I Am the Real One

Chapter 3

That night, Keira’s father, Ludwig, sent for her from his study. He had asked to see her only a handful of times in her entire life. Anxious but excited, she headed to his study.

The grand duke was at his desk working late into the night, and he did not take his eyes off his documents as Keira entered. She was disappointed, but she told herself he was just engrossed in his work.

“You called for me,” she said.

Ludwig looked up. “I heard what happened today,” he said icily.

“Sir?”

The incident with Cosette instantly resurfaced in her mind, along with Cosette’s innocent smile as she insulted Keira’s late mother.

“Father, I...”

“I know you don’t approve of that child. I understand. But have you no shame? When the help is watching?”

“…….”

What do I say? His tone was harsh, but the tenderness in the way he called Cosette “that child” sent a pang through her heart.

“What’s worse, you aimed your sword at her. Word has spread through the servants of your conduct. Please think before you act from now on.”

“B-but she was the one who insulted Mother’s honor first. She accused her of being an adulteress. I can take any insult, but Mother...”

“Time will tell if that is an insult or simply the truth.”

“...Sir?”

Keira could not make sense of his words. She stood with her feet glued to the ground, blinking. When she finally realized what he had meant, she trembled all over. He had belittled her all her life, but never had he made her feel so wretched. His icy voice descended on her paralyzed limbs.

“You may go.”

“Mother... My mother...”

“I said, you may go.”

The grand duke had nothing more to discuss. Keira left the study in a trance and stepped into the cold hall. The ceiling turned, and the floor twisted under her. She stumbled on a few steps before leaning into a wall and collapsing. Her knees sunk into the soft rug on the floor.

He has doubts about me and Mother? How could he?

Keira had carried out the duties as the daughter of the grand duke and the assumed elementalist for the last twenty years, not Cosette. Did he really trust Cosette—who had so recently appeared in his life—more than the daughter who had served him for all those years? All because the two of them looked alike?

Tears fell without her knowing. She could not have realized she was crying if it had not been for the warm teardrops plopping on the back of her hand. Keira was running her sleeve over her wet cheeks when a familiar voice came from a few steps away.

“Keira? What are you doing down there?”

The voice gave Keira shivers. It was Cosette in a white dress that made her silvery locks shine. Keira wiped her tears in time, but she could not hide her red eyes. Cosette noticed right away.

“Huh...”

A devious smile appeared on her lips, hidden from the maid trailing behind Cosette. The voice that came from her was a jarring contrast with that cruel smile.

“Oh no, are you crying? Why are you crying at a place like this? How sad.”

Cosette reached down and wiped a tear from Keira’s eye. It was as if an insect had landed on Keira’s face.

I am maddening to you, aren’t I? But what to do? I am here to take everything from you piece by piece, Keira could almost hear Cosette say.

She slapped Cosette’s hand out of her face, gutted to have let Cosette see her cry. The last thing she wanted was sympathy from her. Slap! The sound echoed in the quiet hall.

“Ow!”

“M’lady! Are you okay?”

The maid who was a few steps behind her rushed to her side and inspected Cosette’s hand.

Keira was a trained swordsman. A sharp slap from her, of course, left a mark on Cosette’s hand which turned red instantly.

“Oh, no!”

“I’m okay. Don’t make a fuss. You’ll make Keira feel guilty. It doesn’t hurt too much.”

“It’s red and swelling. Surely it must hurt!”

“Oh, it does not.”

The maid glanced at Keira.

She was only reaching out to comfort you. How could you strike her so? You’ve gone too far, m’lady, the maid seemed to say. A sigh burst out of Keira. She rose to her feet.

“It is none of your business what I am doing and where.”

“But I cannot pretend not to see a crying person. I’m not so heartless.”

Keira did not feel the need to respond to her.

“Aren’t you staying at the annex? What are you doing in the main house at this hour?”

Keira’s room was in the main house, and Cosette’s was in the annex. Not having to worry about happening upon Cosette after dark was Keira’s only consolation.

Cosette slowly tilted her head to the side as she said, “Didn’t you know? I was moved to the main house today.”

“...What?”

“You sound surprised. The direct descendants of the grand duke are supposed to live in the main house. Father allowed it. I’m on the third floor with you.”

What upset Keira more than Cosette’s move to the main house—more than the fact they would be crossing paths more— was that she referred to the grand duke as “Father,” as if it were the most natural thing. That word unleashed the anger Keira had been holding inside. She abandoned reason.

“How dare you! He’s not your father!”

“Oh!” Cosette exclaimed.

“I am the princess of Parvis, not some girl off the streets like you!”

“C-calm yourself. We’re outside Father’s study. We mustn’t disturb him.”

There was that word “Father” again. Who was she? Who was she to call him “Father?” The oracle prophesized just one daughter for the grand duke. And that daughter had to be Keira. She could not stop shaking. She unleashed everything she had been keeping in her heart.

“I don’t know on what grounds you claim to be the daughter of His Lordship...!”

“What’s this?”

Keira was interrupted by the sound of a door opening, followed by Ludwig’s voice. He was irritated. His cold gaze landed on Keira.

Tsk.

He looked upon her as one would a rock in the dirt. But warmth filled his muted eyes the moment Cosette called out.

“Father!”

Keira did all she could not to collapse at the sight that was not to be believed.

So you are capable, after all, of looking so kindly at someone.

Collapsing skies would have been less devastating for Keira. But the warmth in his eyes cooled the moment he turned to Keira again.

Slap!

Heat spread across her cheek. It happened so fast that it took Keira a moment to realize what just occurred. Before she could make sense of it, the cold voice spoke.

“I told you to watch your conduct not ten minutes ago. Must you create a ruckus at this time of night? You are a mule who knows no shame, Keira Parvis.”