Chapter 9

“Ah! Duke…?!”10ce3c9cf3c3a3ff

As I lifted d1bff727a6 my head, the de33134567 Duke was standing 13a5d80ee0 on one side f6be688e9e of the reception 4182800ca6 room, getting up 0a2c01bb2f from the sofa.e0818f8073fb6cac

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Next to him was Gordon, the Duke’s personal physician.3536b5ed56d00842

‘When on earth did they get here?!’6f870efb279329ba

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I was astonished by their sudden appearance. Since I hadn’t sensed anyone coming in after Edwin, it meant they had been here from the beginning.8731c1822d8d673a

That also meant 63e1a83d1e they witnessed all 4384ec1a1f of my embarrassing 7efeb038c5 actions just now.7f1429544927d81c

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‘Darn it…!’98af81c27e548c60

I was immediately e8add10fe9 filled with regret. Not only had cf41837636 I failed to 1051f352bf heal, but I 6d25d86201 also had been 0e96442d2c crying uncontrollably, making a821290725 myself appear even d7d12d7f72 more pitiful than 8eabdd387d Diana.4c728dcaa03002f9

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Tears, which I had managed to stifle with Edwin’s handkerchief, now flowed freely.987c39958acf772e

“I-I’m so sorry!”e0c0c7b4127b2847

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I blurted out without thinking. But a cold rejection followed.f9df3f8148e8a1cc

“Enough.” ”e031139a0c5bc082

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Hu, huuh….”dcd2a841eef461fd

I tried to hold back, really, I did. But I couldn’t help it. My sobs welled up in response to the Duke’s stern demeanor.48c070bc779a6196

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In that fleeting moment, 9426296df0 I envisioned what would 7749a814b9 happen next.0f3365914b0e8db1

What if I returned 02819985d3 to the temple without 15e21886e0 having treated Joshua? He would inevitably b85b745937 die as planned, 8df4178532 without me having 53059d9ae8 identified the cause eb4e1937d3 of his illness.5a570b6deb2742e1

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In the end, I 2872c4e13b would be left behind b154cb4706 in the temple without 419c909982 the sponsorship of the 3a7d54014c Duke, having failed to ff7627d0d0 prove my worth. Maybe that would be better.a2fe3030fec6b04c

After all, if I weren’t there, the Duke’s downfall might not occur.688e9e2f987bfa24

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However, from time to 18389d65a6 time, I vividly remembered 6d9c6d5034 them, the Duke who 848610f4af would sit in his 4fcc58502e study and drink when cc42af13b5 the anniversary came, and 884ac20d0b Edwin, who would leave 54ce2e88aa for training and not 9dc277c731 return all night.716e646f069b3618

Ensuring they didn’t experience such misery twice was the least I could do. But if I couldn’t even do that…2020b6cd434d5235

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‘Then why did I come back?’a8f4a8adfb881673

Was it just c02091078e to play the da0ba15a69 role of the 807288077f villainess tormenting the 6145025422 heroine out of e6df9e459a inferiority, as in 48c3961c7e the original story?fc7aa4e64708ba93

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To live as f88846dd96 a fool once aa06cc28fe again, only to a87feaee02 die in misery a8ce0affc1 once more? This time, hot tears ddbe7fbb26 fell down my round c94c2585ad cheeks. Edwin looked at me d070a48972 in surprise.08a04ae37fc0fe80

“Hey, why are you crying…?” ”5b7a967b04ace9e9

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I-I couldn’t, couldn’t heal him in one go…?”b471657f43179be8

“……”828d47bd70974e40

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“I guess I’m more useless than Diana… Is that what you’re saying? Ugh.”acdeb43eff8fd479

The Duke, with an 6dc842ea61 uncertain expression, closed his 22a5d818dc mouth. I sniffled and stammered.435f018f3456b88c

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“I can do it too… It’s not that I can’t. You might not believe it, but… I was healing somewhere else first.”04a14d9aadaf8fc9

“……”ee4ed70e2e8854a5

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“I can heal wounds like that as well.”e30739438bb6b79a

