And a few days later.
As Ophelia foretold, Roderick and Isidore, who had been away, returned home in a dignified manner. They looked a little tired, but apparently uninjured.
Above all, he seemed to be in a very good mood.
Neither of them usually had such a colorful expression on their faces that it wasn't that noticeable, but to those close to them, they were so happy that they looked like they were flying through the sky.
“...Father, it looks like you had a lot of fun hunting.”
Michelle, the second daughter, asked in a puzzled voice, wondering why her father, who usually hated physical exertion, was always smiling after returning from hunting.
"Yes, it was a very fruitful time. We caught some pretty useful prey."
Isidore answered with a very proud expression. Of course, the prey wasn't a beast or a monster, but his words weren't wrong.
“Father himself? That’s impossible.”
Rachel, the eldest daughter who had been listening to the story, interrupted with a look of disapproval.
"Of course. Your uncle did it all. I just watched."
Isidore answered confidently, as if he had nothing to be afraid of, and his two daughters laughed heartily, saying they knew it.
In that friendly atmosphere, Aila had to suppress her curiosity to hear the full story from her father. It wasn't a story she could share in public.
Perhaps, at night, she could satisfy her curiosity. She could take Laura away from her, sneak into her room, and tell her the story she'd been waiting for.
With such anticipation, Aila joined in on the family's conversation. The hunting talk had apparently ended, and the conversation had already turned to Rachel's love life.
"I think I should meet that young Master at least once. I'm curious what kind of person he is that he likes a woman like you."
“What? What’s wrong with me?”
The conversation ended, as always, with the sisters arguing.
And that night, Aila's hopes were dashed. No matter how long she waited, there was no sign of Laura being taken away.
She thought about going to her parents' room first, but she held back because she thought that even if she was their daughter, it would be rude to go in and out of her parents' bedroom without notice.
Anyway, even if she didn't go out of her way to sneak out, she would soon have a chance to talk to her father alone. Fencing lessons were scheduled for the next morning.
Of course, they weren't free to speak freely. In swordsmanship classes, the maids had nothing to do, so they didn't have to follow along. But Laura clung to her like a tick wherever she went, never letting go.
Although she tried to disguise it as being due to her overflowing affection for the young lady she was serving.
Still, since Laura was just sitting in a corner of the training hall and watching them practice, she wouldn't have heard Roderick and Aila's quiet conversation.
The next morning, Aila woke up at the crack of dawn and went to the training ground to wait for her father's personal training to end. Even though she woke up quite early, Roderick was up much earlier and training.
A moment later, Roderick finished his training and approached her. He seemed so focused that he hadn't even noticed his daughter's arrival, and a look of confusion crossed his face.
“Why are you already waiting? It must be cold.”
“No, I’m not cold at all. I just wanted to see my father soon.”
While she longed to hear news of Suki from her father, she also wanted to quickly begin swordsmanship lessons. Having trained with Alexia while Roderick was away, she wanted to show him how much she's grown.
And when she finished training, Roderick praised her with a bright face.
“It looks like you’ve been training diligently. That’s amazing.”
Aila smiled bashfully, feeling her father's hand stroking her hair.
She never knew that being recognized for her efforts could be such a good feeling, but every time she received praise from her parents, her heart would swell with emotion.
"I heard from Alexia. She said your riding skills have improved considerably. She said you almost beat her on the last day."
“That’s...! Sir Dexen has been so considerate. She was running slower than usual.”
"Anyway, it's impressive that you've only been learning for so long, and you're at that level. Well, then, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get off the track and try running on the plains."
When she answered with a blush on her face from shyness, Roderick chuckled and said.
"We visit the territory every year around the end of winter. How about you join us this year? You'll be the next lord, so it's time for you to stop by the territory as heir."
Then, she could practice riding. At her father's suggestion that it might be a good idea, Aila merely blinked.
It wasn't that she disliked it. She's heard a lot about the Weishaffen's estate from him in her past life, and after learning that she was the real Aila, she's been curious about it.
It was simply a very unexpected offer. Aila thought it might be a little premature, since she hadn't caught Byron yet and her curse hadn't been lifted.
Then, Roderick whispered softly in her ear, as if trying to clear her doubts.
It was truly welcome news, but Aila couldn't bring herself to express her joy, swallowing it inwardly. Laura had been staring at them blankly for a while.
"Well then, let's end today's class here. Have a good day."
“Yes, Father. Thank you.”
After saying goodbye to Roderick, Aila walked away, feeling relieved. Laura followed her, constantly asking her questions about what she and Roderick had talked about.
“What did he say, Miss?”
"He praised me for improving my skills. Oh, and he even asked me to go to the estate with him. That's all."
Even if she didn't say anything, Laura would soon find out. Then she'd surely throw a tantrum, asking why Aila hadn't told her beforehand. So, it was far better to strike first.
“...Hmm.”
The fact that she had earned Roderick's trust was a win-win situation for Laura and Byron. Despite the praise, Laura stubbornly kept her mouth shut.
Aila simply smiled, not having expected praise from her in the first place. She was in too good a mood to be offended by someone like Laura.
