Chapter 27. Knowing One Cannot Become Real

It was a day when everything seemed to be going smoothly.

“Miss, Miss.”

“Mmm.”

“How unusual for you to oversleep.”

Jane put down the food she had brought on the table and approached Rasiel, gently shaking her shoulder.

Rasiel, who always woke up early and appeared neat, had not risen until nearly noon today.

“Jane, I’m so sleepy.”

Rasiel mumbled while rubbing her eyes.

Jane shook Rasiel’s shoulder again and pulled back the heavy curtains that had been tightly drawn.

“Ugh.”

The sunlight streaming through the window struck Rasiel’s eyes directly.

Rasiel escaped under the blanket to avoid the sunlight that was stabbing at her eyelids.

“Miss, it’s almost noon already. You’ve already missed breakfast, and if you miss lunch too, I won’t be able to face the Duke.”

“What? What time did you say it is?”

Rasiel poked her face out from under the blanket and asked in a surprised tone.

“It’s 11:45 now.”

Jane’s tone was calm as she announced the time.

But Rasiel couldn’t take it calmly and was quite flustered.

And even more disconcerting than the current time was her physical condition.

‘I slept for over 12 hours? But why is my body like this? Is it because I rode a horse yesterday? But it’s not like it was my first time.’

For having slept over 12 hours, she felt too tired.

Rasiel had never experienced such heavy eyelids in her life, even though she hadn’t been beaten to make her eyes swell.

Her body felt as heavy as a water-soaked cotton, making it difficult to even lift an arm.

Even when she first experienced horseback riding, it wasn’t this bad, so she couldn’t understand why she felt so tired today.

But no matter how much she thought about it, horseback riding seemed to be the only cause for such fatigue.

“I think it must be because I went horseback riding yesterday. My whole body aches.”

“I think so too. You shouldn’t strain yourself. I’ll get you some medicine for muscle pain.”

“Yes, please do.”

Jane, remembering her own struggles when first learning to ride a horse, didn’t think much of Rasiel’s condition.

“But you enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I hope the day comes when I can gallop quickly like the Young Duke…… Ugh. I feel awful.”

Rasiel groaned as she struggled to get up.

She managed to sit up somehow, but her eyes kept closing, and her body had no strength at all.

The pain in her buttocks, inner thighs, and lower back became more distinct.

‘It really must be from horseback riding.’

She had a strong feeling that she would suffer for several days.

Since she couldn’t trouble many people by falling ill, Rasiel thought she should diligently take medicine.

“When you get better at riding, it will be more fun.”

“I suppose so? I’ll work hard to learn even though it’s difficult.”

Rasiel intended to speak with determination, but a yawn at the end of her sentence somewhat diluted her intention.

After wiping away the physiological tears that had flowed due to the yawn, Rasiel pondered how she could wake up from her sleepiness.

‘Should I pinch my thigh?’

Still concerned about worrying Jane, Rasiel discreetly slipped her hand under the blanket and pinched her thigh.

‘Huh? Why doesn’t it hurt much?’

Rasiel pinched harder once more.

But this time too, she didn’t feel much pain.

Sensing something strange, Rasiel tried to lift the blanket.

“Do you want to sleep more? But what should we do? I’d like to let you sleep more, but today that’s not possible.”

Jane, misunderstanding that Rasiel wanted to cover herself with the blanket and go back to sleep, held onto the blanket with a regretful expression.

As she did so, she felt reassured rather than annoyed or bothered by Rasiel’s unusual behavior that seemed almost like whining.

‘It seems she’s finally comfortable here.’

Jane had always felt sorry for Rasiel, who seemed to be constantly tense and trying not to make mistakes. So when she encountered this day where Rasiel was acting spoiled, her heart felt full and her eyes grew warm.

“Is something happening today?”

“Today is the death anniversary of the late Duke and Duchess, so I can’t give you more time to sleep, Miss.”

“Ah! That’s right. I forgot. I’ll get up. I’ll get up now.”

That one statement was more effective in waking her up than pinching her thigh.

Rasiel, who had been consumed by sleep, suddenly came to her senses and put strength into her eyelids. After blinking a few more times, her blurry vision cleared and came into focus.

After scanning the furniture with its warm ivory color and light blue tint, Rasiel felt inexplicably happy and laughed softly before getting out of bed.

“I’m not too late, am I? I should have woken up sooner.”

“It’s still fine. Let me help you.”

Rasiel moved energetically as usual, as if her earlier struggle against sleepiness had never happened.

“First, have your meal. Then I’ll help you wash up nicely.”

“Yes.”

As Rasiel sat down in front of the food, she heard a sound she hadn’t noticed until now.

At the growling sound, Rasiel felt embarrassed and quickly gulped down some milk.

Ever since hearing that drinking milk helps one grow taller, she had been very serious about milk.

Her goal was to grow as tall and slender as Michaela.

‘She looked really cool.’

Michaela, who stood at 178cm, was Rasiel’s object of admiration.

She looked so magnificent when walking with her long coat or dress fluttering with each step.

Especially when standing next to Rapellian, who was 187cm tall, it felt like looking at a painting.

Rasiel wanted to be like them.

A person who was big, broad, and tall in both body and heart.

She wanted to someday stand beside them and fit in splendidly, rather than remaining short and plain.

“You’ve heard about what will happen today, right?”

