Chapter 164
TL: Zimming
Cecilia hardened at the sight of the chairman. She would have known the chairman as she had spent some time at Dubbled.
“Why is Lord Noanoke…….”
I stepped forward and took off my wide-brimmed hat.
“Hello, Miss Olga.”
The look on Cecilia’s face when she saw me became strange. I look at Seria urgently to find out why.
“By any chance, is this child your niece?”
The chairman replied to that,
“Dame* Olga, let me introduce this person.”
*TL Note: Traditionally, as governed by law and custom, Sir is used for men titled knights i.e. of orders of chivalry, and later also to baronets, and other offices. As the female equivalent for knighthood is damehood, the suo jure female equivalent term is typically Dame.
“……I have long abandoned my knight title.”
“Do you still feel guilty about not being able to protect Lisette*? Is that why you don’t hold the sword like Dame Lea Shavanol?”
*TL Note: I think Lisette sounds much better so from now on, Risette will be mentioned as Lisette.
“……Please introduce the child first.”
“Lady Dubbled.”
A hint of surprise appeared on Cecilia’s countanance.
“The child of fate. Lord! What are you thinking……!It’s amazing that the lord cared about a child from the temple, but I was a loyal servant of Lisette……!”
Cecilia seemed to be angry and looked at me.
She couldn’t cover the emotions on her face, but there was a look of embarrassment on her face, as if she thought that she shouldn’t say that in front of me.
This, child, it’s……not your fault…….”
“I know.”
“…….”
“I know, Cecilia. You can hate me.”
The reason Lisette died is because Duke Dubbled’s predecessor, who had been pushed out by him, rebelled to regain power.
And one holy knight was mixed in that army. Lea wasn’t certain but she felt divine power from him.
The people around Lisette were convinced that the temple and predecessor had colluded.
That’s why my aunt, who cherished Lisette dearly, was distressed by me.
They can’t hate me as I’m an innocent child, but they can’t help being reminded of the temple when they see me.
But I didn’t mind. I have been hated since my first life. If there is a child who is as resistant to hatred as I am, ask me to see them!
Smiling inwardly, I grabbed Cecilia’s hand and shook it
“But believe me. I know where Cecilia’s niece is.”
“…….”
“I was at an orphanage. So I have some orphan friends. They say that Max’s beggar gang has a kid named ‘Tri’.”
I couldn’t reveal that I was a regressor, so I cleverly mixed up the lies.
Cecilia muttered, “Tri?” and I nodded.
“Her real name is Triloni.”
Cecilia clenched her fist.
“Triloni…….”
“Triloni who grew up in a westian orphanage.”
“……!”
Seria handed over a pre-painted portrait of Tri.
The portrait of a child looks very much like Cecilia and has a mole under her chin like her sister.
Cecilia covered her mouth.
After exchanging glances with the chairman and Seria, I smiled inwardly.
I found her niece, so let’s be friendly alright?
‘And please save Tri from the epidemic.’
“Buy a clean shirt with this money. That way, you won’t be ignored in the temple.”
“But Tri, you saved this up for three years.”
“I just have to collect the money again! … … You see, Leblaine, it’s okay to hate me but I want you to be happy.”
Her consideration eventually killed me, but our good memories never faded.
The girl who pushed me into the abyss with her consideration is still deeply embedded in my memory.
I laughed bitterly.
***
“Tri…… ah, apparently people called her ‘Tri’. She’s a very nice, cute, and sweet kid.”
“I see…”
Cecilia said, stroking Tri’s portrait with trembling hands.
She mumbled, “She’s such a good kid even when she grew up without adult protection. She resembled my strong older sister so much.”
She looked relieved.
“But how did you lose Tri?”
“My sister was against me using a sword. When I entered the Knights of Dubbled despite opposition, I manifested divine power. She hated it even more. As I had divine power, I would be able to live comfortably as a priest.”
“…….”
“I lost contact with my sister, then that incident happened.”
“Lisette and her child…….”
Cecilia nodded her head.
“We lost Lisette and the youngest lady because of the attack, I was on the brink of death for 15 days. At that time, my sister died of the epidemic, and no one in the village knew where my niece was.”
Tri’s mother died because of the plague…….
She couldn’t protect her master, her sister died of the epidemic and her niece was lost. Cecilia’s life was so unfortunate and sad.
“I’ve been looking for my niece since I was discharged. The lord offered me a long vacation, but I wasn’t confident to hold the sword again. Because I’m a useless knight.”
“Cecilia…….”
“I found out last year that Triloni was at the Westian Orphanage. But her whereabouts were unknown, so I almost gave up.”
“…….”
“Thank you so much little miss.”
She bowed down and spoke determinedly.
“I will return this favor with my life someday. It’s the oath of a former knight, little miss.”
“You can pay me back now.”
“……Huh?”
I lived in my first life as the daughter of the Duke Amity, who believed in good faith, cause and justice. It was a sad and painful time but I learned something from it. I know what works best for this type of person.
