CHAPTER 20
More than anything, if it was her, she seemed capable of crashing into Duke Dinero in such a bold way.
Lennox’s closed eyes snapped open.
If that were true, then why was she hiding her identity here?
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
Then the court trials and business talk from earlier… were all instigated by her?
“This is seriously strange.”
He couldn’t help but feel suspicious about her curious actions.
But all of this was just circumstantial.
It could easily be just another one of his outrageous assumptions.
“If I saw her in person, I think I’d know for sure…”
He had never seen golden eyes that shone so brightly, like the sun.
But she never returned, and there was no chance to meet her again. Lennox regretted that deeply.
* * *
Time passed, and the end of the academy’s summer break was approaching. Perhaps because autumn was near, the grass and trees glowed with a reddish hue.
According to Aaron, Lennox was already learning advanced swordsmanship. It was truly a monstrous pace.
Feeling a mix of awe and fear, I opened the newspaper.
<Clemence Jacqueline Wins Complete Victory. Uncle Artur Exiled and Imprisoned.
Is this the spirit of youth—or unfilial rebellion?>
Still, the sensational headlines were nothing new.
<Clemence Jacqueline Wins Inheritance Rights Battle, Ousts Temporary Head Artur Vince.
Was this a strategic debut for advancement to the capital?>
Now they were even predicting things I hadn’t done.
“Advancing to the capital? Really.”
My goal in life is to live quietly and peacefully, out of the spotlight.
Seeing my face plastered across newspapers in bold print was enough to drive me mad.
“If I want to remain Lennox’s secret sponsor, this kind of exposure is the worst.”
Even after a month of seeing it, the thought never left me.
Sighing deeply, I turned the page.
<Duke Dinero Files Trade Secret Infringement Lawsuit Against Artur Vince.
Significant damages expected…>
Now that was good news.
Artur, who had even lost his slush funds to me, could never afford those damages.
While I was smiling in satisfaction, Lisa said,
“Milady, it’s time for your lesson.”
“All right.”
Somehow, I had ended up personally teaching her liberal arts lessons.
I stopped what I was doing and headed to Melin’s room.
Recently, all the added responsibilities were exhausting me.
But I had no intention of hiring a new tutor.
“There’s no guarantee we won’t get another Istasha.”
I didn’t want Melin to be treated like an experiment anymore.
“I’ll take responsibility for her—just until she leaves this nest.”
When I entered the room, a hazel-haired girl ran up to me.
“Big sis!!”
Her violet eyes sparkled brightly with joy.
Dimples bloomed deeply on her cheeks as she smiled from ear to ear.
It wasn’t hard to guess that she was hiding something behind her back.
I pretended not to notice.
“Let’s get ready for class.”
“Big sis…”
“What? You said you wanted to study, right?”
“That’s not it!”
I tilted my head at her loud protest.
“Then what is it? Seems like it’s something behind your back.”
Melin’s eyes went wide.
“…H-How did you know?”
“I’ve got eyes on the back of my head.”
“Really?!”
Melin turned around in surprise. From the side, I heard Lisa stifling a laugh.
Soon, Melin gave up trying to find my “other” eyes and suddenly thrust out what she was hiding.
“It’s a birthday present for you, sis!”
“This is…”
A letter. Handwritten by Melin herself.
Surprised, I opened it.
I really love you, sis.
I hope you’ll always be my sister!
The handwriting was clumsy and short, but it was clear how much effort she’d put in.
Just learning how to write—how long had she spent on this letter?
“Sis… your eyes are red! Are you mad? Is it because my handwriting is ugly?”
“Ahem… no.”
I quickly cleared my throat, choked up.
“You wrote it beautifully.”
Honestly, it was too messy to be called neat even as flattery—but the heart behind it was too beautiful to care.
“I knew it! Heehee!”
So you do have a conscience, huh.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her baseless confidence. At the same time, a bitter feeling crept in.
“I was never a good sister.”
When I thought of Melin, I only felt sorry.
In my previous life, I worked endlessly to pay hospital bills and couldn’t stay by my sick sister’s side.
That guilt and pain made me push Melin away instinctively.
But Melin, like a true protagonist, was full of love.
So much that even the scabs in my heart began to fall away.
She was like a wellspring of affection, endlessly giving despite adversity.
How could anyone hate such a child?
Maybe Lennox fell in love with her for that very reason.
“Hmm, if obsessive love can be called love, that is.”
I just hoped Melin would meet someone mentally stable. Lately, I’d been worried about who her future partner might be.
“And what did I say to call me during lessons? Not ‘sis,’ but ‘teacher,’ remember?”
“But I like ‘sis’ better—”
“Then teacher’s leaving.”
“Teacher!”
As I pretended to stand up, Melin shouted “teacher” in a hurry, and I laughed softly.
“Let’s start class.”
The real problem was that I’d started to enjoy my time with Melin more and more. Maybe it was because we saw each other often.
Ah, this isn’t good.
“This sound needs you to roll your tongue—like ‘rrr.’”
“Rrr.”
Her tiny lips parted just slightly. It was adorable and endearing.
“But sis, can we go out after class?”
She’d been surprisingly focused for once, but not even ten minutes had passed before she started begging.
“No.”
“Sis~!”
Melin whined and dragged out her words.
In the past, I would have flatly refused. But now… it wasn’t so easy.
“…Fine, just for a bit.”
So for the first time, I decided to go out with Melin to the capital.
The streets were crowded when we got there by carriage.
Loud voices from vendors filled the air.
“Buy some grapes! Grapes! Carrots are cheap too!”
That’s when I realized—it was harvest festival season.
Before the war, the Seryel Empire had been based on agriculture and exports for centuries. That’s why they held large spring flower and autumn harvest festivals.
I saw families out enjoying the cool weather and laughing peacefully.
“Hard to believe this country is at war.”
Though news of victories kept coming, citizens’ lives were growing more miserable. A prolonged war would eventually become a war of attrition, no matter who wins.
It seemed the people here had left their worries behind for the day.
As Melin watched through the carriage window, she suddenly began bouncing excitedly.
“Melin, don’t jump in the carriage, it’s—”
“That cat is so cute…!”
“Cat?”
She pointed out with a tiny finger.
Indeed, a small iron cage was filled with cats for sale.
I suddenly remembered—she had often begged to raise a cat.
“Stop here.”
I tapped the coachman’s window, and the carriage came to a halt. I approached the cage of cats.
Melin had already jumped out and crouched in front of them.
They were mostly kittens.
A man who seemed to be the seller grinned and held up one finger.
“Hehe, ten gold per kitten.”
That’s a rip-off.
As Melin studied the cats closely, she pointed to one.
“I want this one!”
Among the yellow kittens, it was the only white one.
It sat before her with sorrowful eyes, as if begging to be taken.
“…Am I imagining things?”
