Chapter 5

In the Eshier Manor, Lady (Chapter 5/141)

"Even this too shall pass."

Struggling to pronounce each word clearly, I read and translated the characters before me, and the gazes of everyone in the room converged on me.

It was rare for someone of my age to be able to read ancient language in sentences.

'Except for Father Sharie.'

"Could it be that you, like Lady Sharie, have manifested your special ability at the age of six?"

"Then you must be a successor of the ability, right?"

"If so, wouldn't this be a great blessing for the Eshier family?"

"But if that's the case..."

The nobles' chatter drew the teachers' gazes toward Sylvia.

If I were a special ability user as the nobles suggested, they would be no better than unqualified teachers.

Not only had they failed to notice the manifestation of my ability, but they had also loudly proclaimed that I lacked the qualifications to be a successor!

Their faces turned ashen, as if they were all at a loss.

However, even under such gazes, Sylvia seemed unconvinced by the current situation.

"How?"

Of course.

She had never taught me ancient language, let alone the imperial language, yet I was reading ancient language.

It was understandable that she would be confused.

As Sylvia lifted her dazed face—

"The test isn't over until you interpret the meaning."

Amidst the confusion, my grandfather looked at me, as if urging me to finish the test.

Though his face was indifferent, his usually dull blue eyes now sparkled with a hint of interest.

'Shall I drive the final nail in now?'

"Good things and bad things all pass, so we shouldn't be attached to them. Be humble in good times and don't overthink bad times! Arrogance leads to a big nose!"

"Ahem."

I deliberately added the word "arrogance" and looked up at my grandfather, who had just regained his composure. Sylvia shook her head.

"Could you have seen the test questions in advance?"

At Sylvia's question, I glanced at Chandler, who had a stiff expression.

As expected.

Chandler's perfect answers had seemed suspicious.

It turned out he had already been told the questions on the way here.

When you're looking for something, you only see what you want to see.

I shook my head at Sylvia's pitiful question.

"No."

But Sylvia didn't believe me even after my denial.

"Lying is bad, miss. I understand you didn't want to be embarrassed in front of the head of the house, but cheating is..."

"Then let me solve another problem!"

"…What?"

"You may not know, but I've been studying really hard on my own!"

At my confident words, Margo's gaze turned to Sylvia.

But Sylvia, realizing that her carefully laid plans were unraveling and the situation was going in a completely different direction, hastily wrote characters on the magical tool.

"This is—"

"Life is full of hope."

"Then this is—"

"The one who shapes fate is none other than me."

After reading a few more sentences in ancient language—

"Enough."

Margo's hand rose.

"Enough to prove it, I think, teacher."

"But—"

"It seems you haven't been paying attention to Leticia's studies for a long time. How else could you say that a child of this level is incompetent, stupid, and unqualified in everything?"

"…That, that—"

Sylvia, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, lifted her head and then lowered it again.

"This can't be."

Sylvia clasped her trembling hands.

She wanted to make an excuse, but no words came to mind.

She needed to expose the fraud.

"Head of the house!"

But Margo's gaze had already moved on.

"Bennett."

"Yes, Head of the House."

"Dismiss the teachers and bring in the second."

He must mean Aunt Belia Eshier, who is in charge of the household in the main estate.

"Head of the House!"

Sylvia's desperate call continued, knowing all too well what Belia's presence implied.

But Margo's gaze no longer rested on her.

The other teachers, realizing Margo's intention, slowly distanced themselves from Sylvia and left the office.

Sylvia's sharp gaze followed them, but there was one thing they didn't know.

Margo wasn't just trying to get rid of Sylvia.

'They'll all leave, right?'

Margo might seem indifferent, but he had heard even the snickers from the back.

The head of the Eshier family was a position that could see everything without looking.

'But why did he choose Uncle Andrea as the successor?'

Margo knew his uncle's abilities better than anyone.

'Why?'

"…Have you manifested your ability?"

Suddenly, a voice broke my thoughts, and I looked up.

"Huh?"

"Have you manifested your ability?"

"Um, I don't know."

I shook my head.

I didn't have the special ability that some nobles and my father were born with.

But I had the knowledge and skills of an adult and a Korean.

If that counted as a special ability, then maybe it was.

"But I can read the characters."

"…."

"Is this a special ability?"

It might not be what they were hoping for, but it was exceptional for my age.

"How far can you read?"

"Hmm."

I placed my index finger on my chin and swayed my body.

What should I say to sound appropriate? As I pondered, a bookshelf that reached the ceiling behind Margo caught my eye.

I scanned the tightly packed books and dove in.

"Miss!"

I dodged Bennett's hand, trying to stop me, and Margo raised his hand.

"Let her be."

Margo smiled and reached for a book on the shelf.

He pulled out a thick, dusty book.

It was the book I had been desperately looking for, and it also served to prove my abilities.

"The History of Eshier?"

"Yes, Volume 1!"

Margo's eyes narrowed as he looked between the book and me.

The History of Eshier was a thick, boring book that recorded the early days of the Eshier family.

It was a mix of ancient and imperial languages, and even the heads of the house found it difficult to read the entire book. Volume 1, in particular, had a higher proportion of ancient language, with many undeciphered characters.

"Can you read it?"

"Yes."

I plopped down on the floor and quickly flipped through the pages, pretending not to know which page Margo liked best.

"Letum non est finis."

"What does it mean?"

"Death is not the end."

"…."

"The first head of the house said that death does not mean the end of everything. Ita vita."

"That is life."

"Yes."

I nodded at Margo's response.

For the first time, Margo smiled gently and reached out to stroke my head.

His rough but affectionate touch made my body stiffen in surprise.

It seemed my body was rejecting his touch.

It was a new experience for me.

'I need to get used to it, Leticia.'

Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself, and Margo turned to Bennett.

"Bennett."

But at that moment—

"Head of the House, it's Philip."

Philip, the butler, entered, announcing his presence with a knock.

His neatly combed hair, a mix of white and black, was as usual, but his face was stiffer than usual, and sweat beaded on his forehead, revealing his distress.

'What's happening? Ah!'

A memory from my past life flashed through my mind, and I sprang to my feet.

If it was that event—

"What is it?"

My heart raced, and I pressed my hands to my chest.

'If it's that event…'

I needed to stop Margo.

Pretending to catch my breath, I approached Margo and looked up at him.

I felt Bennett's gaze briefly touch my face and then fall away, but he didn't seem to care much.

Swallowing hard, I asked again.

"What is it?"

"Someone has been sent from the palace."

Of course.

"For what?"

"It's—"

The butler, hesitating and breathing heavily, clasped his hands and looked up.

"They say they will monitor whether the head of the house is faithfully observing the house arrest."

"…."

At the same time, a thunderclap echoed behind me.

It was a bolt from the blue.