A Father's Scar
Translated by WuXing
Edited by Wook
The time Rena first met her birth parents was when she turned 6 years old.
She had been living in a separate villa in some rural place before then. The reason for this arrangement was the advice given by elders that her parents must be separated from their daughter if they wish to focus on raising their heir.
Hence, little Rena was sent to live in the villa. Although life at the villa was good and quiet, Rena constantly felt lonely.
She missed her family. She looked at the portrait of her parents and wondered how they were like. She dreamt of the day she would return home after she mastered etiquettes and her education.
One day, she received a letter from the main household. The young master had grown up and it was time for the Lady to come home.
Rena was elated. She could finally go home!
The mansion of House Ruber was much larger than the villa. The servants there were much refined and paid more attention to their etiquettes. Her parents were more beautiful than depicted in the portrait.
To Rena, it all felt surreal. The Viscount greeted her, “Welcome, Rena.”
Tears started to gather in Rena’s eyes. She heard her father’s voice for the very first time in her life.
Though Rena was still very young, her lonesome life in the villa had taught her clearly the importance of family.
She curtsied to her parents, expressing her deep love for the family she had missed for all these years.
“Father. Mother. I, Rena Ruber, wish to greet you for the first time.”
She had practiced numerous times just for this moment.
Looking at her parents smiling at her, Rena felt all her hard work had paid off and she had finally returned to her family.
She believed that with all her heart for 6 more years, until the day Rena was sold by her father.
.
.
.
“My Lady, there’s the palace!”
Uni opened the window of the carriage and shouted.
The child’s finger pointed toward a white spire, situated at the middle of the Imperial City. This is part of the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resided.
“My Lady, have you been to the Imperial Palace? Um… my Lady?”
Uni was babbling in excitement and did not realize Rena had been daydreaming for a while now.
Rena closed her mouth and was ruminating while staring at the empty space in front of her.
“My Lady? Lady Rena!”
Rena woke up from her trance only after Uni called out to her the third time.
She blinked, still dazed and Uni asked her anxiously, “Are you alright, my Lady?”
“Did something happen?”
“You looked exhausted.”
“Ah……”
Rena smiled, brushing away any worries she had before. Uni squinted her eyes and whispered, “Are you thinking about Lynn?”
“Mr. Lynn?”
“You planned to go to the Capital with him, right? And you were disappointed when he couldn’t come along, right?”
“No way, I’m not that infatuated with him.”
“So you were attracted to him, right?”
Rena burst into laughter as she realized Uni was leading her on.
It had been two days since they had separated with Lynn. After bidding him farewell, Rena rented a horse carriage with the money they’ve “earned” and had had a smooth trip since.
However, as they approached the Capital, Rena’s condition had become strange. She started to talk less and less. As they entered the Imperial City, she only looked toward the distant sky.
Uni suspected that she was lovesick, but Lena just laughed and denied it.
“It is not what you think.”
“Then, what’s the matter with you?”
“I was just thinking about my past,” Rena replied honestly.
The day she returned back to her family when she was 6 years old.
At that time, she had passed through the Imperial City’s gate on a horse carriage just like she did now. It was the same road as well, she reminisced.
“This place hasn’t changed,” Rena said as she looked outside.
Grandis Gracia, the capital of the empire looked dirty and gray, unlike its beautiful name.
As they turned slightly away from the main street, they saw hovels made from wood and clothes. The people there looked dirty and scrawny. There were even rats as big as cats scampering around the area.
Yuni muttered in disgust, “The Capital is such a mess.”
“Don’t look at them for too long. They are not a sight to behold.”
Listening to Rena’s advice, Uni retreated from the window and leaned back onto the couch. However, her gaze still locked onto the scenery outside.
“What’s the use of building an empire when your people don’t even have a proper home?”
“There are very few people who can do their part well.”
Uni pouted her lips at Lena’s comments.
The people, whom she said cannot do their part well, were not only referring to the Emperor.
Uni understood what was in her Lady’s mind and asked, “What are you going to say when you meet your father?”
“First of all, I must greet him and ask if he’s doing well.”
“What about after that?”
“I will tell him that I will give him a chance next time.”
“A chance?”
Rena smiled mysteriously at Uni’s question. She turned around and looked outside. She whispered under her breath, “A chance to be forgiven by me.”
Rena’s voice was still the same gentle voice Uni listened to all this time, yet it felt unfamiliar at the same time.
Uni stared at her Lady for a while before turning her head to look outside the window again.
There were many people who were abandoned like Rena.
***
The horse carriage made its way to the city center.
