42: A Childhood Promise
I was in my bedchamber.
I was exhausted.
I had been worried about my sister, who was suffering from a cold, and bathing with her had been… emotionally draining.
Though it was also enjoyable.
I absently stroked the empty bed beside me.
I recalled the moment when my sister, frightened by the thunder, had jumped into my bed.
Leticia had been… warm.
It had been a long time since I had slept feeling someone’s warmth.
The only people I had ever slept with were my mother and Ciel, and even that was when I was very young.
――Because I was a noble.
And our family crest was a gecko.
Our ducal family’s nickname was the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”
As the first in line to inherit the Vanderwaals title, I couldn’t afford to be complacent.
However, Ciel was a strict but dependable tutor.
…If it weren’t for her…
The thought sent shivers down my spine.
I had made it this far because of her.
Because of her, I had become the head of the family.
I recalled the conversation I had with Ciel before our bath.
――I had made two promises with her.
The first promise was from my childhood.
When my noble education began, I intertwined my pinky finger with my beloved governess’s and promised, ‘I won’t disappoint you.’
The second promise was from the day I became the head of the family, about four years ago.
After my father’s death, I inherited the title… and after the mourning period, I hosted a gathering at the mansion to celebrate my inauguration.
Among the guests was Prince Konrad. While His Majesty didn’t attend, as befitting a ducal family that supported the Kingdom of Eustasia, the First Prince, Konrad, offered congratulations and celebrated the transition of power.
Some expressed concern that the successor to my father, who had succumbed to illness and passed away suddenly, was a young woman of only eighteen.
However, their concerns were meaningless.
I was the only daughter of the Vanderwaals ducal family. The eldest child and the officially recognized first in line of succession.
And, most importantly, I had Ciel.
She, who had managed the “shadows” since my father’s time, held a position arguably more powerful than my own.
While the “shadows” were officially under the direct command of the Vanderwaals family head… in reality, the authority of a leader like Ciel was unparalleled.
It wasn’t just her official authority; it was natural for subordinates who risked their lives to admire a leader they could trust.
I had received training as the next head of the family, worked alongside my father, and even issued orders myself.
While limited to relatively safe intelligence gathering, I did have some field experience.
Even so, I was still a novice.
I had virtually no proven achievements to earn anyone’s confidence.
The true test was yet to come.
Peace for Eustasia. That was the Vanderwaals’ duty, the essence of our loyalty to the nation.
However, many of my subordinates, while understanding this philosophy, weren’t motivated by ideals alone.
There were many who couldn’t live any other way.
I had a responsibility.
I had to constantly prove myself worthy as their leader.
I always carried a heavy burden on my shoulders.
“Congratulations again on your inauguration, my lady. …No, Lady Adelheid.”
After the inauguration party, Ciel and I were alone in my office, adjacent to my bedchamber.
We sat facing each other across the heavy desk.
“Thank you, Ciel. …When it’s just the two of us, you can still call me as you always have.”
Sensing an unfamiliar formality in her personal congratulations, I felt a pang of loneliness, but Ciel shook her head.
“No. It’s a matter of propriety. It would be problematic if I made a mistake.”
“I see.”
She was right.
“Lady Adelheid, I promise to provide you with my full support as your assistant head of the family. —To fulfill your duties as the head and bring peace to Eustasia… Duty and loyalty.”
“I know all that, Ciel. As the head of the family, let me make a promise in return. I will not disappoint you.”
That was my promise.
The top-tier education and… luxuries I had received were for this moment.
I was the head of one of only three ducal families in this country.
“…Lady Adelheid, I have served you since the day you were born.”
“…Yes, that’s right. I’m truly grateful.”
“Thank you. …As a reward… could you grant me one… just one, personal request?”
She rarely showed her personal side.
I felt like she had been more open when I was younger, but at seven years my senior, she had grown up—much—faster than me.
While I considered her the closest person to me… our relationship was, first and foremost, that of master and servant.
And now, she was making a ‘personal request.’
“Ask me anything. I can’t promise until I hear it, but I’ll do my best to fulfill your request.”
“Yes. …We made a promise a long time ago, didn’t we?”
I nodded.
“Yes. ‘I won’t disappoint you.’ …How did I do as a ducal daughter?”
It was a childhood promise.
I was no longer a ‘daughter.’
From today onward, I was the head of the family.
The head of a powerful noble family, bearing the weight of this house, responsible for the servants, including Ciel, the people of my territory, and above all, the future of Eustasia.
“—I have never been disappointed, my lady. …Adel, you are my pride.”
“…Ciel.”
My heart warmed at the way she called me… using the name she had used until today, despite the ‘formality,’ the nickname I had only allowed my parents and Ciel to use.
“I want you to make another promise with me.”
“What kind of promise?”
Well, I would make any promise with her.
“There’s one thing I failed to teach you, my lady. …Something important.”
“…You? Failed to teach me?”
I furrowed my brows.
My noble education had long since ended.
Of course, I was still a novice as the head of the family, but Ciel herself had said that I would naturally acquire the necessary skills through experience.
“…You were… too perfect, my lady.”
Contrary to her words about failing to teach me, what came out of her mouth was praise.
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