Chapter 3

“Thank you for the offer, but let’s postpone the tea time until later.”

“What? Why? You don’t have any plans today right?”

Killian asked persistently.

“I thought I don’t have either, but surprisingly, there is.”

Of course, it was obviously a lie. Because I didn’t want to have a tea time alone with Killian.

“Hmm, what? Then okay, there’s nothing I can do if there is.”

Killian turned his body to express his disappointment.

‘Go quickly, please.’

However, contrary to Elena’s wishes, Killian speak more.

“Then, come to the training hall when you have time. I will show you my swordsmanship skills.”

Killian tried to appeal his charm up until the very end before leaving the room.

Left alone, Lexion also turned to follow his elder brother. But before his little feet move, he first turned to Elena, and nodded his head while being unable to meet her gaze.

After that, he ran out of the room.

“…Gasp.”

Elena swallowed her breath as she saw the running child’s back.

‘What? Cute!’

There were not many descriptions of Lexion in the novel, so I never imagined him in his childhood. I didn’t know Lexion would be this cute!

‘Come to think of it, Lexion was the one who fed me, who’s already tired of sweet potatoes, in the second half of the novel.’

So Jane, the heroine, was torn between the bastard Killian, and the other male protagonist, Hayes.

After returning from the war, Lexion was recognized by his father with his achievements and eventually took the position of being the successor.

Killian, who was nothing except from being the eldest son, couldn’t keep his position and ran poorly on the heroine.

Thanks to that silliness, the female lead lost all her affection to Killian, and the relationship of the two ended completely.

In addition, Lexion was claimed to be the youngest duke, despite being an extra, and his beauty was also described as the best in the empire.

‘It was also said that he had an untamed beastly aura on him.’

When reading that part, Elena curse at the writer, who seemed to make Lexion the male lead.

‘But well, he’s much better than that bastard.’

Anyway, that’s all she knew about Lexion.

So I had no idea that Lexion in his childhood would be shy and lacking in confidence.

I can’t believe he’s even very cute. It’s bad for the heart.

“Anyway, that wound…”

The wound behind the neck that she saw a while ago lingered in her mind.

‘No, I don’t think so.’

She shook her head painstakingly to clear the thoughts from her head.

***

It’s been days since she recalled the memories of her past life at the Halos duchy.

During that time, Elena had a normal life.

Although she spent her time mostly at her room, she was still satisfied.

She’s even having luxurious meals that’s very delightful to the eyes and mouth.

I was worried that they would ignore me since I was a commoner, but they were much friendly than I thought.

I also had various things to read.

The reason why she had this much free time, was because the Duke of Halos was so busy.

The day before I regained my memories of previous life, Duke Halos told Elena to adapt in the duchy and stay comfortably.

‘And when the adjustment period is over, they will hire a tutor for me or send me to the academy.’

Elena was still thirteen and had to learn how to live in this world.

She intended to use freely the privileges given to her, so she spent a few days thinking what she wants to learn.

And she decided on one thing.

‘But will the Duke allow me to learn this?’

Elena pondered for a moment.

‘No matter what the original story is, the Duke of Halos supports me, and he must have a reason to do that.’

Regarding what the purpose is, she did not know exactly. But the Duke Halos she knows is that kind of person.

He’s a person who lives for the development and glory of the duchy.

If Elena had not remembered her past life, she wouldn’t be able to think deeply about this matter.

‘You would have thought it was enough to repay the kindness of the generous duke.’

Then suddenly, a sentence in the original story that she had forgotten came to mind.

“This ungrateful thing! Do you think I brought you in to become Killian’s mistress?”

The reason why the Duke of Halos accepted Elena Respell.

Of course, it also included the fact that Duke Halos felt sorry for his benefactor’s daughter.

But the main reason was the female protagonist, Jane. To be friends with Jane, who came to the dukedom alone at a young age for the bridal classes.

As he wishes, Elena became friends with Jane, not until Elena and Killian had an affair.

‘It’s a story that has absolutely nothing to do with me now though. Anyway, I hope the duke will grant my request…’

What Elena wanted to learn requires quite a lot of investments.

‘Will the duke invest in me?’

