# 117
---
* * *
A few days later.
When I found out that Bianca was visiting Elad Palace this afternoon, I immediately made the excuse that I was not feeling well and asked the maids to take care of Diana.
By then, Diana, who was worried about me and didn't want to leave, had just arrived at the training ground.
At first glance, I thought I could hear Allen's anger as he urged me to come, but I couldn't help it.
To be honest, wouldn't I want to see firsthand how Bianca, who I've admired all my life, uses mana and learns the art of swordsmanship?
If it were in the past, I wouldn't have missed the opportunity even if it meant sneaking out.
But I had no choice but to lie and go to the Marquis's mansion instead of the training hall.
“I really should check today.”
A few days ago, I couldn't sleep all night after I saw the necklace I was wearing in the mirror.
There is no special decoration, and the appearance is rough. …
Just a blood red beaded necklace.
I'd been wearing it for so long that I was too young to remember, so I thought maybe my dad had given it to me.
Therefore, I always cherished this necklace and never took it off my body.
Except that I accidentally showed it to Diana, I never showed it to anyone else.
When I was in the orphanage, I hid it under my clothes for fear that the director would find out, and I never took it out in front of the other children or the guild leaders.
It was an effort to protect something valuable, but I later regretted it.
‘If this is truly a token that allows me to meet my parents….’
He said that he should have shown this to Marquis Diabelle immediately.
But my expectations were cruelly shattered.
The next day, in order to attract the attention of the Marquis, she watched his treatment and deliberately showed the necklace and tampered with it, but the Marquis said nothing.
He doesn't seem to know anything about the necklace.
Although it was a bit disappointing, I didn't give up hope.
‘The Marquis said he was protecting the border so much that he never visited the principality.’
So he may not know about the necklace.
So I thought of showing this necklace to the Archduke, Archduchess and Askart.
But it wasn't easy at all.
Unlike before, Askart's face was difficult to see, as if he was doing something important with the Archduke, and even though the Archduchess was watching me from afar, she immediately turned away when I tried to say hello.
This sight made my heart tremble, but I could bear it.
To be honest, I felt more worried.
Since I had never met the Archduke or Archduchess, I was introduced to the maids from the principality in hopes of learning some information about the missing princess.
As a result, what we learned is that the Archduchess's health was in a very critical condition.
In addition to severe headaches and insomnia, she sometimes complained of symptoms such as inability to eat properly, shortness of breath easily due to poor stamina, and tingling in the chest.
I too was devastated to hear that everyone around her was sad because of the amount of pain she was in.
The Duchess's previous illness was caused by poison, so there was an obvious treatment method called antidote.
However, the Archduchess's illness was not a physical illness, but a mental illness.
Mental illness resulting from the loss of a daughter who was lost shortly after birth.
This illness will not get better until she finds her daughter.
I suppressed my growing frustration and instead clenched my fists.
I have also missed my family my whole life.
I wanted to settle the matter quickly, for my sake and for the Archduchess' sake.
“Leah, are you already here?”
“Hello, butler.”
When I passed through the familiar gate and entered the main building, the butler of the Marquis's palace, who seemed to love me as much as he loved the Marquis, pretended to know me.
It seems that the Marquis was feeling better thanks to the treatment he received.
“But Leia, my master entered the palace in the morning after receiving a message from the Imperial Palace, I don’t know when he will come.”
"Yes . … ".
The butler made an embarrassed and apologetic expression.
But I didn't come to see the Marquis today.
I put my hands together and spoke with a serious expression.
“Butler, is the young Archduke busy today as well?”
“His Highness?”
“Yes, I have something to tell him.”
It was possible that he just thought the maid was being arrogant, but perhaps because Ascart treated me so well, the butler nodded without saying anything.
“Then let's go to the annex and tell the story. Do you want to wait here for a while?”
"Yes."
I nodded quickly and eagerly watched the butler leave the front door.
“If it is possible, it would be nice to meet the Archduke as well.”
The rumor I heard was that he was conducting some sort of magical research in a separate building with Askart.
