Chapter 8: House Winston (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: House Winston (1)
“What is going on?”
“My Lady, that is…”
Even Sophia, who was always composed, looked uncharacteristically flustered.
It was only natural. The reason for the commotion outside was something even Sophia couldn't have anticipated.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“Move!”
A loud crash followed a gruff voice, and the door suddenly burst open. Sophia and Veronica both whipped their heads around in shock.
“My Lady…!”
“…Sir Raven?”
As the door swung wide, men dressed in black poured into the room.
The tall man at the front lowered the hood that had been concealing his face. Veronica’s eyes widened as she recognized him.
“Is it really… is it really you, Sir Raven?”
“Yes, My Lady. It is I.”
“Ah…”
Veronica bit her lip as if trying to hold back tears.
Watching from behind, I felt a sense of satisfaction at their reunion.
The Crow Knight Order—an elite unit comprised of the most exceptional knights from House Winston. The man standing before us, Raven Hunter, was their commander.
[I did good, didn't I, Master?]
“Yes, you did great.”
Desmond’s cheerful voice echoed from the teddy bear I was clutching tightly.
Hanging around my neck was the red gem—Desmond’s true form—glimmering softly.
I had used my innocent child’s face to ask Veronica for the gem from her bracelet, saying it was pretty. She had readily removed it and turned it into a necklace for me. My wrists were far too thin for a toddler to wear a bracelet, after all.
On the day I formed the contract with Desmond, I used him to send an additional message to House Winston. It contained details about our current situation.
The Duke of Winston must have been furious to hear that his daughter was being held captive in her own room.
Whether he believed it was true or not, he would have felt the immediate need to investigate.
And just in case it was true, he would have composed the investigation team entirely of elite knights to ensure Veronica’s rescue.
“There is no time, My Lady. You must leave this place at once,” Sir Raven said, his voice grim. His gaze swept across the room before landing on me.
“Could this be…?”
“Yes, this is my daughter, Claudia. Dia, come here.”
“…”
As I stepped closer, Sir Raven’s expression became unreadable.
I’d heard that many people in the North had dark hair and eyes, and it seemed to be true. Sir Raven, in particular, had hair and eyes as black as the abyss.
Perhaps that was why he felt somewhat familiar, even though his face remained stiff as he looked down at me.
“I’m taking Dia with me.”
“Ah… I see. However, the carriage may not be suitable for a child.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Veronica’s face clouded over at Sir Raven’s words.
Since she cared for this body’s well-being more than anyone, it was only natural for her to worry about me suffering in a cramped, bumpy carriage.
But as Sir Raven said, we couldn't afford to delay. Although he had timed his arrival for when Cedric and Haven were away from the mansion, it was only a matter of time before they found out.
“Mom, I’m okay.”
“But…”
“I want to leave here, Mom.”
“…!”
When I spoke in a calm, steady voice, Veronica’s eyes went wide.
Soon, she nodded as if she had made up her mind.
“Alright.”
Surprisingly, everything went like clockwork after that.
I couldn't tell if the Deborah Knight Order was a mess without Haven there, or if the small group of elite knights led by Raven was just that powerful, but the three of us were out of that room—the room we hadn't been able to leave by even a single step—and into a carriage in an instant. It happened in the blink of an eye.
“We’re safe now.”
“…Mom.”
“Yes, Dia. Don't you feel like you can finally breathe?”
“…”
No, I feel like I’m going to die.
I nodded, unable to tell her the truth. The bumpy carriage wasn't the problem right now.
[It’s been a while since I’ve been out, so I’ve forgotten most human customs, but don't people usually die if they wear that much?]
“…”
Shut up, Desmond. I already feel like I’m suffocating.
I couldn't yell at him inside the cramped carriage, so I just glared at the teddy bear with murderous intent.
[Right, Master looks just like… that’s it! A snowman! You look like one of those stupid things made of rolled-up snow! Hahaha!]
“…”
I’m going to kill him. I’m really going to kill him.
I ground my teeth and muttered inwardly.
Frustratingly, I couldn't even argue with his mockery. Even to my own eyes, I probably looked exactly like a snowman.
“…Mom, I’m hot.”
“Oh dear.”
Dressed in I-don't-know-how-many layers of clothing, I whined to Veronica. She looked at me with a troubled expression.
“The weather is quite cold, darling.”
“It’s not cold inside the carriage…”
“That can't be true. There’s a cold draft blowing right in.”
“…”
Veronica wasn't wrong. It seemed they had taken an old carriage to maintain their disguise, and because it was so aged, there were holes everywhere letting the outside air in.
But even so, wearing this many clothes was suffocating. This was bordering on an obsession.
“Then can I at least take off the top layer?”
“That’s your thickest coat, dear.”
“Then the one under that…”
“My sweet Dia, can you hold on just until we reach the Duchy?”
