Chapter 2
In the strange silence that no one quite knew how to break, the first person to move was the aide who had been following behind the Duke.
He wore round spectacles, and his neatly kept reddish-brown hair fell smoothly to his shoulders.
He was the very image of an intelligent young scholar.
“Allow me.”
“…Sorry, Yuan. I always end up like this.”
“It’s nothing.”
Without the slightest change in expression, the aide straightened the Duke’s disheveled clothes and appearance.
Judging by how practiced he looked, it seemed the Duke crashing to the floor was hardly an unusual occurrence.
Seeing his bewildered new daughter-in-law frozen in place, Walter apologized with an embarrassed smile.
“I’m sorry. I must have startled you.”
“N-Not at all! I’m perfectly fine.”
Though I still have no idea why my father-in-law suddenly sprinted toward me the moment he saw me…
As though he had read her thoughts, Walter lowered his eyes sheepishly.
“I’d been looking forward to your arrival for so long. I was just… so happy to see you.”
“…”
What is he, a puppy greeting its owner…?
Foxes are members of the canine family, sure, but aren’t they supposed to behave more like cats?
While Rayleigh stood there, completely dumbfounded, Walter continued with his introduction.
“My name is Walter Elestain, your father-in-law. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ve come to join our family.”
“I’m Rayleigh Vitenche. I still have much to learn, but I look forward to your guidance.”
“…”
For some reason, Walter’s shoulders visibly drooped the instant she finished speaking.
Huh? My manners were correct… Did I do something wrong?
The aide beside him politely explained.
“Although you will not officially enter the family register until you come of age, publicly speaking, Young Madam is already a member of House Elestain. From now on, you may introduce yourself as Rayleigh Elestain.”
“Ah… I understand! I’ll remember that.”
Wait… Did he look disappointed because I introduced myself with my maiden name instead of Elestain?
The more she interacted with her father-in-law, the more unexpectedly endearing he became.
“Thank you for accepting my presumptuous advice so graciously, Young Madam.”
“Not at all. Please feel free to correct me whenever necessary.”
“I’ve yet to introduce myself. My name is Yuan Willows, the Duke’s chief aide.”
Yuan…?
The name sounded oddly familiar.
Rayleigh politely returned his greeting.
Unlike her somewhat absent-minded father-in-law, Yuan carried himself with the unmistakable air of a consummate professional.
“Yuan is incredibly meticulous, unlike me,” Walter said with a laugh. “I rely on him all the time. As you can see… I’m rather clumsy.”
Rayleigh couldn’t exactly disagree, so she answered with an awkward smile.
“You must be disappointed that your father-in-law is someone like me. I’m sorry…”
“Not at all! I used to trip over things all the time when I was little.”
Of course, the man before her was a fully grown adult, while the last time Rayleigh had been that clumsy was more than five years ago.
Still, she simply wanted to comfort the flustered Duke.
“So I’m not the only one?”
“Of course not!”
“What a relief… It seems my daughter-in-law and I already have something in common. We’ll become close in no time.”
Walter chuckled happily.
It was a smile completely at odds with his cold appearance—a smile utterly devoid of even a trace of intimidating charisma.
“Ah! You can just call me Rayleigh.”
“…Is it because being called ‘daughter-in-law’ makes you uncomfortable?”
He even mumbled quietly,
“I’ve been looking forward to calling someone that for so long…”
After hearing that, who could possibly bring themselves to refuse?
Honestly, being called “daughter” at my age is a little embarrassing…!
Rayleigh smiled brightly and nodded.
“I don’t mind at all. Please call me whatever makes you comfortable, Your Grace.”
“Really…!”
Walter beamed with happiness as he sat down across from her.
(In the process, he nearly stumbled again before Yuan caught him.)
Watching her father-in-law, Rayleigh reached a conclusion.
No wonder this family gets wiped out ten years from now… Their head is hopelessly scatterbrained.
Then again, just because someone had demon blood didn’t mean they were automatically evil.
