The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 111

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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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11. Looking Different

‘So soft and fluffy…! It really is nice sleeping in a bed.’

I opened my eyes after rolling around pleasantly on the large, fluffy bed.

I was currently at the Duchy of Alchemy’s Capital Mansion.

Following the Duke’s words to rest well since I had worked hard, I had fallen asleep as if fainting, and when I woke up it was already noon.

‘I did sleep in a bed yesterday too, but Lina was beside me then. Wow, when was the last time I slept in so late?’

Fortunately, it was still the Founding Festival week, so today was a holiday too.

After refreshingly getting up, I desperately sent away the maid who offered to help me wash, finished bathing, and went down to the reception room.

Then the Duke of Alchemiya welcomed me. Unlike me with my still-damp hair, she was perfectly dressed.

“Did you have good dreams, Elisha? Come have a cup of tea with me while the meal is being prepared.”

In front of her were newspapers piled high.

I could tell even with a sideways glance.

The front pages were all…

“The whole world is talking about you because of what happened at the Imperial Palace yesterday.”

They were articles about me.

Of course, there were also articles about the process of Rosaline’s arrest and highlighting Lina and the Duke of Alchemiya who had upheld the Empire’s justice despite the danger.

However, in any case, the climax was occupied by appraiser Elisha.

‘I knew it would become a topic, but I didn’t expect it to be this much. It’s a bit embarrassing.’

As I was awkwardly scratching the back of my neck, I saw an article in a gossip magazine and frowned.

[…While everyone is praising the new protagonist ‘Elisha’ who appeared in the boring social circles, according to anonymous informant ‘E’, there are voices of concern that she is arrogant and rude and will surely cause trouble…]

‘Good grief, anyone can see that anonymous informant ‘E’ is Edwina.’

Edwina must have found me quite annoying and unpleasant to look at, seeing how she ran off to give an interview to a gossip magazine.

Thanks to that, I didn’t feel embarrassed at all anymore.

If I can upset Edwina even more, bring on as many articles as you want!

I can endure the embarrassment!

As I was thinking, I heard the Duke’s gentle voice.

“Thanks to you, I was also able to return to social circles receiving unprecedented attention.”

Although there were many stories about me, the tone of articles about Lina and the Duke of Alchemiya were all favorable too.

“Of course, Princess will also be able to show her judgment and decisiveness through this incident, so her position will rise even more. I want to thank you.”

The status of the two people, who had been dismissed as merely a gloomy princess and a sickly duke, had risen at once.

It was just as I had hoped. It was a fortunate thing.

“Oh, it’s thanks to you smoothly embellishing the situation, Duke.”

“You even know how to give credit to others. As expected, my adopted daughter has such a big heart.”

Cough.

I almost choked, but the Duke of Alchemiya calmly sipped her tea.

Somehow it seemed like the corners of her mouth visible below the teacup were smiling.

“Cough, ahem, if I may ask, were you serious about what you said yesterday? Am I really your adopted daughter, Duke?”

“Then who else would I take as an adopted daughter? Do you perhaps dislike it?”

“No-?! It’s such an honor! But, well, that is to say! Are you really okay with me? I heard you rejected all the numerous proposals you’ve received until now…”

“Hoho.”

The Duke of Alchemiya looked at me stammering and smiled gently.

“Of course, many people came wanting to become my adopted son or daughter. Whatever their true intentions, they all appeared devoted on the surface, carefully watching to see if there was anything that might inconvenience me, never leaving my side. But.”

She spoke quietly.

“That’s not what parents expect from their children.”

“Ah…”

“Adopted sons and daughters are also children, aren’t they? Parents don’t wish for their child to be bound to them and live only for them.”

The Duke of Alchemiya’s calm but clear words had resonance.

“Even if lacking, hoping they prioritize managing their own lives well – that’s a parent’s heart.”

Her words made me think of Grandfather.

Grandfather too would have wanted me to do well on my own, to find happiness on my own.

“Watching you like that, you made me want to support your life. So I made this decision wanting to support and watch over your life from a little closer.”

The Duke of Alchemiya took my hand.

She said affectionately.

“As you have until now, continue doing what you think is right, Elisha. That’s all I wish from you.”

“…Thank you, Duke.”

My eyes were getting teary for no reason, so I was biting my lip when the Duke said playfully.

“By the way, I can clearly picture what Michele will say when he hears this news.”

“What do you think Grandfather will say?”

