Chapter 22: A girl walking an unknown path; a girl repeating the past. Part 1
Above all, Duchess Klein cannot be underestimated, even when she has her back turned. It’s no exaggeration to say she has eyes on the back of her head.
‘Ugh, I don’t care! It’s fine! Right… no one knows I’ve returned to the past, so why would she be the only one who knows? Neither Beryl nor Cheryl know anything either.’
Dott hastily comforted herself.
‘I vented all my pent-up frustrations right into her ear before I died! If she remembered, she’d have come after me already. She wouldn’t be wasting ten whole days at the training grounds.’
As memories of the past flashed through her mind, Dott frowned.
‘Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut, just in case. No, no. I suffered for two years because of that idiot Morgana. There was no thrill greater than the moment I exposed everything!’
With a new sinister resolve, Dott lowered her eyes meekly and adjusted her posture.
‘Fine. In this life, too, I’ll crush you just like before, Morgana. Brace yourself for your spectacular demise! I’ll make sure to make good use of your empty shell!’
Dott hoped that the noblewomen coming in with precious autumn roses would whisper to Duchess Klein that Dott’s behavior had been impeccable.
— — —
“…Phew.”
Fay, who had unexpectedly run into Dott, felt more relieved than she had expected. She had planned to irritate her with a bit of acting, and it seemed to have worked.
It wasn’t that she was smug about Dott being expelled from Arcadnia Hall while she remained. No, it was more that her body had moved before her mind could.
‘I knew it. I can’t let past grudges go unresolved. I thought I’d left it all behind, but I can’t let go of revenge, Dott…’
Although she hadn’t avoided the confrontation, Fay knew she had to bear the consequences that followed.
Still, she wasn’t afraid of the trials ahead. Honestly, today’s encounter was refreshing.
‘Go ahead, keep piling lie upon lie on top of the grand deceit you’ve crafted. I’ll be watching to see just how far you can run.’
Instead of repenting for stealing the silk robe, Dott had framed her fellow trainees for it. Dott, it seemed, was the same person even after coming back to life.
Though both of them had their memories, and though both had altered their pasts, Dott continued down her same, predictable path.
‘Dott. The word means ‘blemish’ in the ancient tongue. How fitting.’
With a cold smile resembling Lucius’s, Fay walked past Arcadnia Hall toward the royal palace library. She figured she should change her lunch reservation at the cafeteria to serve two.
Today, Fay had no interest in seeing any old acquaintances from her past.
No matter who they were.
* * *
After returning from a nerve-racking visit to the royal palace, Dott entered the private chambers of Duchess Klein without a moment to catch her breath.
‘I’m exhausted…’
“Well, your behavior was acceptable today. You didn’t tremble, and you carried yourself well.”
Since this wasn’t her first time, that was to be expected.
“Thank you.”
Before she could even recall Morgana’s stupid face, the Duchess’s words poured out relentlessly.
“You must’ve noticed when you last went to the salon, but the royal palace is far stricter than anywhere else. I had you stand outside the hall because you’re not yet up to standard, but do you know how many people were watching you?”
“Four noblewomen passed by…”
“More than ten, I’d say. How could a young girl like you know the full extent? Even I can’t. In the royal palace, even the walls have eyes and ears. You must always be as cautious as you were today.”
“Yes.”
Though it was praise, it was also almost a warning.
‘Pochette!!’
The thought of that pompous scholar, never satisfied with her progress, made Dott’s anger surge. No matter how thoroughly she completed his assignments, Pochette only ever looked at her with disdain.
Morgana might be stupid even if time rewound for her, but Dott had been stuck with this infuriating scholar, wasting her precious time.
Dott suppressed her rising fury and politely spoke.
“I’m glad I was able to show some improvement. However, I do have one concern.”
“What is it?”
Dott’s blue eyes shimmered pitifully.
“The noblewomen who watched me today were talking about the capital, but I honestly couldn’t understand a word. If I had been inside the hall, my ignorance might have put me in a difficult position.”
“Hmm…”
“Scholar Pochette is so brilliant that it’s hard for me to keep up with him.”
The Duchess, who had been in quite a good mood, asked,
“What are you studying these days?”
“The tribal era before the empire’s founding.”
Duchess Klein frowned.
“Hmph. That’s a bit much. You’re not going to be a historian, and it’s not knowledge you need right now. Very well, go soak in the bath.”
“Yes.”
“You know to soak your hands in a separate basin of lukewarm water, right? Your hands must stay soft so that people don’t take you lightly.”
“I understand.”
The next day, Dott was inwardly rejoicing.
Duchess Klein had finally ordered the removal of that devilish scholar Pochette from the manor!
He had only been visiting once a week, but the assignments he left behind were a constant burden. This was an enormous relief.
Now, instead of wasting time on useless studies, she could focus on more practical matters. She felt as though a huge weight had been lifted.
‘It’s fine. It’s going well, even if things were a bit delayed. There’s nothing to be afraid of. If I keep this up, everything will fall into place.’
Legnakra
She has the air of a megslimaniac 🤣🤣🤣, She wants to conquer the world but she doesn’t want to strive to improve… Thank you Bunny 🐰💕