Chapter 5
It was the butler of the Edelvine ducal family—the same man who had stood beside the duke yesterday.
The butler walked straight toward me and my father, who was staring blankly at him.
“Hello, Vivian.”
My father’s golden eyes, normally gentle whenever he looked at me, turned a little sharper as they dropped to me.
Vivian~?
It was an unspoken question: Why does this man know you?
I pretended not to notice that look and turned to greet the butler.
“Hello, sir. What brings you here? Did you come to buy bread?”
“I came for something else.”
“Something else?”
Instead of answering me, the butler looked at my father.
“I am Owen, the butler of the Edelvine ducal family. Are you Mr. Dias Hessen, father of Vivian?”
“That’s right, but…”
“I’ll be direct.”
He glanced down at me briefly, then continued.
“His Grace would like to invite your daughter to be the young lady’s playmate.”
Gasp—amazing!
I had been looking for any opportunity to get into the ducal household, and now the chance had dropped right into my lap.
But my father’s brow furrowed slightly.
“That’s… rather sudden.”
“Yesterday, His Grace heard about Vivian and seemed to recognize her potential.”
My father’s sharp gaze flicked to me when he heard I had met the duke.
Wow, Dad’s trying to kill me with his eyes.
I quickly hugged his waist, hoping it might soften him up before the scolding I was sure would come after the butler left.
The butler went on.
“Miss Vivian would attend lessons and study together with the young lady. Anything she needs will be fully provided for by the Edelvine family.”
“…”
“Of course, not every day—only about three times a week at the villa.”
Even setting aside my real goal of getting closer to Rahel, it was an excellent offer.
I was certain my father would accept.
But…
“I appreciate the offer, but there are still many things I haven’t taught her. She is precious to me, but she’s not yet ready to be the young lady’s playmate.”
What?!
I screamed silently inside at my father’s flat refusal.
No way! Do you know what kind of opportunity this is?!
I pinched his side and blurted, “Dad! We need to talk.”
Dragging him away, I called over my shoulder, “Please have a look around the shop while you wait, sir! We won’t be long!”
I pulled my father into the alley next to the shop, but he spoke first.
“Vivian, why did you go there?”
His voice and eyes were unusually cold.
Yikes. Guess cute whining won’t work this time.
I quickly changed tactics and mumbled out a lie.
“I was just curious… I only went to look from outside, but then I ran into the duke.”
I couldn’t quite meet his eyes.
He stared at me for a moment, sighed, and spoke gently.
“I’ll speak to the butler myself, but let’s not go to the villa again, alright?”
I grabbed his sleeve before he could return to Owen.
“No! I have to go there, Dad.”
“And why is that?”
He seemed to sense I had another reason.
I almost blurted out the truth, but stopped myself just in time.
I couldn’t tell him what I knew from the original story—that Rahel’s ability to absorb mana was a secret kept to avoid the emperor’s interference. There was no way I should know that.
And telling him this was a novel’s world? That would only make him think his sick daughter had lost her mind.
So I left out the original story and spoke honestly in another way.
“I want to cure my illness.”
That only made things worse—my father’s pale face went even paler.
“Why all of a sudden? Are you feeling worse? Have you been hiding it from me—”
“No, it’s not that! I’m fine, really. Calm down, Dad.”
Before he could get more worried, I quickly reassured him.
“I just… I want to get better quickly so I can live a long, healthy life with you. I hate making you worry.”
“…”
“The duke must know skilled doctors and mages in the capital. If we ask, maybe they could help.”
Even with my earnest persuasion, Dad still looked reluctant. His eyes seemed almost sad as he looked at me.
But I can’t back down this time.
Normally, when he looked like that, I’d give in. But this time, it was my life on the line. And in the end, it was for him too.
After a long moment, my father sighed in defeat.
“…Alright. Let’s ask the duke.”
At last, the answer I wanted. I couldn’t help smiling.
Our dramatic father-daughter negotiation had ended in my victory.
The next day.
I rode the carriage sent by the ducal family to the villa.
Wow!
I had come in through the side gate a few days ago, but entering through the massive front gates in a carriage was a whole different feeling.
It finally hit me—I was going to meet Rahel properly.
The carriage stopped.
Before stepping down, I quickly checked myself.
Since this is our first formal meeting, I have to look good.
I checked my hair to make sure it wasn’t crooked, pinched my soft cheeks, and patted out the wrinkles in my dress.
Finally, I stepped out.
“Welcome, Vivian.”
It was, of course, the butler.
“Hello, sir.”
“Good to see you. I’ll let the young lady know you’re here, so wait in the greenhouse.”
“Yes.”
After the butler went upstairs to Rahel’s room, a maid led me to the greenhouse in the back garden.
Once the maid left, I was alone.
I sat at the table in the center and looked around.
They really must be rich.
Even though this was just a villa in a small resort town—not the main estate or a townhouse—the greenhouse was huge and luxurious.
I was admiring some exotic birds perched on branches when the door behind me opened.
But it wasn’t Rahel who walked in—
“You? How did you get in here again?”
It was Sally.
Her annoyed face, so eager to throw me out before, made me feel smug.
I greeted her with a smile so bright it was almost insulting.
“I’m here as the young lady’s playmate. Let’s get along, Sally.”
I even held out my hand.
She snorted.
“You?!”
Then she slapped my hand away and snapped, “Who let you in?”
“What do you mean?”
“Who let you in here without my mother’s permission?!”
I smirked.
“Does the duke need your mother’s permission?”
“…What?”
Sally’s expression turned from anger to shock. Even she couldn’t defy the duke’s orders.
“Go ahead and tell her, ‘The duke just brought some beggar from the market to be the young lady’s friend.’”
“You—!”
Furious, she glared at me, then stormed out.
I stuck out my tongue at her retreating back.
Anyway… it’s been a while now. Why isn’t Rahel here yet?
Half expectation, half worry, I waited.
Then—
Thump.
My heart suddenly pounded hard, my breathing grew difficult, and a wave of pain tore through me.
“Ugh…”
The symptoms of Mana Overload. They usually came without warning, like this.
It was a pain I knew all too well—but could never get used to.
There was no cure, no way to ease it. All I could do was endure.
I staggered to my feet.
I’ll just hide until it passes.
I hadn’t told the ducal family about my illness. Even though it wasn’t contagious, they wouldn’t want the young lady’s playmate to be sick.
And besides, once I met Rahel, this could be fixed—so why say anything yet?
But I didn’t know how long it would take for the symptoms to fade, even with Rahel nearby. If she saw me like this, I’d have to explain, so it was better to avoid her.
Holding my aching chest, I reached for the door—
Huh?
It opened from the outside first, and I fell forward—
Straight into someone’s arms.
“I’m sorr—”
As I quickly stood and looked up—
Our eyes met.
The same eyes that had been watching me from the window these past few days.
