“But……”

Nerea looked at her father while fidgeting with her fingers.

A chill settled in one corner of her heart. However, if only her father took her side, Nerea could avoid losing the reception room.

It was then. Sunlight streamed through the large window behind her father. His reddish-brown hair. The reddish-brown hair of her father, which she thought resembled hers and her mother’s, sparkled like golden hair under the sunlight.

“Stop talking about that. More importantly, how long are you going to call Nerea ‘young lady’? We’re all going to be family soon.”

The indifferent voice was not on Nerea’s side.

From the moment the illegitimate daughter’s reception room became Brianna’s room, the voices of the vassals who opposed Helen grew quieter. Everything was changing, but Nerea felt frustrated because she couldn’t grasp what it was.

Then one day.

“My name means ‘nobly shining’.”

During a time when the teacher was briefly away, Brianna brought over the thick book she had been reading and pointed to a spot.

It was a book too difficult for Nerea to read, as she could barely decipher letters and only fumbled with picture books.

Brianna smiled gently at Nerea’s comment that her name was pretty.

“You don’t even know what your name means, do you?”

“It means to grow strong and beautiful!”

Nerea answered confidently. My little countess. All the nice things her mother used to say. They were all meant for Nerea herself.

But the moment Nerea answered, Brianna burst into high-pitched laughter. Brianna, who had been humming a strange melody, circled around Nerea and put lyrics to it.

“Stupid. As expected, stupid Nera.”

Brianna laughed just like a demon. Her deep, clear blue eyes were filled with chilling malice.

“Nerea means ‘possession’ in the language of the Secra tribe. You were born just to be treated as such!”

She couldn’t take it anymore. Nerea jumped up from her seat and pushed Brianna.

Just as the much smaller Brianna was about to tumble over, the door burst open.

“Oh my, Nerea! What are you doing!”

It was Helen.

.

.

.

When her father rushed in hastily, Nerea bit her lip.

The sharp sound of Brianna’s loud crying pierced her heart, but she didn’t want to apologize first.

At least she wanted to hear an apology first for carelessly treating her name.

But her father listened first to the loudly crying Brianna rather than Nerea, who was holding back her tears.

“I saw Nerea’s name in an old book and told her about its meaning, but it seems Nerea got angry because of some misunderstanding, probably because she can’t read properly yet.”

“Nerea, did you really hurt Brianna just because of something like that?”

His eyes were cold with reproach.

Nerea swallowed. Since when had her father looked at her with such eyes? Unable to remember at all, Nerea stammered.

“Father. It’s not like that. Brianna said bad things about my name. Nere, Nerea is…!”

“Nerea.”

It was then that Helen cut off Nerea’s words. Her bright blue eyes glared at Nerea, then very slowly took on a strange light.

“You can’t even pronounce your own name properly. Nera? That won’t do. It sounds just like a maid’s name.”

Pfft-. Laughter burst out from somewhere.

Nerea felt like she was about to cry, so she quickly lowered her head. The atmosphere of everyone blaming her was as painful and unpleasant as being pricked by sharp thorns.

Soon, a strange rumor spread within the Count’s mansion. It was a story comparing Nerea, who freely enjoyed expensive picture books, with Brianna, who read old books full of only text.

Frugal and smart Brianna versus stupid and extravagant Nerea.

It was meaningless to argue about who was the Count’s illegitimate daughter.

Helen was the daughter of the Baron Tylesbury, an herb merchant, but she had become wealthy by selling medicinal herbs and ointments during the war period. And above all, she was about to marry the current acting Count Esteban, who held power.

On the other hand, the illegitimate daughter, without even the protection of vassals, increasingly showed a weak and stupid appearance while being alienated.

“I heard the young lady’s health has deteriorated greatly.”

“It sounds as if you’re blaming me, Baron Jenax.”

Helen reacted sharply. Nerea stared blankly at the man.

A vassal with an unfriendly impression and hair as black as night. Baron Jenax, who was once her mother’s closest advisor, looked down at Nerea and said.

“I think recuperation would be more suitable than a vacation. How about bringing the young lady to stay at our house for a while?”

It was a few days before going on vacation to the autumn villa in the southwest. Helen gave permission without even thinking. Her face looked refreshed, as if she had gotten rid of a nuisance.

“Call me Baron Jenax.”

It was an affectionate family.

“Young lady. You shouldn’t pick out the carrots.”

Baron Jenax, who was strict but unforgiving when it came to picky eating.

