The Return of Lilietta

Episode 10

“I’m just so grateful for your presence!”

The image of Hannah sobbing over the smiling butler overlaps. The matchbox that Leonhard had offered comes to mind.

‘The disappearance of Lilietta… was a much more desperate and serious matter than I thought. To these people.’

Rita bit her lip with complicated emotions.

I really wish it was Lilietta.

If it were true that they were the child they longed for so desperately that they were grateful for his or her mere existence, then they wouldn’t have to feel this strange feeling.

I could be purely happy and relieved.

‘But I don’t remember anything. If I blindly believe and the truth appears, I… … .’

It feels weird to make a vow in Lilietta’s name, even though it’s not Lilietta.

Everything feels unfamiliar to Lilietta and she feels uneasy because she can’t remember anything.

I feel frustrated and scared. I want to be sure of one thing or another.

Alfred spoke to her, who was licking her lips.

“I don’t know, but there are a few servants who remember the young lady from her childhood. Shall I call them?”

“… … Yes, please.”

She added after washing her face dry.

“And… … can I take a tour of the mansion with them? Lilietta… … to places I remember from my childhood.”

“Of course.”

Alfred answered with a bright face, as if he was expecting her to regain her memories.

Afterwards, Rita met the gardener and maid who had worked at the mansion since Lilietta was young, and together they walked around the Duke of Laskail’s mansion until late at night.

Because of the faint scent of patchouli, she couldn’t wear Lilietta’s dress, so she wore a plain one-piece dress that the butler hurriedly brought her.

The mansion, rising above the birch forest, was several times larger than she had imagined. She could see why it was called the Birch Castle rather than just a mansion.

So it took a long time just to look at the places Lilietta liked or visited often. It was also because she stayed in one place for a long time, hoping to find a familiar feeling or to recall a memory.

Leonhard, who had finished his work, heard that Rita was walking around the mansion, so he didn’t look for her. He also desperately hoped that she would remember something.

Since she couldn’t check everything in one day, Rita went around with the same people the next day, and the day after that.

In particular, I spent almost half a day in Lilietta’s room. Since the princess disappeared ten years ago, it had been preserved in its original condition without any changes, so I couldn’t bring myself to go in and just glanced at it from outside.

Hannah, who was supposed to be her personal maid, hadn’t been seen for three days, but that was understandable. It would have been more surprising if she had done something like that and come back as if nothing had happened.

‘It wouldn’t be strange if you continued to avoid me from now on.’

Instead of going out of her way to find Hannah, Rita simply apologized through Leonhard.

There has been no news from Richard since then either. The butler only speculated that he had left the castle again and gone to a tavern.

On the third night after thoroughly exploring the birch castle, she returned to her room, exhausted.

‘This body… … is in poor physical condition.’

She was so tired that she wanted to fall asleep right away, but her head was spinning and she couldn’t fall asleep. Rita staggered over to the window.

Through the clear glass window, she can see the starry night sky. It is a sight she could not see in the world she grew up in.

I looked up at the sky as if in a trance and thought back on the stories I had heard over the past three days.

“Miss Lilietta was a frail and often ill person, but she always smiled. She spoke so beautifully that she was very kind to an old gardener like me.”

“He called the scars I got from gardening the badges of flowers and trees and held my muddy hands. He even gave me the nickname of the Knight of Flowers and Trees… … .”

“When the little lord fought with the older lord and was locked in a corner of the garden, Lady Lilietta would miraculously find him. When she intervened, the two would back down and quickly reconcile.”

“Yes, Miss Lilietta was as lovely as an angel and a ray of sunshine. Thanks to her, the whole mansion was brightened.”

“To be honest, before Miss Lilietta was born, the Birch Castle was a very solemn and quiet place. Even young Master Richard would grumble about how stuffy it was.”

“Everyone has been smiling a lot since the young lady was born. Especially the Duke.”

“The lady once scolded the duke. She said that since Lili was born, you have lost all your dignity and become a fool and laugh like one. The lady who said that was also smiling broadly at the young lady who was approaching her… … .”

I’ve heard a lot of stories not only about Lilietta, but also about the Raskayl family.

“The Duke is not at the Birch Castle. He left for the capital early this morning. Yes? He is not avoiding you, is he? It is impossible… … Something urgent must have come up.”

