Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

“This is the study, and the next room…” 

Eileen glanced around the manor as Lucian’s explanation was rushed. Theresia wanted to bring the children closer together, so she asked Lucian to show them around.

 “And these are your rooms, Cordelia, on the left, and Eileen, on the right.” “Uh-oh.” 

Even Cordelia, who’d been following Lucian around with a grumpy expression on her face, was dazzled by the beauty of the room.

 

White lace curtains, bright, colorful furniture, and a canopy of beads. It felt like something out of a fairy tale.

 

‘Wow,’

she thought,

‘in the original, it was just a drab, neutral-colored room with blackout curtains that didn’t distinguish between day and night.’

 “Do you like it? This is the room that my mistress decorated for you two.” 

Oslo, the butler, who had been following them silently, said with a faint smile.

 “Yes, I like it.” 

She meant it. Because unlike the original, the bright room slowly melted Eileen’s anxiety.

 

‘This won’t make Cordelia unhappy at the Duchess, will it?’

 

As long as Theresia was there, she was certain that life would continue to be easy for the time being, though she didn’t know how much time she had left.

 “I chose this doll, they said it was the softest.” 

Lucian said, showing her the large stuffed rabbit at the head of the bed. His eyes twinkled as he gauged Eileen and Cordelia’s reactions.

 

Eileen preferred a more practical gift than a stuffed animal, but she wasn’t so harsh as to hide her disappointment.

 “Wow, that’s cute.” “Isn’t it?” 

Lucian wrinkled his nose at Eileen’s mechanical response. Out of the corner of his emerald eyes, she recognized Theresia.

 

For a moment, she could see why the original Duke had refused to look at Lucian.

 

‘Not that I understand child neglect, though.’

 

Thank goodness it was a future that was now gone.

  

* * *

  “It will soon be time to dine, so I will escort you to the dining room.” 

After touring the room, they followed Oslo down the hall to the dining room. The Duke and Duchess were already seated.

 “Little ladies. Do you like the room?” “Yes, it’s very pretty, thank you.” “It’s next door to Eileen’s.” 

Theresia smiled fondly and waved lightly.

 “I’m glad. I hope you like the food, too. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I’ve prepared a variety.” “Wow.” 

The table was a sight to behold. Meats cooked to perfection, fresh salads, soups with white fish fillets and glistening sauces, white round bread, cheeses that looked soft at first glance. Fresh salads and fresh fruit.

 

‘I think I’ve seen less food than this in my entire life.’

 

Eileen sits down awkwardly, and Oslo comes over and pours her a full cup. The sweet aroma wafted to her nose, like milk with honey.

 

She took a sip and realized that the sweetness was accompanied by a soft acacia flavor.

 

‘Honeyed milk was for special occasions.’

 

Eileen thought of the children who would remain at the orphanage. She hoped they were well fed, given the amount of money they’d been given.

 

She glanced over to see that Cordelia was already happily stuffing her face with everything she could get her hands on. The sight of her chubby cheeks made Eileen’s heart smile.

 “Mmm.” 

Cordelia let out a small gasp afterward. It was barely audible to Eileen’s ears, sitting right next to her.

 

Eileen studied Cordelia’s complexion. A fork scraped wistfully at the plate of thinly sliced pork roast.

 “That’s so good, mmmmm.” 

Without hesitation, as she often did at the orphanage, Eileen picked up her own plate and handed it to Cordelia.

 

It was a shame, because it was just as good for her, but she was more interested in eating it than she was.

 “Ah! Eileen, I’m fine!” “This is so good, eat it all.” 

It was a sweet gesture of camaraderie, but there was a hint of annoyance in Theresia’s gaze as she watched. She called for the cook to bring them all over.

 “Eileen.” 

Theresia spoke to Eileen, who stared bewilderedly at the mountain of refilled meat. Her tone was friendly, but calm and firm.

 “You don’t have to give up your share, Gaudium will give you as much as you want now, and you can have all that is yours.” 

Eileen didn’t answer right away. More than that, she didn’t know what to say. From her previous life, she had always had to make

concessions.

 

“You’re the oldest. How long are you going to act like a child, taking after your father and being greedy?”

 

It’s not that she wants to be greedy. It’s just that she instinctively realized that the only way she would get any affection was if she didn’t.

 

Even though she was reborn, she still had the memories of her previous life, so all her habits were inherited. None of the adults were angry at her for no longer giving in, but Eileen simply took care of the children, paid her share, and watched over them.

 

She just did.

 

Because it was rewarding and a joy to do so, because it felt right to give what was hers and be a good person, and it was her own sincerity and love.

 “It’s okay not to give in.” 

The words were so hard, she couldn’t answer.

  

* * *

  

Theresia sat by the study window, her gaze fixed out the window, sipping her tea. Wiping the ink from her hands, the Duke rose to his feet and realized that Eileen and Cordelia had caught her gaze. The three of them were having a little tea with Lucian.

 “They’ve been here for about two weeks now, and you like them so much?” “I always said I wanted a daughter.” 

Theresia set down the teacup she was holding. The saucer of refreshments in front of her hadn’t been emptied at all.

 “…I heard you barely ate breakfast, why don’t you eat some?” “Isn’t this what it’s like to be full just watching kids eat?” 

Shrugging off the Duke’s concern playfully, Theresia turned the conversation around.

