Chapter 10
“We can’t create a huge problem just because I don’t want to deal with one difficult person. So… it’ll be alright.”
“I-I understand the situation now.”
Serge cleared his throat, gently steering the conversation in a different direction.
“It’s true that things could become… complicated. But neither Father nor I want you to force yourself to endure living in the ducal household while suppressing something that makes you unhappy.”
“Ah…”
She truly appreciated his concern.
If she explained everything that had happened…
The kind-hearted duke would probably be willing to take the risk and help her.
But…
As someone who would eventually leave House Elestain one day, asking them to go that far for her would be shameless.
“For now, I’ll try to find a way to deal with it myself. If it really becomes too much… then I may ask for your help.”
“Of course. Please tell us whenever you need anything.”
“Would you like me to inform Father as well?”
“Oh! N-No, that’s alright. If it ever truly becomes necessary, I’ll tell him myself. I don’t want to make him worry for no reason.”
“I understand… if that’s what you’d prefer.”
Despite being painfully shy, Serge had spoken with the quiet reliability expected of a husband.
Rayleigh felt her heart warm a little.
“I’m sure it’s still awkward for you to be around me… so I’m really happy that you tried to look out for me.”
“…Ah.”
Serge lowered his gaze.
It looked as though even he was surprised.
The invisible wall he always built between himself and other people seemed to have crumbled without him realizing it.
“A-Anyway…”
“I’m sorry for interrupting your meal.”
“Please… eat.”
“Alright.”
“You too, Lord Serge.”
“…Yes.”
After that, they quietly finished breakfast together.
No more conversation followed.
Even so…
Rayleigh couldn’t help feeling that she had become a little closer to her husband.
And she was certain Serge felt the same.
I shouldn’t become a burden to someone who’s been so kind to me.
I need to think about what I can do.
She quietly clenched her small fist.
Over the next several days, both Walter and Serge happened to leave the estate for an inspection tour.
Of course…
Rayleigh doubted it was merely an inspection.
It’s probably another Day of Rest, when the Duke returns to his fox form.
In the original story, the beastfolk eventually succumbed to madness so completely that even the Day of Rest became meaningless.
But things hadn’t deteriorated that far yet.
For now, their regular transformations were still enough to suppress their beastly instincts.
Naturally, Rayleigh pretended not to notice.
She simply wished both of them a safe journey.
Yuan, the duke’s aide, remained at the estate to look after Rayleigh while the master and heir were away.
“If anything troubles you, or if you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call for me.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“You’ve only just arrived in an unfamiliar place, and now both the Duke and the Young Master are away. I’m sure it must feel rather unsettling.”
“Still… I hope you’ll consider this your own home and make yourself comfortable.”
Rayleigh smiled softly at Yuan’s kindness.
In truth…
Being alone in the ducal estate didn’t frighten her.
What worried her was something else entirely.
By sheer coincidence…
Margaret would arrive while neither of the estate’s masters was present.
…It’s alright.
I can handle this.
She quietly prepared herself.
The next day…
“Young Madam, Margaret from House Bitence has arrived.”
Just as expected.
There had been no unexpected twists.
Rayleigh deliberately nodded with calm composure.
“…I understand.”
“Her room has been prepared, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Just as you instructed, we’ve prepared a guest room separate from the annex where you reside.”
“Thank you.”
She headed toward the Great Hall.
The familiar middle-aged woman beamed the moment she saw her.
“My, my. It’s only been a few days, Lady Rayleigh.”
“…”
Rayleigh wondered…
How would I have reacted before I regained the memories of my previous life?
“Honestly! Have you learned no proper manners at all?”
“I-I’m sorry… I was wrong…”
“Lift your skirt! Five strikes on your calves today. Really… if only you’d listened when I asked nicely…”
Back then…
She would probably have trembled at a single glance from Margaret.
She would have desperately examined herself, terrified that she’d made some mistake or given her nanny another excuse to punish her.
But now…
Things were different.
She was Rayleigh Elestain.
No longer a little girl imprisoned by House Bitence.
“Your manners are lacking, Margaret.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m no longer ‘Lady Rayleigh.’”
“I’m Lady Rayleigh Elestain—the Young Duchess.”
“…!”
“Address me properly.”
Rayleigh’s clear, unwavering voice echoed through the hall.
Flames seemed to flash within Margaret’s eyes.
How dare this child…
The look on her face practically screamed,
How dare someone I’ve raised and disciplined speak to me like this?
An overwhelming pressure bore down upon Rayleigh.
As though it intended to crush her.
I’m not backing down!
Her hands trembled instinctively from years of conditioned fear.
But she ignored it and lifted her chin.
“Well?”
“Your answer?”
“…Yes… Lady Elestain.”
Margaret answered through clenched teeth.
Her voice was so low that it was obvious the honorific had been forced out against her will.
“Good.”
“You must be tired after such a long journey.”
“Go and get some rest.”
“…”
Without giving Margaret the opportunity to argue, Rayleigh turned around and walked away.