The chaotic scenery gradually improved and was nowhere to be seen in front of the palace.
The area was off-limits to the poor. It was bright and clean like its name, Grandis Gracia.
The road there was paved with polished marble; flowers from early spring decorate the sides of the road, complementing the festive mood in the area.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here.”
Uni was impressed with the bustling streets and crowded City Square.
People dressed in white and donning colorful flowers were enjoying themselves in the City Square. Everyone was dressed up and celebrating the upcoming commemoration of the founding of the Empire.
While Uni was busy watching the festival, their horse carriage reached the Imperial Palace. There were many people lining up at the entrance of the palace.
“If we start lining up now, we will probably reach there at night.”
“We will be able to head in soon enough.”
“What?”
“Do you still have the invitation?”
“Oh.”
Uni frantically searched through her bag.
She quickly took out an invitation letter still sealed with wax. She told the driver not to line up and the old shabby horse carriage heads toward the VIP entrance.
The guards reacted immediately but there were no conflicts after Uni flashed the invitation letter at them. They immediately escort them into the palace.
“The Imperial Palace is totally different from what I expected!” Uni gasped in excitement as she was led to the three rooms assigned to them.
However, Rena was not interested in the beautiful scenery or the Royal treatment they get. She was more focused on getting her clothes right.
“Are you going to that old man?” The person Uni referred to as the “old man” was the person who gave them the invitation.
“No. He will contact us if he needs to meet us.”
“Then, where are you going?”
Rena smiled and combed her hair as Uni asked a second time.
Her face was beaming and Uni realized that her Lady was very excited. There’s only one reason Rena came to the Palace.
“No way, are you going to meet them now?”
“Does a child need a reason to meet his parents?
Uni was rendered speechless by Rena’s reply.
During this time, Rena completed dressing up. She freshen herself up and without hesitating said, “Well, it’s time to meet my father.”
***
The Lakeside Palace was where the Imperial family housed their guests. Due to the upcoming Commemoration Day of the Empire’s founding, all four Dukes from the North, East, South, and West had visited the palace. The Lakeside Palace was then split into four regions reflecting the Dukes’ region in the Empire.
The Dukes hated each other’s guts. They unanimously settled down on the four corners of the Lakeside Palace as far away from each other as possible.
Among them, there were even people who would claim the region as their own territory and set up a blockade. The king of North, Eura Plenus was one of them.
“This is the residence of His Highness Duke Plenus. State your businesses here.”
“I am here to meet an old friend of His Grace, Marquis Cardo Ruber…” Rena replied politely to the knight blocking her way.
The knights looked at Rena suspiciously. They could not help being suspicious about her. It was because she was very beautiful, so beautiful that it was impossible for them to not know her. Yet, they could not identify her. Not only so, but she had also requested to meet the close aide of the Northern Duke without an escort.
The knight contemplated for a while and asked, “May I request for your name?”
“I am Rena Ruber.”
The Knights were alarmed at the mention of the name “Ruber”. Unlike Lynn’s competent secretary Deca, the younger military officers had already forgotten the name of the dead girl from the Ruber family.
They looked at each other, and answered reluctantly, “Please wait here.”
One of the knights left quietly and came back after some time. He was alone and brought a piece of paper with him.
He passed the piece of paper to Rena with an uneasy look on his face. The note contained a short warning:
—Do not use a father’s scar. I will let it pass this time, but not the next time.
Rena read the note and looked surprised.
The knight said, “His Excellency Marquis Ruber had left a message. He does not wish to meet anyone at the moment.”
“Then, please go back again and relay this message to him. Rena Ruber insists on meeting him.” Rena made another request despite their attempts to send her back.
The knight stayed silent. He did not wish to go back just for a woman he had only met for the first time.
They were about to chase the suspicious lady away when an old man walked out from the other end of the hallway and yelled “Hold up! Please wait!”
Rena’s eyes widened as she recognized the old man she once knew as her family’s butler.
“Salem……?!”
***
At the same time, at the Eastern wing of the Lakeside Palace, the Master of the East, Lignan Aetherner was holding his breath.
He was on the floor, holding his whole body’s weight with only his fingers. Sweat drenched his naked upper body, the muscles on his arms screamed as he continued to push himself up.
‘The Dukes are likely to meet up once again. They will do it before meeting the Emperor during Commemoration Day two days later. However, I have not received any news about it. I think they are going to leave me out of the meeting… I can’t let this pass unnoticed.’
Lynn hid his anxiety and continued to plot ahead.
He stayed silent, it was time for him to dress up and prepare himself.
