"Aunt Grace."
"Hm?" I responded when my dear niece called .
"What are you thinking about right now?"
I looked at the beautiful girl standing before , who, judging by the thoughtful expression on my face, clearly could not read my thoughts.
Ruby had invited to have tea in the gazebo this afternoon, but I could not focus, because I kept thinking about her upcoming coming-of-age ceremony.
"Nothing special," I smiled absentmindedly. "I was just thinking about how much you’ve grown."
Her graceful brows knitted together.
"This again?" the main villainess asked. "Do you still think of as a child?"
I froze.
"Of course not!" I quickly corrected myself. "How could I think that when you’re about to turn eighteen?"
After my answer Ruby cald down a little, but she continued to look at intently. Lately she had been looking at sowhat strangely.
Or maybe I had only just noticed it now...?
In any case, it did not matter much. I was in joyful excitent at the realization that very soon the main goal of my existence in this world would be fulfilled.
Rubyella Weinstein would stop being only my sweet niece and would make her debut in society. Next month, after the coming-of-age ceremony, she would inherit the title of duchess and our paths would part.
After eight years of working as a nanny, I planned to go on a well-deserved vacation — a journey across the entire empire and complete freedom of action. anwhile Ruby would have to take care of the family affairs, because at such a young age a heavy burden would fall upon her shoulders.
I believed that during these years I had done everything possible to raise the main villainess into a decent person.
The only thing I regretted was that I had not been able to find a good uncle for Ruby. I wanted the girl to have before her eyes an example of a complete family that she could rely on in the future. However, for so reason, nothing ever worked out.
All the worthy n who showed interest in disappeared after a few days of acquaintance. And when they appeared again, they avoided and were even afraid to greet .
I could not understand what the problem was. Could it really be that these aristocrats were so afraid of a woman with a child...?
I sighed.
I hoped Ruby did not bla too much for taking care of her alone — despite her high origin. After all, I tried to give her the very best so she could have a happy childhood. Perhaps I had even spoiled her a little.
"Aunt, is sothing bothering you?"
Noticing my saddened expression, Ruby touched my cheek. I had long been used to such physical affection and paid no attention to it. Besides, when Ruby was little, I often squeezed and hugged her myself.
anwhile, I was touched that this child was so worried about .
"Just a little. I was simply imagining what I will do when you leave this house."
Perhaps I did not express myself quite correctly, because the girl’s expression imdiately darkened.
But even with a shadow of sadness she remained an irresistible beauty. After all, she was the most attractive character in the novel, not inferior even to the heroine. I found myself staring into her athyst eyes.
"Aunt, do you really want to leave as soon as possible?" unbearable sadness seeped into her tone.
"That’s not it!" I hurried to object. "It’s just... this day was bound to co sooner or later, right? You’re already an adult and you must begin an independent life."
"But I don’t want to leave here."
My words had clearly upset her.
But what could I do? Rubyella had to return to the family estate after the ceremony in order to inherit the title of duchess. That was exactly where the main stage of the ga began.
Even if I wanted to, I could not allow myself to keep her here. Though it was difficult for to part with her. After all, I had raised Ruby for so many years — ever since her parents abandoned her.
During that ti we had beco a real family, and I hoped I had left her with only good mories.
To be honest, since the mont I was reincarnated in this world, I had already forgotten the main plot of the ga. I did not even rember who the heroine of the ga was or who her love interests were. I rembered only one thing — my niece was the villainess of this ga, and a tragic ending awaited her. Therefore, all these years I had been trying hard to prevent that, so that Rubyella would not beco a villainess.
And, as I believed, now I had successfully achieved that.
My little niece had grown up and would soon step into the adult world!
I could not help but shed a tear of pride as I realized this mont.
However, Ruby was still in low spirits, so I decided to cheer her up.
I needed to change the subject to sothing more positive.
"Since this is your last birthday in this estate, I will definitely prepare the best gift for you!" I announced with a smile. "What would you like?"
Her face instantly brightened.
"A gift?"
I chuckled. No matter how old she beca, Ruby was still a child at heart. She had beco so happy just because I ntioned a gift.
"Yes. I will give you anything you want."
"Really? Anything?"
I nodded and let out a small laugh as I brought my teacup to my lips.
"Of course."
Rubyella was my favorite niece, and I truly was ready to do a lot for her. Even if she asked for a star from the sky, I would certainly get it for her.
But her answer turned out to be nothing like what I expected.
Ruby fell silent for a mont, thinking about my offer for only a few seconds. Suddenly, the expression on her face beca like that of a hungry predator.
"...Then I want you, Aunt Grace."
***
After Rubyella suddenly said those words during tea, I could not recover for a long ti. Her voice continued to echo in my head.
"I want you."
Ha...
I had hoped she did not say it seriously, right? That it had only been a ridiculous joke?
It had to be a joke.
...Right?
Honestly, I did not understand at all how I was supposed to interpret her statent. Was it a confession of love — sincere, childish affection for her aunt? Or was sothing entirely different hidden behind those words?
In any case, at that mont there was neither embarrassnt nor playfulness in her gaze.
Only determination.
And that frightened more than anything.
Maybe I was exaggerating sothing? Maybe I was giving those words too much aning?
But no matter how much I thought about it, things did not beco any clearer.
In any case, I promised Ruby that I would think about her "gift." At the ti it seed like the safest answer — neither agreent nor refusal. Just a postponent.
Although, to be honest, I did not even know what exactly I was supposed to think about.
As it seed to , this was truly a strange situation.
Strange... and dangerous.
I took a deep breath.
My brain felt ready to explode from endless thoughts.
Several days had already passed since that conversation, but I had not beco any calr. Ruby’s words continued to echo in my mory with frightening clarity.
That day Ruby left the estate on business, while I remained alone. And suddenly I felt like going into my old office and checking on it, since I had not been there for a long ti.
So ti ago Ruby had said that I was no longer obligated to deal with the family affairs, and that now, as the heir and future duchess, she would handle them herself. Thus, even though she had not yet reached adulthood, the girl was already managing the affairs of our family.
And I must say, she was truly good at it. I could not help but be proud of Ruby and of the kind of worthy person she had grown into.
In any case, now that Ruby had fully taken all the affairs upon herself, I truly had nothing left to do. As a result, lately I had been forced to suffer from idleness.
So I simply decided to at least do sothing and wipe the dust in the office.
After I stepped away from my duties, the room had remained locked. But now, for the first ti in a long ti, I wanted to go in there.
The key was found in a locked drawer of my desk in the bedroom. Strangely, I did not rember putting it there.
The door opened with a creak. I ran my finger across the desk — where a thick layer of dust lay. Ruby did not allow the servants to clean here. "Aunt doesn’t like it when her things are touched," she would say.
And that was true.
But now I was opening the drawers one after another, not even knowing what I was looking for.
Old bills. Letters. Invitations to balls that were several years old.
And then — a diary.
A worn leather cover, yellowed pages. On the first page, written in neat handwriting, were the words: "Grace Weinstein. Notes."
I frowned. I did not rember keeping a diary.
I opened the first page.
Reviews
All reviews (0)