Chapter 10
“…This is all Father’s fault. If that girl weren’t here, nothing would have happened to us. She’s just a filthy orphan mutt, yet she’s shameless and greedy. It’s all because of her.”
“You foolish child. Ruchel. Take Andasia and leave at once.”
“But Father…!”
“If you don’t both want to be confined, leave immediately.”
At the marquis’s icy words, Ruchel hurriedly grabbed Andasia by the arm and dragged her out. Even as she was pulled away, Andasia didn’t bother to hide her temper.
“…Andasia. Let’s go back. Father is very angry.”
“I won’t let this go. I really won’t…!”
I know all too well that this isn’t just childish jealousy. That’s why I’m even more curious about what Andasia will do next. But here, I am nothing more than an innocent child. So I opened my mouth, looking at her with feigned concern as she left.
“Andasia, don’t hate me too much. If you keep acting like that, people will really say you’re acting like a child. Okay? Let’s not behave like children.”
“Shut up!!”
Andasia, who had been about to make a scene, was ultimately dragged out by Ruchel. The Marquis Colin stayed behind in my room for quite some time, as if to comfort me, telling me to name anything I wanted.
“After their mother died, it seems I spoiled them too much. I never imagined they would hurt you like that.”
“I’m really fine, Marquis. There were many children like that in the orphanage. Kids that age are usually like that. If things don’t go their way, they get angry—it’s normal. So I wasn’t really hurt. If anything, Andasia must be the one more hurt because of me. It makes sense… I’m an outsider, after all.”
“Do not think that way. To me, you are no different from my own daughter.”
Not his daughter—just no different from one.
‘I have to be happy over even something like that.’
But to deceive him, to act like a truly happy child, I broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you so much, Marquis.”
“No, no. I will make Andasia apologize to you, so don’t trouble yourself over it. As for the teddy bear… throw it away. I’ll get you another one.”
“Yes…”
After comforting me for quite a while, he finally left the room.
Once he was gone, I gathered the torn scraps of the teddy bear—so damaged it no longer even had a proper shape—and stitched them into a small doll, placing it inside my bag. A life used and discarded like that… even for an inanimate doll, it felt too sad.
‘Just like me.’
I had once been a ruby gem, worn on the Emperor’s finger my entire life, used until I died. Perhaps that was why I couldn’t help but feel for things no one else cared about.
After that, life became tediously repetitive.
Andasia didn’t cause any open incidents like that day again. She simply glared at me as if she wanted to devour me whenever we crossed paths, ignored me, or spat out filthy insults.
“Mutt,” “beggar”—words like that didn’t affect me in the slightest. If anything, I ignored them even more than Andasia and Ruchel ignored me.
Just like that, a full month passed since I came to the Marquis Colin household, and at last, the day to visit the temple arrived.
Early in the morning, the marquis came to find me. He rummaged through the wardrobe and handed me a dress—one that looked like something Andasia would like, adorned with countless ribbons. With a rather satisfied smile, he dressed me in what was clearly once Andasia’s dress, then nodded as if pleased.
“This should be sufficient. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
We rode in the marquis’s carriage and arrived at the temple. However, upon reaching the entrance, Marquis Colin adjusted my clothes instead of letting me go in, his expression turning serious.
“Ruby.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
“After visiting the temple, you’ll be going to meet some friends today.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Noble children meet periodically to socialize. And Ruby—you will attend as Ruby Colin today.”
The moment he said that, I had to suppress the smile that threatened to form and instead lowered my head, feigning unease. Today was the day I had been waiting for—the very day I had spoken about to the Duke of Aneckrox.
“I’m worried they might look down on me for being an orphan.”
“You need not worry at all. Andasia and Ruchel will be there as well.”
“Ah, I see.”
‘They’re the biggest problem, though.’
If I hadn’t intended this from the start, I might have said that aloud. How could a father not realize that his own children were the biggest issue?
“Then I really have nothing to worry about.”
“Of course. My children are very clever.”
I nodded with an awkward smile.
What exactly did Marquis Colin think of his children? Obedient? Well, after today, I would no longer have any reason to see either him or them again.
“You must be excited. It’s your first time meeting friends as a noble.”
“A little!”
For the sake of this very day, I had even timed my adoption. How much I had anticipated this—he would never know.
“So make sure to speak well of me. Tell them how well I treat you. The finest room, large dolls, expensive dresses, pretty shoes… And there’s no need to mention my children. All children are like that—it’s just part of getting along.”
“Yes!”
Only after receiving my firm answer did Marquis Colin allow me into the temple.
“Speak properly. Don’t say anything strange. Understood? Ruby.”
“Yes!”
Leaving behind the marquis, who looked anxious until the very end, I stepped into the temple for the first time in a month.
They had already been expecting me, and the childcare nun was waiting at the entrance. Holding her hand again after so long, I followed her to the chapel where the other nuns had gathered.
“You’ve been well, Ruby.”
“Yes!”
“As you know, the temple is always here to protect you. So if you’ve faced any pressure outside, there’s no need to hide it. We will protect you.”
In other words—don’t even think about lying today. Tell us everything.
“Yes!”
“More importantly, it seems you’ve gained a little weight. But you still haven’t grown any taller.”
“…Maybe I take after my father.”
“Your father?”
“Well, things like that usually resemble one’s parents. I thought maybe I resemble the father who gave birth to me.”
“Oh, you silly thing. I thought you had found out something about your real parents.”
I shook my head with an awkward smile.
‘But I do take after my father.’
I had thought my slow growth was due to my power, but it seemed it might actually be because of him.
I am the Emperor’s daughter—a princess. And the Emperor himself is actually rather short.
Shorter not only than the towering Duke of Aneckrox but even shorter than Marquis Colin, the Emperor disliked stepping down from elevated platforms. He even wore high-heeled shoes. That alone said enough about his height.
‘Don’t tell me I’ll stay this tiny even as an adult…?’
In my previous life, I ended as a gem in the Emperor’s ring. I never had a body, so I had never imagined what my height might be. Now, an ominous thought suddenly filled my mind.
“What’s wrong?”
“O-Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s go!”
“Very well.”
By then, we had arrived at the chapel.
There, I diligently spoke of Marquis Colin’s good qualities to the nuns. Of course, I did mention that the children in that household were a bit peculiar, but I made sure to report that I was doing well and was satisfied overall.
As I continued to say only positive things, the nuns looked at me with suspicion.
“There’s no falsehood in what you’re saying, is there? Ruby, if you’re being pressured in any way, you must tell us.”
“No, I’m not being threatened. Absolutely, absolutely not.”
“I see…”
“Yes! Please don’t worry.”
I smiled brightly as I accepted the chocolate they gave me. It melted softly in my mouth—a treat usually reserved for special occasions, now handed to me so easily.
In the past, I would have let it melt slowly, savoring every bit so as not to waste it. But now, I simply crunched it down without hesitation. This must be the luxury of someone who had suddenly become rich.
‘Ah… speaking of chocolate… it reminds me of Rubleo.’
Rubleo, who told me not to get adopted. I had barely managed to calm him down by giving him chocolate. I wonder how he’s doing.
“By the way, Sisters… is Rubleo doing well?”
