IBDF 08

Chapter 8

In return for the napkin flower gift, an enormous dessert spread was placed before Rowena.

“Woooow!”

Her already round eyes widened even further—practically bulging with amazement.

The table was overflowing with all kinds of desserts. From sponge cake piled high with strawberry jam to cream puffs that melted softly the moment you bit into them!

There were so many sweets that the entire dining room was filled with a rich sugary aroma.

But the reward waiting for Rowena did not end with sweet desserts alone.

“I would like to take you in as my adopted daughter, Rowena.”

From the lips of the Grand Lady of Hayworth, who appeared with a much gentler expression than before, came a bombshell declaration.

* * *

Should this be considered a good thing?

To think she would receive an adoption offer from the Grand Lady of Hayworth!

Though…

“Enter the Hayworth family registry. I shall raise you myself.”

“…Huh?”

It would have been better if she had heard the proposal after finishing what was in her mouth.

At that exact moment, Rowena had an Earl Grey madeleine stuffed into her left cheek and a chocolate cream puff crammed into the right.

Naturally, her already chubby cheeks puffed out even more, making her resemble a squirrel.

She almost hiccupped from shock at the sudden declaration, but Rowena skillfully swallowed both desserts before speaking.

“An adopted daughter?”

“Yes. It is a recommendation, but also a request. I have taken a liking to you.”

Honestly, anyone present—and anyone familiar with the strict Grand Lady of Hayworth—could tell that was true.

Even with chocolate cream smeared around Rowena’s mouth, the Grand Lady’s expression remained endlessly benevolent.

“Though I cannot make you the heir of Hayworth, it would still be a highly beneficial offer. Becoming my daughter means that everything I possess would also become yours.”

Why was she called the Grand Lady of Hayworth?

The current head of the Hayworth family was Duke Somerset, Seymour. But while he formally held the position of family head and handled external affairs, all internal matters of the family were managed by the Grand Lady of Hayworth.

Naturally, the immense wealth of the Hayworth family was also under her control.

Thus, society referred to her respectfully as the Grand Lady.

Which meant that becoming her daughter also meant that all that enormous inheritance would eventually belong to Rowena.

Standing behind her, the butler Henry nodded and added,

“Life at Hayworth would be far more comfortable and joyful than life at the orphanage, young miss. If you wished, you could eat meals like this every day and wear beautiful clothes as well.”

“Every day?”

“Of course. You would become a noble lady like the Grand Lady of Hayworth.”

There was an overwhelming difference in status between an orphan from an orphanage and a noble young lady.

Anyone could see this proposal was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of fortune for Rowena.

After explaining this much, surely the child understands.

Both Henry and Freya believed there was no reason for Rowena to refuse.

However—

“Thank you very much, but I don’t think I can accept.”

The answer that came from Rowena was rejection.

Even Freya looked shocked as she asked,

“W-Why ever not? Is there a reason?”

“Yes!”

Unlike the stunned adults, the child merely giggled innocently.

“Because I want to become Duke Somerset’s family!”

Another bombshell.

* * *

Become Seymour’s family!

This was the conclusion Rowena had reached after long and careful thought.

While waiting for the Grand Lady of Hayworth to wake up and diligently folding napkin flowers, she had constantly been thinking about the future.

No matter how I think about it, this is the only answer.

At first, she had only wanted to meet Seymour. She thought maybe if she clung to him hard enough, she could somehow obtain the cure.

But after learning that the Grand Lady had fallen ill from grief over Rose’s death, her thoughts changed.

This isn’t something that can be solved with just one or two meetings.

A half-hearted effort would never be enough to obtain the cure for Lily Disease.

Seymour’s condition was probably even worse than the Grand Lady’s.

They said Seymour has become a wreck because of the grief of losing his wife.

Because of that, Seymour’s business suffered years of decline.

If not for that, he would have imported the cure much sooner.

It wouldn’t have taken seven whole years.

Even moving things forward by just two years would be enough.

But first, I need to pull Seymour out of his ruined state…

Even the Grand Lady of Hayworth, his mother-in-law, could barely get through to him.

Would Seymour really recover just because Rowena hugged him once?

In the end, there was only one answer.

Close surveillance!

To catch a tiger, you must enter the tiger’s den. And to meet the hidden villain, you must enter the villain’s house.

Therefore, if she wanted to fix Seymour, she had to enter his household—preferably as family.

But to accomplish that, there was one mountain she first had to overcome:

The Grand Lady of Hayworth.

At Rowena’s declaration, the Grand Lady asked with a bewildered expression,

“You wish to become Seymour’s family? Rowena, have you ever met Seymour before?”

“No.”

“Then I understand even less. I thought you were a sensible child…”

A blade-like coldness settled into Freya’s eyes.

“Are you saying the position of my adopted daughter, which cannot even inherit the family, is beneath you?”

“No! That’s not it!”

Rowena hurriedly waved her hands.

“I don’t want to become an heir. You don’t have to give me anything.”

“Then why?”

“Well… while you were unconscious, I heard about what happened. I heard that you’re always worried about the Duke.”

As Rowena fiddled with her fingers, Freya frowned slightly.

“Henry, did you tell such things to a child?”

“No, my lady… though I suspect she overheard the maids talking.”

Within the mansion, there had been endless speculation regarding the Grand Lady’s sudden illness.

Naturally, many discussed Rose’s death and wondered whether the Grand Lady had become sick from worrying about Seymour.

A child wandering around the estate could easily overhear such things.

“So… I heard the Duke lost his family, and I wanted to become his family. Then maybe you wouldn’t worry so much anymore, Grand Lady.”

At Rowena’s dejected words, the expressions of Freya, Henry, and even the maids instantly melted.

“So that was the reason…”

“What a warm-hearted child…”

“How can she be so kind?”

Without missing the suddenly softened atmosphere, Rowena quickly continued,

“And if I become the Duke’s family, I think I can solve his problem too!”

“By ‘problem,’ do you mean the issue of succession? How could you possibly solve that?”

“Well, you see…”

Rowena hopped down from her chair and toddled over to Freya, whispering into her ear.

“…And so… that’s how it is!”

“Hoh…”

After the long whispering session, Freya slowly nodded with interest.

Rowena covered her mouth with both hands and giggled.

Then she looked up with sparkling green eyes and asked,

“What do you think, Grand Lady?”

Will you make me the Duke’s family?

* * *

And now, back to the present.

The Grand Lady of Hayworth had proven to be an excellent ally.

She had pushed even Seymour into finally taking Rowena with him!

And so, Rowena was now riding in a carriage headed toward the Somerset ducal estate.

Hehe.

As expected, I’m so smart!

Targeting the Grand Lady of Hayworth had been an excellent choice.

Of course, it hadn’t been easy. The Grand Lady had not so readily trusted the proposal of a mere child.

“I do not believe you intend to deceive me, Rowena. But people change. Do you truly think the you ten years from now will remain the same as you are today? I cannot guarantee that you won’t become greedy for the heir’s position in the future.”

“Therefore, write a contract. If you sign an agreement promising that you will still uphold your proposal when that time comes, then I shall make you Seymour’s heir.”

Rowena and the Grand Lady had written and signed the agreement together, and the Grand Lady kept her promise.

Now all that remains is…

Smiling brightly, Rowena turned her gaze toward the opposite side of the carriage.

There sat a man with a thoroughly uncomfortable expression.

A man upon whom an heir had suddenly fallen from the heavens completely against his will—

An unfortunate… no, fortunate man.

Seymour Somerset.