After confirming that Rasiel had started eating, Jane also drew back the curtains covering the door to the terrace, revealing the neatly arranged garden view.

“Yes. I also heard that many people will come.”

Rasiel put down her half-empty glass of milk and pierced a softly cooked omelet with her fork.

“Let me explain it once more. Please listen while you eat.”

Rasiel nodded vigorously and moved her jaw diligently.

“Today marks the 50th anniversary of the late Duke and Duchess’s passing.”

About 50 years ago.

A serious plague swept through the southern part of Aserion.

At that time, the Duke and Duchess of Mosteros, who were living in the south for their young twins, did everything in their power to protect the people of their territory and prevent the plague from spreading throughout the country.

Thanks to their efforts, they were able to prevent the plague from spreading nationwide, but the Empire had to lose excellent leaders, exemplary nobles, and outstanding talents.

“The Duchess passed away first, and exactly one week later, the Duke also passed away. It was the night of the day when the Duchess’s funeral was completed.”

“I heard that His Grace was also in very poor health.”

“That’s right. It seems he forcibly continued living just to bid farewell to his beloved. In his will, the Duke said that he was as good as dead along with his wife, so if anyone wanted to commemorate the day, they should do so on the same day.”

“So today is the 50th anniversary of both their deaths?”

“Yes. You remember well.”

As Rasiel’s fork remained still while listening to the story, Jane speared a sausage for her instead.

Rasiel thanked her with her eyes and accepted the sausage as she spoke.

“I remember that I should be careful with my words and actions since it’s a sad day for the four of them.”

“And only direct descendants of the ducal family can enter the shrine behind the main building. Since it’s the 50th anniversary today, collateral relatives might be permitted as well.”

“Yes. I won’t go there.”

Since Rasiel already knew this from previous explanations, she pushed the sausage into her mouth and nodded her head vigorously.

“I think they might introduce you at the memorial banquet. So even though you can’t enter the shrine……”

Rasiel waved both hands before Jane could finish speaking.

“I won’t feel left out. I absolutely won’t think that way. You don’t need to worry.”

“Our Miss is so mature.”

How could she feel left out over something like that?

Rasiel was always aware.

No matter how much she lived in the ducal residence and everyone treated her preciously, she could never truly become like a real noble young lady.

Not only that, but she also reminded herself several times a day that she should never become arrogant or act impudently just because the ducal family treated her well.

‘I can’t cause trouble for the ducal family by behaving improperly.’

Rasiel once again resolved to know her place and act properly.

Therefore, Rasiel couldn’t possibly feel disappointed about such matters.

Rather, she was more concerned that the four kind siblings of the Mosteros ducal family might feel sorry for her, even though she truly didn’t mind.

“I’m worried that the four of them might feel bad for me when they shouldn’t have to worry about me.”

“I’m sure the four of them already understand your feelings, Miss.”

Rasiel felt somewhat relieved by Jane’s words.

Wondering if there was anything she could help with, Rasiel quickly continued her meal.

Despite the slightly different start to the day, she finished her meal safely without any unusual problems.

Afterward, given the significance of the day, Rasiel washed and dressed herself with more care than usual.

Except for the difficulty in waking up and putting more effort into her appearance than usual, it was the beginning of an ordinary day.

Perhaps that’s why it wasn’t easy to notice Rasiel’s subtle changes.

⁕⁕⁕

“Is there anything I can help with?”

Rasiel, dressed in a white dress, came down to the kitchen and asked.

According to Mosteros tradition, direct descendants had to personally take care of all aspects of the ceremony on their parents’ death anniversary.

Everything from the flowers to be used in the ceremony to the food.

Rasiel knew this from what she had heard, but she asked just in case.

Michaela, who was carrying a jar of alcohol for the ceremony, smiled brightly at Rasiel, who was dressed like an angel descended to earth.

“Thank you for your concern. But you just need to be comfortable.”

Following Michaela, Rapellian and the twins also came out.

They too were carrying dishes they had prepared or items needed for the ceremony.

Rasiel obediently nodded and moved away from the kitchen.

It was much better than hanging around and causing an accident.

“Rasiel, I’ll call you at the appropriate time, so read a book in the meantime. I’ve bought a book for you in my office. It should be on the right side of the desk.”

Rapellian, who was about to head to the shrine, turned back and spoke.

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

At her immediate response, Rapellian brushed the hair near Rasiel’s ear and headed to the shrine.

Rasiel, who had been watching him intently, felt more regretful about not being able to help on such a day than about not being able to enter the shrine.

‘I wish I could be of some help to them……”

But no matter how regretful she felt, there was nothing she could do.

After all, she was neither a direct nor a collateral descendant of the Mosteros family.

Rasiel quietly went up to Rapellian’s office and opened the book he had mentioned.

While she was immersed in reading, it happened.

The telephone on Rapellian’s desk rang loudly.

Rasiel hesitated for a moment before picking up the receiver.

“Hello.”

Rasiel awkwardly began.

“Rasiel?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you…… Ah, the butler must be busy greeting guests.”

“Should I bring the butler?”

“No. This is actually perfect. You can bring it in. Riello says he left a candlestick in his room. Bring it to the shrine.”

“The shrine?”

“Yes. You know the location, right?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Rasiel, who had momentarily been dazed at being told to come to the shrine, quickly answered and hurriedly ran out.

A smile of immense joy was on her face.