[CHAPTER 66]
I tried to sneak out again and visit the Schmidt County House, just like I did when I went to Bruten Village.
But Greta seemed to sense something strange, and this time she didn’t give me any chance.
After several failed attempts, I changed my plan.
If I can’t go alone, then I’ll just go with her.
“A new drink came out at the coffee house we visit often. Let’s go try it.”
“Understood.”
Fortunately, Greta accepted my suggestion.
Silence flowed between us as we rode the carriage to the busy district.
It used to feel comfortable even when it was just the two of us, but recently the atmosphere had subtly changed.
There was a strange tension in the air.
But both Greta and I pretended not to notice it as we arrived at the coffee house.
We ordered two glasses of the new menu item, tomato juice, and sat at a table inside.
“It’s nice to come out with you again, Greta.”
“I feel the same.”
Greta’s stiff expression loosened slightly.
Soon she stood up to bring the tomato juice.
While she was gone, I rolled my eyes around to scan the interior of the shop.
The customers at the diagonal table were cleaning up as if they were about to leave.
Oh ho.
“Here you go.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Greta set the tomato juice down in front of me.
Smiling brightly, I took a sip through the straw.
Mmm, tasty.
‘It’s so good that it feels like a waste to spill it…’
The moment the diagonal customers passed by our table, I deliberately knocked the glass over.
Splash.
“Kyah!”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! Are you alright?!”
The customer’s light-colored dress was stained bright red.
Even though I had done it on purpose, I still felt genuinely sorry and quickly offered her a handkerchief.
As expected, the stain didn’t come off no matter how much I dabbed at it.
“What is this! How are you going to take responsibility?!”
“I’m really sorry. I’ll reimburse you for the dress first.”
I hurriedly searched the bag I had left on the chair, but not a single coin came out.
With a distressed expression, I looked at Greta.
“What should I do, Greta? I think I forgot to bring money…”
“I’ll check once more.”
Greta took the bag and checked it thoroughly.
But she also put it down empty-handed.
She even checked her pockets, but of course, there was no money.
I usually kept all the money in my bag.
“I’m sorry, but could you go home and bring some money? I need to compensate this lady, and I don’t even have money for the juice…”
Money was absolutely necessary.
But Greta struggled to leave me behind.
“…You can compensate later under the name of the house, and the juice can be put on credit.”
“What? I’m worried about my reputation. I just barely restored it. What if bad rumors start again? Something like ‘She’s a beggar baroness, she lied about making money’…”
I drooped my eyes and looked at Greta with a teary expression.
My exaggerated words shook her, and she eventually nodded.
“Then… I will return quickly, so please do not leave the shop and stay inside.”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
I waved lightly as Greta left.
She kept looking back several times, worried.
After confirming she rode off in the carriage, I returned to the still-angry customer.
“I’m sorry. How much should I pay for the dress?”
“At least one gold.”
“Here you go. I’m truly sorry.”
When I pulled out the hidden money from my sleeve and handed it to her, she looked shocked.
I also paid the juice bill to the employee.
Then I quickly grabbed my bag and left the shop.
My destination was the Schmidt County House.
I had to move before Greta came back.
I took a hired carriage and arrived at the county estate.
Knights guarded the entrance.
I considered barging in like I did at the ducal estate, but gave up.
Instead, I hid behind a tree near the mansion to wait until someone came out.
I didn’t know how long I waited.
I tapped my aching legs with my fist when someone finally came out from inside the estate.
‘Gasp! Who is that?!’
I widened my eyes and focused on the face of the man on horseback.
His handsome features became clearer.
No way, that man…
‘Isn’t that the Duke of Kalad?’
Just like last time, he was dressed like an ordinary knight today.
Seeing him walk out so naturally from the Schmidt estate confirmed that the two families were definitely close.
‘But why isn’t the young master coming out? He should be seeing him off…’
Just when I anxiously stared at the entrance to see if anyone else followed him, a knight opened the door and spoke to him warmly.
