Chapter 6

* * *

“I’m here to relay all the intelligence I’ve gathered regarding Lady Lae. She is an orphan who was living in the slums of Setton, only in the company of vagrant youth. She has never been arrested, nor has she ever picked a pocket. She survived by begging and remains in good health because disease has not swept through the district in nearly a year. She has not made contact with any criminal organizations. House Lewelton owns the property just behind Setton’s main street and, though we eradicated the pickpockets, bandits, and other criminals, we left the slum children alone.”

Kallen leaned back in his chair, appearing unconcerned. After a moment, he gestured to Sion. “Shoes,” he ordered.

The butler approached the duke where he sat, kneeled, and untied his shoelaces.

“Nothing stands out as suspicious, then.”

“I believe not, Your Grace.” Sion remained quiet for a while before whispering, “Did you decide to adopt her because of that flower?”

“Well, it is the flower I’ve been desperately searching for.” Kallen sighed. “And it’s the only clue we have to the identity of the scoundrel who murdered my mother.”

The red morning glory had no name but had distinctly shaped petals and golden decorative patterns. Kallen had searched the entire kingdom for the flower in question, but had come up empty-handed.

“Does Your Grace believe the flower is linked to the perpetrator?”

“I do indeed.” Kallen had a long history of punishing villains, one that dated back to his childhood. In most cases, he captured and punished them with relative ease. But there was one killer he had failed to apprehend. “This flower was discovered at the scene of several bizarre murders, but no watchman was ever able to suss out any leads. And neither was I.”

“I see…”

This was also the flower that had decorated Kallen’s mother’s body when she’d been found dead. The culprit was never discovered, but the flower had reappeared in several subsequent incidents.

The culprits were different in each case, but I suspect there’s one mastermind behind them all, Kallen thought. He was locked in battle with a murderer from the shadows.

“I’m sure the bastard is watching my every move,” he cursed.

“Do you think Lady Lae could be a target?”

“It’s possible. The flower could be a warning that she’s the next victim. Or she may be a spy. Either way, I plan to keep an eye on her.” Kallen shook his head at Sion’s telling silence. “I understand the child is endearing, but do not be misled. Your heart is far too tender when it comes to children and animals.”

“What should we do about Master Jade?”

“Leave him be. He appears to have lost the sparkle in his eyes after his chimera died. If the two of them grow close, he’ll be the better for it.”

Sion nodded. “Understood, Your Grace. But I do doubt a nine-year-old girl could be a spy.”

“You mustn’t lower your guard,” Kallen reminded him, knitting his brow. “On another note, I’m still unsure about the name ‘Lae.’ The child says it’s fine, but what is your judgment?”

“I believe it would be best to give her a more proper name, Your Grace.”

“I see. I’ll think of a name then.” Kallen looked down at Sion and muttered, “A name that better suits her.” He smiled mysteriously.

“May I inquire as to why the royal family came to visit?” Sion asked, ignoring the duke’s off-putting smile.

“They requested that if I am to kill someone, I do so under the cover of night.”

“I daresay I agree. Beating someone to death in broad daylight was a bit excessive.”

“But I was finally able to feast, thanks to such unrestrained killing.”

“In theory, you only have to feast once a year, correct?”

“While that’s true, the more I eat, the more addicted I become.” Kallen leaned back in his chair and said under his breath, “To the taste of justice, that is.”

Sion knew the duke’s jokes when he heard them.

“Why does the footrest keep moving?” Kallen complained.

“My apologies, Your Grace. It appears that I administered a lower dose than I thought.”

The man bound tightly beneath Kallen’s feet writhed. He was the fugitive who had killed thirty people and cut trophies from their bodies, but now he was also Kallen’s prey, freshly caught this morning.

“Hand me my hunting gloves,” the duke ordered.

Sion dutifully passed them over, smiling.

Kallen then rose from his chair, now barefoot, and slid his hands into the gloves. He lightly swung his rod. The sound of bones cracking rang through the air.

* * *

“Mom, when I grow up, I want to be someone who catches bad people. Do you think I’ll be able to someday?”

I’d dreamed again about my past life.

But why can’t I remember anything about The Life of Duke Lewelton? When I awoke, sunlight was streaming through the large window.

Is it because of the dreams I keep having? When I open my eyes each morning, I begin to doubt reality. I was wearing a hand-me-down shirt that had been Jade’s when he was younger. I’d borrowed his old pajamas because no other clothes fit me. I gently pinched my cheeks and winced.

“So I’m not dreaming,” I whispered. I was in an opulent room. The bed sheets were so soft against my skin, nothing like the patchwork, tattered blanket that I normally wrapped myself in or the straw bales on which I slept.

I rubbed my eyes and looked in the mirror. I examined my fluffy hair and spotless skin. I’d never realized how good it could feel to be clean until this morning.

