The Story Changes
The empire had only two dukes. The prestige of Duke Klein, one of them, was naturally high. Even during the days when she lived in the remote Caris viscounty deep in the countryside of the Arkan Empire, she had heard the name.
So it was only fitting to have a trainee as well-mannered and cultured as Dot entertain him.
Provided, of course, that Morgana—the one Director Beryl had already chosen—was absent for whatever reason.
“You?”
“Yes. My friend Morgana just went to the training grounds to harvest fruit. Once it arrives, I’ll prepare everything to make jam.”
Uttering words she never wanted to say even in her dreams, Dot felt her throat go bone-dry.
Please, please. Take the bait!
“Ah, that’s right. The fruit in the fields near the training grounds ripens slowly, so the harvest is late this year. There must be plenty of unripe ones still.”
This is it!
Dot cheered inwardly.
“Then how about staying there a few more days and bringing everything back at once? Fruit changes from one day to the next, after all.”
The latter part was something she had once said in front of the Duchess of Klein. She had even used it to mock a foolish rural baroness who knew nothing about fruit ripening.
“Hmm…”
“Unripe fruit ripens quickly within a few days, so it would be better than making multiple trips.”
Beryl, deep in thought, soon nodded.
“You’re right. I’ll delay the baggage carrier’s departure and inform the shepherd. Since it’s Cheryl’s work, she’ll understand for a few days. There’s plenty of food there anyway.”
“Yes.”
‘It’s done! It’s really done!’
Since one day was all she needed, Dot was overjoyed.
If the calendar was correct, tomorrow was the day Duke Klein would secretly visit the monastery.
Even if Director Beryl had designated Morgana as Eina, it would be fine if she met the Duke first and won him over. She could create that much of a coincidence!
There would be no need to seethe upon hearing that Morgana had been sent to the ducal house later!
Dot’s confidence soared to the heavens.
In the past, she had thoroughly enchanted the people of the Klein ducal house.
The Duke of Klein arrived at the monastery the next day, concealing his identity, and Dot used every trick she knew to catch his eye.
He even smiled at her polite yet cultured demeanor.
It didn’t matter that the abbess never bothered to reveal who he was.
Having taken the initiative, Dot already sensed victory.
‘Ha… haha… Knowing everything that’s about to happen is insane. I’m crazy, Dot! At this rate, I’ll become the Klein daughter before the year ends—not that girl!’
Morgana, who died after stuffing her head full of useless knowledge.
Look at that! I’m overtaking you again, aren’t I?
You were ruined by the foolish belief that you could pull all the world’s knowledge—seawater and all—into yourself.
I succeeded! You failed. Both then and now!
Two afternoons after Duke Klein’s arrival.
Because the designated Morgana was absent, he couldn’t take her immediately, but as a duke of high status, he didn’t seem inclined to wait another day.
So if she simply changed the person being taken to herself, everything would be solved.
Dotricia was still anxious, not knowing when the baggage carrier would depart for the training grounds. Please, please! She prayed desperately.
Meanwhile, the Duke who had visited Grace Monastery without prior notice asked Beryl,
“Hmm, Abbess. The child you recommended still hasn’t arrived?”
“No, I’m sorry.”
Beryl wore a troubled expression.
After Duke Klein’s sudden arrival, the baggage carrier had been sent in haste, but he had been forced to turn back before reaching the training grounds.
A sudden, torrential downpour had struck the area, and the road needed repairs before anyone could pass. It would take at least three or four days, which was extremely inconvenient.
They had considered leaving the fruit behind and sending only people, but even that proved difficult.
The path connecting the monastery and the training grounds wound around a low hill, making the walk time-consuming. Crossing the damaged sections was dangerous even for two people.
‘Morgana…’
When the Duke had sent a letter in advance asking her to find a girl to educate as Eina until he recovered his daughter, Abbess Beryl had chosen Morgana without a second thought.
After the wounds the child received upon first arriving at the monastery had healed, she had been strict, fearing the once-lively girl might be hurt again.
Perhaps it was because she felt uneasy about how excessively docile Morgana had become afterward. In any case, Beryl could not think of any other child besides her.
Yet it was terribly unfortunate that Morgana was absent precisely when the Duke came in person to fetch her. The Duke’s unannounced visit had been meant to quietly advance matters for security reasons, so she could say nothing.
“Hmm, Abbess. I cannot spare much time, so I must return now—if you would cooperate.”
“Y-yes. Then later I’ll send Morgana to the ducal house…”
As Beryl stammered, the Duke said something unexpected.
“No. While quietly observing the trainees here, I noticed a cute girl named Dorothea. I’ll take that child as Eina. I will fulfill all the promises I made before.”
“What? Dorothea?”
