Chapter 16 - Bragging

“Of course, mother. Don’t worry.”

“Alright then. Oh, we’ll need to order a new dress then!”

“But… will it be okay?” Our family was kicked out and sent to the countryside with not much money, so we were always short on our budget. Using such money was going to make it hard to last through winter.

“I was keeping this secret, but we actually hit a gold mine a while back!” Mother said as she laughed.

‘W-what? What are you saying? I thought our mine business was a bust?’ I thought as I watched my father, who was grinning brightly with his head high. So, is it true then? 

Mother didn’t care about my shocked expression and continued, “I kept it a secret, so I don’t interfere with your studies, you see. You wouldn’t have to study if we knew about this earlier, but I suppose money and ranks don’t mean much unless it’s backed by power, don’t you think?”

Uh… I think that money would let us live happily ever after, just fine. Do you really need something more than money and ranks?

“Besides, I believe you shouldn’t waste your life away because of your wealth! You should work to bring our family back to our former glory and bring us back to the capital. That’s when this wealth will show its use.”

‘No, Mother. I think the money shows its use by itself.’ Blaming my parents, I watched them. I felt stupid for putting everything on the line for that exam. My mother, however, ignored me and clapped as if she remembered something.

“That’s right! I think it’s better to go with Illumina to get yourself a party dress than to go with me! She must be well aware of the current trend in the capital. Let’s buy some simple clothes first.”

Hahaha. She seemed to have spent some money already. It made me realize that we did earn some wealth. Honestly, it had been so long since I worried about buying clothes that it made me nervous. After making me try on a few dresses and clothes, my mother told me, “Look at my daughter! She’s so beautiful. She got that from me.”

She wouldn’t have complimented me usually, but today she repeatedly gave me her best compliment, ‘She got that from me’ over and over again. My family’s attitude change made me realize that a person needs to prove themself for sure.

“Of course, our daughter is the best. She’s not just any girl. She’s the Harrant’s eldest child!” said Father.

“That’s right, but she has the blood of Reclan in her too,” added Mother. 

The Reclan family was my mother’s. Unlike the Harrant family, who fell to its downfall, the Reclan family was a powerful noble family with my uncle, the Captain of the Royal Knights of the Emperor, as head of the house.

Before my family fell to its downfall, I didn’t feel inferior to my cousins. My father was powerful enough in his position as the direct advisor to the emperor. But now, everything has changed. Even though we now had some wealth, so did the Reclan. Our family lacked a lot since the only connection to the central area was me, who just got into the palace. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be on top of my servants.

Thinking of a new life in the capital made my heart race. I was looking forward to it so much that I almost forgot about Kyles or Elise.

***

After buying some clothes and other necessities, we arrived at the giant mansion from my mother’s side. The giant gate opened as our carriage stopped, and I saw my uncle waiting for us by the front of the mansion through the carriage window.

“Welcome, my sister Phiria. My lovely niece Marin!” Marquis Reclan, who had red hair just like my mother and green eyes, welcomed us wholeheartedly. 

“Bell, it’s been a while.”

Mother got off the carriage and lightly hugged him. I graciously bowed to him and said, “It’s good to see you, Uncle. Have you been well?”

“I anticipated the day I would see my lovely niece again! You did very well, Marina! Good work! You took that difficult exam and even came out on top! Hahaha! And the youngest secretary! I also heard you got the job of Director-General for Policy Planning. You sure make your Reclan blood in you proud!”

“Oh, it’s been a long-” Father tried to greet him too, but he was quickly interrupted.

“Here, let’s get inside.”

I sighed at the sight of my uncle ignoring him. My father wasn’t much to be honest, but he still loved me and Harris and I loved him too. “Uncle, I got in on my first try because of my father’s advice.”

After hearing that, Marquis Reclan glanced over at my father and snapped, “Yeah, well. He used to be the direct advisor to his majesty after all. I guess you got some advice up your sleeve. Anyway, it’s been a while since Count Harrant. I was so furious that I couldn’t see my lovely niece much because of you.”

“Uncle, where’s Chelle, Jianne, and Lumi? It’s been so long since I last saw them.” I quickly asked. As I smiled while wrapping my arm around his arms, my uncle’s furious look eased a bit.