Translator: Nox

Chapter 69

69

But that's impossible. Lisette died in childbirth in January. I was born on February 29th.

Even knowing it's absurd, whenever I see Javelin's expression or Dad looking at Baby Bird's shoes, I can't help but wish for it.

"You know, if I were Baby Bird, I'd be very sad to see Javelin like that."

"……."

"It's really heartbreaking to know that the Aunt you love is sad because of you."

At my careful words, Javelin chuckled.

"Go back carefully."

Then he ruffled my hair slightly, and I smiled brightly, happy about it.

The next day, Dad, my brothers, and I left The Capital with the entire mansion seeing us off.

---

Two weeks after returning to the territory.

"Good morning, Young Lady."

"Did you have good dreams?"

I greeted the employees and headed to the dressing room with the maids.

I woke up too early and was so sleepy. As I rubbed my hazy eyes, Dahlia, Linda, and Uni picked up a Video stone, exclaiming, "So cute-!"

Their hobby, which had gone beyond just finding me cute to becoming continent-wide doting fools, was to capture my image on video and share it.

After being in The Capital for a few weeks, this reaction had become awkward and embarrassing, but after exactly two weeks, it became familiar again, just like before.

But…….

'Huh?'

I was startled by the employees crowded around the dressing room, the door, and the windows.

"There are more Video stones than usual today."

As I said, shaking Leah's sleeve, the three maids giggled and replied.

"That's because today is a monumental day."

"That's right, it's a special day."

"The Young Lady's first tea party!"

That's right. Today was the first day I would meet the children of the territory.

Dad kept his promise and threw me a tea party.

Until now, Dubled had only met with people and high-ranking retainers in the castle, but now I would meet people from all over this territory.

Leah, who was sitting me in a chair, brushed my hair and asked.

"Aren't you excited?"

"……I'm a little excited."

Honestly, I was a little excited because it was the first time I was holding a tea party in my name, other than in my first life.

As my cheeks flushed, I heard the Video stones whirring around me.

"Cute!"

"So lovely today!"

I shook my head.

I wore Melbein's dress, which I had bought in The Capital, and the ribbons and shoes that Seria had put her heart and soul into choosing and sending with the clothing shipment.

"You look very beautiful today."

"I know!"

Wearing a red dress with the family crest, I thought I looked good even to myself, so I put my hands on my hips and raised my head.

The employees chuckled.

After finishing the preparations and checking the party, it was around lunchtime.

It was time for the tea party to begin.

As I stepped out into the garden, it was more crowded than usual.

Cute little Young Lady wearing large bonnets and adorable little gentlemen in oversized formal wear were chatting as they went around the catering course.

"I heard there was sad news at that house yesterday. It's really a shame."

"Yes, I accidentally crushed Lord Rotten, the stag beetle, while I was sleeping……. Lord Rotten was a truly valiant stag beetle."

"Oh my……."

The children were imitating the social interactions of adults, acting dignified.

'Cute-!'

It was my first time making friends my age, so my heart was pounding.

As I entered with an excited heart, the employees guarding the party venue bowed at once.

Then the children also stood up one by one and paid their respects to me.

"We greet the Dubled's beloved Young Lady."

"We greet the Dubled's beloved Young Lady."

I accepted the greetings by bowing my head about 10 degrees.

Noth, who had taught me etiquette, subtly gave me a thumbs up from the corner of the party venue.

"Nice to meet you, everyone. I'm LeBlaine Lisette Dubled."

After my introduction, I raised my eyebrows once to signal them to sit down.

'How's this?'

When I looked at Noth, he gave me a doting smile and double thumbs up.

I giggled inwardly.

I practiced raising my eyebrows so much because it was so difficult.

The table I sat at was the one in the very center.

It was a place for the children of high-ranking retainers or outside guests.

'There are no invited guests…… Where did they go?'

I tilted my head, but the other children quickly started talking to me, and I fell into conversation.

"Thank you for the invitation-da. Viscount Misengke is my father."

"Baroness Nyesh is my grandmother."

"I'm the youngest of the Cruolla barony."

The children introduced themselves to me one after another.

"What are your names?"

At my words, the Young Lady and Young Masters asked, "Huh?"

'Huh…… Cute.'

I had only seen adults with intimidating expressions in the castle, so seeing these small and lovely children made me happy.

The son of Viscount Misengke, who was the oldest of the children at the table, said.

"I'm Killian Misengke. I'm twelve years old."

'Oh, he's the same age as Isaac.'

I smiled brightly, feeling inexplicably happy, and Killian's face turned red.

"I, I'm the eldest son of the Misengke viscountcy……."

His voice suddenly faded.

He must have been embarrassed by the attention of the children.

Unlike Isaac, who had beaten a monster wolf that came down from the mountain yesterday, I found him very cute.

As I was smiling, the children who were glancing back and forth between me and Killian with sulky expressions quickly said.

"I'm Sophie Nyesh!"

"I'm Max Cruolla!"

The children from the other tables also jumped in and introduced themselves.