“Your Grace, there was a lady who came to find Marquis Ruber.” Reported Deca, who had just returned.
“She claimed to be Rena Ruber. Maybe there’s something to it?”
‘So, she had arrived.’
Lynn continued to smile secretly as Deca continued his report.
Rena seemed to have entered the palace safely after they went their separate ways two days ago.
“Did she go and visit the Marquis straight away?”
Lynn was happy to hear about Lady Rena’s boldness and activeness. Strangely enough, he also felt fairly impressed.
She had gone to visit him straight away and even revealed her full name. Whether she was tactless or if she had planned for it, he could not make sense of it.
Lynn asked again, “So, what about the Marquis?”
“They sent her back without meeting her.”
At first glance, this was the perfect response. However, after thinking about it for a while, was it not very strange?
“If your daughter, who had passed away, suddenly shows up, you would at least meet her right?”
Wouldn’t he meet her at least once? Whether it is out of exasperation or to avoid any gossip…
Lynn tried to make sense of Marquis Ruber’s response. The situation itself was so strange that it was not easy to assess.
He let out a sigh unconsciously. Rena’s lovely smile suddenly appeared in his head.
‘Will you be alright?’
Lynn hoped that Rena would not give up so they could meet again.
***
“Salem……!”
It had been 6 years but Rena could recognize the old man with a glance. He was the butler of the Ruber household since the Marquis was still a child.
“Salem, all this time…”
“Stop.”
Rena wanted to speak to the old man, but he raised his hand to stop her.
“Let us go somewhere else.” he said in a stern voice. Rena quickly closed her mouth.
Unlike the elated Rena, the butler did not make any eye contact with her. He seemed to be conscious of the knights around them.
He led Rena to a small reception room, away from prying eyes. Then he said in a low but sharp voice, “What are you doing?”
“I can’t believe you tried to impersonate a dead person. How could you……!”
Rena tried to open her mouth and speak but she had to stop halfway and hold her breath as the butler yelled out at her.
The author’s words:
Rena, 18 years old. Uncanny resemblance with the deceased.
Wook’s notes:
Hello, I have great news for us all. WuXing, the translator of The Tutor of the Royal Twins has decided to grace us with his presence! *cheers* With his help, we’ll be able to post more often~ No fixed schedule yet, but we hope to post at least twice a week.
A Father's Scar
Translated by WuXing
Edited by Wook
The time Rena first met her birth parents was when she turned 6 years old.
She had been living in a separate villa in some rural place before then. The reason for this arrangement was the advice given by elders that her parents must be separated from their daughter if they wish to focus on raising their heir.
Hence, little Rena was sent to live in the villa. Although life at the villa was good and quiet, Rena constantly felt lonely.
She missed her family. She looked at the portrait of her parents and wondered how they were like. She dreamt of the day she would return home after she mastered etiquettes and her education.
One day, she received a letter from the main household. The young master had grown up and it was time for the Lady to come home.
Rena was elated. She could finally go home!
The mansion of House Ruber was much larger than the villa. The servants there were much refined and paid more attention to their etiquettes. Her parents were more beautiful than depicted in the portrait.
To Rena, it all felt surreal. The Viscount greeted her, “Welcome, Rena.”
Tears started to gather in Rena’s eyes. She heard her father’s voice for the very first time in her life.
Though Rena was still very young, her lonesome life in the villa had taught her clearly the importance of family.
She curtsied to her parents, expressing her deep love for the family she had missed for all these years.
“Father. Mother. I, Rena Ruber, wish to greet you for the first time.”
She had practiced numerous times just for this moment.
Looking at her parents smiling at her, Rena felt all her hard work had paid off and she had finally returned to her family.
She believed that with all her heart for 6 more years, until the day Rena was sold by her father.
.
.
.
“My Lady, there’s the palace!”
Uni opened the window of the carriage and shouted.
The child’s finger pointed toward a white spire, situated at the middle of the Imperial City. This is part of the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resided.
“My Lady, have you been to the Imperial Palace? Um… my Lady?”
Uni was babbling in excitement and did not realize Rena had been daydreaming for a while now.
Rena closed her mouth and was ruminating while staring at the empty space in front of her.
“My Lady? Lady Rena!”
Rena woke up from her trance only after Uni called out to her the third time.
She blinked, still dazed and Uni asked her anxiously, “Are you alright, my Lady?”
“Did something happen?”
“You looked exhausted.”
“Ah……”
Rena smiled, brushing away any worries she had before. Uni squinted her eyes and whispered, “Are you thinking about Lynn?”
“Mr. Lynn?”
