To Those Who Wish For My Destruction - Chapter 3

The Duke’s residence began to prepare for the funeral. It was something they expected to happen for a long time, so there was nothing sudden about it. Except for the fact that Leoni was nowhere to be seen.

 

Nonetheless, no one seemed to care.

 

“She probably locks herself in her bedroom and cries.”

 

That was all they could guess. However, contrary to their expectations, Leoni went to the Imperial Library.

 

A strange man approached Leoni as she was slowly going through the bookshelves and selecting a book. He whispered in a low voice as he picked up a book a few steps away.

 

 

“He’s waiting.”

 

As if she hadn’t heard anything, Leoni read the book without a care in the world. After a while, the man left, and Leoni walked briskly to the rare book area. It was located at the far end of the library and was quite dark, as the sunlight was blocked to protect the books. Only one kerosene lamp glowed faintly on the wall.

 

A middle-aged gentleman was sitting under it. His slightly crooked wrinkled nose and thin lips gave him a sharp impression, but there was a sense of intimidation in his elegant grooming and the way he lifted his chin looking at her.

 

Leoni immediately bowed. It was a perfect form of politeness that one would not expect from a child.

 

“God be with you always, Leoni Heidegger here to see the Emperor.”

 

“Welcome.”

 

“I’m honored you answered my request.”

 

“Haha, I’m not foolish to turn down the opportunity to see the collaboration of the Bengler and the Heidegger.”

 

“It’s overrated.”

 

‘What? Collaboration, or the fact that you’re not stupid?’

 

The Emperor was strangely disturbed, but he just laughed at the child’s words. He was also curious to see what suggestions would come out of that cute little mouth.

 

Their conversation did not take long. After finishing her business, Leoni quickly returned to the Duke’s residence.

 

Meanwhile, Gideon’s informant was getting bored of following the Young Lady who always does the same thing.

 

But today was an exception. What could one say about a Young Lady going to the Imperial Library when her mother had just passed away?

 

Shocked or thoughtless?

 

So the informant tried to go inside to find out further, but Leoni ended up in the rare book area of all places. It was a place that only high-ranking nobles and royalty could enter.

 

“Damn, things are getting complicated.”

 

While he was wandering around the library, he happened to meet an old friend. They talked for a while. As a result, he lost sight of Leoni and what she was up to.

 

“Hmm, no need to get anxious unnecessarily.”

 

The informant wrote this in his report for the day.

 

[After wandering around with a confused expression, she stayed at the library for about 35 minutes, then checked out 3 books]

 

****

 

The next morning, the maids dressed Leoni in mourning clothes. Then, as usual, they brought out an instrument in the shape of a pair of tongs heated over charcoal to straighten her badly frizzy hair.

 

Her unusual orange hair looked like an overgrown bush if not tightly braided or straightened with heat. But only today did Leoni refuse to do so.

 

“Don’t.”

 

“Then shall I braid it and tie it up?”

 

“No, I want it to stay like this.”

 

“What? But today, there are important people………”

 

The maid mumbled, but stopped speaking immediately at the sight of Leoni’s cold face in the mirror.

 

“No more holding my head down for others to see.”

 

These were the words she said to her servant, but it was a vow to herself.

 

After a brief preparation, Leoni met her father, Gideon, in the main hall. The moment he saw Leoni approaching from the other side, Gideon stopped in his tracks, feeling dizzy.

 

Since he was a Swordmaster, he could read the other’s temperament, and so he was able to sense Leoni’s changes immediately. His daughter, who always hovered around like a dog, had changed considerably.

 

Her orange hair had grown luxuriantly and swayed like a lion’s mane, and her once-pure eyes oozed the sharpness of a fierce beast.

 

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Duke.”

 

Leoni simply greeted Gideon as she always did, but her movements were smooth and dignified. It was the form of a high-ranking noblewoman with considerable experience.

 

Something had changed.

 

One of his eyebrows raised spontaneously. He said bluntly as he scoured Leoni.

 

“Get rid of it.”

 

The servants who had been holding their breath tilted their heads at Gideon’s words. It was because Leoni just stood there next to the Duke and greeted the mourners like nothing happened.

 

The Duke, who was a head or two larger than most people, appeared regal in his black ceremonial robe. But it was Leoni who caught people’s attention even more.

 

She was a small girl, barely reaching his waist, but she had the same energy as her father.

 

Her sad and elegant expression was solitary, as if to match the situation of the funeral home, and her head like the mane of a fierce beast contrasted with her black dress was intense. Therefore, there seemed to be an illusion of a faint halo on Leoni’s head.

 

The Duke and Duchess of Heidegger did not come to Paola’s funeral on the pretext of health.

 

Nevertheless, many came to pay their respects, and finally the chief chamberlain, sent by the Emperor, arrived.

 

“May the Duchess rest in peace. His Majesty has also personally sent a floral offering.”

 

The perpetual carriage pulled by the nine black horses sent by the Imperial Palace was filled with lilies. The imperial attendants then laid many flowers around Paola’s coffin.

 

“Oh my, where did you get these flowers in this season…”

 

“The season is not the problem. It’s a special flower that can only be grown in the Imperial Palace.”

 

“And now it’s brought to us directly by the chief chamberlain.”

 

It was indeed a great courtesy of the Emperor to send his vassal.

