Chapter 117
I knew what the light was the moment I saw it.
This is Auror.
I’d only seen it once before, but I remembered it well.
‘How come this light is appearing now?’
I tried to summon the light off back but gave up because I didn’t know how.
I was distracted for a while due to my embarrassment at Auror’s unexpected presence.
“Lady Oreu? What was……?”
When I turned around, I saw the emperor’s embarrassed expression.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t the only one here……
Frustrated, I first gave strength to take back my hand on the Archduke’s hand.
But someone was faster than me.
“My daughter!”
In an instant, my body was pulled.
“Huh?”
As I was surprised, I found myself in the arms of the Archduke.
Being in the arms of the Archduke was unexpected, but what I just heard was even more so.
What does he mean by ‘my daughter’?
Who?
It was a time when I was befuddled and being held by the Archduke.
From the side, I heard sobbing. I noticed the Archduchess crying when I looked at her.
‘No way, is it really me…?’
In an unbelievable situation, I blinked blankly, but the Archduke released his hold on me.
Instead, he put both of his hands on my face.
“Do… do you recognize me?”
It wasn’t until I got a good look at the Duke that I realized something.
That his pupils were the same silver-gray color as mine. Not only that, but when his eyes are reflected in the light, they turn a subtle gold. Just like mine.
I was perplexed as to why I had only recently discovered this fact.
The Archduke’s eyes were desperate as he stared at me.
I couldn’t say anything in those eyes.
Not because I couldn’t recognize the Archduke’s face.
But because there’s no way I could recognize his face.
Because Elena was abandoned in front of the nursery when she was a baby, even before she could walk.
‘That was definitely the case.’
So how did a baby who had been abandoned become the Archduke’s daughter?
“Are you certain Lady Oreu is your daughter, Elantz?”
“That’s for certain. Didn’t you just notice? She is unquestionably my daughter.”
“How could that be…”
The Archduke’s affirmation rendered the Emperor speechless. The empress, too, covered her mouth with a surprised expression.
Meanwhile, the Archduchess continued to shed tears, and the Archduke continued to caress my face.
And I……
I was still dumbfounded.
As everyone was speechless and couldn’t say anything, the emperor intervened.
“First and foremost, I believe it is preferable to depart from here at this time.”
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
Vivian enveloped her trembling arms with her hands.
‘Elena Oreu… is the Archduke’s daughter……? Elena Oreu?‘
Even after several repetitions, she still couldn’t believe it.
‘No way.’
Vivian continued to deny it.
Because she wished what she had just witnessed and heard were not true.
“Didn’t His Highness the Archduke say’my daughter? So you’re saying that lady from before is his daughter?”
“I believe so. Did you not notice the Archduchess’ reaction? And that golden light that flashes.”
“I heard they lost their daughter, but I didn’t expect her to be in the Empire……”
But the truth was harsh.
“I understand why His Highness the Archduke and Archduchess are leaving the hall, but I’m wondering why His Majesty is also leaving.”
“Even so, Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince remain.”
The nearby ladies’ conversation rang in Vivian’s ears.
“But… wasn’t that lady the one who had just gotten engaged to Duke Egon?”
“That’s exactly what I heard.”
“Did the Duke know the lady was the Archduke couple’s daughter?”
“I’m not sure. Given the Duke didn’t show any reaction, I believe he……”
“……Vivian?”
Vivian turned to the side, taken aback by the hand on her shoulder.
She could see the Marchioness looking at her with concern.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can you say that again?”
“You don’t look very well since earlier, are you tired?”
“I think I am a little tired today.”
Vivian gave a light smile.
The Marchioness somehow felt as if her daughter were forcing herself to smile.
“If you’re really tired, why don’t you go back to the mansion first?”
“It’s fine. I don’t want to return alone.”
“Then I’ll inform your father when he arrives, so could you please wait a moment? Let us get back together.” “You said there are people you haven’t seen yet. You are not required to return for me.”
“But still……”
“No need to worry, just… Could you please repeat what you said before?”
“It wasn’t a particularly significant story. I was talking what I had heard about Lady Oreu. Edmund has been assisting your father recently, right?”
“Yes, I know,” Vivian said with a nod.
She recalled the image of Marquis, who acted as if he wanted to carry Edmund everywhere if he could.
“Do you remember when we asked him how he got to be like that, and he said it was a secret?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“However, when I asked him why he was staying so close to Lady Oreu earlier, he confessed. That he was able to assist your father because of Lady Oreu’s teaching.”
“Lady Oreu has taught orabeoni?”
Lady Oreu?
“That’s correct. Your brother stated that she was good with paperwork because she had previously been educated to be her family’s successor. Not only that, but your brother mentioned that the lady has a talent for swordsmanship.”
