Chapter 4

Life in Sutherland was a complete change from what it had been before. Elizabeth would have meals and chat with Charles. Just these simple things made Elizabeth happier than anything else.

"Brother, it's so nice to have meals together. And the vegetables, meat, and fish are all so delicious; I feel so happy."

"I'm glad too, Beth. This is a good place, but it's lonely without family."

"Brother, were you lonely too?"

"Of course I was. Sometimes Edward, the second son of the neighboring Gaspar estate, comes to visit, but it's hard to play outside properly."

—Brother was lonely too. I never thought about it. He had top-notch tutors and studied every day, leaving no time to play, and his weak body made it difficult to play outside.

"Brother, let's have a picnic in the garden next time! I read about it in a book. We spread a cloth and sit on it to eat. Come on, won't you?"

Elizabeth asked Charles with a pleading look.

It was embarrassing to act like a child, but I want the brother I killed to have happy days.

Elizabeth had poisoned Charles when he was 14. With his asthma attacks becoming less frequent, Charles was to return to the townhouse for his debut in the capital's social scene and was planning to transfer to the prestigious academy for nobles.

Elizabeth was furious that Charles, whom she had ignored until now, was to inherit the marquessate. She believed that Charles should die in a distant estate so that she could inherit the marquessate. After all, she had not yet been given a fiancé. She was convinced that after Charles's death, a suitable fiancé would be given to her.

Their parents began attending evening parties with their eldest son, Charles. The fact that Charles, unlike Elizabeth, received attention from their parents was unbearable. During this time, Charles, unaccustomed to life in the capital, became fatigued and had an asthma attack. Elizabeth mixed a delayed-acting poison into the water medicine prescribed by the doctor. Sure enough, Charles died five days later.

—When I made Charles drink the medicine, he smiled and said, "Thank you, Elizabeth," even though he was in pain. I was so happy to think that I could get rid of my bothersome brother that I smiled and replied, "You're welcome."

Now that I'm a child again, what I can do is help my brother have a little more fun and not feel lonely. It's also a form of atonement, but Charles, who treated the foolish Elizabeth without suspicion, was undoubtedly a precious and irreplaceable person.

First, I needed to learn to act more naturally like a child to avoid arousing Charles's suspicion. Noble children are similar to the previous Elizabeth, regardless of their good or bad personalities. For Charles's sake, I should become a child who fits into this environment.

The picnic idea came from a romance novel for commoners that I suggested to Charles. I didn't really understand what was fun about picnics, but since the characters in the novel seemed to enjoy it, it couldn't be entirely wrong. As proof, Charles readily accepted Elizabeth's invitation.

Incidentally, this novel was given to me by a man who sold books to a used bookstore to make a living during my time as a prostitute. At the time, I was angry and wanted to say, "Pay me!" but the book I hadn't touched in a long time comforted Elizabeth's heart.

The next day, Elizabeth asked Mary to take her to a nearby village.

She planned to observe the children there.