# 31
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* * *
After crying for a while, I had no strength left at all.
Even though I asked her not to come close because the place was dirty, as soon as I showed my tears, Diana started crying and asked me to leave the banquet hall, and I ended up carrying her in my arms.
I yelled at the kids around me and growled that I didn't want to see them, and by the end, I was so exhausted that I was out of breath.
In the end, the banquet was cancelled, and we entered the bath at the Duchess's command, washed, and went out, attended by the maids.
As soon as Diana dried her hair and lay down on the bed, she fell asleep instantly.
When the quiet silence fell, I felt upset thinking about the banquet that had ended in chaos.
“Still, I was happy.”
The moment I realized I was falling towards the table, I immediately let go of the cup I was holding.
With an evil instinct, I grabbed the entourage of the person who pushed me.
The lace at the waist of the girl's dress tore very easily.
'Now that I think about it, I was the one who actually tore the dress.'
Of course, the Duke did not ask me to replace the girl's dress.
I heard that the dress I was wearing was very expensive and that the girl's family would have trouble buying it.
In some ways, one would have thought it was an over-the-top ending to a childish mistake committed by a young girl.
But I didn't feel any sympathy.
‘Because everything works according to its own benefit.’
To be honest, if the girl hadn't been so honest and made Allen a liar, I would have hidden the lace edge.
If it weren't for Allen and the Duke in the first place, even if there was evidence as clear as today, no one would have listened to me.
Because I was in a vulnerable position, I could have been trampled on by anyone at any time.
'Of course you must have a lot of money.'
As an ordinary person and an orphan, money was the only way for me to survive in this world without the protection of those in power and without being trampled on.
In my previous life, I saw many people who were nobles but were looked down upon because they didn't have money, and I saw people from the common people treated as rich people.
Of course, at that time I was a commoner and had no money, but this life would be different.
‘When I go to the capital, I have to earn money properly.’
Since I had a fairly specific plan, all I had to do was execute it.
As I cautiously left Diana's room, filled with dreams of becoming rich, I stopped and froze.
“Young Master?”
Because someone unexpected was waiting for me.
Since Allen's room was near Diana's room, he thought he was just passing by….
“Follow me.”
As expected, the target was me, so Allen let out a short sigh and turned around first.
The sound was very harsh, so I tilted my head.
'Didn't we make up our way?'
In the banquet hall, Allen stood next to me, and in the end, he gave me a warning, not a warning, and asked me not to touch me.
Because even Diana cried and screamed, the children who were making fun of me radically changed their attitude and were busy looking at me. When I saw that, I felt bitter and thought that the strength of the force was so great.
But aside from that, I thought I had reconciled with Alan thanks to this incident, but was it all my fault?
"Oh, my God."
Lost in thought and absent-mindedly following Alan, I followed him into the dining room and was surprised to discover the King's Chocolate Fountain that I had seen in the garden.
“Eat.”
"Yes?"
“Eat this.”
I was blown away by the unexpectedness.
Like I said last time, does Allen enjoy the torture of being fed food?
But it was a very merciful punishment.
I was hungry because I hadn't eaten anything since I was preparing for the banquet in the morning, so I paid attention and grabbed a cookie and put it in the chocolate fountain.
The cookies were quickly filled with chocolate, creating beautiful curves.
I looked at it as if I was fascinated and quickly put it in my mouth while Allen stared at me. Then the heavy, smooth chocolate flavor spreads throughout.
It was so sweet that it made my head dizzy and I shivered.
After tasting the taste for a while, I opened my mouth, surprised by the constant stare.
"Fine, thank you . … ".
"Sorry."
"Yes?"
When I tilted my head at this unexpected remark, Allen's face contorted.
“I was angry with you last time.”
“All the times I was mean to you and said bad things to you, it was all my fault. When I see you, I always think about losing Diana, so I take out my anger on the things that weren’t your fault. I’m really sorry.”
". … decent ."
I was a little surprised by Allen's sincere apology.
Free from the influence of Valery's master, he was like Allen Ellard, the famous advocate for justice.
“It was a situation that could have easily been misunderstood, and moreover, it was a gift that the young master had chosen with the young miss in mind, and...”
I bit my lip slightly, then released it and spoke in a bright voice.
“Even if I were you, I would be worried if an orphan whose origin I don't know was suddenly stuck next to my precious little sister. I understand everything.”
