Chapter 63

Translator and Editor: Maru and Tea

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Chapter 63

“Stop making my Big Bunny work!”

“Pardon? B-But….you still have so much work to do!”

The nanny smiled mirthfully, pointed to the documents.

“If you finish all of this, you can play a little bit.”

“…Rere. I think there’s a reason why the Duke made me do this.”

“What’s the reason?”

“He’s trying to stop me from playing with Rere.”

“Huh! You’re right! That must be it!” Rere’s nostrils flared as she wheezed angrily.

Otherwise, the Duke wouldn’t ask me to do things that are outside my purview.

The child pursed her lips, as if having the same thought.

“My daddy slacks off all the time and dumps his work on Luca. Now he wants to bother Big Bunny, too?”

Nod. Nod.

“I’m gonna scold him so hard! I couldn’t do it before, but I’m gonna smack his butt 200 times this time!”

“Go for it!”

Suddenly,

“Madam!”

It was May. Without even knocking, the door burst open and May rushed in.

“May. Mind your manner when entering ….”

The nanny took the role of a head maid as that position was currently empty in the household, which made her wrinkle her forehead and shake her head at May. But May remained unaffected by her disapproval.

“Oh my god! Nanny! It’s not the time for that!”

“What do you mean? Is it a very urgent matter enough for you to disregard etiquette?”

“Yes! You have a guest, Madam.”

“A guest?”

I instinctively flinched when I heard that.

“I’ve answered all the letters coming from people who requested an audience. I’ve refused all of them.”

Certainly, I answered all the 137 letters that came to me at a single stroke yesterday. According to etiquette, it is only right to reply to the letters briefly after the party, so I wrote replies until my hands fell off. But why is the guest here….

“Pardon? It’s…not a guest from the party.”

“…If it isn’t a guest from the party…then who?”

So it’s not just one or two people who quarreled with me at the party. And I tried to avoid meeting people as much as possible…

“They are your family, Madam.”

“…Come again?”

“The Selen Family….”

At that moment, not only did my whole body tense up, but my mind was occupied with complicated thoughts. My mind was flooded with Leona Selen’s memories of how her family had treated her in the past.

“Send them back.”

“…Pardon?”

“Now, and in the future, I won’t meet them. So just send them back.”

I already knew what they wanted to say anyway. That’s why I was more resolute about my decision.

However, the more stubborn I was, the more May’s face turned white.

“T-The truth is…I told them that they can’t just barge in without prior appointment.”

May’s stammering irked me.

“What was their reply?”

“Yes…can I just tell you honestly?”

At May’s hesitant question, I gulped before nodding.

“How dare a lowly peasant like you try to block me, do you know who I am! I am the close relative of this duke family! Open the door right away!–that’s what he said…”

“Is that all?”

“No way. When I asked who he was, he said, I’m the father of Duchess Leona Petri. Unless you want to be punished, lead the way right now!”

I was struck with a sudden headache. I felt nauseous and dizzy.

Leona Selen, what sins did you commit, to live with such trashy humans?

“What should I do, Madam?”

Meanwhile, other maids rushed behind May. Judging by their lowered eyes, they must have experienced the same treatment as May.

“Haa…”

The maids bowed their heads, mumbling.

“If Madam doesn’t come out….”

“They’re going to barge in…”

“They won’t listen to me no matter what. Rather, he shoved me…saying, how dare the likes of you touch me with your filthy hands!”

Eventually, I had to leap out of my seat.

“I’m sorry, everyone! I think it’d be best for me to go see them. Where are they now?”

“Since they were creating a scene, I brought them to the drawing room for now. But, will you be alright, Madam?”

“What else can I do? They won’t leave until I see them.”

“Understood, Madam. Then we’ll follow you.”

May hesitated, apparently trying to read my mood.

“Thank you, May.”

“…You don’t even refuse…”

“I thought I’d feel more relaxed if May is with me.”

It seemed like she felt a little disappointed, but May still smiled awkwardly and approached me.

“How reliable. Then I shall be on my way now. Nanny, please take care of Rere.”

“Alright.”

“Why? Rere wants to go too!”

“No. This is very…very dangerous…”

“If it’s dangerous, you should go with Rere! There’s no one as strong as Rere! Hmph!”

