A moment of silence.

A breath was briefly held behind me.

‘…… so that really did happen.’

I slowly tilted my head. My expression remained calm, but my mind was racing intensely.

“When was that?”

“Around the time your mother disappeared from Yerim. No, it was even before that, right behind you. Go ahead and ask. He won’t be able to deny it. That guy was definitely with your mother…….”

“So, how do you know that?”

The words that had been pouring out excitedly stopped as if a floodgate had been closed.

Instead of speaking, I slowly summoned the wind from the ground up.

Whiiing……

As the fine strands intertwined and spread, they grazed Lady Declamen’s cheek, causing her flushed face to turn as pale as snow and gradually turn blue.

I watched her face closely.

‘The timing doesn’t match.’

This person said she lived in Chelsiers for ten years from when my father was ten years old.

When my father was around twenty or twenty-one.

Around that time, my father married my mother.

Given her personality, she probably vehemently opposed my parents’ marriage and said something she shouldn’t have, leading to her being expelled.

But she claimed the adultery trial was just before my mother fled? That was several years after they were married?

The timing didn’t add up to when she was expelled.

‘How did she know?’

There was no way there was an insider who would defy the lord’s command to forget about her and conspire with that woman during that period.

There was nothing to gain from it, but more importantly, it was when preparations for the coup were being made. It was a time when internal security was more critical than ever.

So, for Lady Declamen to know about the trial…… it must mean she was definitely involved in it.

‘…… but was it really an adultery trial?’

Even if I didn’t know everything about my parents, there was one thing I was sure of.

Mom wasn’t someone who would do that.

And my father wouldn’t leave her any room for that either.

Furthermore, Dad would have fiercely prevented Mom from facing any trial.

Someone like my mother standing in court would leave an indelible scandal.

But my mother almost got dragged into a holy trial.

‘Dad wouldn’t have made the same mistake twice.’

So, the adultery trial Lady Declamen spoke of, could it have been…… a prelude to a holy trial?

‘This is just a rough guess.’

Now it was called a coup, but back then it was a rebellion. It was when my father was so busy he couldn’t properly look after his surroundings.

While my busy Dad was away, someone might have dragged Mom out on some pretext.

…… for instance, accusing her of having an affair.

My mother, taken by investigators, wouldn’t have admitted to an affair, nor would a non-existent affair partner suddenly appear.

But the wedding certificate of my parents was kept in the great temple.

As long as the divine power was maintained, it was eternal, but it turned black if touched by someone who hadn’t kept their marriage vows.

It was the perfect excuse to drag my mother to the great temple to prove her innocence.

If a holy trial were to take place there, it would be irreversible.

In that desperate situation, if a fake affair partner were to step forward to prevent my mother from being taken to the great temple?

Someone eloquent, who resided in the duchy, and appeared plausible enough at glance.

An interrogation would have taken place first. It was a procedure that must precede any serious trial.

But if a witness had observed it without knowing anything…….

‘Then wouldn’t she still believe it?’

It was nothing but conjecture from start to finish.

But it was also the most natural deduction I could come up with right now.

The wind rustled softly as it slowly took hold of Lady Declamen’s parasol.

Crack, snap, crunch……

The metal, fabric, and supports broke and tore, creating a cacophony that rang out sharply like the death knell of a tragedy.

For someone who rarely got this angry, it was a rather rational way to vent.

But Lady Declamen didn’t seem to feel that way.

The lips of the snake, pale with fear, stammered.

“I-I’m your family. I raised Ashel, and you’re Ashel’s daughter. So, what I mean is, you have a responsibility to protect your family.”

“Family.”

I repeated it.

The old woman’s face, seeing my eyes, was now filled with terror.

An overwhelming fear of facing something that shouldn’t exist in this world.

“If you really considered yourself a member of Chelsiers, wouldn’t you have come here proudly?”

“…….”

“You committed a deed so unforgivable that you’re clinging to a grandniece who doesn’t even know your name?”

Crack.

The last intact handle of the parasol twisted with a sound that echoed my final words.