She could feel the woman’s venomous stare boring into the back of her head.
She ignored it.
This is only the beginning…
But…
She had finally taken her first step toward breaking free from the nightmare that had haunted her for so long.
Of course…
Rayleigh had never believed that would be the end of it.
She had asserted herself so forcefully not only to establish dominance from the start…
But because she was certain Margaret hadn’t come to the ducal estate without an ulterior motive.
According to Rayleigh’s plan…
If she wanted to drive Margaret away legitimately…
She needed to appear strong from the very beginning.
“Young Madam, Margaret wishes to speak with you.”
“I understand.”
Rayleigh gracefully rose from her seat and headed to the drawing room.
Margaret greeted her far more politely than before.
“Did you get some rest after unpacking?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks to your concern.”
Margaret answered with a stiff smile.
The maids were standing behind Rayleigh in neat rows.
Even Margaret wasn’t foolish enough to behave improperly in front of witnesses.
“Let’s have dinner together later.”
“If you’re still feeling unwell from the carriage ride, we can postpone it.”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“As you’ve probably heard, the Duke and Lord Serge are away on an inspection.”
“You can formally greet them once they return.”
“Yes.”
“More importantly… Young Duchess.”
“Yes?”
“May I speak with you privately for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Margaret forced another unnatural smile.
She was clearly conscious of the maids watching them.
“When I arrived earlier, I noticed the gardens were absolutely beautiful.”
“Would you accompany me for a short walk?”
“We could catch up while we’re there.”
“…”
Rayleigh could have refused.
But she had provoked Margaret precisely because she wanted to uncover her true intentions as quickly as possible.
Outdoors…
Margaret would hardly dare attempt anything outrageous.
“Very well.”
“Let’s take a short walk.”
Rayleigh nodded her permission.
The moment they entered the gardens and the sounds of other people disappeared…
Margaret curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“I can hardly recognize you after only a few days apart.”
“What do you mean?”
“I raised you for years.”
“And yet you’ve become so cold toward me.”
“Do you enjoy being the Young Duchess that much?”
“…”
“But surely even you realize you’re nowhere near worthy of calling yourself a lady.”
“From your appearance to your refinement… nothing about you fits this family.”
“Sooner or later, the ducal house will grow tired of you and throw you out.”
The way Margaret spoke—
Crushing the other person while planting seeds of anxiety—
Was exactly how she had always “disciplined” Rayleigh.
So she came here assuming I’ll eventually be thrown out…
She wants something from me.
Most likely…
Something House Bitence had ordered her to obtain.
Rayleigh didn’t bother correcting Margaret’s increasingly disrespectful tone.
She simply waited for the woman to continue.
“In the end… blood is all that truly matters.”
“When they cast you aside, the only people who’ll take you back will be House Bitence.”
“…”
“So, my lady.”
Margaret bent down with an ugly smile.
Then she leaned close and whispered into Rayleigh’s ear.
“While you’re still allowed to remain in this estate…”
“Wouldn’t it be wise to do something that benefits your family’s house?”
“What do you…?”
“I’m not asking you to accomplish anything extraordinary.”
“But if you could simply provide proof that you’re making an effort for your birth family…”
“I’m sure the Viscount would be delighted.”
“…Proof?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you could quietly pass along some information from House Elestain that might be useful to the Viscount.”
“What…?”
“For example…”
“The amount of money House Elestain intends to spend at the upcoming Core Ruby Mine auction in the capital.”
“…!”
So that’s her real objective.
Rayleigh instinctively stepped backward.
They were actually ordering their young daughter…
To spy on the family she had married into.
“And…”
“What if I refuse?”
“What?”
Margaret let out a contemptuous laugh.
“You don’t have the right to refuse, young lady.”
“…”
“You really think you’re the Young Duchess now?”
“How ridiculous.”
“Perhaps you need another proper lesson.”
As if out of habit…
Margaret raised one hand.
Rayleigh knew…
That hand wasn’t actually going to slap her.
And yet…
Her body instinctively shrank back.
Fighting against the terror engraved into her very instincts, Rayleigh shouted,
“I’m not pretending to be the Young Duchess!”
“I am the Young Duchess!”
“If you continue this insolence, I’ll have you thrown out for trea—”
“No.”
“You could never defy me.”
“What do you— Ngh!”
At that instant…
An unbearable pain pierced her head.
It felt as though a sharpened spike had been driven straight into her skull.
It wasn’t a physical blow.
It had to be magic.
But Margaret isn’t a mage… how could she—?!
She wanted to think.
To understand.
But the agony was too overwhelming.
Her thoughts scattered.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
“That’s better.”
“You’re finally being obedient.”
“Hah… ngh!”
“Well then…”
Just then—
“ROOOAAAR!”
“Grrrrrr!”
A sudden bark echoed through the gardens.
Both Margaret and Rayleigh instinctively turned toward the sound.
“…Huh?”
Standing silently among the bushes…
A magnificent adult fox with sleek black fur had appeared.
Its sharp eyes gleamed as it stared directly at them.
