Chapter 50
“You haven’t changed. Whether you’ve awakened or not, whether your name is inscribed in the family genealogy or not, the place your life occupies doesn’t change. It never did, and it never will. Do you understand?”
I didn’t understand these words either.
But I was too afraid of disappointing the head of the house to say so.
“Hmm… I suppose it’s hard to understand…”
Finally, the Lord rephrased it in simpler terms.
“I cherished you from the beginning. And I believed that was my duty. I didn’t want you to cry tears of joy just because you realized you could be helpful.”
As he said that, the Lord’s hand slowly reached toward my head.
The movement was careful, almost hesitant, like he was handling something precious for the first time.
For the first time, my foster father’s touch reached me. And with that touch, he said something he hadn’t been able to say earlier.
“…Don’t cry.”
It was a comfort six hours too late.
* * *
The Lord left, telling me to go in and rest.
Even then, I was smiling, overcome with joy and emotion.
But as I watched his retreating figure, a scene I had never experienced flashed before my eyes—a moment from the real Kalidora’s past.
That back she had longingly stared at without end.
Before I knew it, I muttered,
“Um, Lord…”
The real child who had needed to say those words had been left all alone.
“If those words were sincere… then why did you leave Kalidora all by herself…?”
At that, the Lord’s steps suddenly halted.
Gasp. Did he hear that?
He stood still for a moment, then resumed walking without turning back.
Or maybe not?
I couldn’t tell. It seemed like too far a distance to have heard.
What was I hoping to accomplish saying that to him now?
I silently prayed that he hadn’t heard me.
* * *
Something strange happened.
It felt like I had only blinked after the banquet…
But before I knew it, summer had passed, and the cool winds of autumn were blowing.
A whole season had gone by since I came here.
The leaves are changing colors.
Through my window, I could see Mount Ardeo painted in vivid hues.
I dragged a chair to the window and leaned against the frame to take in the view.
“Oh my, miss. Are you amazed by the autumn leaves?”
The maid who had come to see me asked with a smile.
“Yeah. I like autumn leaves.”
Though in truth, what I liked was the peace that wrapped around this place.
“We should go on an outing sometime. But first, look at this. Two letters have arrived for you today.”
“Letters?”
Who would send me letters? No one outside the estate knows me.
“Yes. One is from the elders of Ignitus, and the other is from Master Paulrus. I’ll read them for you.”
“Pauly!”
That was a name I was happy to hear.
I’d heard he had gone to our mother’s homeland. It seemed he was doing well.
The maid first took out the letter from the elders.
“They sent you twelve gold coins. The Lord placed them directly into the heir’s vault. But this letter is for you.”
The letter, read aloud by the maid, contained brief greetings from several of the elders addressed to me.
I’ll get to meet them in person someday, right?
Thinking that, I asked her to read Paulrus’s letter next.
It began with a warm tone: “Hello, baby.”
[To Miss Kalidora. Please let someone read this to her.]
Hello, baby.
I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Are you doing well?
While reporting to the Lord about how things are going, I thought of you.
I heard you officially became the Lord’s daughter? That’s amazing.
I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the banquet. I wasn’t sure I had the right to go.
But I did prepare a gift to congratulate you.
It’s a doll I made myself, and I put in a lot more effort than I did for the puppy one I gave you before.
It can fly and even spin on its own. I hope you like it.
Oh, and Viviya drew the face for it. I’m terrible at drawing, you see.
Also…
The next part showed where he must’ve paused in thought—the ink pooled slightly behind the word.
[If my letters make you happy, I’ll send them as often as you want. Just say the word.
That’s all for now.
From Paulrus.]
“Would you like to see the doll Master Paulrus sent you?”
“Yes!”
The maid grinned and teased a little before revealing it.
“Ta-da!”
She held out a small wooden doll shaped like a lark.
“Wow…”
I took it carefully in my hands.
When I touched its head with my still-magical fingers, its wings began to flap.
“Oh!”
It looked like it might shoot up to the ceiling at any moment.
“Give it to me, miss! It’d be better to play with this outside in the courtyard.”
I nodded and handed it back to her.
“Wow, it really flies!”
The doll soared into the air like a real bird, spinning above the courtyard before gently descending as its magic faded.
I ran to the entrance of the building to retrieve it.
That’s when someone spoke to me—a voice I recognized instantly.
“Bean-sprout Ignitia Abella. Good morning.”
“Ankku!”
That name again?!
Grumbling, I picked up the doll and retorted,
“I’m not a bean! Have you ever seen such a big bean before?”
Puffing out my chest proudly, I realized I didn’t even reach Ankous’s waist—he was trying hard not to laugh.
I dropped my head in disappointment.
When am I ever going to grow…
“Ahahaha!”
Ankous couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.
“I’m leaving.”
I’ll never talk to you again.
I turned away in a huff, but then I noticed the packages he had brought.
They were full of flowers and ornaments—clearly gifts.
Were they for him? Or is he giving them to someone?
“Ankku, what’s this?”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked.
They looked like women’s gifts.
“They’re birthday gifts for my mother. I’m delivering them on behalf of the family.”
“Birthday?”
“Yes. Do you know what that means?”
As he asked, he plucked a few small flowers from the bouquet and stuck them in my hair.
“Of course! It’s the day someone was born! Can I have one?”
“Of course. My mother would be even more disappointed if I ignored such a cute little lady.”
I’d met Ankous’s mother briefly at the banquet.
She had been incredibly beautiful and kind.
“Ankku, please tell your mother I send lots of birthday wishes too!”
“Leave it to me. By the way, when is your birthday, miss? I don’t recall seeing it in any reports.”
“Well, it’s in Apri—…”
I was about to answer excitedly but stopped myself.
I realized I should give Kalidora’s real birthday, not mine.
“…Actually, I’m not sure.”
Ankous’s face turned serious. He looked shocked.
“Maybe the people in the office know.”
He handed the gifts to a servant, then scooped me up and ran to the office.
But even there, no one knew.
“My goodness, no one knows the young lady’s birthday?”
Even Gordeo, the Lord’s closest aide, didn’t know the date of my birth.
“We can’t exactly ask Fireon now…”
“Absolutely not. After all the effort it took to bring her here safely…!”
“Oh, I’ve got an idea. Let’s let the young lady pick her own birthday.”
A flustered aide made the suggestion, but I shook my head.
I wanted to know Kalidora’s real birthday.
“…Isn’t there anyone who might know?”
The aides looked at me, unsure what to do.
“Perhaps the Lord knows? He did bring her in quite suddenly…”
“But he had already returned to Ardent Luna by then.”
“She was born in Kekaum, so maybe the young master would know…”
“Lord Abelnut?”
It made sense.
Even if he didn’t remember—after all, we weren’t real siblings, and I was the daughter of his father’s lieutenant—it was worth a try.
I’ll ask him.
Resolving myself, I left the office.