 

He was no mere servant. He was the gatekeeper who determined the emperor’s audience, a post so concentrated in power that it had to be distributed in such a way, although the monarch selected him and several candidates took turns serving every three years.

 

The chief chamberlain was a high-ranking member of the nobility, and his appearance had people whispering. However, the excitement surrounding the chamberlain soon turned to other targets.

 

“No, what is he doing here?”

 

“The Duke would never have invited him.”

 

It was Count Stein Mickelson.

 

He wore a wide-brimmed hat made of beaver skin with a long, aristocratic bird-of-paradise feather to make his presence known.

 

“What a vulgar…”

 

It was obvious that his attire was inappropriate for a funeral.

 

Gideon clicked his tongue briefly as soon as he saw Stein. Osmo hurried over to the butler and checked the list of mourners.

 

‘The Young Lady invited him, didn’t she!’

 

In the meantime, the mourners left and headed for the family chapel.

 

The funeral continued. The father and daughter sat side by side and looked at the bishop off to the platform.

 

Gideon asked in a low voice.

 

“Where did you go yesterday?”

 

“The library.”

 

“Crazy.”

 

“They say reading makes you forget all the pains……. I’ve actually done it and it’s true.”

 

After a brief pause in the conversation, Gideon spoke again.

 

“I have prepared a gift for you. You will be very surprised. So don’t panic and maintain the dignity of a Heidegger.”

 

‘Dignity,’ Leoni brooded on the word.

 

“There will come a day when you will not be able to maintain that precious dignity.”

 

She said, holding back laughter.

 

“What a coincidence. I also have a gift for you, Duke. I hope you like it.”

 

Gideon raised one eyebrow and turned his head to look at Leoni.

 

“I will be waiting.”

 

With that, the long and complicated funeral service typical of the Duke’s family ended.

 

The mourners moved to the reception room of the Duke’s residence and quietly remembered the deceased while enjoying a simple tea and refreshments. Of course there were talks.

 

“Who will be the next Duchess?”

 

“His Majesty did not mention anything specifically?”

 

“His father, Duke Heidegger also seems to have left him be.”

 

“So the family that Duke Gideon likes will enjoy the glory, right?”

 

“Yes. Even now, the rumor that he hasn’t forgotten his dead lover hasn’t subsided.”

 

“Heck, it’s a poisoned chalice.”

 

Just then, a voice as clean as sandpaper interrupted.

 

“But I think there’s a lot of Young Ladies in line, don’t you? Isn’t the chalice very nice?”

 

It was Stein.

 

“Get on with it.”

 

“Mmm-hmm.”

 

The people sneaked away from him as if he was a patient with an infectious disease.

 

As long as there was no private organization in place, the nobles who left the dirty work to Count Stein Mickelson. Therefore, his appearance reminded them of it again and again.

 

Stein handled everything perfectly, no matter what he was in charge of. He always received an abbreviated fee for accepting the case, ‘The next time you find yourself in my care, don’t refuse. And she was proud of her ability to always take it.’

 

“What is your business here?”

 

At that moment, Duke Bengler, Leoni’s maternal grandfather, approached Stein and quietly asked him. The Duke was just entering his fifties, and his grave demeanor gave the impression of serenity. However, his dark complexion was filled with the sorrow of a father who had lost his daughter. Stein replied, looking over the Duke’s shoulder.

 

“I’m here to deal with that.”

 

Just as Duke Bengler turned around, the door to the reception room opened and a cute little girl jumped in. The little girl smiled brightly and shouted at Gideon in the middle of the reception room.

 

“Father!”

 

The girl had glittering silver hair and dark green eyes, much like Gideon, who smiled as he held the child with his arms outstretched.

 

Before the mourners had time to cover their mouths in surprise, a woman with a large belly followed the child into the room. The woman was pregnant.

 

“Oh, my God.”

 

“No way.”

 

“It’s just like her.”

 

The woman looked a lot like Eliza, Gideon’s old lover. Gideon approached her, holding the child in one arm, and escorted her. His face that had been so cold to Leoni and her mother was now full of love.

 

“I’d like to introduce to you all. This is my dear lady, the soon-to-be Duchess, Magda Lichter.”

 

The reception room became noisy at the introduction.

 

Gideon’s mistress and his daughter showed up at a funeral without even wearing mourning clothes. Magda Litcher was dressed in a rich dress made of hundreds of layers of lace that dazzled even the dress of the child beside her.

 

“That’s right. I’ve seen this woman before. This is Eliza’s sister, Magda.”

 

“Are they twins? They really look alike, don’t they?”

 

“Well, then the little girl is….”

 

Gideon, who was watching people’s reactions, said as if he had been waiting.

 

“This is my daughter, Sherring Heidegger.”

 

The little girl in Gideon’s arms blushed softly at the pouring gazes.

 

Gideon kissed the child’s forehead as she cradled his stiff neck in her short arms.

 

Three of them, no, and the baby in her belly. They looked like a perfect, loving family.

 

The gazes of the admirers eagerly gathered around the protagonists. Gideon and his new family were drenched in the joy of finally being back where they belonged.

 

Unlike them, the Benglers were contorted and full of astonishment. Leoni, however, did not show any emotion.

 

“It seems that the Young Lady is very surprised.”

 

“I feel sorry for her.”

 

But unlike what people thought, Leoni wasn’t surprised at all.

 

There was not a single thing different from her previous life. It was even corny.

 

A faint sneer crossed Leoni’s face.