Chapter 42

“…… really look like beggars.”

I laughed feebly at the memory of the past. I thought to myself, is there anyone else who has lived a worse life than I have, maybe the “fake eunuch” will be in a better position now.

“Forget it, don’t reminisce.”

I sat up from the bed with a start. The more times like this, the more important it is to move your body. Even if it’s just to stay still, one can only dwell on melancholy thoughts. I took out a shawl and walked out of the room for a walk.

I was about to walk down the stairs through the hallway.

“Miss.”

The favor met up with the butler who was coming down from upstairs. Surprised, he asked, “Where are you going?”

“Outdoors.”

“Going to view the fireworks on East Mountain?”

“…… Dongsan?”

The rhetorical question immediately got me up on where that place was. It was the hill that I had descended alone not long ago after being taken away by Derrick. Penelope went out to watch the fireworks on the last day of the celebration every year.

I finally realized why the Duke would ask such a question at the dinner table.

“No.”

Just shook my head; I didn’t have the kind of romantic leisure to watch it.

“What is it for this time?”

“Trouble.”

The butler looked embarrassed. Since last year, my attitude has started to be different, and it might be awkward.

But it doesn’t matter. The wicked girl was already temperamental.

“In honor of the victory, it’s rumored that the end day of this celebration will be much grander than last year’s ……”

“The fireworks should all be there.” I don’t know why the butler insists on saying such things to me. He was also at the lunch table earlier, so it was hard to face it.

“Then it’s been hard.”

I immediately swept past him.

“Penelope-sama.”

However, because the anxious voice followed me, I didn’t make it down the stairs.

“Why?”

I stopped and looked back. The old butler was silent for a moment. It was hard to speak, “Because of the Lord Duke’s order to come and organize the attic. I came to tell the young lady about it.”

“Me?”

I was surprised why I had to convey such words to the butler. The passageway to the attic was at the end of the corridor on the third floor, and I had never been there.

“Why?”

“Didn’t …… you go there often when you were a child? The first time you came to the Duke’s mansion, you also watched the fireworks party in the attic.”

“Lord Duke probably remembers this incident as well. That’s why he ordered me to clean the attic immediately ……”

“Say what you have to say at once, steward.”

I was taken aback and interrupted with a sneer.

“All this time, I couldn’t go up there even if I wanted to. The third floor is closed because someone tried to make it inconvenient for me to go up there. I haven’t even been near the attic.”

He went quiet. I wouldn’t have been so aggressive if it was normal. The butler favors bad times like this. For, he happened to stumble upon the present overlapping marvelously with the past, and was on his way to quell his anger at me.

I pointedly pointed out that a deep frown appeared on the butler’s forehead.

“…… Mrs. Donna was dismissed immediately, Miss.”

His face grayed and he spoke carefully.

“The Duke was furious and thrown out penniless without even a pension.”

“With the credit of having worked for the Duke’s family for a long time and the family to which she belonged, but then again, because she was a deceased member of the Viscount’s family, she couldn’t be punished.” The unexpected news caused me to round my eyes and stare blankly at the butler.

He said calmly, “But since Young Master Derrick personally burned the employment contract and recommendation letter, she can no longer find a job in a noble family.”

“So? Should I celebrate?”

I was surprised and asked back in an icy tone.

Though a little surprised, that wasn’t something to be happy about. That would solve the problem right away, so why didn’t you take any measures last time?

“What measures. Emily said how many years she’d been working and threatened me with a quiet life.”

The memory of Derrick at that time made his already bad mood even lower.

“There’s no need to convey them all to me. It’s not like it’s my problem to manage anyway.”

“Because of what happened during the day, the Duke was also upset. Miss didn’t end up eating properly, so it seems like she’s been very concerned.”

I forced myself to hold back the words that welled up in my throat, barely lifting the corners of my mouth.

“Will father feel better in his heart if he goes down to eat now?”

“Miss ……”

At that moment.

“What happened today was my fault.”

The butler bent deeply and lowered his head, and I stared wide-eyed.

“All this time I’ve been using busyness as an excuse to not take care of miss with sincerity. I have made a big mistake. I’ll gladly accept any additional punishment if it’s given to me.”

“But, can the young lady …… accept the Duke-sama’s sincerity?”