Louis called out quietly.

“…… Miss.”

I took a long, deep breath.

I wondered why such a greedy person hadn’t clung to my father before…… it was because she knew she wouldn’t be able to stay hidden if she showed up.

‘But she thought she could easily manipulate me, not knowing the past events well because I’m young.’

That thought suddenly made me sad.

How much had this person extorted from my father when he was young, to the point where she thought she could latch onto young Astariol as soon as she saw her.

How much had my father endured, just because she was the aunt who raised him, with feelings he didn’t fully understand……

The excessive anger swept over me, making my insides ache and throb like an eruption’s crater, only to be filled with a calm sadness.

Slowly, a corner of my heart soaked in melancholy.

Before my words could become completely dampened, I deliberately spoke sharply and coldly.

“The family member I must protect is my mother. Not you.”

“…….”

“I think it’s best for both of us if we never meet again…… if you agree, leave now. Immediately.”

Lady Declamen fled without even thinking of gathering the pieces of her parasol.

Leah would see to it that she left without attracting attention.

Considering she always talked about buying things, sending her off in a delivery wagon would not arouse suspicion.

‘Then what should I do next?’

First, I should thank Leah, right? And there must be someone among the witnesses who would take action…….

While my mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts, Louis approached. Kneeling on one knee, he called out softly.

“Miss……. His Excellency will be here soon. Please endure until he arrives, even if it is unpleasant.”

As if not concerned about the commotion caused upon entering.

Pretending to examine the items leisurely, passing the time until my father came to fetch me.

It would be better to appear that way. Knowing this, I nodded.

I glanced at the untouched refreshments on the table and suddenly spoke.

“She might put out an ad in the newspaper later, demanding compensation for the parasol. We should prepare for that.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“…… every time I go out, I end up having to pay compensation.”

My joke was still awkward and clumsy compared to Louis, but he willingly smiled.

“As I said before, it’s fine, Miss.”

And then, lowering his voice a bit.

“And it’s not like I’m paying the compensation. His Excellency is wealthy enough to pay a thousand times over, anyway.”

“…….”

…… huh?

I blinked at him. While it wasn’t wrong…… was that…… really the right thing to say now?

A natural smile reappeared on Louis’s face.

“It’s a joke.”

It felt more like a joke to me, but I managed to smile faintly.

“And even if I paid all the compensation, it would be fine. Sometimes when I see you, Miss, I remember His Excellency at your age.”

“Why?”

“I was able to grow up with His Excellency thanks to the late Duchess’ kindness, and study at the academy thanks to His Excellency’s mercy.”

Louis lowered his gaze and whispered gently.

“They were truly wonderful patrons. They bestowed so much upon me.”

“…….”

“At that time, I was young and simple. I only thought about repaying the immense support I received.”

A bright boy grew up alongside the young Duke, receiving excellent support. And to repay the favor, he became a brilliant aide.

It was like a moving story out of a novel.

‘Because it’s unrealistic.’

I quietly looked down at Louis.

Louis was around my father’s age and said he had served my father since they were young.

It sounded plausible at first glance, but…… serving a young duke as a child?

How unreasonable.

The position of close aide to the young Duke was hard to obtain even for a qualified adult.

Even Leanne by my side wasn’t officially part of the staff, and we both knew our relationship was temporary.

Yet a young boy was designated as an aide to the young Duke and grew up with him?

It sounded like something straight out of a novel.

‘It must have been grandmother’s doing.’

…… perhaps my grandmother wanted to raise a boy of her son’s age close to her like her own child.

Her own son, who was not only unchildlike but sometimes inhuman.

Louis, who was suitably smart, suitably childlike, and suitably handsome.

I knew how adorable young Louis must have seemed to her and how much she cherished him.

I saw it myself.

How the nannies who took care of Eciel and me gradually focused solely on Eciel.

Louis couldn’t meet my understanding gaze head-on and lowered his eyes even further.

His voice trembled a bit as he continued.

“Now…… I know a little how to repay His Excellency.”

“…….”

“By serving you well, Miss.”