"Ahhh, Milady! At least, at least this!"
Eventually, the maids failed to change my clothes and hurriedly decorated my waist with a bright red ribbon and tied up my hair.
It seems they tried to hide the plainness by making it feel like a ribbon set.
I decided to let that much slide.
They must have realized clearly what happens if they provoke me wrongly this time.
"Honestly, it suits you well."
I stopped walking for a moment and turned my head.
My reflection was in the window.
"..."
Black curly hair tied up with a red ribbon, fair skin with rosy cheeks, blood-red eyes, small height, a black dress layered over a white blouse, velvet shoes with round toes.
It had been a long time since I saw myself.
I don't think I had much chance to see myself since I first opened my eyes.
I've been too busy in many ways.
Maybe that's why.
The small figure of myself that I saw after a long time felt unfamiliar.
'Come to think of it...'
Maybe it's because I've been eating well and working hard.
I've gained a little weight and my complexion is good.
'Did I get a little taller too?'
I tried raising my heels, but I couldn't tell.
I had a physical exam with Aen on the first day, so I can compare it with the record.
"..."
I quietly stared at my reflection in the window.
Overall, a lot has changed.
Clean, neat, and no longer skin and bones.
So if you ask if I'm satisfied, well...
'I can see that I'm the kind of person who can pull this off.'
I was also amazed by my appearance that I had never been able to have.
But that's it.
There was no more emotion than that.
Whoosh.
Without any regrets, I turned my head and started walking again.
'By the way, where did Marin go?'
She said she would be back before dinner, but she's nowhere to be seen.
Thanks to that, I'm going to the dining hall alone.
One of the maids who dressed me offered to go with me, but I refused.
It's not like I don't know the way to the dining hall.
However, as I got closer to the dining hall, my pace gradually slowed down.
'I don't want to go.'
I don't want to step into that place filled only with people who hate me.
'Vancis is one thing now, but I really don't want to see Estio's face.'
Especially Estio at this time...
I know he's someone I'll have to confront someday, but not now.
But what can I do?
I can't ignore the Duke's order.
I walked as slowly as possible, hoping that dinner would be over by the time I arrived.
"Everyone gathered a little while ago. Milady is the last one."
A maid waiting in front of the door said kindly.
I stared at the door with a stiff expression.
The entire Rodbel family is gathered beyond this door.
They're probably having a pleasant time.
A very harmonious family. As always.
And the moment I walk in, they'll stop smiling as if they never did, and look at me with stern faces.
I'm used to it.
'Right.'
It's a place I would never have come to normally, but since I've come this far anyway.
'Let's make it a complete minefield.'
I'll make sure they don't even think about calling me again.
I felt good thinking about the Duke's reaction to my actions.
'Well, who told him to call me?'
This is all the Duke's fault.
I held my head high and said to the maid.
"Open it."
"Yes."
The maid bowed her head and opened the door.
Sure enough.
"Big Brother, how's academy life? Didn't you miss me?"
"Of course, I missed you."
"Hey, Miracle, don't act like a child! Hyung, how is it there?"
"Tch, Little Brother is more like a child?!""
"What, what did you say?"
"Don't fight. Ask questions one by one. I'll answer them all."
The voices of the three siblings, getting along, flowed out from the open door.
The Duke's voice isn't heard, but he's probably listening to his children's conversation quietly.
"...Shall I announce you?"
The maid asked with a pitiful look, as I just stood still listening to the voices inside.
Pitiful.
There was no one in this mansion who pitied me.
I must look pretty pathetic at this moment.
'What's new about that.'
I suppressed the rising sneer and nodded.
Creak.
The door opened. And.
"Miss Lucia has arrived."
As soon as the maid went in and announced my arrival.
All the sounds disappeared.
In the middle of it-
Tap, tap.
Only my footsteps echoed.
In the silence, Vancis pointed at me with wide eyes, as if about to explode.
"Y-you..."
But he couldn't finish his words.
Miracle was also surprised by my appearance, with a shocked expression.
Ligrin, who was standing one step behind, was looking at me with a complicated face.
Estio was...
'I feel a sense of killing intent.'
He's trying to maintain a poker face, but the cold, murderous eyes looked like they would freeze me to death immediately.
I passed them all and approached the Duke, who was sitting in the highest seat.
I respectfully put my hands together and bowed my head to him, who was staring intently at me. And.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"..."
"Father."
"......!"
The moment he heard the title 'Father', the Duke's expression hardened terribly.
He stared at me without blinking.
He seems pretty angry.
'Hmph. Who told him to call me here?'
The Duke touched me first.
'It's a pity that the only revenge I can take right now is calling him Father, but.'
Seeing his frozen face, my regret seems to fade a little.
"Then I'll go sit next to Brother Vancis."
"...Do so."
The Duke, who regained his composure, nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. Father."
I dealt another blow.
"..."
This time too, the Duke showed no reaction other than hardening his expression and glaring at me.
I smiled inwardly and moved my feet lightly.
I passed Estio and Miracle and sat next to Vancis.
The only remaining seats were next to Estio and Vancis, so I had no choice but to choose here.
I'd rather sit next to Vancis than sit next to Estio.
"Hey, are you crazy?"
As soon as I sat next to him, Vancis whispered.
The problem is that his voice is too loud, so whispering is meaningless.
"What are you saying, Brother Vancis?"
"Wh-what...?"
When I called him brother with a innocent face to maintain the concept, Vancis's eyes widened so much that they seemed to burst.
At that time, Miracle, who was sitting next to Estio, leaned towards me.
Miracle was wearing a pure white dress today, and she looked like a snow fairy.
Miracle looked at me and smiled brightly, saying.
"You look so pretty today, Lucia! Especially the dress looks like it's a set with Lucia."
Looks like it's a set with me, huh...
Is it a compliment or a sarcasm?
If it were before, the moment I heard those words, I wouldn't have been able to do anything because I would have been bothered by the clothes.
But now...
"Yeah, thank you, Miracle. I think I look really pretty today too."
I told you. My concept today.
Making it a minefield.
After smiling brightly, I leaned forward and looked at the Duke.
"Hey, stop that again..."
Vancis pulled me, but I shook him off lightly and said.
"Father, I heard. You asked the head maid to help me with my grooming. Thanks to that, I was able to wear pretty clothes to my heart's content. Thank you!"
I rather hoped that the Duke would burst out in anger here and kick me out.
I smiled brightly and looked at the Duke.
I was doing everything that the Duke would hate, from impolite behavior to calling him father and grinning directly in front of him.
'Why isn't he saying anything?'
He should be kicking me out by now?
He's just quietly staring at me.
My face is smiling, but my head is filled with '???'.
It was then.
"You've changed a lot while I haven't seen you, Lucia."
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