia, where are you going?”
“Me? To my room.”
I turned back toward the dining room entrance. Rashid was mumbling gloomily.
“You said you’d play with me after dinner…”
His forlorn tone stopped me in my tracks.
Was he saying that just to make me hear?
I turned and looked at him. His head was lowered, staring at the floor, clearly disappointed.
Noticing that I’d stopped walking, Rashid looked up. His face lit up, thinking I’d changed my mind.
“You’ll play with me?”
“No.”
I firmly refused. I had things to do.
“Why?”
He looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to reject him.
“I have something really important to do. Let’s play tomorrow.”
“But you’re going to the temple tomorrow.”
Rashid pouted like a sulky child.
“Oh, right.”
His words reminded me of tomorrow’s schedule, which I’d completely forgotten.
How could I forget something so important when I might be a Saintess?
A transmigrated heroine deserves at least one title like ‘mage’ or ‘saint.’ Yep, of course.
As I nodded to myself, deep in thought, Rashid looked at me with confusion.
“What do you have to do?”
“Then let’s play after I return from the temple.”
We spoke at the same time.
“You first…”
“No, you first…”
“….”
“….”
A brief silence followed. When Rashid didn’t speak again, I did.
“It’s a secret. But we’ll play after I return.”
I gave a firm answer, but he still looked like he had more to say.
Seeing how he kept trying to hold me back, I figured I might be his first friend. Considering how cold he was in the beginning, it made sense. He probably just wanted to be with me a bit longer.
But being together all the time only feels good for a while. Eventually, everyone needs time to themselves. That’s why maintaining proper distance is important.
“Rashid, everyone needs time alone. And clingy boys aren’t attractive.”
Wait—was that wrong?
I’d said it like a lesson, but then I remembered how obsessive male leads in novels were always popular.
I needed to correct myself.
“No, actually, obsessive guys are in demand. But obsessive friends or people who cling to objects aren’t attractive. Etch that into your bones.”
Rashid didn’t seem to understand, but I had things to do and left him there. I didn’t have the time to explain.
Left behind in the dining hall, Rashid just blinked in a daze.
“What does that even mean…?”
He murmured to himself, staring at the spot where I had been.
Leaving the banquet hall, I quickly walked down the corridor, glancing around as I followed Duke Bacaris’s trail.
‘He should be done talking with Duke Delphinium by now.’
I asked the passing maids if they had seen Duke Bacaris, but they all shook their heads.
“What the—where did he go? Back to his room? Why can’t I find even a trace of him?”
Frustrated, I grumbled to myself while searching high and low for the Duke.
After walking around for quite a while, my legs started to ache, and I stopped in my tracks.
‘I wanted to approach Duke Bacaris before Rashid did and gauge his response… Should I give up and try again later?’
Rashid was at the age where he should be forming attachment bonds with his parents, but instead he constantly watched his father’s mood and was already showing signs of attachment to me, his first friend.
It made me feel sorry for him, and I wanted to help solve the root of the issue. But I couldn’t even find the damn Duke.
With my homebody stamina, fatigue hit me hard. I was about to give up when I spotted a large window leading out to the garden. As I got closer to the window, the whole garden came into view.
Just in case, I leaned against the glass and looked around—and there he was.
Duke Bacaris, taking a leisurely stroll through the garden.
Gotcha.
Once I roughly pinpointed his location, I rushed toward the garden.
‘I need to get there before he leaves.’
Panting heavily, I reached the garden entrance. Thankfully, he was still there.
Relieved, I stopped at the entrance and caught my breath. I also fixed my disheveled hair and clothes from the run.
After finishing my quick touch-up, I casually walked up to Duke Bacaris with a forced air of surprise and started acting.
“Oh? Your Grace?”
“Who… Ah, Lacetia.”
My voice alerted him to my presence. I feigned innocence.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just admiring the garden. And you? Why are you out and about instead of in your room?”
“I just needed some fresh air. My head was feeling cluttered.”
I tossed out the bait to open a conversation—or rather, to achieve my goal.
“What could a kid like you possibly have to be stressed about?”
As expected, he took the bait.
