VRGB 08

Chapter 8.

“Of course, we also weren’t fully aware of the relationship between the two of you. Unfortunately, the Countess passed away not long after giving birth to Lady Kalia, and the Duchess also passed before she could inform us of such matters.”

Isn’t it fortunate that we’ve now come to learn the truth through the recently discovered diary of the late Duchess?

With that, Obed placed a final period at the end of his lengthy fabrication.

The Baron stood speechless at the sheer audacity of the fabrication, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Meanwhile, the process of removing the Baron family’s belongings from the Count’s estate was nearly complete.

Desmier’s carriages, packed with Varden’s possessions, were lined up at the main gate, ready to depart.

“Even if what you say is true, you can’t just suddenly appoint yourself as her guardian! We’ve been living happily until now! I’ve done perfectly fine as Kalia’s guardian, as the acting Count of Estel! Isn’t that right, Kalia?”

Cornered, the Baron desperately turned to me for agreement.

He truly picked the wrong person to lean on. I gave him a cold, mocking smile, full of contempt.

“His Grace the Duke is well aware of Lord Varden’s past efforts. He is simply relieved that he can now lift the heavy burden off your shoulders.”

“It wasn’t a burden, I tell you!”

The Baron looked about ready to lose his mind. Fuming, he protested.

“This isn’t right… Fine, then! I’ll meet with the Duke himself! I’ll explain everything, and then he’ll realize something is wrong!”

“What do you plan to do when you meet him?”

“I’ll explain the details!”

“No matter what you say, nothing will change. I am here on behalf of His Grace, the Duke of Desmier. My will is his will.”

“Aaaaagh!”

The Baron let out a crazed scream and began spinning in circles. He clutched at his hair.

“This is insane from start to finish! This kind of thing has never happened in imperial history. A guardian swap overnight? And then a midwife from 14 years ago suddenly appears?! We were clearly the ones closest to Kalia! We share blood, for heaven’s sake! Even if everything you say is true, the Duke is only the husband of her godmother. He’s not even directly related to her!”

He muttered madly to himself.

“I should request an audience with His Majesty… or at least appeal to the other nobles in the club. This is fraud, a ridiculous con! How could something like this happen?!”

“It’s Desmier.”

Obed said simply, as if that one word held all the answers in the world.

The Baron, hands clutching his head in despair, looked up at him in a daze.

A few long moments passed in silence.

“Seems everything’s settled, then.”

I broke the silence and stepped forward. The Baron’s family, like startled goblins, turned to look at me.

“Baron Varden, Baroness, Helena.”

I gestured toward the main gate, where the servants were whispering in groups and the carriages were lined up.

“Leave my estate.”

The Baron, dazed, stared at my fingertips, then turned to look at the manor, the gate, and then back to my hand.

He opened his mouth a few times, as if to say something, but ultimately closed it without uttering a word.

The Baroness and Helena stood pale, their eyes fixed on the ground.

“Let’s go…”

Finally, the Baron spoke and patted his wife’s shoulder.

The family leaned on one another and slowly walked away, supporting each other.

Upon reaching the gate, they spoke to the driver waiting by the carriage and soon climbed into an empty one.

“Hyah!”

The coachman cracked the reins, and their carriage began to move. The others followed behind, one by one, exiting through the gate.

The servants, once gathered, dispersed—some following the carriages, others melting away in small groups.

I remained still in my place, watching each and every one of them leave.

Once everything had quieted down, the Desmier staff, including the midwife, also departed.

At last, only Obed, two guards, and I were left in the manor.

“Shall we go, my lady?” Obed asked.

“I understand.”

One last carriage remained, waiting to take us to the Duke’s estate.

As I walked toward it, I paused and turned around to look at the manor.

The three-story mansion looked especially still and aged today. A lonely wind blew through my heart.

My house, soaked in disgrace…

Since my father was executed when I was seven, I hadn’t once returned to the estate.

