Whispers of Independence
Blair sank into his thoughts, just as he often did without warning. Nine times out of ten, those thoughts concerned his younger sister, rising unbidden to seize his mind and shake it for a long while. This time was no different.
People change. Everyone does.
Yet Odeliana had changed far too much. The transformation exceeded anything he could accept, leaving him with the unsettling sense that she had become an entirely different person—one he could no longer bear to face.
“So, have you been settling in all right?”
“Yes, I’m doing very well.”
“Odeliana hasn’t been difficult or cruel to you, has she?”
Blair had grown accustomed to hearing complaints from the servants assigned to the annex. Odeliana kept her distance from the others, treating them coldly, while showing obvious favoritism toward Mathias alone. Even to Blair, the servants’ grievances seemed justified. That was why he had worried whether Malena, newly hired, would manage to adapt.
“Nothing of the sort has happened. The young lady still doesn’t fully trust me, so she remains cautious, but she hasn’t made things difficult.”
“If she ever acts cold toward you, I hope you’ll understand. She carries many wounds… She won’t easily open her heart to others.”
“I know. I understand her attitude completely.”
Contrary to his concerns, Malena appeared to be adjusting well to life in the annex. Blair exhaled in relief. He hesitated over the question he feared to voice, then finally spoke in a careful tone.
“What do you think of her?”
“Of what, exactly?”
“The difference between the Odeliana you’ve only heard about and the one you’ve actually seen.”
Blair wanted an honest assessment from Malena, who had observed Odeliana closely for nearly three weeks. As an outsider with no ties to anyone in the household, she was the only person capable of offering an objective view.
“The servants here told me many stories about the eldest daughter. They said she suffers from madness, that she’s violent and cruel, that she leads a dissolute life and lacks any sense of judgment. I’ll admit I was a little worried after hearing all that.”
Blair clenched his fists, struggling to hide his tension. Malena studied his whitening knuckles for a moment before continuing calmly.
“But the eldest daughter I’ve worked with here is nothing like the rumors. In my opinion, her mind is perfectly sound.”
“…Is that so?”
Blair’s tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed.
“Of course, I’ve only known her for a short time, and anyone can hide their true nature, so I can’t say for certain… but she’s not as infamous as they claim. Rather than violent, she’s gentle. Far from cruel, she freely gives her own medicine to injured servants and tends to their wounds herself. The rumors of her being wanton seem to stem from her closeness with Mathias, but she simply looks after him like a younger brother. I watched her closely for three weeks, and I can confidently say there was nothing improper between them.”
Blair felt the tension drain from him and let out a relieved laugh.
Odeliana isn’t mad. She’s simply frail and often in pain, a little more sensitive and timid than most. She’s kind. She’s not a bad person!
It felt as though his long-unacknowledged faith in Odeliana had finally been validated. The moment was brief, however; his expression soon darkened again.
“Odeliana urged me to become independent.”
Malena regarded him with a look that asked what the problem was.
“To be precise, she’s pushing me toward independence so she can secure a future for that boy… no, for Mathias, and establish a separate household for herself. She’s laying the groundwork for something much larger.”
“Laying the groundwork? The young lady?”
“If I follow her suggestion and leave the family, I intend to take her with me. Would you be willing to come along as well?”
“…I’m not sure. That’s unexpected. If you become independent, will you be settling in another territory?”
“It seems likely.”
“Then I’ll need to think it over. Leaving here would mean wrapping up my entire life in this place.”
“Odeliana doesn’t seem to harbor any dislike toward you… I’d like to bring you with us if possible. Nothing is decided yet, but the situation could head that way, so I wanted you to consider it.”
“Understood. I’ll keep it in mind.”
As Malena rose to leave after finishing her business, a servant’s voice announced a visitor at the door.
“Show them to the drawing room.”
Blair stood to receive his guest and patted Malena’s shoulder a couple of times.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all.”
“Please look after Odeliana.”
“Yes, young master.”
After sending Malena off, Blair headed straight to the drawing room.
“Adolf.”
“Ah, Blair!”