 “I snuck up to their room at dawn last night to see how they were sleeping and if they had settled in. But I found them sleeping together in the same room.” 

The Duke’s one eyebrow rose and fell a little.

 “Isn’t that cute? I could have given them a big, pretty room and they’d still be sleeping right next to each other, but when I got a little closer, they both woke up. If it was Lucian, I wouldn’t have recognized him.” 

Theresia rose to her feet, and the Duke followed her. They walked the halls of the manor for a while.

 “Perhaps it was because this place was not yet a place they could trust, but now that I see it…” 

Her gaze fell on the manicured flowering vines outside the window. The Duke watched silently as emotion filled her eyes.

 “When I see those little things take notice, I can’t help but think of the time I was trapped in that cottage.” “…….” 

He wordlessly wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed. Theresia smiled a small smile at the crude but sure comfort.

 “I got out of there and gained so much, you too. Lucian too. So you should thank them for not letting you lose any more.” “I am.” “Above all, it’s sad to see a child grow up too soon.” 

A small white bird took flight from the vines.

 “Especially Eileen, I can’t help but feel sorry for her, because she’s like me so much. She’s the one I’ve always wanted in my lonely place. I want to be like that.” 

The wind drove the petals to the spot where the bird had left them. The Duke gently placed his arm around Theresia’s shoulders and kissed her forehead.

 “As you wish.” 

What would have happened to Lucian without Eileen and Cordelia. What would have happened to Theresa in the aftermath, the duke didn’t want to imagine.

 

Just as they had escaped misfortune because of the children, he wanted to repay them with the greatest good fortune possible.

 “And a mansion full of children is good.” 

The Duke nodded in agreement with her cheerful remark. It was true that the presence of children in the mansion had changed the mood after Theresia’s long illness.

 “Good! How about we all go on a picnic tomorrow?” “That wouldn’t be a bad idea.” 

It was a beautiful day, and they hoped it would stay that way tomorrow.

  

* * *

  

Eileen and Cordelia had been at the duke’s estate for three days now. As they were still adjusting, they were given little training.

 

The only regular schedule was the daily tea time. It was a time of selflessness for Theresia, who wanted Lucian and the children to feel like siblings.

 

Today, as usual, the children’s tea table was set. Lucian dipped his fork into a beautifully decorated bite-sized cake and shyly offered it to Eileen.

 “Here, Eileen, try this. It’s drizzled with chocolate and it’s so good!” 

The retriever’s ears and wagging tail briefly flickered across her smiling face like an illusion.

 

Lucian, who had been saved from certain death, was quite impressed, but he couldn’t help but look at Eileen and wish he could do something for her.

 

‘Actually, it was Cordelia who actually saved you from the demon.’

 

Eileen was about to pick up her fork when she realized that.

 “Ugh.” “You!” 

Cordelia intercepted the cake with her winged mouth.

hen Lucian, who was now the one who had fed Cordelia the cake, demanded to know what she was doing, Cordelia shrugged.

 “I was afraid you’d give Eileen something bad, so I went over there. Well, it’s good.” “Of course it’s delicious!” 

Eileen watched them bicker, her eyes a little salty. Life at the manor had been far more blissful than she’d expected, but tea time with two nine- and ten-year-olds was quite a drain on her energy.

 “You two really need to get a grip.” 

Sighing heavily, Eileen took a small bite of the walnut pie, which, as expected, had an extraordinary flavor. As she savored the flavor, Eileen glanced at Cordelia and Lucian.

 

‘At least Cordelia has brightened up a lot.’

 

Compared to when they’d first met, Cordelia was now able to speak with equal assertiveness and look someone in the eye. Eileen was glad to see her brighten up, as she wouldn’t have had anyone to talk to in the original.

 

‘Strangely enough, she still won’t sleep alone, but that’s good, I’m going to mold her into a steel mind so she won’t have any room to run wild.’

 “Eileen, you look weird.” 

Feeling cheap, Cordelia looked at Eileen suspiciously, and she shrugged cheerfully.

 “It’s just that the walnut pie is delicious.” “That’s so good, isn’t it! It’s my favorite treat too!” 

Eileen had given up a little on trying to understand Lucian, who was still wagging his tail.

 

‘Well, he seems harmless enough, so I guess it’s okay. Now it’s the other lords, how can I avoid meeting them?’

 

The future of the original was not seen again for a while after saving Lucian. It bothered Eileen that she couldn’t see how the other ruined route would begin.

 

As she pondered the future through narrowed eyes, Oslo, the butler, opened the door and entered.

 “If you’ll excuse me, Miss Eileen,”

he said,

”but I understand that the Elementalism teacher has finally been found.” 

Oh, right. She said I was also an Elementalist.

 

Eileen’s expression stiffened. Honestly, she hadn’t even seen the

‘zhing’

in elemental since that incident, so she couldn’t help but doubt the words around her that she was an elementalist.

 

‘How can you take Elementalism classes if you can’t even manipulate spirits like Cordelia?’

 

Oslo must have read the trepidation on Eileen’s face, because he chuckled embarrassedly.

 “I don’t think you need to worry about that. She graduated with honors from the Imperial Academy, and she happens to be a water elemental like Miss Cordelia.” 

A flash of realization flashed before her eyes.

 

‘Oh, crazy wait.’

 

With a long-overdue sense of déjà vu, Eileen was sucked back into the future of the original story.

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