From the day I moved to the capital until I died at nineteen, I had lived here continuously.

Memories of running from Ashley, crying in locked rooms while brushing off bugs and chewing stale bread, kneeling to beg forgiveness from the Baroness and Helena on the stairs, in the hall, the dining room, the parlor…

For a moment, I thought I saw a vision of myself hanging from a rope reflected in the second-floor window. That was my room.

“My lady?”

Obed, ahead of me, called out in confusion when I didn’t follow. The hallucination flickered and disappeared.

“I’m coming.”

I straightened up and moved forward again.

‘Next time I return, it will be as Countess of Estel.’

The carriage left the estate and gradually picked up speed until the manor was nothing but a distant dot. I never once looked back.

***

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped. Obed announced our arrival.

The door opened from the outside, and Obed stepped down first, then reached up to escort me.

“This is the Desmier ducal estate.”

He introduced it as if I were visiting for the first time.

I stood there for a moment, looking up at the ducal mansion.

Unlike yesterday, when I had arrived filled with fear, excitement, anxiety, and the feeling of gambling everything on this one move—today felt very different.

In my previous life, I had never had any connection to this place. In fact, I had avoided it at all costs due to my father’s history with them.

And yet, here I was, stepping into Desmier.

“Shall we go in?”

The intricately carved doors opened from the inside.

“Welcome, Lady Kalia.”

The servants lined up on both sides bowed deeply and greeted me in unison.

Looking around, I asked Obed, “Is His Grace elsewhere?”

“There was an urgent matter in the territory, so he had to leave. He instructed that you be treated with the highest care, and beginning tomorrow, you will begin your education and integration into the family. He recommends you rest well today.”

Not that I expected a warm welcome, but to be stood up entirely… that was certainly something.

“I understand. Then, could you show me around the mansion?”

At Obed’s gesture, a young maid approached. Bowing politely, she was introduced by Obed.

“This is Ayla Blaney, the third daughter of Viscount Blaney. She will be your exclusive maid. Please don’t hesitate to ask her for anything. And feel free to speak comfortably with all staff, including myself.”

“I’m Ayla, my lady. Please take good care of me.”

Her bowed head trembled slightly. She looked more like a playmate than a competent maid—probably close to my age.

When she straightened up and saw me looking at her, she flinched, quickly correcting her posture.

Her hands fidgeted nervously, her gaze fixed awkwardly on the floor rather than meeting my eyes.

Is she afraid of me?

Well… I don’t care.

“Very well. I’d like to have a quick look around the mansion and then rest in my room.”

“I’ll show you the way.”

Ayla led the way. The others dispersed to their duties, and Obed also withdrew.

“This is the annex.”

“…Good day, my lady.”

Ayla guided me briefly through the parlor, dining areas, study, gallery, ballroom, and guesthouse.

Everywhere we went, the staff stiffened in surprise, hurriedly bowing, some even awkwardly backing away.

“That’s enough. Let’s go to my room.”

“I’ll take you to the third floor.”

The third floor housed my room and the private quarters of the ducal family.

The Duke had never remarried after losing his wife long ago.

They had only one son—the heir to the duchy.

He should be close to my age. Maybe a year older.

As we walked down the corridor, I asked, “Now that I think of it, where is the young master?”

Ayla stopped abruptly and turned to answer cautiously.

“…He’s not feeling well today and is resting.”

She probably thought she’d hidden her nerves well, but it was obvious she feared I’d explode in anger.

I could guess what was going on. Like father, like son.

Maybe the Duke really did leave for estate matters…

But the young master? He probably just didn’t want to see me, or stubbornly refused to greet me. And with the Duke gone, no one was there to stop him.

“…Keep going.”

Honestly, I just wanted to bathe and lie down in bed. I let out a small sigh.

But apparently, the long day wasn’t over yet.

“No! I don’t want to see that monster! I’m not going! Father arranged all this on his own in the first place!”