It was still raining heavily and the droplets was pouring against the window. The sound of the rain filled the silence, which was breaking through the tense atmosphere. 

I learned how Duke Perdia came to raise me. I suddenly recalled the Duke’s intervention when Jansi persistently questioned my powers and doubted them.

 ‘You knew all about my powers but didn’t say anything.’

He was deliberately being deceived by me, about my powers not being destructive. Knowing the truth, the Duke’s actions, which seemed odd to me before started making sense. 

“Arcelia…… your mother was the lover of Richard Severes, but they never married. It was because the vassals vehemently opposed it.”

“Why?”

“She was a commoner.”

“Ah…….”

I understood without any further explanation. There was no way that vassals of Severes’s, who were full of themselves as members of one the Four Great Houses, would have accepted a commoner as their lord’s wife. 

“Even if the child in her womb was Richard Severes’ child, Arcelia would not have been able to stay in Severes, as the guardian was in a coma.”

 “…….”

“Even the fact that she had a child was not publicly known. I only found out when your biological mother came to me after giving birth to you.”

For some reason, the duke’s face looked really sad. 

‘It seems like she really was his first love.’

I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have your first love come back to you with another man’s child. 

“Do you really not know where my birth mother went?”

“I do not…”

The Duke sighed heavily and added. 

“After your birth mother left you, I attached someone to her for a while , but at some point they lost her and she disappeared. Since then, she has kept her whereabouts hidden.”

“I see.”

As the leader of the Shadow Guild, Duke Perdia’s tracking network was extensive. It was nearly impossible for me to find my mother if she wasn’t on his radar.

Ishtar also mentioned that my mother was in a ‘deep and unreachable place.’

Soon the room preceded with another heavy silence. 

This time, it was me who broke the silence. 

“You’ve raised me all these years, even though I’m not even your biological daughter, so why should I resent you?”

 “…….”

I always thought I was good at understanding the situation. From the moment I recalled memories of my past life, I continuously chanted to myself, 

‘You are not Perdia.’

It was a self-defense from my end, a way not to become miserable. I didn’t want to die or be driven away.

I decided to leave on my terms. I prepared to be gradually abandoned.

“I don’t understand why Your Grace opposes it. There’s no reason for me to be here if I’m not Perdia.”

The Duke’s eyes, gazing at me, shook significantly. With a face that seemed to have many things to say, the Duke offered only a brief sentence.

“Sorry.”

“…….”

 “I’m sorry, Elodie.”

The sight of the Duke of Perdia who was sitting before me was too devastating to be a lie.

It was the first time I saw him in this state. Duke Perdia, who seemed as firm as a mountain, was burying his face in his hands, overwhelmed with regret…

I couldn’t doubt the sincerity of his apology. 

“I thought I was raising you without any shortcomings. Thought it was enough from my end…yes, that’s what I thought. I may have considered that I have done everything I could as I even registered you as my daughter in response to her request to take care of you. But you…” 

Duke Perdia, who was reciting as if he were confessing, was unable to continue speaking.

Why does it remind me of the warmth that surrounded me when I was in danger? I hesitated for a moment and asked the Duke.

“Do you consider me as your family?”

 “Yes. That is a question not worth answering.”

“Even though I’m not your real daughter?”

“Even so, you are my child.”

He said it firmly. As if it were an unchanging truth no matter what happened.

However, I wasn’t naive enough to believe that completely.

“Think about it. Maybe you’re mistaken, maybe the person I am today is different from the person I used to be.”

The old me might have believed him.

I was desperate for attention, and it was only when I remembered my past life that the Duke, who had been so indifferent to me, began to pay attention towards me.

 “My thoughts are the same, Elodie, though I am surprised at your recent change in demeanor.”

“Even if I act like a mad woman?”

“Yes. I don’t mind you being that way.”

The duke and I interlocked each others eyes.

A face that was entirely different from mine.

A person with facial lines that were thick and bold compared to me, who was nothing but pale.

When I knew that I was the duke’s illegitimate child, I resented the fact that I didn’t resemble him at all. Perhaps that’s why, even now, knowing that I can’t resemble him, the duke is still an object of admiration for me.

‘Can I trust him?’

What if I do and get hurt again? If I fall this time, I don’t think I’ll be able to raise back. After much contemplation, I reached a conclusion.

“Then I’ll give you a chance.”

I thought maybe the duke might get angry.

It’s natural to feel bad, talking about opportunities with someone who isn’t even your biological daughter. But the duke just stared at me without any hint of it.

As if waiting for the next words.

“I won’t say that I will become independent right away. Instead, please let me stay in Perdia.”

“What should I do?”

“That….. I don’t know.”

It’s the Duke’s job to stop me from leaving.

There was nothing I could do.

“It seems like negotiating with you is the most difficult amongst the countless negotiations I’ve conducted so far……”

With an expression that seemed truly troubled, the Duke, after brushing his hand across his chin, looked directly at me and spoke.

“Thank you, Elodie. I’ll do my best.”

“……Yes.”

Unnecessarily embarrassed, I asked him again, avoiding his sharp gaze on mine. 

“Who else in the family knows about it?”

“As I said before, Themis has already found out, but Jansi and Carlot don’t know about this fact.”

I kind of expected that. 

Carlot had taunted me from a very early age by calling me a ‘b*stard’, and Jansi’s somewhat lenient attitude towards me might be due to the fact that my blood was mixed.

Most of their goodwill was likely due to the fact that we were considered half-siblings.

