"Sabina and Egbert couldn't come. Egbert had only just entered the Academy. He said he couldn't keep up with the progress if he missed basic magic theory class, so he absolutely couldn't miss class..."
Isidore concluded his greeting by saying that his wife, Sabina, could not come with him because he could not leave his young son alone, but she also wanted to see her nephews and nieces and was sorry that she could not do so.
Then Rachel shrugged, as if she couldn't understand her little brother at all.
"The director is my aunt's best friend, so what's he doing skipping class for...? I really don't understand him. How could he blow the opportunity to visit the empire like that?"
“...Don’t be mistaken that everyone likes to play like you.”
Michelle snorted, as if she couldn't agree with her sister's words.
"You missed the academy lectures, didn't you? Actually, you wanted to come to the imperial capital to visit."
"What are you talking about? I came to see my aunt, whom I deeply respect."
Seeing his daughters bickering no differently than they did in Tamora, Isidore shook his head in resignation, cut off his daughters from their conversation, and spoke to his younger sister.
“Your second son, so... was it Noah? Noah?”
"It's so cold outside, I couldn't bring him out because I was afraid he might catch a cold. Go inside quickly, Brother. Noah will miss you, too."
“What are you talking about? How could a child who hasn’t even turned one year old know what an uncle is?”
When Isidore, who took his sister's joke seriously, said something out of the blue, Rachel covered her face and cried out as if she were embarrassed instead of her father.
“Ah! Dad, it’s just a joke.”
After Rachel screamed that her father had no sense of humor, they all moved inside.
The welcome dinner, which also served as Aila's birthday party, was held in a small but cozy atmosphere.
Although not much was said, sometimes relationships can be comfortable without deep conversation. And blood ties were one of them.
It was a completely different atmosphere from the meals of the past, when she had hoped that her 'father' would speak to her, but was worried that she might offend him if she did.
And after dinner, Aila, who had received a lot of gifts from her parents, uncle, and cousins, laid them out in her room and stared blankly at them.
The collection was filled with toys and fashion items that teenage girls might enjoy, but Roderick also gifted Aila with a white horse, suggesting she learn horseback riding when she had the time. Of course, the horse couldn't be brought into the room, so it had to be kept in a stable.
She had experienced a birthday in her past life before returning, but she didn't really realize it was her birthday back then, so she didn't feel anything.
So, in fact, today was her first birthday.
“Are you that happy, Miss?”
Lisa asked in a gentle voice. Her eyes were dripping with affection for the young lady she served.
It was because Aila was so cute, just touching the gift with her eyes, afraid that it would crumble if she touched it.
“Huh? It’s good, but... It’s amazing.”
It's about family celebrating and commemorating the day of your birth. They even brought gifts for nieces and nephews and cousins they'd never met before, even from far away in a foreign land.
“I have something prepared for you, too. It’s nothing special, though.”
Lisa blushed brightly and held out a small gift box.
Aila carefully opened the box she had offered. Inside was a beautifully embroidered handkerchief.
“Did you embroider it yourself?”
“Yes, my lady. When you stayed at our estate, you showed an interest in handicrafts.”
“Thank you, I will keep it in mind.”
Aila hugged Lisa's gift with genuine gratitude.
And then, a moment later, Laura, who couldn't just sit by and watch her be delighted, gave a clear, "Ahem," gesture. It seemed like she was suggesting Lisa leave, as they had something to discuss alone.
'...'
Aila tried to ignore Laura's signals, pretending not to notice them at all, but her face was becoming increasingly grim, and she couldn't ignore them.
"Lisa, you must be tired today. You can go to your room and rest. Just ask Laura to get ready for bed."
“Oh, yes, Miss. Good night.”
Lisa, who wasn't tired at all, nodded and made way for her.
With the two men alone, Laura began combing Aila's long hair, saying she needed to take care of it. Then, as always, she whispered in her ear from behind.