That's when I thought it would be a good idea to call me there.
He heard a noise inside.
“You said you were resting in the bedroom, but where are you going?”
“Is it possible that you went to Elad Palace? Countess Marietta went there a short while ago.”
“No way, I definitely took headache medicine.”
“Perhaps you will go to His Highness the Archduke. First, let us take a closer look inside the Marquis’ residence.”
“Then I will come back and see if the cart has come out or not.”
I listened cloy and saw that the maids were looking for the Archduchess with anxious voices.
For a moment, my heart sank.
Just when I thought he might have collapsed somewhere, I was already moving my body.
I had no consciousness that I was wandering about the Marquis's house at will.
While I was frantically trying to find the Archduchess, I stopped in front of the greenhouse where I had once had tea with Ascarte.
When I carefully opened the door and entered, I was startled and my shoulders rose.
In the shepherd's greenhouse filled with pink roses, the Archduchess was half asleep with her eyes closed and reclining on a soft chair.
For some reason, I felt suffocated when I saw my breath coming out irregularly.
Except for the time I met the Marquis in the drawing room not long ago, I had never seen her up close like this before.
“Is this really a beautiful person my mother?”
It was hard to believe, but before I knew it, my throat was tight and my eyes were red.
When I saw that he didn't avoid me when I approached him, I felt even sadder.
“...Leah.”
The Archduchess frowned, closed her eyes, and groaned softly.
My whole body became stiff.
“Adriana.”
I felt an indefinable emotion from the mumble that came out as if I was crying.
". … My mom."
Words that I never thought could come out of my mouth came out without me even realizing it.
At the same time, my vision became blurry.
I felt like tears would fall at any moment, but I held back my tears and held the Archduchess's hand tightly.
I really wanted to hold this hand.
I really wanted to hold that hand again.
“Adriana, my daughter...”
At that moment, the Archduchess's hand, which had been limp, gained strength and grabbed mine.
I was startled, my heart was pounding, and I closed my eyes tightly.
'I hope you get to know me this way...'
Then that was when I thought there was really nothing more to ask for.
“...Whose body do you dare to touch? Leave me now.”
*The point of the Archduchess here is that no one can touch her body without any consequences because she is an Archduchess.*
An ice-cold voice came from above my head.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the Grand Duchess with a face covered in a layer of frost.
She was staring at me fiercely with a mask-like expression devoid of human life.
When I was confused and did not let go of her hands, she said: “Ha!” The Archduchess let out an exasperated breath and shook my hand away.
“Why in heaven’s name are you here?”
“Are you saying that the employees in the Marquis’s palace allow others to come and go like this? It won’t work, I have to reprimand them harshly, ha!”
Was it unpleasant to see me?
When I saw the Archduchess calling her maid in an angry voice, uncontrollable resentment and sadness filled my heart, even for a single moment.
“...don’t do that.”
"What?"
“The other people are not wrong, I went in alone.”
“Then you will be reprimanded, no, I am not your lady, so I must speak to Duke Elad, and provide proper training for the servants.”
“Please...Please, don’t do that. You can’t do this to me.”
I said desperately, holding on to my faint thoughts.
Then the Archduchess snorted and raised her voice.
“You really are a brave child, you seem to think that just because my father and Duke Elade find you cute, you really deserve everything...”
"no !"
I was interrupted by the Grand Duchess's words, my heart beating hard.
“I'm not like that. I'm afraid it will hurt a lot later. I'm afraid you'll feel sad and regretful....”
“What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”
Despite my serious words, seeing the Archduchess looking at me coldly with her distorted eyes made me feel sullen and ugly.
Before I knew it, I was overcome with sadness and resentment and spoke impulsively.
“Because I am your daughter.”
". … What?"
“Because I'm Adriana.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the Archduchess's face turned pale.
“You...what in heaven’s name are you talking about now...”
When I saw the Archduchess who had stopped breathing and was unable to speak, I quickly showed her the necklace I had placed inside her clothes.
“This necklace, don’t you know what it is?”