"Yeah, I heard from your niece. She said she's adjusting well."
Byron sat haughtily in his chair, his gaze unwavering, as he asked Cloud. It was the first report since Aila was brought into the Duke's residence.
“...Yes, my lord.”
Cloud bowed his head and politely handed over the report, which Byron accepted and read slowly.
Laura's report contained every little detail of Aila's daily routine.
Everything from the stories of how many dresses Ophelia had ordered from the designer, to the trivial stories of enjoying tea with Roderick and chatting about how their lives had been so far.
Although there was a lot of information that he didn't really want to know, according to this report, it was clear that Aila was adjusting quite well around them, without even knowing that they were her biological parents.
"That's unexpected. I didn't expect that woman to have such a knack for improvisation."
He thought she was a child who was always timid and wary of the Duke and Duchess, so she was not very approachable, but when Laura said that she was putting on a pretty convincing performance to gain the Duke and Duchess's trust, it seemed like that wasn't the case.
'...Well, how many years have you spent trying so hard not to be hated by me? If you can't even do that, then you cannot learn.'
Byron raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction. It was a satisfaction that came from the thought that all the years he'd spent using Aila as a tool for revenge hadn't been in vain.
It was a little unpleasant to think of Roderick jumping for joy at finding his biological daughter, but thinking about the future, that level of discomfort was bearable.
The greater the joy he feels now, the greater the frustration he will feel when his daughter murders him. It was as if the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.
“Tell her to focus on winning the couple’s favor for the time being.”
He wanted to kill Roderick and his son as soon as possible, but it was clear that if he moved hastily, he would make a mistake.
Roderick and Ophelia would look upon Aila with fondness no matter what she did, as she was their own daughter, but wouldn't it be troublesome if he, driven by his own ambition, made a mistake and people suspected that he was behind it?
“Yes, my lord.”
Byron waved his hand, as if to tell him to leave, now that he was finished. But Cloud remained standing, as if he still had something to report.
“Why? Do you have anything left to say?”
“That is... Isidore Hailing is scheduled to visit the Duke’s residence.”
Isidore Hailing? Who was that?
Byron pondered Cloud's answer. He'd heard the name somewhere, but couldn't immediately recall who it was.
Judging by the fact that he uses the surname Hailing, he must be Ophelia's bloodline, but since he usually doesn't pay much attention to people other than Ophelia, he doesn't remember it well.
“Isidore, Isidore... Ah, you mean Ophelia’s brother.”
Byron, who had been mumbling the name for a long time, finally nodded as if he remembered who Isidore was.
“Yes, that’s right. They said he was visiting his nephews and nieces with his family.”
“...I see.”
Byron muttered with a slightly dissatisfied look on his face.
Although it is not clear exactly why Isidore opposed Ophelia and Roderick's marriage, Byron had a slight liking for Isidore, who, for once, shared his views.
Ophelia was his woman, no matter what anyone said, and she was destined to become the Empress of the empire. Only Ophelia could stand by his side as he ascended to the throne.
Isidore was probably dissatisfied with the idea of such a great sister becoming a mere Duke's wife, Byron guessed.
Byron was somewhat disappointed when Isidore, who had been like that, reconciled with Ophelia a few years ago and visited the empire with his family.
He thought he was a discerning man, but it was so unpleasant to see him belatedly accept Roderick as Ophelia's match. For Byron, who had been unilaterally building a close relationship with Isidore, regarding him as a future brother-in-law, this news was a bolt from the blue.
Anyway, it didn't seem like anything special for an uncle to come see his nephews.
If that uncle could be guarded, it would be different, but since he seemed to be a bum who was squandering the family's wealth, there seemed to be no need to look closely at him.
"Is there anything else you want to say? If not, then let's take our leave. I'm a little tired."
Byron, who had only gotten up after the sun had risen high in the sky and had been lazing around all day, seemed so tired, and with a wrinkled face, he waved his hand again.
“Yes, then I will take my leave now.”
