Chapter 7
“All done, Lady Rielsha. You may come down now.”
“Mhm, thank you!”
When Rielsha thanked them cheerfully after the dressing was finished, the maids exchanged bewildered glances with one another.
One older maid, who seemed to have the most experience, stepped forward with a polite smile.
“It’s nothing, my lady. We’re only doing our duty. From now on, you mustn’t offer thanks like that.”
“Why not?”
“Well…”
The maid faltered, caught off guard by the question. It was as if the child had questioned something so self-evident that she didn’t know how to answer.
“If you do my hair like this again, I’ll be happy. I like it,” Rielsha said, grabbing Sona’s hand and waving to the maids.
“Shall we go now, Lady Rielsha?”
“Mhm.”
As they left the room, Rielsha squeezed Sona’s hand tightly, her face full of tension.
‘What should I say when I meet Grandfather?’
Though she was still living in the outskirts of the estate, once the meeting with her grandfather ended well, she would be formally granted a new castle within the heir’s domain.
But that was only if the meeting went positively.
She had to win her grandfather’s favor—no matter what.
When Rielsha squeezed Sona’s hand, Sona squeezed back just as firmly.
“You can do this, Lady Rielsha. Just like we practiced.”
“Mhm.”
They had trained hard together for this day.
Since Rielsha didn’t know proper noble etiquette, Sona had given her a crash course in formal greetings.
Rielsha pictured the gestures in her mind.
‘Okay, I can do this!’
Before long, the two arrived at the entrance to the main castle.
At the gate stood a statue of a two-headed dragon—the emblem of House Aracrene.
Behind it loomed the grand and imposing ducal residence itself.
As they passed the guards standing at strict attention, a beautiful landscape unfolded before them.
“Wow…”
A broad lake with a bridge stretching over it.
Beneath the sunlight, koi fish glimmered in and out of view, swimming among exquisite aquatic plants.
Rielsha, lost in admiration of the garden, froze when she saw a silhouette she could never forget.
“Welcome, Lady Rielsha. I’ve come to escort you.”
It was Oberon.
Every hair on her body stood on end.
He looked younger than she remembered, but the face was unmistakably the same.
With an intellectual air and short, neatly cut hair, Oberon placed a hand over his heart and bowed deeply.
“I will guide you from here.”
That meant Sona couldn’t go with her.
Rielsha hesitated, unsure. Sona bent down to meet her eyes.
“Lady Rielsha, I’ll wait right here for you.”
“…”
“You can do well, can’t you?”
“…Mhm.”
Rielsha nodded nervously after a pause.
‘Oberon is still Grandfather’s man. Nothing’s happened yet.’
Carefully, she released Sona’s hand.
As she followed Oberon, she began to wonder how she could subtly probe his intentions.
Her palms were already slick with sweat.
“Then, allow me to lead the way.”
“Yes.”
Oberon was one of the most influential figures in House Aracrene.
It would do her no good to offend him.
Determined, Rielsha widened her eyes and suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Oh my?”
That startled sound came from Sona.
At the same time, Oberon’s cool, emotionless eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Unfortunately, Rielsha was too tense to notice.
“Then I’ll be back, Sona!”
“Yes, my lady. Good luck!”
Rielsha nodded and waved energetically.
“…Let us go,” Oberon murmured.
Rielsha stepped quickly, clutching his stiff fingers tightly in hers.
Behind them, the heavy castle gate closed with a thud.
‘When did Oberon start harboring those treacherous thoughts?’
Rielsha stared at his face.
His expression was unreadable, giving away nothing of his mind.
‘If he disliked me, he could’ve just dealt with me alone.’
She still couldn’t understand why Oberon had turned his blade not only on her—the supposed cause of everything—but on everyone else as well.
As they walked down the long corridor in silence, Oberon suddenly spoke.
“Do you have something to say to me, my lady?”
“Huh?”
Rielsha flinched.
Perhaps she’d been staring too openly.
He was now looking down at her, having clearly noticed her gaze.
Panicking, Rielsha decided to greet him properly.
“I didn’t say hello before. Hello!”
“…Good day to you.”
“I’m Rielsha.”
The unexpected greeting seemed to catch him off guard; his reply came a little delayed.
His silver-gray eyes drifted awkwardly through the air.
He must not have been used to dealing with children.
‘That’s actually good for me.’
Rielsha felt relieved. It was much better to deal with this younger, uncertain Oberon than the hardened man he would become six years later.
“…I’m Oberon,” he replied, sounding unsure.
Rielsha’s eyes widened.
‘He’s nicer than I thought!’
What could possibly happen in the future to turn this man against the family so completely?
“Oberon.”
“Yes, Lady Rielsha?”
“I awakened!”
“My sincere congratulations.”
He faced forward again as he spoke.
Rielsha was glad—because if their eyes had met, she might have blurted out something reckless like ‘I know what you’ll do in the future.’
Her heart still pounded nervously.
“Now Daddy can come back too.”
This was what she really wanted to say.
She hoped that, hearing this, Oberon might one day choose differently.
“So Oberon can stay with Grandpa too.”
She was terrified he might have already turned his back on the family.
Tense and hopeful, Rielsha waited for his response.
Slowly, Oberon turned his head toward her.
“What do you mean by that?”
“You don’t have to worry anymore, Oberon.”
“…”
“The duchy will be safe—if you help.”
At her strangely knowing words, Oberon’s eyes widened with genuine surprise.
For the first time, emotion rippled across his calm face.
But there was no hint of ‘I’ve been found out’ in his expression.
‘So… he hasn’t decided to betray us yet?’
Even so, his reaction was complicated—too subtle to read.
After a moment of silence, Oberon began to speak again.
“Lady Rielsha, did you perhaps—”
“Oh, we’re here!”
Rielsha abruptly let go of his hand and exclaimed loudly.
‘I can’t let him ask more. I barely know the details myself—I was just testing him.’
No one would have told her any of the family’s secrets, so if she seemed too informed, it would only draw suspicion.
‘Anyway, from Oberon’s reaction, I can tell—the family is already unstable, even now.’
It had seemed like the family’s downfall had come overnight, but in truth, it must have been building slowly for years.
Smiling innocently, Rielsha approached the duke’s office.
The Duke’s Office — Aracrene Duchy
Inside the main office sat an elderly man with silver hair and red eyes, his presence commanding respect.
“So the child has awakened?”
“Yes, my lord. Rosinante has personally confirmed it.”
Duke Ackmund Aracrene narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
The timing was almost too perfect.
If Rielsha hadn’t awakened before the year’s end, she would have been removed from the family registry altogether—
a deadline Ackmund himself had promised his vassals.
“Any chance it’s a lie?”
“None, sir.”
“And if Fernore has tampered with the results?”
“That would be discovered quickly.”
Even at the news of his granddaughter’s awakening, Ackmund couldn’t feel relief—only doubt.
Suspicion.
Everything lined up too neatly; it was enough to make him wary.
“Very well. Then I’ll see for myself.”
The girl had been bedridden for two days recovering from the aftereffects.
He intended to see with his own eyes just what kind of power the one responsible for driving her father out of the family possessed.
‘Whether her ability proves a blessing or a curse to this house… I’ll soon find out.’
He had already sent Oberon. The child would arrive any moment.