Though the name Dorothea was common in the monastery, it belonged to an age group entirely different from what Duke Klein sought. Most of them would have already left the dormitory to become tutors, maids, or wives.
The Duke burst into hearty laughter.
“Haha, she asked me to call her Dorothea. She said many people mispronounce her real name.”
Beryl asked as the thought occurred to her.
“…Are you perhaps referring to Dotricia? Light-brown hair, blue eyes. Not particularly small in build, and she always walks with her back perfectly straight.”
“Oh, yes. Though I saw her from afar, she had the best posture here.”
“Haah.”
No one in the monastery had ever mispronounced Dotricia’s name.
She had heard from another nun that Duke Klein had spoken at length with one of the residents—and it turned out to be Dot.
It was incredibly presumptuous. How dare she seduce the gentle Duke and ask him to call her by a different name!
Subtle anger rose within Beryl, yet she could do nothing.
Because Grace Monastery lay outside the capital’s direct jurisdiction, help was scarce.
Without the occasional charitable support of Duke Klein, one of the two dormitory buildings housing the children might soon have to close.
Since the Duke had chosen Dot, there was no point in arguing.
Beryl spoke cautiously.
“It’s a pity. I had found a docile girl. If you think Dotricia doesn’t meet the conditions for Eina, please tell me again later.”
“Hmm…”
“Morgana, unlike Dotricia, has lived in this monastery for quite a long time. She’s an intelligent, hardworking child who enjoys helping others. I believed she would follow the various lessons at the ducal house well.”
“The abbess seems quite fond of that child.”
Duke Klein had already decided to take Dorothea, so he spoke lightly.
Yet those careless words struck Beryl deeply.
Beryl’s hands trembled faintly and her throat tightened, but she muttered as the Duke rose to leave.
“…I suppose so.”
Why hadn’t she realized how much affection she wanted to give Morgana? Why had she understood it only now, so late?
“When autumn comes, I’ll purchase all your aged wine, so prepare plenty. I’ll pay a good price—enough to buy a velvet muffler and winter gloves for the child you cherish.”
The Duke made the promise in good spirits.
“Truly, thank you.”
And so Duke Klein departed, taking only Dot—who had subtly changed her identity to the name Dorothea.
Ten days later.
Morgana finally returned.
* * *
The moment she came back, she made an entirely new decision.
“Morgana!”
“I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Think it over again. Please?”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done. I won’t forget it.”
“Morgana, Morgana!”
Beryl roughly grabbed Morgana’s arm as the girl declared she would leave the monastery without hesitation.
Guilt surged at how loose the sleeve felt compared to others her age. A good child who had volunteered for the monastery’s hardest work without even having time to gain weight.
To Cheryl, who returned after harvesting nearly all the late-summer fruit, Beryl spoke quietly.
She asked her to pretend that Duke Klein had chosen Dot from the very beginning. She feared this pitiful child would be heartbroken if she learned that the chance to become Eina had been stolen by her friend Dot.
She didn’t know whether Dot would adapt well at the ducal house, but honestly, it was better for the monastery if she wasn’t here. Dot used her wits to avoid work and loved pretending to be noble.
‘I thought that was fine.’
She would return to peaceful daily life, and as the Duke had promised, once she earned a large sum in autumn, she would gift Morgana a velvet muffler, new shoes, and a warm winter dress. She would start knitting the gloves right away.
The plan that had seemed so satisfying was now crumbling.
“I’m old enough now, Abbess. I can’t keep living here receiving help forever.”
“Morgana, calm down. All right? Where would you go when you’ve only ever lived here!”
“…Anywhere. I think I’ll go to the job center in the capital first.”
“Morgana!”
Morgana, her mind made up, smiled softly.
“You’ve shown me great kindness, Abbess. You taught me sewing, chores, and even how to read. Since you’ve sheltered me until now, I…”
“Morgana.”
“I want to see the wide world with my own strength. Before it’s too late.”
She spoke quite honestly.
In her previous life, she had lived swayed by others’ wills, obsessed with the compulsion to remain docile.
The two years spent captive to the Klein family had been exhausting, and for now she did not want the quiet life of the monastery.
Above all…
After spending ten full days at the training grounds and returning.
When she checked beneath the closet in her private room, the silk robe was gone.
She had definitely left it here.
The only people who knew about that item’s material were Beryl and her daughter, Morgana, and Dot.
‘Dot must have stolen it when she went to the ducal house. If I had left the ruby pendant behind and gone to the training grounds, she would have taken that too.’
With that, Morgana became certain of one thing.
Though no one at Grace Monastery knew that time had been turned back two years…
Only Dotricia and Morgana possessed memories of the past and the events yet to come.
‘Of course. Why else would she steal something she couldn’t even wear and flee with it on the way to the ducal house?’
What that meant was—