“Paperwork and swordsmanship?”
“It’s peculiar, right? I heard the lady took swordsmanship lessons from the swordsmanship teacher when the Oreu family was in good financial standing. As a result, I heard the lady got along well with the other member of the Royal Knights……”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Huh?”
“Took a lesson from a swordsmanship teacher, something like that never happened.”
Vivian was responding for the first time.
The Marchioness was astounded by her daughter’s tenacity.
“How do you know?”
“…… I was told. Once upon a time, from a lady familiar with Lady Oreu.”
“Really? It’s strange. Edmund stated that Lady Oreu herself stated this. I doubt the lady would lie about it.”
“Perhaps she wanted to be liked by the other Knights.”
“No, I don’t believe so. Even if she lied, she should know nothing about swordsmanship. Could it be that the lady who told you lied?”
Initially, you cannot rely on rumors spread by others.
The Marchioness added.
“Anyway, I can’t believe the lady was the Archduke couple’s daughter… Nobody knows what a person’s future will be like.”
Somehow, the Marchioness felt regret.
The Marchioness believed that if she had known this would happen, she would have pushed harder when rumors about Elena’s affair with her son surfaced.
Because soon after she realized that misunderstandings caused the rumors, she gave up quickly.
‘Come to think of it, Vivian danced with the Crown Prince earlier, right?’
The Marchioness turned to face her daughter. But she certainly doesn’t appear to be expecting anything. Instead, she seemed concerned.
Because rumors about the crown prince’s career as a womanizer were spreading behind secrecy.
When she heard it from others, she thought it was unimportant, but it was different when it was about her own daughter.
After much thought, the Marchioness attempted to ask Vivian about her conversation with the crown prince.
Vivian, on the other hand, opened her mouth faster.
“May I go to the terrace for a few minutes to get some fresh air? I’m a little frustrated.”
“Sure. Just let me know if you want to leave early.”
“I certainly will.”
“I’ll see you later,” Vivian added.
And as she turned, her face was bathed in dark light.
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
We dashed into the lounge behind the banquet hall after the emperor told us to leave.
Only the emperor sat on the opposite side, and the Archduke and Archduchess sat next to me as if it were natural.
“I had no idea Lady Oreu was your daughter.”
The emperor’s voice was a mix of wonder and bewilderment. I felt the same way.
‘The birth’s secret.’
I speculated that it was something that only happened to other people, but I didn’t expect it to happen to me.
In essence, it’s not ‘me,’ but…… In any case, it was unexpected.
“I see that Lady Oreu must be your daughter for real. Seeing all of you sitting together like that, I see a lot of similarities.”
“Are you still in doubt?”
“It’s not a doubt. It’s just that I can’t believe it. I was taken aback earlier.”
“Well, we were surprised as well. I came here after receiving a letter, but I never imagined I’d be able to meet my daughter.”
“That’s correct. I said let’s not hold out hope because it might not be……”
The Archduchess held my hand with tears in her eyes again.
“You truly are my daughter…… I never imagined you would have grown up so beautifully…… Thank you for growing up well.”
I was unable to respond. Because I wasn’t the original Elena.
And the Archduchess was original Elena’s parents.
But I couldn’t express how I felt.
I was just trying to smile all the time, due to feeling awkward and uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure how the world can have so many coincidences. I can’t believe you found your daughter so quickly after returning to the Empire after such a long absence.”
“This isn’t a coincidence. Actually, I came here after receiving a letter from your son.”
“Do you mean Enosh?”
“Yes, he said there is someone who appears to be our daughter, and that he can’t send a portrait because he doesn’t have time to draw it, but he puts her hair in it instead.”
The crown prince sent a letter? And he put my hair in it?
When did he take my hair…… Oh, I remember.
When he said he’d make me a ring to stop my eyes from changing color, he asked me to cut my hair.
But I can’t believe he sent the hair to the Archduke and his wife.
“I’m not sure how Enosh knew and sent you the lady’s hair, but the lady must have heard something. Considering that she gave him her hair.”
“That is not correct. According to the letter, your son made a self-indulgent move after making a rough guess.”
“I see. So, why didn’t you say anything when you arrived? Then I would have been courteous to the lady ahead of time.”
“I hesitated to say it because it wasn’t certain. Yes. We didn’t know for sure until we checked it ourselves.”
“That’s correct. I was surprised to see the letter’s characteristics and the same color as my hair when I was younger, but there have been so many false reports.”
“So I was planning on informing you if I met her in person and confirmed she was our daughter.”
“I see. Your patience, by the way, is admirable. You’ve been in the capital for a few days, but you only met with the lady today to confirm it. If it had been me, I would have tracked down the lady as soon as I arrived in the capital.”