I glanced at the butler who was bowing his head in front of me and pleading for mercy.

“Leaving the restaurant like that just now, the duke was agonizing over how to salvage the young lady’s broken heart, and he even thought about the things the young lady liked as a child.”

“Don’t you know very well, revoking the Duke’s order is rare.”

The butler’s words were true. It had been six years since the little commotion that had occurred shortly after Penelope’s adoption had locked all the doors on the third floor, barring access.

But now it was being withdrawn again. It seemed the abused adopted daughter had hit him on all fronts.

The butler looked at the silent me as if he thought there was hope and bowed more deeply.

This old man himself opened the closed third floor and organized the attic in good faith.

“So please relax, miss.”

I didn’t answer and looked at the butler with an expressionless face.

If it wasn’t me who was here right now, but Penelope, she would have been happy.

The person who led the bullying was fired, and there was a lot of concern from the family. The housekeeper, who was usually distant and cold, would personally organize the attic, how satisfying this situation was.

But ……

“Late.”

I am not Penelope.

Not once before I entered this body. If that was the case, this stupid, pathetic girl, unlike me, would have forgiven them.

“It’s already late.”

A glance reveals the dilated pupils of the butler’s distorted face reflected in the messy window.

“Ah, Miss ……?”

Alarmed, he lifted his back completely.

Yes. How could I ignore my father’s sincerity?

I instantly sank my face.

It happens to be the way out for a walk, haven’t been there in a while.

Then, without knowing when the sad expression showed, I unconsciously changed back to the original arrogant Penelope.

“Take me to the attic.”

The third floor didn’t seem to be completely open. Taking a look through the corridor, a huge door was cuffed together and locked tightly.

That was the heroine’s room, I think.

Penelope’s room was also quite nice. But judging by the size of the door, there was a big difference. It wasn’t because of a bad mood or sadness. How could a true daughter and an adopted daughter be treated the same.

“Know the difference.”

As I passed the front, the butler glanced at me from behind. Of course I didn’t show any expression.

A small door at the end of the third floor corridor opened and a linear step appeared. Although it looked like a turret (Turret) set up for intruders, it was probably because it hadn’t been used for a long time and was poorly managed compared to the rest of the place.

“Look ahead and be careful, kid.”

The butler goes up first and turns back to watch out for me. I lifted my skirts and carefully climbed the stairs.

Old and narrow, the attic at the top of the stone tower.

“Definitely a secret place that children like.”

Climbing up the spiral staircase that I couldn’t see the end of, after a while, I finally reached the head and an old door appeared.

The butler skillfully opened it and stepped inside. Honestly, I, who was following closely behind, had no expectations.

Even if it’s said to be an attic, it’s just a warehouse-like place roughly tidied up.

“Oh.”

But when I actually entered, I found that it was unexpectedly nice. Like a small study, one side of the attic was stacked with books, while the other side held cozy sitting furniture and a fireplace.

Right in the center was a large, round window. A cool breeze blew through the open crack. The bridge of my nose tickled a little.

“How do you like it, miss?”

The butler asked with satisfaction as he looked around at the way I was surrounded. I answered obediently.

“It’s okay.”

“Can I get you some refreshments?”

“Never mind. I want to stay here until late.”

“Of course. The Duke has given permission to use it to your heart’s content.”

I was satisfied with that. I relaxed a bit and said in a gentle voice.

“Thank you for showing me the way, steward.”

“No words. Then you rest well, my lady.”

The butler bowed low to me. Then walked down to the attic. I looked around the silent interior and slowly made my way inside.

“…… Penelope comes up often.” Quiet, lonely. Having just been adopted as the Duke’s child, it was just right to be hidden away by a hated child for some reason.

I reached the large open window. Then quietly looked out. The Duke’s grounds are huge. Also, unlike the streets of the city center that I saw when I followed Derrick up the hill not too long ago. On the contrary, because there were no tall buildings that could block the view, it was possible to see the boundless sky.

Out of reach.

I put down the cowhide case with the blanket and sat on the floor in front of the window. Without realizing it the sun had set. Was looking at the spot on the horizon that tumbled with a reddish haze.

Crunch–

Suddenly a voice came from behind.

“What.”