The Three Sisters (2)

Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears, revealing light green irises beneath. The shawl draped over her shoulders suggested a slight chill, accentuating her slender, almost frail frame. Even her faintly glowing silver hair matched that delicate build. The one who had come to see me was Freyvelric's second daughter, Ellensia.

She's the same as ever.

Nothing had changed. Ellensia was exactly as before.

"Thank you."

She looked at me with a brief flicker of surprise, then smiled brightly as always and stepped into the family head's room. Her face betrayed no hint of whatever expression she'd worn moments ago. In a little while, she'd walk forward with soft footsteps, yield the head seat to me as the duke, sit to my right with her hands neatly folded, and begin our conversation. And so, the past would repeat itself once more.

Hm?

Suddenly, Ellensia halted her steps and glanced at me cautiously.

"Um... excuse me, Your Grace? There's something I'd like to ask."

"What is it?"

"Well... did you know I was coming? It might sound strange, but... the way you opened the door right away felt like you were waiting for me."

I realized one mistake.

In the past, I would have started the conversation by asking what brought her here. I hadn't waited at the door; I'd listened to her knock and finish ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠speaking before opening it. But now, it looked as if I'd been anticipating her, so it was natural for her to wonder.

Still, deflecting it wouldn't be hard.

"I heard a sound."

"A sound...? Ah."

Ellensia glanced down at her shoes and caught on.

"These are rather loud heels. Moreover, this isn't the time when you'd usually come for work. That's how I knew. Or rather... I knew someone was coming."

That should suffice as an excuse. Sure enough, Ellensia smiled and said, "I see," letting it pass.

Now, things should return to the script.

"What brings you here?"

At my words, she clasped her hands neatly and met my gaze steadily.

"I'd like to request funding for the Lexus Territory."

It wasn't a difficult matter.

The duke could use the family's funds at will. Requests from others required his approval; otherwise, punishment followed. That was all.

Nothing's changed.

The Lexus Territory documents had been straightforward even the first time, and now they were fully prepared. I'd already noted the desired funding amount among the territory approval papers. The seal was right beside me.

Bring those over, ink the seal, approve the funding, and it would go smoothly. Tutorial 3 was that simple.

However...

...was that really all?

I no longer thought so.

"One question. Why request funds for the Lexus Territory?"

"They say the territory needs money. Flooding from the river and soil erosion overlapped unexpectedly, so they sent me a letter directly requesting that amount."

She'd said the same before.

"The required sum is 2000 hering. It covers restoration costs for the eroded land and equipment to redirect the flooded river for tilling."

This matched the past exactly, down to the amount and justification. I'd already verified the documents, confirming it was accurate.

...So that's why it's not the whole story.

At this point, everything could be summed up in one line: the duchess had collapsed. The sisters' grief over losing their mother was obvious. They wouldn't want to set foot here. They had no desire to see me, a total stranger, or the new family head after the succession ritual—like Lucilla and Veronica.

They still needed time to overcome that raw emotion.

Yet Ellensia had come to me. Was she unexpectedly resilient? No. Having seen the past, I could say with certainty: absolutely not. Ellensia was no different from Lucilla. She was Rozalin's blood, a daughter grieving her mother just the same.

So the key was: why had she come?

Put differently, despite needing that time to compose herself, something had driven her here.

But Ellensia won't tell me.

Of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠course not.

"Wait a moment."

I naturally retrieved the prepared documents, fetched the seal and ink, entered the funding amount, stamped my approval, and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"..."

"I'll take my leave now."

"...Very well."

Ellensia rose and walked away slowly. Identical to the past. Nothing had deviated here.

The same events had simply unfolded again. The predictable future would follow.

...And if it did.

Then... inevitably...

"Ellensia."

"Yes?"

"Is there anything else you need?"

That abrupt question... was born of faint hope. A wish that some different answer might lead to a changed future.

These successive wounds hurt me too. This time, I hoped for something more.

But...

Nothing changed.

"No, this is enough. Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace."

Your Grace.

Her face held that same radiant smile as she replied.

"I'll be going now."

No more words were needed. Not "come back if you need anything else." Not "trust me, even if I seem unreliable—it's sincere." Not "the duchess will surely awaken, so stay strong."

I said none of them.

Unlike in the past.

Click.

"..."

The tutorial completed, and the door closed. Once again, I'd finished it exactly as before.

"Of course. That's how it should be. Ellensia is..."

I knew. It was the natural response. Just one more unchangeable future.

"...Yes. I know. I know full well."

I'm just someone to be called "Your Grace," not the person to confess truths or ask favors from. Naturally, Ellensia had lied to me.

...But her gentle refusal, wrapped in a smile, hurt more than any harsh words or complaints.

