Chapter 26
Count Lurupel slammed a glass of water onto the table.
He seemed so displeased that he completely forgot that the Third Prince and I were only eight years old.
Well, that was understandable. From a noble’s perspective, we were nobles first and children second.
Though I was of commoner origin, it seemed that even nobles had their own difficulties.
“You’ve been behaving for a while, so why cause trouble of all times now, Hariela!”
Count Lurupel went through verse one, two, three, and even four. His face was purple with anger.
Considering the court was filled with guests, it made sense that he was on edge.
Even ignoring the engagement issue, this incident was a huge embarrassment for Count Lurupel.
For a royal getting hurt in the palace meant the court marquis had failed in his duties.
“Don’t scold him too much, Father. What’s done is done.”
Hariela’s older brother, who had been quietly focusing on his meal despite our father’s outburst, joined the conversation.
“Takhar! Don’t speak so carelessly!”
Count Lurupel shouted, targeting nothing but the water glass.
“But think about it. When has our Hari ever caused trouble like this?”
Hariela’s brother gave me a knowing smile.
It seemed like some kind of sign, but I couldn’t make sense of it.
“Before meeting Your Highness, Hari was a calm and mature child.”
That couldn’t be true.
Before I possessed her body, Hariela must have been a lively, fearless child.
Even the incident where she sent a marriage proposal to some minor duke was enough to suggest that.
She would have been fully capable of causing similar trouble back then.
But Count Lurupel seemed to have completely forgotten the mischief of his beloved youngest daughter.
Nodding uncertainly, Count Lurupel grew furious again.
“That may be true… but what does that have to do with now!”
“If Hari did anything wrong, it was only in sincerely interacting with the fiancé you arranged, Father and Mother.”
Hariela’s brother spoke again.
I was startled, staring at him. His words sounded almost as if he was scolding Count Lurupel and his wife.
“Takhar, watch your words.”
Count Lurupel’s wife furrowed her brow and warned him.
“Sorry, Mother. I guess I’m still clumsy at putting my thoughts into words.”
Hariela’s brother spoke humbly, putting on a gentle demeanor.
“I just wanted to say that if I hadn’t met the Third Prince, our good Hari wouldn’t have caused any problems.”
But soon, he led the conversation in a strange direction.
According to him, I was innocent while everyone else was guilty.
It was the kind of remark parents make: “My child is good, but they were influenced by bad company…”
Hariela’s brother gave off a strong “troublesome parent” vibe.
“…Ahem.”
Count Lurupel coughed, clearly irritated.
While he empathized with his son, the thought that he might also be partially at fault was displeasing.
“…Rumors are really a problem. Until recently, I only thought the Third Prince was truly intelligent.”
At that moment, Hariela’s brother gave Count Lurupel a way out of his contradictions.
“From now on, we shouldn’t believe rumors recklessly. I’ve learned a lesson this time.”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
Count Lurupel quickly agreed with his son’s words.
“No matter how smart a boy is, he’s still just a child.”
He immediately transformed into a “troublesome parent 2.0,” saying things that could get him into trouble.
Even though there were only four pairs of ears listening, it was still a dangerously careless statement.
“Perhaps you should watch your words too?”
Count Lurupel’s wife gently chided him.
From her tone and words, she seemed to partially agree with her husband.
“Yes, now that I think about it, I’m just glad my little canary wasn’t hurt.”
Count Lurupel, his temper deflated, returned to his usual boisterous self.
“I was being too sensitive, Hariela.”
“Yes…”
“Now, pick up your fork. Children must eat well.”
Thus, the Lurupel family quietly ended the incident.
They didn’t solve the problem, just subtly shifted responsibility—truly exemplary behavior for minor nobles.
I fiddled with my fork and ended up leaving more than half my boiled beans uneaten.
“It’s late, Hariela. I’ll take you to your room.”
As Count Lurupel and his wife left the dining room, Hariela’s brother spoke to me.
I felt uneasy. He seemed to care more for Hariela than the Lurupels themselves.
“I’m fine. I can go alone.”
Even at my blunt refusal, he didn’t back down. He even grabbed my hand.
“Really? You’re scared of the dark hallway? Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand.”
Perhaps because I accidentally used polite speech, he ignored my words entirely.
No, my tone didn’t really matter. Whether I spoke formally or casually, he would do as he pleased.
Hariela’s brother held my hand tightly as we walked.
I debated whether to pull my hand free but decided to just let it go.
“By the way, there’s a strange rumor among the servants. Do you know about it?”
Near my room, he spoke softly.
“Rumor? What rumor?”
“You don’t know, it seems.”
Of course—I couldn’t understand anything with the lights dimmed like this.
He glanced at me, noticing my confusion, and smiled.
“There’s a rumor that after seeing the Caledonia Duke’s carriage arrive, you pushed the Third Prince from a tree.”
“What?”
Wait, why would I do that?
I couldn’t understand why I was being seen in such a suspicious light.
In my fourth life, I had only done four things:
Suffer from the Lurupels, suffer from Anna, suffer from the Third Prince, and suffer from others in general.
Where is a soul as kind and pitiable as mine?
“Was it you?”
“Of course not! Never!”
“Really? That’s strange…”
Hariela’s brother tilted his head. He seemed to have believed the rumor.
“I thought if it were our princess, it could have been possible.”
What kind of person did this kid think Hariela was?
I couldn’t believe that this cute, delicate girl could be seen in such a way.
“It’s fine. You can be honest with me. Our Hari has always desired anything she finds beautiful—the brightest gem in the mansion, the most beautiful butterfly in the garden, and even the most famous boy in the empire.”
While I lamented Hariela’s life, her brother brought up something completely off-topic.
“I don’t mind if you choose the Caledonia minor duke. He’s of higher status than the Third Prince, has a bright future, and is wealthy. Naturally, he’s the man my only little sister should have. Isn’t that so?”
I had no idea how to respond, so I just rolled my eyes.
An awkward silence filled the hallway.
“Won’t you answer?”
Hariela’s brother tilted his head in confusion.
Still, I didn’t know what to say. Could I say no? What if he replied that it wasn’t the Hariela he knew?
After much thought, I remained silent again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”
Hariela’s brother smiled faintly and patted my head.
“I’ll leave now. Have a good night.”
He turned and walked away.
I stood frozen in the hallway until his shadow disappeared.
Naturally, that night was far from a good night for me.
The next morning, someone knocked on my door at the crack of dawn.
“My goodness! Miss!”
Anna ran to me, clearly knowing who it was from her expression.
“…The minor duke?”
I was still stirring in bed, tired from a sleepless night.
My voice cracked as I tried to speak.
“Yes! The Caledonia minor duke! How did you know?”
Anna asked, handing me a glass of water.
I drank two glasses before replying.
“The minor duke said he’d come again today…”
Of course, he hadn’t actually said he’d come this early, but I wasn’t too surprised. Considering his personality in the story, it made sense.
“Shall I bring him in right away?”
“…No?”
“Excuse me?”
