𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑: 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
I vividly remember the events that unfolded on the second week of the month Mutsuki, in the sacred calendar year of 1880, on the day of the Fire Eating Bird.
It was in the early morning when the chickens I raised in the yard went on a rampage in the chicken coop, preventing the collection of eggs.
This is the story of the first day in my life when there were no egg dishes for breakfast.
If time is really rewinding, there should be no egg dishes on the table today.
With a thumping heart, I head towards the dining hall.
As I look at the table—―my heart beats wildly. On the expansive table, there was no boiled egg, which is usually always there.
Perhaps noticing my probing gaze, the butler apologized.
ㅤ
“I’m sorry, Graciela-ojousama. The chickens caused a commotion in the coop this morning, and we couldn’t collect any eggs. . . . . .”
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As I thought, it seems my life is rewinding in time.
With an unsettled heart, I have breakfast.
With just a slice of orange, my heart felt full.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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I don’t have time. To avoid a bleak future, I need to take action as soon as possible.
First, I need to get a jump on the status and wealth of the Duke Mendoza family.
At present, I have been entrusted with the affairs of the Duke Mendoza family. However, matters concerning rights cannot be handled without going through my father.
Even though they say his condition is stable, he is essentially bedridden all day.
It’s a disease that can’t be taken lightly.
It would be best not to postpone my discussion with my father.
I had heard from the butler that he was unusually well today, so I decided to talk to him.
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“Otou-sama, you look well today.”
“Yes, indeed. I may be close to a full recovery.”
“That’s good to hear.”
ㅤ
He doesn’t seem to have the energy to get up, but he seems well enough to have a conversation.
If I were the me before time rewound, I would have ended the conversation with a sigh of relief.
I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
Even though I had only sat in the chair placed next to his bed, my father seemed to sense that I was not there just to check on him.
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“Graciela, what brings you here in such a formal manner today?”
“Actually, Otou-sama, I have a few ‘requests’ for you.”
“Is that so? Let’s fulfill them all.”
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So far, I don’t remember asking my father for anything. If there was, it would have been something small like wanting to drink tea together or wanting to go out with Florenci.
Perhaps that’s why my father agreed without asking what I was going to ask.
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My father can be strict, but he always puts his family first.
If only he had been alive, we wouldn’t have had to go through such nightmare days.
No matter how much we mourn, his disease is slowly consuming him.
Before everything is taken away, I have to protect what is important.
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I straighten my spine and adjust my posture.
I take a deep breath and make my request to my father.
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“Can you freeze the status and wealth of the Duke Mendoza family until Florenci comes of age, and entrust them to His Majesty the King?”
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Currently, my father is unable to work. I have taken control of the Duke family and handle decisions and other matters.
These tasks were supposed to be handled by Anthony, my fiancé, after our marriage.
Before time rewound, after my father’s death, the Duke family was taken over by my Uncle Gael, Anthony had an affair with my cousin Sonia, and betrayed me.
What attracted all this misfortune was the status and wealth of the Duke Mendoza family.
For now, I want to entrust them to His Majesty the King and prevent them from being misused.
If I freeze them now, my father will also have to give up his Duke position.
It may be an unpleasant conversation, but I want it to come true by any means.
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My father widened his eyes, looking at me with an expression of disbelief.
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“If we freeze the Duke family’s assets, it will be difficult to continue living as we have been. How do you plan to handle this?”
“For a while, I intend to live off the gift given by Otou-sama while he was alive, breaking down the pre-mortem bestowal.”
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My father has left me enough wealth to live for a few years, just in case. This is my personal money and even if the assets of the Duke Mendoza family are frozen, it will not be taken away.
Suddenly, I remember. This money was taken away by my uncle for funeral expenses and to recover the declining Duke family before time rewound.
Funerals don’t cost that much, and the Duke family wasn’t declining in the first place. Maybe my judgment was clouded in the face of my father’s death. I won’t make such a mistake this time.
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By the way, Florenci’s educational expenses are secured as his personal assets. We’ll need to instill knowledge and culture into him to provide him with the best teachers and successor training.
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“When Florenci has grown to some extent, I intend to stand on my own by serving as a maid or tutor.”
“Graciela, why would you want to do that?”
“From now on, it would be impossible for me to continue to exist as Duke’s proxy.”
“In that case, it would be better to hurry up the marriage with Anthony.”
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At Anthony’s request, we had agreed to marry once my father’s condition improved further.
Looking back on it now, it seems strange to postpone the marriage for that reason.
We’re in a situation where we need to get married as soon as possible and support the Duke’s family hand in hand.
Anthony may have been waiting for my father to die.
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“Otou-sama, I would like to break off my engagement with Anthony.”
“That’s not possible. After all, he is the man I had been teaching knowledge for the purpose of becoming your husband!”
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I shake my head and tell him that it is impossible for me to marry him.
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“If the Duke’s position and assets are to be frozen, there would be no point in marrying him.”
“But, Anthony said that he truly loves you.”
“There can be no love in a noble’s marriage.”
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Even if there was, what Anthony loves is the naive me who is the daughter of Duke Mendoza. I can say with confidence that he wouldn’t even glance at me if I didn’t have anything.
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“In that case, please ask Anthony in a letter once. Along with the news of the freeze of the Duke Mendoza family’s position and assets.”
“Do we need to go that far for that? If it’s difficult to continue working, I would ask my younger brother. . . . . .your uncle Gael to help.”
“That’s not possible. What do you intend to do if, by any chance, Uncle takes over the Duke’s house?”
“Graciela, Gael is not that kind of man. He’s always been a kind and gentle uncle, hasn’t he?”
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Uncle plays the part of a good brother in front of my father and behaves like a harmless man.
In reality, he is a villain who is eyeing the position and assets of the Duke Mendoza family.
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My father has lived in a privileged environment as the heir to the Duke Mendoza family.
He wouldn’t understand the pain and hatred of my uncle who was raised as a backup.
Of course, I had no intention of complaining about these things to my father.
Here, I decide to appeal to my father’s emotions.
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I blink my eyes, which have not blinked even once up until now.
Then, tears start to fall.
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“Do you believe in Uncle more than me, Otou-sama?”
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The tears fell nicely.
Father is visibly flustered, which is easy to understand.
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“Except for Otou-sama and Florenci, I don’t trust anyone. In such a situation, Otou-sama is lying ill and I’m worried, worrying that the Duke Mendoza family, which I have protected with my thin arms, might be taken away by someone.”
“yes, yes, that’s right. You’ve done a great job so far. I’m sorry for my incompetence.”
“No, Otou-sama, you’re not at fault!”
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Since my tears are about to stop, I cover my face with both hands and shake my shoulders.
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“I understand! Everything will be done as you wish!”
“Otou-sama, really?!”
“Yes, I don’t lie!!”
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There is one more thing I asked my father for.
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“I would like to receive His Majesty the King’s endorsement.”
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That is what my uncle declared to me when he was about to take over the Duke Mendoza family.
Now, I want to have it.
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“I will make sure to ask His Majesty the King.”
“Otou-sama, thank you.”
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After pretending to wipe my tears, I hug my father.
This way, it seems possible to protect the position and assets of the Duke Mendoza family.
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