Chapter 12

Part 12: The Culprit Found (2)

Is it Lady Maria?

Her beautiful face was the same, and her smile was no different from before.

However, her smile no longer felt as warm as it used to. She looked like... a forced doll.

"Why are you like this?"

Her expression gradually hardened as she looked at me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Now, there was no smile on her face.

I was sure my face was the same.

The power stirring in my head and body, and her appearance, which seemed different from before.

And her inheritance ability that no one knew about.

I think I understand what's going on now. I'm confident that the person who tried to kill me is her.

I said calmly,

"Why are you trying to kill me?"

Her expression cracked slightly.

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been trying to kill me ever since I was born. Even now."

The duchess's expression kept changing.

Anxiety, suspicion, worry, and realization.

Maria spoke with a hardened face.

"Could it be that you blocked my ability?"

As expected, that was the case. The reason I liked her, and everyone else liked her, was because of her inheritance ability.

"Is it really the inheritance ability? Since Elena-nee's was in the healing category, the Ibiza viscount family must have a mental ability, so the duchess must have the ability to increase affection, right?"

Maria looked at me with a disgusted face. She no longer saw me as a child.

"I knew you were smart, but I didn't think you'd be this smart..."

She muttered softly and then shook her head.

"But, being smart doesn't mean you can block my ability. How did you do it?"

She asked me, but it didn't seem like she wanted an answer.

"Could it be that your awakened inheritance ability was in that direction? No, it was clearly physical enhancement."

She continued to ponder and finally seemed to reach her own conclusion.

"Are you also the son of Andre?"

The son of the duke. So, the duke was immune to her ability.

"No. Even the sons of Brivia didn't notice, so how could you, who are only half, have...?"

Her words made me smile bitterly. Hearing the true thoughts of someone I liked was not good for my mental health.

I didn't want to hear her muttering anymore. While she was silent, I spoke.

"The duke is immune to that ability. The good relationship we had at first was also because of that ability..."

She interrupted me and shouted.

"No! It wasn't because of the ability! He really loved me! Amanda! It's because of your mother, that woman! She's the one who drove us apart!"

Her eyes were full of anger towards my mother.

But to me, it was just absurd.

To vent her misplaced anger on someone else, even though she knew everything.

Because of that, her words sounded like the barking of a dog to me.

"Everything was a lie. The kindness you showed to me and my mother, and the way you treated others."

"Well, being kind to people who like me was a habit. It was enjoyable to be liked, and it was fun to see people like you and your mother act innocent in front of me."

She suddenly changed her expression and sneered.

"Ha... I got too excited. Losing my composure in front of a child..."

She sighed deeply and smiled.

The air rippled, and her smile tried to warmly envelop me, but it turned into a stiff smile before it could take effect.

"Forget what just happened. I was just angry and said things I didn't mean."

She must have realized her ability wasn't working. She immediately followed up with a threat.

"Anyway, no one will believe the illegitimate child's words. If you cause trouble, it will only harm your mother."

She seemed to want to end the matter there.

But I didn't want to let it go. That's not why I started this.

I still didn't see a message that I was out of danger.

The duchess still had the intention to kill me.

If I didn't know when the assassin would come, it would be no different from before.

That can't be. This time, I want to set the timing.

Well, let's stir up her anger a bit.

"Like you said, no one might care."

I nodded and continued.

"But, I've almost died several times. Since I was born. There must be quite a few people who are interested, right?"

She replied with a sneer.

"Hmph, who would remember that?"

I pointed to my head.

"I remember."

"That's impossible. You remember that?"

Her sneering expression changed when I continued.

"Not just remember. I cried hard to survive and spat out food."

Maria looked at me with wide eyes. I must have looked like a monster to her.

"Did you do that on purpose? A baby who hasn't been weaned?"

The hardships of that time flashed through my mind. I never wanted to be a baby again.

I leaned towards her, put my hand to my mouth, and whispered to her as if sharing a secret.

"Didn't you know? People call me a 'genius.'"

My sneer seemed to have gotten through. I continued, looking at her expression.

"I did well on the test. Starting tomorrow, I'll be training 'alone' at the practice ground behind the mansion."

Her fist clenched tightly at my words.