“You must have been tired from training, but oh my. Young lady, this is our secret.”

The warm Baroness, who secretly gave her chocolate and suggested singing lullabies together for the baby in her womb.

“What kind of young lady picks out carrots? Are you really going to become a countess later, ow! Father, it hurts!”

Of course, there was also the eldest son Johan Jenax, who was as grumpy as white, hard bread, but at only seven years old, he wasn’t a problem.

“Young lady. I’m sorry. Johan still lacks manners.”

“It’s okay, Baron. I’m very generous. And Johan is like white bread, so I can understand him.”

Whenever she spoke words learned from somewhere, the Baron and Baroness simultaneously bowed their heads and shuddered.

“That’s, well, quite remarkable.”

The Baron’s voice trembled a little. Thinking he must have been impressed by her words, Nerea felt proud as well.

The Baron Jenax, who took Nerea to the training ground saying they should try the training her mother used to do, also made Nerea laugh every day with his surprised expressions.

“Ah, young lady. How did you do this?”

“You did it yesterday, Baron.”

Every time she swung the wooden sword with its handle worn smooth, Nerea was reminded of her mother. Could her portrait really hang next to her mother’s, who held a sword in one corner of the family head’s room?

The Baron, whose eyes grew larger day by day, passionately guided Nerea.

Sometimes he would bring difficult books and read them in front of Nerea. At those times, Nerea would run away to her second favorite place after the training ground.

“Thanks to the young lady, the pretty breads won’t have a chance to run away.”

It was in front of the warm oven.

The chef and maids who always made pretty bread hoped that the young lady, who appeared whenever there was a savory smell, would smile brightly.

But when the bread came out, the young lady actually had a sullen face as if something displeased her.

“Oh my. Young lady. We were trying to make you tasty and pretty bread today, but it all burst. If you wait a little, we’ll make you pretty and delicious bread again.”

The maids were disappointed looking at the bread taken out of the oven, but Nerea exclaimed with her heart full:

“I like burst bread more! Burst bread is substantial and pretty inside!”

It was the first time the young lady had shouted. The Baroness looked at Nerea with a surprised face.

Nerea thought the Baroness didn’t understand well because her pronunciation was unclear. So she quickly brought a picture book from her room, opened it, and explained:

“It says burst bread is full of filling inside, that’s why it bursts.”

It was a picture book with dog-eared corners from being read so much. Where her small finger pointed, it was written like this:

-The most substantial bread in the world. You’re not ugly, but your sturdy appearance is showing on the outside.

Johan’s face turned bright red in an instant as he tilted his head slightly to look at the picture book.

“Ugh! Young lady!”

Johan Jenax growled. The boy, whose ears were red with embarrassment, shouted.

“Then when you called me white bread, it wasn’t because I’m handsome…!”

“It’s because you’re white and hard.”

The inside was a little soft too, just like white bread. But Nerea deliberately hid the latter part.

It was the moment laughter spread throughout the Jenax Baron’s household at the young lady’s prim answer.

.

.

.

“If I had known the young lady liked burst bread, I would have made filled bread for you earlier.”

It was that night. The Baroness, who had prepared Nerea’s bed, sat next to it with the help of a maid.

Although her swollen belly seemed difficult, the Baroness never forgot to visit Johan and Nerea’s rooms every night to sing lullabies.

Nerea mumbled in response to the gentle voice.

“I like it. But if I eat filled bread, I’ll look like a baby, so I shouldn’t eat it.”

At those words, the Baroness briefly opened her eyes wide. Her beautiful brown eyes quickly scanned Nerea.

A somewhat cowed appearance. Although being tall for her age was a characteristic of the Esteban Count’s family, her unusually thin build was concerning. The Baroness’s eyes traced over Nerea’s worn clothes when it happened.

“By the way, Baroness.”

“Yes, young lady.”

“When will the baby come out?”

The Baroness smiled a little at that innocent question. Then she reached out towards Nerea.

“Well, I think it will take at least two more months.”

Two months. Nerea repeated silently.

Winter would come in two months. It would be nice if she could stay here until then. It was then that the Baroness playfully spoke up.

“Would you like to touch it?”

Nerea looked at the Baroness in surprise.

“Can I touch it?”

“Of course. But touch it gently, saying ‘pretty’, because the baby might be startled.”

The small, tense hand trembled slightly. And very slowly, she stroked the Baroness’s belly. The Baroness smiled gently at the child-like warm touch.

“Oh my.”

Suddenly the Baroness looked down at her belly with a surprised face.