CHAPTER 60……………………………
We sat across from each other on a wide terrace overlooking the garden.
Rose’s silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.
How do beautiful older sisters get their hair to shine like that?
As I looked at her hair, my own reddish curls felt dull in comparison.
Suddenly, she pointed toward the garden.
“This is the Forboa Forest. It’s our family’s pride.”
If the Kerais family had the Trencia Forest, the Forboa family had a forest named after themselves.
Trencia Forest was filled with conifers, giving it a deep green hue, whereas this forest had a variety of trees with colorful leaves.
“In spring and autumn, His Majesty the Emperor often visits this place,” Rose said.
A thought flashed through my mind.
Ah, right. The Emperor’s current wife is Rose’s sister!
No wonder such an illustrious family had ties to the Kerais family.
“But doesn’t the Imperial Palace have a forest too?” I asked.
I couldn’t remember from the original story, but as the ruling family of the Triya Empire, the Asha family would surely have a forest.
Rose shook her head firmly.
“Unfortunately, the Asha family doesn’t have a forest. They did in the past, but now there’s a huge palace in its place.”
“Then the Asha family doesn’t have a guardian spirit?”
“That’s why the Central Temple was built—to enshrine all the empire’s guardian spirits.”
Rose turned to look at me.
“By the way, are you familiar with the Northern Trencia Forest?”
“A little.”
“You haven’t visited yet, I see.”
“No, my grandfather forbade me from entering.”
Curious, I asked her if she had ever been there.
“And you, Mother?”
“Only once, I’ve been to the Northern Trencia Forest.”
“Really?”
“That was both the first and last time. After Ron went missing, I went with Shevard to search for Getre, who was living almost entirely in the forest. But Miss Delve would never be allowed in. That forest hides secrets.”
“Secrets?”
She smiled enigmatically, leaving me both intrigued and confused.
“All natural places, after long years, are imbued with life. That includes the Trencia Forest and all the forests of the empire.”
Speaking as if it were nothing, Rose draped her hand over my shoulder and leaned down to whisper.
“But if you ever go to the Trencia Forest, I recommend going deep at night, when everyone is asleep.”
“Night?”
“That’s the only way to hear the secrets the forest speaks. Hoho.”
“…….”
I suddenly remembered the lights I had seen at my grandfather’s mansion in the north.
It was also the middle of the night. Could it be that Rose had seen those same lights too?
Leaving me lost in thought, Rose elegantly lifted her teacup.
“Why at night? What secrets does the forest speak?”
Each time I asked, Rose drew a line, saying Kerais family affairs no longer concerned her.
She looked down at the garden.
Dry leaves swirled gently in the cool autumn breeze.
“Ah, I think it was around this time. That child’s birthday.”
“Sir Shevard’s birthday?”
Rose shook her head.
“No, Ron Kerais’s.”
“…!”
“I remember Ron Kerais’s birthday being around this time.”
Ron wasn’t her biological child.
Why did she remember his birthday so vividly?
Sensing my confusion, Rose continued.
“One day, Getre suddenly came to visit. He had lived as a stranger for years, so it was very uncharacteristic of him to show up like that.”
“Why did he come?”
“He said his wife, who had just given birth, was too weak and near death. He trembled all over as he spoke—it was pitiful, like a child.”
Rose’s face softened, as if recalling the past emotions.
“At that time, our family had an exceptionally skilled doctor. Getre requested to send for him, and I went against my mother’s opposition and permitted it.”
I hadn’t known that.
I imagined the Duke, desperately trying to save his frail wife, and Rose, unable to refuse him.
“I remember it vividly. I watched Getre leave with the doctor for a long time. I’ll never forget the crisp air and the drying leaves I saw that day.”
“So that’s why you remember Ron’s birthday.”
Rose smiled gently at me.
“I suppose I like Miss Delve quite a lot—enough to tell you this story. Now go on, finish the rest of your lesson.”
I followed her lead without asking further.
I didn’t want to disturb the lingering emotions she was feeling.
The Duke, reviewing some documents, suddenly opened a drawer.
In the very back, wrapped in a fine cloth, lay a long fountain pen.
The handle had “Ron” engraved on it.
‘I wanted to give this to him when he could write.’
Her voice echoed in my ears.
But she had never been able to give the carefully prepared gift to Ron.
The Duke waited patiently for the day he could.
And finally, that day came.
“Your Grace, Miss Maryanne has arrived.”
Breaking from his thoughts, the Duke looked up as Maryanne approached.
“I was just about to call for you. Sit.”