"Miss, you haven't forgotten all the good things everyone has done for you, have you? What's the real reason you came here?"
"Here we go again," Aila burst out laughing. It was the same in her past life. Whenever they were alone, Laura would constantly whisper these words to her.
So that Aila doesn't change her mind.
“You must not forget what he did to Master.”
“...I haven’t forgotten.”
Aila spoke with a firm resolve in her voice.
There's no way she'd forgotten what Byron did to her and her family.
“That’s right, my lady.”
Laura stroked Aila's head as if she were proud of her. Her voice was filled with pride, as if she had successfully completed her work today.
And Aila had to bite her lip so hard that her teeth were grinding with hatred for Laura.
Just as she was barely controlling her anger, a knock was heard at the door, and someone came. It was one of the mansion's maids.
“Miss, can I take Laura with me?”
“Me? Why?”
Laura asked in a bewildered voice at the sudden appearance and announcement that she would be taken away.
“That’s... because we’re short on kitchen help. The butler has ordered you to help out.”
“The kitchen isn’t my responsibility.”
Laura opened her mouth in a frustrated voice. She wasn't even a maid in charge of chores, but a dedicated maid to the Princess. And now she was suddenly being asked to help clean the kitchen. It was understandable how unfair it felt.
"You know we're short-staffed at the mansion these days. With guests arriving and the young lady's birthday coming up, there are a ton of dishes to prepare. Could you help me out a little?"
“...If that’s the case, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Laura nodded and looked at Aila, knowing that if she backed out because she wasn't in charge in this situation, her image within the mansion would suffer.
“Don’t do anything else and go to bed early.”
“Yeah, I’m going to sleep now.”
As Laura whispered in her ear, Aila nodded.
And she, left alone, covered her mouth and let out a small laugh, feeling somehow a little embarrassed.
Wasn't the lack of manpower entirely the fault of Laura and the forces behind her? It felt like reaping what they sowed.
But that smile was short-lived.
Aila had to be on guard, her surroundings tense and alert. She felt a faint presence somewhere.
She perked up her ears like a rabbit, searching for the direction of the sound. Her keen senses quickly pinpointed its source.
‘...Inside the wall?’
So is it a secret passage?
It was when Aila turned her head urgently towards the entrance to the secret passage.
With a creaking sound, an arched entrance was revealed, and someone entered the room.
"There's such a curious device in the mansion. I wonder what it does..."
It was her maternal uncle, Isidore.
"...Brother. Could you do your research later and then step aside for now? We'd like to come in, too."
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
As Isidore, embarrassed, smiled awkwardly at Aila and exited the passage, her mother and father, who had been unable to enter because he was blocking the way, followed him out with a sigh.
“Mother? Father? Even my uncle... What’s going on?”
Aila blinked her eyes in confusion as she watched the scene.
She wondered why Laura was suddenly called in for something else, and it turned out to be a surprise visit.
Even so, she couldn't figure out why not only her parents but also her maternal uncle came with them.
“Hello, Aila.”
Isidore awkwardly raised his hand in greeting, as if he were seeing Aila for the first time. They had clearly exchanged greetings during the day and even had dinner together.
"Well... I heard the gist of it from your parents. They said you were under a curse. Would it be right if I, your uncle, could look after you for a moment?"
“Huh? What, what?”
Aila asked with a blank expression, not knowing what she was really looking at. There was no way a curse could be visible.
"Actually, I'm researching curses. Oh, not how to curse someone. I'm researching how to break a curse. Just in case there's any misunderstanding."
Isidore, who was worried that his nephew, whom he had just met, might misunderstand him as a narrow-minded person who curses others, added urgently.
'Wow, my uncle was the one who did that kind of research.'
When she met him in her past life, she only heard he was holed up in his study, researching something, so she didn't know much about him. Aila never thought he'd be a scholar studying anti-curses.
No, that wasn't what was important right now.
