The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 9

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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 9

The loud sound of a door being flung open stopped her agitation. Rita reflexively moved her Od, forming a magic bullet at her fingertips as she turned around.

“Damn fake!”

The one who kicked the door open and entered was a red-haired man.

Though his face was unfamiliar, Rita had heard stories about him and recognized him at a glance.

A face resembling Leonhardt’s, similar violet eyes. However, unlike the handsome and upright Leonhardt, he had a flamboyant and free-spirited impression.

Richard del Nisa Raskail. The second son of the Raskail Family.

He glared at her fiercely.

“Fake, I heard you strangled someone? Seems you’ve revealed your true nature faster than expected…”

His harsh words trailed off and crumbled. Richard’s eyes looking at her grew wider and became dazed.

He muttered as if entranced.

“…Lily.”

Rita didn’t respond at all. No, she couldn’t.

The oath had just succeeded with the name Lillieta, making her head feel like it would explode from complexity. She could neither deny nor affirm that call.

Richard staggered toward her as she stood there blankly.

Rita flinched. A terrible smell of alcohol came from him as he approached.

‘He seems to be completely drunk.’

Though she didn’t drink, she knew well because Oli Pascal, an excellent mage, outstanding magic gun craftsman, and her close friend, loved alcohol to a degree that made her worry about alcoholism.

When a person’s body reeked of alcohol to this extent, they generally couldn’t hold proper conversations and did things that made no logical sense.

‘It was the only time Oli became an idiot.’

Sure enough, Richard, who had approached her closely, suddenly dropped to his knees.

“I’m sorry.”

“…?”

Hadn’t he just barged in yelling about fakes and such? An apology out of nowhere?

Though she had expected it from the smell of alcohol, Rita was dumbfounded. The kneeling man burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, Lily. I’m sorry, it was my fault…”

The man began babbling incoherently while crying like a child.

“You just asked me to stay by your side until you fell asleep, I’m sorry, I, you were a child who never made such requests normally, but I, I didn’t listen to you because I found it bothersome, I’m irredeemable trash. How could I, how could I just tell you to go back to your room and fall asleep again, I should have at least checked your room once. I’m such a bastard…”

He reached toward her while sobbing. His fingertips trembled, and it wasn’t just from intoxication.

“Ah, Lily, Lily, you don’t know how much I’ve regretted that night. You don’t know. I’m sorry, really sorry. If I could turn back time, I would have wanted to. I’m trash. I had a chance to stop it, I could have saved you, but there are things in this world that can’t be undone. I learned that so painfully, I, I really…”

Richard clutched the hem of Lillieta’s nightgown and wailed.

“I’m sorry, Lily, I’m sorry…”

Rita froze, unable to even push away his hand.

Suddenly barging in and yelling, then spacing out by himself, then apologizing and crying.

‘He must be properly drunk.’

She couldn’t even understand what he was saying.

She dispersed the magic bullet she had formed at her fingertips and looked down at the sobbing man, pondering. What should she do with this person?

“Young master!”

Just then, another person suddenly appeared through the door that Richard had kicked open.

Rita wasn’t surprised this time. Thanks to habitually sensing the flow of Od around her as soon as she awakened.

It was a man who appeared to be in his late thirties, wearing a monocle. From his well-fitted uniform and the title “young master,” he seemed to be the butler of this manor.

The man who had rushed over in panic became even more flustered upon seeing Rita, then hurriedly greeted her.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Miss Lillieta. I am the Raskail butler…”

“Huuung, I’m sorry, Lily, I’m really trash…”

“…named Alfred. I apologize for greeting you for the first time in such circumstances.”

Alfred adjusted his monocle and discreetly wiped away cold sweat.

Rita let out a small sigh and pointed at Richard, who was still continuing his apologies.

“Nice to meet you, Alfred. This person seems drunk, please do something about him.”

“Yes, excuse me.”

Alfred gestured.

The burly servants who had followed him rushed in and carefully grabbed the wailing Richard.

