Extra 04. Downfall

This year’s birthday was 180 degrees different from all the birthdays I’d experienced before.

Because there was one more person to celebrate.

“Goodness, so the sleeping at all hours was……!”

As soon as day broke and I revealed the truth, Chloe was the first to be shocked.

“Congratulations, Little Mistress!”

Claire congratulated me while Chloe lamented beside her, as if wondering why she hadn’t realized such an obvious answer.

After that, the story must have spread wildly starting from those two, because in less than an hour—before I could even properly enjoy my birthday—it seemed to have reached the Duke’s ears.

“So you’re telling me I’m going to be a grandfather?”

When he came to find me ten whole minutes earlier than last year’s birthday, those were his words right after saying happy birthday.

“Yes, Father.”

I answered him simply, just as I had when I heard it from my physician.

“At my age, a grandfather.”

“At your age? You’re still young enough to have grandchildren.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m young, so I’ll have the energy to play with my grandchild when they’re born.”

Then he said something unusually lighthearted.

“When did you say they’d be born?”

“We’ll be able to meet when the snow falls.”

Since it’s summer now, we just need to pass through autumn and wait for winter.

When winter comes, the sound of a child’s laughter will probably fill this residence.

“When the snow falls. There’s plenty of time until winter, so there’ll be much to prepare in the meantime.”

Before I could nod in agreement, the Duke seemed to have different thoughts than me and brought up something unexpected.

“I should gift the best room in this vast residence. It would be good to start remodeling that room for the child to use. Since we don’t know if it’ll be a girl or boy, we should prepare everything needed for both.”

In all the years we’d lived together, he’d never looked this excited or this happy.

Even the Duke, who maintained his composure so well, would rush about thinking of his grandchild—that thought even crossed my mind.

“I was going to gift you land in the capital’s commercial district for your birthday this year, but I’ll give you one more.”

I was shocked once at the mention of land in the capital’s commercial district, and twice at the offer of one more.

“I’ll prepare separate land for my grandchild, so accept one more as a congratulatory gift.”

I thought there couldn’t be more to add, but the Duke’s words exceeded my expectations.

“It would be good to put up a building on my grandchild’s land too.”

Then he muttered as if pondering something deeply. I found such a Duke both delightful and fascinating.

“Are you that happy?”

No matter how I looked at it, Father seemed to be the most delighted person about the child to be born, so I had to ask.

“Of course I’m happy. I was glad when you came into this desolate house, but how adorable would a child resembling you and Theo be? I hope the grandchild takes after you more.”

He revealed the hope he secretly harbored.

Though Father, Theodore, and Dylan did look exactly alike as if stamped from a mold, I didn’t know he wished for this so much.

※※※

That afternoon, Theodore showed me the gift he’d prepared with care.

The gift was a newly built villa in the southern resort area, and he transferred ownership of the villa to me. Then he suggested we make time to go.

‘We probably can’t go right away because of the baby, but it would be nice to go as three.’

When I finished my birthday with twice the celebration as last year, Theodore observed my every action one by one.

‘This is too much.’

As if he’d tell me not to lift anything heavier than a feather, he tried to hold my utensils for me, and brought his work to my room instead of his own.

“Theo, I can hold a newspaper.”

So much so that even now he looked ready to hold the newspaper for me.

I noticed this and stopped him.

“But if you get a paper cut on your finger……”

“If I cut my finger, I’ll disinfect it and apply medicine.”

And there was no guarantee such an injury would even occur.

“So I’ll gratefully accept just the thought behind your concern.”

Theodore paused while trying to turn the newspaper page. His gaze was fixed on the article on the very first page.

“Theo?”

He awkwardly handed the newspaper back to me.

Only after receiving it did I understand why he’d acted that way.

<Delphiana Family, Ruined?>

It was quite a sensational title. I needed to check what the article was about.

‘First, let me read it.’

I took a calm deep breath, then slowly scanned down through the article.

