Episode 16
After Elliot left, I looked around the room for a bit before lying down on the large bed.
It was far too big for my already small body, but I didn’t mind.
The bigger the bed, the better. And this one was the softest and most comfortable bed I had ever used.
On top of that, the blanket carried a warm, pleasant scent.
I felt drowsy, as if I might drift off at any moment, but I forced my heavy eyelids open.
I needed to organize my thoughts about what I had to do next.
Someone in this mansion had followed Daniel’s orders and stolen my mother’s letter.
To find out who Daniel’s pawn was, I first needed to adapt to this mansion and memorize people’s faces and positions.
If they had gone as far as stealing the letter without reporting it even to my grandfather, the Grand Duke, then they must be someone with a certain level of standing here.
The first person who came to mind was the butler who had been attending to Daniel earlier.
Was his name Varden?
The butler named Varden had been waiting at the front to receive Daniel as soon as he heard of his arrival.
Judging by their conversation, Daniel and Varden seemed to be fairly well acquainted.
However, I couldn’t suspect Varden outright.
If his role in the Crichton household was to receive guests, then it wouldn’t be strange for him to welcome Daniel—especially since Daniel was the Grand Duke’s brother.
So, I decided to place him at the top of my list for now, while keeping in mind that it could be someone else.
Who knows—it might not be just one or two people.
I felt frustrated, but I didn’t even know the name of the maid who had guided me from the Grand Duke’s office to the lobby.
That was something I would have to learn gradually while staying in this mansion.
At least for now, with the Grand Duke’s attention on my mother, it would be difficult for the culprit to act.
What I needed to worry about next was how Daniel would act going forward.
Daniel had wanted my mother and the Grand Duke not to meet.
According to what he said just before his death, it was because my mother had once been the Emperor’s fiancée.
That made sense.
The relationship between the Crichton family and the Emperor had been severely strained because of my mother.
Even if the Grand Duke and Brian had tried to patch things up, the root cause hadn’t been resolved, so it was only a temporary fix.
After all, this wasn’t just a simple breakup—it was my mother unilaterally breaking off an official engagement between the imperial family and the Grand Ducal house.
A scandal the empire would never forget.
The Crown Prince’s fiancée had run away in pursuit of love.
Naturally, the relationship between the imperial family and the Grand Ducal house had deteriorated badly.
I didn’t know what stance Daniel had maintained all this time, but based on the current situation, even if he took control of the Crichton family, there would be no reason for the Emperor to support them.
However, he might have thought things could change if my mother returned and reconciled with the Emperor.
Even if their old grievances couldn’t be completely erased, there was still a chance the Emperor’s heart—once turned away—might soften again toward the Grand Ducal house.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Daniel had stolen my mother’s letter to prevent that possibility.
But now, thanks to me, my mother had safely returned to the Crichton household.
And not just that—
The very next day, she even met the Emperor. Daniel, who had been wary of this, must be feeling extremely anxious.
For now, it hadn’t been long since my mother returned, and the attention of the Grand Duke, Brian, and even the Emperor was focused on her.
So Daniel wouldn’t be able to act rashly just yet.
But I didn’t think he would simply sit back and do nothing.
He might disguise his intentions as goodwill and try to send my mother and me away somewhere else.
It wouldn’t be surprising. When we first officially met, Daniel had already been thinking of sending me—just a nine-year-old—to another noble family, as if selling me off.
He had even said it right in front of me, as if assuming I wouldn’t understand.
If Elliot hadn’t been there, I might have lost my temper and kicked him in the shin.
If he could think that way even about a child like me, how could he not think similarly about my mother?
Even though my mother had me as a burden, her position as the daughter of the powerful Crichton Grand Ducal house—second only to the Emperor—would still make her highly desirable to other noble families.
Daniel would know that too.
He might pretend to care for her and then push her off to another noble house.
*Knock, knock.*
The clear, gentle sound of wood broke my train of thought.
