Chapter 98: Chapter 98

TL: Zimmings

When I returned back after having a conversation with the chairman, the atmosphere was in a disarray.

Godmother looked at the ladies with an angry face.

“I’m not ashamed of being her godmother. Seems like I chose the wrong person to invite. Your child doesn’t have to come later.”

I groaned inwardly.

On the day of my party, there will be more people at the Duchess’ party than at mine. It is more beneficial for me to be nice to them rather than to have an empty table at my party later.

I took my godmother’s hands.

Godmother looked at me for a moment and we passed by the ladies. The ladies hurriedly greeted her but godmother did not accept them. Godmother was just silent the entire time. After looking around the second floor, she grabbed my shoulders and looked at me.

“I’ll make a new invitation list, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Yes, godmother.”

I replied gently and hugged her.

“They’re just blind…”

Godmother said so but I grinned.

“Don’t worry about them, godmother!”

“They’re fools.”

I am grateful for her sincerity. I could only smile innocently like a child but I was making a revenge plan.

‘I saw all the faces of those who were secretly happy when godmother said they don’t need to come.’

***

After we went on our way, I returned to the mansion.

When I got off the carriage, Laura escorted me and said,

“Little miss, a present has arrived today.”

“A present?”

Laura smiled and glanced at the mansion.

I went to the mansion with my eyes closed as she led me in. I could see some happy faces when I opened my eyes.

“Dahlia, Linda, Yuni!”

My face brightened up and I ran towards them. They immediately hugged me.

“What happened?”

Those three maids have severe crimes, making it difficult for them to go out from the Dubbled castle.

“Ms.Javelin called us!”

“Aunt?”

“Yes, she asked us to take care of you!”

I took a deep breath and looked at my aunt who was among the employees.

‘It must be hard for my aunt.’

She couldn’t simply order them to come here, only the Emperor and Priest could pardon sinners. There would have been a lot of work to do to reach one of them.

It was hard to imagine how much money my aunt spent.

“Thank you aunt!”

“I’m glad you’re happy!”

She reached my height and smiled at me.

“Now no one would be able to take your people away. Even me.”

‘Ah……’

I think all of this was all because of Mireille’s incident.

“I couldn’t only compensate you only this much for what I’ve caused, but……”

“Aunt, I’m hungry.”

I tried to change the topic so that she doesn’t have to apologize to me. My quick-witted aunt understands what I meant and stopped talking.

It is common for people to change their maids, aunt also has no choice but to listen to Mireille at that time.

Besides, she knew that I still have many people on my side. My dad and brothers were stuck with Mireille, but they took care of me more. My family took care of me while I was preparing to move into the capital city, and they never visited Mireille.

My aunt, who believed that Mireille was the fourth child, wanted to do everything for her because of guilt.

My aunt could only laugh bitterly and stroked my hair.

“Okay, I’ll tell the chef to prepare it. Freshen up first and come down.”

“Yes!”

I took the maid’ hands and climbed up the stairs.

As we entered the room, my maids started to criticize the room.

“The bed is too hard! Little miss like soft beds!”

“These clothes are too big! What if the little miss falls down?”

“Ahh! Who put the candle near the bed? The little miss will get headache!”

When I heard the maids, I said to myself.

‘Oh my……’

My room back in the Dubbled’s castle was really nice, but this room also became comfortable as time went by.

“Little miss, do you want to change?”

Linda smiled affectionately as I nodded.

She analyzed the closet and picked my favorite dress.

I changed my clothes, washed my hands and came down.

The dining room was full of people, there was aunt, dad and brothers.

“I will be the one escorting kid to the Imperial banquet.”

“Who said so?”

“You’re noisy. The escort will be up to me, the father.”

Isaac, Henry, and dad was staring at each other fiercely.

‘It has started again.’

A few days ago, the three of them were fighting to decide who would be my escort. I quietly sat next to Johann.

He laid a napkin on my lap and said,

“Do you want meat or fish?”

“Meat!”

Not long after, the butler brought out the meat.

‘I love meat…”

I cut the meat with glistening eyes.

When I put the meat in my mouth, I felt as if I was in heaven.

Johann put something on my plate.

He had cut the salmon he was eating into small pieces and gave it to me.

‘I don’t really like fish.’

When I was a beggar, I had to eat discarded fish every time.

So even after I was adopted by the Dubbleds, I didn’t really eat fish.

‘But it was given by Johann…’

I closed my eyes tightly, and put it in my mouth.

‘What’s this? It’s tasty!’

I opened my eyes widely and covered my mouth with both hands.

“Are you alright?…it’s salmon, it tasted better with the sauce.”

He dipped the fish on the black sauce and gave it to me.

‘I know this sauce. This is soy sauce mixed with things.’

It’s a mix of lemon juice, soy sauce, and a green plant.

The salmon really tasted better with the sauce.

‘I didn’t know it was so delicious.’

I looked at Johann’s plate with glistening eyes.

“Have you decided who you want to choose as an escort?”

As soon as Johann asked, everyone in the room looked at me.

I quickly said, “No.” while concentrating on my food.

“How about me?”

Because I was too focused on the salmon, I nodded my head.

“Yes!”

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

Johann fed me the remaining salmon with an arrogant look.

“Good.”

“It’s delicious!”

I didn’t realize it because of the salmon.

My dad, Henry, and Isaac had a grim expression.

***

Time had passed and it was the day of the banquet today. I grabbed Johann’s arms and arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.

I was about to go inside then I glanced back.

Dad, Henry and Isaac still looked grim.

‘Maybe I should’ve told them I’ll take them as an escort one by one.’

Everyone, from the employees to the officers, suffered because of it. They had been suffering for a few days.

‘What should I do?’

“Lady.”

“Godmother!”

She and her followers welcomed me at the entrance.

I quickly let go of Johann’s hand and approached them.

“You’re very pretty today.”

“Because I’m wearing Sharon’s dress!”

Then the ladies replied,

“It’s Sharon’s dress? I heard that she chose her customer. How did you…?”

“She’s a close friend of my aunt.”

“Ah, I see.”

While having a casual conversation, my surroundings became noisy.

“The Duke and Duchess of Vallua…”

“Today…the teleportation device…”

“His Majesty the Emperor…”

Vallua’s family and their followers walked into the banquet hall in a confident manner.

“Hahaha! Oh, Duke of Dubbled!”

The Duke of Vallua, who was looking around the banquet hall, approached my father who was nearby.

“You little rat!”

“Don’t try to deceive the Empress. I just disciplined a terrible girl who was giving us all kinds of misfortunes.”

At the moment, I was out of breath as I remembered the memories of my second life.

I remember the sound of the whip cutting through the air and the footsteps of Duke Vallua walking down the stairs while holding my hair.

I grabbed the hem of my skirt tightly.

Just then,

“Blaine?”

Dad’s warm hands took mine.

“Are you alright?”

“……yes.”

I was lying but it’s fine. I wouldn’t get hit by that hand anymore.

I used to hide in the closet and crouched at the sound of those footsteps. This time, I did not avoid the eyes of the Duke Vallua, who strode toward my father and me.