Chapter 8

I hope you will be deceived.

Even if the home where I grew up, the place where I lived, and my honor are all taken away because I am made a criminal, I still don’t want to die.

But then—I suddenly felt disheartened.

(Am I someone who will never have a smooth life no matter what?)

My life has been far from peaceful since my mother passed away.

My stepmother, who dislikes me, came and said many unpleasant things to me when my father wasn’t around.

After my father died, my stepmother treated me even more poorly, and I couldn’t live like a normal young lady.

That’s why I’ve never attended a social gathering. I was told I didn’t need to.

I couldn’t get new dresses made anymore.

I was told that it was useless for a girl who isn’t particularly beautiful to dress up, and I was forced to do cleaning like a servant.

Even if I thought it would be better to live with complete strangers, being made to do nothing but cleaning and laundry, I couldn’t even go to a convent.

To enter a convent, a donation is required.

I know they said it would be a waste of money to live like a servant at home.

So I wanted to leave home, but I can’t use magic very well.

I can only do simple magic like filling a glass with water or lighting a fire. I thought about what I could do... and I received guidance and knowledge from an old lady who lived nearby and was said to be an alchemist.

There are many commoners who can only use the level of magic I can.

So I thought if I moved away from the capital to some city, I could make a living as an alchemist.

I gradually made and sold items to earn money... I was about to secretly run away from home when I was almost at my goal.

But Aria eloped, and that ruined everything.

My stepmother, in a panic about the family’s honor, hastily said, “Please take Sherez instead” as a replacement for the eloped Aria.

But I endured it, thinking that if I could become a saint, I could leave home.

I didn’t mind not being able to get married. I wanted to leave home that much.

Yet, I was exiled and almost killed.

—I just want to live.

But I don’t want to be a slave or put in prison as a criminal.

Maybe I’m too stubborn.

(Please, believe my lie...!)

As I wished with all my heart, the Duke said,

“...I can’t just abandon a child. Moreover, any information from the Raphen temple would be an advantage.”

Then he made his decision.

“The Duke’s family will take her in. Agatha, you will take the girl with you when you return tomorrow. I will leave her subsequent treatment to you.”

The moment I heard it, it felt like the world in front of me suddenly brightened.

He said he would take me in!

The Duke, who is rumored to be cold-hearted, said it!

It felt like a great miracle had happened.

Moreover, the kind Agatha would take charge of me... which means I would work in the Duke’s family.

(Have I used up all my good luck in life?)

It feels like a dream.

When Agatha urged me to stand up, I swayed.

I had been tense and mentally exhausted. Maybe this is a daydream, and this fuzzy feeling means I’m about to wake up?

While I was thinking such carefree thoughts, my body started to tilt.

I was staring blankly at the ceiling, thinking I didn’t want to hit my head on the corner of the desk... when someone caught me as I fell.

“Thank you...”

“Be careful.”

To my surprise, the person who was looking closely at my face was the Duke himself.

Without changing his expression, the Duke effortlessly set me back on my feet.

He has incredible strength. Even though I’m twelve and not exactly light, he moved me as if I were a child.

“You’re light. Has this girl really been eating? Agatha.”

“Of course, my lord. Perhaps this young lady is just too thin to begin with.”

“Does the temple not even provide proper meals?”

The Duke’s question was directed at me.

“Um, well, I couldn’t eat much because I was in prison for a while before coming here...”

As soon as I answered, the Duke’s well-shaped eyebrows twitched.

But his expression didn’t change. Could it be that this person can only move his eyebrows?

“Sending a child to prison, that saint...”

“Let’s have some sweets later. It will take a few days to reach the capital. You need to build up your strength.”

Knight Kai, with a grim expression, was led away by Agatha.

“Thank you very much.”

I’m happy about the sweets. I realized I hadn’t been eating enough.

My expression relaxed, and Agatha smiled in relief.

Then the Duke said—

“You’re too light. You need to double your weight. Start eating.”

“H-Huh...?”

The order from the cold-hearted Duke was to gain weight.

But please, don’t make me double my weight. I’ll become a perfect circle, and the meat on my arms will get in the way of my alchemy!