Chapter 10

***

“You all liked that I married Sebastian. I’m sorry. If I had time, I would have had a meeting with you and decided on the divorce issue, but I’m sorry to have made Sebastian leave without even saying goodbye.”

“No, how…… Divorce? Are you saying the rumors that you two were going to get divorced were true?”

They couldn’t believe I could walk, but when the news of divorce spread, the vassals seemed to be equally puzzled.

Two things were the best reasons to stop my succession to the dukedom, and they all disappeared.

“Is there any other reason why I shouldn’t be a duke after my parents?”

I asked instead of answering.

“I didn’t go to the academy when I was young, but my formal education was completed through a tutor. I’m not very good at socializing, but if I start to go out now, you know better that no one will avoid me because I’m a Princess.”

“…”

The vassals became dumb with honey, and listened silently to what I had to say.

I said to a vassal.

“My parents ran the duchy like a bully, but trust me and watch over me. I’ll take care of the Duchy in a way that doesn’t make me less than my parents.”

The vassal who made eye contact with me turned his gaze away.

Maybe it was because the words they talked about when I wasn’t here came out.

He didn’t even know I was listening to everything they said outside the door.

In fact, since they were dukes, I spoke at a lower tone. Anyone who knew how they talked about me outside the duke’s house would know that my immobile legs were just an excuse to satisfy their greed.

“How is it? Just because I’m a leg cripple doesn’t mean I can’t inherit the duke’s title. Aren’t I their legitimate daughter?”

“…”

“Do you have any more questions?”

The vassals did not answer any questions.

***

[Princess Aileen becomes Duchess of Lowell]

A few days later, the news of my succession to the dukedom appeared on the front page of the Rosien Imperial newspaper.

I finished the succession ceremony safely yesterday, and the emperor and the crown prince were also there.

I was nervous because it was my first time attending an audience with the emperor since my legs were injured, but after a little conversation, the manners I learned when I was young naturally came out.

When I saw the picture of yesterday’s friendly scene in the newspaper, I remembered the thrilling memories of yesterday and smiled.

Usher was smiling in the picture.

Although he was always conscious of people’s gaze, there were times when he was different, and that was the case yesterday. He seemed genuinely happy and couldn’t help but smile at the fact that I could walk on my own and become a duke.

“The plan you said was to fix your legs. I was really surprised. You’re such a cool person, Aileen.”

After the audience, Usher personally left me such a sentiment. It was when I was smiling quietly while looking at the figure of Usher in the picture.

“Congratulations, Duchess.”

It was Sophie’s voice. I looked away from the newspaper and saw Sophie smiling brightly as if she was happy.

“Can you call me again?”

“Yes?”

“The title.”

“Ah.”

I liked the name Sophie called me. When asked again, Sophie spoke again and again with a playful expression on her face.

“Congratulations on being officially Duke, Your Excellency Aileen Lowell.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled softly. When I folded the newspaper and handed it to Sophie, she accepted it and said:

“Now that you appear frequently in newspapers, I will pay more attention to your appearance in the future. Of course, you are beautiful already.”

“Why don’t you leave the dressing up to the new maid?”

“What….?”

Sophie tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what I was saying as I mentioned the new maid.

‘Am I fired now?’ I could feel the fear in her eyes. I said with a smile.

“Sophie, I want to ask you to be my aide.”

“What, aide…..Me?!”

Sophie bowed her head in reply, and looked at me in amazement as to whether she realized what I meant later.

“My father didn’t have an aide because he felt comfortable going around without one, but I am not. I don’t know the social situation that well yet, and I need more rehabilitation treatment. I need someone to stick around all the time and help me.”

In fact, the boundaries between the roles were a little blurry because Sophie was always by my side as a maid.

However, the chief maid and an assistant were completely different concepts, and above all, if she became an assistant, she would not have to manage the servants of the family, so it would be easier for her to follow me and be faithful.

“From now on, please help me by my side. Just as you have been doing.”

“Ah….”

“What do you think? If you don’t like it, you can say no…”

“What do you mean no?!”

Sophie waved her hand. She began to bow her head several times as if pleased.

“It is an honour! Really! I will work really hard. Your Excellency!”

“Yes, aide.”

At my words, Sophie smiled as if she was overwhelmed.

After she left the room, I looked at the portrait on the desk.

The family portrait of me with my parents before my childhood accident, which has been sitting on the desk ever since my father used this study.

Not long ago, I told the maids to leave the portrait when they were cleaning up.

I picked up the frame. In the portrait, my parents were smiling.

Mother, Father.

I really became a Duke.

Now I no longer use a wheelchair.

I’m also in rehab, and soon I’ll be able to walk without a cane.

I will live proudly and rule this territory well. People will no longer ignore me. I will no longer live as a ‘forgotten princess’ like parents were worried about.

I will work really hard. I won’t let my parents’ death be in vain.

I was determined.

.

.

03. Reunited with the bird

***

Time passed quickly.

I was on a carriage to carry out my work schedule and felt the sunlight was different from before. Compared to the succession ceremony of the Duchess, it was the complete opposite of the sunlight. It had already been 6 months.

Watching me measure the weather, Sophie also suddenly realized that fact and said to me.

“You know what? Six months have already passed since you became a duke.”

“I know. I just realized too.”

I gently put my hand out of the carriage window.

It was very chilly and cold then. Now, the warm sun was shining down on my skin transparently.

I’ve been working really hard for the past 6 months.

It was said that the early period after taking office was the most hectic, no matter what position you take.

It was the same for me.

Following the sudden takeover of all the tasks that my parents left behind, I periodically inspected and managed the estate as a duke representing one estate.

The weakest part of me was the social networks I avoided for a long time. Not only did I memorize the genealogy of different families every day, but I also showed my face in various places to understand the characteristics of the families and the relationships between people, which were not easily revealed on the outside.

Meanwhile, some of the vassals who could not accept that I became a duke eventually gathered their strength and tried to drive me out. Before that, they were caught and condemned.

The vassals who betrayed me were the people who had been looking for opportunities since my parents were alive.

They weren’t that good at their job, and weren’t clean enough to be able to call my parents “bullies” with their mouths.

Shake off the dust, take out a few and show the world, one after another, the rest became reluctant.

Fortunately, even among the vassals, dissatisfaction with me had subsided.

“It’s a new feeling. Come to think of it, you can walk well now.”

“Yes….”

I looked at my legs.

Yes, if there was one thing that had changed as much as becoming a duke, this was it. Now I could walk on my two legs without a cane.

I smiled a little as I looked at my healthy legs.

Rehabilitation treatment was difficult for the first time, but once strength was put into the legs, the sensation returned in an instant. My legs were fine as if they had never hurt. The living legs were full of vitality, and the flesh and muscle were moderately raised.

The wheelchair had been disposed of for a long time, and yesterday I had even disposed of my cane.

If I ever need it again, I’ll buy it when the time comes.

The feeling of getting on and off a carriage with my bare body without any tools related to my legs was thrilling.

Before the accident, I thought I would never experience it again in my life.

“You look very good.”

“Yes. It’s the best day.”

As I hummed softly in the warm sunlight throughout the journey in the carriage, Sophie smiled happily.