The duke did it, Camille did it—and Oscar, too, praised Leah without the slightest embarrassment.
Leah found herself flustered each time, yet to them such words seemed as natural as breathing.
Perhaps, even within a family—especially among nobles—it was proper to praise a lady so openly.
“I have only ever had younger brothers until now. Having you here, Leah, makes the house feel brighter. It truly pleases me.”
Leah looked up at Oscar.
“I’m very grateful to hear you say that.”
To feel accepted warmed her heart.
“What are you doing, Brother? Sister?”
A soft voice rang out as Camille approached.
“It’s not fair that you’re talking alone. I want to grow close to Sister too.”
“Then you should simply join us,” Oscar replied with a sigh, turning his gaze back to Leah.
“Leah, do you find it tiresome when we behave so excitedly?”
“I do not find it tiresome at all.”
“Then you understand that we truly welcome you?”
“Yes.”
Both Oscar and Camille treated her wonderfully—like true brothers, perhaps even more so.
“I’m happy, Brother.”
She still found herself growing sad when she remembered the joyful days of the past, and her lessons with the tutors were exhausting—but everyone in the household was kind to her, and that helped immensely.
Though her brothers praised her so freely that she could hardly help but feel embarrassed.
(But I suppose I must grow used to it…)
Oscar gently stroked her hair.
“I know you are doing your best each day in this new environment, Leah. Camille and I are cheering you on.”
“You can talk to us about anything.”
She was truly grateful.
Yet she could not help but wonder—why did they accept her so readily?
They were cousins, yes—but from the very beginning, they had treated her with warmth and familiarity.
“Why are you both so kind to me?”
“Does it seem strange?” Oscar asked.
Leah nodded honestly.
“Yes…”
“If we have unsettled you, then forgive us. The truth is, neither Camille nor I feel as though this is our first time meeting you.”
“What?”
Leah blinked, and Camille explained.
“There’s a portrait of your mother—our aunt—hanging in the mansion. In a room at the back of the first floor. She looks about the same age you are now, and she’s truly identical to you. That’s why it doesn’t feel like we’ve just met.”
(I see…)
If there was a portrait of her mother, she wanted very much to see it.
“Would you like to? There are several.”
“Yes!”
“Come.”
They led her inside.
At the end of a corridor stood an oak door, which Oscar opened.
Beyond it lay a spacious room.
Numerous portraits adorned the walls.
Oscar guided her forward with a hand at her shoulder and stopped before one painting.
“This one. She looks about the same age you are now.”
Leah’s eyes widened.
It was as though she were looking at herself.
“Is that… me?”
“See? They’re identical,” Camille said with a soft laugh.
“The girl in the painting is our aunt. And beside her is Father. With them are our late grandfather and grandmother.”
(So that isn’t me—it’s Mother…?)
The hairstyle was the same as hers now. The dress even matched in color.
It truly felt as though she were gazing at her own reflection.
“Your mother was very beautiful.”
Oscar spoke before another portrait—one of her mother as a young woman.
That image resembled the mother Leah remembered.
Her chest tightened with longing.
“…When I grow up, I want to be like Mother…”
As a child, she resembled her closely—but would she grow into someone like her?
She murmured the thought, and both Oscar and Camille burst into laughter.
“Leah, you are already very cute.”
“Very cute. And when you grow up, you’ll be a peerless beauty.”
They were skilled with words, and perhaps they saw her through the indulgent eyes of brothers.
Nothing could compare to the happiness she had known living with her parents.
And yet—she had become part of a family of kind people.
For that, she felt deeply grateful.
In his final days, her father must have contacted the ducal house because he worried for her future.
So that her parents in heaven might rest easy, Leah resolved to become a true member of this family.
