The morning at Roam Mansion was the same as always.
Though I was exhausted from not being able to sleep, I rose earlier than ever. Having dealt with Rusalka, I planned to visit the Imperial Palace.
I prepared to go out while listening to the Dullahans' reports. Since I was the only one who could hear the Dullahans' voices anyway, there was nothing to be concerned about.
By the time Tristan finished his report, delivering news that Lilia had frantically filled her notebook to somehow contend with me, my preparations were complete.
After sending away the attending maids and gathering the Dullahans, I finally draped my coat over my shoulders.
A knock sounded from outside the door. When I permitted entry, a personal maid cautiously opened the door and entered.
Though she was called a personal maid, I didn't keep one by my side separately, so there was no difference from the other maids.
She must have noticed my indifference as well. During the first week, I thought she was being extremely attentive, but seeing that she no longer stayed by my side unless it was something she absolutely had to do, it was clear.
The personal maid was someone who would say only what needed to be said and hurry away as if fleeing. That's why her appearance now, standing quietly by the door waiting for my words, seemed novel.
"Speak."
When I commanded, thinking she might have something to say, only then did the maid part her lips.
"The carriage is ready, Lady Anneli."
I glanced at the maid who was bowing her head respectfully, then looked into the mirror with an indifferent expression and spoke.
"I don't recall granting you permission to use that name."
"I-I apologize. ...Resurrected One."
I stopped adjusting my collar through the mirror. I fell silent while fingering the soft cloth tied around my neck.
At my appearance, the maid didn't know what to do with herself.
"...."
All this time, the servants' form of address for me had consistently been 'Second Young Miss.'
With that, they had indirectly revealed that they did not consider me the successor, nor did they consider me the noble agent of the divine as the public claimed.
Since no one had ever specifically pointed out that aspect, it was a designation that had been tacitly accepted.
'But why now, all of a sudden?'
I pulled the corners of my mouth upward.
No wonder the maids who had been attending me earlier were also sparing with words and busy reading the room—was this the reason?
"Did Mother tell you to address me that way?"
"Pardon?"
"Did she order you to show full respect as if dealing with the expelled young lord?"
When I confirmed the maid, who had looked up in startlement with just a roll of my eyes, she flushed red with bewilderment.
"W-well...."
"Just call me as usual. 'Second Young Miss.'"
The maid lowered her head with a troubled expression. She seemed to have judged that keeping her mouth shut entirely was better.
How presumptuous.
"Are you deaf? I told you to call me that."
"B-but...."
She probably wanted to get on my good side. That maid must have heard Mother's warning and guessed that I was truly to be accepted as this house's successor.
The ridiculous titles of 'Lady Anneli' or 'Resurrected One' were the result of her trying to use her head to position herself as my confidant.
After all, nothing proves an intimate relationship better than a form of address.
'But what a shame. I have no need for confidants in this mansion.'
"That...."
The maid, who had hesitated several times with a troubled voice, reluctantly parted her lips.
"...The carriage is ready, Second Young Miss."
It was a fragile voice, trembling as if she were being strangled. I looked at the maid with mockery and moved my feet with sneering steps.
"I suppose you thought correcting a few manners would make your attitude seem different. Truly utterly foolish."
When I left the room, the maid quickly followed behind and repeatedly apologized. Having no intention whatsoever of accepting it, I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace.
'I only informed Father about the servants' attitudes last night, but they're quick.'
Did Mother also hear the recording I gave Father? Seeing how quickly they responded, the two of them must have had a conversation last night.
And this dawn, all the servants in the mansion must have received warnings about their speech.
That they're suddenly paying attention to this now means Mother has no intention of immediately causing a dispute with Father.
I introduced Seiri to Maksell, so I thought she had firmly made up her mind, but was that not the case?
It was then.
"Lady Anneli!"
Fallides, who had come out first and was personally inspecting the carriage, brightened when he saw me and greeted me. I could see the maid following me giving Fallides a glance.
Just moments ago, the very form of address she had been corrected for, Fallides was uttering without hesitation.
'Naturally, she wouldn't take it well.'
For me, who actively engaged in things that scraped at the servants' insides, it was rather a welcome reaction.
I had ordered him to change the form of address to my name as appropriate since calling me 'Captain' in front of others would seem strange, and to think such unexpected results would come of it.
I accepted Fallides's greeting with pleased eyes. The maid looked back and forth between me and Fallides, then cautiously moved toward the carriage.
"I will escort you to the Imperial Palace...."
"Enough. No attendance is needed. Fallides, will you help me?"