“That was something we wanted to do as well. But the Duke refused……”
Chapter 117
I knew what the light was the moment I saw it.
This is Auror.
I’d only seen it once before, but I remembered it well.
‘How come this light is appearing now?’
I tried to summon the light off back but gave up because I didn’t know how.
I was distracted for a while due to my embarrassment at Auror’s unexpected presence.
“Lady Oreu? What was……?”
When I turned around, I saw the emperor’s embarrassed expression.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t the only one here……
Frustrated, I first gave strength to take back my hand on the Archduke’s hand.
But someone was faster than me.
“My daughter!”
In an instant, my body was pulled.
“Huh?”
As I was surprised, I found myself in the arms of the Archduke.
Being in the arms of the Archduke was unexpected, but what I just heard was even more so.
What does he mean by ‘my daughter’?
Who?
It was a time when I was befuddled and being held by the Archduke.
From the side, I heard sobbing. I noticed the Archduchess crying when I looked at her.
‘No way, is it really me…?’
In an unbelievable situation, I blinked blankly, but the Archduke released his hold on me.
Instead, he put both of his hands on my face.
“Do… do you recognize me?”
It wasn’t until I got a good look at the Duke that I realized something.
That his pupils were the same silver-gray color as mine. Not only that, but when his eyes are reflected in the light, they turn a subtle gold. Just like mine.
I was perplexed as to why I had only recently discovered this fact.
The Archduke’s eyes were desperate as he stared at me.
I couldn’t say anything in those eyes.
Not because I couldn’t recognize the Archduke’s face.
But because there’s no way I could recognize his face.
Because Elena was abandoned in front of the nursery when she was a baby, even before she could walk.
‘That was definitely the case.’
So how did a baby who had been abandoned become the Archduke’s daughter?
“Are you certain Lady Oreu is your daughter, Elantz?”
“That’s for certain. Didn’t you just notice? She is unquestionably my daughter.”
“How could that be…”
The Archduke’s affirmation rendered the Emperor speechless. The empress, too, covered her mouth with a surprised expression.
Meanwhile, the Archduchess continued to shed tears, and the Archduke continued to caress my face.
And I……
I was still dumbfounded.
As everyone was speechless and couldn’t say anything, the emperor intervened.
“First and foremost, I believe it is preferable to depart from here at this time.”
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
Vivian enveloped her trembling arms with her hands.
‘Elena Oreu… is the Archduke’s daughter……? Elena Oreu?‘
Even after several repetitions, she still couldn’t believe it.
‘No way.’
Vivian continued to deny it.
Because she wished what she had just witnessed and heard were not true.
“Didn’t His Highness the Archduke say’my daughter? So you’re saying that lady from before is his daughter?”
“I believe so. Did you not notice the Archduchess’ reaction? And that golden light that flashes.”
“I heard they lost their daughter, but I didn’t expect her to be in the Empire……”
But the truth was harsh.
“I understand why His Highness the Archduke and Archduchess are leaving the hall, but I’m wondering why His Majesty is also leaving.”
“Even so, Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince remain.”
The nearby ladies’ conversation rang in Vivian’s ears.
“But… wasn’t that lady the one who had just gotten engaged to Duke Egon?”
“That’s exactly what I heard.”
“Did the Duke know the lady was the Archduke couple’s daughter?”
“I’m not sure. Given the Duke didn’t show any reaction, I believe he……”
“……Vivian?”
Vivian turned to the side, taken aback by the hand on her shoulder.
She could see the Marchioness looking at her with concern.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can you say that again?”
“You don’t look very well since earlier, are you tired?”
“I think I am a little tired today.”
Vivian gave a light smile.
The Marchioness somehow felt as if her daughter were forcing herself to smile.
“If you’re really tired, why don’t you go back to the mansion first?”
“It’s fine. I don’t want to return alone.”
“Then I’ll inform your father when he arrives, so could you please wait a moment? Let us get back together.” “You said there are people you haven’t seen yet. You are not required to return for me.”
“But still……”
“No need to worry, just… Could you please repeat what you said before?”
“It wasn’t a particularly significant story. I was talking what I had heard about Lady Oreu. Edmund has been assisting your father recently, right?”
“Yes, I know,” Vivian said with a nod.
She recalled the image of Marquis, who acted as if he wanted to carry Edmund everywhere if he could.
“Do you remember when we asked him how he got to be like that, and he said it was a secret?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“However, when I asked him why he was staying so close to Lady Oreu earlier, he confessed. That he was able to assist your father because of Lady Oreu’s teaching.”
“Lady Oreu has taught orabeoni?”
Lady Oreu?
“That’s correct. Your brother stated that she was good with paperwork because she had previously been educated to be her family’s successor. Not only that, but your brother mentioned that the lady has a talent for swordsmanship.”
