15. The Overlaid (3)
Lucilla, clutching Ellensia's hand, advanced with a beaming smile. And in her other hand, she gripped Veronica, who had been reluctant to join breakfast. Everything was unfolding exactly as Ellensia had planned.
"...Ah."
Lucilla, who had been walking hand-in-hand with her two older sisters and chattering away happily until just moments ago, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Why would the youngest, who had been laughing and talking with her sisters, do such a thing?
It was because the dining hall lay directly ahead.
The place where they would share breakfast with their two older sisters.
"..."
"..."
What difference was there between the youngest and her sisters in that moment? They were only a few years older, nothing more. They, too, froze in place, at a loss for words.
It was too frail a thing to simply open those doors and proceed with an ordinary breakfast.
And rightly so.
Breakfast. The word no longer signified an ordinary daily routine. It evoked the incident that had occurred just two days prior—a term that meant nothing but torment and hardship for all three sisters.
The dining hall was the same. This place, where they had directly witnessed their mother's collapse, was now overlaid not with fond past memories, but with the shock and terror of that moment.
Every time they came here, the memories would resurface. Every time they saw those dining hall doors, unwanted thoughts would intrude.
For the sisters, "breakfast" and "dining hall" had become like indelible marks forcing them to confront the cruel truth of their mother's loss.
Yet Ellensia pressed forward.
"What are you all doing? I'm hungry. Are we just going to stand here?"
She had to be okay. This time had to belong to them. They couldn't afford to collapse into sorrow right here. They had to overcome it. This grueling trial, too.
That was why she took the first step, determined to conquer this trauma.
You're better than me at this, Ellen.
Veronica, who had been shrinking back, let out a small chuckle. That courage gave even the eldest sister strength.
"Lucy. Remember that at the end of that door? The drawing you did with crayons behind Mom's back. I bet the back part's still there."
"Huh? That one..."
"Wanna go see? Hehe."
Veronica took the lead, pointing to a spot behind the door's seam, barely visible. As Lucilla scurried after her eldest sister to check, the mark was indeed still there.
"Oh. This is my drawing..."
"It's really still there? Brings back old memories."
Ellensia smiled and chimed in, dredging up the past in response.
"Remember when Lucy went to another family's house and said it would be nice if our doors had pretty drawings like theirs, so she drew with crayons? Right? It was actually a work of art, but with crayons... Pfft."
"Ah, yeah. Lucy cried so much when she tried to erase her drawing. She made a huge fuss right here."
"Hey, sis! That was ages ago..."
Whether from embarrassment or not, Lucilla's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Four-year-old Lucy was so cute."
"I think I was the one who comforted her while she sat there bawling."
"Ugh. I don't draw like that anymore!"
"Really? Can you draw prettier ones now?"
"Nooo!"
"So even if you erase a drawing, you won't cry this time?"
"Sis."
Teased relentlessly by her two mischievous older sisters, Lucilla puffed out her cheeks enormously. Sensing it was time to stop, Veronica pulled her into a tight hug.
"Sorry, sis. But our Lucy's just too cute."
"It brought back memories of old Lucy. Okay? Sis was wrong."
"Hmph. Don't talk to me. I don't want breakfast."
"Oh no, we can't have that. We promised to eat pudding together. And then we can go play."
But the sulk didn't last. The warmth of her sisters' embrace and touch quickly melted away the youngest's embarrassment.
"Can you forgive us just once? Sis wants to play with Lucy."
"Lucy. I was wrong too, so forgive me?"
"...No more teasing after this?"
"Yeah, of course."
The heavy atmosphere lifted just like that. The three sisters huddled close once more.
"But sis, did the kids half-erase this?"
"Probably. They thought leaving it might cheer you up later."
"What? That's silly. Jeez."
"But they never got to show you."
"What do you think, Lucy? Should we erase the rest?"
"Nah? I'll leave it. The kids left it for me."
Rather than painful memories, the past's joys. If those weren't enough, they'd dredge up more. To overcome this trial.
The dining hall doors opened. The sisters took their familiar seats. One spot was empty, but even glancing at it briefly, they chose not to despair.
Conversations flowed after that. Nibbling on appetizers, they piled up dining hall memories one by one, overcoming the gloom with laughter.
The mood was easing bit by bit.
But... why hasn't the duke come?
They'd talked for quite a while. How long had it been since they sat down? It was time for the main course to arrive after appetizers.
Ellensia checked the clock. The time was right.
Breakfast usually happened around now.
If anything, it was late. They'd dragged it out, delaying the main course until now.
Yet the duke still hadn't arrived.
Tia must have relayed it, so it couldn't have failed to reach him...
Her eyes kept drifting to the empty seat.
"Sis? Looks like everything's out. Shouldn't we eat?"
"Ah, uh, yeah..."
"..."
With Lucilla asking outright, Ellensia was thoroughly flustered. Veronica didn't speak, but... she could guess the reason.
The duke's empty seat. Starting breakfast without him was the stumbling block.
But there was no choice.
They couldn't delay any longer.
"Sis?"
"Yeah. Let's eat. Big sis will serve you some meat."
Nod.
"..."
With even Veronica saying so, breakfast had to proceed. Without the duke's seat filled.
Clink.
Clink.