Perhaps it was possible to break this tiresome curse that bound her body like shackles.
“So, can you lift my curse, too?”
Isidore concluded his greeting by saying that his wife, Sabina, could not come with him because he could not leave his young son alone, but she also wanted to see her nephews and nieces and was sorry that she could not do so.
Then Rachel shrugged, as if she couldn't understand her little brother at all.
"The director is my aunt's best friend, so what's he doing skipping class for...? I really don't understand him. How could he blow the opportunity to visit the empire like that?"
“...Don’t be mistaken that everyone likes to play like you.”
Michelle snorted, as if she couldn't agree with her sister's words.
"You missed the academy lectures, didn't you? Actually, you wanted to come to the imperial capital to visit."
"What are you talking about? I came to see my aunt, whom I deeply respect."
Seeing his daughters bickering no differently than they did in Tamora, Isidore shook his head in resignation, cut off his daughters from their conversation, and spoke to his younger sister.
“Your second son, so... was it Noah? Noah?”
"It's so cold outside, I couldn't bring him out because I was afraid he might catch a cold. Go inside quickly, Brother. Noah will miss you, too."
“What are you talking about? How could a child who hasn’t even turned one year old know what an uncle is?”
When Isidore, who took his sister's joke seriously, said something out of the blue, Rachel covered her face and cried out as if she were embarrassed instead of her father.
“Ah! Dad, it’s just a joke.”
After Rachel screamed that her father had no sense of humor, they all moved inside.
***
The welcome dinner, which also served as Aila's birthday party, was held in a small but cozy atmosphere.
Although not much was said, sometimes relationships can be comfortable without deep conversation. And blood ties were one of them.
It was a completely different atmosphere from the meals of the past, when she had hoped that her 'father' would speak to her, but was worried that she might offend him if she did.
And after dinner, Aila, who had received a lot of gifts from her parents, uncle, and cousins, laid them out in her room and stared blankly at them.
The collection was filled with toys and fashion items that teenage girls might enjoy, but Roderick also gifted Aila with a white horse, suggesting she learn horseback riding when she had the time. Of course, the horse couldn't be brought into the room, so it had to be kept in a stable.
She had experienced a birthday in her past life before returning, but she didn't really realize it was her birthday back then, so she didn't feel anything.
So, in fact, today was her first birthday.
“Are you that happy, Miss?”
Lisa asked in a gentle voice. Her eyes were dripping with affection for the young lady she served.
It was because Aila was so cute, just touching the gift with her eyes, afraid that it would crumble if she touched it.
“Huh? It’s good, but... It’s amazing.”
It's about family celebrating and commemorating the day of your birth. They even brought gifts for nieces and nephews and cousins they'd never met before, even from far away in a foreign land.
“I have something prepared for you, too. It’s nothing special, though.”
Lisa blushed brightly and held out a small gift box.
Aila carefully opened the box she had offered. Inside was a beautifully embroidered handkerchief.
“Did you embroider it yourself?”
“Yes, my lady. When you stayed at our estate, you showed an interest in handicrafts.”
“Thank you, I will keep it in mind.”
Aila hugged Lisa's gift with genuine gratitude.
And then, a moment later, Laura, who couldn't just sit by and watch her be delighted, gave a clear, "Ahem," gesture. It seemed like she was suggesting Lisa leave, as they had something to discuss alone.
'...'
Aila tried to ignore Laura's signals, pretending not to notice them at all, but her face was becoming increasingly grim, and she couldn't ignore them.
"Lisa, you must be tired today. You can go to your room and rest. Just ask Laura to get ready for bed."
“Oh, yes, Miss. Good night.”
Lisa, who wasn't tired at all, nodded and made way for her.
With the two men alone, Laura began combing Aila's long hair, saying she needed to take care of it. Then, as always, she whispered in her ear from behind.
"Miss, you haven't forgotten all the good things everyone has done for you, have you? What's the real reason you came here?"