These days, fantasy stories love overturning clichés. Temples and priests are usually the villains, while the so-called hidden masterminds and antagonists often turn out to be the genuinely good people.
Though maybe only the father is like this. His son could still be awful. Better not let my guard down.
Either way, Rayleigh was relieved that the Duke’s personality was far more easygoing than she’d expected.
It fit perfectly with the plan she had begun forming for her own future.
Running away immediately in the body of a child wasn’t a realistic option.
Instead, she’d use the stability and resources of House Elestain to earn money with the knowledge she retained from the novel.
Then, once the time was right…
She would flee to another country.
There was no way someone as powerless as Rayleigh could save a family destined to be swept away by forces far beyond her control.
All she could do was save herself.
Out of conscience, before leaving she intended to leave behind whatever clues she knew—the suspicious movements of the Church and the Imperial Family, and anything else she remembered from the original story.
Walter gently interrupted her thoughts.
“It must be difficult adjusting to such an unfamiliar place. For the time being, don’t worry about studying or family duties. Just focus on making yourself at home. Explore the castle, get plenty of rest, and settle in.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
“Nonsense. We’re family now. That’s only natural.”
Rayleigh smiled faintly.
The word family didn’t bring her particularly warm feelings.
Aside from the novel’s contents, her memories of her previous life were vague…
But she still remembered one thing.
She had been an orphan.
And although she had parents in this life…
Sometimes she thought it would have been better if she didn’t.
“F-Father… Isn’t this Count old enough to be Grandfather…?”
“That’s right. I hear he’s already over sixty.”
“Then… isn’t he much too old to marry me…?”
“How dare you talk back! You should be grateful that someone of his standing is even willing to marry someone as useless as you!”
Those were the kind of parents she had.
Parents willing to sell their own daughter to a man old enough to be her grandfather.
Fortunately, before Rayleigh could be handed over to that shameless old Count, marriage negotiations with House Elestain had begun.
Knowing her parents, they were probably already rubbing their hands together, dreaming of profiting from becoming relatives of a ducal house.
And that was precisely why Rayleigh couldn’t break off the engagement.
If she returned to House Vitenche…
This time, she really would be sold to that elderly Count.
“Thank you for your warm words. While I’m living here, is there anything I should be especially careful about? Anything I ought to know?”
“Hmm… Nothing in particular. Though Serge and I occasionally have to leave rather suddenly. If we disappear without telling you beforehand, don’t be alarmed. Yuan will take care of you in my place.”
The moment she heard that, Rayleigh guessed he was referring to the periods when the Duke and the young heir transformed into foxes.
Naturally, she had every intention of pretending she knew nothing about their true identities, no matter how suspicious they acted.
So she simply nodded like an obedient child.
“You must still be tired, and I’ve kept you here long enough. Next, you’ll be meeting our Serge.”
“Yes.”
“He can be a little difficult, but I hope you’ll get along well.”
Difficult…? Maybe my future husband really does act like the stereotypical demon hybrid, unlike his father.
Still, until the day she escaped, Rayleigh intended to maintain good relationships with everyone in the household.
She was perfectly capable of humoring a rude or difficult child.
She was tired of living an unhappy life.
And she certainly had no intention of dying because she got caught up in some enormous tragedy that wasn’t even her fault.
This time…
She would seize the happy future she had never once possessed.
After Rayleigh left the drawing room, Duke Walter Elestain returned to his office with Yuan.
“What about the Core Ruby Mine?”
As he spoke, Walter took his seat behind the desk and leaned back lazily.
The absent-minded, clumsy man from moments ago had vanished without a trace.
The golden eyes that had seemed so gentle before now shone with a piercing sharpness.
Bowing respectfully, Yuan answered,
“There have been no significant changes since my previous report.”
“Inform me immediately if any new information comes in.”
“Understood.”
After discussing several other matters of state, Yuan hesitated before asking carefully,
“…What are your impressions after meeting Young Madam in person?”