The ladled soup spoons and plates had already changed color, and the main courses were in drastically altered states. Plates had passed hands multiple times, even been replaced. How many times had the cutlery moved? The sounds were beyond counting.
It meant a fair amount of time had passed since breakfast began.
Yet one seat remained empty.
Tia definitely relayed it, right?
Eyes kept drifting to the duke's vacant spot. The ticking of the clock hands felt audible now.
If there had been even a hint, it might be different, but there was nothing. Regret was inevitable.
Without the duke here...
She'd abandoned studies to drag the pudding-craving little sister here, then used her to bring the upset older sister along. To mend fences through reconciliation. To clear up the twisted misunderstanding by showing there was no malice.
But if he didn't show... it all meant nothing.
"Huh? Where's Ellen sis going?"
"Yeah, um..."
"Ellen. It's fine to just sit."
"Huh?"
Click.
At that moment, the dining hall doors opened.
He's here. Duke.
No need to go fetch him. That might have been what Veronica wanted to say.
"Pardon? You'll be joining breakfast a bit late?"
That's what I'd told Tia. Too much work. I wanted to finish business first, then attend.
"Still... wouldn't it be better to handle work after eating?"
She'd advised as much, but I refused.
Because... I knew this would happen.
"..."
"..."
The moment I appeared, the dining hall's atmosphere chilled rapidly. Until someone else entered.
Until someone utterly out of place stepped in, it surely hadn't been like this. It was a space for the sisters to care for each other, recovering from their mother's loss.
But my presence turned it into something entirely different.
That was why I'd decided to arrive as late as possible.
Everyone, what are you doing here?
In the past, I'd entered right on time for breakfast. Being late was unacceptable, so I'd even arrived early. Then I'd run into the sisters at the door, freezing the mood from the start.
...At that time, the sisters had been talking, overcoming their trauma. My early arrival—my appearance—had stolen that time from them.
That was the reason for my lateness.
It's changed. They're eating a lot, at least.
I remembered them barely touching their food before leaving back then.
The good thing is it didn't turn into chaos from surprise at seeing me.
Even so. This side hadn't changed.
"Welcome, Duke."
Only Ellensia greeted me so. Just like in the past.
Veronica... as expected.
Ellensia rose naturally, and Veronica was already standing upon the arrival of the one for the head seat. Of course, her expression was poor.
And the remaining one.
"Lucy. You should stand for the head seat."
"..."
Lucilla radiated the most dislike. She stayed seated, not even looking as I approached.
"It's fine. Veronica."
"...Family head. This concerns etiquette."
"If it's etiquette, then I've already breached it by being late. Pay it no mind."
"...Understood."
I simply said so and walked briskly. To prevent Veronica from pressing Lucilla to stand.
"Uh... breakfast is really tasty today. Kids, can we get fresh mains?"
The air choked upon sitting. Ellensia led the conversation to ease the awkwardness, but...
Best to fold.
I harbored no such hopes.
More importantly... there was work to do.
I need to speed through this time from now.
Thus, my demeanor could only be one thing. Business.
The routine schedule, the reports received every breakfast in the Freyvelric ducal household.
"Ellensia. The food is fine. I've no appetite today."
"Pardon? But then..."
"Dessert suffices. More importantly, your condition concerns me."
Gazes converged. Likely the answer all wanted to hear.
"I'm fine. I'm fully recovered... good as new now."
"Good. But since it's a flu with relapse risk, let's monitor for symptoms over the next day."
"Ah... yes. Thank you, Duke."
Nothing particular for Lucilla. Speaking would only make her dislike me more.
So, straight to Veronica.
"Um, Duke. That said..."
"Veronica. Given the late hour, I'd prefer reports separately. Is that alright?"
"Yes. Of course."
Veronica responded immediately. She probably wanted this over quickly too. That was why she'd cut Ellensia off.
I felt the same.
...A problem would arise soon.
Veronica finished her sequential reports. With formal replies, the talk ended swiftly.
Lucilla was in no mood for even talking to me. Better to skip than risk irritation.
Right on time.
Having rushed through, a slight buffer remained.
"Then, we'll take our leave."
"Sis? Wait."
"Sorry, Ellen. I'll take Lucy."
"Ah..."
"Family head."
"See to it."
I nodded readily, sending them out. Lucilla's face showed she wanted out of here.
Veronica, leading Lucilla away. Unlike Lucilla, who bolted first, she paused briefly.
"...For Ellen's sake, sorry. I was too sensitive."
"..."
"Then."
Just formal words. If Lucilla heard, she'd storm off furious, so this was the compromise.
Don't read into it.
Now alone at the table with Ellensia. I sipped water, counting inwardly.
Three.
"Ah, my head... Esil. Can you fix my hair again?"
Two.
"Ah, yes, miss."
One.
"Esil?"
"..."
The anticipated future arrived.
"E-Esil? What's wrong?"
Limp body. Arms slowly giving way. Legs unable to support.
In that state came.
Thud.
The sound of hard floor meeting flesh. Maids gasped, servants gathered.
And for me.
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◆Tutorial 6. Master of the House
An incident involving the maid Esil serves as the trigger.
Identify the maid's wrongdoing and administer punishment.
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Another anticipated future descended.