The day after I learned the shocking truth, my parents were due to return.
I still couldn’t get a grip on myself—my senses felt disconnected, and I moved around in a daze.
Even when I went out for my daily walk, my feet felt like they weren’t touching the ground.
And of course, when I went to see the princess, I couldn’t sing properly. Suspicious of my behavior, she pressed me for the full story until I finally spilled everything.
“Sounds like something straight out of a tragic play,” she said, thoughtful.
“Right? But somehow it just doesn’t feel real. Even though I’m the one it’s all about.”
I fiddled nervously with the little flower I had embroidered on my blouse hem.
I already knew my parents didn’t like me. Rottenmeier and the others had told me as much.
But a part of me—him, the “me” from before—kept whispering, “They’re still your family,” or “It’s been over a year—maybe things have changed.”
I knew I shouldn’t hope. But part of me did anyway.
A heavy sigh slipped out before I could stop it, and the princess frowned, a crease forming between her brows.
“Enough. You may go for today.”
“Eh…? But…”
“You won’t be able to focus on your magical nerves in that state. Singing like this will only hurt your throat. Go home and rest it.”
With that, she disappeared among the flowers.
I dragged my heavy feet back toward the manor.
I could feel the worried gazes of the staff, but I didn’t have the strength to acknowledge them.
At the back entrance, I brushed the dust off my shoes. That’s when I noticed a stir at the front of the house.
It seemed my mother had arrived.
I followed the whispers, tracing them back to the entrance hall, where Rottenmeier was bowing low to welcome the guests.
Standing at the door was a woman with black hair, violet eyes, and pale, almost translucent skin—round and soft to the point of excess. She looked exactly like me… only much larger.
She was escorted by a man in a perfectly tailored tailcoat.
The moment her eyes locked onto mine, they filled with loathing. Her groomed eyebrows shot up in rage, and her thick, bejeweled finger pointed directly at me.
“Rottenmeier! Get that thing out of my sight! It disgusts me!”
“Madam!?”
Her shrill voice echoed through the grand entrance hall, slicing straight into my chest like a blade.
While I stood frozen, the man escorting her gave Rottenmeier a dismissive look and said:
“Please remove him.”
“That is out of line! The young master is the heir of House Kikunoi! Who are you, a mere servant, to speak so rudely?”
“Forgive me. But my lady is clearly upset. It is a servant’s duty to act according to their master’s wishes.”
With a gesture like shooing away a dog, he pulled my mother closer to his arm. There was something almost cloyingly seductive in her expression—thick and sweet and unpleasant.
I looked away instinctively, and Rottenmeier calmly stepped between us.
“The rooms are prepared as requested. Please, rest there.”
“Fine. Come, Sebastian.”
“As you wish.”
Is it wrong to think that was… disgusting?
My mother has her own life. It’s not a crime to fall for another man after giving up on Father.
But… she’s still my mother.
I didn’t want to see her clinging to someone else.
I bit my lip, and the stinging behind my eyes lessened just a little.
Everyone would be busy now. I should go back to my room so I don’t get in the way.
As I turned to leave, a gentle hand rested on my shoulder.
“Shall we continue your studies?”
“Yes, Professor.”
As we climbed the stairs, escorted by Professor Romanov, more noise stirred at the front door.
The heavy door opened with a groan, revealing a tall man with bronze skin, golden hair, sharp blue eyes, and a majestic mustache—a figure as imposing as he was elegant.
In his arms, he held a small child with the same golden hair and brown skin.
A girl in a maid uniform with shoulder-length ash-blonde hair followed close behind.
This man—my father—looked nothing like me.
I looked like the woman he hated. No wonder he kept his distance.
He was smiling gently at the boy in his arms, whispering something lovingly… until his eyes landed on me at the top of the stairs.
Instantly, the warmth disappeared.
He frowned faintly, then turned his attention to the man beside me.
“You must be the famed Lord Alexei Romanov.”
“Yes, sir. Forgive me for speaking from such a height.”
“No apology necessary. Now then, about my son—Regulus—”
“Pardon me, but I have a lesson scheduled with Master Hotaru.”
My father looked back down at the boy with a loving gaze—but the professor’s polite interruption cut off his attempt to dismiss me.
Still holding my hand, Professor Romanov turned and continued walking.
A deep sigh followed behind us.
I looked back—right into the cold, disdainful stare of my father.
“Lord Romanov. I appreciate your efforts, but I have no expectations for that one. My only concern is Regulus. There’s no point wasting time on a child who’ll amount to nothing. Let’s talk about Regulus.”
The way he said it… like I didn’t even exist.
To him, I was less than nothing. But the boy in his arms? Regulus was someone worthy of respect. Someone deserving of Romanov’s teachings.
I slowly let go of the professor’s hand.
“Professor… I’ll study on my own. Please… go talk to him first.”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
Pretending not to hear the professor calling after me, I ran away.
EUNIE: Thanks for reading~
---Has anyone seen the anime? I'll try to catch up to the anime. I've seen the manga and it seems like its way ahead than the anime.
Today was the last chapter of the anime and I was so thrilled to find the novel!!! now I can imagine all the things I saw in the anime!! thank you so much for you hard work! <3
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for reading!! I was also sad the anime ended early. It also felt like we won't be getting another season cause of how it ended. Like maybe the anime is just a promotion for the manga or the light novel.
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