So Glad to See You, Dotricia!
“Hohoho!”
“Oh my, did that really happen? How impressive.”
A group of noblewomen walking across the garden caught Pay’s eye.
More people are here today.
Pay quickened her pace, worried she might run into someone she knew. Meeting those who had lost their memories of the past would not cause any real trouble, but she disliked the way it stirred her heart.
She was here to fulfill the Crown Prince’s request, not to dwell on old grudges.
Turning away from the fresh lavender scent that tickled her nose, she tried to avoid the crowd and ended up at the rear entrance of Acadnia Hall.
No choice, then.
It was still morning. Aside from the group she had nearly encountered, others would likely be inside. If she circled along the edge a little farther, she could slip out of the hall…
Ah…!
Was this fate’s cruel joke?
Pay’s hurried steps slowed all at once.
Beyond the grand windows of Acadnia Hall, the Klein Duchess was visible, deep in conversation with someone. And just outside the wall, standing alone, was the woman Pay—no, Morgana—had once considered her eternal friend.
Dotricia.
Good heavens.
Dotricia wore light makeup and a pale violet dress that did not suit her at all. She stared fixedly at the ground.
Morgana had worn the exact same dress the first time she came to the imperial palace. Someone had once remarked that she looked like a gaudy tricolor cat.
It was not a pleasant memory, but at least the Duchess had never ordered her to wait outside the hall back then. She had simply left her alone to test her.
The situation was identical, only the people had changed. So why was Dot here now? Should she turn around and leave?
Pay’s indecision was cut short. Only one option remained.
Dot, who had been tapping the ground with the tip of her shoe while looking down, raised her head. Their eyes met.
Hello, my nemesis.
In that moment, Pay made her decision.
I will face you.
I will not run from you.
“……!!”
Dot’s lips, painted with rouge, parted in shock, her pupils trembling violently. Pay approached with light steps and greeted her warmly.
“…Dot? It really is you. From a distance, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Uh, uh…!”
“Have you been well?”
Pay could not be sure what expression she wore while asking after the friend who had once killed her.
She would know soon enough if she looked into the precious mirror Leon had given her. Her face had not twisted with grief or rage.
A rare dimple appeared on Pay’s cheek, and her lively green eyes coolly swept over Dot’s darkened expression. To any onlooker, it would seem like the face of someone checking on an old friend after a long time apart.
Dot’s feet, unable to fully press against the wall because of the ribbon at her waist, wobbled slightly.
It’s Morgana!
Morgana wore a plain white linen dress with a neat short cape. She looked neither like a maid nor a servant, and while not particularly noble, she was not someone one could easily mistreat either.
Dot was stunned.
Why was she here? What on earth had happened?
“Mor…gana?”
“It really is you, Dot! I was even prepared to apologize if it turned out not to be you, what with that dress and all. I heard that making a mistake in a difficult place like the palace could bring serious trouble, so I was quite nervous.”
Pay let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and patted her chest with an innocent gesture. Dot’s eyebrows twitched with unmistakable emotion.
Of course it was anger and disgust.
Why…! She had come all the way to Acadnia Hall only to be stuck outside, dying of frustration, and now she had to run into Morgana here of all places?
What reason did she have for being here? Could it be…?
Ah, no. That’s impossible. Everyone else lost their memories. It doesn’t make sense that only Morgana would be fine.
Dotricia never once suspected that Morgana still retained fragments of the past.
She wouldn’t have the cunning to come all the way to the palace just to mock me after all this time. Haha. This isn’t some ridiculous opera! Yes. If she had remembered, she wouldn’t have stayed quiet until now!
Seeing the Morgana she had personally killed greet her so cheerfully was simply absurd.
Right. She’s still the same fool she always was, knowing nothing.
The cold sweat that had formed on Dot’s back from the unexpected encounter lasted only a moment. True to her nature, she quickly chose words that would work in her favor.
“Well, that’s only natural. I don’t know why you came to the palace, but you should leave quickly before anyone notices you.”
“Is there a problem?”
“This place is only for noblewomen with blue blood. If someone gets curious about you, it could cause serious trouble.”
“Oh, I see. I understand.”
Did I make a mistake?
Dot grew anxious, realizing that the real daughter might actually leave without suspicion.
Ever since becoming an Eina after leaving Grace Monastery, she had heard nothing about that place. Before heading to the ducal residence, she had thought it was a relief, but now that she knew nothing of what was happening there, it frustrated her.
Whether I cut ties or not, I need to know the atmosphere there.
Poshet, who disliked Dot, would never tell her anything about the outside world, and the other people at the ducal house were even less likely to.
Lately, Cassel seemed to be going out more often, which gave her some breathing room.
Through quick observation, she had barely managed to learn that the monastery had recently received a large shipment of wine, but information was always lacking.
