If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20

The adults didn’t tell me about Lady Kate’s final fate.

However, that didn’t mean I could only know if they told me.

Through my own channels, I found out what punishment Lady Kate—or rather, just Kate, as she had become—my former etiquette teacher had received, and I was quite satisfied.

‘That’s my mother for you.’

And I got a new etiquette teacher.

Having experienced what results came from choosing a teacher based on good reputation alone, Mother very carefully selected my new teacher—Lady Belmore.

Lady Belmore was a strict but kind teacher, just like in the first round.

While some connections from the first round were rekindled, albeit a bit late, there was also one case where a connection that hadn’t properly formed in the first round was now established.

That was with Lady Ravis.

When the information guild hired by the ducal house approached the gentle and timid Lady Ravis, she initially remained completely silent.

However, when told that other children were also being harmed, she found the courage to give her testimony, which became very important evidence proving Kate’s crimes.

Mother invited Lady Ravis and her mother to the Duke’s Residence, both to praise Lady Ravis’ courage and to comfort her as the greatest victim.

“H-hello, Your Grace.”

Lady Ravis, wearing what was clearly a newly tailored dress, greeted Mother with a trembling voice as she arrived at the Duke’s Residence.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”

Mother greeted Lady Ravis, who was a year younger than Lionel, with a gentler voice than usual.

“Hello, Lady Ravis. And Lady Ravis’ Mother.”

To lighten the mood and indirectly express my gratitude for the help I had received, I also greeted them cheerfully as I joined the gathering.

“Yes, hello, Young Lady.”

Lady Ravis, who had seemed a bit nervous when greeting Mother, the perfect noblewoman, greeted me more comfortably.

‘Lady Ravis’ fear of noblewomen existed from childhood.’

Still, it was fortunate that she seemed fine when dealing with young me or conversing with her mother, Lady Ravis’ Mother.

‘She’s still young, so the wounds will fade as she grows up. She’ll gradually get better.’

I smiled brightly at Lady Ravis, hoping her heart would heal quickly.

Lady Ravis also smiled back at me, albeit awkwardly.

Fortunately, Lady Ravis’ tension didn’t last very long.

After finishing a cup of tea with as much milk as Lester’s, she began conversing quite well with Mother too.

‘She was originally a very smart and delicate girl.’

The dim and gloomy first impression of Lady Ravis from our first-round meeting had stuck with me, but this meeting served to erase that impression.

Lady Ravis was that good of a person.

“Lionel is an old soul whose thoughts I can’t read, Lester is a childish prankster, and Miela is a spoiled child, but how can Lady Ravis be so calm and mature?”

Mother even praised Lady Ravis jokingly while speaking ill of us siblings.

“No, Your Grace.”

Lady Ravis waved her hands in embarrassment.

“Our Merlin is more mature than her peers. She’s also very thoughtful.”

Lady Ravis’ Mother, pleased by the praise of her child, subtly joined in to add more compliments.

Mother, who could be counted among the empire’s most doting parents, smiled gently and agreed with Lady Ravis’ Mother.

Mother and Lady Ravis’ Mother spent a while harmoniously listing praises with Lady Ravis right in front of them.

The atmosphere, where only Lady Ravis was squirming in embarrassment, suddenly cooled when the topic momentarily jumped to ‘that incident.’

“She’s always been so empathetic and filial that she’s had many minor illnesses since childhood, but she rarely complained about being in pain. So that’s how…”

Among the hardships Lady Ravis hadn’t spoken about, Kate’s matter was probably the biggest.

Lady Ravis’ Mother’s expression hardened as her thoughts went in that direction.

However, not wanting to bring up old matters in front of her daughter who had just found the courage to escape from difficult circumstances, Lady Ravis’ Mother quickly composed her expression and changed the subject.

“Merlin is also very popular with animals.”

“Oh my, they say animals are particularly drawn to children with good hearts.”

Mother quickly picked up the conversation.

Lady Ravis, who had been nervously rolling her eyes as if another barrage of compliments might begin, made eye contact with me.

“Th-the Young Lady is also very dignified and lovely.”

‘This girl?’

It seemed like she was calculating to escape by turning the conversation topic to me.

‘I don’t dislike compliments, but.’

Right now, watching Lady Ravis being embarrassed was more entertaining.

I quickly opened my mouth before either my doting mother or Lady Ravis’ Mother, who seemed eager to return the favor after bragging about her child, could interrupt.

“Wow, there’s a cat named Nabi living at the Duke’s Residence too, but she doesn’t really like me much, so I’m jealous! What’s your secret?”

Actually, there was one reason why Nabi didn’t like me.

‘Because I cling to her too much, thinking she’s cute.’

Even that was more like finding me annoying rather than disliking me.

‘Right? That’s right, isn’t it?’

I hoped my memory hadn’t been distorted by the power of nostalgia as I eagerly bombarded Lady Ravis with questions.

“I’m not really sure of the reason.”

As Lady Ravis diligently answered my questions, another bombardment of compliments poured down on her.

Lady Ravis, unable to bear it any longer, spoke as if complaining.

“I have many shortcomings too, people might tease me if they heard this.”

Finding her daughter’s reaction amusing, Lady Ravis’ Mother laughed playfully.

“Come to think of it.”

As if remembering a cute anecdote about her daughter, Lady Ravis’ Mother winked and opened her mouth.

“Our daughter does have some quirky aspects.”

“Quirky aspects?”

Mother showed interest at the mention of quirky behavior from Lady Ravis, who only seemed calm.

Lady Ravis’ Mother excitedly began her story.

“You know how children have imaginary friends when they’re young? Merlin’s friends were particularly detailed. They were fairy friends about the size of a young child’s palm.”

As I listened to the story, one part stuck out particularly clearly in my ears.

‘Fairies the size of a young child’s palm?’

Come to think of it, the mention of having many minor illnesses in childhood and animals being particularly drawn to her was bothering me.

‘These are exactly the characteristics of a spirit mage.’

Spirit mages, who began disappearing as the mana in nature decreased, were now becoming almost legendary beings.

‘But in a few years, one child from a lower noble family supporting the Crown Prince manifests as an earth spirit mage.’

Though a lower-level spirit mage, she still had the ability to make about one fairly large field fertile per day.

‘The Crown Prince benefited greatly from that.’

With a hopeful heart, I asked a question.

“By the way, what did Lady Ravis’ fairy friends look like?”

Lady Ravis answered diligently, though embarrassed about bringing up childhood stories.

“Usually several would appear when I was bathing or walking by the fountain in the garden. They were fairies with a pale blue tint and transparent wings.”

Thanks to that, I could be certain.

‘Water spirits!’

Several at once, even?

Without even making a contract?

This meant she had the potential of at least an intermediate spirit mage.

I jumped up from my seat and headed toward Lady Ravis across from me.

“Young Lady?”

I grabbed the hands of the bewildered Lady Ravis and spoke as if confessing.

“Lady Ravis—no, Merlin. Please be my friend!”

My whole face said: I refuse to accept rejection.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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