Chapter 173
TL: Zimmings
I was watching from afar as Emeline wept in the temple’s yard. She immediately wept as soon as Stefano disappeared from her sight.
I approached the child. The child, who had been sobbing with her face buried in her knees, felt my presence and raised her head.
“Are you here to mock me?”
“It must be fun huh?”
In my past life, I had told Emeline the whereabouts of her biological father.
I was well acquainted with the 21 Priests, whom others hardly ever met because I was educated in the temple as a child of fate in my first and second lives. Especially since Stefano was one of my teachers, I witnessed his rise and fall. In my first life, he stopped becoming a priest. It was revealed that one of the 21 priests who took an oath of chastity actually had children.
Then I had only noticed it when I heard the story of Emeline’s father.
“My dad’s name is ‘Hen’. Hen is written on the necklace given by my mother.”
I immediately knew that the necklace that was always hidden under Stefano’s robes was the same as Emeline’s mother.
But I was hesitant to tell Emeline.
Because Stefano hung himself shortly after stopped becoming a priest.
And it was his daughter who discovered his body first. Emeline’s hope was Stefano’s despair. And the cruel father abandoned his daughter again. I didn’t want to tell her, but ironically, it was because of me that they met. Stefano was looking for me, and of all people, Tri saw the necklace.
I grabbed Emeline, who was about to run to him right away, and explained the situation. Everything, from my return and Stefano not wanting Emeline.
“I must have looked so funny in your eyes. You’re terrible. You really are a creepy child, Blaine.”
“I… Emeline, I’m not like that…”
“How did it feel to see me waiting for my dad for over ten years, knowing all of that? Was it fun?”
Then and now, Emeline stared at me and was mad at me. I couldn’t understand this child in my past life. I was resentful and angry as the child ridiculed me.
But, ironically, now that I’m not friends with her, I can understand. I could understand because I also had a father who was desperate like Emeline. The feeling as if the sky was about to fall, the miserable feeling that would never seem to end. I could understand now because I had someone important to me.
“Yes, it’s funny.”
At my words, Emeline bit her lip.
“You…”
“You cry for someone who doesn’t need you.”
“…….”
“You’ll live like that for the rest of your life. You will crumble at the word father until you die, and your life will be meaningless. It’s always going to be this miserable. Because you were abandoned by your father.”
Zachary, who was escorting me, looked at me and was startled.
“Lady-”
“Abandoned by your father, you are of no value. Right?”
Emeline replied,
“No! I, I…”
The girl held back her tears and continued.
“I can be happy too…”
“How? You were abandoned by yo7r father. Your father is the center of your life, how can you be happy?”
“Shut your mouth! I am the center of my life! So! So…”
The girl, who had been screaming with his eyes closed, opened her eyes and looked at me blankly, as if she had realized something.
I smiled.
“You understand me right, Emeline?”
“…….”
“It’s just one of the few misfortunes in your life.”
Being abandoned by the Duke of Amity and being abused by the Duke of Vallua were just two of my misfortunes. Tears began to flow from Emeline’s eyes again. Tri, which I had called in advance and came to the girl who was crying.
“E, Emeline…”
“…….”
“Don’t cry, Emeline. Don’t cry…!”
Even though they were not blood related, Tri sincerely thought of her as a family. Then, she embraced her. I stood up and watched them. Zachary smiled and handed me something. It was a handkerchief.
“I thought you were all grown up, but you still have a runny nose.”
“Be quiet.”
“Yes, yes.”
I blew my nose on Zachary’s handkerchief. And after a while, we returned to the mansion. Just like back then, I hold my hand with Emeline and Tri.
“Hello, Blaine. My name is Tri.”
“You idiot, if your opponent hits you, you should bite their forearm! Let’s go, Blaine. Let’s get revenge!”
***
That night, Cecilia, who came to the mansion secretly, was surprised to see my room.
I was laying in bed between the sleeping Tri and Emeline.
“You guys…”
Cecilia grinned and hugged Tri.
I widened my eyes when I saw Cecilia, who was petite, casually lifted Tri that was bigger than her peers.
“Cecilia, you are strong…”
“Even if I look like this, I was a former knight.”
