The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 141

Chapter 141: Tears and Happy Memories

I moved to the office, realizing that staying in the gathering room and dwelling on my sadness wouldn’t solve anything. However, I couldn’t focus on work, and I found myself stopping mid-sentence, lost in thought.

If this world is the Maria of the Kingdom of Hearts, then maybe this day will come.

My goal was to avoid the capital, to escape the game’s storyline, and even if I ended up on the Alexis route, to become independent and gain enough power to stand up to my family.

Since I was born as Melfina, marriage to Alexis was inevitable. Still, with every encounter with Cedric, Serleine, and Julius, the targets to be conquered, I felt a slight sense of unease. I was irritated, wondering why I had to deal with the flow of the game when I was trying to stay out of it as much as possible.

But somehow, I ended up liking them.

Alexis, who always had a stern face, couldn’t express his care for others, even though he had lost his family and his fiancée. Despite it all, he was a lord who lived a disciplined life, never breaking his promises.

Cedric, who is so serious that he’s inflexible, yet cares for others, albeit clumsily, and is now adored by the children of Melto Village.

Serleine, who was so frail when we met, so weak that she seemed to be fading away, yet she held onto her pride and said resolutely that she wanted to become a strong and kind adult.

Julius, carefree and unconventional, yet childlike and innocent, always smiling even though he carries a cruel fate.

They are all fascinating people. When you interact with them as people, not as characters, it’s hard not to grow attached to them.

I wouldn’t wish misfortune on any of them.

Even I myself, I don’t know what’s going to happen.

Recovering my past life’s memories gave me permission to fight back. But I still don’t know anything about what happens after Maria descends.

I didn’t want to submit to something as unfair as fate, no matter what. If necessary, I might even have to flee Francesca, leaving the people I’ve become close to behind.

But the thought of abandoning them, those who know nothing about this, to the vortex of that wretched fate, was too painful.

I would distract Theodor, who’s been taking care of me in place of Marie and Cedric, if I keep dwelling in my thoughts. I tried to focus on my work, but I kept stopping, my hand growing heavy with melancholy.

After a simple lunch that I could eat without using my hands, I tried to concentrate on work in the afternoon, but a knock on the door interrupted me. Marie opened the door, and Anna stood there looking uncomfortable.

“Um, Lady Melfina, some children from Melto Village are here to see you. I tried to get them to tell me what they want, but they just insist on seeing you…”

Anna seemed to be embarrassed about failing to follow Marie’s instructions from the other day. Her brows were furrowed with sadness.

“Is it Rod and Rena?”

“I think it’s time to warn them against showing up unannounced. If other residents start imitating them, it’ll become unmanageable.”

“It’s just children. Besides, they understand our situation perfectly well.”

Rod and Rena often show up unannounced, but they never stay for long. They’re always the first to go home, even when I tell them they can stay a little longer.

“I can’t focus on work at all, and this is a good opportunity for a change of pace.”

I said this, and Marie, though she looked a little troubled, also had a relieved smile on her face.

When I went downstairs, I found Rod and Rena standing in the entrance hall. They both had their lips drawn into tight lines, making grumpy faces.

“What brings you two here today?”

“Lady Melfina!”

“Mel-sama! We’re going to stay by your side all the time!”

They both shouted this as soon as they saw me. Before I could react, Rena ran towards me and hugged my skirt.

“Theodor-sama, it’s quite common in Enkar, get used to it.”

Marie quickly told Theodor, who was about to react to Rena’s actions.

“Um, is that alright, Lady Melfina?”

“They are my friends. Besides, there are only two small villages in Enkar. We’re all like family.”

Theodor seemed hesitant, but he took a step back, conceding to Melfina’s words.

“Settle down, both of you. Rena, are you crying?”

“Because, because!”

“I’ll make some tea. Come inside.”

Taking Rena’s hand, I nodded to Rod, and the two children, though still visibly upset, followed me to the dining room and the adjoining kitchen.

Marie brought us some tea, which I poured into two cups, adding plenty of sugar and milk. Their eyes widened in unison when they took a sip.

Sweet things have the power to calm agitation and increase happiness. By the time they finished their cups, their lips were faintly curved into smiles.

“You two saw Cedric?”

“We went to the village, and Dad told us that he was leaving Enkar and that we should take care of Mel-sama. Then he went somewhere with Yuri-onii-sama, saying he had something to discuss with him.”

“Yes… It can’t be helped. He has his reasons.”

“But Cedric-sama said he would always protect Mel-sama here…”

When did Rena have that conversation with Cedric, considering he’s always behind Melfina? Maybe it happened during the festival, or when there were many people around for inspections, and I didn’t hear it.

“He lied. It’s awful.”

Rena’s childish anger at the injustice of the world made me feel a pang of sadness.

At first, after he arrived in Enkar, Cedric would always stand a little behind Melfina, but he would often talk to the children as well.

If Cedric leaves Enkar, Rod and Rena will be left with the memory that Cedric lied to them.

Rena kept expressing her anger, but Rod, while holding back his anger, didn’t say anything.

Emotions kept inside can fester like sediment, becoming impossible to wash away.

“Rod, do you remember when Cedric told you that you should say what you want to say?”

“…Yes, I remember.”

“You really understand Cedric’s feelings, don’t you? He has to leave Enkar because of something he can’t control.”

“…But, but, it’s just…”

The Carlisle family is a prestigious courtly lineage that protects the royal family. That’s probably why Cedric, the head of the family, was chosen as the bodyguard of a descended saint, a position that, in a way, makes him even more valuable than royalty.

What would happen if Cedric refused to obey and chose Melfina?

Pride and face are as important as life itself for royalty and nobles. Choosing a knight from a local lord over one from the royal household is simply unacceptable to the royal family.

Even the Duke’s household can’t protect him. This would create a deep conflict with Enkar and its lord, Melfina.

“Rod, there are things that can be protected by leaving. Cedric is leaving to protect me and Enkar.”

“…!”

Rod’s expression crumpled, and large tears started rolling down his cheeks.

“…I know, really, I do. Cedric-sama wouldn’t want to leave Lady Melfina’s side. He was always worried about you! He even told me to become smart so I could protect Lady Melfina!”

“Rod…”

“Why?! It must be awful for him! Why did he say he would rely on you? Why did he smile…”

His words trailed off. Rena, who was sitting next to him, was moved by Rod’s sadness and started to cry, her voice trembling.

“Waaah! Why!”

“Rena…”

“We want to be together! It was so much fun, why is he leaving?”

Hearing her straightforward sadness, I took a sharp breath.

We want to be together. I don’t want anything to change. I want to stay together and laugh forever.

Even though I am a lord, educated as a noble lady, I can’t express such feelings.

If only I could cry like this, say “I don’t want this, why?”

When I was told to marry a man in the north at the age of sixteen.

When Alexis told me he didn’t love me.

Even now, when I’m faced with events beyond my control, if only I could act that way.

Would anything have changed?

I stood up and embraced Rod and Rena, who were crying.

I wanted them to cry a lot, to wash away their sadness, and in the end, to be left only with the happy memories they’d made over the past year.