“The Duke doesn’t usually stay at the mansion. He usually stays at the Cream Dome, the town house in Laskail in the capital… … Yes, I think it’s the same reason why you only stay at the annex.”

“So, in fact, the Birch Castle is managed by the Duke.”

“Your Majesty, your marriage has been delayed for quite some time. You should have gotten married sooner, but the atmosphere at home… … Now that I think about it, you might finally get married. Since your Highness has returned safely!”

“The young master was originally a man who kept good manners. He was also ascetic, after all, because he was a knight. The reason he didn’t lose his divine powers even while drinking so much alcohol is probably because he was still faithful inside.”

“He was originally a promising talent in the Knights Templar… … In fact, it’s a miracle that he hasn’t been excommunicated. The Duke must be having a hard time dealing with things in many ways.”

“Madam, you rarely show yourself. You’ve lost a lot of… … energy. There was even an incident where a new maid fainted after seeing you and said you were a ghost. But you’re always so kind, so it’s even more unfortunate… … that you can’t smile anymore.”

In contrast to the grander and more extravagant mansion she had expected, Lilietta’s family was more precarious and gloomy than she had expected.

‘Leonhard seemed okay. Oh, so that’s why he’s the only one seeing me.’

And even after hearing all these stories and wandering around the Birch Castle, Rita couldn’t remember anything.

She had gone through all the places left today, and there was nowhere left to look. She had checked everything except the lakeside of the birch forest where she had first arrived in this world.

‘Even if you’ve lost your memory, shouldn’t you be able to recall something at this point? It should at least feel familiar.’

Everything was unfamiliar. The place, the story, the people.

Moreover, the Lilietta who remains in everyone’s memories was as splendid and lovely as a fairy. It doesn’t seem like her at all.

Are you really Lilietta?

‘Leonhard may have misunderstood something. The oath in Lilietta’s name may have been based on her body.’

If Ollie were here, she would be able to tell us exactly why the oath was made that way. Rita, not being a wizard, only knew how to make oaths, but not the specific rules and structure.

She stared at the matchbox that Leonhard had not returned, then nervously ran her hand through her hair.

‘At this point, I’ve done my best. I’ve thoroughly considered the possibilities, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not true.’

Now, rather than clinging to the illusion that she might be Lilietta, it would be better for her to return this body to the real Lilietta as Rita Pascal and find a way to return home.

‘Everyone misses Lilietta so much… … I really wish we could bring her back.’

Rita, who grew up in an environment where she couldn’t survive if she was foolish or procrastinated, skillfully organized her thoughts. She closed her eyes tightly and collected her thoughts.

‘I don’t fit in a place like this anyway. The Princess of Birch Castle, Rita Pascal? The other squad members would laugh until they suffocate if they heard that.’

She smiled and opened her eyes.

‘Starting tomorrow, let’s learn about black magic. Discuss it with Leonhard and find out if there are any cases of possession.’

As Rita was about to turn around and rest for tomorrow’s goal, something caught her eye.

Outside the window, in the garden at night, something white was glimpsed.

‘huh?’

Opening her eyes dimly, she soon realized what it was.

A white, voluminous negligee. Red hair down. Pale feet staggering across the grass.

I was able to recognize him because I walked around the castle for three days looking at portraits and photos.

The woman wandering the dark garden like a ghost was the Duchess of Laskail.

‘Why is the Duchess barefoot at this hour of the night…?’

Rita was about to open the window in surprise, but then stopped.

“Your father and sister know that you are ‘Rita Pascal’. But they haven’t told your mother anything. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I plan to let your mother know that you have returned once you are able to properly fulfill your role as Lilietta. So until then, be careful not to run into her.”

She thought to herself, leaning against the window sill. Shouldn’t she appear before the Duchess in her Lilietta form now?

‘Let’s wake up the butler or Leonhard.’

Just as he was about to make up his mind and turn around, Rita saw.

The Duchess shook the iron gate facing the birch forest.

The chain that the Duke had left behind after Lilietta’s disappearance was not properly locked after Leonhard returned with Rita on his back.

I think I know why the Duke locked that door.

A loose chain falls. The iron gate creaks open. The Duchess stumbles away down the forest path.

Following the path where young Lilietta disappeared.

“… … !”

It’s dangerous.

If she left it like that, something big would happen, and she had a feeling that she would miss it while someone was waking her up and calling her. Rita opened the window in a hurry.