It seemed the story of Lady Coleman’s little stunt had spread quickly. Before a day had even passed, Father brought it up first.
“I heard what happened. You were nearly framed at the gathering?”
“You heard already?”
“Yes. I’d heard there was an accident during the boat ride, but I didn’t expect that.”
He looked at me with a strangely awkward expression.
“You’re always siding with the troublemakers—what’s this, suddenly playing the victim?”
“It just sort of turned out that way… Oh, but I’m not going to do bad things anymore.”
I added that just in case, but he still didn’t look pleased.
He really doesn’t believe me, huh?
Today’s incident hadn’t been my fault at all, so I didn’t have to worry about losing points with him. Still, the way he was looking at me got under my skin.
“Why didn’t you tell me something like this happened?”
“Well, we just ran into each other a moment ago.”
“And what were you doing before that? You should’ve said something the moment you got home.”
…Was I supposed to do that?
This was the same man who wouldn’t accept any of my attempts at being affectionate.
“I told you not to cause trouble, not to just sit back and take it. Why would you endure something unfair?”
“I didn’t endure it. I thought I’d tell you over dinner or something.”
He stared at me silently for a moment, then asked in a low voice:
“You’re more upset than I am, aren’t you?”
It reminded me of the father I’d known in my previous life. As if my words had triggered something he hadn’t quite realized, his face, which had been twisted with regret, suddenly stiffened.
“No parent welcomes their child returning after being wronged.”
He drew a clear line—but it was obvious he cared. I’d sensed it ever since he started bringing me all those health supplements.
Even if he wasn’t the real father who shared my memories…
Still, this was something.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢._________
The next day, Lady Coleman came to the estate with her father.
“My daughter committed a grave offense.”
It wasn’t something that could be brushed off as a petty quarrel between noble ladies. That was why they had come to apologize in person.
Count Coleman made his daughter kneel before me and presented a chest of gold bars to my father.
“You dare lay a hand on the duke’s daughter and expect to get away with just this?”
Father’s displeasure was blatant. Unless it was something of my late mother’s, no gift would be warmly received by him.
He met my gaze and gestured toward them with a flick of his chin. He wanted me to say something, too.
What am I even supposed to say?
It was the first time I’d ever been in a position to receive an apology like this. After a brief pause, I turned to Lady Coleman.
“Did you apologize to Lady Bullin?”
“Pardon? Not yet…”
“You should’ve gone to her first. She’s the one whose life was at risk.”
Sure, they might want to prioritize me since I was a duke’s daughter—but wasn’t Lady Bullin the Second Prince’s lover?
It might’ve made more sense for the Colemans to prioritize her over me, someone the Second Prince disliked.
Not that it matters. Either way, they’re finished with both our families.
Lady Coleman looked flustered for a moment, then asked,
“Um… what about my apology…?”
She wanted to confirm whether I would accept it. But I already knew my answer.
“I’m not accepting it.”
There was a way to act like a merciful, forgiving noble lady. But mercy and I were miles apart.
Even if it was the morally upright thing to do, if it was too out of character, people would grow suspicious.
They didn’t believe me when I said I disliked the Second Prince, either.
I’d already helped Lady Bullin twice. Was I also supposed to grant clemency to Lady Coleman?
Forgiveness? After being nearly accused as the culprit? No thanks.
I could still feel the way the noble ladies had looked at me. The Second Prince, too.
“Lady Coleman.”
“Yes?”
“You know what happens when I get angry, don’t you?”
I deliberately smiled sweetly—I wanted to frighten her.
“What happened left me emotionally hurt, but I don’t want to hold on to anger. That’s why I’m speaking calmly. By the lake… and here, too.”
“……”
“This is the best I can do. I’m not going to get angry at you or hate you. But there will be no forgiveness. Go get that from Lady Bullin instead.”
She might accept it. I certainly wouldn’t.
After rejecting her as gracefully as I could, silence fell over the drawing room. It was Father who finally broke it.
“My daughter has made herself clear. Are you planning to linger?”
“No, of course not…”
With that dismissal, Count Coleman rose to his feet, face grim. Father looked down at the gold bars with obvious distaste.
“You think a few lumps of gold are enough to buy forgiveness? Take them with you.”
“Oh—please leave them,” I interrupted.
All three of them turned toward me in surprise.
“That’s compensation, isn’t it? I was almost framed. Of course I should take it.”
“……”
“Unless the apology was only valid if I accepted the gift?”