I turned my head toward the window. Beyond it, I could see the clock tower in the center of the capital. It was already past six.
“Miss, it’s time for your meal. May I come in?”
I sat up and answered while looking at the door.
“Come in.”
As soon as I gave permission, the door opened, and an adult woman in a maid’s uniform entered along with a girl about my age.
They approached quietly and bowed politely.
“Good evening, Miss. Before escorting you to the dining hall, let me introduce myself. I’m Kalina Clovet. Please feel free to call me Kalina.”
The maid, who looked to be in her mid-twenties with bright blonde hair, introduced herself.
I nodded and smiled.
“I look forward to working with you, Kalina.”
She smiled back warmly.
“You may speak comfortably with me.”
“Ah… okay, I will.”
Since I was the Grand Duke’s granddaughter, it must have felt uncomfortable for her to be addressed formally.
Once I adjusted, Kalina placed a hand on the young girl’s shoulder.
“And this child is Anita Riopel, who will attend to you closely.”
As Kalina finished speaking, Anita bowed again.
“It’s an honor to serve you.”
When she lifted her head, her cheeks were flushed red. She looked anxious about whether she had made any mistakes, her eyes darting nervously. It was cute.
“I will also serve you, but Anita will be your personal maid—she’ll keep you company and run errands.”
Kalina added.
“Nice to meet you, Anita.”
“Y-Yes!”
When I extended my hand as if for a handshake, Anita flusteredly grabbed it with both hands, then quickly let go in surprise.
“I—I’m sorry!”
She apologized in a small, timid voice. I shrugged lightly and smiled at her before turning back to Kalina.
“Then, Kalina, could you guide me to the dining hall?”
“Yes, Miss.”
I followed her as she led me toward the dining hall.
In truth, I could have found my way myself since I had gone there once in the morning with my mother, but I acted as if I didn’t know and simply followed her.
Anita walked behind me, matching my pace.
“Hey, niece, heading to dinner?”
Just as I descended the stairs and was about to turn, a familiar voice called from behind.
I turned around.
“Uncle.”
Brian stood there.
When I greeted him, he smiled brightly and approached me.
“I heard you went to the imperial palace with Cornelia today. She said she was fine… but did anything happen there?”
“Anything happen?”
Not understanding his intent, I asked back. He met my eyes and shook his head.
“No, it seems nothing happened. Forget I asked.”
He brushed it off with a gentle smile.
Only then did I realize he had been asking whether anything had happened between my mother and the Emperor.
But since I didn’t know what they had talked about, I kept silent.
Still, my mother hadn’t seemed upset after meeting the Emperor, and she had reunited with Empress Marianne, so it seemed things had gone relatively well.
“Mirabel, may I walk with you to the dining hall?”
Brian asked hesitantly, holding out his hand.
It felt strange seeing someone who had once seemed so intimidating now acting so awkward in front of me.
The Brian in my memories had always worn a fierce expression while slaughtering monsters…
As I stared blankly, he awkwardly tried to withdraw his hand.
“I-it’s fine if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s okay. Let’s go together.”
I took his hand before he could pull it back.
His hand was large and rough, like someone trained in swordsmanship.
Compared to my small, delicate nine-year-old hand, it felt like a giant’s.
Brian widened his eyes, as if unable to believe I had taken his hand.
It even looked like tears were welling up in his eyes.
“Uncle? Are you… crying?”
I asked bluntly, wondering if I had done something wrong.
But instead of denying it, he smiled brightly like a child.
“How could I not, when I’ve gained such a cute and lovely niece?”
Taking a handkerchief from Kalina, he dabbed at his tears.
I couldn’t help but wonder again if this was really the same Brian I knew.
Back then, he had been scary—but also incredibly cool.
Seeing him like this felt like my illusion was breaking.
Still… I didn’t dislike it.
After losing my parents at a young age, I had wandered the world alone without anyone to rely on.
So it was hard to believe that I now had a family who would support me.