“Heading out, young master?”
“Yeah, I have some errands.”
“Have a good day.”
The knight bowed with a smile.
I couldn’t understand their conversation at first.
Young master?
Not duke?
The only person the guards of the Schmidt estate would call young master was…
‘Ralph Schmidt…?’
Of course, they could call another family’s son “young master.”
But the man I knew was a duke.
There was no reason for him to be called young master.
‘…Ah.’
Realization washed over me like a wave.
‘So I was fooled again.’
The man I believed to be the Duke of Kalad was not the duke.
A dry laugh slipped out.
I’d been deceived so many times that it barely shocked me anymore.
I only wanted to know exactly who the man pretending to be the duke was.
Once the man left, I approached the knights.
“Hello, I came to see Sir Ralph Schmidt.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Jenna. I came on an errand from Marchioness Wagner.”
When I deliberately mentioned Nelle’s name, the knight relaxed and shook his head.
“The young master just left. Please come another time or leave it with us.”
“The man who just left on horseback was Sir Schmidt, right? I didn’t see wrong, did I?”
“Yes.”
“Ah… Thank you. I’ll come again.”
I walked quickly away from the estate.
When I saw him earlier and told Matthias, I couldn’t understand why the child didn’t recognize his uncle.
Now I finally understood.
Because he wasn’t the uncle.
There’s no way the young master would pretend to be the duke.
The possibility that the duke ordered him was far more likely.
‘But why would the duke do that?’
I became lost in thought as I walked aimlessly.
Then I saw Greta running toward me from afar.
“My lady!”
“…Ah, Greta.”
She was drenched in sweat, probably from searching everywhere for me.
She grabbed my arm roughly and raised her voice for the first time.
“Where did you go without saying anything?! You promised to stay in the shop…!”
“I was too frustrated. I just went for a walk.”
Normally I would have apologized, but I didn’t feel like it.
I looked her straight in the eyes.
“Lately I feel like I’m the only fool.”
Greta flinched and moved her lips.
But in the end, she couldn’t say anything and avoided my eyes.
So I stayed silent as well.
We quietly returned to the carriage.
* * *
Putting together all the information I had gathered, I had a vague guess about who the real Duke of Kalad might be.
But it was only speculation, without any solid proof.
‘If I could just see his face once.’
While I wondered how to do that, a guest came to see me.
“Jenna, can we talk for a moment?”
“Ah, yes. Please come in, Mother.”
Mother smiled gently at me.
I felt uneasy and couldn’t look at her properly.
“Oh, I just have a lot to do.”
“Working hard is good, but don’t forget to rest.”
“Yes, I will.”
I nodded awkwardly.
Now that I knew so much around me was a lie, I didn’t know how to face her.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask if she was truly my mother.
She held my hand and spoke softly.
“Jenna, I don’t know how this will sound, but… you became much brighter after losing your memory. Thanks to you, our family regained its energy.”
“…”
“No one knows what the distant future holds, but I want to keep this happiness for as long as possible. Don’t you feel the same?”
Her violet eyes, the same as Aizen’s, looked at me affectionately.
Warm enough to make me want to lean on her.
I also wanted to keep this happiness, just like she did.
How could I not?
‘They’re the first family I’ve had since Dad…’
I didn’t want to lose them.
I didn’t want to break this peace.
I had secrets of my own, so if what she said was true, maybe it was better for both sides not to dig too deeply…
Clink.
“…!”
The cold sensation on my wrist snapped me back to reality.
I looked down and widened my eyes.
The string bracelet with a four-leaf clover charm.
The one Matthias made only for himself and his family.
That bracelet was on Mother’s wrist.
Suddenly, I realized something.
Except for Matthias and me, the composition of the Duke of Kalad’s household and my own family were remarkably similar.
An uncle and grandparents.
A husband and parents-in-law.
‘Ah…’
I figured out how to see the duke’s face.
I silently smiled at Mother.
It seemed I wouldn’t be able to stop moving toward the truth.
