Chapter 8
The carriage from the villa came to a stop.
The place Vivian had brought Rahel to was…
…a hill?
It was a small hill behind the village.
A place where you could see the village freely without being in people’s view.
It perfectly matched the conditions Rahel had given.
“You want to go up here?”
The knights escorting them grimaced at the idea of climbing the hill.
“Eh? Did you uncles only eat a little bread today? Why are you so weak?”
Every word from Vivian jabbed at the knights’ pride.
And then, to seal the deal—
“Then I’ll tell the duke to give you more bread from now on.”
A terrifying “threat” that she’d report them to the duke!
If the head knight Kalts heard, the already harsh knight training would only get worse.
Rahel, too, found the sudden hike bothersome, but she refused the knights’ offer to carry her and quietly walked up the hill.
At last, they reached the top.
A cool breeze swept through Rahel’s hair.
When she opened her eyes to it, she saw a blue sky and green fields stretching out before her.
And at the center of the hill stood a large, old tree.
“If you go under that tree, you can see the whole village.”
Vivian pointed at it and led Rahel over.
“Tada!”
Once they reached the tree, Vivian exclaimed.
Where the child’s small hand was pointing, the view of the village spread out.
Ah…
Seeing that scene, Rahel finally realized she had truly stepped outside the mansion.
While she stood there blankly taking in the view—
Vivian suddenly flopped onto the grass.
“What are you—?”
Before Rahel could even finish her question, Vivian started rolling down the grassy slope.
Rahel, and even the watching knights, were shocked.
“Kid!”
Roll roll roll!
Vivian rolled down quite a ways before stopping at a gentler slope.
“Hahaha! That was fun!”
She stood up, laughing loudly, her body covered in grass.
Rahel could only let out an incredulous laugh.
Huh…
As a noble lady raised on etiquette, such behavior was unthinkable.
Not just for her—none of the noble children she’d met in the capital would ever do such a thing.
They’d sit quietly reading or act like miniature adults.
In front of the duke, she’s so polite and sly… but now?
Right now, Vivian looked like a wild foal with no sense of restraint.
Not the cunning girl trying to win favor with her grandfather, but a pure, carefree child.
She really is strange.
Vivian climbed back up the slope and trotted over to Rahel.
She wore a bright smile, but looked like a mess.
Rahel frowned at the sight.
“You’re dirty.”
“Then I’ll just dust myself off!”
Vivian, unfazed by Rahel’s disgust, patted her clothes.
Most of the grass fell off, except for one thing—
“See? Now I’m clean.”
One lone leaf was still fluttering in her hair.
Nestled among her pink hair, it looked like part of a cherry blossom.
As Rahel’s eyes followed the leaf’s gentle sway, Vivian suddenly asked,
“Do you want to try it too? Since we’re here, you really should! The grass is so soft—”
“No. You do it yourself.”
Rahel cut her off coldly before she could finish.
“Too bad, it’s fun…”
Vivian’s pout was audible, but Rahel ignored her and looked back at the view.
If nothing else, she liked the scenery and the peaceful atmosphere.
Vivian sidled up to her and pointed toward the rooftops below.
“That red roof over there is the fruit shop, in front is the general store, and that green roof next to it is…”
Vivian kept pointing and chattering on about the village.
Rahel followed her finger at first, then glanced at the girl beside her.
Her golden eyes sparkled like jewels as she looked at the scenery.
While Rahel was quietly staring at those eyes, Vivian turned and grinned.
“Next time, let’s go into the village together, my lady!”
At that moment, Rahel realized what made this child shine.
Freedom.
This commoner girl had the freedom she herself lacked.
And in that moment, the little commoner beside her felt like the ruler of this small world.
It made her a little jealous… and a little covetous.
On the way back down and toward the mansion,
Rahel was watching the sunset from the carriage window.
Her first outing went pretty well, didn’t it?
I felt satisfied and asked,
“How was it, my lady? Not bad, right, seeing the village like that?”
Rahel finally looked at me.
The sharpness in her eyes from earlier had softened…
But she still didn’t answer with anything positive.
As expected of our prickly lady.
I didn’t expect her to praise me anyway.
Hmph. Tch. Whatever.
While I pouted, Rahel quietly placed her hand on her own head.
Huh?
I realized a moment later she meant for me to do the same. When I put my hand on my head—
“What… what is this?”
I pulled off a leaf I didn’t even know was there.
It must have stuck when I was rolling down the hill earlier!
Now I understood why the knights kept laughing at me before.
“Ah! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? You knew!”
“Be grateful I told you before you met Grandfather.”
Rahel said that and turned back to the window.
But just now…
Did she smile?
When I looked again, her face was the same cool, indifferent mask.
I must have imagined it. There’s no way the icy Rahel would smile at me.
I patted my head to check for more leaves, but then remembered her earlier words—and tensed up.
Once we get back to the villa, dinner with the duke is waiting.
It was obvious Sally and the nanny were desperate to get me kicked out, so I’d tried to latch onto the most powerful connection in the household.
I didn’t think it would actually work.
It was lucky enough the duke hadn’t dismissed me on the spot…
But now that I think about facing him, I’m nervous.
In the Hildéon Empire, the duke was second in power only to the emperor.
Even though his reputation had dimmed after his daughter—the former duchess—bore Rahel, the child of a traitorous prince…
He was still feared as someone who could bring down anyone.
And besides that…
Just remembering the pressure I’d felt when meeting him earlier made me tense up again.
But I can’t run away now.
As the villa came into view outside the window, I swallowed hard.
At this point, it’s all or nothing.