“You planned to go to the Capital with him, right? And you were disappointed when he couldn’t come along, right?”
“No way, I’m not that infatuated with him.”
“So you were attracted to him, right?”
Rena burst into laughter as she realized Uni was leading her on.
It had been two days since they had separated with Lynn. After bidding him farewell, Rena rented a horse carriage with the money they’ve “earned” and had had a smooth trip since.
However, as they approached the Capital, Rena’s condition had become strange. She started to talk less and less. As they entered the Imperial City, she only looked toward the distant sky.
Uni suspected that she was lovesick, but Lena just laughed and denied it.
“It is not what you think.”
“Then, what’s the matter with you?”
“I was just thinking about my past,” Rena replied honestly.
The day she returned back to her family when she was 6 years old.
At that time, she had passed through the Imperial City’s gate on a horse carriage just like she did now. It was the same road as well, she reminisced.
“This place hasn’t changed,” Rena said as she looked outside.
Grandis Gracia, the capital of the empire looked dirty and gray, unlike its beautiful name.
As they turned slightly away from the main street, they saw hovels made from wood and clothes. The people there looked dirty and scrawny. There were even rats as big as cats scampering around the area.
Yuni muttered in disgust, “The Capital is such a mess.”
“Don’t look at them for too long. They are not a sight to behold.”
Listening to Rena’s advice, Uni retreated from the window and leaned back onto the couch. However, her gaze still locked onto the scenery outside.
“What’s the use of building an empire when your people don’t even have a proper home?”
“There are very few people who can do their part well.”
Uni pouted her lips at Lena’s comments.
The people, whom she said cannot do their part well, were not only referring to the Emperor.
Uni understood what was in her Lady’s mind and asked, “What are you going to say when you meet your father?”
“First of all, I must greet him and ask if he’s doing well.”
“What about after that?”
“I will tell him that I will give him a chance next time.”
“A chance?”
Rena smiled mysteriously at Uni’s question. She turned around and looked outside. She whispered under her breath, “A chance to be forgiven by me.”
Rena’s voice was still the same gentle voice Uni listened to all this time, yet it felt unfamiliar at the same time.
Uni stared at her Lady for a while before turning her head to look outside the window again.
There were many people who were abandoned like Rena.
***
The horse carriage made its way to the city center.
The chaotic scenery gradually improved and was nowhere to be seen in front of the palace.
The area was off-limits to the poor. It was bright and clean like its name, Grandis Gracia.
The road there was paved with polished marble; flowers from early spring decorate the sides of the road, complementing the festive mood in the area.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here.”
Uni was impressed with the bustling streets and crowded City Square.
People dressed in white and donning colorful flowers were enjoying themselves in the City Square. Everyone was dressed up and celebrating the upcoming commemoration of the founding of the Empire.
While Uni was busy watching the festival, their horse carriage reached the Imperial Palace. There were many people lining up at the entrance of the palace.
“If we start lining up now, we will probably reach there at night.”
“We will be able to head in soon enough.”
“What?”
“Do you still have the invitation?”
“Oh.”
Uni frantically searched through her bag.
She quickly took out an invitation letter still sealed with wax. She told the driver not to line up and the old shabby horse carriage heads toward the VIP entrance.
The guards reacted immediately but there were no conflicts after Uni flashed the invitation letter at them. They immediately escort them into the palace.
“The Imperial Palace is totally different from what I expected!” Uni gasped in excitement as she was led to the three rooms assigned to them.
However, Rena was not interested in the beautiful scenery or the Royal treatment they get. She was more focused on getting her clothes right.
“Are you going to that old man?” The person Uni referred to as the “old man” was the person who gave them the invitation.
“No. He will contact us if he needs to meet us.”
“Then, where are you going?”
Rena smiled and combed her hair as Uni asked a second time.
Her face was beaming and Uni realized that her Lady was very excited. There’s only one reason Rena came to the Palace.
“No way, are you going to meet them now?”
“Does a child need a reason to meet his parents?
Uni was rendered speechless by Rena’s reply.
During this time, Rena completed dressing up. She freshen herself up and without hesitating said, “Well, it’s time to meet my father.”
***
The Lakeside Palace was where the Imperial family housed their guests. Due to the upcoming Commemoration Day of the Empire’s founding, all four Dukes from the North, East, South, and West had visited the palace. The Lakeside Palace was then split into four regions reflecting the Dukes’ region in the Empire.
The Dukes hated each other’s guts. They unanimously settled down on the four corners of the Lakeside Palace as far away from each other as possible.