'I'll be able to break the curse soon. Then I won't have to worry about Laura's feelings anymore.'
Perhaps she could repay Laura for what she had done to Lisa in her past life. No, there was no need for her to go through the trouble of framing her.
If she just treats Lisa well, Laura will feel a sense of crisis and fall into the swamp on her own.
Aila smiled inwardly as she recalled that sweet moment.
News that Aila was heading to the Weishaffen estate with Roderick quickly reached Byron. And it came through two channels: from Laura, and from a spy who wasn't Laura.
Byron read the reports from both sides, and his expression seemed to recall some nostalgic memories.
The Weishaffen estate. He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling its vast snowy fields.
It was a land of enemies that he hated even breathing under the same sky, but it was also a monumental place where he first met Ophelia.
One day, when he regained his rightful place, he planned to make it an imperial fief and create a place to commemorate his meeting with Ophelia.
The land where history's greatest Emperor and his beautiful Empress first met. How sublime and beautiful it is.
But that was still a distant future. He returned to reality, frowned, and put down the report.
“Why is that, my lord?”
“...It’s surprising. Why are you rushing to make your daughter your successor when you already have a son?”
He didn't understand. If he were Roderick, he would never have given his daughter the succession.
If he didn't have a son, it would be understandable, but why would he choose a daughter as his successor? And not just any daughter, either. She had been raised elsewhere for over a decade. Even if she was his blood relative, how could he trust such a child so easily and appoint her as his successor?
Cloud gave his opinion in a calm voice.
"...Isn't that proof that the child is doing well? I believe this result was achieved because she gained the Duke's absolute trust."
“I see. Well, it’s a good problem, after all.”
Since the son would soon die at the hands of the daughter, and the Duke of Weishaffen would be destroyed if his rebellion succeeded, it didn't matter who he chose as his successor.
"If she's adapting so well, it's time to make her move. When she returns from the territory, send a message to kill her younger brother."
It was thrilling to imagine. What would Roderick's face look like when he lost his newborn son, barely a year old? And what if he discovered the culprit was his own daughter?
Byron smiled in rapture as he remembered Roderick's face, stained with frustration.
It was a little heartbreaking to see Ophelia's face grieve over the loss of her son, but what could she do? She had sinned by choosing the wrong person over him. It was simply punishment.
Only after losing her son and husband to her daughter, and then experiencing the sorrow of losing her own daughter, was she finally able to stand by his side as his woman.
It was a punishment for Ophelia, whom he loved so much, and it was a kind of sacred ritual.
As Ophelia foretold, Roderick and Isidore, who had been away, returned home in a dignified manner. They looked a little tired, but apparently uninjured.
Above all, he seemed to be in a very good mood.
Neither of them usually had such a colorful expression on their faces that it wasn't that noticeable, but to those close to them, they were so happy that they looked like they were flying through the sky.
“...Father, it looks like you had a lot of fun hunting.”
Michelle, the second daughter, asked in a puzzled voice, wondering why her father, who usually hated physical exertion, was always smiling after returning from hunting.
"Yes, it was a very fruitful time. We caught some pretty useful prey."
Isidore answered with a very proud expression. Of course, the prey wasn't a beast or a monster, but his words weren't wrong.
“Father himself? That’s impossible.”
Rachel, the eldest daughter who had been listening to the story, interrupted with a look of disapproval.
"Of course. Your uncle did it all. I just watched."
Isidore answered confidently, as if he had nothing to be afraid of, and his two daughters laughed heartily, saying they knew it.
In that friendly atmosphere, Aila had to suppress her curiosity to hear the full story from her father. It wasn't a story she could share in public.
Perhaps, at night, she could satisfy her curiosity. She could take Laura away from her, sneak into her room, and tell her the story she'd been waiting for.
With such anticipation, Aila joined in on the family's conversation. The hunting talk had apparently ended, and the conversation had already turned to Rachel's love life.
"I think I should meet that young Master at least once. I'm curious what kind of person he is that he likes a woman like you."
“What? What’s wrong with me?”
The conversation ended, as always, with the sisters arguing.
And that night, Aila's hopes were dashed. No matter how long she waited, there was no sign of Laura being taken away.
She thought about going to her parents' room first, but she held back because she thought that even if she was their daughter, it would be rude to go in and out of her parents' bedroom without notice.
Anyway, even if she didn't go out of her way to sneak out, she would soon have a chance to talk to her father alone. Fencing lessons were scheduled for the next morning.
Of course, they weren't free to speak freely. In swordsmanship classes, the maids had nothing to do, so they didn't have to follow along. But Laura clung to her like a tick wherever she went, never letting go.
Although she tried to disguise it as being due to her overflowing affection for the young lady she was serving.
Still, since Laura was just sitting in a corner of the training hall and watching them practice, she wouldn't have heard Roderick and Aila's quiet conversation.
The next morning, Aila woke up at the crack of dawn and went to the training ground to wait for her father's personal training to end. Even though she woke up quite early, Roderick was up much earlier and training.
A moment later, Roderick finished his training and approached her. He seemed so focused that he hadn't even noticed his daughter's arrival, and a look of confusion crossed his face.