Then one of them held an open bottle of alcohol and waved it near Richard like dangling bait, slowly moving toward the door.

“…!”

When Richard turned his head toward the smell of alcohol, the servants holding him gently pushed him along. As they all left the guest room, only butler Alfred remained.

‘What was that… it’s not like luring an animal…’

Rita blinked at the absurd scene she had just witnessed. Alfred seemed to guess her confusion and calmly explained.

“Young Master Richard is a top-tier knight, sir. He’s someone who wields aura with his bare hands, so unless we use bait like this to make him move on his own, everyone becomes endangered.”

“Alcohol is bait? No, before that, does such bait actually work on people…?”

“When he’s in a state of complete intoxication, it works quite well. It’s the safest method.”

Seeing the butler respond so matter-of-factly, Rita realized such incidents were common in this manor.

‘So he’s a complete alcoholic. How did a human who can even use aura end up so ruined? If he’s a knight, isn’t that a profession that upholds chivalry and values dignity?’

As she clicked her tongue softly in disbelief, Alfred opened his mouth as if reading her mind.

“Miss, please don’t misunderstand. Young Master Richard wasn’t originally like this.”

“He wasn’t always like this?”

“He used to never touch alcohol. The young master became like this after you went missing. He thinks it’s all his fault.”

“…!”

“I heard that Miss Lillieta went to find the young master on the night you disappeared. You said you had a strange dream and were scared, asking him to watch over you until you fell asleep. That day, the master and madam were attending a soirée, and Young Master Leonhardt was at the academy, so he wasn’t at Birch Tree Castle. Only Young Master Richard was there.”

Alfred continued speaking step by step, as if he already knew Rita couldn’t remember anything.

“The young master was drowsy and ignored your request, and you eventually returned to your bedroom alone. That was the last sight of Miss Lillieta before you disappeared.”

Rita finally understood the meaning behind Richard’s incoherent rambling and apologies from earlier.

“Young Master Richard has been regretting that night for the past 10 years. Unable to bear the guilt, he started drinking at some point… and ended up like this.”

The butler let out a sigh similar to a lament.

“So recently we don’t keep any alcohol in the manor at all, but since he’s a top-tier knight, we can’t stop him from going out and drinking at taverns.”

“…”

“But things will be different from now on. Since you’ve truly returned like a miracle… now we’ll be able to hear laughter in this Birch Tree Castle again.”

A face filled with emotion and hope turned toward Rita. He bowed deeply once more.

“Miss Lillieta, I sincerely congratulate you on your return. Thank you… truly thank you for coming back.”

“…”

Still in a confused state, Rita couldn’t say anything.

“I heard you’re confused because you’ve lost your memory. Please rest well, and if you need anything or have any questions, please call for us anytime.”

The butler, who spoke kindly and gently as if understanding her reaction, was about to leave the guest room. Rita called out to stop him.

“Wait, Alfred.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“I have a question.”

“Please ask anything.”

“What kind of child was Lillieta… was I?”

Alfred couldn’t answer that question immediately. After fidgeting with his monocle for a while, he answered with downcast eyes.

“I’m sorry, Miss. That’s difficult for me to answer.”

“Why?”

“I became the butler after you went missing. The Raskail butler at the time you were here was my father, and I was studying elsewhere. So I don’t know about Miss Lillieta’s childhood.”

“The previous butler was your father? Then he would know well, wouldn’t he? If I ask him—”

“My father.”

Alfred closed his eyes tightly, then opened them and continued slowly.

“After you went missing, he felt deeply responsible and voluntarily stepped down from his butler position, then passed away not long after.”

“…!”

“You did nothing wrong, so please don’t make that expression.”

Alfred said quietly with a bitter smile.

“Your disappearance was a misfortune that fell like a meteorite, and its aftermath covered Birch Tree Castle, becoming a shadow that never disappeared. There were many… truly many incidents.”

The butler fell silent for a moment, then continued with a faint smile.

“Just having you return, miss, will make everything better. That’s why I’m so grateful.”

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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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