Chapter 187

After returning to my room, I began considering how I would go about escaping.

The three most important things are money, the mirror fragment, and what mode of transport I’ll secure. I would leave the manor immediately if I could, but quite a few preparations needed to be made before I could attempt a trip to the distant north.

I need to meet with Winter before anything else. Before long, the sun had risen. Through organizing my thoughts, I was rising from my chair when I heard a knock on my door.

“It’s Pennel, my lady.”

Pennel was precisely the person I’d been about to call for. Sitting down again, I called, “Come in.”

The door opened and the butler entered the room, bowing.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I have last month’s sales records for the emeralds, as well as a report detailing the earnings,” he answered politely, placing a black file on the desk.

I picked it up, quickly skim reading over its contents. It was immediately obvious to me that a huge amount of money had just landed in my lap, but I couldn’t muster any excitement about it.

I can’t even use this money, anyway. While it was true this was a major income source for me, I couldn’t trust the butler, who had been assigned to oversee the emerald mine on my behalf.

“Understood,” I said, flicking the file shut. Ignoring the butler’s expectant stare, I spoke evenly, “Butler, I’d like to go out.”

“Go out, my lady? Where to?” he asked, puzzled.

“That’s none of your concern,” I answered firmly. “Has my father left for the palace?”

“Not yet. It seems as if he intends to leave late today. He is still in the manor.”

“Is that so?” I’d assumed I would have to wait until the duke returned later that night to get permission to leave. That he had yet to leave was unexpectedly good news.

“Then could you go and ask my father if he would grant me permission to leave the house?” I needed to do this by the books to avoid any trouble later since I was technically supposed to be staying in my room.

“Understood, my lady.” The butler left my room somewhat reluctantly only moments later. When he returned, he brought both good and bad news with him. “My lady, the duke has granted you permission to leave.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“But he has also requested that you join him to eat since it will be lunchtime soon.”

“Lunch?” I frowned. “Will... the entire family be attending?”

“No. Lord Derrick and Lord Reynold will be training with the knights...”

I hated the very idea of having lunch with the duke but was relieved I wouldn’t have to endure the brothers.

He’s allowing me to go out. I can endure lunch. Nodding lightly, I said, “Tell him I’ll get ready and be down soon.”

* * *

The butler led me not to the dining room, but out through the back doors of the manor. The duke had suggested that we eat in the greenhouse since the weather was so nice.

Why bother? I thought to myself but didn’t comment out loud. As soon as I entered the large glass room, the lovely scent of flowers wafted toward me. It seemed as if the duke had been waiting for me. He sat at the table located in the middle of the greenhouse, alone and lost in thought.

“Father,” I greeted, and he jerked, drawn from his reflection.

“Ah, there you are. Have a seat.”

I circled around the table and took the chair opposite him. Both seated, the servants began bringing out the meal, which mostly consisted of light dishes like sandwiches, soup, and desserts, since it was lunchtime. Neither of us moved, even after the servants were finished filling the table with plates.

The duke had obviously fallen deep into thought again and didn’t seem inclined to speak any time soon. I studied his expression cautiously as the awkward silence stretched on.

“Do you... have something you wish to say?” I asked slowly.

The duke looked up, startled. “What?”

“Do you have something you want to say to me?”

“Say to you?” the duke repeated numbly. He seemed rather out of sorts today.

“Yes. You called me here to have a meal without my brothers... and you need to leave for the palace soon.” I reminded him gently that he didn’t really have time to be wasting.

“Ah, right. The palace. Yes, I must go...” the duke muttered as if this was news to him. The hazy look in his eyes slowly disappeared, as if mentioning the palace had brought him to his senses.

I studied him carefully. “Are you quite well, Father?”

“Are you... all right?” the duke replied instead of answering, asking me how I was doing as he usually did. “How is your health? The doctor told me that you still need more time to recover.”

“I’m all right. I feel much better these days.”

“The butler informs me that you wish to go out.” He finally addressed my request.

I nodded quickly. “I need some fresh air. And I think I’ve been cooped up in my room for long enough—”

“That’s true. It’s been almost a week,” the duke agreed, nodding.

It suddenly occurred to me how silly it was that I could just decide when I wanted to end my punishment like this. In the past, I hadn’t been allowed to put a toe out of my room without the duke’s or Derrick’s approval.

“Go as you please.” His approval this time came extremely easily, and I was relieved.

“Thank you.”

“But I will not disown you,” he stated, making it obvious I’d relaxed too soon. His sudden firm statement took me completely by surprise.

“Father...”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t grant you that request. You’ve already completed your coming-of-age ceremony as an Eckhart and thus this is a matter that has a great impact on our entire house.”

