Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Girl and Her Books
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Since then, Lara had spent most of her days fiddling with books.
With access to a far greater variety of books than she could have dreamed of at the orphanage, Lara gradually came to understand the extent of her own literacy—what letters she knew, which sentences she could read, and which ones still eluded her.
"The young lady truly loves her books, Master."
These words had become Marsha's standard line whenever she reported on Lady Lara's daily routine to Theodor.
"Is that so."
"Yes. She's always reading in her room. She especially adores the fairy tale book you gifted her."
Theodor had caught Lara several times coloring in that fairy tale book with her crayons. He'd thought she might struggle with it, but the time he'd taken her hand and guided her in writing letters seemed to have eased her inhibitions considerably.
"She seems to have taught herself to read. And her memory isn't bad at all."
"Yes, she never forgets anything once it's taught to her."
Theodor set aside the documents he had been reviewing.
"Are you the one continuing to teach Lara?"
"I only help with the occasional difficult word or phrase. Breina does the same."
"We have all the books needed for a proper human child's education. But no one suited to teach her that way."
"I was planning to discuss that very issue with you, Master. It's becoming too much for the young lady to study on her own like this."
It had been a week since Lara arrived at the mansion in Aren.
After Theodor—the master of the mansion and head of the Diarc Family—had openly declared her his bride, the servants had treated Lara with utmost caution. Thanks to that, the fact that she was a human girl caused no issues whatsoever.
'They all know Master Theodor's temperament.'
Marsha thought to herself.
The head of the Diarc Family was a figure even the mansion's own servants rarely glimpsed, no matter how long they served. Only a select few could enter his study to clean or manage it; low-ranking staff weren't even permitted to approach.
Moreover, terrifying rumors swirled around Master Theodor. They said anyone who fell from his favor vanished without a trace.
Never loiter around him—that was one of the ironclad rules for Diarc Family servants. And never touch his belongings or possessions, either.
Fearsome tales followed that if you laid a hand on the master's things, he would transform into a massive wolf and tear out your throat.
'Half true, half false.'
Marsha, who had served Theodor for many years, saw no need to correct the servants' misconceptions. It was probably better for them that way.
And Lady Lara, the only human in the beastkin mansion, was unmistakably one of Master Theodor's possessions.
"There are bird beastkin working in the mansion as well. They're all trustworthy folk."
"Bird beastkin?"
"Yes, eagles, crows, flamingos... and you know the owl beastkin well too, Master."
"You're referring to Breina."
Breina, the Diarc Family's chief physician and currently in charge of Lara's care, was an owl beastkin.
It was said from ancient times that owl beastkin excelled in medicine, and it was true. Breina was one of the finest physicians in the Lepayrun Empire.
Theodor circled back to what Marsha had mentioned earlier.
"Breina seems no different from you in that regard."
"Quite so. She's exceptional with technical skills, but not so much with teaching. That said, bird beastkin generally have the highest affinity with humans. They understand them best. Breina lacks the knack, in my view, so why not summon another bird beastkin servant and discuss it with them?"
Theodor recognized that Marsha was speaking in general terms, but her suggestion was worth considering.
The problem, however, was Lara.
Theodor tapped the desk with the fingertips of his gloved hand, his expression somewhat displeased. Through the window of his study, the waning moonlight filtered in.
"You know Moonlight is approaching soon."
"Yes, Master."
"I'll be leaving the mansion during that time. It could be dangerous in many ways."
Marsha nodded. The mere mention of Moonlight made her throat dry with inexplicable tension.
"We'll discuss Lara's education after Moonlight passes. Until then, keep a closer eye on her."
"Understood, Master. Lady Lara's safety will be my top priority."
Theodor reached for the tray holding the letters that had arrived that day.
Reviewing correspondence at the end of the day was one of his habits.
His familiar gesture paused abruptly. Marsha keenly noticed the change.
"Master Theodor, is something wrong?"
"......"
Theodor offered no reply, simply staring at one of the letters addressed to him. Soon, a sharp sneer twisted his features.
"This bastard's joking with me...?"
"Master...?"
Uncharacteristically growling, Theodor crumpled the letter in his fist and rose from his seat. He donned his coat and strode swiftly from the study. Marsha followed hesitantly in his wake, her eyes darting quickly to the desk.
A familiar family crest adorned the torn envelope.
"All done."
Lara murmured softly, gazing down at her fairy tale book. She froze at the unintended soliloquy, memories of the orphanage flooding back.
No children approached Lara when she incurred the director's wrath. Even the director and teachers treated her as if she didn't exist unless they were bullying or beating her.
To them, Lara was nothing more than an emotionless doll they could strike or verbally abuse at whim. In that environment, she had withered away bit by bit.
There had been days lasting over two weeks where she hadn't spoken a word, and she'd grown terrified that she might forget how to talk altogether. Thinking that even muttering to herself might help, she'd tried—but that judgment had been gravely mistaken.
Helen had laughed mockingly, calling her crazy, and the director had dragged her out with a stern face and beaten her. For making an unlucky face and doing an unlucky thing. As punishment for that single mutter, Lara had spent the night standing barefoot in the cold corridor.
But not anymore. Now, no one struck her no matter what she did. The people here didn't yell at her, get angry, or raise their voices. The days when she'd feared even speaking to herself were firmly in the past.
So the burning pain that crawled over her skin whenever she recalled the orphanage was surely just a phantom ache.
"It's okay now..."
Letting out a long sigh, Lara closed her eyes and tried to suppress her anxiety. Curled up in her chair, she rubbed her arms vigorously before straightening her back.
Lara turned her gaze back to the fairy tale book spread on the desk. The animals in its delicate black-and-white illustrations were gradually gaining fur coats that suited them well.
If the day ever came when she colored the entire book... would she be a little more fitting for the Diarc Family by then?
Right now, she felt so shabby. Like someone living in a monochrome world.
"Lady Lara, it's Breina. Are you ready?"
There was a knock at Lara's door, followed by Breina's gentle voice. Lara hurriedly closed the fairy tale book's cover and stood from her chair.
"Yes."
Breina quietly opened the door and entered, sensing Lara's lingering wariness but saying nothing of it.
This tiny human girl, Lady Lara, simply needed more time.
Rushing things never worked out. That was the wisdom Breina had gained from life as a beastkin—and as the young lady's physician.
"Marsha's tied up today, so I'm filling in."
"Yes."
Lara nodded, then hesitated a moment before asking Breina,
"Why is Marsha busy? Did something happen?"
Her habitual "yes" had come first, but Marsha's absence clearly worried her. Such initiative was proof she was opening up, so Breina offered a soft smile.
"Marsha's always quite busy as it is. We scarcely find time for tea together. Managing a mansion this size and assisting Master at his side would exhaust ten bodies. Nothing special, so don't worry, my lady."
Lara nodded gravely.
Marsha managed the entire vast mansion as butler, Lara had learned. Living here, she'd gotten a vague sense of what that entailed. Either way, it meant Marsha was an extraordinary person.
It didn't feel right that such an important figure was assigned to her. Half of Marsha's busyness seemed to stem from Lara herself.
"Marsha's busy, and Breina's busy too..."
Breina leaned in to catch Lara's quiet words.
"I can sleep on my own now. You don't have to come."
"Nonsense! Seeing to your bedtime is our duty."
"But Breina's a doctor. And Marsha's the butler. I can handle bedtime myself."
Lara looked up at Breina as she spoke.
Breina let out a small groan.
Lara still hadn't fully grasped that she was the Diarc Family's one and only young lady, it seemed.