4 Chapter 4

Anna the doppelganger found me as I was heading towards the kitchens

"Finally! I thought young master Rufus will stick to you all day!"

Yeah, I though so too. Not that I dislike being in the company of an ikemen, but seriously, he has a rather intimidating aura, you know.

"Well, he wanted me to do something this afternoon, so let's go. I wish to meet your Mrs Daisy and the other residents of this manor. Oh, and I met the banshee this morning at breakfast."

"Oh, you mean Rue. She prefers to be called Rue. Apparently, some old ancestor who has the sight like you gave her that name."

"Do anyone else here has the ability to see her?"

"Hmm, none that I know of. But I think young master Rufus can sense us sometimes. He has quite the talent for magic too."

As we were gossiping, we arrived at a small nook behind the fireplace. It was quite a blindspot too as the shadows from the windows and the lamps cast a shadow over it, obscuring a small, imperceptible door. Beyond the door was a cozy little drawing room very much like the one back at home. A small old woman, with red apple cheeks was sitting by the window, knitting. At the sight of us she stood up abruptly, knocking away the little knitting basket.

"Is this-?"

"Sorry to frighten you so, Mrs. Daisy. This is the controversial adopted daughter, Liliana. She has promised to help us punish that woman, so I brought her along."

Hey! I never promised to punish anyone. Stop spouting nonsense or I'll exorcise you.

"Oh my, you look just like my youn lgady when she was a child! Such a sweet little girl she was back then," she exclaimed while grabbing my face closer to hers.

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. I am Lily Crowe," I tried to gently tried to extricate myself from her rather strong fingers.

"Crowe! By any means, are you Chistopher Crowe's daughter?"

"Yes. Do you know my father?"

"Yes. And your mother as well. Sit down child, and I'll prepare you some tea and biscuits."

Like a doting grandmother, Mrs. Daisy busled off to an adjacent room.

"Oh dear, she is off to one of her moods again" lamented Anne.

"What moods?"

"She always tell anyone she catches tales about the previous residents of this house, especially of the young girl who looks like you that she used to take care of." she shrugged.

She knows my parents, and a little girl who looks like me. But my mother and father never mentioned anything about the House of Sever. In fact, I never knew of their existence until yesterday.

"You see, dear, my young lady, that is, your mother Susannah, is the daughter of the previous marquis' cousin," Mrs Daisy began as she placed a platter of biscuits and a tea service on the table.

"She used to live here since her mother, your grandmother, died when she was still a wee babe. She was taken in by the old marchioness because your grandfather was so shocked by his wife's death he cannot care for a young child by himself. And so, sweet young Susannah grew up here together with her cousin Rudolf, the current marquis.They were very close, and Rudolf is so very much in love with her. He still is, you know," she added with a wink.

"Wow, like mother like daughter, hey?" Anna quipped as she handed me a biscuit. "Perhaps you and Rufus will also develop a romance. How envious~~."Anna squirmed and giggled in her seat like a teenage girl in love.

Would you please stop that! Seeing my appearance with such a stupid expression is making me sick.

I forcefully turned my lookwarm gaze back to Mrs. Daisy.

"I know, right?"

Not you too, Mrs. Daisy!

"Ahem. Anyway, if I remember correctly, my father did not come from the nobility, so how did my parents met?"

I could only divert their attention to this. After all, I'm still my father's daughter and I'd rather not know of any awkward truths regarding the history of this place.

"Oh, that. Well, your father might not have noble blood, but he came from the prestigous Crowe family, known for its talented mages. In fact, your father is considered one of the best mages in his generation. He and the marquis were best friends back when they were students and your father used to come here and explore the Realm of Thran back in their youth."

I do not have a good feeling of where this is going... wait, Realm of Thran?

"The Realm of the Forest Lord Thran, where fairies and magical beasts reside," explained Mrs. Daisy. "It's boundaries are just beyond the Willow Lake, a few hours' trek into the woods surrounding this manor."

Eh? The woods are just beyond the back garden of this place. The magical realm is that close!

"Ah, your expression is just like Chris' when he was young. But be careful, child, the realm of Thran is full of wonders both beautiful and terrible, and Thran himself, though not malevolent, is fickle and temperamental. You would not want to be on his bad side."

Don't worry. My father taught me a lot about fairies, and I've had experience from gathering materials for my mother's magic crafts.

"What happened to Susannah and Chris? And the Marquis' unrequitted love?"

Anna just have to stir the conversation back to that topic...

"Stop scowling at me," Anna retorted, "Isn't it better to know of any possible landmines ahead of time?"

Tch...

"Oh, it is a lot awkward, of course," Mrs. Daisy gamely resumed her narrative, "Susannah and Chris were very much in love, and the friendship between Rudolf and Chris were put under a lot of strain. There was even a time they almost dueled each other!"

"Oh, my!" Anna gushed from the sideline.

Stop it, it's not funny! Remember, I am now currently living in the house of that failed suitor of my mother's. I don't think I can face the marquis clamly as before. Oooohhh, I can feel the headache coming along...

"Well, of course Susannah would have none of it. For her, Rudolf is like a brother, and both her beloved and brother fighting is really hurting her too. Fortunately for her sake, Rudolf willingly backed down."

I think the marquis have earned my respect hearing that.

"But why did my parents never mentioned the marquis nor their connection to the House of Sever?"

"Ah, I'm sorry child," Mrs. Daisy's face was suffuced with sorrow, "I do not know why your parents chose not to tell you."

"Perhaps, it has something to do with that haughty woman upstairs?"

Anna, please don't show a scary expression with my face.

Mrs. Daisy's expression turned sour. Aahh this is why one must not anger fairies~.

"That woman woman usurped the position of the marchioness from my sweet Susannah. She setup poor Rudolf to compromise her. That is why Rudolf had to back down and abandon his feelings!" Mrs Daisy spat with hated.

"Wait a minute, I thought my mother chose my father, and the marquis backed down willingly?!"

"W-well, yes. Susannah's choice have always been Chris from the start," Mrs Daisy corrected sheepishly. "It's just that, we always hoped that Susannah have married Rudolf and become the marchioness herself. The old marchioness groomed her for that role since childhood, you know."

Haaah. I'm starting to have doubts, perhaps the marquis didn't really see my mother that way. The fairies are just confusing sibling love for romantic love. Yep, probably that. Besides, its not a good idea to marry relatives, genetically speaking.