“N-no, of course not!”
And with that, the Colemans left the drawing room, leaving the gold chest behind.
“A mere box of gold,” Father scoffed once they were gone.
“If you were going to take it, you should’ve asked for more.”
“This is plenty, don’t you think?”
Even if Father didn’t care for me much, he wouldn’t let this incident slide. I was a daughter of House Burkell, after all.
He would take it as an attack on the family and respond accordingly—whether that meant filing charges or something else.
I’ll treat this as my personal property.
Feeling pleased, I admired the gold bars for a moment—until I checked the time and snapped back to reality.
“Father, I’ll be heading out.”
It was time to meet the information broker.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢._________
I’d gone to meet him because he’d said there might be another way. My last trip to the shamans had turned up nothing.
This was my first time visiting him directly. As I looked around the designated room, he entered.
“Welcome, Lady Burkell.”
Instead of immediately bringing up the request, he started with a different topic.
“I’ve been hearing your name again lately.”
“You have?”
So the events of yesterday had already reached him.
Well, he is someone who runs an information network this big.
“This time, it wasn’t just a lucky break. I acted for Lady Bullin’s sake.”
“Indeed. Word is the Second Prince made a complete fool of himself.”
“Really?”
That part, I hadn’t heard yet.
“Yes. He jumped to conclusions and blamed you, only for the truth to come out later. He ended up scolding the person who actually deserved gratitude. Quite the disgrace for him.”
So even that’s become gossip?
I couldn’t help feeling a bit vindicated. Sure, I understood why he didn’t trust me—but from my side, it had been completely unfair.
“It would’ve been nice if the Second Prince had believed me…”
I covered my mouth with a demure laugh, but it didn’t last long.
“Lady Bullin has now become the Second Prince’s official lover.”
Those words from the broker brought it to an abrupt end.
What had once been known only to a few was now public knowledge, thanks to yesterday’s incident.
Hearing it confirmed here left me feeling strangely hollow.
Maybe because that had once been my place in my previous life? Even though I’d let go of my feelings for Andreas after the opera…
No. I don’t need to dwell on this.
I quickly shoved down the strange pang in my heart.
It wasn’t about lingering feelings for him—I was just still attached to the life I’d left behind.
Fortunately, the Second Prince had only been making himself more detestable. With time, these leftover emotions would vanish completely.
Let’s see where this road leads, then.
“This doesn’t concern me anymore. Let’s get to the real reason I came.”
“Ah, yes.”
With a smile, he picked up on the shift and got to the point.
“In fact, there’s another shaman we know of. When we spoke to him, he said that certain tools are used to identify dark sorcery.”
He seemed to mean things like incense or mana stones. It matched what I’d experienced.
“He suggested that perhaps the item itself might be the issue. He offered to appraise it—do you still have it, Lady Burkell?”
Isn’t that a bit too direct?
I couldn’t answer right away. Admitting I had the item would be like acknowledging that I was the one it reacted to.
But it’s too late to deny it now…
He probably had a hunch when I first made the request. Maybe even during my run-in with the First Prince in the shamans’ district.
“Lady Burkell?”
The broker called out when I didn’t answer, a bit puzzled.
Maybe I was being too cautious. It was a private request. But after two strong reactions to the object, I couldn’t just blame the item anymore.
Still, deep down, I wanted to believe—
I didn’t do anything wrong!
If this turned out to be about me, it was going to be a lot more trouble.
It’s not like I’m handing it over to the First Prince. I just want to confirm things personally…
That should be fine, right?
After some hesitation, I made my decision.
“I’ll head back for now. I’ll bring it next time.”
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢._________
Later that day, around sunset, I went out to the garden. I was planning to dig up the mana stone.
Since it changes color when I touch it, I’ll need to store it in a box and leave it alone for a few days.
I’d waited until this late hour to avoid running into Father. Alone, I discreetly began digging beneath the lilac tree.
Once I bring the stone, I’ll need him to sign a confidentiality agreement.
After all, the broker wasn’t one of my underlings. Thinking all this, I dug with purpose.
Then, I suddenly froze.
Wait a minute.
I didn’t bury it this deep…
Lost in thought, I’d been digging too far down. I should’ve found it already.
I quickly sifted through the pile of dirt beside me with my spade.
“It’s gone.”
The mana stone was missing. It wasn’t in the soil I’d dug out—nor in the small pit I’d opened.
