Chapter 70
“Of course, I never planned to freeload off your share to begin wit
h. I’ve already done more than enough by saving Arwyn. Do you even know that, you tiny little runt?”
I couldn’t bring myself to answer. I just stared at the paper clenched in my hand.
My gaze was nailed to the name ‘Anellia Abner.’
“Since we’re on the topic, let’s make this simple. You said this before, didn’t you? That adopting you out of necessity was the same whether it was the Longtons or the Abners.”
“……”
“But are you sure you actually reached that conclusion properly? Are you confident there were no flaws in your reasoning?”
My eyes wavered.
“In your past life, Lambert Longton stole all your achievements and used them however he pleased. Meanwhile, Sharon Abner came looking for me personally and warned me not to leave out your contributions.”
“……”
“So tell me—where exactly are they the same? In what way?”
“……”
“The examples are completely different, yet you draw the same conclusion. And you call yourself a scholar?”
My heart began pounding violently, and my eyes burned.
“The examples are different…”
Now that he said it out loud, it really was true.
There wasn’t a single thing Owen had said that was wrong.
Sharon Abner was nothing like Lambert Longton.
I’d tried to deny it, over and over again—but more than anyone else, I knew.
Everything I’d seen from that man, everything I’d felt, had been different.
At last, tears fell onto the desk—drop, drop.
Owen swallowed a sigh and muttered to himself.
“Why did you have to be so stubborn about something so pointless….”
Over his voice, a memory I had barely managed to bury came rushing back.
It was the day Mika and the other orphanage children left the ducal castle.
I had clung to them and sobbed uncontrollably, and then—unable to bear watching them leave—I ran back to my room.
But in the end, I hung by the window.
I couldn’t bring myself to miss their final departure.
That was when I overheard Mika and Sharon Abner talking.
—
“Lady Ria’s worried. She’ll definitely cry if I’m not there… sniff.”
—
Mika rubbed his red, runny nose with swollen eyes.
Behind him, Madam Rieri watched the child with a pained expression.
That was when Sharon Abner spoke.
—
“Anellia doesn’t need to worry.”
“But how can I not worry?! I can’t go meet my family and leave Ria behind! That’s betrayal! Waaah…!”
“It isn’t betrayal. Your friend has met her family too.”
“……”
“I’ll be her family.”
—
The moment I heard that, I froze completely.
After that, I hurriedly shut the window and drew the curtains.
With my heart pounding wildly, I crawled under my blanket.
We’re just using each other for mutual benefit.
Someday he’ll cast me out.
Someday he’ll find me bothersome.
I thought it was ridiculous for him to say things like “family.”
And yet… Sharon Abner had never once said those words to me directly.
Drip. Drip.
The tears wouldn’t stop falling.
Unable to watch any longer, Owen began patting my back.
“Wow… you’ve been crying a lot lately….”
“Snf—hic—waaah!”
But my sobs only grew louder, soon filling the entire laboratory.
Owen looked utterly flustered, but I couldn’t stop crying.
In the end, I spoke through my hiccupping sobs.
“From now ooon…!”
I wiped my nose with my hand, and Owen looked at me as if asking what on earth I was saying.
“Every time we make a new medicine, Ria’s gonna be listed as the sole developer! Waaah!”
Owen shut his eyes and shook his head.
“So even if someone says I’m more incompetent than my own disciple… even if they call me nothing but a decorative screen… I don’t care anymore!!!”
It was a strange evening.
That night, I returned to my room wrapped tightly in Logrio’s arms.
The moment I lay down in bed, I fell fast asleep.
Perhaps it was because, even though I’d been using it for months, the bed felt especially warm and comforting that night.
* * *
Autumn was arriving quickly in Abner territory.
It was the chronic climate of the northern region—long winters and short summers.
“Just in case, make sure you pack everything. It gets chilly in the evenings, and we can’t have you catching a cold.”
Watching Miss Anne oversee the packing with the maids, I swung my legs back and forth on the bed.
“Teacher!”
She turned around with wide eyes as soon as I called out.
“Yes, little miss.”
“Hey! You promised you wouldn’t call me that!”