<(omitted) While the cause needs closer examination, it’s presumed to be internal discord and division within the family. Recently a new family head was announced, and there appear to have been family members dissatisfied with this……>

Other detailed explanations were written, but the article’s focus was on competition and factions within the family.

It had finally been revealed to the world.

<The Delphiana family, which boasted of its excellent children, will be buried in history like this.>

That was how the very last line of the newspaper article was decorated.

‘They’ve collapsed on their own.’

Neither Freya nor I had only good memories of that family, so I didn’t feel emotions like regret. I just thought they were reaping what they’d sown.

“Rather than the newspaper, how about reading a letter, Isabel?”

Seeing my hand not turning to the next page, he spoke.

As Theodore said, a letter good for me to read had arrived this morning. The letter was none other than from Freya, and after brief consideration, I soon folded the newspaper in half and set it down.

‘Multiple pages.’

When I opened the envelope, I saw stationery covered with flowers symbolizing summer.

<To my friend Isabel.>

As always, the first line asked after my well-being.

<I wonder how you’ve been. I traveled to new countries as I always did, and I’m currently in a kingdom close to the Empire. Perhaps because of that, I can access news about the Empire a bit faster than when I was in distant countries.>

Somehow anticipating why she’d sent this letter, I read the next sentences even faster.

<Perhaps because it’s such a prestigious family, I seemed to hear the news of the family’s ruin even faster. To think that family has finally fallen. You really do see everything if you live long enough. In that sense, I think I’ll return to the Empire after finishing my long journey.>

She’s coming back? Here?

<By the time you’re reading this letter, I may have already set foot in the Empire and be almost at your residence. From your friend Freya.>

I’d once thought that perhaps Freya might not return to the Empire.

But unexpectedly, an opportunity to meet again had arisen like this.

‘I wonder if she’s changed much?’

I was happy to be able to share my pregnancy news, and I became curious whether Freya would be exactly the same from head to toe, or if there would be changes.

※※※

“Um, Little Mistress. Excuse me, but I mentioned this before.”

A few days later on a leisurely summer afternoon, Chloe paused while wiping the window and spoke up.

“About how black hair and red eyes are symbolic features.”

I closed the book I was reading at this interesting topic. According to the recent letter, Freya would arrive soon with her escort.

“Black hair and red eyes being symbolic features is correct, but there was one more thing.”

“One more thing?”

“A prophecy. It was quite a famous prophecy, famous enough for even someone like me to know about it.”

Wondering what she meant, Chloe gently continued a moment later.

“They say an old prophet in a kingdom not far from here prophesied that if a third prince with black hair and red eyes was born, he would bring ruin to the kingdom.”

That person had made various prophecies until now, and they all came true, so everyone believed the prophecy, she said.

“So you’re saying Freya’s escort might be that person?”

Once before, she’d said she’d let me know if she remembered any stories related to black hair and red eyes, but I didn’t know it would connect to a prophecy.

“That’s not certain, but coincidentally, here they come. A person with black hair and red eyes.”

At Chloe’s words, I unconsciously rose and went near the window.

Two figures were visible near the residence entrance.

That person was, as Chloe said, a man with long black hair and red eyes, and beside him I saw someone familiar.

‘Could it be……’

Startled, I squinted and looked more carefully.

That person wearing a pure white dress and low-heeled shoes had conspicuous blonde hair neatly cut to the nape, and wore a hat decorated with green strings and ribbons.

As soon as I confirmed this, I calmly moved locations.

‘Has she really come?’

When I went downstairs with trembling heart, I saw a woman entering with the man.

I carefully approached them.

Just then, she removed her hat and handed it to the man standing beside her. Sea-blue eyes, the same eyes as mine. It was Freya, whom I’d been waiting for.

“It’s been a while, Isabel.”

Freya smiled at me.

Her long hair was cut, her outfit lighter, and she’d brought a stranger, but her affectionate voice and friendly smile were all the same.

“Yes. It’s been a while, Freya.”

I was so glad and happy that I smiled just like her.