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IBP 81
Sister Chloe looked back and forth between the giggling Lady Miru and the puppy, who looked equally bright and innocent.
“...Shall I ask the original owner about the adoption process?”
At our words, Lady Miru lowered her head and then looked up again with a smile.
“After losing Cherry like that, I thought I wouldn't be able to raise another puppy...”
“...”
“...But it turns out I was wrong, which is quite strange. I just knew the moment our eyes met.”
“That you would be together for a long, long time.”
“Yes, I had a feeling. Just like when I first saw Cherry...”
Lady Miru nodded and smiled.
While I was happy about Lady Miru's decision, I felt a strange sensation at my sister's response.
'Did Sister feel that way in the past too?'
The moment she looked into my eyes, did she think she could spend her whole life with me?
Lady Miru whispered while gently stroking the puppy.
“It’s strange. Whenever things are hard, these little friends always appear by my side.”
Lady Miru picked up the puppy.
The puppy's fur was slightly stained with dust and dirt.
However, Lady Miru didn't mind at all.
She gazed for a long time at the puppy, who had fallen fast asleep in her arms, purring softly.
And Sister watched Lady Miru the entire time, with eyes that looked as if she were someone living in the past.
Sister's eyes held a deep longing.
I smiled and held her hand tightly.
Because I am Sister's past, and I am Sister's present.
That's why we...
“Whatever it is, we're happy now, so it's okay!”
At my very spirited words, Sister only gave a low laugh.
The next day.
Lady Miru, who visited Sister again, was overjoyed as she took the puppy back to her mansion.
The snow-white puppy climbed into Lady Miru's carriage and barked excitedly.
'It's so energetic.'
I felt a bit jealous of the purely innocent little puppy.
Only then did it sink in a bit more that I had been acting like a fool.
'...You, live a happy life too.'
I offered a small prayer in my heart.
That night, I met Cherry in my dreams.
“Coco, since I can't reincarnate... I hoped Sister would get a wonderful puppy!”
“Huh, really? You're such a broad-minded dog...”
“Yeah, so thank you. For making sure our sister isn't lonely at all...”
“Cherry...”
“You know, our sister is painting more diligently now, and I think she thinks about me more often. So I'm really, really happy!”
“Yeah! Then I'll keep a closer eye on Lady Miru!”
“Thank you, Coco!”
Even if she got a new puppy, Lady Miru would still love Cherry.
And she would remember her for a very, very long time.
After chatting about such things, I eventually woke up from the dream.
And...
The next day.
I received a letter from Lady Miru telling me that she had named the puppy Berry.
The letter also mentioned that she wanted to stay in touch with Lady Chloe and me from now on.
* * *
And this incident caused a small stir in social circles.
Since the social scene had been a two-way battle between Dahlia and Lady Miru until now, rumors that Lady Miru and Lady Chloe had become close friends spread quickly.
“My goodness, this puppy came from Lady Chloe's mansion?”
“Yes. She was fostering the puppy temporarily, and knowing that I wanted to adopt one, she kindly suggested it.”
“It is well known that Lady Chloe loves animals.”
“But I didn't know she had such a friendship with Lady Miru.”
“Isn't Lady Chloe truly kind?”
As Lady Miru spoke definitively, the ladies looked at one another.
Even if good stories about Chloe were spread in social circles, it didn't mean the notoriety she had built up or Chloe's characteristic arrogant attitude would simply vanish.
However, perhaps because Chloe's reputation had been so bad until now?
“Honestly, she's surprisingly kind... I do feel that way.”
At one lady's words, the other ladies nodded slightly.
Thus, people's gaze toward Chloe was changing to a surprisingly friendly one.
“By the way, Lady Dahlia, why have you been so quiet?”
Meanwhile, things were the exact opposite for Dahlia.
“...Lady Dahlia?”
“Ah, it's nothing. What were we talking about?”
Dahlia forced a smile.
Due to the failure of a business she had ambitiously prepared recently, she was being evaluated as having become somewhat gloomy.
A business she had spent the last year trying to solidify by dipping her toes into various fields.
But business is such a thing that once it collapses, it is easy for everything to fall like dominoes.
Despite this, to show that she was still standing, Dahlia continued to attend social parties and small tea parties...
But people kept mentioning Chloe.
Dahlia smiled brightly, struggling to suppress the stinging inferiority within her.
“I was thinking about my fiancé, Lord Gillen, who returns today.”
“Ah! He returns today?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Lord Gillen is so romantic, isn't he? I'm so envious.”
Marquis Gillen Amadeus.