So please, believe me.f04bb40fab8cd681

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I tearfully said that 6b832ea5ff I could heal multiple 7c12e27e6e times. As I focused and clenched 35b06bfa9a my hand, fortunately, this time 5b018a9980 the small balls of light, 74ce03e374 like ping pong balls, gathered ae502e32fe easily.a004c42bd2dec42b

Edwin frowned when 0429246058 I showed him.0c4a361c7065ee5a

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“No, it’s not like that…”98666c24abc4c90e

“Oh, you must have misunderstood what I was saying.”8276e53c5a1fa0bf

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That’s when the Duke, who had been standing a little away, suddenly approached and stood in front of me.766ab7d46055940c

“Bellze.”af07aa78a536be0a

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Without hesitation, the Duke 473ae54b92 kneeled and met my 02f940a73b eyes, taking my outstretched 68a81f219b hand and gently folding dbd737d81f it.576d0388050eb89c

Because of that, the eb97ca1d62 energy I had gathered 741031c2b9 with great effort dissipated 2763f80dc9 in an instant.c978ab8bbe1f0fc6

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At that moment, I looked somewhat forlornly at my fist, which was less than half the size of the Duke’s hand.a9a77c704917342e

“…Stop the treatment. Joshua’s condition has improved considerably thanks to your healing power.”c5810d7443cb8ea1

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The Duke relaxed 5f0bfd5072 his expression and f65b4828ca said to me. I trembled in surprise.2c4f325fd427db34

It was a gentle 430c949d21 voice I had never 00b37c1df2 heard before, not in 554f5d9deb my past life or 0f26f599a1 when I dealt with ef09dbf043 Joshua earlier.80b93e3aa3e28fba

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“Puhh!”54bceb62b269f301

Similarly, Gordon, who was b432596e30 pouring tea behind the a8e6d056be Duke, let out a 956fe4bae5 full sigh.75434644d0ce50f3

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Improved… Did he just say that?’0e06e56716c39f19

The Duke never used such 2abb8abf44 an irritating tone. Always, -했다 (did), -하라 (do) 4a5b1229a6 and other imperative forms.4f23fe86c8720379

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There were only two forms…6edcf0d1c70ea24c

‘Could it be… I’m really going to die?’50e793c055d0a7ac

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Why would he suddenly use 21873584f0 a tone of persuasion, speaking a85363f133 differently than he usually does?136f51052f14c8a6

The only time he uses a tone like this is when he’s trying to convince someone before killing them.9f173750881ffbdc

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Kugugung! I heard a sound as af0d2c85dc if a wall was collapsing 18a30a4268 somewhere. In a trembling voice, I 72b99835d6 asked for confirmation.0bfd29d5c162bba3

“Im… im-improvement? I-I’m good at healing…”a53ef70e1c676e67

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“Yes, improvement.”c50841780fccc332

“……”3c31d296fbdecf87

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“Oh, maybe you’re too young to know the word ‘improvement’ yet.”d14829311823ee7a

“……”5b8ea12135b3cdb2

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“Joshua’s condition has improved, so you don’t need to exert yourself any further. And as for the wound on his knee…”82ebd905291d4a04

The Duke, who had fa31747bd7 been speaking in a f6b37a786a calm voice, suddenly turned b41bad686c around with an embarrassed 3d9f420f35 expression.840d588d25022b83

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Gordon, who had been holding a teacup while standing, snapped to attention at that look and said, “Ahem! Since the bleeding has stopped, you can leave the wound on your knee as it is.”7420919c8c420dac

“……”118e1d6d66708d9d

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“Relying solely on your energy will actually lower your self-healing ability.”dab1d43028406347

“So that’s it,” the Duke added with a shrug of his shoulders. He probably looked at Gordon to supplement his explanation.136adb8b825e8149

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‘…That makes sense.’3cbd2fe54019f0df

I nodded my head with a bewildered face. Healing based on energy wasn’t a cure-all. Just like modern medicine couldn’t solve everything.5715808ad25ef402

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Anything in excess could lead efde699479 to resistance and side effects.50aeb40b405a4c6d