He had a point, of course. Because of the frankly ludicrous events of my ceremony, all eyes in the capital were fixed on the Eckhart family right now. I’d expected him to say that he would do as I asked after the rumors had settled down a little.

His real daughter is back. Why won’t he just let me go? I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I stared at him blankly, unsure what to say.

“But if you would like... I’ll make arrangements for you to leave the manor permanently,” the duke continued quietly.

My eyes widened. “But you don’t even know where I want to go.”

“Wherever you wish.”

I stared at him, shaking. I felt strange. Up until only a moment ago, I had fully expected him to just refuse my wishes outright.

“But what about Lord Derrick?” I asked, reminding the duke of my greatest obstacle. He had been brainwashed by the female protagonist and wasn’t likely to let me leave so easily. “He’ll be against it.”

“I’m still the duke. What can he do against my word?” the duke asked, eyebrows raised. He sounded displeased at just the suggestion that Derrick would defy him. He offered a suitable solution. “If he tries to stop you from leaving, just come to me. I’ll teach him a lesson.”

He smiled at me awkwardly. I hadn’t seen him attempt to be playful like this in a while. He’d worn that same smile back when he’d gifted me with the magical crossbow. I’d felt awkward and uncomfortable at the time, unable to accept the duke treating me so kindly all of a sudden.

But on the morning of the coming-of-age ceremony, the emotions I’d thought I’d managed to bury deep inside had squirmed free again. I clenched my fists under the table.

“Father.”

“Huh?”

“How much do you trust Ivonne?”

The duke’s blue eyes widened at the sudden change of subject.

I’m not sure if this is the right thing to do. Even as I thought this, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the duke desperately.

“Why bring her up all of a sudden?” he asked, staring at me as if he were trying to read my mind. Then he spoke quietly as if something had just occurred to him. “Are you upset that her room wasn’t searched?”

“No. That’s not it... Her memories still hadn’t returned fully prior to my coming-of-age ceremony, right?” I asked.

“Oh... right,” the duke confirmed, nodding. He spoke in a consoling voice as if he understood my concerns. “I will not make her return public until all her memories are restored.”

The cat was already out of the bag on that thanks to Derrick, who’d dragged her to the ceremony. Regardless, the duke reassured me with a firm look in his eyes. I stared at him for a long moment and then opened my mouth to speak with some effort.

“The next time you’re with her... keep your eyes on your tea, Father.”

“My tea?” the duke said, puzzled. “What do you mean, Penelope?”

“Don’t...” Trust Ivonne too much. I stopped myself from saying the words out loud at the last moment. I didn’t think he would believe me, but more importantly, I was scared of the girl, who could control Eckles so easily even though her artifact remained incomplete.

She might very well be utterly furious with me for saying this to the duke, but I couldn’t just sit by and let him be brainwashed, either. I couldn’t ignore him, and yet I couldn’t tell him anything, either. I felt disgusted by my own cowardice and hypocrisy. But still...

“When you meet next, please try to keep your eyes on your tea.”

“What—”

“I’m finished eating,” I said. I shoved my chair backward noisily and rose to my feet.

The duke looked surprised since I’d barely even touched my food. “Penelope.”

“I don’t feel very well... Please excuse me.” I had no way of knowing how the duke would interpret my behavior since I’d probably started sounding a little insane as soon as I’d brought up Ivonne.

“Yes... all right.” The duke nodded once more, and I bit my lip.

I felt his eyes on the back of my head as I made for the door. I glanced back one last time before exiting and locked eyes with him, his expression one of concern. He seemed embarrassed to have been caught staring and flinched before raising a hand to wave goodbye.

I bit my lip again, screwing my eyes shut. “Please be careful around her, Father!”

His blue eyes grew wide as they stared after me.

I dashed from the greenhouse.

* * *

I made my way back to the manor quickly. I’d left lunch sooner than expected, and now I was going to go and prepare myself to meet with Winter. Everyone seemed to be having their midday meal since I saw no one as I climbed the central staircase.

I quickly walked down the empty corridor, taking hold of the doorknob to my room as soon as I arrived. I froze. The door was ajar. I could hear soft noises coming from within.

Is Emily cleaning? I wondered, not thinking much of it. I opened the door and entered. Someone was closing the top drawer of my dressing table. She was wearing the same outfit Emily wore every day. All my worries rushed to the surface.

Emily doesn’t wear a hat. Only the maids who worked in the kitchen wore hats. The maid didn’t seem to notice me, and yanked open the second drawer, rummaging around inside. It definitely did not look as if she were cleaning.

Is she one of Ivonne’s puppets? Or... simply a thief? I wondered and continued to watch quietly, hoping to catch a glimpse of her face. I realized after a few moments of observation that she was wearing a cloth mask.

Finally, I spat irritably, “What the hell are you doing?”