Chapter 10
“Come in.”
As soon as Rubiana gave her permission, the door cracked open.
Peeking in through the small gap was a little head.
“Sis?”
“Oh, Justin. Come in.”
It was embarrassing to show her swollen face to her younger brother, but she couldn’t just send him away after he had come all the way here.
The boy quickly walked—almost ran—toward her.
Rubiana covered her puffy eyes with her palm and greeted her little brother.
“My eyes are really swollen, but… Oh—Justin? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Sis!”
Startled by Justin’s tear-streaked face, her embarrassment over her swollen eyes evaporated completely.
She noticed the newspaper in his hands.
“What happened? Why are you like this?”
“Everything I said to my friends over comms last night ended up in the newspaper! I’m so sorry!”
The tears, which had been trickling down, now poured like a waterfall.
What on earth is going on?
Flustered, Rubiana unfolded the newspaper Justin had brought.
It was less of a formal newspaper and more of a gossip rag.
Her eyes widened at the bold headline splashed across the front page.
<Grand Duke Klitzman Rescues the Endangered Lady Payson! A Pink Romance Blossoms in a Crisis!>
Wow… news travels fast.
The events from just yesterday afternoon had already made it into a gossip column.
Apparently, even in a world without cars, smartphones, or computers, there were still quick-footed reporters.
As expected from a gossip paper, the article went into great detail speculating about a possible romance between Rubiana and Elion.
Sure, the Grand Duke did save me, but romance? Seriously?! People, I’m the heroine. There’s already the perfect male lead, Chad Preston—why are you trying to pair me with the dark, scheming Grand Duke?
Irritation flared.
She wanted nothing more than to storm into the paper’s office and grab the reporter who had written this nonsense by the collar.
But what good would that do?
The article’s already out. People have read it, and those inclined to believe it will believe it.
Of course, some wouldn’t—but how many?
She sighed.
Her twisted expression only made Justin’s sobs louder.
“H-hhh… I’m sorry, Sis! When I heard that the great war hero, Grand Duke Klitzman, had saved you, I got so excited… s-s-sniff… I only bragged to my friends a little, just a little… please forgive me! Waaaah!”
Startled, Rubiana hurried to comfort him.
“Oh, no, no—it’s not like that. I’m not mad at you, Justin.”
The innocent boy must have thought the gossip column had been printed because of what he’d said.
That was probably why he came running to apologize as soon as he saw it.
Throwing the gossip rag aside, Rubiana pulled Justin into a hug.
Pat, pat. She gently rubbed his back and spoke softly.
“This article didn’t get published because of you, Justin. I’m certain of that.”
When Rubiana spoke with such conviction, Justin lifted his head to look at her.
His young eyes were filled with guilt and affection.
She found herself genuinely envying the real Rubiana, who had been surrounded by such boundless family love.
Carefully wiping away the tears still clinging to his eyes, Rubiana went on.
“Yesterday, there were so many people who saw the Grand Duke save me, saw me riding with him back to the Grand Duke’s estate, and then saw me returning home in the Grand Duke’s carriage that evening. At least a hundred witnesses.”
“…”
“If each of those hundred told three or four friends or family members, that’s already over three hundred people. And among those three hundred, there’s bound to have been a reporter. Or someone who feeds information to one.”
“…You think so?”
“Of course. The odds that what you said to your friends over comms last night made it to a reporter’s ears are—being generous—about one in three hundred. That’s basically zero. This isn’t because of you, so you have nothing to feel sorry for.”
“…Okay.”
At last, Justin’s face brightened.
After wiping away the rest of his tears, he looked at Rubiana’s face and his eyes went wide.
“But… what happened to your face, Sis?”
“I cried last night, that’s all.”
When Justin snickered and his shoulders shook with laughter, Rubiana’s gaze sharpened.
Oh? I comforted him when he was crying, and now he’s laughing at me?
Time for swift retribution.