“When you were in orphanages looking for Tri, did you see the other children there?”
“……Yes, their living conditions were terrible. Most of the private orphanages are garbage.”
I nodded my head.
“So, Cecilia. Don’t you want to change the world?”
“What?”
“Leblaine and Mina. Father dreamed about a world where justice takes precedence over desire.”
“We can create a world where justice comes before desire.”
Cecilia’s eyes trembled.
“A world where children don’t get hungry.”
“…….”
I pointed at Cecilia.
“Cecilia can do it.”
A vote from the people… no, the support from the people!
“…….”
Cecilia was silent for a while.
“Pfft.”
Cecilia covered her mouth as her shoulders trembled.
“What an idealistic dream. A person can’t change the world.”
“I have a way to make it work.”
I pounded on my chest proudly.
We have Henry, genius of manipulating public opinion, and Duke Dubbled, the richest supporter in the empire!
“Little miss must be a very special person. In many ways.”
The meaning of the word in many ways was strange. Maybe she noticed something.
‘Oh my god, she’s so quick-witted!’
Then I asked Cecilia the most important question.
“So, Cecilia.”
“Yes.”
“What’s your criminal record?”
Say it quickly so I can settle it before making you into an empress.
Cecilia said that when she was young, she broke the necks of thugs who made fun of old women at the market.
“I have a history of assault. It’s a bit better compared to others.”
“Yes.”
This should be hard to pick up on. It could be used as a means to gain more support from the people.
“Then I’ll send someone soon, get ready.”
After finishing the conversation, I pulled myself up from the sofa. She shouted at me as I was about to pass Cecilia with Seria and the chairman.
“Little miss……!”
I looked back in surprise and she bit her lip.
“I didn’t hate you. You’re innocent.”
“…….”
“So don’t take hate for granted anymore, little girl.”
When I saw Cecilia smiling, I smiled in response.
‘Oh, I really love the Knights of Dubbled.’
Aunt, Lea, and Cecilia.
***
Tri was in front of a bowl as she hugged her shoulder. Her body trembled due to the cold. She seemed to have caught a cold because of the temperature in autumn.
Tri groaned among the children who excitedly sang the begging song written and composed by Max. The fever rose as her eyes became cloudy, but she couldn’t help but come out.
As Emeline was stuck in the accommodation, she had to earn more. Otherwise, she doesn’t think Max will let Emeline off the hook any more, if she takes a break, she may be kicked out.
“We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch.”
“I’m hungry!”
“Sir, give us francs. I want to eat bread today. I’m hungry. We are hungry…….”
She kept crying and her voice became unstable. Max, who was dancing among the children, came running towards her, “Hey!”
“Do you want to die? Are you going to keep crying? The kids are crying along!”
“I, it hurts…….”
“There’s no one here who’s not sick! Damn it, man!”
“Sob…… we’re hungry… Sir…… Huwaa!”
Max raised his hand when he saw Tri crying and singing.
“Hey, you want to die today? Yes, get Emeline’s share first……Argh!”
Someone picked up the bowl and hit Max in the back of the head.
“What?!”
It was when Max squealed and turned his head.
The face of the assailant, hidden in the shadow of the sun, was revealed.
“Why are you hitting me? You’re hurting me!”
It was a girl with a braid, dressed in a luxurious dress that’s hard to see in the alley.
“W, what, you.”
“Why don’t you let a sick child rest! You eat all the money the children earned and gambled every day!”
“Y, you what……!”
“Get out of here.”
“This person! Do you want to die?!”
The girl clenched her fists and ran as she hurriedly and tripped his leg as climbed onto the boy who stumbled.
“M, Max is getting hit.”
“W, wow…….”
The children’s eyes widened as they looked at the girl beating the chubby boy.
Eventually, the exhausted Max scurried away.
“You, you’re really dead. I’m going to kill you…!”
The girl clenched her fist once more when she saw Max shouting while running away.
“Yes, go away you son of a bitch!”
“Hey!”
The girl was angry for a long time even though Max backed out.
“I’ve figured out his hitting pattern after a while.”
The girl muttered as she stared at the shocked Tri.
“V, voice…… at the parlor…….”
She’s sure that this child was with a beautiful boy.
The girl wiped her nose with her sleeve and bent her knees in front of Tri. As a reflex, Tri recites a song that she always sings on the street.
“W, we are hungry…….”
But suddenly, she hit Tri’s shoulder softly, so it didn’t hurt.
“Don’t do it!”
“…….”
“Why did you come out? Why did you come out when you’re sick!”
“…….”
“Why are you upsetting me, you idiot!”
Tri stared blankly at the crying child, messing up her face which didn’t match her fancy dress.
Why does she cry so sadly when she sees her for the first time?
The child said, as Tri held back tears,
“Hi, Leblaine. Nice to meet you. I’m Tri!”
“Hello, Tri. Nice to meet you. I am Leblaine.”
It was a warm greeting she first heard on her first day here.
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