He handed her the cloth-wrapped object.
“What’s this?”
“When you meet Ron, give it to him. His birthday is coming in a week. This is a gift left by Ron’s birth mother.”
The Duke’s gaze fell to the fountain pen in Maryanne’s hands.
“I’ll make sure he gets it.”
“Thank you. Even if you can’t celebrate his birthday together, have a happy time on my behalf.”
“Yes, Father.”
The Duke was overwhelmed with emotion, finally able to fulfill his promise to his deceased wife.
Suppressing his trembling heart, he changed the subject.
“Maryanne, I still treasure the birthday gift you gave me.”
“The brooch?”
“Yes.”
“You still wear it?”
“…Yes.”
“Show me!”
Maryanne’s cute eyes blinked.
The Duke realized he might have said too much.
The brooch had been damaged in a battle with monsters, but he had recently had it restored by Kauts, a self-proclaimed expert.
Even to him, it now looked as good as new.
Worried that Maryanne might notice, the Duke carefully opened his coat to show the brooch.
But his unconfident gesture made him quickly close it again.
“Ah! I didn’t see it properly! Can you show me again?”
“Hmm, very well.”
Opening his coat again, Maryanne leaned forward excitedly.
Her lips curved into a smile.
“Wow, it’s really beautiful. You’re wearing it just like when I gave it to you.”
The Duke exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Maryanne didn’t suspect a thing.
Even Kauts, Maryanne’s magic tutor, who was always with her, kept the secret.
His trust in Kauts deepened, and the Duke straightened up.
“Maryanne, when’s your birthday? I realized I didn’t know even though the year has passed.”
“My… my birthday? Well… I’ll tell you when the time comes.”
Maryanne, who had been cheerful, now looked embarrassed.
“Why, do you not want to tell me?”
“No, it’s not that! I just want to prepare myself first.”
The Duke nodded at her smile.
“Alright. Make sure to tell me beforehand.”
“Yes.”
Finally, Maryanne held the fountain pen carefully, bowed politely, and left.
I flopped onto my bed immediately.
Britta was talking about Kauts outside, but I didn’t have the energy to focus.
Lying down, I could feel the texture of the fountain pen in my hand.
“I’m so confused!”
The Duke had asked about my birthday.
But I didn’t know Maryanne’s birthday.
I wasn’t really Maryanne.
Besides, my parents were dead, and I had no siblings to ask.
Would the last maid who cared for me know?
No, she probably wouldn’t. She didn’t seem very attentive to Maryanne.
“Does that mean I’ll never know my birthday…?”
This was the first time I felt such bewilderment since possessing her body!
Normally, one never forgets their birthday.
I had just fumbled a vague answer to the Duke, but the real problem was ahead.
He would surely ask again, and what would I say then?
“Should I make a fake birthday?”
It felt awkward to tell him my real birthday before the possession.
I also felt guilty toward Maryanne.
“A fake birthday? Why?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
Startled by the sudden voice, I jumped off the bed.
“Kauts! Since when were you there?”
“I’ve been here since you came in and lay down, Miss.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“You seemed too absorbed in thought.”
I exhaled, my racing heart slowing.
Now that I thought about it, Britta had mentioned Kauts being inside when I entered—I just hadn’t listened closely.
“Well, this is good timing. My head was already a mess.”
“What’s going on, Miss?”
“Kauts, you understand my complicated situation, right? How my body and the soul inside it don’t quite match.”
Kauts widened his eyes but nodded.
“I was somewhat aware. You subtly mentioned it when we first met.”
“Exactly. And now the Duke asked about my birthday. I don’t know it myself.”
“Ah.”
Kauts clasped his hands, seemingly understanding immediately.
The rings on his fingers glinted. Then he clapped and said:
“Then why not choose a meaningful day as your birthday and tell others you want that day to be celebrated?”
“Choose a day?”
“Yes. Like I wanted the day I first met you to be your birthday. You can pick a day you want and tell others it’s your birthday.”
“Oh! That’s a clever idea!”
Indeed, Maryanne’s past had been unfortunate.
Her family was declining, her parents had died, and no relatives would care for her.
It made sense to create a birthday to commemorate the new life she got from the Kerais family.
“Then the Duke and everyone else would accept it as your birthday. Even if someone later came who knew your real birthday, you could just make an excuse.”
“Exactly! You’re very clever, Miss!”
Thanks to Kauts, the birthday situation was easily resolved.
Now the remaining task was the birthday gift for Ron.
“Ron’s birthday is coming soon. What should I give him?”