She knew what kind of practice ground it was.

A practice ground only the duke's family could use.

The fact that I would use it alone, ahead of my brothers, meant I had been recognized by the duke.

'Oh, that's quite a privilege, isn't it?'

While I paused to observe the duchess, that thought crossed my mind.

In any case, her tightly clenched fist had turned pale, and her face had hardened in fear.

It seemed my words had hit the mark.

It was time for the final blow.

"Starting tomorrow, the duke will 'personally' observe. You'll know if the duke will listen to me tomorrow."

Of course, the duke hadn't said that.

But since he had visited in the previous life, it was likely he would come sooner now that I had shown more skill in the test.

In any case, meeting the duke wasn't a lie.

Click.

The sound of grinding teeth was heard. The woman in front of me looked at me with a face I had never seen before.

A face full of anger and disgust.

Gradually, fear crept into her expression.

Well, it was time to leave.

"Thank you for the tea today."

I stood up and bowed deeply to her.

It was a greeting that my mother and the maids found cute, but the woman in front of me didn't respond.

I didn't expect a response.

I left the parlor, leaving her behind.

I walked down the corridor, lost in thought.

Well, now that I've stirred up the wound, it's time to clean it up.

What should I do now?

Should I go to Miguel? The captain of the knights, or the butler?

No, there was no reason to go back.

* * *

The parlor where the child had left.

Lady Maria was left alone in the room.

The parlor, always warm, and her appearance, now seemed frozen in time.

Time passed.

Knock.

The sound of knocking on the door.

With that sound, her frozen expression came to life.

A smile bloomed like a flower, and the parlor, which had been bleak, seemed to fill with the scent of spring.

A gentle voice flowed from her lips.

"Come in."

Creak.

The door opened, and a man entered.

"I heard you called for me."

Maria smiled again.

A different smile from the one she gave to the child and her employees. A smile that made the man's face turn red.

"Yes. We need to take care of the matter we postponed last time."

"Ah, the illegitimate child. Understood. It seems a bit early, but I'll set a date and take care of it."

"No. Setting a date would be too late. Please take care of it tonight."

The man was surprised by her words. She wasn't usually this hasty.

"Tonight? Isn't that too rushed?"

Maria shook her head. She clasped her hands and looked at him with a pleading expression.

"No. No matter how much it costs, no matter what you demand, it's fine. Please! I beg you, tonight."

"...Understood."

He thought it was too hasty, but he couldn't refuse her as always.

He left the parlor, and the room turned cold again.

* * *

The afternoon had passed, and darkness was creeping in through the windows.

It was well past the time to retire to my quarters. Flora was still in my room with me.

She looked at me anxiously.

"Um, why did you ask me to stay...?"

I checked the time and stood up.

"A child can't wander around the mansion alone at night. That's why I asked you to stay."

She looked even more anxious at my words.

"The sun has set. Where are you going?"

As we walked down the corridor, I answered Flora's question.

"To the duke's office."

"...What?"

Flora, who had been momentarily stunned, shouted in alarm.

Her face showed that she didn't want to go, but Flora led me to the office.

The mansion, with the employees retired, was very quiet.

The guards who were on duty looked at us but didn't say anything.

The current situation was perfect for me, who wanted to meet the duke without anyone knowing.

We went down the stairs and walked down a long corridor, arriving at the duke's office.

In front of the office, the butler was guarding the door. His presence here meant the duke was still in the office.

He looked at me curiously.

"I've come to see the duke."

He asked politely, as always, despite his curious expression.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"He hasn't finished his work. Please make an appointment for another time."

A polite refusal. But I had no intention of backing down.

"I'll wait."

The butler's white eyebrows twitched slightly.

Then, the duke's voice came from inside the room.

"Let him in."

As expected, a person of the duke's caliber could hear the sound in the corridor.

"Understood."

The butler, who couldn't be angry at me, gave Flora a stern look and opened the door.

The office, filled with books and documents, was one I had never been to before. In the center, my father, Duke Andreas de Grecia, was seated.

He didn't seem pleased to see the illegitimate child who had suddenly appeared.

But I didn't want his negativity either.

Now was business time.

I stepped into the cold office.

Thud.

The door closed, leaving only the duke and me in the room.