Valerian briefly indulged in self-deprecation over his ridiculous appearance and felt sympathy for the child named Teresia Oblene, but he quickly composed himself.

He pitied the child who would have to live in such a monstrous place, yet he had no other choice because he needed to protect Everdeen.

Suppressing his guilt, he removed his glasses and pressed his eyes firmly.

Once his headache subsided a bit, he put his glasses back on and spoke.

“Sebastian.”

“You called, sir.”

The butler, who had been standing outside the door, promptly entered, bowing politely.

To Valerian, the butler appeared as an elderly man with a kind yet firm demeanor, but in the mirror beside them, only a neatly floating suit and monocle were visible.

Valerian calmly instructed Sebastian.

“I’d like you to personally go and bring Miss Oblene. Is that alright?”

“Of course. I’ll prepare and leave immediately.”

“Alright. Feel free to mention anything you need.”

Sebastian nodded with a gentle smile, fully aware of the Duke of Everdeen’s strained financial situation.

Knowing this, Valerian didn’t press him for a response.

Turning away from Sebastian to hide his awkwardness and guilt, Valerian quietly added,

“…Please make sure the child isn’t frightened.”

In front of him, Sebastian, as always, bowed deeply with a courteous and sincere demeanor.

* * *

“All done, miss.”

I pouted as I watched the maid remove her hands from my hair in the mirror.

The reflection showed a ‘calm and composed child, perfect for heir education,’ a stark contrast to my usual scruffy self, but I felt awful.

‘Is dressing me up like this all they care about?’

The previous evening, as soon as I returned to my room, I was seized by strangers and underwent a process akin to polishing a ‘product.’

‘Including travel expenses, the total is 450,000 gold, Viscount.’

‘Ahem, ahem. Ahem.’

The Viscount, despite calling people to ensure I didn’t appear shabby to the Duke’s house, kept clearing his throat, displeased at spending a fortune of 450,000 gold on me.

However, unable to embarrass himself in front of those bustling to meet the tight deadline, he grudgingly handed over the pouch of gold coins.

‘I liked that part, though. Oh, how satisfying.’

Thinking of the Viscount’s twisted face made me chuckle, but I quickly stifled my laughter.

“Miss, the Duke’s carriage has arrived. You should head down.”

The maid pulled me off the chair and pushed me out of the room.

“…I know, don’t push.”

I cast a lingering gaze over the bed and worn blankets where I had slept every night for the past few years before reluctantly tearing my eyes away and stepping outside.

Downstairs, the bustling noise beyond the open door filled the corridor with an even more eerie silence.

I masked my complicated feelings and quietly moved, but stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway. With a sigh, I turned around.

“Where have you been, Tommy?”

I spotted Tommy, who had fled with a pale face upon hearing the shocking news that I was going to the Duke of Everdeen the previous evening.

He stood there, tears streaming from his transparent blue eyes.

I clicked my tongue at the sight, and he hiccuped as he asked,

<You, you, you…>

“Yeah.”

<You, you really are going…?>

“I told you, I am. Why did you run away and cause such a fuss? I have to leave now.”

I had planned to vent about the Viscount with Tommy until I left the mansion. It felt like a waste of time, but I understood why he reacted that way. Tommy and I had grown up together like siblings since the moment I was born.

Losing the only family I had felt the same for me too.

“Don’t cry, you fool. I’m really leaving now, and are you just going to cry until the end?”

I clicked my tongue and reached out to wipe away the tears streaming down his face.

Sensing it was truly the last time, Tommy barely managed to stop crying. With a resolute expression, he promised me,

<I’ll really do my best. I can’t watch over the grave, but… I’ll make sure no one touches the portrait.>

“How did you know I was going to ask you that? You’re a good kid. I’m counting on you.”

<Yeah, yeah. Just trust me!>

“I’ll be back soon, so don’t disappear, and don’t cry because you miss me. Got it?”

<Yeah…? Come back? How?>

“…You’ll see. Anyway, let’s go down.”

I gave a vague answer, then gestured to Tommy.

Though he looked puzzled, he dutifully followed me to the front gate of the mansion.

“Ah! Here she comes. My daughter must have overslept because she’s so shy. Haha.”

As I stepped outside the wide-open door, I saw the Viscount babbling nonsense with a servile smile.

Ignoring him, I turned my gaze opposite him and involuntarily opened my mouth slightly.

‘Wow.’

I mean, I’d grown up seeing ghosts since birth, but I’d never seen anything like this before.

In front of the Viscount stood an old man. His body, like a ghost, had a bluish, semi-transparent glow, but his clothes were definitely from the ‘living’ world.

‘He really looks like he’s half a ghost.’

At that moment, the old man, with a kind yet dignified face, picked up a pen and paper and wrote something down.

The Viscount and his servants, standing nearby, looked at him with terrified eyes.

As I walked over to them, the old man lifted the paper for everyone to see.

“I will escort her now. I’ll check the carriage for a moment, so please say your goodbyes.”

After confirming that the Viscount and I had read the paper, the old man smiled warmly at me and turned towards the carriage.

While he spoke with the coachman, who seemed to be from the Duke’s household, the Viscount placed both hands on my shoulders.

“Terry.”

Outwardly, his demeanor was soft and gentle, but he gripped my shoulders so tightly that it hurt.

As I barely suppressed a groan, he leaned in close and whispered with a smile,

“For your mother’s sake, it’s best if you stay quiet and behave. If you’re lucky, you might live well in a place that doesn’t suit your status.”

Everyone in the Empire knew that the Duke of Everdeen’s finances weren’t great.

So those words were a mockery directed at me.

‘You really are a despicable person to the end.’

But I had something prepared just for you!

Ignoring the pain in my shoulders, I beamed brightly.

As the Viscount flinched in surprise, I raised my voice loud enough for the old man to hear.

“Daddy!”

“Ah… what?”

“I had a dream last night, and Grandpa appeared in it!”

“Did he…?”

As I waved my arms and giggled, the Viscount loosened his grip in confusion.

“Yes! And do you know what Grandpa said? Lend me your ear!”

Confirming that the old man was looking our way, I smiled sweetly and made my request.

The Viscount, unable to push me away in front of the old man, forced a smile and leaned down.

Pretending it was a mistake, I grabbed his ear hard, then, the next moment,

“You rascal!”

I tightened my stomach muscles and wiped the smile off my face, shouting loudly.

“Aaah!”

Thanks to my training with Tommy, the Viscount shook off my hand and staggered back with a pained expression.

Standing in front of him, I placed my hands on my hips and continued to scold him like a madwoman.