Adolf, the sole heir of the Schaller Duchy, and Blair exchanged a brief handshake. Their bond ran deeper than mere friendship; they shared a connection closer to family—perhaps even stronger.
“I was surprised when I got your message. I never expected you to invite me to your home!”
Though their relationship was exceptionally close, they rarely invited each other to their respective residences. Both found their own homes uncomfortable, and their fathers’ strained relationship was another reason. The Schaller Duchy, which supported the First Prince, and the Grusewald Duchy, which backed the Second Prince, stood politically opposed. While the dukes did not forbid their sons from meeting, they disapproved, so the two preferred to arrange their gatherings elsewhere rather than at home.
Blair’s invitation was therefore highly unusual, and Adolf had rushed over, sensing something significant was afoot.
“What’s going on?”
“I just… felt like I’d been neglecting you because of all the family matters, so I called you over.”
“Neglect? Between us? Anyway, family matters? Has something happened at home?”
Blair hesitated briefly before answering weakly.
“Odeliana is staying here.”
“Odeliana? Ah, the sister with the bad leg…? Wasn’t she living in seclusion in the Hirschberg Forest?”
“She was severely abused by the servants there. I dismissed all of them… and since there was no one left to care for her, Father summoned her to the capital.”
“That should be a good thing, shouldn’t it? A reunion with family after so long apart.”
“…It’s more complicated than that.”
Blair let out a deep sigh and leaned back against his chair. Adolf pulled a cigar leaf from his pocket, rolled it, and offered it to him, even lighting it himself. Seeing Blair’s troubled expression as he stared at the swirling smoke, Adolf’s own smile faded into seriousness.
“My sister told me to seek your advice about becoming independent.”
“Independent? Are you planning to leave the family, Blair? Well… now would be the right time. It’s about time you did. But why?”
“The moment Odeliana mentioned your name, I felt a chill. It seemed like she knew about the matter in Eisenbalt.”
Eisenbalt was a small city in the Schaller Duchy, bordering the Grusewald Duchy. Recently, the city had been plagued by a major criminal incident that resulted in the execution of the lord’s entire family, leaving the position vacant.
“You’re saying your sister knew I offered you the lordship of Eisenbalt?”
“Not exactly that she knew… it was more of a feeling. The way she encouraged me to establish myself in Eisenbalt… the timing and circumstances align too perfectly.”
“It must be a coincidence. Only the two of us know about my offer. It’s a strict secret.”
“Maybe it is.”
“Yes, just a coincidence. That said, if you’re thinking of leaving your family and becoming independent, I don’t see why you shouldn’t accept my proposal.”
Adolf grinned and draped an arm around Blair’s shoulders as if there were nothing to worry about.
“Think it over carefully. Being a lord isn’t easy, but with your abilities, you’ll manage just fine.”
“……”
“You know as well as I do that those who aren’t heirs must live off the grace their father bestows. Once your brother inherits the title, who knows if he’ll even give you enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Hermann isn’t exactly a generous man.”
Only the eldest son could inherit. Once Hermann became head of the family, Blair, as the second son, would have to rely on his brother’s mercy. If Hermann provided him with some funds, he would be fortunate; if he was cast out penniless, he would have no grounds to complain.
As for Odeliana, whose leg disability had already closed off any prospects of marriage, someone would have to take responsibility for her. But would Hermann personally shelter a sister who could tarnish the family bloodline? Their parents had already abandoned her for that very reason. The chances of her brother showing her any kindness were slim.
As these thoughts settled, the fog in Blair’s mind began to clear.
If I become lord… I can keep Odeliana with me and continue to look after her life.
“My offer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. As lord of your own domain, you’ll enjoy a far more prosperous life than you do now. You could hunt, sail on the lake, fish, and live in peace. If you grow bored, you could come up to Levelhorn and continue your social activities. The life of a mid-tier lord isn’t as harsh as it seems. It’s actually quite romantic, if you ask me. And most importantly, the lordship can be passed down through generations as long as no major problems arise. You know that, right?”
Adolf continued to coax him gently.
“Think it over. If you decide, I’ll do everything I can to help you prepare for your independence.”