Should I try to find out why Morgana is here and what she’s doing?
Dot wanted to probe into the monastery and Morgana’s movements, but the location made her hesitate.
No. If the Klein Duchess happens to turn her head and sees Morgana, asking who she is, it will be troublesome. Until the paternity test at the main temple goes as planned, I must prevent any contact between them…!
“Ah, by the way!”
“Huh…?”
Just as Dot’s conflicting thoughts collided, terrifying words slipped from those cherry-red lips.
“You know, Dot. The nuns said you became the Eina of the ducal house. But… did you, by any chance, take my silk robe when you left?”
“Wh-what, what… what are you talking about?”
Dot’s eyes widened in shock.
The infant-sized silk robe that always lay at the bottom of Morgana’s old wardrobe drawer.
At first, she had not even known such a thing existed. What had caught Dot’s interest from the beginning was the sparkling ruby pendant Morgana always wore around her neck.
Anyone could see it was a rare treasure.
After pretending to be close to Morgana and persistently questioning her, Dot had learned about the silk robe and its origins. Of course she had to take it.
She had wanted to steal the ruby pendant as well, but the foolish Morgana had taken it with her to the monastery, so that plan had failed.
Morgana had said she could not even wear it and had no mind to look at it more than once a year. So… she should not have noticed the robe’s disappearance yet. Why did she already know?
Dot, too distracted to check whether the ruby pendant still hung around Morgana’s neck, raised her voice.
“Are you… suspecting me right now? We’re friends!”
“Besides you, the Mother Superior, and Priestess Cheryl, everyone at the monastery has seen my silk robe at some point.”
“What does that have to do with me!”
“You begged me to stay so you could eat plenty of summer fruit, so I spent ten whole days at the monastery picking green grapes and strawberries. When I came back, you had already gone to the Klein ducal house, and my silk robe was gone. How disappointed do you think I was?”
“You were away from the monastery for ten days, so some other thief must have searched your room!”
Cornered, Dot shot back with all her might, then realized her mistake.
She could not afford to be this sharp yet. More importantly, people were approaching from behind the detestable Morgana!
“Hohoho!”
“Come now, let’s head back. The other noblewomen are waiting in the hall.”
“Yes, yes. We should. The Duchess has come after so long, after all.”
“It would be even better if they start discussing Lord Cassel’s marriage soon. My niece has been quite taken with him for a while.”
“Ohohoho.”
A group of noblewomen who had stepped out into the garden to clear their heads were now returning with unhurried steps, unable to wait any longer.
They had ignored Dot standing outside the hall when they left, but they clearly knew her face and name.
Dot’s mind raced.
I cannot let them see me talking alone with Morgana. If she gets curious, she will definitely greet the Duchess. No, that would ruin my entire plan!
Meanwhile, the oblivious Morgana grumbled with a rather sulky expression.
“That’s too much… You begged me to get lots of summer fruit, so I worked for ten full days and came back. But you were gone, and I even lost my silk robe.”
“Ah, how unfortunate, Morgana. But I truly don’t know anything about that. I don’t know who stole it, but they will be punished by heaven.”
Dot told a blatant lie without changing her expression.
I cannot back down here. If I show weakness, everything will collapse!
“Fine. But Dot, you should have at least left a note. We’re supposed to be the closest of friends. I was really hurt.”
“I didn’t have the time. It was unexpected for me too.”
Dot barely managed to make an excuse while suppressing her rage, but Morgana continued to grumble.
“Really, how could you just leave like that without me? I even saved the green grapes until the end so I could give them to you when you came back, but the skins got soft, so I ended up eating them…”
“Why would you save something like that? You should have eaten them yourself.”
“Dot, that’s too much. Do you not understand how I felt?”
Dot’s chest tightened painfully as she watched Morgana pout and complain.
Just then, the returning noblewomen called for the gardener, saying they wanted to cut the rare autumn roses.
Having barely bought herself some time, Dot busied herself soothing the sulking Morgana.
“It was the ducal house, not somewhere else, and I had to leave in a hurry. I’m sorry. How could I have known something like this would happen? I can eat as much fruit as I want here, so don’t hold it against me.”
“Mm…”
Dot’s heart pounded violently with every passing second.
“Morgana, I’m too busy with official duties right now to deal with you.”
“Ah, I see! I’m sorry. I’ll be going now. I believe you’ll do well as the young lady’s Eina, Dot. I’ll cheer you on!”
“Huh…!”
The Morgana she had met again smiled brightly, waved her hand, and began to walk away.
What should I do? I barely managed to prevent Morgana from meeting the Duchess, but… I need to ask her why she’s at the palace and what happened!
She desperately wanted to chase after her and stop her, but the risk was too great. She was also worried about the group of noblewomen who would soon return after cutting the roses.