I sighed and spoke.

“If you want to leave, go alone. I want to spend time with my dear friends.”

“You snuck out, didn’t you? I have to escort you safely back to the mansion. If I don’t, the Duke of Keppel will surely try to kill me this time…”

“Well, if Isabella didn’t want to meet Bill, I would’ve stayed at the mansion as Ian requested. If you’re worried about Ian getting angry, go straight to the prime minister’s residence and tell him I sent you. If you tell him to come and get me here, he might just…”

I was worried he might come running with joy. But Isabella was horrified at the thought.

“You plan to show the Duke of Keppel ‘this’ mess?”

What mess? This place is worn down, but it’s a cozy, comfortable pub. Feeling a bit hurt, I spoke firmly.

“Isabella. If you continue to be this rude, leave right now.”

Isabella seemed startled by my firmness, which she had never seen before. Wide-eyed and frozen, she suddenly slumped into a chair and began to cry… Oh dear. She should’ve just left instead of crying here. I felt torn, unsure whether I should comfort her, when Greta conveniently returned.

“What’s going on? Why is she crying?”

Good question. I looked at the crying Isabella and bit my lip. Although she’d been through a lot because of me, seeing her cry so pitifully made me feel guilty.

“Isabella, if my words were too harsh, I apologize. But this place and these people are precious to me. I’d appreciate it if you could be kind.”

Isabella only shed more tears but slowly nodded. I felt like I was comforting a child. Just as I was about to pull out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, Greta chimed in, marveling.

“Wow, they said you were great at crying on cue. The rumors were true.”

Suddenly, Isabella shot a vicious glare at Greta. I was shocked. The tears that had been pouring down like a waterfall abruptly stopped. Isabella spoke sharply.

“Hey, watch your mouth.”

On the other hand, Greta remained calm and composed. She smirked and replied.

“You should watch your mouth too. Didn’t you hear the part about being kind to me?”

“The only reason she’s being kind to you is that she’s a good person, and you think you’re something special?”

“I am something special. We’re best friends, right?”

“I’ve known her way longer than you have! You kitchen wench!”

“What? Kitchen wench? Have you ever heard of the Red Pub Mercenary Guild? You better watch out, or I’ll make sure you regret it!”

Ugh, stress. I clutched my chest, feeling a sharp pain, and spoke up.

“Stop it, both of you. I think I’m going to faint. Please, just stop.”

I leaned on the table, sweating coldly. Isabella, startled, got up so quickly that her chair fell over with a clatter.

“What should we do? Should I call a doctor? Or Lord Benjamin? Should we head to the palace?”

“Hold on, I’ll get your medicine!”

Greta dashed off and returned with my worn-out bag. I quickly pulled out some herbal pills and chewed them down. After drinking the water Greta handed me, the pain melted away like snow. Once I caught my breath, I noticed Isabella squatting beside me, crying again.

“I’m sorry.”

I silently rummaged through my bag and pulled out my identification tag.

“I’ll return it to you.”

Isabella, tears streaming down her face, took the tag. This time, Greta didn’t make any remarks about the tears.

“I’m not sure what you wanted to confirm here, Isabella… but yes, it’s better if we head back together.”

With Greta’s support, I stood up.

“Bill, we’re going to leave now. I’m sorry for causing such a commotion.”

Bill, who had been silently observing until now, was only staring at the sniffling Isabella. Just as I started to sense the heavy atmosphere, Bill spoke in a trembling voice.

“…Anne? Are you really… Anne?”

Then Isabella suddenly burst into loud sobs. Her wailing voice startled me as I looked down at her. Bill, in disbelief, slowly approached her.

“You’re really Anne… How… your face…”

Isabella lifted her tear-streaked face. She mumbled something through her sobs, but I couldn’t make out the words. Bill, somehow understanding her, replied.

“My goodness… I thought you were dead.”

Tears began to streak down Bill’s face as he kneeled in front of Isabella.

“But you were alive. You’re alive.”

Isabella, struggling to hold back her sobs, managed to shout.

“You didn’t even recognize me!”

And then she started crying again. Not wanting to intrude on this father-daughter moment, I quietly stepped back. Greta, who had been helping me, also stepped aside. We moved into the kitchen, and I was horrified to see the mess.

I quietly scolded her in a whisper.

“If you’re going to drink, at least do it properly. Why did you have to throw the bottles?”

“They kept piling up, and I didn’t want to clean them up.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

I slapped Greta on the back and started tidying up the kitchen.

“I’ll clean up, just sit d—urp.”

