The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 23

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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 23

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As soon as Richard returned home, he wanted to grab Lillieta and bombard her with questions about guns, but he was blocked by the Countess’s firm will to let Lili rest.

Leonhardt became busy investigating the incident of a wyvern that lived in the deep mountains suddenly appearing in the city, so he couldn’t come to see Lillieta.

Thanks to this, Rita was able to leisurely bathe alone, rest well, and organize her thoughts.

At her single word that she wanted to bathe, the maids filled the marble bathtub with hot water, dissolved bath salts, sprinkled gold powder, and even floated flower petals on top.

For Rita, who hadn’t bathed in warm water for 12 years, it was shockingly luxurious bath water.

But in Lili’s memories, it was just the bath water she saw every day.

Feeling anew how vastly different Rita’s daily life and Lili’s daily life were, Lillieta sank her body deep into the water.

Her tense body loosened gently in the warmth. Leaning against the edge of the bathtub and taking deep breaths, she looked down at her own face reflected in the water that had a purple tint from the bath salts.

A face so pretty it would be hard to forget once seen. The violet eyes set between brilliant blonde hair and golden eyelashes were as beautiful as a fairy’s.

‘This is my face.’

It still felt unfamiliar. The face Lili remembered was just that of a child, and the face she had grown accustomed to as she grew up wasn’t this one.

‘…Too different.’

It wasn’t just the face that was different. ‘Lili’ and ‘Rita’ were too different.

“No, Lili. You should be angry. You should be furious and feel wronged about what happened to you. You should confide in us about how hard it was and complain. That would be normal, but right now you’re… too calm. Strangely so.”

Seeing Leonhardt’s reaction, she became newly aware of how much she had changed from her childhood. At the same time, she became afraid.

Because she remembered the end of a certain Pascal who had been used by family and died, who had devoted herself believing they were family but was never acknowledged as family by those she trusted until the very end.

Because she remembered how the adults who had looked after the child saying she was suffering on the front lines suddenly changed and pointed weapons at her, shouting that a Pascal child was indeed a monster.

‘What if our family does the same…’

Lillieta shrank back while imagining fearful scenarios. At the same time, Rita Pascal coldly assessed her own condition.

‘I’m scared.’

After that, she tried to act exactly like she did in childhood as much as possible.

Pretending to be happy following along on shopping she didn’t want to do, being anxious to hide her sharpening state, trying not to show anything like ‘Rita Pascal.’

“Lili, just now that was…”

After reflexively shooting because it looked like a child was about to be caught by a monster, she frantically watched the surprised Countess’s reaction.

“Ah, that, well, um…”

While she struggled to make up excuses—without even thinking what the excuses were for—Hanna checked the outside situation for her.

“Wow! Miss took down the wyvern in one shot! The child is safe too! Amazing!”

The maid making a fuss and the Countess blinking blankly.

If it had been Rita, she would have calmly brushed it off as nothing special, and if it had been Lili, she would have been proud showing off her skills.

However, at that time, Lillieta wanted to hide the gun. Having done it right in front of them, she wanted to conceal it as if it wasn’t something she had done.

Because she was afraid of her mother looking at her like she was looking at a stranger.

“This is, I mean, somehow it happened…”

As she stammered in confusion, the Countess remained silent before quietly saying.

“It’s okay, Lili. It’s okay.”

Lillieta didn’t understand what those words meant. Meanwhile, the Countess started the carriage, and after returning to the manor, she let her be alone.

Thinking it over by herself, she understood. Why the Countess had said it was okay.

‘I’ve become… a complete coward.’

What her mother had told her not to be afraid of wasn’t a simple misunderstanding. No, rather, her mother had seen her accurately.

She was definitely afraid. Afraid that she might seem strange.

‘This isn’t like me.’

Lillieta flicked her finger to scatter her face reflected on the water’s surface.

‘This isn’t like Lili, and it isn’t like Rita either.’

Rita Pascal doesn’t care how she appears to others. Knowing she’s not a monster, what does it matter what others say? She finished worrying about identity ages ago.

Lili doesn’t doubt her family. She lived with confidence that no matter what happened, her family would support her, that she was always loved.

The current Lillieta was neither of them. She was afraid and concerned about her family’s gaze while doubting her family.

Lillieta scooped up handfuls of the purple water and splashed it on her face. She rubbed the dripping water with her hands and swept back her wet, clinging hair.