"Yes!"
Having coldly refused the maid's company, I stepped on the footboard with Fallides's escort.
The interior of the carriage was spacious enough to accommodate three or four servants. However, I only let Fallides board and closed the carriage door.
I wasn't curious about what expressions the servants who had reluctantly lined up to see me off were wearing.
As expected, they were probably shriveled up like rotten apples.
'Trying to forcibly accommodate my temperament will only make the servants' resentment even fiercer, yet they're going through such troublesome process?'
I leaned comfortably against the seat, pressed my temples firmly, and murmured.
"Is it because Seiri is young?"
At fifteen, isn't it rather late to start preparing for succession? Or do they intend to use me as a figurehead externally to buy time for successor training?
"Pardon?"
Fallides looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"It seems about time I leave Roam Mansion soon."
I waved my hand to indicate she shouldn't mind it.
The carriage cut through the wind and ran swiftly. The destination was the Imperial Palace.
* * *
Having had a long conversation with her husband through the night, the Roam Duchess opened her eyes only after the sun had risen high in the sky.
It was a later rising than usual. Thanks to that, she only now learned that Anneli had headed to the Imperial Palace first thing in the morning without even reporting.
"No matter that the child is to inherit Roam, Roam Mansion has procedures and discipline."
"I apologize, Madam. I assumed she had naturally informed you...."
"...Very well. From now on, when she demands something, report to me immediately."
Having irritably dismissed the steward, the Roam Duchess grabbed her throbbing forehead. Last night's conversation came back to mind.
「It was you who said it would be good to bring Anneli to the mansion. So what is this?」
Her husband had never raised his voice before her.
Until now, he had always respected and accepted her wishes. Of course, the Roam Duchess had also tried not to cross the line.
In that sense, last night's Roam Duke seemed to have thought the Roam Duchess had crossed the line.
「Do I have to oversee every single thing in the mansion's discipline?」
「You didn't seat Anneli as the young lord as soon as you brought her here. You were also conflicted, weren't you?」
「The situation has changed!」
「That's right, the situation has changed. So I'm also examining things to match the changed circumstances.」
「And this is the result?」
The Roam Duke produced a recording containing vulgar insults. They were the frivolous mouths going on about how unsuitable Anneli was as the Young Lord of Roam.
She had known of the servants' antipathy, but she was surprised to hear such stark assessments.
Though she herself was the one who hadn't immediately disciplined them, she felt somewhat angry at the behavior of the foolish servants who didn't know their place.
「I was busy with the Frisian matter. You know there's talk in social circles about what that child has done.」
Thinking the recording was excessive even to her own ears, the Roam Duchess decided to take a step back first.
However, the Roam Duke's heart was not easily mollified.
「What's the use of silencing outside mouths when the household is in this state!」
「Since it came up, how do you view the claim that Anneli received the god's selection?」
At the Roam Duchess's sudden question, the Roam Duke frowned.
「The Imperial Palace already confirmed that matter.」
「I know. I'm not trying to deny that child is the god's Resurrected One. The god must have saved her. However...」
The Roam Duchess tried to calm her sensitively prickled mood. But that was not easy.
Naturally, her voice came out colder and more frigid than usual.
「There's no guarantee that what she does is for our sake. Human desire doesn't always follow divine teachings.」
The Roam Duke, having noticed the profound implication her words contained, narrowed his brow.
「...What did you find out?」
Could this be called finding out? It was closer to speculation.
The Roam Duchess continued.
「You know Seiri is very interested in animals, don't you? That recently he's been pleased saying various animals can be found in the mansion.」
Seiri was an innocent and frail youngest son. Perhaps because he had grown up watching his strong-willed sisters since childhood, he was a timid and spineless youngest child.
The Roam Duke, who had intended to pass the family to Frisian anyway, had not tried to correct his youngest son's personality. His judgment was that a quiet temperament was better than recklessly running around causing trouble.
So Seiri had been able to live comfortably to his heart's content in the Roam Duchess's skirts.
Even now.
「It seems Seiri has witnessed animals gathering in Anneli's room several times.」
「Is animals gathering a problem?」
「If the same animals repeatedly enter and leave that room.」
The Roam Duke firmly closed his lips. The Roam Duchess could easily see that her husband's anger was gradually subsiding.
Originally, the Roam Duke couldn't truly be angry with her.
Of course he couldn't. The Roam Duke was the man who had used all manner of sweet words and schemes to install her in this mansion.
A person who had strived his whole life to gain even a corner of his wife's heart—how could he dare be angry? That couldn't be possible.