Chapter 68
“Yes, but you never seemed to remember, so I didn’t mention it. I’m sorry.”
“No, even if I knew, there would have been nothing I could do.”
“Please don’t accept things so easily from now on, Milady.”
“…What?”
“When you face something unjust, don’t just accept it—even if it’s from your own mother, stand up to her.”
“What?”
“As you know, Milady, I also left my parents and ran away to the palace, determined to live on my own. If a parent does not fulfill their duty, the child has no obligation to do so, either.”
Rose added this with the coldest expression Lea had ever seen on her face.
“And if they’re not even worthy of being called a parent, then all the more so.”
“Rose…”
Lea understood what she was trying to say. The unfamiliar feeling made her unable to respond. She just blinked in a daze. Then Rose spoke again.
“There are people waiting outside. Please have a sip of water first, and after I help you freshen up, I’ll bring them in.”
“Who is it?”
“…You’ll see when you meet them.”
Only then did Rose’s expression finally brighten a little. Lea let Rose help her wash up and have a light meal. Only then was she able to meet the guests who had been waiting.
“Milady…”
Derek entered, staggering. His usually clean-shaven face was rough with stubble, making him look quite unlike himself. Even as he wavered, he approached Lea at once and dropped to his knees.
“Young Lord Felitier?”
“It’s all my fault! I should have been more careful…”
Derek endlessly regretted not having read the thoughts of everyone he passed as he left the palace that day.
“My ability was lacking… and that’s why you were put in danger. For someone I could never repay enough, how could I…”
Midway through his rambling, Derek suddenly bowed his head even lower, his voice desperate.
“Please punish me. I’ll accept any punishment, no matter what it is…”
He paused for a moment, trembling, then continued.
“Please, just don’t abandon me. I’ll do anything. I’ll work even harder to improve my ability. So please…”
“Young Lord!”
“I have nothing to say even if you’re angry. Just punish me instead. But don’t abandon me. That, I really cannot endure.”
Lea fell silent for a moment, seeing how Derek acted as if he couldn’t even hear her. After some time, when he had calmed down a bit, she answered him earnestly.
“Why would I abandon you, Young Lord? That will never happen, so don’t worry. And it’s not your fault. This was bound to happen sooner or later. No. It’s something I even hoped would happen.”
“…What?”
At her words, Derek abruptly lifted his bowed head.
“Even after all that, for some reason I just couldn’t cut ties myself.”
Deep down, Lea had wished that, in this life too, her mother would be the one to cut her off first. Or rather, she’d truly hoped her mother might change this time.
Just as she herself had changed, she wanted her mother to get back on the right track. It was a futile hope, but it helped her come to terms with everything.
She gave a wry smile to the bewildered Derek, but just then, the room grew noisy and a crowd of people entered.
At the very front, Eric strode over, knelt on one knee before Lea, and greeted her.
“Lady Haisley, I was truly worried about you.”
“My lady…”
“Lady Haisley, I also…”
Those who had come to see her were the Espers to whom Lea had begun secretly providing guiding.
The scene felt so unfamiliar to Lea that she could only look on with a dazed expression.
Overwhelmed by an emotion that seemed about to well up, she fell silent. The sensation was so new it tingled all the way to her fingertips, spreading throughout her whole body.
It was the relief of finally not being alone…
It was so different from her previous life.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.