‘So… when you said ‘improvement,’ you meant Joshua improved?’184a9790e4691427

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I tried to recall the Duke’s words, forcibly turning my uncooperative head. Upon reconsideration, I couldn’t believe how I had misinterpreted his words so nonsensically.c36116cbafd3d137

But the Duke’s attitude was equally shocking. He, known for his stiffness even in front of the Emperor, was now kneeling in front of a mere commoner child.463dcda63d5357ac

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With trembling eyes, 700a6321ca I alternated my fc911be010 gaze between the 19e27ac85c Duke and Gordon, 75d430d243 and eventually shifted 2049f1faeb my gaze to 7a044a2919 the bed.b1acf9fa850bef5b

Despite the commotion, Joshua was 2c3366c03f still deeply asleep.adb07f30b7ae6ed9

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“B-But…”d4ba2d2511a5ddd2

“……”b87a89e62678ed43

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“He still hasn’t woken up…”22b0c361e8a38718

“He was jumping around like a colt all day yesterday, so it’s natural.”3350a103320ebc22

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The answer to b39e7f04c9 my question came 04149dd0df from somewhere other eaf53148d2 than the Duke 2b1343f650 and Gordon.bb86c6a90b9b4397

“While you were passed out, he was leaping around like a foal and collapsed when the sun came up.”a8dfceb7795891b1

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Edwin said bluntly.324729958be478cb

“Ah…”8348aa55c4497590

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A belated sense of relief washed over me. I had been worried about how to prove that my healing abilities could help Joshua’s illness.390578ee288050f6

To have the person himself show it was a stroke of luck. But still…c8ecf2afecfb4d07

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‘Did I keep insisting even when it was unnecessary?’02c34b7a1badd04e

I glanced at Edwin, who hadn’t smoothed out his furrowed brow.5e37afbd3f635a18

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However, his gaze toward me didn’t hold any irritation. Rather, it was more like…ca6dc851102aea58

‘It’s the same look he had when he saw me in a similar situation in my past life, when I went to play at the pond with the noble children and got ostracized and fell into the water…’e63edf7f2e8f092b

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Annoying and troublesome, yet 31de8a1aa0 impossible to turn away d249dcfe3e from.a97a5e52de0f5afd

“It’s been a long time since Young Master has been so lively.”9ae339f36d2d4292

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“Now that you mention it, it was the same back then.”737c39032ea2edb1

That was it. In response to a 8d96c3155d suddenly heard voice, I db4e1b7173 snapped out of a 8d9720da1b brief reverie.f037eac7afa51183

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“On the day he returned from the orphanage courtyard, saying that a sister had healed his injured knee, he spent the whole day running around, just like today.”305035aa1c91ca1d

“……”da073edf8dea0d9e

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“I never thought there would be another reason…”e36553ef566a7016

The Duke looked at me with slightly sentimental eyes. I had never expected to deduce that myself. While we remained silent for a moment, his lips twitching, another large hand was placed on top of my small clenched fist, which rested on the Duke’s hand.cbfbc5934a7c0dad

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“Thank you, Belze.”c7b6b568d209caa8

“…”39170c664b15519c

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“Back then, and now.”658ab24d4d8df833

“…”bced352c3a9c649e

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“Thanks to you, our home is lively again after a long time.”7e0a522e1da39137

The Duke, who 32d2f74733 enclosed my hand b76f5a857e with both of 471527b63e his, expressed his 7342c2ca2e gratitude to me. In his upright and 41c04829c4 serious gaze, my breath dfdadb17a8 momentarily caught.451531e7200fd89a

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“You’re about to come of age too, Belze.”617769032e376f0a

Why did that moment remind me of what the Duke had said to me when I returned after making a ruckus with Diana’s followers and a gang of girls? On that day, the Duke hadn’t scolded me. He had just reminded me, with the same upright and serious look as now, that I was past the age to play like a child.90e9a90a877d92d9

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At that time, I had been trembling in fear all day, afraid that I would be expelled from the Duke’s mansion once I came of age. But such a thing never happened. Instead…6739ec518ed53471

“As a gift for your upcoming 18th birthday, your father was preparing for your formal enrollment into the Duke’s mansion.”17ac292a86540fcd