What is she saying? She should be lying down. I started cleaning up the kitchen, leaving Greta behind as she vomited again.

“Oh, the high and mighty lady should just sit still…”

“Can’t you see I’m in better shape than you?”

I quickly tidied up the kitchen and looked through the ingredients. After preparing a late lunch, I sat Isabella and Bill down at the table.

“Let’s eat.”

“How did you live to become a lady who can cook…?”

“Did… did you make this, my lady?”

“Enjoy.”

Greta, having emptied her stomach, ate heartily. Isabella, who initially picked at the food hesitantly, eventually started eating with gusto. She must have been hungry after crying so much.

“Anyway… did the two of you talk things out?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

“Were you upset because he didn’t recognize you right away?”

Isabella sniffled and nodded. She looked so dejected that I couldn’t hold any resentment.

“With a different face, how could he have recognized you immediately?”

“But the Duke recognized you right away, even from a distance…”

“Ian and I spent a lot of time together, so there were other clues like my body shape and voice, but it’s been so long since Bill last saw me.”

Even though I said that, I was quite surprised that Ian recognized me. If we go by the amount of time spent together, it should have been my mother who recognized me first, not Ian.

“I thought love would help him recognize me!”

What nonsense… As Isabella started tearing up again, Bill patted her and said,

“Yes, I’m sorry. Now that I look at you, you really do look just like your mother. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you.”

Good grief. It seems Bill has already become a doting father.

“If you had shown up with Anne’s face from the start, I’m sure Bill would have recognized you too.”

I said this to defend Bill, but Isabella hesitated before saying,

“But… actually, that face isn’t my real one either.”

“What?”

“It’s a face that’s a bit prettier than my real one. My real face was much, much less attractive. I can barely even remember it now. I’ve been living with this face for so long…”

…I see. In a world without photographs, it’s hard to remember your original face exactly. Faces change as you grow, so it’s possible that Isabella no longer knows what she truly looks like. She glanced at Bill and continued,

“So I thought showing you this face, which resembles my mother, would be better than trying to recreate a vague memory of my original face…”

“You’re right. Who cares about a face? What’s important is that you’re my daughter.”

Bill seemed ready to agree with anything Isabella said at this point.

“But how did you change your face? Are you a wizard?”

“That’s right.”

Isabella, who had answered Greta’s question, suddenly raised her chin and puffed out her chest.

“I’m going to join the Imperial Wizard Corps soon. I’ll even get a title. Then you’ll have to speak to me respectfully… But what’s your relationship with my father?”

Greta grinned.

“Adopted daughter?”

“What?”

Isabella looked at Bill. He didn’t deny it and just kept eating in silence. Isabella frowned. Fearing another argument, I quietly said,

“Let’s all get along. Let’s get along.”

Greta teased,

“But how old are you? I think I’m the older one here.”

“Greta.”

I tried to intervene in a stern tone, but Greta just grinned mischievously.

“I’m just trying to get to know her better. To get closer.”

I sighed, looking at Isabella’s sulking face and Greta’s playful grin.

***

We spent quite a bit of time listening to Isabella talk about her life. Eventually, everyone insisted on accompanying me back to the estate, so we all boarded a carriage. Greta casually remarked,

“I thought you had run away again.”

“…Why?”

“Remember you told me you ran away from your husband once? I thought maybe you couldn’t talk about it at the palace because you were afraid it would put us in danger…”

“That’s not it. It was just a misunderstanding. It’s all cleared up now… If I’d known you’d be so worried, I wouldn’t have let you go alone yesterday.”

Isabella interjected,

“You failed to awaken, right?”

“…Yes.”

“I honestly thought you’d awaken soon. You looked so desperate back then. If freedom is your true wish, I thought you might awaken while escaping. It’s a common wish among wind wizards.”

“…My aptitude is in holy magic, though…”

“I know. But you might still have a talent for wind magic. After all, Benjamin is the Lord of Wind.”

It always strikes me that Isabella seems more respectful toward Benjamin than Ian.

“Wizards often try to induce awakening by considering bloodlines and aptitudes, but… I think the heart matters the most.

Did you know? Light wizards are quite rare, and among them, light wizards who aren’t blind like me are almost nonexistent. They say that from a young age, they are made to live in dark places to induce awakening. Eventually, they lose their sight, and when light becomes truly, truly precious to them, they awaken.”

Good grief… The more I learn about the dark side of wizards, the more it gives me chills. I mean, telling a child to self-harm with a knife isn’t exactly normal either.

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories