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If left alone, it would have taken two months to fully recover, but thanks to the magic of the healer the Duke called, I was able to walk as before in just a week.
Magic is indeed wonderful. The swollen cheek now showed no trace.
Sitting on the bed, I opened the bottom drawer next to the bed.
My diary, my precious lottery paper tucked between its pages, and the damn fountain pen that won’t write.
If I want to go home quickly, I need to find a way.
I’ve tried diligently, but I couldn’t write anything in the diary. It just records the day’s events faithfully by the end of the day.
Some so-called friends came and picked a fight, so I dealt with them in my own way. …Seeing Duke Diego get so angry at the word ‘excuse’ shows he really loved his daughter. It’s understandable. But why did I freeze up in surprise?
Today was clearly a mistake. To freeze up just because the person called ‘Dad’ raised his voice. He’s not even my real dad.
Since that day, the Duke hasn’t shown himself but has sent a letter every day. I took out the seven letters that had already piled up in the drawer and spread them out on the table next to the bed.
The first day’s letter was an apology.
‘Solea.’
It seemed he started writing the rest after a long pause, as the ink color was different from where it had dried.
‘How is your injury? I told the healer not to worry about the cost and to make sure you recover as quickly as possible. I hope you get better soon.
I’m sorry for getting angry yesterday. It was my fault for shouting at you in anger for any reason. It must be tough with your memory not being intact, and I raised my voice without considering your situation.
If your heart is at ease, would you come out and have tea with me again? I’ll be waiting, so take your time and come when you’re ready.’
The second day’s letter included the disposition of those so-called friends.
‘Lea. Anne boasted that you finished a bowl of soup and even ate a small potato at dinner last night. I’m glad to hear you’re eating better than before.
You might not care, but I thought you should know that the titles of the three families that harassed you have been revoked. It’s only right since they insulted our family, which is a loyal subject of the Empire. They probably won’t set foot on our land again.
And the three young ladies who came to see you have been dealt with by their respective families.
Gray testified that he heard them insulting your brothers, and Lady Remillian herself said, ‘I didn’t mean it that way,’ which ended up proving the insult.
Am I conveying this properly? I’d explain better in person.
You’ve endured a lot for a long time. I’m grateful and sorry that you fought back, genuinely angry at the insults your brothers received.
So, eat well, sleep well, and rest well today.’
The content of the letters became increasingly brighter over time.
‘Lea. I heard you’ve been talking to Gray a lot lately. So I asked Gray how you’re doing, and he said you’re a pretty piece of trash.
I scolded him for saying such things to his sister and made him run 100 laps around the training ground. But even after running 100 laps, he said, ‘Father. Solea is a completely newly born pretty piece of trash.’ Of course, I don’t believe him. But just in case, did you fight with Gray?
Dear, I don’t believe that for a second.’
I couldn’t help but laugh while reading the letter.
Gray, you little punk. How could you go around calling me a pretty piece of trash to the Duke?
When I opened the letter I received this morning, a flower fell out.
I picked up the flower, placed it on my hand, and slowly read the letter.
‘Lea, did you sleep well? Good morning. I’m not home today, so feel free to move around comfortably. Of course, Marcilla said it’s because your leg hasn’t healed yet, but I thought you might feel more at ease if I’m not at the mansion.
Oh, I’m not avoiding you on purpose. I have business at the palace, so don’t worry and maybe spend today with Gray and Heyman.
Gray doesn’t seem to have a very good influence on you.
And since the sky is clear and blue today, I think it would be wonderful to have tea on the terrace. I don’t know what you think. Just in case, I’m sending my favorite tea leaves.
The flower enclosed is the one that was in full bloom when I looked out the window this morning. I hope it makes you happy.’
What is this guy…
For someone who supposedly spent his youth fighting wars, his skill at tugging at people’s heartstrings is extraordinary.
I almost ended up not only receiving society’s criticism but also facing censorship.
I couldn’t help but smile broadly.
Although I spoke lightly, it was natural to feel strange. I had never met an adult like this before.
Is it because it’s a completely different world? Even the adults seem like they’ve been soaked in sugar.
Oddly, the back of my head tingled. My toes also started to feel warm.
It was an emotion I couldn’t describe with any word other than strange.
Solea must have been happy.
After forcefully summarizing the swelling feelings into one sentence, I called for Anne, who would be waiting outside.
“Anne!”
“Yes, my lady!”
What are you, some 5-minute standby team? Why are you opening the door so dramatically?
“I want to have tea where this flower is blooming. And please prepare some scones.”
As I waved the flower while holding the letter, Anne’s expression brightened.
“Yes! My lady! I’ll prepare it right away! For the tea leaves… shall I use the ones the Duke sent?”
“Yes.”
“Alright! Leave it to me!”
Anne seemed to be in such a good mood that she rushed out without properly closing the door. When I peeked into the corridor, I saw Anne running away, bouncing like an excited foal.
What’s making her so happy?
I heard from Gray that the mansion’s atmosphere has been gloomy because the Duke and I have been distant for the past few days.
But it’s strange that people’s moods fluctuate over such a small thing.
From the outside, it’s just a father and daughter having a fight. Not even a fight. Just the father getting angry and the daughter being surprised.
It’s such a trivial thing.
While organizing the letters, I found myself saying out loud without realizing it.
“There are many kind people here.”
Perhaps due to the magic treatment, I felt my physical condition was much better than before.
So today, I’ll have tea as the Duke suggested.
As I was leisurely drinking tea in the spacious garden, I saw Heyman slowly approaching from afar.
A handsome man with the face of ‘That is science.’
Heyman said.
“How are you feeling? I see you can walk now since you’ve come out here. Are you alright?”
“Yes. At least walking is fine.”
“That’s good. We can call the healer again anytime, so let me know if you’re uncomfortable.”
“…Alright.”
Oh, am I perhaps intuitive? He seems like a good person.
After talking with that Gray brat every day, such a warm greeting felt a bit awkward.
The maid standing nearby quickly brought another teacup, placed it in front of Heyman, and poured red tea.
Sitting across from me with the demeanor of a true noble, Heyman was a handsome man who looked as if God had meticulously crafted him for a thousand days before sending him down to earth.
You speak Korean well, why didn’t you debut in Korea?
You should have at least started a YouTube channel.
People would have said, ‘This is the most interesting thing since Dangun,’ and given likes, subscriptions, and even set channel alarms just by you sitting there silently.
Of course, Gray is also so handsome that you’d need to change your underwear three times, but the genre is different.
If I had to compare, Gray gives off the impression of a sharp handsome man that makes your knees automatically buckle from a strange pressure when you look at him. Heyman, on the other hand, has the face of an actor with a thousand faces where good and evil coexist, someone you’d follow to the afterlife even if you just glimpsed him while your head was cracked open and bleeding profusely.
It’s truly a work of art.
Strangely, his right face and left face were different. The right side with deep double eyelids looked like the male lead in a melancholic story, while the left side, slightly thinner, oozed decadence.
Excuse me. Your decadent charisma is soaking my dress right now. Do you know that a playlist of scheming villains is playing in my head?
Perhaps noticing my intense stare, Heyman, who had been quietly drinking tea and looking at the flowers, slowly turned his head towards me.
What was that, a commercial just now?
No. Stop it. Get a grip. 1.7 billion rabbit-like people are waiting in Korea.
I closed my eyes, shook my head, and then calmly said.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For sending magic to my room that day.”
“Ah.”
“Ah, ah?”
As I tilted my head and repeated exactly what Heyman said, I heard Gray’s panicked voice like an auditory hallucination.
‘I told you to keep your mouth shut!’
Gray, who had gotten used to my speech habits over the past few days, jumped up in shock.
‘Hey, even if your leg heals, don’t go wandering outside!’
‘Why? Because I’m too pretty?’
‘Are you crazy? It’s not that. Who would see you as the Lady of Bergo? You’re acting so recklessly.’
‘How am I acting recklessly? Marcilla and the maids praise me a lot.’
‘Then why are you like this to me?’
‘The cold lady of the Duke’s family. But warm to the maids… Maybe something like that.’
Gray frowned deeply at my words, left the room, and then came back in.
‘Sister, did you get a brain transplant?’
‘Brother, do you want a brain transplant?’
Gray, who puckered one side of his lips in a way that didn’t match his cold features, kept grumbling as he left the room.
‘That kid is really at least abnormal…’
As I burst into laughter, remembering the conversation I had with Gray a few days ago, Heyman looked at me again.
But as if my laughter wasn’t the reason he looked, he quickly continued the previous conversation.
“You seemed unusually weak that day, so I was concerned. I’m glad you’re alright now.”
“I heard I was always weak.”
Heyman, who had been looking at me with emotionless eyes for a moment, elegantly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and replied.
“You’re fundamentally different from us. …But that day, for the first time, you seemed to be floating somewhere…”
“Young master, young lady!”
Butler Morgan interrupted Heyman’s words as he came running.
“What’s the matter?”
“The Head of the Magicians’ Association has arrived.”
They have that too? Indeed, there are associations in every world. Do they have labor unions too?
As I was nodding vaguely and gulping down the remaining tea, Heyman’s expression was different from usual.
His face had turned pale as if he’d seen a ghost.
“…It’s fine, show them in.”
At Heyman’s words, Morgan, who had been gauging the situation, ran towards the main entrance.
“Who’s the Head of the Association?”
“It’s nothing. Go back to your room. You’re not feeling well.”
Just a moment ago, he said it was fortunate that I was feeling better, but now he’s telling me to go to my room because I’m not feeling well. It sounded like he was asking me to leave.
“No. I won’t go.”
“What?”
Heyman, who had been fixing his disheveled appearance, turned to look at me irritably with a slightly stiff face.
“There’s no reason for you to be here.”
“The Duke said in his letter, ‘How about spending today with Heyman?’ I plan to play with you today.”
At my words, Heyman spoke with a cold gaze, clearly different from before.
“When I say go, you go.”
Ah, this is strange.
Am I wearing blue light blocking glasses right now? His aura seems unusually yellow.
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