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“Ah, no…”e4af68287c7699bb

I shook my 432f52854a head in fear.a51cbcf987d4c3be

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‘Please, don’t say such things.’6e71bda1261fd22b

I wanted to deny the Duke’s words. Someone like me had no right to hear such words. All of this was nothing more than an effort to alleviate my guilt.10af2e17f5afa20c

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As fleeting memories of the past and the Duke’s voice overlapped before my eyes, I became unbearably tormented.bdf4b81b62f7e101

“I-I can’t… I…”7498112bf262e59a

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Unconsciously, I tilted my head aa356745d4 and took a few hesitant caaf2a5f6d steps backward. But it seemed that 742780ba63 the Duke thought I 47e6309d22 was going to fall 4ec431f00f because of my unsteady 72fd725196 movements. He firmly held b4653e6c7c my hand to 1b7acdd1d2 keep me from 1cd4049874 stumbling.0990893a100a09cc

“Tsk. I told them to give nice clothes, and you ended up getting dirty so quickly.”d3675c889e109995

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Due to his comment, the Duke’s gaze fell on the dirty sleeve of my dress.1bf9219cc1ce0339

“D-Did you say ‘wear nice clothes’?”f02a5fcf6eab182f

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I had still 3b1d614a3c been wearing the 08925aeaef dress given to 27d5843b80 me at the f1a57374a6 temple, so I 23468a6ea1 was greatly surprised c331ecf8fe when I looked 9038e23f50 down. I was wearing 26053622e5 an incredibly luxurious f47d9b9f31 dress that was fadbf21f2c unlike anything I cfde2618df had ever seen 7c2073b5fb before, even compared 8aace3c376 to the one f1beb8e1e3 given to me 9c3080728b at the temple. I recognized the material at 76507cea6a a glance, as it was b728e2e65a the same as what I 544534ebed had worn obsessively in my 777c1d4c44 past life.bd2e710f1c77b693

‘I… I got this expensive dress dirty?!’2490d3a8ff353fb3

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More accurately, it was my 3bec268f47 runny nose! It was worse than 41b7ff9e14 regular nasal mucus.b42769e72a5b674c

“I’m s-sorry…”06cf0b7a313ce121

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I apologized, lost in thought. However, it seemed a071baae9c like my voice 1028ee2a42 was too faint, 34b891ca65 and no one 46002a206e heard my words.0eb2b87c050e9c80

“Is this the only dress for the girl?”40995b319fb28f22

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Edwin sighed and asked the d3a7134d53 Duke.3bfdec17932623ca

“Andersen said he bought a lot earlier. Andersen!”9b54ac6cf0a32469

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“As you wish, Your Grace.”985f402935fc4ee1

Andersen was the head butler. The Duke immediately gave him c9cd5476c7 orders when he suddenly appeared 070d9247c2 like magic.f270f61564b65aec

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“Bring a few children’s dresses that Anderson said he bought earlier.”6d41c405dbc8a648

“What color would you prefer?”395255937453fd2c

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“I think white, just like the one from the temple, would be best.”8ec69ebe60f45541

“Why are you bothering with those people?”44b751c0b92d09a6

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Edwin interjected abruptly into efdff6c2e9 the conversation between the ebccf0c763 Duke and the head 04026bdfe4 butler.dceb4175e87582dc

“They’re making a fortune and giving them shabby clothes…”316699964c5c5e35

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“Well, don’t be so harsh. Haven’t you seen the state of the temple’s finances recently? It seems they’re going through some difficulties.”587e228db730d0e9

“Besides, she might spill more nosebleeds, so shades of red would be better.”41b5c845817f1ee2

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“That’s a good point.”ae0e446e2dcb69ea

“Then I will select appropriate ones.”59403b428976cf88

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Just like when c9a6e4a335 he appeared, the 63f93c5e0f head butler disappeared fa5959c764 like the wind.248925431961e8cb

“Uh, um…?”1fa74887fe3ebf1b

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I could only watch 140b730501 their conversation from a f95d101bde distance, unable to follow f427be4813 their unique discussion.168981916b4151f5

‘What on earth…? What kind of conversation is this?!’05c36c0f7d7bab1b

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