"Here we go again," Aila burst out laughing. It was the same in her past life. Whenever they were alone, Laura would constantly whisper these words to her.
So that Aila doesn't change her mind.
“You must not forget what he did to Master.”
“...I haven’t forgotten.”
Aila spoke with a firm resolve in her voice.
There's no way she'd forgotten what Byron did to her and her family.
“That’s right, my lady.”
Laura stroked Aila's head as if she were proud of her. Her voice was filled with pride, as if she had successfully completed her work today.
And Aila had to bite her lip so hard that her teeth were grinding with hatred for Laura.
Just as she was barely controlling her anger, a knock was heard at the door, and someone came. It was one of the mansion's maids.
“Miss, can I take Laura with me?”
“Me? Why?”
Laura asked in a bewildered voice at the sudden appearance and announcement that she would be taken away.
“That’s... because we’re short on kitchen help. The butler has ordered you to help out.”
“The kitchen isn’t my responsibility.”
Laura opened her mouth in a frustrated voice. She wasn't even a maid in charge of chores, but a dedicated maid to the Princess. And now she was suddenly being asked to help clean the kitchen. It was understandable how unfair it felt.
"You know we're short-staffed at the mansion these days. With guests arriving and the young lady's birthday coming up, there are a ton of dishes to prepare. Could you help me out a little?"
“...If that’s the case, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Laura nodded and looked at Aila, knowing that if she backed out because she wasn't in charge in this situation, her image within the mansion would suffer.
“Don’t do anything else and go to bed early.”
“Yeah, I’m going to sleep now.”
As Laura whispered in her ear, Aila nodded.
And she, left alone, covered her mouth and let out a small laugh, feeling somehow a little embarrassed.
Wasn't the lack of manpower entirely the fault of Laura and the forces behind her? It felt like reaping what they sowed.
But that smile was short-lived.
Aila had to be on guard, her surroundings tense and alert. She felt a faint presence somewhere.
She perked up her ears like a rabbit, searching for the direction of the sound. Her keen senses quickly pinpointed its source.
‘...Inside the wall?’
So is it a secret passage?
It was when Aila turned her head urgently towards the entrance to the secret passage.
With a creaking sound, an arched entrance was revealed, and someone entered the room.
"There's such a curious device in the mansion. I wonder what it does..."
It was her maternal uncle, Isidore.
"...Brother. Could you do your research later and then step aside for now? We'd like to come in, too."
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
As Isidore, embarrassed, smiled awkwardly at Aila and exited the passage, her mother and father, who had been unable to enter because he was blocking the way, followed him out with a sigh.
“Mother? Father? Even my uncle... What’s going on?”
Aila blinked her eyes in confusion as she watched the scene.
She wondered why Laura was suddenly called in for something else, and it turned out to be a surprise visit.
Even so, she couldn't figure out why not only her parents but also her maternal uncle came with them.
“Hello, Aila.”
Isidore awkwardly raised his hand in greeting, as if he were seeing Aila for the first time. They had clearly exchanged greetings during the day and even had dinner together.
"Well... I heard the gist of it from your parents. They said you were under a curse. Would it be right if I, your uncle, could look after you for a moment?"
“Huh? What, what?”
Aila asked with a blank expression, not knowing what she was really looking at. There was no way a curse could be visible.
"Actually, I'm researching curses. Oh, not how to curse someone. I'm researching how to break a curse. Just in case there's any misunderstanding."
Isidore, who was worried that his nephew, whom he had just met, might misunderstand him as a narrow-minded person who curses others, added urgently.
'Wow, my uncle was the one who did that kind of research.'
When she met him in her past life, she only heard he was holed up in his study, researching something, so she didn't know much about him. Aila never thought he'd be a scholar studying anti-curses.
No, that wasn't what was important right now.
Perhaps it was possible to break this tiresome curse that bound her body like shackles.
“So, can you lift my curse, too?”
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