“Paperwork and swordsmanship?”
“It’s peculiar, right? I heard the lady took swordsmanship lessons from the swordsmanship teacher when the Oreu family was in good financial standing. As a result, I heard the lady got along well with the other member of the Royal Knights……”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Huh?”
“Took a lesson from a swordsmanship teacher, something like that never happened.”
Vivian was responding for the first time.
The Marchioness was astounded by her daughter’s tenacity.
“How do you know?”
“…… I was told. Once upon a time, from a lady familiar with Lady Oreu.”
“Really? It’s strange. Edmund stated that Lady Oreu herself stated this. I doubt the lady would lie about it.”
“Perhaps she wanted to be liked by the other Knights.”
“No, I don’t believe so. Even if she lied, she should know nothing about swordsmanship. Could it be that the lady who told you lied?”
Initially, you cannot rely on rumors spread by others.
The Marchioness added.
“Anyway, I can’t believe the lady was the Archduke couple’s daughter… Nobody knows what a person’s future will be like.”
Somehow, the Marchioness felt regret.
The Marchioness believed that if she had known this would happen, she would have pushed harder when rumors about Elena’s affair with her son surfaced.
Because soon after she realized that misunderstandings caused the rumors, she gave up quickly.
‘Come to think of it, Vivian danced with the Crown Prince earlier, right?’
The Marchioness turned to face her daughter. But she certainly doesn’t appear to be expecting anything. Instead, she seemed concerned.
Because rumors about the crown prince’s career as a womanizer were spreading behind secrecy.
When she heard it from others, she thought it was unimportant, but it was different when it was about her own daughter.
After much thought, the Marchioness attempted to ask Vivian about her conversation with the crown prince.
Vivian, on the other hand, opened her mouth faster.
“May I go to the terrace for a few minutes to get some fresh air? I’m a little frustrated.”
“Sure. Just let me know if you want to leave early.”
“I certainly will.”
“I’ll see you later,” Vivian added.
And as she turned, her face was bathed in dark light.
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
We dashed into the lounge behind the banquet hall after the emperor told us to leave.
Only the emperor sat on the opposite side, and the Archduke and Archduchess sat next to me as if it were natural.
“I had no idea Lady Oreu was your daughter.”
The emperor’s voice was a mix of wonder and bewilderment. I felt the same way.
‘The birth’s secret.’
I speculated that it was something that only happened to other people, but I didn’t expect it to happen to me.
In essence, it’s not ‘me,’ but…… In any case, it was unexpected.
“I see that Lady Oreu must be your daughter for real. Seeing all of you sitting together like that, I see a lot of similarities.”
“Are you still in doubt?”
“It’s not a doubt. It’s just that I can’t believe it. I was taken aback earlier.”
“Well, we were surprised as well. I came here after receiving a letter, but I never imagined I’d be able to meet my daughter.”
“That’s correct. I said let’s not hold out hope because it might not be……”
The Archduchess held my hand with tears in her eyes again.
“You truly are my daughter…… I never imagined you would have grown up so beautifully…… Thank you for growing up well.”
I was unable to respond. Because I wasn’t the original Elena.
And the Archduchess was original Elena’s parents.
But I couldn’t express how I felt.
I was just trying to smile all the time, due to feeling awkward and uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure how the world can have so many coincidences. I can’t believe you found your daughter so quickly after returning to the Empire after such a long absence.”
“This isn’t a coincidence. Actually, I came here after receiving a letter from your son.”
“Do you mean Enosh?”
“Yes, he said there is someone who appears to be our daughter, and that he can’t send a portrait because he doesn’t have time to draw it, but he puts her hair in it instead.”
The crown prince sent a letter? And he put my hair in it?
When did he take my hair…… Oh, I remember.
When he said he’d make me a ring to stop my eyes from changing color, he asked me to cut my hair.
But I can’t believe he sent the hair to the Archduke and his wife.
“I’m not sure how Enosh knew and sent you the lady’s hair, but the lady must have heard something. Considering that she gave him her hair.”
“That is not correct. According to the letter, your son made a self-indulgent move after making a rough guess.”
“I see. So, why didn’t you say anything when you arrived? Then I would have been courteous to the lady ahead of time.”
“I hesitated to say it because it wasn’t certain. Yes. We didn’t know for sure until we checked it ourselves.”
“That’s correct. I was surprised to see the letter’s characteristics and the same color as my hair when I was younger, but there have been so many false reports.”
“So I was planning on informing you if I met her in person and confirmed she was our daughter.”
“I see. Your patience, by the way, is admirable. You’ve been in the capital for a few days, but you only met with the lady today to confirm it. If it had been me, I would have tracked down the lady as soon as I arrived in the capital.”
“That was something we wanted to do as well. But the Duke refused……”