She walked slowly while losing her mind in thought.

Suddenly, a sweet smell reached the tip of her nose. It was the scent of flowers.

Elena went for a walk for the first the first time today because she had only been in her room ever since.

The garden of Duchess Halos was very large that it would take a few hours to look around everything.

So for now, I was only looking around the area, and haven’t entered the inner garden yet.

“As expected, there are a lot of pretty flowers. This is a dukedom after all.”

There were quite a few flowers in full bloom near the garden.

Walking around while looking at the beautiful flowers is enough to make me feel better. Then finally, I reached the back of the mansion.

I wondered where the chirping sound was coming from, but behind the mansion, there was actually a training hall.

‘Then I’ll never come here in the future.’

Or so I thought.

Men, who appeared to be knights of the duke’s family, were constantly moving.

Elena stood still and watched it for a moment.

These figures that does not neglect training while sweating profusely…

‘No, I can’t miss this. I have to come back often.’

Such kind of idea struck me.

‘I hope someday I will have a reliable knight as well.’

Most ladies from noble families had escort knights. However, Elena was just temporarily living in the duke’s family.

‘Of course, Duke Halos takes care of me, but I’m not his daughter so he surely won’t give me an escort knight.’

She was a little sad, but it’s okay.

As she stood in front of the training hall, a few knights looked at Elena, perhaps noticing her gaze.

Then she quickly turned around because she didn’t want to disturb the knights doing their job.

She quickly turned her feet and entered a small forest near it. Although it was a bit small to be called a forest, there were different tress standing densely.

As I walked along the wooden walkway, fresh air seemed to flow out.

“Hmm, I like it.”

Elena walked slowly while savoring the air.

“Ugh…”

It was then when she heard a moan.

I had an ominous feeling foreboding at the small sound.

Elena moved her feet as fast as she could.

The source of the sound was inside the forest.

I saw two people, as soon as I approached the direction of the sound.

Lexion, who was sitting near the tree, trembled as Killian stood in front of him. Killian smiled and approached Lexion, which caused him to be terrified.

He looks tired, and seemed to be unable to move. As if he experience this very often.

‘No way!’

Elena opened her eyes wide.

At that moment, she remembered a line from Lexion in the original story that she had forgotten.

‘The biggest reason I was able to rise to this position is because of my elder brother.’

Only then did all the puzzles come altogether.

The main driving force of Lexion, who was only an extra, to push his elder brother out of the successor’s seat.

That was the abuse of no other than Killian.

“Don’t make a sound.”

Killian’s low voice woke up Elena, who was still in shock.

“No!”

Her body jumped out in an instant.

Elena immediately block Lexion’s front and glared at Killian. She didn’t even care about the consequences of her own actions.

Killian might hit me instead of Lexion, or even kick me out of the duchy. But at this moment, it didn’t matter at all.

If only I could protect this child.

Killian’s eyebrows narrowed at my sudden appearance. Then, he lowered his raised hands and smiled brightly.

“Huh? Elena, what brings you here?”

Killian acted calmly although he was just caught doing immoral acts.

“Are you here to see me?”

As if what he’s doing is simply nothing.

‘He’s out of his mind.’

I knew well that he’s such a bastard because of his actions in the novel, but I didn’t think that it would be so much to this extent.

I can’t believe you’re abusing your younger brother who is only nine-year-old.

I was hopeful, but I was very surprised and angry that my prediction turned out to be right.

“You’re really saying that in this situation?”

Elena glared at Killian, who was still smiling.

“Oh, was is it because of that?”

Killian pointed out Lexion with his chin, who was still behind her.

Her eyebrows frowned upon his words.

‘You don’t even treat your own brother like a human.’

“Don’t worry about that. By the way, would you like to go on a walk together with me?”

Killian asked with a sly smile.

His dazzling appearance still shone, but it felt cruel to Elena.

I can’t believe you’re trying to seduce me with a smile right now, as if you don’t feel guilty at all.

“Take a walk alone.”

Elena spoke stiffly as she turned her back on him. Because right now, prioritizing Lexion’s safety is much important than dealing with Killian.

Then she immediately looked at Lexion, who was still shivering as he crouched his body.