Cloud left Byron's room with a stone-faced expression, seemingly devoid of emotion.
And after leaving the room, he leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh. The complex thoughts clogged his chest, and he felt like he'd suffocate if he didn't let out at least a sigh.
He closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts, then turned his head toward the sound of someone calling him.
“Cloud.”
“...Sister-in-law.”
It was Capella, glaring at him with sharp red eyes.
“What are you thinking that makes you sigh like that?”
“...It’s nothing.”
Cloud shook his head, but she didn't shake her suspicious gaze. Capella still stared at her younger brother, her face scrunched up as if something was off.
"You're not thinking about useless things, are you? Just think about your family. Don't worry about anything else."
Capella had always been displeased with Cloud's soft-spokenness toward his enemy's daughter. She'd hoped things would improve now that she was out of his sight, but oh no. He was walking around with a frown on his face, as if something terrible had happened, and it was a truly unsightly sight.
But Cloud didn't answer.
“Cloud.”
Capella called his younger brother's name again.
“...Yes, sister-in-law.”
Only after finally getting an answer from him did Capella stop glaring at Cloud and move on. Left alone, he let out a thin, breathy chuckle.
"Just think about your family. Don't worry about anything else." These were the words Capella had always kept in his mind since his brother's death.
‘...I’m really tired.’
He sighed again, running his hand through his ashen hair.
“...he said.”
Laura finished her speech with a stern expression. She had relayed Byron's instructions to Aila: "For the time being, focus on winning the Duke and Duchess' favor."
“Yes, I got it.”
Aila nodded with a blank expression.
She checked several times to make sure no one was around and wondered if it was something important to talk about, but it turned out to be nothing special, so she was completely taken aback.
From the beginning, Roderick and Ophelia were people who loved Ayla without any effort. To the point where she felt sorry and ashamed.
It seemed as if they were finding it rewarding to see her smile, or that they were anxious to do even one more thing for her.
"Why are you answering so halfheartedly? It's been a while since you've heard from Master. Are you not happy?"
When Aila looked completely unimpressed, Laura asked in a sharp voice.
“No, that’s not it...”
She bit her lip, her expression awkward. She'd been trying to control her expression, but it seemed the thought of returning to her parents had made her unconsciously let down.
“I want to avenge my father quickly... but I feel like I can’t be of any help, so that’s why.”
Only when Aila came up with a plausible excuse did Laura's fierce gaze soften.
“There’s no need to rush things. Just follow the master’s instructions.”
“Yeah...”
At Laura's words, Aila nodded listlessly. How long would she have to keep watching Laura's every move? It felt like she was suffocating.
It was then. A knock came on the door. Laura approached and opened it, and Lester, the butler, was standing there.
The butler gave Aila a polite greeting straight out of a textbook, then explained that he was looking for Laura.
“What is it, butler?”
When Laura heard that the butler had come to see her, she tilted her head and asked, not knowing what was going on.
“The lady is looking for you, Laura.”
“Madam, me?”
Since her master was looking for her, Laura couldn't refuse as a mere maid, so she glanced at Aila and left the room. Leaving her alone was a bit of a concern, but what could she do?
“...His Excellency will be coming, my lady.”
And Lester, who had confirmed that Laura was moving away from the room, muttered in a voice so small that only Aila could hear.
'Father is coming?'
As the butler disappeared, leaving behind only vague words, Aila thought back to his words with a bewildered expression.
And at first she couldn't understand it, but soon she realized what it meant.
He called Laura aside, separated her from Aila, and had the butler speak to her privately, so she guessed he had something to share in secret.
If that were the case, he wouldn't have come through a path that everyone could see.
Aila hurried to the window and drew the curtains. It was still daylight, and she feared someone might be spying outside.
And just as she was about to draw the curtains, a knock was heard on the door from beyond the wall.
“Aila.”
"...father."
A passage hidden behind the statue was revealed, and Roderick emerged from it, his expression gentle and gentle, a faint smile on his lips.