“Justin, you know what they say?”
“What?”
“If you cry and then laugh, you’ll turn into a hairy beast.”
“…Like Uncle Max?”
Max was the estate’s gardener.
He had a full head of thick hair, a bushy beard that covered half his face, and hairy arms.
In a serious tone to match Justin’s, Rubiana replied:
“Oh, Uncle Max is nothing. You’d probably get twice as much hair.”
“So… so much you couldn’t even see my face?”
“Exactly. So you’d better be careful, Justin.”
“…Oh.”
Once again, his eyes glistened with fresh tears.
As expected, the swelling didn’t go down completely, no matter how much she iced it.
She could open her eyes about two-thirds of the way now, but it was still enough for someone to say, “Your eyes are puffy.”
“That’s it for now. I’m hungry, and I need to get ready to go out.”
“Shall I bring your meal here, my lady?”
“Yes, please.”
“Yes, just a moment.”
Dinner was eaten together as a family, but breakfast and lunch were left to everyone’s own schedule.
Everyone was busy with their own lives.
Her father, a Ministry of Finance official, commuted to the Imperial Palace every day.
Her older sister, a spirit master in the Royal Knights, was busy with her own duties.
Her mother was out almost daily for social gatherings, and her younger brother had endless lessons.
“Come to think of it, I’m the only one here who isn’t busy.”
Her mood plummeted.
She had been excited, thinking she was the heroine, but right now she was basically unemployed, and it was depressing.
Chad, the male lead, was probably busy with the Royal Knights.
Florencia, the villainess, and her gang were likely busy plotting.
I’m the only one stuck in place. The only one doing nothing. The only one… who’s nothing…!
Her chest ached.
Her insides felt hot and twisted.
Heat welled in her eyes.
“No… no! This is a time for focus and prioritizing!”
She shook her head and steeled her gaze.
First priority is to receive a steady supply of mana from the Grand Duke. Everything else can wait until I’ve fully recovered.
Because I will recover.
Because I will become a spirit master.
Because I will become the heroine.
Just then, Sophie came in, pushing a trolley loaded with food.
First, let’s eat. The rest can wait.
“Sophie, wait for me in the carriage.”
Rubiana addressed Sophie, who was sitting across from her.
Sophie had been about to get up with her, but awkwardly sat back down, confused.
“I’m going to watch the music box being repaired as a change of pace.”
“…Pardon?”
Sophie tilted her head, still not quite following.
“I feel like watching the repairman’s skilled hands will somehow calm me down.”
“Oh… I suppose it might.”
Now understanding, Sophie nodded.
“Then maybe I could—”
“No. I’d like to watch quietly, alone.”
“…”
Sophie, who had been about to say I’ll just watch without saying anything, closed her mouth instead.
She understood Rubiana’s wish to be alone.
She was well aware of the unease her mistress must be feeling after her sudden health problems—especially after witnessing last night’s tearful episode.
Sophie smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling.
“All right. I’ll knit here while I wait. Take your time, my lady.”
“See you later, Sophie.”
After stepping out of the carriage, Rubiana headed for the toy repair shop, carrying the music box she had deliberately broken the night before.
She didn’t forget to pull the hood of her robe low over her head—wearing a fine dress in a deserted back alley was sure to draw attention.
One block away from the shop, she spotted Elion standing there.
He was with his physician, Hayley.
“Hello, Your Grace. Lady Hayley.”
“Welcome, my lady.”
“Good to see you, Lady Rubiana.”
Both of their eyes widened slightly when they saw her face.
It must have been because of her swollen eyes.
Feeling awkward, Rubiana blurted out an unsolicited lie.
“My eyes are a little puffy. I ate more bread than usual last night before bed, and this is what happened.”
Ha… ha ha… She gave an awkward laugh, glancing aside—only for Elion’s blunt voice to cut in.
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
The three of them headed straight for the toy repair shop.