“You can just quietly support someone on your own, what’s this about adopted daughter, adopted daughter. That child is my granddaughter, you know? Isn’t that enough?”

Wow, that’s so exactly like him. I was amazed.

“I think he’ll say something like that.”

“That’s creepy, I can hear his voice right now. I really think Grandfather will say that…?”

“What that friend will say is obvious. You’ll have to explain it well to him.”

Thanks to that, my tears completely dried up.

Now I’m worried about dry eyes.

‘I guess Grandfather and the Duke of Alchemiya were closer friends than I thought? …But then why didn’t Grandfather inform the Duke of his whereabouts all this time?’

As I was thinking, the Duke spoke to me.

“Oh, by the way, the compilation of letters you requested is finished. The letters Michele and I exchanged before he disappeared.”

“Wow, really? Thank you!”

“But looking at them again, there were some rather peculiar contents…”

“Peculiar contents?”

“Yes, words that aren’t like that friend. As you know, Michele is terrible with trivial stories, isn’t he?”

Terrible – it was an accurate assessment that hit Grandfather right in the bone.

“That’s right, he didn’t like talking about personal matters or old stories. Even to me, his granddaughter.”

“But just before disappearing, he talked about some dream. The same dream kept repeating.”

‘A dream?’

Grandfather certainly wasn’t the type to pay attention to things like dreams.

“He didn’t write it down in detail, but it might be a clue, so take a look yourself.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Not at all. When Nicholas finishes his testimony and returns, I plan to go down to the duchy, and then I’ll review if anything is missing and send it here.”

“Yes? By here, you mean the Duke’s mansion…?”

“This is your home now too.”

The Duke’s residence being my home – just as I was about to be surprised by such an unexpected statement.

“Oh, I forgot to mention, but you need to open the windows every day to let the air circulate, and water the plants every three days…”

The mansion management instructions pouring out made my head spin.

Indeed, the weight of the crown of being the Duke’s adopted daughter isn’t something you can get for free!

Even while flustered, I tried to write it down, but the Duke giggled like a young girl.

“I’m joking. The resident butler and attendants are already taking good care of that.”

“…I almost fainted, Duke…”

She’s quite mischievous.

The Duke looked at me holding my forehead with amusement and smiled.

“Still, I’ll give you the keys to this mansion before I leave. There’s no particular reason, but you might sometimes want to throw parties or invite guests, right? It would be difficult to entertain guests at the pawnshop.”

Having unintentionally made a spectacular debut in social circles, I needed a proper venue just as the Duke said.

‘I hadn’t thought that far, but she really has good sense.’

As I was bowing my head deeply in gratitude, something came to mind.

“Oh, Duke. Could I possibly have Chloe stay here?”

Then the Duke smiled.

“Then. That child will be the first guest you invite.”

*

After finishing lunch, I thought as I returned to the pawnshop.

‘First, let me go see Chloe, who should be with Emma.’

When I asked Emma for cooperation, saying it was about ‘that mage’ I had mentioned before, she immediately agreed.

I cautiously mentioned it was someone addicted to dark magic, but Emma didn’t mind at all.

“It’s fine! I thought it would be something like that! Destiny always requires adversity! Don’t lose to fate, Elisha!”

I had no idea what she was talking about…

Anyway, Emma readily accepted both transmitting the images from the magic device and investigating Chloe’s dark magic.

‘The results should be ready by now. How deeply the dark magic has penetrated Chloe’s body.’

Come to think of it, Crescenziano had said he also knew how to heal people addicted to dark magic.

But since it was late at night and he said he needed to sleep, I couldn’t hear it and had to leave in a hurry. When would I be able to hear about it?

Should I contact the Cardinal?

‘But he helped me tremendously just yesterday, and contacting him again today asking him to tell me about something else I’m curious about feels a bit… Should I wait just one day?’

Actually, there wasn’t much difference between today and tomorrow, but since I was already being shameless, I thought that much would at least be a pretense of showing courtesy.

When I arrived at the street in front of the pawnshop, lost in thought, my steps came to an abrupt halt.

Some people were knocking on my pawnshop door. And there were so many of them gathered there!

Then someone saw me and shouted.

“Over there! There she is!”

What?

I was being cautious and slowly backing away when it happened.

“Miss Elisha! Please take a look here!”

“Please give us an interview!”

“Is it true that you’re a member of the Rionet Family, Miss Elisha! If so, will you inherit the titles and assets confiscated from former Viscount Rosaline and former Count Hugo?!”

Camera flashes went off everywhere.

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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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