After the baking incident, things were peaceful.
The only notable event was when Leah discovered she had forgotten to give me the seven candies the Duke had given me.
But today was different.
Since morning, I had been treated like a doll in the hands of the maids.
They dressed me in a huge, frilly children's dress.
Furthermore, I wore lace stockings that reached my thighs, shiny shoes, and a ribbon tied in my hair.
“Come on, let’s see how it looks!”
“Is it comfortable?”
“Try walking, oh, our little miss!”
As I struggled to walk, the maids squealed, “Oh my god!”
The servants of House Dobled weren't as bad as those of House Valois, but they still made me nervous.
However, for me to live comfortably, the hospitality of the servants was essential.
Once I settled in, the maids practically fawned over me.
“Linda is here!”
“Oh, you saw me last night!”
“Are you happy with how you look?”
“It’s a secret...”
“Linda is my favorite.”
*First of all, I will conquer the maids' hearts.*
“Here, I promise you,” I said, twisting my expression. “I will give you candy.”
“Why give this dessert only to me?”
“Because I love Dahlia more than anyone else!”
*It’s a secret...*
I had successfully recruited the person in charge of my snacks.
“And you, Uni, Malida, and Na...”
“Oh, Uni was sick? I am so sad!”
“Oh my god...”
“It’s a secret... Uni is my favorite.”
I then picked up the person responsible for my daily records.
*Now, even if I am hated by others, unlike when I was at Valois, the maids will spoil me in secret.*
When I saw the maids who loved me, I felt proud, thinking of all the hardships I had endured.
*But why am I wearing clothes like this today?*
I asked Leah, who was smiling at me affectionately.
“Where am I going?”
“You will attend the meeting today. The Duke said he will introduce you to his followers.”
*He’s introducing me?*
I had seen some of them, but they had never formally introduced themselves.
I thought there was no need for introductions if I was going back to the capital soon.
*Wait... that means I'll be staying here for a while longer!*
I followed the maids with a cry of joy in my heart.
But there were people in the hallway I had never seen before.
When I looked at Leah, she answered my silent question.
“They are children who must be taken care of.”
*Aha, there must be a sponsored children's agenda for today's meeting.*
There was a support system among the aristocracy.
They cultivated gifted children from an early age and developed them into the talents the family desired.
*Who could it be this time?*
If they were sponsored by a noble family like Dobled, they must be a famous child prodigy.
When I entered the meeting room, I saw the followers surrounding someone.
He was too old to be called a child.
At first glance, he looked like a teenage boy.
The boy was buried among the adults, so I couldn't see him in detail, but I heard his voice clearly.
“Hello, Master Dobus, Mr. Martin, Baron Lux, and...”
The followers smiled, clearly pleased by the polite boy who remembered so many of their names.
“The little one becomes more intelligent by the day.”
“My father told me I must study seriously to become like Mr. Dobus!”
Dobus laughed and patted his shoulder.
Then, one of the followers noticed me.
At that time, I had already told them about the events at the Imperial Palace and the church, and some of the followers here had been present then.
*I'll show them.*
“Hello.”
When I greeted them, imitating how an adult would act, they laughed.
“Oh my god, look at how she says hello!”
As some of the followers approached me, I finally saw the face of the child who had been hiding.
I stiffened as I examined his face.
*Marco Godey.*
I knew that child very well.
Because he was one of the worst people I had ever met!
When I lived as the daughter of the Duke of Valois, I attended an academy for a while.
At that time, Marco was my teacher.
He was young, ambitious, and appeared to be a good teacher.
But for me...
*He was a predator.*
He aimed for the position of son-in-law to the Duke of Valois.
He touched me inappropriately.
He hugged me without my consent, and when I couldn't stand it and tried to file a complaint with the academy, he turned the tables.
They dismissed my claims and labeled me the aggressor.
“So you seduced this man and then abused him? Why?”
“Why did you file a complaint from the beginning?”
“Do you actually like it? Then why are you screaming?”
*I was scared, so of course I screamed.*
“I think you actually enjoy it. Do you have some kind of fetish?”
*A title given to those who try to climb the social ladder by clinging to rich people.*
My protest was unsuccessful.
He was suspended for only six months for touching a student, while I had to leave the academy under criticism for being unethical.
After that, I was considered a disgrace to my family.
Just thinking about that time made me crave revenge.
He is still a child now.
But I know he will become scum in the future!
*Let's stay calm.*
I acted as if I had no reason to be upset, maintaining my poise.
Then, Duke Dobled entered the room.
As everyone bowed, the first order of business was to review the caregiver candidates.
Marco sat back and then went to the podium.
“Oh my god, can you really solve mathematics at this level?”
“Yes! One must be knowledgeable in numbers to enter the Council of Auditing and Inspection. Besides, mathematics itself is enjoyable. I have created some formulas with my teacher...”
*Right...*
It was ridiculous, knowing his future.
Aside from joining the Audit and Inspection Board, Marco joined the Fringe Academy College.
He was an idiot who bragged to me about having a great network.
His father, Baron Godey, laughed proudly.
Judging from the friendly atmosphere, it seemed the selection of the sponsored child was being made according to the wishes of Baron Godey and his wife.
After the question-and-answer session, Marco returned to the seat next to me.
He looked at me and whispered.
“Do you think you can defeat me, you brat?”
*What?*
I looked at him, startled.
He was trying to intimidate a four-year-old...
Marco Godey seemed to think I had come to the meeting because of a sponsorship offer.
His face was full of excitement, eager to crush a rival.
He reminded me exactly of the man he was when he was a professor.
*Well, he probably thinks the Duke of Dobled has left me alone, and that I'll be discarded after he adopts him.*
I kept smiling.
“You... they said you're just a child they picked up, right?”
“...”
“I heard the Empress threw you in a trash basket named Dobled. You're just like the rubbish of the universe.”
As Marco laughed, I clenched my fists.
I was stupid in my previous life.
I didn't know anything, and I was too scared to fight back.
There were many times when I bowed my head, unable to say a word.
But I am not that person anymore. I have died three times; I am now living my fourth life.
And I really bit Marco's arm.
“Argh!”
While he was reeling from the shock, I quickly clenched my fist and punched him!
*Bonk!*
“Ah! Ah!”
As his screams rang out, the employees guarding the hall rushed over in astonishment.
People immediately tried to separate me from Marco, but I managed to pull out a bunch of his hair before I was pulled away.
“What are you doing!” the followers scowled at Marco and me.
“This... this little thing! She suddenly...!”
On the other hand, I softly pointed my index finger at Marco.
“Oh! He's a meanie!”
“The boy is bad!”
“He said the Duke of Dobled is rubbish!”
When I was a beggar, I learned something.
The person who throws the first punch wins.
The calm person wins the argument.
Of course, it was risky to make a fuss in front of the Duke, but it was better than looking like an idiot who just got bullied.
But it was strange.
Why was it so quiet in here?