Among them, there were even people who would claim the region as their own territory and set up a blockade. The king of North, Eura Plenus was one of them.
“This is the residence of His Highness Duke Plenus. State your businesses here.”
“I am here to meet an old friend of His Grace, Marquis Cardo Ruber…” Rena replied politely to the knight blocking her way.
The knights looked at Rena suspiciously. They could not help being suspicious about her. It was because she was very beautiful, so beautiful that it was impossible for them to not know her. Yet, they could not identify her. Not only so, but she had also requested to meet the close aide of the Northern Duke without an escort.
The knight contemplated for a while and asked, “May I request for your name?”
“I am Rena Ruber.”
The Knights were alarmed at the mention of the name “Ruber”. Unlike Lynn’s competent secretary Deca, the younger military officers had already forgotten the name of the dead girl from the Ruber family.
They looked at each other, and answered reluctantly, “Please wait here.”
One of the knights left quietly and came back after some time. He was alone and brought a piece of paper with him.
He passed the piece of paper to Rena with an uneasy look on his face. The note contained a short warning:
—Do not use a father’s scar. I will let it pass this time, but not the next time.
Rena read the note and looked surprised.
The knight said, “His Excellency Marquis Ruber had left a message. He does not wish to meet anyone at the moment.”
“Then, please go back again and relay this message to him. Rena Ruber insists on meeting him.” Rena made another request despite their attempts to send her back.
The knight stayed silent. He did not wish to go back just for a woman he had only met for the first time.
They were about to chase the suspicious lady away when an old man walked out from the other end of the hallway and yelled “Hold up! Please wait!”
Rena’s eyes widened as she recognized the old man she once knew as her family’s butler.
“Salem……?!”
***
At the same time, at the Eastern wing of the Lakeside Palace, the Master of the East, Lignan Aetherner was holding his breath.
He was on the floor, holding his whole body’s weight with only his fingers. Sweat drenched his naked upper body, the muscles on his arms screamed as he continued to push himself up.
‘The Dukes are likely to meet up once again. They will do it before meeting the Emperor during Commemoration Day two days later. However, I have not received any news about it. I think they are going to leave me out of the meeting… I can’t let this pass unnoticed.’
Lynn hid his anxiety and continued to plot ahead.
He stayed silent, it was time for him to dress up and prepare himself.
“Your Grace, there was a lady who came to find Marquis Ruber.” Reported Deca, who had just returned.
“She claimed to be Rena Ruber. Maybe there’s something to it?”
‘So, she had arrived.’
Lynn continued to smile secretly as Deca continued his report.
Rena seemed to have entered the palace safely after they went their separate ways two days ago.
“Did she go and visit the Marquis straight away?”
Lynn was happy to hear about Lady Rena’s boldness and activeness. Strangely enough, he also felt fairly impressed.
She had gone to visit him straight away and even revealed her full name. Whether she was tactless or if she had planned for it, he could not make sense of it.
Lynn asked again, “So, what about the Marquis?”
“They sent her back without meeting her.”
At first glance, this was the perfect response. However, after thinking about it for a while, was it not very strange?
“If your daughter, who had passed away, suddenly shows up, you would at least meet her right?”
Wouldn’t he meet her at least once? Whether it is out of exasperation or to avoid any gossip…
Lynn tried to make sense of Marquis Ruber’s response. The situation itself was so strange that it was not easy to assess.
He let out a sigh unconsciously. Rena’s lovely smile suddenly appeared in his head.
‘Will you be alright?’
Lynn hoped that Rena would not give up so they could meet again.
***
“Salem……!”
It had been 6 years but Rena could recognize the old man with a glance. He was the butler of the Ruber household since the Marquis was still a child.
“Salem, all this time…”
“Stop.”
Rena wanted to speak to the old man, but he raised his hand to stop her.
“Let us go somewhere else.” he said in a stern voice. Rena quickly closed her mouth.
Unlike the elated Rena, the butler did not make any eye contact with her. He seemed to be conscious of the knights around them.
He led Rena to a small reception room, away from prying eyes. Then he said in a low but sharp voice, “What are you doing?”
“I can’t believe you tried to impersonate a dead person. How could you……!”
Rena tried to open her mouth and speak but she had to stop halfway and hold her breath as the butler yelled out at her.
The author’s words:
Rena, 18 years old. Uncanny resemblance with the deceased.
Wook’s notes:
Hello, I have great news for us all. WuXing, the translator of The Tutor of the Royal Twins has decided to grace us with his presence! *cheers* With his help, we’ll be able to post more often~ No fixed schedule yet, but we hope to post at least twice a week.