In just two days, I'd uncovered all three sisters' true feelings. I'd known, but facing the cruel truth was hard.

I had to abandon any expectations. No coincidences would happen.

What I needed now was one thing: firm resolve to survive.

"..."

That room had been Mother's. Only the one who completed the ducal succession ritual could use it, and now someone else occupied it. It was hard for Ellensia to accept.

Following that man instead of her sleeping mother was the same.

She absolutely didn't want to get close. Even if Mother had brought him.

Still, she didn't forget what needed doing. Leaving the duke's room, Ellensia checked the documents once more on her way back to hers.

"Funding for Lexus Territory. Direct allocation from ducal funds. Amount: 2000 hering. Yes, looks good."

The rest was fine too. The seal was meticulously stamped. No ambiguous phrasing. Even rechecking every page revealed no issues.

"Good. I was worried he might refuse."

In truth, Ellensia had lied. She'd explained it as an unexpected crisis in the territory, but that was a flimsy excuse. Any territory handled initial repairs using the lord's authority and the people's efforts. Details like repair progress, estimated damages, and property losses were essential.

But Ellensia didn't know those. Normally, the lord would report directly to the duke anyway.

In other words...

The money... wasn't actually for the territory's restoration.

"I'm sorry. But... this couldn't be helped."

She glanced back slightly, offering a tiny apology to the duke's room.

—Is there anything else you need?

"..."

He probably wouldn't accept it. Even if she explained, he wouldn't understand.

Mother would have investigated and resolved it herself before any report. But the one granting permission now was different.

That was the only reason.

But... why does my body feel so...

Her vision spun faintly. Why was she so dizzy?

"Ellens!"

"Ah."

Looking down absently as she walked, she bumped into her sister, Veronica.

"What are you doing? Look where you're going."

"Ahaha. Sorry, sis."

"Good grief. Come on, I'll walk you back."

The scolding came with worry, giving her a bit of strength. Knowing she had family, even in hardship, eased her heart. Her sister's touch felt especially warm.

"The wind's getting chilly. How can you go out in so little?"

"But too many layers feel uncomfortable."

"What if you catch a cold? Here, wear mine."

"Ah, I was just about to say no... Eek."

"Be good and put it on."

Another scolding made her shrink, but she didn't mind.

Still... why was her head spinning again?

"Why'd you come out... Hm? Ellens? Why are you swaying like that?"

"Mm. Maybe I'm just tired. After everything..."

"...Come on. I'll take you."

Fortunately, her sister didn't suspect. Probably chalked it up to fatigue. Rest a bit and she'd be fine, Ellensia told herself, enduring as they walked to her room.

In the ducal residence, items I'd used in my previous life remained in place. I could find more if I searched, but I didn't want to rummage through the duke's home like an intruder. It'd be like poking a hornet's nest.

The least conspicuous rooms. Only places I could touch without issue allowed exploration.

So, what I'd found now was this one thing.

"Still here, as expected."

—Your Grace. This.

—What's this?

—A black hood. It simply conceals your appearance, but it's enchanted with a minor illusion to disguise your build, height, and weight.

It'd be perfect for inspecting the territory incognito.

—Wait, it only covers the body...? So my face would show?

—Commoners rarely recognize faces. They know their lords, but most nobles? They've never met them. That's why you can patrol secretly.

The black hood. Tia had given it to me for territory inspections. I'd thought it wouldn't be hard to find, and sure enough, one was here in the storeroom.

"Should I grab this in advance?"

Dong. Dong.

Time had come. Back from the storeroom, I folded the hood neatly into a drawer, sat down, and waited for her.

"Your Grace. May I enter—"

"I'm awake. Come in."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠permitted her entry first. As the door opened, her now somewhat familiar figure appeared.

"You're already up. I didn't realize."

"...I suppose I have been rather indolent."

"Pardon? That's not what I meant, Your Grace... And you've hardly ever been lazy, as far as I know."

...Oops. Too comfortable with familiarity, I'd given an answer that might raise suspicions. In the past, I hadn't risen late at this point.

Time to change the subject.

"Why are you dressed like that today?"

She didn't need such attire, but this was the look I knew. White frilled headband contrasting black hair. White apron over the black dress, covering from shoulders forward. The classic maid outfit.

"Please forgive the change in attire. With all the duties I'll be handling in the ducal residence..."

Tia was a lady-in-waiting, not a maid, but she'd often worn maid clothes. She'd always managed many tasks here.

...Which had puzzled me at first. Why would a lady-in-waiting do menial work?

The reason would reveal itself soon enough. But later.

"First, if you'd approve these—"

"Your Grace!"

Tia's words cut off as someone burst in, calling me urgently.

"Sorry to barge in. But I have something urgent to report...!"

...Because that's when the girls would start truly hating me.