Chapter 82

As the day approached when I was told that my family would come to pick me up, there were times when my stomach ached from imagining the worst.

I had thought about giving up more than once or twice, honestly.

But, running away from unpleasant things wouldn't solve anything. So, I decided to have a proper conversation.

Alright, I psyched myself up. I arrived at the viscount's mansion at the scheduled time. Since I've been coming frequently due to the magic stone business, I've become quite familiar with the guards.

Although I had an appointment, they let me in before I could say anything, which made me a bit worried.

While being guided to the salon, Anna gently released my hand, which I had been gripping so tightly that my nails were digging into my palm.

Amber, walking in front of me, deliberately tapped my leg with her tail to cheer me up. The soft, fluffy sensation seemed to soothe me a bit, and I realized I had been holding my breath and took a deep breath.

I couldn't hold hands with my family when entering the room, so I reluctantly let go of Anna's hand.

"Thank you, Viscount Betametal, for lending us this place. Brother Germain, Brother Wilfred, it's been a long time."

"Lili...?!"

"Did you really cut your hair that short?! Mother will be so upset when she sees you..."

The moment they saw me, the two of them stood up from their chairs and almost rushed over to hug me, which made me jump back in surprise.

Seeing my guarded attitude, both of them looked extremely shocked. Looking at their faces, I felt a wave of guilt despite my resolve to be strong.

"...So, you were hiding Lili from us, weren't you?"

"Brother Wilfred, please stop. Anna was brought here against her will. In fact, if it weren't for her, I would have left home much earlier. She has always been my dear friend and supporter. Don't take it out on her!"

I couldn't help but interject when Anna was glared at. I was surprised myself, as I had never defied them before.

Anna, who was the subject of the conversation, didn't flinch at all when glared at by Brother Wilfred, a military officer. Her eyes, which seemed to be worried about me, reminded me of the day we met again in Lindemen.

We had heard each other's voices through the communication magic device, but when she saw me, she was the first to be happy that I was safe. She bombarded me with questions like, "Are you okay? Did you catch a cold? Have you been eating properly?" It was ticklish, but I was very happy.

Thinking about this wonderful memory, the suffocating feeling disappeared.

"Um, would you like to sit down and have a calm conversation, Lady Liana? Viscount Ajet... Brothers, both of you as well?"

The conversation started with a tense atmosphere, and it seemed that the viscount wanted to ease the tension. I couldn't afford to argue and make others uncomfortable; I needed to have a proper conversation.

Looking at Anna, I nodded silently to show that I was okay and faced my two brothers again.

"Lili, who is that man?"

"Why didn't you contact us?"

"How worried do you think we were?"

Despite my resolve, I wanted to cover my ears from the flood of questions. I knew I had caused a commotion by suddenly running away, but the overwhelming feeling of dislike was overwhelming.

"If you're not willing to listen to me, I would like to meet you again on a day when we can have a calm conversation."

"Lili... damn..."

When I said I would leave if they didn't talk to me, they finally showed a willingness to listen.

They seemed to want to say something, but I intended to hear it later. I needed to convey my will or nothing would start.

"...First, to avoid any misunderstandings, that person is Fred. He has been very kind to me, so please stop being so rude to him. And I have no intention of returning home. I've made up my mind, and nothing will change that."

"Lili!"

Brother Wilfred, who shouted loudly, was stopped by Brother Germain. Then, Brother Germain spoke in a tone that made me feel very uncomfortable, as if he were talking to a small child.

"After being away from home for so long... haven't you had enough? I'll put in a good word with Father and Mother so they won't be too angry. Let's go home together."

"...What?"

I couldn't understand what he meant. It made it seem as if I had just been a troublesome child causing trouble. No, that's how Brother Germain saw it.

"Maybe you're just sulking? Mother and Father... and the whole family wanted to come, but everyone else couldn't make it. Wilfred and I, who are used to traveling abroad and can also serve as guards, came. Everyone is waiting for you at home."

"No, that's fine. Actually, I was surprised when I learned that the family would come directly. I thought someone's subordinate or servant would be sent."

I ignored their shocked reactions to my words. I felt a gap between me and my brothers, but I couldn't express it well, which made me feel very uncomfortable.

I didn't know how to explain it, but I couldn't let the conversation proceed without addressing the misunderstanding.

"Sorry, Liana, I know you said you'd handle it yourself, but can I say something?"

When I fell silent, a voice came from behind. Fred, who was usually calm, had already taken action without waiting for my response. He moved from his position of watching from behind to the chair next to me, and my brothers immediately directed their hostility towards him, asking, "What is your relationship with Lili?" I felt bad because I had forgotten to introduce Fred properly.

"Um, let me introduce myself again. I'm Fred, a friend of Liana... who was known as Lili, the adventurer. I'm a mid-level silver-ranked adventurer."