“Why are you already waiting? It must be cold.”
“No, I’m not cold at all. I just wanted to see my father soon.”
While she longed to hear news of Suki from her father, she also wanted to quickly begin swordsmanship lessons. Having trained with Alexia while Roderick was away, she wanted to show him how much she's grown.
And when she finished training, Roderick praised her with a bright face.
“It looks like you’ve been training diligently. That’s amazing.”
Aila smiled bashfully, feeling her father's hand stroking her hair.
She never knew that being recognized for her efforts could be such a good feeling, but every time she received praise from her parents, her heart would swell with emotion.
"I heard from Alexia. She said your riding skills have improved considerably. She said you almost beat her on the last day."
“That’s...! Sir Dexen has been so considerate. She was running slower than usual.”
"Anyway, it's impressive that you've only been learning for so long, and you're at that level. Well, then, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get off the track and try running on the plains."
When she answered with a blush on her face from shyness, Roderick chuckled and said.
"We visit the territory every year around the end of winter. How about you join us this year? You'll be the next lord, so it's time for you to stop by the territory as heir."
Then, she could practice riding. At her father's suggestion that it might be a good idea, Aila merely blinked.
It wasn't that she disliked it. She's heard a lot about the Weishaffen's estate from him in her past life, and after learning that she was the real Aila, she's been curious about it.
It was simply a very unexpected offer. Aila thought it might be a little premature, since she hadn't caught Byron yet and her curse hadn't been lifted.
Then, Roderick whispered softly in her ear, as if trying to clear her doubts.
“I've locked her up on the way to the estate. She should be able to lift your curse.”
"Well then, let's end today's class here. Have a good day."
“Yes, Father. Thank you.”
After saying goodbye to Roderick, Aila walked away, feeling relieved. Laura followed her, constantly asking her questions about what she and Roderick had talked about.
“What did he say, Miss?”
"He praised me for improving my skills. Oh, and he even asked me to go to the estate with him. That's all."
Even if she didn't say anything, Laura would soon find out. Then she'd surely throw a tantrum, asking why Aila hadn't told her beforehand. So, it was far better to strike first.
“...Hmm.”
The fact that she had earned Roderick's trust was a win-win situation for Laura and Byron. Despite the praise, Laura stubbornly kept her mouth shut.
Aila simply smiled, not having expected praise from her in the first place. She was in too good a mood to be offended by someone like Laura.
'I'll be able to break the curse soon. Then I won't have to worry about Laura's feelings anymore.'
Perhaps she could repay Laura for what she had done to Lisa in her past life. No, there was no need for her to go through the trouble of framing her.
If she just treats Lisa well, Laura will feel a sense of crisis and fall into the swamp on her own.
Aila smiled inwardly as she recalled that sweet moment.
***
News that Aila was heading to the Weishaffen estate with Roderick quickly reached Byron. And it came through two channels: from Laura, and from a spy who wasn't Laura.
Byron read the reports from both sides, and his expression seemed to recall some nostalgic memories.
The Weishaffen estate. He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling its vast snowy fields.
It was a land of enemies that he hated even breathing under the same sky, but it was also a monumental place where he first met Ophelia.
One day, when he regained his rightful place, he planned to make it an imperial fief and create a place to commemorate his meeting with Ophelia.
The land where history's greatest Emperor and his beautiful Empress first met. How sublime and beautiful it is.
But that was still a distant future. He returned to reality, frowned, and put down the report.
“Why is that, my lord?”
“...It’s surprising. Why are you rushing to make your daughter your successor when you already have a son?”
He didn't understand. If he were Roderick, he would never have given his daughter the succession.
If he didn't have a son, it would be understandable, but why would he choose a daughter as his successor? And not just any daughter, either. She had been raised elsewhere for over a decade. Even if she was his blood relative, how could he trust such a child so easily and appoint her as his successor?
Cloud gave his opinion in a calm voice.
"...Isn't that proof that the child is doing well? I believe this result was achieved because she gained the Duke's absolute trust."
“I see. Well, it’s a good problem, after all.”
Since the son would soon die at the hands of the daughter, and the Duke of Weishaffen would be destroyed if his rebellion succeeded, it didn't matter who he chose as his successor.
"If she's adapting so well, it's time to make her move. When she returns from the territory, send a message to kill her younger brother."
It was thrilling to imagine. What would Roderick's face look like when he lost his newborn son, barely a year old? And what if he discovered the culprit was his own daughter?
Byron smiled in rapture as he remembered Roderick's face, stained with frustration.
It was a little heartbreaking to see Ophelia's face grieve over the loss of her son, but what could she do? She had sinned by choosing the wrong person over him. It was simply punishment.
Only after losing her son and husband to her daughter, and then experiencing the sorrow of losing her own daughter, was she finally able to stand by his side as his woman.
It was a punishment for Ophelia, whom he loved so much, and it was a kind of sacred ritual.
As Byron drifted into a blissful dream, imagining a happy future, Cloud let out a sound that shattered the tranquility.
Comments
Post a Comment