It wasn't polite behavior.

The parents, who were peeking from outside the garden to see if the children were doing well, were flustered and gaped, "Oh my, you!"

But I didn't mind this much of an accident.

'It's weaker than I expected.'

I was worried that even a very young child might come and get nervous and pee.

"Ah, so you're the granddaughter of Baron Nyesh. I heard about you from the baron last time. I heard you play the piano very well?"

I took care of each and every one of the children.

The expressions of the children at the party venue were bright.

But then.

"Huh? I'm asking you!"

A shout rang out from the entrance.

It was a tall and slender boy, but I could only see the back of his head.

"Ah…… It's him again……."

The children shrank their shoulders with gloomy voices.

"Why?"

When I asked, Killian drooped his eyebrows and answered.

"He's a guest from outside……. He's the child of a High nobles family."

"He was shouting even when the Young Lady wasn't here……."

"He said the Dubled children are just rude idiots. It's too much……."

I looked around at the children who were shrinking back and stood up.

Then I headed towards the commotion. The children followed me in droves.

The girl who was being harassed by the boy was on the verge of tears.

The girl had jet-black hair like ebony and beautiful green eyes, and was as cute as a doll.

"I, I, it's not that, I was just surprised when you suddenly touched my face……."

Touched?

The girl looked at least fourteen years old, and the boy looked about fifteen.

They were old enough to know that it was common sense not to touch a lady carelessly.

"If a direct descendant of a High nobles family asks a child from a vassal family for their name, they should say thank you and answer. How dare you!"

I stepped between the two and hid the girl behind my back.

"Who are you……!"

That kid was Billy Penyak.

[If the second son of the Penyak viscountcy asks a beggar for their name, they should say thank you and answer. How dare you!]

He was the pervert who stroked my waist in my past life.

And I had met him in my second life as well.

He was a close friend of the eldest son of Duke Valois.

The Penyak viscountcy was a prestigious family, and his brother was a high-ranking Priest, so even Valua, who cared about status, often associated with him.

That guy who scanned my body with lustful eyes every time I came to Valua's place.

Eventually, around the age of seventeen, he was caught by the royal guards for raping the only daughter of some viscount, but he was released with the excuse that he was drunk and with the help of his father's influence.

"……Are you the Young Lady?"

He cleared his throat, seeing the seal on my finger.

"I'm Billy Penyak. I'm attending in place of Young Master Dellerd. I caused a commotion."

"Yes. You caused a commotion at my first party."

"That's…… Yes, well…… I'm sorry."

"I think you have the wrong person to apologize to."

"Yes?"

I took the hand of the sobbing girl and looked at the children at the party venue and said.

"You should apologize to my guests who were offended."

"It's enough to apologize to the Young Lady, why should I to a vassal family……!"

"As you said, they are the children of Dubled's vassal families. They are my children that I must protect."

What are you doing to our kids.

Then the children looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Billy frowned, his pride hurt.

"I can't! How can you give me such humiliation! You're not even a real Dubled person anyway……."

"What did you say?"

"Isn't it true? You were adopted."

The employees at the party venue stiffened at the words that meant I was an orphan.

The expressions of the parents peeking from the garden also turned cold.

The girl holding my hand flinched and squeezed my hand.

"Really."

As I muttered softly, Billy became smug, thinking that he had intimidated me with his words.

I gently took off the gloves I was wearing and tossed them in front of him.

Billy swallowed a hollow laugh at the sight of the white gloves, which signified a duel.

"You must have read a lot of novels. A girl being able to beat a man is something that only happens in novels."

"Is that so?"

"Don't lose face with arrogance."

Billy grinned as if he was going to let me off easy.

"I'll take care of my own face, so come out."

"Oh, come on. I'm speechless."

"Before I make an official complaint to the Penyak family."

"……!"

Then Billy's face turned pale.

He hadn't even received a formal invitation to Dubled, and if he caused a commotion and received an official complaint, it would be difficult for even his great father to handle.

"……You mean you won't duel?"

"Yes."

I shrugged and said.

I stood by the door and said, "Let's go." Billy clicked his tongue and stepped forward first.

It was absurd for a gentleman to fight a lady, but he must have thought that he had a definite excuse since I had even mentioned an official complaint.

On top of that, he probably wanted to beat up a girl from an orphanage who was lucky enough to be adopted into Dubled.

I moved to a place a little away from the tea party area and faced Billy.

He picked up a wooden sword that his servant had brought and raised the corners of his mouth.

"Did the Young Lady start this?"

"Come on."

Billy chuckled and kicked off the ground. The distance between him and me quickly narrowed.

But he couldn't reach me.

When the distance between us was less than 3 meters, he was blocked by a Barrier.

And in an instant, a ball of fire surrounded him.

"W, w, wait…… Wait a minute!"

When he screamed, the ball of fire transformed into a lion shape, "Krrr!!" and swallowed him.

"Kuaaak-!"

Billy sat down and blocked his head with both arms.

His pants became wet.

I smiled brightly and said.

"Were you surprised by a girl?"