Chapter 8
I had barely finished changing when there was a knock on my door.
Martha had just finished helping me with my dress when we both turned toward the door.
"My lady, may I enter?" a woman's voice called from the other side.
I recognized the voice as the head maid of the estate, though I didn't know her name. I had only ever really interacted with Martha since she was my personal servant.
"You may," I replied.
The door opened, and the head maid stepped inside.
"My lady, His Grace requests your presence in his office," she said respectfully.
I froze.
The Duke?
My stomach tightened.
Why was he calling for me?
I had a feeling this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
"Did he say why?" I asked.
The head maid shook her head.
"No, my lady. His Grace only instructed me to inform you that he wishes to see you," she replied.
I sighed.
"Alright. I'll go."
The head maid bowed before stepping aside.
Martha glanced at me with concern.
"Will you be alright, my lady?" she asked.
"I'll be fine," I assured her with a small smile.
Hopefully.
I followed the head maid out of my room, my mind already racing.
He definitely knew what happened at the market. The knights had probably already told him everything.
So why did he call for me?
When we reached his office, the head maid knocked.
"Enter," the Duke's voice called from inside.
The head maid opened the door.
"His Grace, Lady Rishima," she announced.
The Duke looked up from the documents on his desk.
His expression was calm.
Far too calm.
"You may leave," he said.
The head maid bowed.
"Yes, Your Grace."
She quietly stepped out and closed the door behind her.
I stood there awkwardly.
"Sit." He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk.
I obeyed.
He remained silent for several seconds.
I shifted slightly in my seat.
The silence was making me nervous.
Finally, he spoke.
"I heard what happened at the market," he said.
Of course.
I swallowed.
"About the thieves?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Yes."
His gaze remained fixed on me.
"Why did you stop the knights from killing them?" he asked.
I blinked.
"One of them had already lost an arm. I think that was enough punishment, and besides, nothing happened to me," I answered simply.
The Duke's expression remained unreadable.
"They tried to rob you," he said.
"I know."
"And yet, you let them go?"
I nodded.
"They didn't actually hurt me, so I didn't see a reason to have them killed," I explained. "And like I said before, I wanted to change."
The Duke studied me carefully.
"You treated one of them. Where did you learn how to do that?" he asked suspiciously.
My heart skipped.
Oh no.
I knew this question was coming, but I still had no idea how to answer it.
I couldn't exactly tell him that I had learned first aid in my previous life as a firefighter.
I quickly searched through my mind for an excuse.
What could I possibly say?
I couldn't tell him the truth.
"I learned it at the temple," I answered after a moment.
The Duke raised an eyebrow.
"At the temple?" he repeated.
I nodded.
"Yes. They taught us some basic ways to treat injuries."
I wasn't completely sure if the temple actually taught such things, but it was the only explanation I could think of.
"What else did they teach you?" he inquired.
I hesitated.
"Just basic things," I replied cautiously.
"How to stop bleeding, clean wounds, and keep someone stable until a healer arrives."
His gaze remained fixed on me.
For some reason, the Duke's expression seemed to grow colder.
Then, after a brief silence, he spoke.
"Do you remember that time when you fell from the old oak tree when you were a child?" he asked.
I blinked.
What?
Why did he suddenly ask me about Rishima's childhood? Of course I didn't remember any of that because I'm not her. T_T
"The old oak tree?" I asked uncertainly.
He nodded calmly.
"Yes. The one behind the estate."
"A-ah, yes! W-why? What about it?" I asked nervously.
I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
"You fell from it and injured your arm quite badly," he said with a serious expression.
I nodded slowly, trying to look as though I remembered.
"You cried so loudly that the servants came running," he continued.
I nodded quickly.
"Yes! I remember that now," I said, trying my best to sound convincing.
I paused for a moment before adding,
"I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose my arm."
The Duke remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Do you remember what happened after that?"
I froze.
Shit.
Here we go again.
I had absolutely no idea what happened after that because none of this ever happened to me.
What was I supposed to say now?
I couldn't keep making things up. If he asked me something specific, I was bound to get it wrong.
My mind raced.
Should I pretend to faint?
I glanced toward the door.
If I faint right now, maybe they'll carry me back to my room. T_T
I quickly dismissed the thought.
No. That would be ridiculous.
And probably even more suspicious.
I looked back at the Duke, forcing myself to remain calm.
"What happened after that?" I asked cautiously.
The Duke's gaze remained fixed on me.
I hesitated before adding, "I don't really remember much after that. I was still very young at the time, so my memories from then are a little vague," I explained.
I hoped that would be enough.
After all, I couldn't exactly remember something that never happened. T_T
"After that, I ordered the tree to be cut down, but you cried even harder when you saw the servants preparing to cut it. So I stopped them and simply forbade you from climbing it again," the Duke explained.
I nodded slowly, pretending to remember.
"Ohhh...right. I suppose I must have really liked that tree," I said, forcing a small smile.
The Duke continued watching me for a few seconds.
I maintained the small smile on my face, hoping he wouldn't notice how badly I wanted this conversation to end.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair.
"I see," he murmured.
He paused for a moment.
"You may leave," he said dismissively.
I blinked.
That's it?
I had expected him to keep questioning me, especially after all the strange questions he had been asking.
Maybe... I had managed to convince him after all.
I let out a small breath of relief.
Thank God.
I stood from my chair and gave him a small bow.
"Thank you, Father," I said politely.
I turned toward the door and was about to leave when his voice stopped me.
"Rishima," he called, his voice low and cold, stopping me in my tracks.
His voice sent goosebumps across my skin.
I slowly turned around.
"Yes, Father?" I asked cautiously.
The Duke stared at me for a moment before speaking.
"Nothing," he said.
I stared at him in confusion.
...What was that?
He simply looked away, as though he hadn't just scared the life out of me.
I decided not to think about it and turned toward the door.
Once I stepped into the hallway, my thoughts immediately returned to the old oak tree.
Maybe I should go see it.
Perhaps seeing the tree would help me remember something from Rishima's childhood.
Her memories could simply be buried somewhere in my mind.
It was worth a try.
I headed toward the back of the estate, determined to find the old oak tree.
Hopefully, I'll remember something when I see it.
I searched around the gardens, checking every corner of the estate grounds, but I couldn't find anything that looked like an old oak tree.
After walking around for a while, I spotted an elderly man tending to the plants nearby.
I decided to ask him.
"Excuse me," I called.
The old man turned toward me and immediately straightened.
"Yes, my lady?" he asked respectfully.
"Do you know where the old oak tree is? The one behind the estate?" I asked.
The gardener looked at me in confusion.
"The old oak tree?" he repeated.
"Yes. Do you know where it is?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"There is no oak tree here, my lady," he replied.
I frowned.
"Are you sure?" I asked uncertainly.
"Yes, my lady," he assured me. "I've been working here for twenty-eight years, even before you were born. I'm sure I would remember if there were an oak tree here. I'm the one who manages the gardens and grounds, after all," he continued.
I stared at him.
Then where the hell is that tree?
More importantly...
Why the hell did the Duke tell me about it?
I froze.
Wait.
A terrifying thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Shit...
Did the Duke fabricate that entire story?
My eyes widened.
If there had never been an oak tree here...
Then everything he told me about it had been a lie.
He was testing me.
Oh, shit.
I'm doomed!
TO BE CONTINUED...