“Is the emperor’s neck fine when you slapped him?”
When I asked seriously, she burst out laughing.
“I was a little worried, but fortunately nothing happened. Ah, speaking of the emperor, the chamberlain came to the place you had provided for me.”
“The chamberlain?”
“Didn’t you send him?”
“No. What did he say?”
“He asked if there was anything inconvenient or necessary.”
I grinned and moved Emeline’s hand that was on my dress and got out of bed. This is the right time.
I saw Cecilia as she left the mansion holding Tri and went to see my dad. My dad was discussing the affairs of the estate with my brothers and administrators in the office.
“Dad, dad.”
As I walked into the office, went to the sofa and grabbed his sleeve, Dad asked me as he sat me down next to me.
“What’s the matter?”
I said with a serious expression on my face.
“There is something I want to ask you.”
Dad and brother were surprised to hear it. Because I seldom ask for anything in the first place. In Dubbled, other people took care of me well, so I never thought I needed anything. And above all, living as a daughter of the Duke Amity and not asking for anything was so ingrained in my mind that I couldn’t speak out easily. Isaac asked with twinkling eyes.
“What is it? A sword? I have a lot of swords!”
Henry smiled as well.
“If it’s a jewel, I’ve got many good ones, Leblaine.”
Next was Johann.
“If it’s clothes or toys, tell me. A mercenary guild, which runs under our family, started distributing toys to noble kids.
Dad smiled slightly and stroked my hair.
“Even a building or land is fine, so say it.”
Because of their encouragement, I said it comfortably.
“Marriage.”
“What?!”
“What?”
“A marriage…”
“…….”
I nodded with a bright face.
I already did so much, and it was time to receive my rewards. Isn’t it time to marry Cecilia and the Emperor?
‘But why do they look like they were struck by lightning?’
***
Leblaine said, “Then now that you know what I want, please prepare it!” and returned cheerfully. The servants and administrators who were waiting in the office murmured in mournful voices.
“Marriage…isn’t it too early?”
At the words of the administrator, the butler nodded.
“She doesn’t even have a fiancee…”
“Right?”
“But it was customary for aristocrats to get engaged around this time and get married after becoming an adult.”
“But it’s not like the lady to ask for marriage first… did she fall in love with a young master?”
“It’s about time for her to have those feelings.”
The butler laughed, and the other administrators nodded their heads with delight.
“Ah, it feels like not long ago when she was just a baby.”
“I still remember it when she couldn’t get to the chair herself.”
While the administrators were atlking, other servants also joined in.
“It is the moment when a child leaves the arms of an adult. The young lady is now the age to have her first love… cough.”
“What kind of bastard…”
“I should congratulate her.”
“To think that my lady’s first love would come so soon…”
While the servants were reminiscing, they felt sadness yet pride at the same time as they watched over that young lady of theirs. They recalled the moment they met her when she couldn’t even speak well and greeted them cutely.
“First love.”
A low voice seemed to shake the mansion due to the pressure it held. Theodore, clenching his fists, stared at the floor with ghastly eyes.
“What kind of bastard dared to…”
Isaac, who normally should have shouted with excitement, raised his scabbard and got up. Henry, who was doing the paperwork, stared at the administrator with cold eyes.
“Let’s call the investigation team.”
Theodore replied while clutching the armrests of the sofa tightly.
“Prepare the troops.”
The administrators, butler and servants could only gulp. Will there be a killing spree?
Really? It was natural for a young lady like her to fall in love, but her family couldn’t accept this. When everyone except Dubbled’s family was trembling, Johann opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“What are you so mad about?”
As expected of Johann Dubbled, the most reasonable person in the family! The administrators and servants nodded happily.
“Master Johann is right. Your siblings’ wedding is something to be celebrated.”
When the butler smiled awkwardly and said that, Isaac cried out,
“The kid wants to get married, how can you be calm?!
Johann shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“My sister said she would marry me anyway.”
What?
Everyone looked at him with a puzzled expression. Johann continued speaking casually.
“She will marry me in the end so it doesn’t matter if she wants to play around for a while.”
The chairman, who came to the office with documents, frowned.
‘What nonsense…’
The world really was going crazy.
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