Chapter 46 ………………………………………………………
“Oh, this is…”
As I lifted my body from lying down, I felt a soft texture against me.
It was the coat that Ron had wrapped around me.
He must have immediately taken off his own clothes and covered me when I collapsed.
“Thank you… Lan.”
“I was scared you might die.”
“I don’t die that easily.”
“…Then promise me something.”
“Hm?”
“Promise me you’ll keep what you just said.”
Seeing the fear still lingering in Ron’s eyes, I couldn’t help but promise.
After descending from the wide rock, the splitting headache had slightly eased, but my body still felt hot, as if it weren’t my own.
I wondered if the magic would wear off soon.
“Ron, I have to go now.”
“…Already?”
Ron’s long lashes, like a delicate shade, lowered.
I gently held his shoulder.
“We’ll meet again. If you ever need my help, send a letter. Write in it if you need books or other items. And…”
What else should I say?
“Lan.”
Ron looked at me and spoke.
“I’m more worried about you than myself. What if you collapse again? But I won’t be there then.”
“You promised earlier, that you wouldn’t die easily. I’ll keep that promise.”
We both worried for each other more than ourselves.
Before parting, Ron said to me:
“I feel like a flower has bloomed in my heart.”
“A flower?”
“Mm, a beautiful, cute flower. So I’m okay, Lan.”
Bathed in moonlight, Ron’s smiling face glowed softly.
Seeing him like that, I smiled too.
Perhaps we wouldn’t see each other for a long time.
I hoped he would remember this last meeting happily.
“Goodbye, Ron. My little lion.”
The tall trees swayed in the wind.
Eventually, Kauts, leaning on a branch, lightly landed on the ground.
“Milady!”
“Kauts!”
“Oh my, you’ve returned to being Milady Marianne.”
Her glossy red hair and pure sparkling eyes—the girl Marianne, not the boy, was back.
Seeing her flushed cheeks, Kauts realized the side effects of the magic powder had appeared.
“We don’t have much time, Milady. We must hurry.”
Looking around as dawn approached, Kauts spoke.
In truth, it was already time to depart.
But Kauts had no choice.
He couldn’t interfere with the beautiful encounter between Milady and the boy.
He had waited at a distance, roaming around.
After preparing, he put little puppy Roro into the cloth bag and held him.
“Did you get him securely?”
“Yes.”
As he tightened the reins, the black horse started running as if waiting for the signal.
Marianne whispered as they passed through the forest:
“Kauts.”
“Yes, Milady?”
“Leaving Ron behind like this… it’s the right thing, isn’t it?”
Once Ron grew strong and learned the truth, how would he react when he saw me?
Would he be disappointed? Angry at being deceived?
“Milady did her best. I’m sure Ron will understand.”
“….”
Marianne, leaning in Kauts’ arms, said nothing, seemingly asleep.
After running for a long while, the black horse stopped near the Kereis estate.
Morning had already begun.
The duke, who had stayed up all night, greeted me.
He looked exhausted, but more tense than usual.
I told him everything that had happened with Ron, without leaving out a single detail.
Listening, the duke’s expressions changed—serious, then smiling, then relieved.
His moist eyes turned toward me.
“New lady, I’m so grateful you’re here.”
“It’s thanks to Ron holding on well in Devel. Ah, I have to write a reply. Tell him we arrived safely.”
“Yes, do that.”
The duke and I stayed in the study writing letters.
Today, we even broke the duke’s morning meal routine, taking breakfast into the study.
As usual, Krimu sat on the duke’s lap, chewing his sandwich quietly, unaware of what we were doing, just smiling.
Krimu simply enjoyed the warm, lively atmosphere.
Time passed quickly.
The harsh winter gradually yielded to spring.
In the meantime, I exchanged letters with Ron five times.
He said he was diligently studying and training.
I watched him fondly, like a parent, and stood in front of the mirror.
Britta’s surprised voice rang out:
“Milady, you’ve grown so much!”
I showed her a short dress.
Just by holding it against my body, the length that once covered my shoes had risen, just as Britta said.
“You’ve really grown.”
I stared at my red-haired reflection in the mirror.
Not long ago, Marianne had turned thirteen to fourteen.
