MFAWW 09

Chapter 09

Just what kind of life had the Bright Young Lady lived? As I gazed at the portrait with a complicated expression, lost in an indescribable feeling, I sensed someone’s presence.

“Ah, Your Grace the Duke.”

I tried to pretend I hadn’t noticed, but Sophie went ahead and greeted him. Unable to avoid it, I turned my head and saw the Duke of Bright.

“Hello.”

Like it or not, he was a duke of the empire, so I at least observed formalities and bowed my head to him.

“Hmm, good afternoon.”

The Duke of Bright awkwardly returned the greeting. He had been hovering around me for the past few days. According to the Marquess, it seemed he wanted to apologize to me. But I still didn’t want to forgive him.

*’My dear, how about forgiving your grandfather now?’*

*’Do I have anything to forgive him for?’*

This morning, the Marquess Bright had cautiously brought up the Duke’s matter.

*’Father is reflecting deeply as well. He’s just quick-tempered…… but he’s missed you all these years.’*

*’Well…… I’ll think about it.’*

The Marquess had looked at me with those deer-like, round eyes, but I deliberately ignored him. In the end, he failed to convince me, and the already awkward breakfast ended in heavy silence.

“Do you have something to say?”

“……Well, no, it’s nothing.”

When I deliberately asked in a brusque tone, the Duke flinched and stammered. The first time we met, he’d been throwing killing intent around without hesitation, and now he was acting timid—so unlike his size that I found it absurd.

“If you have no business, I’ll take my leave. I have an important appointment this afternoon.”

“I……!”

I had no hobby of breathing the same air as someone who made me uncomfortable, so I quickly removed myself from the spot. I heard a voice calling something from behind, but I pretended not to hear. After all, I really did have an appointment.

Hmph, I’m the toughest cookie in this neighborhood.

“Iris Young Lady…….”

As I strode down the stairs, Sophie fidgeted and followed me.

“Why would you do that? The Duke is terrifying when he’s angry, you know.”

“Let him be angry.”

Who’s afraid of that? I snorted, and Sophie made a tearful face.

“Don’t make that expression. If they kick me out, I’ll just go to an inn.”

“Please don’t say that. You’ve only just been reunited…….”

“Playing happy family is not my style.”

“Hup.”

At my words, Sophie gasped sharply. Was I being too cold? I thought “oops” at Sophie’s reaction, but it couldn’t be helped.

To be honest, I felt nothing about reuniting with the Marquess and Duke Bright. It was surprising and strange that I had a family I didn’t even know existed, but that was it—they were still strangers to me.

No matter how much blood we shared, affection wouldn’t grow in just a few days.

Far from feeling any familial warmth toward the two of them, any trace of goodwill I might have had had vanished after hearing the Crown Prince’s story about the Bright Young Lady. I didn’t know what kind of terrible deeds she’d committed, but judging by the circumstances, it was clear the Duke and Marquess hadn’t properly protected her.

No matter how much the world pointed fingers, shouldn’t family shield one another’s faults no matter what? That’s what family meant to me. The reason I tolerated my mother, who abandoned her duties as a lord and wandered the world, was because she was my family.

In that sense, the Marquess and Duke Bright were complete failures. The Marquess had plenty of affection for his daughter, but he wasn’t reliable as a father. The Duke was even worse—the worst, in fact.

They probably hadn’t taken good care of the Bright Young Lady. Perhaps, like my mother, they had neglected her.

But at least I had the butler and the nanny—what about the Bright Young Lady? If the Crown Prince’s words were true, she had no one. Perhaps a nanny named Elena?

That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to like the Duke and Marquess.

“We’ve arrived, Young Lady.”

“Thank you.”

We arrived faster than I expected. I paid the coachman and stepped out of the carriage. A vast square spread out before me.

“Wow.”

As expected of the capital, the scale was extraordinary. An exclamation of awe escaped me.

I looked around with sparkling eyes. Tempest Square, one of the capital’s busiest commercial districts, was lined with outdoor cafes, restaurants, and various shops, centered around a large fountain in the middle.

“Our territory’s downtown couldn’t even hold a candle to this.”

As I examined the shops lined up along the roads stretching in all four directions, I let out a small sigh. Even trying not to compare, I kept thinking of the territory.

“Where am I supposed to go now…….”

I fumbled inside my hood and pulled out a map. It had been enclosed in the letter delivered yesterday afternoon by the Crown Prince’s aide, who had come to the Marquess’s residence.

*’Oh, I know this place! It’s a cafe that’s become really popular lately! It’s a bit out of the way, but it’s famous because the owner is a spirit summoner!’*

Cafe Rest. According to Sophie, the cafe the Crown Prince had chosen as their meeting place seemed to be quite popular among people these days.