The Duke probably wouldn’t reveal the truth first, just as he had hidden it until now. But I no longer wanted to feel guilty for their kindness.

“I would like to reveal that I’m not your biological daughter.” 

“You don’t have to force it, Elodie.”

“Someday, they will know about it. I don’t want to deceive them any longer.”

I stated my intentions firmly, and the Duke looked at me with his unwilling expression. 

“I’ll handle it.”

“No, I’ll do it.”

“……Do as you wish.”

After he said he would try his best, the Duke of Perdia seemed to listen to everything I had to say.

 It felt weird, as if he had turned into an appeaser. 

The Duke studied my face and added,

“But those guys could hurt you. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes. I won’t just sit still.”

“Whatever you do, I will overlook it.”

Ahem. The Duke coughed awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

‘Do you think you know what I’m going to do when you say that?’

What if I, who is unable to control my anger at their criticism, throws a punch? Of course, that won’t happen, but…..

 There was one more thing left to say to the Duke of Perdia. 

“I’m going to wake up the Duke of Severes.”

As soon as I said his last name, the Duke of Perdia narrowed his eyes, as if he really didn’t like my decision. 

 It was almost like an automatic reflex.

Remembering his promise to do his best, the Duke tried to keep his face expressionless. 

“Very well.”

“After waking up my father, I might leave.”

“…….”

Duke Perdia didn’t respond to that statement. 

Instead, he brought up another topic. 

“Elodie, I didn’t see your mother’s pendant.”

For some reason, the Duke was curious about the whereabouts of the pendant that I always wore.

“During the summer, it accidentally broke.”

“Summer?”

“Yes, around the time I sent the annulment letter to the Crown Prince.”

The Duke of Perdia seemed to think about something, then muttered softly. 

Seemingly lost in thought, Duke Ferdia softly muttered again,

“So that’s what happened.”

“Mmh?”

“Nothing. Rather than that, sign it now.”

“What signature……. this?”

I pointed to the diamond mine transfer contract that I had already forgotten about.

“It’s yours now, not the family’s, and you can do whatever you want with it, do as you please.”

Up until now, whatever I spent had been reported to the Duke of Perdia, but with this mine, he didn’t care what I did with the profits.

I glanced at the mine contract, which I hadn’t even glanced at before. 

“Why are you giving me all this…….”

I muttered to myself and glanced at the transfer agreement. 

 [Burp. Ah, I’m full!]

The first time Greed burped, it burped very pleasantly.

***

Past. 

Several days had passed since Arcelia stayed in the annex. He was aware of the chatter within the manor surrounding her, though it didn’t reach his ears.

Sylvester, who was taking a walk around the back garden because he was tired but couldn’t sleep for some reason, walked towards the annex.

 It was an impulsive decision.

Entering the annex, dim light spilled from the end of the corridor leading to Arcelia’s room.

‘Maybe she hasn’t fallen asleep yet.’

Sylvester, who was about to walk toward the light like a moth, narrowed his eyes and stopped at a place.

‘What are we going to do when we meet?’

Letting out a self-deprecating laugh, Sylvester was about to turn around.

But his steps halted… 

“… Elodie, my dear. I’m sorry.”

Through the crack in the door, Sylvester heard a sobbing voice. It was a stifled sob that made his chest tighten just by listening to it.

“Forgive your mother. I’ll bear all the consequences, so you must be happy.”

Even though he knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, Sylvester stood frozen in place and was unable to move. 

The sobbing gradually subsided.

 There was a brief rustling in the room, and Sylvester, finally after coming back to his senses, tried to move away. 

“…..Your Grace?”

A feminine voice called out to him in surprise.

Sylvester’s attention was drawn to Arcelia’s attire; she was wearing the clothes she had on when she came to the mansion during the storm.

An instinctual premonition flashed through him.

“Are you leaving now?”

She had a small bag in her hand. 

It wasn’t a sight of someone preparing for a short walk.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to stay here much longer.”

At her words, Sylvester recalled the tears from a moment ago.

“Is there no certainty of when you’ll return?”

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Instead of answering, Arcelia smiled faintly. It was a smile that Sylvester knew and loved wholeheartedly.

“May I ask one more favor, Your Grace?”

Anything. Anything you want, I can grant it to you..

 “Sure.”

Keeping his inner feelings hidden, Sylvester responded calmly.

Arcelia walked over to him and handed him something. 

“When the child grows up, please give her this pendant.”

“…..What is this?”

“I’ve sealed the child’s power. The seal will be released when the time comes.”

“Why did you seal it?”

Arcelia knew that he would raise her daughter as Perdia. So she had no reason to hide the fact that it was Severes’ power.

Once again, Arcelia only smiled softly instead of answering.

“I see you can’t tell me the reason again this time.”

“I can’t tell you more about it. I’m sorry.”

“Never mind.”

He didn’t have the right to ask her for more.

Arcelia walked past Sylvester as if she was really going to leave him now, then stopped, with a look of hesitation. 

“I should forewarn you, Your Grace, that one day my child will be like a completely different person.”

She was probably referring to puberty. Sylvester waved her off. 

Time passed. . . . 

It was Summer,that day when Elodie was summoned by him for sending a letter of a breakup to the first prince.

Since that day, Elodie had been acting strangely.

“Do you have anything else to say?”, asked the duke.

The child who always avoided eye contact looked directly into his eyes.

The pale pink eyes were strikingly similar to those of his first love. 

At that moment, Sylvester realized.

Ah. 

‘Arcelia, this is the moment that you were speaking about…’

Elodie Perdia has changed. As Arcelia had predicted.