Although still small and light, she had finally started catching up to her peers.
I noticed Britta’s eyes were slightly red as she looked at me.
“Britta, why? Are you crying?”
“Sniff… No, Milady.”
“Did I say something hurtful?”
I repeated the words I’d just spoken.
Britta, dabbing tears with her hand, said:
“No, not that… I just… I don’t know if I should say this, but Milady, you’re admirable, clever, and so amazing.”
Britta’s wet eyelashes drooped gently.
Seeing that, I fought back tears myself.
“Britta, here, wipe it with this.”
Britta hesitated, surprised by the handkerchief I offered.
“Milady, how could I! No, I’ve already wiped it.”
Stopping her from wiping further, I gently cleaned her tear-streaked face with the silk handkerchief.
“I’ve endured this long because I’ve had good people by my side.”
“Milady.”
“You’re one of them, Britta. Thank you.”
“Mi… Milady… sniff.”
Though I tried to stop her tears, Britta sobbed uncontrollably.
Her fragile state stirred a strange feeling within me.
Had I ever been cared for by someone like this?
We weren’t blood relatives.
Patting Britta gently, I realized how much time had passed since I arrived at the duke’s estate.
In that time, I had found people who were like family—maybe even my true family.
Britta, Kauts, the duke, Krimu, Ron, and everyone else at the estate.
…Yes, even the magnanimous fiancé, Chevert, was included.
Thinking of each of them, I felt my heart swell unexpectedly.
‘But I’ll be leaving soon.’
Sometimes I wondered if I could just live well at the duke’s estate.
But then I would have to be engaged to Chevert…
And if I refused the engagement, there would be no reason to stay.
‘Yes, leaving is the right choice.’
The Kereis family, the dark family of the original story, had changed a lot.
And with the villainous me gone, the Triya Empire would remain safe.
I’d stay only until Ron returned, Marianne.
“The squirrel met the princess!”
The playroom was filled with toys and storybooks.
But when Krimu came to me, he always brought the same book—a princess story.
Last time, I had reacted so strongly that it seemed to stay in Krimu’s memory.
“The squirrel, the squirrel is happy!”
Nothing had changed.
Krimu still read as he pleased.
Yet I didn’t hold back praise.
“Our Krimu, when did you grow up so much? Wonderful.”
Krimu, like a tiny squirrel from the story, smiled with dimples.
Woof woof.
Outside the greenhouse garden, I heard puppy Roro’s bark.
“Roro must have arrived.”
Krimu’s big round red eyes narrowed slightly.
His marshmallow cheeks puffed up.
“Krimu, you have to get along with Roro.”
As I soothed him, his furrowed little brow relaxed.
Krimu and Roro still maintained the same rivalry.
Every time they met, it was a standoff.
Their rivalry even spread within the Kereis estate.
The servants divided into Krimu’s side and Roro’s side, even having small quarrels.
“Our young master has never been anything but adorable since birth.”
The nanny on Krimu’s side said firmly.
The other side was no less stubborn:
“Roro is a brave puppy who helped save us.”
A few days ago, Roro had barked to alert the servants about a fire in the stable.
The servants guarding the stable were grateful ever since.
Since then, some would give treats to Roro whenever they had them.
Debuie and Britta, the housekeepers, stayed neutral, refusing to take sides.
Thus, Krimu and Roro’s supporters were equally matched, which caused me trouble.
“Ah, Roro’s here.”
Woof woof.
The little white paws flailed in the air—it was adorable.
Next to him, Krimu, pouting like a cherry, looked jealous.
Both were cute—what was I supposed to do?
Ultimately, I chose to lavish affection on both whenever I saw them.
Woof woof woof.
“I’m first!”
Krimu and Roro started another running race.
Whenever they were with me, they seemed to have a tacit understanding, running energetically around the front garden.
“Krimu, be careful not to fall! Roro too!”
Seeing the child and puppy running through the budding green garden was pure happiness.
Yes, grow up healthy and strong, both of you.
I waved gently at them.
At that moment, the housekeeper Debuie came with a letter.
It was from my eldest, Chevert, now at the academy.
…Ah, right. He’s my fiancé.