“The newspaper building, then turn right into the alley…….”

Since I’d left the Marquess’s residence early, I had plenty of time. The problem was that I didn’t know the way to the meeting place. In our territory, I could find anywhere with my eyes closed, but the capital was different. Being a stranger everywhere made it hard to reach my destination.

As I stood there with the map, looking around because I didn’t know which direction to go, someone gently tugged at my clothes from below.

“Miss, do you need help?”

“Hm?”

I looked down at the small voice and saw a scruffy-looking child looking up at me. Judging by the basket with a few oranges, apples, and wildflowers, they seemed to be a street vendor.

“Are you looking for a place?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Do you know where this is? It’s supposed to be a cafe run by a spirit summoner.”

“……! I know it! Go that way and turn into the alley!”

The child’s eyes sparkled as they pointed to a neat-looking building, then took the lead as if telling me to follow. I pulled my hood down deeper and kept watch on my surroundings. I wanted to avoid a repeat of the first day, when everyone—noble or commoner—would shout “Bright Young Lady” the moment they saw me.

“Just go into this alley.”

The child stopped in front of an alley between two buildings and smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“The oranges look delicious. Would you sell me one?”

I decided to buy some of the fruit the child was selling as a thank you.

“Just a moment…… Ah!”

I bent down to reach for a coin, thinking a silver piece would be enough, and my hood slipped slightly. A bit of hair fell out, but my face wasn’t exposed, so I didn’t think much of it as I reached for my money pouch. Then I heard a surprised voice from behind.

“Bright Young Lady?”

Damn it, again. A curse slipped out instantly. At this rate, I’d soon develop a seizure just from hearing the words “Bright Young Lady.”

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“Wait!”

I pulled my hood back up with a small sigh, but someone roughly grabbed my arm. In the process, my hood was completely pushed back and my hair flew loose.

“What are you doing?!”

Ah, really. The irritation flared up, and I turned my head to say something—only to see glossy orange hair, like a ripe orange, swaying before my eyes.

“Goodness, it really is you!”

A girl with abundant, wavy curls like rolling waves let out a gasp upon confirming my face.

“I knew I wasn’t mistaken!”

You *were* mistaken.

Unlike the thrilled orange-haired girl, my mood sank endlessly. There was no doubt about it—everyone in the capital must have some collective vision problem.

How could every single person I meet react like this? The only person who recognized me apparently did so by scent rather than face. How depressing, truly.

I’m not denying that the Bright Young Lady and I look alike. Even I could see we were strikingly similar—I got goosebumps when I saw the portrait earlier.

But that was that, and this was this. The thought that I’d keep being mistaken like this in the future was disheartening. The Crown Prince’s advice that it might be better to return to my territory was probably for this very reason.

“Sigh.”

My chest felt heavy, and heavy sighs kept escaping. Whether I sighed or not, the orange-haired girl was excited all by herself.

“I heard you caused a commotion a few days ago and got caught by the guard…… but I still couldn’t believe it……!”

So that rumor had spread that far. I hadn’t caused a commotion—it was the people who saw me who got startled and called the guard. Unbelievable.

“I’m so relieved you’re safe!”

Why is she acting so familiar? This was a new kind of reaction.

I narrowed my eyes warily at the chattering orange-haired girl. Judging by her attire, she seemed to be from a reasonably respectable family.

“When did you return to the capital? Is the runaway incident over now?”

At the orange-haired girl’s question, the Crown Prince’s story flashed through my mind. He’d said the Bright Young Lady had no one she could open her heart to. That everyone had used her and made her a laughingstock.

But the orange-haired young lady speaking to me now was different from everyone else I’d met so far. She was acting warmly, as if she’d encountered a dearly missed acquaintance. That made me even more suspicious.

“Everyone was so worried after you disappeared like that, Young Lady. There were even nasty rumors going around…… I can’t imagine how scared you must have been.”

If everything the Crown Prince said was true, there was a good chance this person was one of those who had used the Bright Young Lady or made her a scapegoat. At that thought, I snapped to attention as if doused with cold water.

She might be an enemy. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, my body moved first. I stepped back, avoiding the orange-haired girl. And I stared at her with wary eyes.

“Bright Young Lady?”

At my reaction, a puzzled light flickered in her amber eyes. Tilting her head as if trying to gauge the situation, the orange-haired young lady let out an “Ah” of realization.

“Don’t tell me you’re still angry?”

“Still?”

“Yes. You’re still angry at me, aren’t you?”

“No…….”

I was about to answer without thinking, then closed my mouth. Listening to the orange-haired young lady speak, I had a strong feeling I might be able to get some useful information out of her.