Rere puffed her cheeks up like a puffer fish and pursed her lips.

“No. It’s not dangerous enough for Rere to come out.”

“Really?”

“Yes! If it’s really dangerous, I would’ve asked Rere to come with me.”

Only then did Rere, whose cheeks were swollen, nodded her head.

“I see. So it must be nothing serious, right?!”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Okay. Then hurry up and come back!”

“Yeah, in the meantime, Rere should think about what we’ll play later, okay?”

“Yupp!”

Rere held Ugly in her arms, lifted it in the air and shook it eagerly.

After waving my hand to Rere, I slowly turned around and walked with May.

How long has it been? What should I say to Leona’s family?

As I was agonizing over those matters, I arrived at the first floor drawing-room.

Loud noises were heard from inside the drawing room, as if trying to announce their presence.

“I can’t believe no one came to greet us!”

“That child needs a scolding for sure!”

“Just yell at her, Father! I’m sure that brat Leona will come to her senses.”

Listening to them was equal to eating a basket of sweet potatoes, so I held May’s hand tightly in front of the door.

(TL/N: Sweet potato is used to describe frustration)

“May. Stay here.”

“Pardon? But…”

“I think we’ll have a lot to talk about inside.”

No matter how determined I am to live freely, I don’t want to display my family screaming like madmen. Perhaps because May was reluctant to come with me in the first place, she accepted my command without hesitation.

“I will heed your order, Madam.”

“You seem a little happy, May….”

“No! No way! Please enter and return, Madam. Fighting!”

You are so heartless, May.

Well, considering what Leona’s family did to them earlier, that reaction is understandable.

And before I went, I held May’s hand tightly.

“May, just in case.”

“Yes, Madam.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“If I don’t come out after 15 minutes, call the knights or anyone.”

“Pardon?”

“Tell them to barge in. Okay?”

I held the maids’ hands one by one with my utmost sincerity. I’m going to war now. The war against the bad guys who tormented Leona in the past, just beyond that door.

“Phew. Open the door for me.”

On command, the maids opened the door right away.

All the people inside turned their heads to me.

“Oh my dear daughter, Leona!”

Leona’s father greeted me with open arms and an affectionate smile.

“My sister, Leona!”

Leona’s sister was busy looking at me from head to toe, to be precise, looking at my clothes and jewelry.

“I missed you so much! This mother of yours is worried that you might be suffering!”

Even the mother who fakes crying without even taking out her handkerchief. What a disgusting mob.

How could they act as if they did nothing wrong?

I glanced at the door briefly before approaching them. I motioned to May to close the door, and she shut it without delay.

After I heard the thudding sound, I sighed low.

“I didn’t expect to see you like this. Should I say I’m glad to meet you again?”

“Of course! You should be glad to meet us!”

“Now you’re like the old Leona that I know!”

“I thought you’d changed, but I guess not.”

Watching my family members talking one after another, I heaved a deep sigh.

“Gosh. How absurd.”

“Did you just say, absurd!!”

“Look at how absurd you are now. You ran to me as soon as you heard that I became a duchess.”

As I spoke, the three rushed toward me.

“Of course! You should’ve invited us to your party!”

My sister’s claim incited the others to coerce me. They approached me aggressively, but I just passed by them and sat in the main chair.

“I can’t just invite anyone.”

“Are you saying we’re ‘just anyone’ to you?!”

“That’s right. Let’s sit down first.”

Naturally, my father approached the main chair to seat himself. But that seat was already occupied by me.

“What are you doing now! Leona!”

“Why are you asking? Of course, I sat in my seat. Is there a problem?”

“That’s my father’s seat!”

“Why? Oh, by any chance, do you have a higher status than me? I never heard news like that, though.”

When I said that, my father looked embarrassed, and my mother stumbled as if she was going to faint. Meanwhile, my sister rushed to me and tried to grab my wrist.

But I didn’t intend to succumb to them.

Leona had worked herself to death for beings that didn’t deserve to be called family.

That’s why I won’t lose to them whether in terms of speed or strength. I gripped my sister’s hand as if trying to break it.

“Argh!!”

“If you want to avoid any accidents, sit down right away. I’ll give you a chance to talk.”

“Le-Leona!!”

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