Miss Anne blinked, looking thoughtful for a moment.
Then she smiled gently.
“Alright. I won’t.”
Even after all the orphanage children were adopted, Miss Anne didn’t leave the ducal castle.
That was because she had become my nanny—as the young lady of House Abner.
I lightly tapped the bed with my heels.
Miss Anne is my nanny.
It still felt unreal, but honestly, it made me happy.
When I was really little, I used to be jealous of the other kids.
Not that I ever felt Miss Anne’s affection was lacking at the orphanage.
Still, having to share one adult with more than twenty children could feel a bit lonely sometimes.
But now Miss Anne is mine.
She prepared my meals every day, took walks with me, and sang me lullabies before bed.
And perhaps because she knew about my regression, she noticed even the slightest shifts in my mood.
“Are you worried about going to the capital?”
Just like now.
I nodded slowly.
“A little… I keep thinking maybe only the Duke should go, not me…”
The Taranta Empire was currently busy preparing for the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
According to a letter from Tian, the capital’s streets were already overflowing with floral decorations.
“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do there….”
Seeing my expression grow gloomier, Miss Anne gently dismissed the servants.
Then she came over and sat beside me.
“It’s because you don’t have any good memories of the capital.”
“…That’s true.”
I nodded immediately.
In my previous life, I had been a duke’s daughter of House Longton, but I’d only been to the capital a handful of times.
The Duke of Longton had forced me to live confined to the estate.
Naturally, I’d never attended social parties with girls my age, nor participated in the empire’s annual events.
Even when I succeeded in my research and created new magic formulas…
They were all stolen by Hiana, so it was always her who went to the presentations, never me.
“This time will be fun. Let’s cover the bad memories with new, happy ones. Okay?”
Miss Anne gently stroked my head.
I nodded reluctantly.
“Y-Yes! I have to receive the honors properly as the young lady of House Abner!”
After the Eastern Continent War ended in victory for the allied forces, the Emperor was overjoyed.
He decided to bestow various gifts upon our family, which had supplied weapons.
And I’m the one who’ll be receiving them.
My fingers fidgeted nervously.
Miss Anne chuckled softly and placed a sweet chocolate in my hand.
“Don’t worry, Ria. Everything will be fine. You practiced noble etiquette diligently. Come to think of it—today’s your last lesson, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
That was actually why I’d called for her.
“Yes! It’s in the East Wing reception hall!”
Though it had been a short course, the person who ended up teaching me noble etiquette was none other than Madam Larien.
The same noblewoman who had once called me a “vulgar commoner orphan” during the council.
Yet she had also been the first to reflect on her behavior and side with Sharon Abner.
Perhaps she was the kind of person whose viciousness matched her honesty.
Thinking that far, the past few weeks of training naturally came to mind.
—
“Again! Again! You bent your waist too much!”
“Ah—s-sorry….”
“Why are you apologizing to me? If anything, get angry and ask why this class is so terrible!”
—
The reason Madam Larien could hurl such harsh remarks even at a five-year-old like me soon became clear.
Madam Larien was… simply not an ordinary person.
—
“Remember this well, young lady. At a party, unless the person you’re greeting is of imperial blood, you don’t need to bow that deeply.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Just tilt your head slightly. Keep your eyes half-lidded and smile faintly, as if you’re being polite.”
“As if I’m being polite?”
“A young lady like you has no obligation to be polite. If anyone should be, it’s them.”
—
Madam Larien’s lessons were extreme across the board.
But I didn’t dislike them.
Because I could guess why she was teaching me this way.
Because I’m a young lady who came from an orphanage.
She was especially worried about the scrutiny and contempt that would be directed my way.
Having finished my thoughts, I hopped down from the bed.
“Then I’ll be off!”
The time I’d promised Madam Larien was fast approaching.
She said she’d teach me some incredible, practical tips today, didn’t she?
It probably wouldn’t be normal this time either—but my curiosity was already bubbling up.
I waved goodbye to Miss Anne and left the room.
I could feel the guards following behind me, but it didn’t bother me much anymore.
After a few weeks, even this bizarre lifestyle had become familiar.