“Hey, that's not why.”
“I was more than grateful, the one you introduced to me earlier.”
“It's normal! He behaved badly, I was unfair, now I...If I see a villain I will never tolerate him.”
Allen, who said those words, seemed to be holding back tears for some reason.
Feeling heavy due to the heavy atmosphere, I spoke lightly.
“As expected, you are handsome, but why do you look like that? Don’t frown on your beautiful face.”
Then Allen took a breath.
“Why do you say these things without feeling embarrassed?”
"Should I be ashamed? Oh that's right."
“Ha, that's right, I'm handsome.”
Allen confirmed, whose face was deep red.
I felt like laughing a little, but I barely caught it and nodded.
“Yes, you are handsome.”
“You are ugly.”
I complimented him at best, but this is rude.
He apologizes, but his rude tone seems to remain the same.
“Ugly.”
Allen smiled and spoke again.
Who doesn't know that I'm ugly?
Although Diana is told every day that she is beautiful, she knows everything!
I know, but I'm not in a good mood, so my expression naturally becomes sullen.
Allen burst out laughing when he saw that.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Even though I was busy all day, the end of the day was much better than I expected.
* * *
The year has changed.
Jack and I, whose exact dates of birth are not given, grow a year older each year, turning nine and Jack turning eleven, according to the orphanage method, and Allen turning eleven after his birthday party.
Meanwhile, preparations for the trip to the capital went smoothly, and I also had a great time with Diana.
One day, when I was living a quiet and peaceful life, the Duke suddenly called me.
Puzzled, she went to his office and unexpectedly found all the legislators of the duchy gathered there.
“Is this the child? The child who discovered the Splicea plant.”
A gray-haired woman asked, gently lifting her silver-rimmed glasses with her slender fingers.
It was Viscountess Bardot, physician to the Duchy of Elade.
As the head of the family of Viscount Bardot, who was famous for her medical skills in the empire, she was also a woman who succeeded in the family line by surpassing her brothers with his outstanding skills.
Although she became the Duke of Elade's physician instead of the imperial family due to the Emperor's hatred towards her because she was a woman, it was known that her skills could not be matched by anyone in the imperial palace.
'Of course, I had to resign from this position because she was unable to save the Duchess.'
However, she was a great person who was called a pioneer in herbal medicine through her research and publication of various herbs.
From her words, I understood why the Duke had reached out to me.
“I was worried that I wouldn't be able to identify it because it's a rare herb.”
It was a completely unnecessary worry.
This is because lawmakers appear to know the value of Splicia better than expected.
“Well, it's a legendary herb known to not only treat minor digestive ailments or infections, but it also creates the ultimate antidote.”
However, the books that recorded its effectiveness and appearance were so old and rare that there is not much information about it.
I willingly offered what I knew.
“Spliciam looks similar to a regular weed, but the stem and leaves are different. Can you see the hairs that look like thorns here? The veins in the leaves are spread out like a spider’s web. This is the biggest difference from weeds.”
“Oh, that's right!”
“I never thought I would see Splice in my life...”
“Wow, I think it would be good to cooperate with magicians and try cultivation research. Of course, it will take a lot of investment and time, but...”
“It would be foolish to leave such a precious herb alone!” the council members said to the Duke, their eyes shining.
Even Viscount Bardot, who had been quiet all the time, perhaps because he was a man of few words, looked at the Duke with a serious look.
The Duke looked at them indifferently and said: “Let the search begin.”
Then suddenly he spoke to me.
“You seem lucky, after all.”
"Yes?"
The lawmakers tilted their heads at the ridiculous talk, and I couldn't believe my ears.
“My wife said that, a fortune has come to our house, I also think you are a very lucky child.”
I froze at the Duke's words.
You just got a second life and suddenly overcame many problems easily.
'If I were a really lucky person, I wouldn't have faced such difficulties.'
But people seem to think differently.
Those who listened to the Duke said frankly: “Oh, that's right!” I even took care of her until she returned safely!” He nodded vigorously and looked at me with a heavy gleam in his eyes.
“Child, have you seen any other herbs?”
“Yes, if you know anything, please tell me.”
'I don't think learning medicine or pharmacy would be a bad idea at this point.'
Feeling embarrassed by the weary look, she took a step back.