The most beautiful and wonderful thing she possessed.
All she needed was for him to return.
Then her failing business would improve, and Chloe would be shoved back into her dark annex.
Everything would be perfect.
Dahlia's expression, which had been dark, brightened once again.
* * *
I sat in a coffee house in the bustling district, smiling brightly while sipping a parfait.
'Mentions of Dahlia are decreasing, and everyone seems to be talking about my sister a lot.'
I loved how the situation was unfolding.
If there was one thing I didn't expect, it was that I occasionally heard stories about myself...
Mostly, they were things like what the 'scar-marks' on my body were, or how my appearance and behavior were very cute.
'It's not bad, so whatever!'
For the most part, they didn't seem to think I was a real blessed child, but rather a daughter of a Duke's house who was adopted and had received more divine blessings than others.
'Everything is going according to plan.'
I tilted my chin up proudly, as if lifting a tail.
Then Caligo, who was sitting opposite me, looked at me with a puzzled expression and asked.
“What's wrong all of a sudden, Coco?”
“Nothing! I didn't do anything!”
Come to think of it, I was out with Caligo.
'Everyone is overprotecting me because of that incident a while ago. They won't let me move an inch alone.'
I quickly changed the subject.
“You know, something really, really happy is happening today!”
“What is it?”
“When I go home today, some incredibly cool friends will be there.”
“...Incredibly cool friends?”
Caligo's eyes narrowed slightly.
But I just went "hehe" and nodded vigorously.
Finally! At last!
I heard that the rabbit spirit beast, penguin spirit beast, and leopard spirit beast—which I received as a reward for fixing Caligo—were coming to the Ardos territory through legal procedures.
I had even heard that since the spirit beasts were in the North, Sister Chloe would meet Grand Duke Rivera and bring them back in a carriage.
“I think I'll finally be able to meet the leopard friend, the rabbit friend, and the penguin friend!”
“Ah... really?”
“Yup! Grand Duke Rivera and my sister probably went to pick them up by now!”
My heart was already pounding with excitement.
When the new friends arrive, I'll share lots of delicious things with them.
“I'm so excited!”
* * *
Inside the carriage heading toward the Duke Ardos estate.
Chloe was checking the health status of the rabbit brought from the Grand Duke Rivera's domain.
'That's strange.'
The rabbit's red eyes were filled with eye crust.
Its body, which was becoming stiff, was clearly not normal to anyone.
Just as the snow-white rabbit, which was wobbling slightly as if uncomfortable with Chloe's touch, was about to roll onto the floor.
Chloe gripped the rabbit firmly and opened the window of the front compartment of the carriage.
“Grand Duke Rivera. I think you should check this.”
“What is it?”
“The rabbit's condition is not good.”
“What? There was nothing wrong when I checked it within the Grand Duchy.”
The Grand Duke stopped the carriage, stepped down from the horse, and spoke while checking the rabbit.
“Then, did it start after leaving the domain? When I ask the servant, he says the rabbit spirit beast began to pant slowly from that point.”
He made a humming sound while touching the rabbit's tail.
“...Normally, it should open its eyes when the tail is touched.”
“It is not normal.”
“But I swear, no one approached it here.”
“...”
“To steal life force, there must be contact. That is like an unwritten law.”
The rabbit spirit beast had its eyes wide open. A faint sense of fear could be felt in its bright red eyes.
“I don't know. Whether it caught an unknown disease or its life force is being stolen... If it's the latter, why?”
Grand Duke Rivera narrowed his brow slightly.
“But my magic tool showed no sign of a 'killing crisis' at all...”
He hummed, rubbing his chin.
“For now, it would be best to return to the estate and observe it closely.”
Chloe looked down silently at the stiff rabbit.
Her complexion had turned noticeably pale.
“Lady.”
“...”
“Lady Chloe Ardos.”
Then, Grand Duke Rivera whispered softly.
“Calm down.”
The fact that a rabbit spirit beast's health suddenly deteriorated while being transported in a carriage.
The meaning of that fact to Chloe was clear.
'Did Coco die like this too?'
There was no evidence that the rabbit spirit beast had its supernatural ability stolen or had forcibly lost its life force.
The spirit beast's condition was simply worrying...
To think that such a mere sentiment would remind her of Coco's death.
She nodded slowly, trying to shake off the hypersensitive thought.
At that moment, as if noticing Chloe's heart, Grand Duke Rivera spoke again as he climbed back onto the horse.
“Lady, have you ever heard of this? It's just a superstition, but have you heard the story that spirit beasts can reincarnate?”
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