Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“It was all merely a hunch,” I said hastily. “I had no idea my theory would be right—”

“Don’t lie,” Kallen interrupted. “One odd coincidence, I understand. But anything beyond that, I’d call fate. You’re no ordinary person, Leticia.”

I snapped my mouth shut and swallowed nervously.

“I’m certain… that you are a genius.”

“Pardon?”

Jade nodded gravely. “I agree, Father. I was also recognized as being gifted, but in some aspects, Leticia outshines us both. She possesses a unique variety of cleverness, and given that she has never received an education…”

I shook my head, feeling my ears heat. “I’m no genius. I’m really not.”

A genius? That’s ridiculous. Should I have pretended not to know anything? Ugh, but I would feel terrible for Eliza.

“Do you recall passages from books you haven’t read? You remember letters and shapes that you’ve only seen once, right?” Jade asked.

“If I was a genius, would I have been begging on the streets? I think not! I don’t even know how to read…”

At that exact moment, I glanced outside the window and caught a glimpse of the back alley where I’d once lived. My spirits immediately dampened.

It’s always painful to pass by this street. It’ll most likely freeze again this winter, won’t it? Jade gave me a sideways glance as if examining my expression.

“I’m perfectly ordinary,” I insisted.

Have I gotten Kallen’s hopes up?

“Still, we should have you examined. There are several doctors Jade met with when he was younger. They will determine whether you are gifted or not.”

I pouted at the duke’s persistence.

I’m telling you, I only guessed correctly because of all the mystery novels I read in my past life. But I can’t tell him that.

Kallen grinned as he watched me sulk. “As expected of my daughter. You will grow up to be spectacular.” He stroked my head, his smile growing wider, but I only squeezed my innocent teddy bear even tighter. I

If I take a test, the doctors will discover I’m not a genius. Kallen won’t tell me I can’t be his daughter anymore, will he? My heart sank with the fear of being kicked out again.

“This is quite an interesting development… It appears I’ve met quite the lucky charm.”

Despite my growing anxiety, Kallen’s smile remained. Shortly after, the carriage came to a halt in front of the Lewelton Manor, and Sion stepped out to greet us.

“Welcome back. I see the three of you returned together, though I wasn’t expecting you to arrive this late.”

“Prepare dinner quickly. The child is starving.”

“Dinner is ready, Your Grace.” Sion paused to examine my face while I lay exhausted in Kallen’s arms. “Lady Leticia appears to be quite tuckered out, though.”

“It was an eventful day,” Jade said dismissively.

Kallen smiled. “But the most important thing is that my daughter is a genius.”

I sighed to myself.

At this rate, I fear things will spiral out of control. After dinner and a bath, I was dead on my feet. I was lying in bed in my pajamas, hugging my teddy bear close, when I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

Who could that be? The door creaked slowly open, and Jade peeked inside.

“Jade?”

“I came to check up on you,” he said softly.

“I’m fine,” I replied, my voice slightly strained from exhaustion.

“Really? Then why did you look so dejected every time we passed a crossroads on our way home?”

I froze at his unexpected question, then began fiddling with my teddy bear as I considered what to say. “Well, I used to live in a back alley near a crossroads. Looking outside reminded me of the freezing weather I endured while living on the streets. I suppose muscle memory from that time still remains.”

My hands and feet throbbed as I spoke, as if I were feeling echoes of the coldness from my past. It was a miracle that I had never suffered frostbite.

“Is that all?” Jade asked.

“I… also miss my friends, but you don’t have to worry. We promised to forget about each other.”

Right, I have to forget about them. I shook my head to dismiss the thoughts, but I could feel my insides tighten. Jade stroked my hair for a moment, before finally rising to leave. I sat quietly. I touched my head and then stared down at my hand.

I had a vision today when Kallen’s hand touched me. It was different from a memory of the novel. What happened? What am I supposed to do now? I had no idea why or when these visions would come to me. I lay down on my bed, my fists clenching and releasing in anxious pulses.

* * *

For a few days, Kallen didn’t mention my potential status as a genius again, leading me to believe he had completely forgotten about the idea. But one afternoon, he made the unusual decision to stay at home. Jade had left to attend the academy, so it was just the two of us.

“Would you like to venture outside today, darling?”

I sprung up excitedly. I had been sitting in front of the fireplace completing the homework assigned by my governess, but that was instantly irrelevant. “Where would we go?” I asked.

“Marianne told me that you enjoyed the cafe you visited with her last time.”

The cafe… The cafe full of sweet desserts?! Just the prospect made my mouth water. I enjoyed the pies and cookies made by the bakers at the manor, but I had only seen such fancy, sparkling cakes at the cafe.

“Are we really going to that cafe?”

“Why, of course. I have some business to tend to, anyway. Go ready yourself for an outing.”

“Okay! I’ll be right back!” I dashed off to grab my coat and hat.

“Please don’t run, my lady!” Sion called, rushing after me. “You can simply ask a maid to fetch your coat.”

Oh, right. I forgot again. The maids passed by me with furtive smiles and averted their faces.

Act calm, act calm. What if Kallen changes his mind? We rarely go on outings. I donned a hat and a cape with a fluffy fur collar.

“How adorable.” Kallen was waiting for me at the front door, and a carriage awaited us outside.

“Um, Your Grace? May I hold your hand?”

He stared at me blankly before breaking into a smile and squeezing me tightly. “You’re adorable enough to make someone lose their mind, Leticia.”

I blinked, confused. He stroked my back several times before letting me go.

Wow, it feels good to be comforted. But I had an ulterior motive: to see what would happen if I held the duke’s hand.

“Here. Hand, please,” I said with an innocent smile. Kallen’s large hand then enveloped mine. Together, we climbed into the carriage.

Nothing happened, just as I suspected. No visions, no flashbacks, nothing. Over the last few days, I had grabbed Kallen's hand whenever possible, but the results were always the same.

I really don’t understand this ability. As I sat deep in thought, the carriage raced through the city, but our destination turned out not to be the cafe Marianne had taken me to.

Doctor Sibel’s… La-bo-ra-tory?

I could now read to a certain extent.

Doctor... Doctor? My eyes widened as we stood beneath the sign.

“Where are we?” I asked Kallen.

“Dr. Sibel’s Laboratory. You will be taking a very short test here.”

“Me?”

Oh, the genius test. Everything clicked. My lower lip began to quiver, and I felt myself tearing up.

“The test is for your benefit, darling. It’ll be over before you know it,” Kallen said, as if to console me.

“B-but…” I had been an ordinary kid in both my past life and in this one. In fact, before I’d remembered my past, I had been…

Nearly a fool. Entirely ignorant of the world. It was only natural that my stomach turned at the prospect of entering this laboratory.

“Welcome, my lady. Please come this way.”

The person who’d greeted me was a young, bespectacled man of indeterminate age. He was dressed in a white lab coat but, despite his name, he looked nothing like a doctor.

“Is this the young lady you mentioned, Your Grace?”

“Indeed. You’d better be on your best behavior. If you are even the slightest bit rude to my daughter, you will be in trouble. Now, I need to step out for a moment, but a guard will remain outside.”

Dr. Sibel’s face paled, and then he nodded quickly. “I shall treat her with the utmost care, Your Grace.”

“Where are you going?” I asked, quickly snatching at Kallen’s coattail.

He bent down and looked into my eyes. “Will you stay here and talk to this man for a while? I promise I’ll return.”

“But…”

“It will be all right, darling. I will return very soon.”

I gave him a sad but understanding nod before reluctantly releasing him. Once he was gone, Dr. Sibel sat me down in a chair.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. My name is Sibel.”