‘You must have kept me in the annex because you hate to look at me.’

The most bothersome thing was the significant look in his eyes every time I met him after recovering my memories from my past life.

As if he saw someone else through me.

‘Mother?’

But that question I couldn’t utter, as mentioning my mother’s name was almost taboo in Ferdia.

I lifted my head.

I met eyes with the Duke, who had been staring at me.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“……Why did you ask for my opinion?”

During the banquet with the Prince, I was there but not there, maintaining a distant attitude.

I might live in Ferdia’s castle, but I was a stranger who could never become family.

It was the Duke who included me in the family conversation.

“Elodie.”

“I was curious about your thoughts.”

Was there anyone who truly acknowledged my existence there?

With that one question from the Duke, I, who had always considered myself a stranger, had no choice but to participate in the conversation.

There were many things I couldn’t understand about the Duke’s behavior, but the most incomprehensible thing was that question.

It was a surprising question to all the people of Ferdia.

Never once had he asked for my opinion before. Never, from birth until now.

So I desperately wanted to know the reason.

The Duke, who had been silently looking at me, coolly replied.

“Because I thought you could solve it now.”

‘The current me?’

Was he comparing me to the old me who used to lose my temper?

I had no time to ponder, as the Duke’s words continued.

“I’ve always watched you.”

“……!”

“You’ve changed recently, haven’t you? You seem to have deepened your thoughts, so I sought your opinion.”

He had been watching me.

It was something I could never have even dreamed of.

Because I was.

‘I was an unwanted child born by accident…….’

But the Duke’s words sounded as if he had thought of me as his own daughter.

“I thought you weren’t interested in me.”

“As you know, my personality is such. I just didn’t show it.”

“Ah…….”

“Especially children, who cry and wail at the sight of me. I tend not to approach them.”

The Duke added, almost as if making an excuse.

‘So, you didn’t look at me as a child because you thought I’d be scared?’

The Duke had no reason to lie, so his words must be sincere now, but it didn’t feel real.

Was it because the story was too dreamlike?

Looking down at my hands with a blank face, the Duke spoke to me.

“Tell me what you want.”

I had desires.

Not to kill me, no matter what. Survival was what I wanted more than anything right now.

Generosity not to kill me, even if it was revealed that I was not his daughter.

No, what I really wanted most was.

“Then, please praise me.”

I wanted to feel loved, if only for a moment.

It would be fine if this was the first and last time. I could be satisfied with the memory of being a family once.

‘Yes, that’s right. I know my place.’
The Duke really thought of me as his own daughter, and watched over me, but I was not his real daughter.

What if the Duke finds out? Will he treat me the same way even then?

The Duke reached out to me, who was calming my wavering emotions.

“Come here.”

I nervously approached, and the Duke reached out and stroked my head.

It was an unfamiliar and awkward touch.

“Well done.”

“……”

“Well done, Elodie.”

“Yes.”

I felt like crying, but I tried hard not to.

Suddenly, I thought,

‘Why, why now of all times?’

Elodie at 3 years old, who only had the wet nurse’s daughter, Masa, to talk to, who heard she was a filthy bastard from a younger brother she wanted to be close to and crouched crying, Elodie at 10 years old, who was hurt by the kind yet unkind atmosphere of the social world, Elodie at 14 years old…….

No, it was the attention that Elodie always wanted.

Wouldn’t I have been purely happy if it had been in the past when I believed I was the Duke’s own daughter?

But even now that I know the secret of my birth, I was pleased with the Duke’s praise.

Because I wanted to become a family, to be recognized, and to be loved.

‘……This much is fine.’

I couldn’t erase the thought that I was deceiving the Duke, pretending to be his own daughter.

So, as soon as I am ready to become independent, I will leave this house without delay.

Because that is my only goal.

The Duke, who could not even dream that I was thinking such a thing, was still indifferent yet affectionate.

“But it’s not enough as a reward.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it can’t be a reward for a father to praise his daughter.”

“……”

“Think about it.”

Sob…….

The tears I had held back burst as soon as I left the office.

I didn’t want to cry, but it couldn’t be helped.

I didn’t want anyone to see me like this, so I was deliberately walking down an empty road, but Carlott happened to be coming from the opposite direction.

I didn’t want to deal with him, so I passed Carlott without a word, but he blocked my way.

“Now you’re treating me like I don’t exist.”

Carlott’s words were abruptly cut off. I felt his eyes staring at me as I bowed my head.

“……Hey, are you crying? Why?”

A look of surprise appeared on Carlott’s face.

‘Have you never seen a crying person before?’

I glanced at Carlott and tried to go on my way, but he stood in front of me and didn’t move.

“Did your father punish you? What did you do wrong again?”

“It’s not that.”

“Isn’t it? Are you talking about divorce again?”

I didn’t want to talk to him recently, and suddenly acting up was a big burden and annoying.

“Just go on, Carl. Like you always have.”

After wiping the tears that were still welled up with my sleeve, I looked up to see Carlott’s face, furrowing his brow.

For some reason, I tilted my head to look at Carlott, who was staring at me wideeyed.

“Why, do you have something to say?”

“That’s…… No. No.”

“Really nothing?”

“Yes, nothing! And what if someone sees you crying like that? What will you do if a strange rumor starts? Will you take responsibility for it? Keep your dignity like a Ferdia!”

“You’re the only one who saw me cry.”

“I don’t know! I’m busy. I have to go!”

Sigh…….

I muttered, watching Carlott’s retreating figure as I walked heavily.

“Damn. He says he has nothing to say, but he says everything he wants to say…….”

Thanks to that, my tears were sucked up.