Fred, with a smile, smoothly entered the conversation, and my brothers, who seemed to have been deflated, introduced themselves.

"From what I've heard, it seems there are some misunderstandings. Why don't we share what we know? No interruptions, please."

"No, this is a family matter—"

"Having a third party like me mediate is absolutely necessary. If you want to resolve this, you need to talk. You came here to have a conversation, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

Fred's gentle but firm tone made them agree.

I felt like I was being drawn into Fred's pace... I only knew Brother Germain as a politician skilled in economics, so it felt strange.

"Lili ran away from home... because that adopted daughter lied and framed her, right?"

"Lili, you must have had a hard time. Poor you. We, as the duke's family, provided you with the best environment, from rooms and furniture to clothes and school supplies, and even a tutor because you were slow to learn, but you repaid us with ingratitude. That girl caused us a lot of trouble too."

"Right, right. And... I heard from the maid that you were sulking because you wanted praise from us."

"Ah, that. I was trying to help Lili by being strict, but I didn't realize... that everyone else in the family was the same."

"We'll praise you a lot from now on."

I wanted to interrupt and shout, "That's not it!" several times.

And when a hand suddenly reached out towards my head, I instinctively pushed it away. ...Wait, did they try to pat my head? I had never been patted on the head, even as a child. What was the intention?

Maybe they were trying to follow through on their promise to praise me. Brother Germain, who was rejected by me, looked dazed as he stared at his hand.

"...Do the other family members share the same opinion?"

"Yes, they do. We plan to give that wicked girl, Nina, a severe punishment. Even though she's a minor, she framed a duke's daughter."

Brother Wilfred said this as if it were a matter of course, and I felt a lump in my throat.

"I see. I understand."

"So, you understand?"

"I understand that no one in the family ever tried to understand me."

The two of them, who looked like they were about to say, "Let's go home to the country happily," had their faces freeze.

"I listened to the end without interrupting because Fred mediated, but it's impossible. The more I heard, the more I realized I never want to go back home."

"Why?! Lili, the misunderstanding should be cleared up, right?"

"First of all, why is Nina the only one to blame?"

Yes, I was injured and had a hard time because of her. But to be blamed for the cause of the conflict between my family and me and to be pursued for a crime...

The younger girl, Nina, would be the enemy of the entire family at this rate.

Nina had only "rushed to achieve success, did something beyond her capabilities, and got me involved in an injury. After the incident, she lied out of fear of being scolded." It was wrong, but she wasn't a serious criminal as my brothers described.

More importantly, to be blamed for all the reasons I ran away from home... The incident was just a trigger.

"Because of that girl..."

"Germain, now it's Lili... Liana's turn to speak. Please listen to the end. Okay?"

"..."

"Thank you, Fred. ...Brothers, please listen to me once."

I'm glad Fred, Anna, and Amber came with me. Knowing I had support behind me gave me the confidence to speak.

Most importantly, I don't think I could have had such a calm conversation without Fred's mediation.

"I left the Ajet family to be happy."

"Lili...!"

I stopped Brother Wilfred with a look. Fortunately, he didn't interrupt further, so I continued.

"I thought I couldn't stay with a family that never intended to praise me. Nina and the hunting incident were just triggers. Being misunderstood was indeed a shock, but before that, I had been sad, hurt, and miserable for a long time. It was just the last straw. Personally... I might even be a little grateful to Nina for giving me the opportunity to leave home."

I was injured, but it wasn't intentional.

Before that, there were many times when I felt like I was being deliberately made the bad guy. I didn't really want to be friends with her, but I didn't want to give her an excessive punishment.

Not out of kindness... I'm a coward and tend to be negative, so once I know something like this, I can't help but feel guilty.

I don't want to feel bad every time I think about it; it's for my own sake.

I think the appropriate punishment for Nina's actual crime would be "public disclosure of the facts and two months of community service." Since she's a minor, she can't be criminally punished, so she would be placed under probation. That's about it.

So, my family's response is clearly excessive. ...I never thought my family would be like this.

I even thought, "Now that the odd one out is gone, the family of geniuses can be complete."

"Not praising you was for your own good...! Lili, you're so talented and adorable, like a precious gem. I thought you needed someone to be strict with you... I never meant to hurt you with my love."

"I also didn't praise you because I cared about you. I never meant to hurt you!"

"..."

I think that was their true feelings. They weren't lying.

But when I was sad and moping alone, I always told myself, "My family is just being strict for my own good."

Even when I heard it was true, I didn't feel happy at all.

Deep down, I always thought, "Everyone in the family must think I'm a failure because I can't be a genius like them." I just wanted to believe, "No, they're just being strict for my own good."

But now... I wonder why I was so desperate for the approval of a family that never intended to praise me from the beginning.