“…”
Veronica asked with a benevolent smile.
Sigh. Fine. She was only doing this because she was so worried about her daughter’s health. What was a little sweat in the grand scheme of things?
I sighed and nodded. Veronica stroked my hair as if praising me for being a good girl.
“Are we going to meet Grandpa?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded in response to my question, but her face didn't look entirely certain.
The fact that Duke Winston had sent the Crow Knights to rescue her was a good sign, but they hadn't seen each other’s faces in over five years. A flicker of anxiety was visible in her eyes.
‘Actually, the bigger problem is me.’
Unlike the Claudia in the original story, I had survived.
However, Duke Winston had been so disappointed in Veronica for pushing through with a marriage he opposed that he had never met her since.
From the very beginning, the Duke hadn't liked the Male Lead.
Unlike Veronica, who fell in love with him at first sight at the Imperial Ball, the Duke felt a strong aversion to the fact that the Male Lead was an illegitimate child. He was a man of staunch aristocratic values.
‘So, he might hate me for being the Male Lead’s daughter.’
Thinking of my purple eyes—the exact same shade as the Male Lead’s—I let out a secret sigh.
“I want to meet Grandpa soon.”
“Hehe, I see.”
But even if he did, it didn't matter. Whether he turned us away at the door or hated me for looking like the Male Lead, I would use information from the original story that the Duke couldn't refuse to demand that he take Veronica and me in.
[Master, your expression is quite wicked! It looks like you’re about to do something very naughty!]
“…Shut up.”
I muttered gloomily and squeezed the teddy bear tight. Desmond whined noisily for a while after that.
Screech.
“…?”
The carriage came to a halt not long after we had departed. I looked out the window, wondering what was happening.
“You must get out.”
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
It seemed Veronica and Raven had discussed this beforehand. I had wondered why we were suddenly heading into a mountain path.
“Oh.”
When I stepped outside, I saw a magic circle drawn in a wide clearing.
I recalled hearing that the Crow Knight Order handled the Duchy’s intelligence missions and had secretly hidden magic circles in various locations across the Empire. This must be one of them.
“There are enough magic stones, so we can use it immediately.”
“Thank you, Sir Raven.”
“It is nothing.”
Veronica and Raven stood at the front of the magic circle, while Sophia stood behind them holding me. The other knights surrounded us in layers.
“We are moving now.”
I watched with wide, sparkling eyes as the magic circle began to activate.
Everyone else seemed calm, as if they had seen magic circles before, but not me.
This is the fantasy world!
My heart pounded as I watched the world before me get engulfed in a bright light.
‘…That was faster than I thought.’
However, seeing the scenery change in the blink of an eye left me feeling a bit deflated.
I looked at the mansion covered in pure white snow. They said it was the North, and it seemed it snowed much more frequently here than at the Marquis’s mansion in the Capital.
“…So you’ve come.”
“…!”
Quite a few people were gathered in front of the mansion.
As if they had known we were arriving, several tall adults were standing before the magic circle. Every single one of them had black hair and red eyes, just like Veronica.
‘Could that man be…?’
Was the man at the very front Duke Winston?
A handsome man with a face as cold as the snow piled around him was staring frostily at Veronica.
“It’s been a long time, Father.”
“…!”
That was really Duke Winston?
They said he was one of only three Sword Masters in the Empire; it seemed they really didn't age. He looked so young that it was impossible to believe he had a daughter as grown as Veronica.
“After ignoring your father’s words so blatantly, is this the state you’ve ended up in?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Veronica bowed her head at the Duke’s scathing words. As expected, Duke Winston wasn't exactly welcoming her with open arms.
He must have had a lot of pent-up resentment. Seeing his daughter return in such a pitiful state probably hurt his pride as well. But…
‘The North is seriously cold.’
I finally understood why Veronica had bundled me up so tightly. The Northern cold was no joke.
Eventually, unable to hold it back, I let out a small cough.
“Achoo!”
“…!”
In an instant, all the eyes that had been fixed on Veronica snapped toward me.
Duke Winston also spotted me standing behind her, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Could that child be…”
“Ah.”
Veronica turned around, took me from Sophia’s arms, and held me close.
“This is the first time you’re seeing Dia, isn't it?”
“Dia…”
“Dia said she really wanted to see her grandfather.”
“…!”
Veronica gave an awkward smile as she repeated what I had said in the carriage. I looked up at the Duke, feeling tense.
The Duke said nothing, looking as if he were in a state of shock. His face was expressionless, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Was it because of my eyes? Because they were purple, just like the Male Lead’s? Was that why…?
No, I already resolved that it was okay even if the Duke didn't like me. I’ll just strike a deal using the original story’s information…
I was muttering to myself inwardly when it happened.
“Oh my goodness, my little granddaughter! Did you want to see your gwan-pa that much? Yes you did!”
“…”
Who are you?