I sniffed, and a mouth-watering scent wafted into my nostrils. I opened the door and dashed outside so quickly that my feet barely touched the floor. Breakfast appeared to be quite a hectic time. I froze, watching the servants scuttle about with platters in their hands. Sion noticed me among their bustling bodies and walked over, surprised.

“My lady, where are your maids?”

“Um…”

“You appear to have woken quite early. Duke Lewelton and Master Jade are still in bed at this time.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I was just so excited…”

Sion smiled faintly as he looked down at me. “Nobles do not walk around in their nightgowns. Please return to your chambers, and I will have the maids dress you appropriately.”

“Yes, sir!”

“If you’re too sleepy, would you like me to carry you back?”

I quickly shook my head. “No, thank you.” That would’ve been far too embarrassing.

“All right. We have some free time after breakfast, so I will show you around the manor then.”

“Yes, sir.” I hurried back to my room.

The maids arrived shortly afterward. They buttoned me into a brown dress, the skirt adorned with hearts, and tied my hair in pigtails with matching brown ribbons.

“All done, my lady,” said a maid. “You may go enjoy breakfast now.”

Kallen wasn’t at the dining table this morning either. Is he out killing folks again, do you suppose?

Each morning, Jade was my only company during breakfast. How many days have passed like this? Could it be that the duke lives outside the manor?

My guess wasn’t entirely unreasonable, given that I hadn’t seen Kallen since the day he adopted me.

“Would you care for some milk tea, my lady?” Sion asked.

“Oh, yes please.”

“Do you want it sweetened like it was yesterday?” Sion asked.

I nodded. “Today’s tea leaves were imported from the Ragoul Empire. If it’s to your taste, I can serve your tea at this level of sweetness every day.”

“Yes, thank you.” I watched Sion pour the tea with grace, before plucking up the teacup and taking a sip.

It’s perfectly sweet… Breakfast consisted of pancakes, ham, and eggs. My cheeks had plumped up in the last few days, and my skin was glowing. I feared I’d never be able to return to begging on the streets.

“Eat up,” Jade encouraged.

“Thank you.”

Every morning, Jade would watch me eat as if he were observing an animal. I wasn’t sure how close we were to becoming friends, but I did feel like I had become the subject of his scientific observation journal.

“His Grace didn’t show up for breakfast again,” I pointed out tentatively.

“Father is always busy. I believe he went to patrol one of our rural territories.”

I tensed at Jade’s words. In the novel, Kallen had used “patrolling rural territories” as an excuse when he left to carry out his violent errands.

Then what about Jade? Perhaps if he has time today… I cautiously glanced at him, and he returned my gaze with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, but I have to go out today,” he said. “I must attend a high society event and then visit the academy.”

I nodded quietly. I was already satisfied with just being able to eat. Smiling to myself, I reflected on how wonderful the day had been right from the start.

“Is it really that delicious?” Jade asked as he brushed the crumbs from my mouth.

I flushed at his gesture.

“It might be a good idea for you to learn some table manners.”

“I can learn,” I said, nodding slightly. I was determined to learn whatever I could as long as it would benefit me in the future.

Conversations with Jade are still stilted, but at least we speak every morning. That’s probably the only progress we’ve made in the last few days.

“Oh, right,” Jade remarked, ringing the bell on the table.

Soon after, a servant entered the hall.

“You can play with this for now, Lae.”

My eyes widened as I saw what the servant was holding. It’s a balloon!

“Is that really for me?” I asked Jade.

“Uh-huh. You can attach it to something in your room, or—”

“I’ll take it with me wherever I go!”

It was the first present I’d received in the whole of this life. My eyes sparkled at the balloon’s beautiful golden color.

“Balloons are only for special days…” I murmured.

To be honest, I would have jumped for joy if Jade hadn’t been in the room. That’s how thrilled I was. Balloons were a costly toy in this kingdom, one that only the wealthiest children could afford during festivals.

What should I do with such grateful feelings? What do I say?

“I had no idea you would like it this much,” Jade said before I could gather my thoughts. “I simply found an unused balloon Aunt Marianne had given me when I was a child and inflated it.”

“I’m very happy, Jade. It’s my first time receiving something this special. But what if it pops?”

“Then you can simply buy a new one.”

I’d spent much of my past life waiting for my friends and parents in my hospital room. On days when I couldn’t leave my sickbed, my father would bring me balloons. Thinking about it brought tears to my eyes.

“Are those tears of joy?” Jade inquired.

“Oh, uh, yes.” I nodded, unable to tell him about my memories of my past life.

He stared at me curiously. “You’re a funny little thing. Why are you so delighted by such a trifle?”

His words were sharp, but his tone was warm. I smiled at him slightly.