LMU 02

Chapter: 02

“Where’s the man who looks like Mommy?”

“Aika, his name is Kassel. He’s your one and only uncle.”

“My uncle?”

“Yes. Your uncle.”

“Then… I want to see Uncle!”

It was only later that I learned my uncle wasn’t called the Mad Dog for no reason.

His record was astonishing in every way—terrifyingly brilliant, even.

Of course, his personality and temperament, both of which seemed to have something broken inside them, also played a big part.

I’d heard that one family had nearly been wiped out after provoking his anger, and another had actually disappeared altogether.

They even said that every man who had proposed to my mother vanished afterward. I didn’t know what had happened to them.

Ironically, despite his cruel, fiery temper, he was still considered one of the three most popular bachelors among noble ladies.

On top of that, according to Grandfather, Uncle had an uncanny nose for money and was largely responsible for increasing the family’s wealth.

So why was I living with this reckless uncle?

There were several reasons.

First, he was my mother’s only sibling.

Second, Grandfather had sent me to him on the condition that Uncle accepted the title of Marquis.

Actually, Uncle had said he didn’t want the marquis title, but Grandfather forced it on him—and forced me on him too.

I knew because I had secretly overheard their conversation.

“If you want the title of Marquis, take Aika with you.”

“Has the old man finally lost his mind? He can give that title to a dog for all I care.”

“You ungrateful brat! Aika could be in danger! Do you think there are only one or two people targeting our family?”

“…”

“You may be a complete madman to everyone else, but you’ll protect your niece.”

And that was how I ended up with my uncle, Kassel de Valiert—the Duke of Valiert’s only remaining child and my mother’s brother.

Though now he’d accepted the title and had become Kassel de Reguier.

Well… as you can see, my uncle didn’t like me.

He seemed to dislike me very, very much.

It wasn’t as though I particularly liked him either.

Even so, there was one final reason I insisted on seeing him, even throwing a tantrum just to be allowed near him.

And it was the most important reason of all.

I had to save him.

On the day of the carriage accident, before I lost consciousness, Mother gave me a special gift.

Even as blood flowed from her head, she suddenly forced a tiny red jewel—no bigger than my little fingernail—into my mouth and said,

“Aika… my beloved daughter. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you until the end.”

“Mom… no… sob… Don’t die…”

“Aika, you’re going to have very special eyes now. No matter what you see or learn from now on, don’t be frightened. This will save the people precious to you.”

“Special… hic… eyes…?”

“You mustn’t tell anyone. It’s a secret that only you and Mommy know. Understand?”

After promising never to tell anyone, I woke up…

…and Mother was gone.

Even after Mother’s funeral, I didn’t understand what she had meant.

But after that day, I began having dreams that felt more vivid than reality itself.

And when the scenes from those dreams unfolded before my eyes exactly as I had seen them…

…I finally understood.

I had gained the ability to see the future.

It was a power that let me sense the dangers awaiting people connected to me.

I’d even dreamed about my favorite maid working at Grandfather’s estate, so it didn’t seem to be limited to blood relatives.

Later on, it wasn’t just dreams anymore.

Sometimes, even while I was awake, visions would suddenly appear before my eyes.

Only once in a while, though.

Then, after I had grown accustomed to my ability and was naturally able to prevent accidents involving the maids…

…I had that dream.

“Uncle! No!”

A dream in which Uncle became caught up in something even more dangerous than what had happened to Mother…

…and met his death.

On the day I received my special power…

Even as I drifted into unconsciousness, I vaguely heard unfamiliar voices talking.

“Find the necklace first. What’s inside it is what matters.”

“I found it, but it’s empty.”

“Tsk. They must have hidden it somewhere else. We’ll retreat before they arrive. You stay hidden and keep searching.”

“Understood.”

I didn’t know why that was the only part I remembered while everything else had faded.

But those voices remained crystal clear to this day.

“We have to find it and return.”

The necklace Mother had torn off.

The jewel she had hurriedly forced me to swallow.

The people searching for something…

They were definitely dangerous.

“Aika, you must never let anyone discover this special power. Be careful of…”

If I didn’t find those people and throw them into prison…

…Uncle would end up in danger too.

Even if I kept stopping it over and over again.

“Aika, someday I’ll introduce you to your uncle. He’s a mad dog… well, not really. He’s actually more like a puppy. I’m sure you’ll like him when you meet him. Deep down, he’s warmer than anyone.”

Mother always said that.

She didn’t get to see him often, but he was her one and only precious little brother.

She also told me that even though I didn’t know what he looked like, every toy I’d ever played with had been bought by him.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch that uncle die.

I’ll protect both Uncle… and myself.

Because Mother had said I was her most precious treasure.

I was going to grow up healthy and become a wonderful adult.

So even though I couldn’t save Mother…

I had decided I would save Uncle.

Because he was the only person who looked like her.

And after I came all the way here with great effort…

…Uncle stubbornly rejected me and treated me like I was nothing more than a peanut.

Hmph. He didn’t even understand how I felt.

If he hadn’t been Mother’s little brother, I wouldn’t have looked at him twice either.

If he hadn’t resembled Mother at least a little, I wouldn’t have liked him at all.

Other than his handsome face, his personality was completely twisted and nothing like Mother’s.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

I’ll be patient.

I’m a kind seven-year-old, after all.

I put down my doll, brushed off my skirt, and stood up.

The maids had dressed me up so prettily this morning. I couldn’t let my dress get ruined.

“Aw… it’s all wrinkled.”

I smoothed out my crumpled dress as best I could.

Even if this was how Uncle treated me, I absolutely had to stop him from going out today.

Mother had told me…

Never underestimate a tiny spark.

No matter how small it seemed, if left alone it would grow into an uncontrollable blaze that swallowed everything.

If you spotted the spark before it became dangerous and put it out…

…Mother said you could proudly call yourself a hero.

So I decided to become a little hero.

The moment I opened the door and stepped outside, a maid hurried over.

“My lady, do you need something?”

It was Zenda, who had taken care of me ever since my first day here.

She must have been waiting beside the door for me to come out.

She said she’d worked here for over three years, and embroidery and sewing were her specialties.

To prove it, she’d embroidered a blooming sunflower onto the left sleeve of my dress.

And she knew Uncle’s personality extremely well.

Well, not just Zenda.

Almost every servant in this mansion seemed to know how awful Uncle’s temper was.

“Where’s Uncle? Where did Uncle go?”

Looking up at the kind Zenda—so different from Uncle—I asked.

“The master? He’s gone to get ready to go out. He should be in the dressing room.”

“Then I want to see Uncle.”

At once, Zenda’s face darkened like storm clouds.

She already looked worried enough.

“But it’s almost snack time. How about enjoying your snack in your room instead? I’ll make you some delicious cocoa. Forgive my boldness, but when the master is busy, it’s usually best not to approach him…”

She was probably worried Uncle would yell at me again.

I smiled sweetly and shook my head.

“It’s okay! I have to go before it’s too late.”

“I understand. I’ll take you there.”

Since I stubbornly insisted on seeing Uncle, Zenda, looking as though she might burst into tears, led me to the door of Uncle’s dressing room.

Not wanting her to get scolded because of me, I sent her away before knocking loudly on the firmly shut door.

“Uncleee!”

As expected, there was no answer.

I know you’re in there, Uncle.

I cupped my hands around my mouth like a megaphone, pressed my face close to the door, and shouted even louder.

“Uncle! Uncle! Uncleee!”

A rough voice came from inside, and then the door flew open.