Chapter 5: Duchess Eliana Liberica(1)

A peaceful day.

I was having tea in Dad’s office.

It’s still awkward to call him Dad, but it was getting better.

I had never called him Dad before the regression, and I found it new and strange.

More than that, I hadn’t seen the faces of my other family members, including Dad, very often.

Because I hated leaving my room.

“Our youngest, you’ve been buying various things these days.”

‘Gulp.’

“I, I read in a magazine, and there are many interesting things?”

“Yes. Whatever you want, it doesn’t matter, so buy as much as you want.”

“Ehehe, thank you.”

As a result of flattering to survive, my likeability is now around 80%.

The problem is that it doesn’t increase any further from here.

Anna increased continuously until 100% at some point, but Dad doesn’t increase much…

…Is Anna strange? I don’t know.

While I was munching on the snacks that Dad was feeding me, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard, and then the sound of knocking on the door.

“D, Duke, it’s a disaster! Madam!”

“…I’m sorry. Dad has to go for a moment.”

“Uhm, it’s okay. I’m going back to my room now.”

With that, he left the room in a hurry.

I wonder if she had a seizure…? I’d heard rumors that it happened from time to time.

I went back to my room and revised my plans for the future.

There are two years left until the Duchess passes away, but you never know.

Those two years could become one year.

‘Butterfly effect’

I couldn’t be relieved because many futures had changed due to me.

Still, I’m glad I made the cure.

I ordered Anna to make the cure I knew, and didn’t she bring it in less than a week?

Three small glass bottles in the drawer.

The method of administration is simple. Taking this medicine once a day for three days will cure you.

The only precaution is that you have to take it at certain intervals.

‘…I can’t help but be anxious. Let’s start tonight.’

Late evening.

I barely suppressed my sleepy eyes and quietly left the room.

The Duchess’s room was closer than I thought.

And the Duchess’s room was guarded by a strict barrier, so no one could enter unless they were permitted servants or direct family members.

So, it’s fortunate that there are no security personnel.

I carefully opened the door to the Duchess’s room and saw a desolate interior.

There was nothing in the interior except for a bed.

I cautiously approached the bed, and there was a woman who looked sick, who seemed to be the Duchess.

Would they believe me if I said that I had never seen the Duchess’s face in my life?

Because no one but Dad was allowed to enter for health reasons.

It’s the first time.

Duchess…no, seeing Mom.

Because there were no pictures, I never saw Mom even before I regressed.

…Even at the funeral.

I carefully took out the glass bottle from my pocket.

There was only one drop of the contents, so I just had to pour it into her mouth.

I opened the bottle’s cap and poured it into her mouth, and soon the effect began to appear.

Her complexion brightened a little, so it seems Anna made the right thing.

I wanted to stay by her side a little longer, but I had to go back to my room because it would be trouble if I got caught.

It was strange. Her complexion hadn’t improved at all until now, but the Duchess’s complexion had improved a little.

It doesn’t make sense unless something happened all night, but if someone invaded, the alarm would sound, so I couldn’t have missed it.

The only people who can enter this room are the Duchess’s exclusive maid or direct family members.

Currently, there are only two direct family members in this house, me and the youngest. What’s going on?

Even when I asked the maid, she said nothing but that it was a miracle, which I couldn’t understand.

Do fairies even exist?

I wanted to stay by the Duchess’s side, but it’s almost time for the youngest to come to the office.

I quickly went back to the office and pretended to work, and soon the sound of knocking was heard.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and the youngest peeked in, checking if there was any urgent work.

I like that she always considers me, but I wanted to see a different side of her.

‘It wouldn’t be bad if she ran into my arms and hugged me.’

“Ehehe, Dad! I came to say good morning!”

“Yes. Did you sleep well? Did you have breakfast?”

“Yes! I ate in my room!”

“Ahem, I want to say something about that. How about we eat together from tomorrow?”

“…Huh? Together?”

I understood what Dad was saying, but my mind couldn’t keep up.

No, it’s okay to eat together, but why is he looking at me like that?

…He’s definitely not that kind of character.

More than that, I didn’t notice, right?

The Duchess’s complexion improved overnight, and fortunately, he didn’t say anything to me.

After all, I’m only 5 years old, so it’s strange to think that I did something.

“Ehehe, I’m fine with it.”

“Yes. Come to the dining room from tomorrow.”

‘Dining room’

It’s a place where direct family members gather to eat, but it has never been used in our house.

My parents and my sisters were all busy, so they never used it, and I never went out of my room!

I finished my tea time with Dad, who stroked my head and looked satisfied…or Dad, and returned to my room.

There are two more times, including tonight.

I need to prepare, just in case something goes wrong.

“Anna.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Our Anna appeared and answered as if she was waiting.

Sometimes, I thought Anna might be a ninja, but I guess not.

“There’s something you need to prepare. Secretly, go to the Magic Tower and buy the items written on this list, would you?”

“A, all of these?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Alright, Miss. I’ll be right back.”

I watched Anna leaving the room to buy the items.

I couldn’t count the number of times I was grateful that she followed my words without asking.

To be honest, I didn’t have the confidence to persuade her.

No, I could persuade her, but the problem is, who would seriously believe what a 5-year-old says!

‘Ugh. What’s the point of worrying? I should take a nap. That way, I can work in the evening.’

…It sounds like I have a mysterious vibe by talking about work? Hehehe.

Late evening of that day.

I was going to the Duchess’s room again tonight, so I packed the glass bottle and carefully left the room.

Because I drank the ‘potion to erase traces’ that I had told Anna to buy, just in case something went wrong.

I’m so meticulous. Should I try being a vigilante if I get kicked out of the Duke’s family?

What a romantic idea, a vigilante who robs the pockets of the wicked nobles who exploit the people and gives it to them!

…What am I talking about when our family is the villain family? Stop thinking about other things and move quickly.

I carefully invaded the Duchess’s room and, as before, opened the bottle’s lid and put it into her mouth, and after a while, the effect appeared.

This is the last time.

I was about to go back to my room with that thought, but a voice was heard.

“W, who is there…?”

I said something silly because I panicked, when I could have just left quietly.

“I, I’m a vigilante!”

“…Vigilante.”

With that, the Duchess fell back to sleep, but a sense of shame washed over me.

No, anyone would think I came to steal something! …No, in this situation, did I come to give it away…?

Ugh, I don’t know!

I hurried back to my room and threw myself onto the bed.

I pulled the blanket over my head, and the embarrassment washed over me even after that.

In the end, I stayed up late that night, kicking the blanket.

This morning, I went down to the dining room to have breakfast with Dad, and Dad was waiting.

More than that, it’s a little awkward since it’s my first time in the dining room.

“Youngest, did you have trouble sleeping?”

“Ehehe, I think I slept too much during the day.”

After finishing breakfast with Dad, who looked worried about me, I went back to my room, and Anna was waiting.

“Are you okay? Do you want to sleep a little more…?”

“No. I’m fine. More than that, can you buy it again today?”

“…Alright.”

Anna left the room with those words.

I wanted to buy a large quantity at once, but if I did that, problems would arise.

Because the potion to erase traces and ‘that’ could only be purchased one item per day.

The last night.

I brought the cure and entered the Duchess’s bedroom, and the atmosphere was different.

As I approached the bed, the Duchess was awake!

“I was waiting. Vigilante.”

“…Huh?”