"I came here to chat for a moment. Can I sit down?"
Byron sat haughtily in his chair, his gaze unwavering, as he asked Cloud. It was the first report since Aila was brought into the Duke's residence.
“...Yes, my lord.”
Cloud bowed his head and politely handed over the report, which Byron accepted and read slowly.
Laura's report contained every little detail of Aila's daily routine.
Everything from the stories of how many dresses Ophelia had ordered from the designer, to the trivial stories of enjoying tea with Roderick and chatting about how their lives had been so far.
Although there was a lot of information that he didn't really want to know, according to this report, it was clear that Aila was adjusting quite well around them, without even knowing that they were her biological parents.
"That's unexpected. I didn't expect that woman to have such a knack for improvisation."
He thought she was a child who was always timid and wary of the Duke and Duchess, so she was not very approachable, but when Laura said that she was putting on a pretty convincing performance to gain the Duke and Duchess's trust, it seemed like that wasn't the case.
'...Well, how many years have you spent trying so hard not to be hated by me? If you can't even do that, then you cannot learn.'
Byron raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction. It was a satisfaction that came from the thought that all the years he'd spent using Aila as a tool for revenge hadn't been in vain.
It was a little unpleasant to think of Roderick jumping for joy at finding his biological daughter, but thinking about the future, that level of discomfort was bearable.
The greater the joy he feels now, the greater the frustration he will feel when his daughter murders him. It was as if the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.
“Tell her to focus on winning the couple’s favor for the time being.”
He wanted to kill Roderick and his son as soon as possible, but it was clear that if he moved hastily, he would make a mistake.
Roderick and Ophelia would look upon Aila with fondness no matter what she did, as she was their own daughter, but wouldn't it be troublesome if he, driven by his own ambition, made a mistake and people suspected that he was behind it?
“Yes, my lord.”
Byron waved his hand, as if to tell him to leave, now that he was finished. But Cloud remained standing, as if he still had something to report.
“Why? Do you have anything left to say?”
“That is... Isidore Hailing is scheduled to visit the Duke’s residence.”
Isidore Hailing? Who was that?
Byron pondered Cloud's answer. He'd heard the name somewhere, but couldn't immediately recall who it was.
Judging by the fact that he uses the surname Hailing, he must be Ophelia's bloodline, but since he usually doesn't pay much attention to people other than Ophelia, he doesn't remember it well.
“Isidore, Isidore... Ah, you mean Ophelia’s brother.”
Byron, who had been mumbling the name for a long time, finally nodded as if he remembered who Isidore was.
“Yes, that’s right. They said he was visiting his nephews and nieces with his family.”
“...I see.”
Byron muttered with a slightly dissatisfied look on his face.
Although it is not clear exactly why Isidore opposed Ophelia and Roderick's marriage, Byron had a slight liking for Isidore, who, for once, shared his views.
Ophelia was his woman, no matter what anyone said, and she was destined to become the Empress of the empire. Only Ophelia could stand by his side as he ascended to the throne.
Isidore was probably dissatisfied with the idea of such a great sister becoming a mere Duke's wife, Byron guessed.
Byron was somewhat disappointed when Isidore, who had been like that, reconciled with Ophelia a few years ago and visited the empire with his family.
He thought he was a discerning man, but it was so unpleasant to see him belatedly accept Roderick as Ophelia's match. For Byron, who had been unilaterally building a close relationship with Isidore, regarding him as a future brother-in-law, this news was a bolt from the blue.
Anyway, it didn't seem like anything special for an uncle to come see his nephews.
If that uncle could be guarded, it would be different, but since he seemed to be a bum who was squandering the family's wealth, there seemed to be no need to look closely at him.
"Is there anything else you want to say? If not, then let's take our leave. I'm a little tired."
Byron, who had only gotten up after the sun had risen high in the sky and had been lazing around all day, seemed so tired, and with a wrinkled face, he waved his hand again.
“Yes, then I will take my leave now.”
Cloud left Byron's room with a stone-faced expression, seemingly devoid of emotion.