And looking down at her swaying reflection on the rippling water surface, she chuckled.

“How foolish.”

She remembered her first brother who had collapsed while holding her. She remembered her second brother who had embraced her and sobbed.

Just before, she remembered her mother who had looked straight at her as she lied about being okay and said she knew everything was hard.

Lili thought.

‘Our family aren’t people who would treat me like a monster no matter how I change.’

Mom and Dad, my brothers, will love me no matter what kind of person I am. They’ll always be on my side.

Rita thought.

‘What does it matter how anyone sees me? As long as I’m not ashamed in my own eyes, that’s enough.’

I like who I am now.

I’ve lived doing my best, and I haven’t done anything shameful to my will and beliefs.

There were many difficult and painful times, there are still moments that are terrible to recall, but those are also part of me. I don’t want to treat them as if they never happened. I want to overcome them and accept them.

Lillieta thought.

‘Let’s not try to hide.’

Let’s reveal myself as I am now.

And whatever my family’s reaction is, let’s accept it.

‘I am Lili, and Rita Pascal, and Lillieta del Nisa Raskail.’

Her confused heart became clear.

She stood up. Without caring about her reflection on the water’s surface, she parted the water and got out of the bathtub, cleanly wiped her face and body. And walked out with light steps.

* * *

The next day.

Birch Tree Castle was bustling. The Countess, who had been staying in the annex, moved her residence to the main building, they decided to renovate the princess’s room that had been preserved exactly as it was 10 years ago, and because the Duke who had left for the capital returned and caused a big commotion.

“Father has come. It seems he came urgently without even sleeping. He wants to see you.”

Saying this, Leonhardt guided Lillieta to the garden.

“He’ll be in front of the tombstone. As soon as he arrived, he ordered to dig up the coffin.”

“My tombstone?”

At Lillieta’s question, Leonhardt nodded with an expression that didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Yes, your tombstone.”

He stopped in front of the door leading to the garden. Lillieta followed the door he opened for her and went out to the garden.

Several servants were gathered digging the ground. Among the carefully dug flowers and piles of dirt scattered here and there, Duke Raskail stood tall looking down at a white marble tombstone.

With his neat black formal wear, black mahogany cane, and black silk hat, he looked like he was dressed for a funeral.

She walked toward him and opened her mouth.

“Dad.”

The large back flinched. He slowly turned around.

The blonde hair she had inherited. The violet eyes that were the symbol of the Raskail family. Her image was reflected in those eyes.

A brief silence. The pupils wavered.

A black silk hat fell. A mahogany cane rolled across the grass.

Abandoning both hat and cane, the Duke ran to her and embraced her with all his strength. His large body began to tremble terribly as he broke into sobs.

He did not speak human words. No, he could not. Beast-like cries echoed. Throwing away all dignity and composure, he wailed.

The servants who had been digging earth and transplanting flowers stopped their movements. Some removed their hats and held them to their chests. Some wiped their eyes.

Lillieta said nothing. Words were not needed now. She simply stretched out her arms and embraced her father in return.

* * *

The servants dug up the empty coffin and pulled out the tombstone as well. In the excavated spot, the gardener planted flowers again. They were fresh spring flowers. Daffodils and tulips, crocuses of various colors. The old gardener’s face beamed with joy as he planted the flowers.

The drawing room overlooking that garden.

The most intimate place in Birch Tree Castle, a space for the direct bloodline of the Raskail Family.

In the round room at the intersection of corridors leading to each bedroom, thick soft carpets were laid and dark-colored cushions were scattered about. One wall had a fireplace, and the opposite wall had a large window facing the garden.

In their childhood, Richard and Lillieta would lie sprawled here playing chess.

Then Leonhardt would lean against cushions beside them reading a book, occasionally offering advice, bickering with Richard about what his brother knew about giving advice, eventually starting a chess game between Leonhardt and Richard, while Lillieta would laugh aloud and take out her sketchbook to draw her brothers.

The Countess, sitting by the window, would knit or embroider while watching over such children.

And the Duke would enter carrying several cups of hot coffee and warm chocolate in his large hands, giving one to each family member, then rest while drinking coffee and occasionally kiss his wife’s cheek, sharing tender conversations.

The drawing room filled with trivial but precious moments.

The fireplace in that drawing room had remained extinguished for the past ten years. And today, for the first time in ten years, it was lit again.

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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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