The Summons from Levelhorn
An emergency telegram arrived from the capital, Levelhorn—from the Grusewald ducal house. It ordered both Blair and Odeliana to return to the main estate.
"Really? Father truly summoned Odeliana as well?"
"Yes. He instructed us to pack the necessary belongings. If you depart first, I will follow after settling matters here. It would be best to leave as soon as possible."
"When you say you'll settle matters here, you mean Odeliana will never return to this place, correct?"
"That is right. From now on, Lady Odeliana will reside permanently at the main house."
"That's wonderful, Odeliana!"
Blair was deeply moved, yet Odeliana felt only unease at the sudden recall.
Why are they calling me to the capital now?
She had been neglected since birth, her existence never acknowledged because of her congenital disability. Why summon her when they should be keeping her hidden? What if the secret came to light? Was there any reason to bring a flawed child back to the main house and shoulder such risk?
"Odeliana, aren't you happy? We'll finally be able to live together."
"……It doesn't feel real."
Above all, she was not optimistic enough to rejoice like a fool at whatever fate handed her. That was why she quickly analyzed the situation.
Is it because Blair dismissed all the servants here? Or has word of what happened in Anatolia already reached the main house?
Blair's mass dismissal had been an overreach of authority. Household management belonged to the mistress, and personnel decisions were the duchess's responsibility.
Moreover, nobles preferred to hire servants from families already bound to their own rather than bring in outsiders. The ducal house might well have found Blair's actions deeply displeasing.
"Why are they suddenly calling for me?"
"I told Mother and Father about the abuse the servants inflicted on you. They must have decided they could no longer overlook it."
Even to Blair's optimistic answer, her thoughts turned pessimistic.
No. Absolutely not. The chance that the Duke summoned me to protect me after learning of the abuse is extremely slim.
She had never interacted with the Grusewald Duke outside official duties in her previous life, nor had she ever shared a private conversation with him. She knew almost nothing about the man beyond street gossip.
Still, she could not imagine he harbored any deep affection for the child he had discarded. If even a shred of paternal feeling remained, he would never have abandoned her so far away. He would have visited at least once or twice a year. He would have written. If contact had been frequent, the servants here would never have dared commit such shameless acts.
Odeliana looked at Mathias. The young, still-dirty boy showed nothing that might attract Joslyn, yet anxiety gnawed at her.
The timing is far too early. I have nothing prepared……
Even if she returned to the family, it should be after Mathias had become a knight.
If I go now, there will be too many restrictions.
Above all, would the Grusewald house even accept Mathias? Blair himself had shown reluctance to take him as a squire—what would the rest of the family say?
"You're taking Mathias with us, aren't you?"
A troubled look flickered across Blair's face.
"Well, we would need Father and Mother's permission regarding Mathias's position first, wouldn't we?"
"If Mathias cannot come, then I won't go either."
"……You're saying you'll stay here for that boy?"
"If we cannot take him, then yes."
"Why go that far?"
"I've already explained my reasons until my mouth hurt."
"……You always said you wanted to live with your family. Now that you finally can return to the main house, you're willing to throw away that happiness just to protect him?"
"These are people who never once showed their faces. Parents? Simply giving birth does not make someone a parent. Do you expect me to be overjoyed just because I'm suddenly told to live with my family? Honestly, I'm not happy. I'm afraid. I don't know what new harm awaits me there."
"……"
"I don't believe they're calling because they miss me. There must be some other scheme."
Of course, she knew nothing of the Grusewald house's current circumstances. She had no memories to draw upon. The original owner of this body might have felt deep affection for her family, but she did not.
"I will not go until I receive permission to bring Mathias with me."
Odeliana moved to rise. Mathias supported her before Blair could react. In a flat voice, Mathias addressed the flustered Blair.
"I will escort her to her room and return shortly."
Having lost the initiative, Blair stared blankly at their retreating figures.
She seems like an entirely different person.
The docile, obedient child who had never once shown stubbornness was gone.
It is difficult to attribute this solely to the recent incident. Her demeanor had already changed before that. Could memory loss affect personality as well……? Unlike Adela's claims, there have been no seizures or aggression, but if the memory loss stems from madness, a change in personality is not impossible.
Blair pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed deeply. He could not accept his sister's transformation. It would take time to dispel the strange sense of alienation, as though she had become someone else entirely.
"What will you do, young master?"
At Adela's question, Blair's gaze turned cold. Odeliana's ruined face seemed to overlap with Adela's. The child who had been abused while hiding from others' eyes. Blair let out a bitter laugh.
Anyone would change after enduring something like that.
"If that is Odeliana's will, what choice do I have? I will follow it. I will send a separate telegram."
With that icy reply, Blair turned sharply away. Left alone, Adela bit her lip in agitation, a sense of crisis rising within her. Blair's sudden coldness, Odeliana's complete change, and now the abrupt summons from the main house—her once monotonous, peaceful life had been utterly destroyed.
The day began quietly in the two-story house—too humble to be called a mansion, yet far too cozy to be dismissed as merely a residence.
Since Mathias had entered service as a squire, Blair had asked him to help with household chores, and he now received proper instruction at Adela's side. Though she had no desire to hand Mathias over, Blair had dismissed most of the servants, leaving them short-handed. She had no choice.
Because of this, Odeliana found herself facing Adela far more often than before.
"My lady, it is time to wake. Breakfast is ready."
"Seeing your face first thing in the morning does little to improve my mood. Where is Mathias, and why have you come instead?"
"Have you already forgotten? Because of you, all the children who worked here were dismissed. I have no choice but to attend to you personally."
No doubt she had burdened Mathias with a pile of menial tasks.
"You are not the one who brought that child here to order him about."
"What can be done? There is no one left capable of handling the heavier work."
"You are here."
"I must devote myself entirely to your care. Surely you were not planning to entrust even the changing of clothes to that boy? How vulgar……"
Adela approached with visible irritation, stripped Odeliana, and roughly dressed her in a carelessly folded garment. Her touch was coarse, almost violent. As though determined to leave marks, she deliberately raised her long nails and scratched.
Her temper was formidable. If it were not, she would never have been able to live without guilt after committing such despicable acts.
"You still lack all sense of propriety. How long do you believe your arrogance will be tolerated simply because you are close to the duchess?"
Adela laughed as she lifted Odeliana and deposited her onto the seat like a sack of grain.
"You still fail to understand your own position, my lady."
"……"
"How much help do you truly believe the young master can offer? Once we return to the main house, you will no longer have even his protection."
"!"