And after leaving the room, he leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh. The complex thoughts clogged his chest, and he felt like he'd suffocate if he didn't let out at least a sigh.
He closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts, then turned his head toward the sound of someone calling him.
“Cloud.”
“...Sister-in-law.”
It was Capella, glaring at him with sharp red eyes.
“What are you thinking that makes you sigh like that?”
“...It’s nothing.”
Cloud shook his head, but she didn't shake her suspicious gaze. Capella still stared at her younger brother, her face scrunched up as if something was off.
"You're not thinking about useless things, are you? Just think about your family. Don't worry about anything else."
Capella had always been displeased with Cloud's soft-spokenness toward his enemy's daughter. She'd hoped things would improve now that she was out of his sight, but oh no. He was walking around with a frown on his face, as if something terrible had happened, and it was a truly unsightly sight.
But Cloud didn't answer.
“Cloud.”
Capella called his younger brother's name again.
“...Yes, sister-in-law.”
Only after finally getting an answer from him did Capella stop glaring at Cloud and move on. Left alone, he let out a thin, breathy chuckle.
"Just think about your family. Don't worry about anything else." These were the words Capella had always kept in his mind since his brother's death.
‘...I’m really tired.’
He sighed again, running his hand through his ashen hair.
***
“...he said.”
Laura finished her speech with a stern expression. She had relayed Byron's instructions to Aila: "For the time being, focus on winning the Duke and Duchess' favor."
“Yes, I got it.”
Aila nodded with a blank expression.
She checked several times to make sure no one was around and wondered if it was something important to talk about, but it turned out to be nothing special, so she was completely taken aback.
From the beginning, Roderick and Ophelia were people who loved Ayla without any effort. To the point where she felt sorry and ashamed.
It seemed as if they were finding it rewarding to see her smile, or that they were anxious to do even one more thing for her.
"Why are you answering so halfheartedly? It's been a while since you've heard from Master. Are you not happy?"
When Aila looked completely unimpressed, Laura asked in a sharp voice.
“No, that’s not it...”
She bit her lip, her expression awkward. She'd been trying to control her expression, but it seemed the thought of returning to her parents had made her unconsciously let down.
“I want to avenge my father quickly... but I feel like I can’t be of any help, so that’s why.”
Only when Aila came up with a plausible excuse did Laura's fierce gaze soften.
“There’s no need to rush things. Just follow the master’s instructions.”
“Yeah...”
At Laura's words, Aila nodded listlessly. How long would she have to keep watching Laura's every move? It felt like she was suffocating.
It was then. A knock came on the door. Laura approached and opened it, and Lester, the butler, was standing there.
The butler gave Aila a polite greeting straight out of a textbook, then explained that he was looking for Laura.
“What is it, butler?”
When Laura heard that the butler had come to see her, she tilted her head and asked, not knowing what was going on.
“The lady is looking for you, Laura.”
“Madam, me?”
Since her master was looking for her, Laura couldn't refuse as a mere maid, so she glanced at Aila and left the room. Leaving her alone was a bit of a concern, but what could she do?
“...His Excellency will be coming, my lady.”
And Lester, who had confirmed that Laura was moving away from the room, muttered in a voice so small that only Aila could hear.
'Father is coming?'
As the butler disappeared, leaving behind only vague words, Aila thought back to his words with a bewildered expression.
And at first she couldn't understand it, but soon she realized what it meant.
He called Laura aside, separated her from Aila, and had the butler speak to her privately, so she guessed he had something to share in secret.
If that were the case, he wouldn't have come through a path that everyone could see.
Aila hurried to the window and drew the curtains. It was still daylight, and she feared someone might be spying outside.
And just as she was about to draw the curtains, a knock was heard on the door from beyond the wall.
“Aila.”
"...father."
A passage hidden behind the statue was revealed, and Roderick emerged from it, his expression gentle and gentle, a faint smile on his lips.
"I came here to chat for a moment. Can I sit down?"
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