My Family is Obsessed with Me

CH 18

Default Dyslexic Roboto Lora

place.”

After explaining that the building was 10 stories above ground and three stories below ground, the Little Bear brought me towards the large window.
The view was lower than what I saw through the glass window of the Duke’s office on the fourth floor.
Still, many things could be seen because the Duchy’s castle was built at the highest point of the territory.

“That’s the first external wall.”

The Little Bear pointed to a sturdy-looking, tall, and round wall about 500 meters away with the Duchy Castle in the center.

“There’s a second outer wall in the distance, but most of the city is between the first and second outer walls.
Between the second and third walls was a place for farming and other works alike, and the third outer wall was for guarding the borders of the land. It’s the one we passed by yesterday.”

“The territory is so big…”

The road that stretched out in an orderly manner was very wide, and the floor was well maintained.
On both sides of the road were tall, straight, and strong buildings.
Many people crowded the streets, going in and out of buildings, or just leisurely walking.

It was far away, but I could see that everyone was dressed up neatly.

“It’s such a nice place…”

The Duchy was the largest, most relaxed, and good-looking of all the territories I had ever visited.

“Indeed it is.
Mother is the one who made it all possible.
Actually, when my Grandfather was the Duke, things were bad.
It was a land blessed by the Lord, but there were so many high-class monsters around, that just the act of farming was hard.
Our territory had to develop mines deep in the Chaos Mountains, and sell monster by-products and minerals to get by.
However, my Grandfather and Uncle, the heir apparent, didn’t manage things properly and lived luxurious and wasteful lives.
He killed a lot of people to fund his luxury.
It was then!”

The Little Bear widened his shoulders and said proudly.

“Mother came back to the Duchy.
She then evicted all those who had done bad things and took the position of Duke.
Since then, she worked hard and our lives have since then become so much better.”

“Amazing!”

“Right? Mother is amazing! She’s good at magic and swordsmanship! She’s the best!”

In her previous life, the ‘Lisa’ she knew had never revealed anything about her family.

‘She must have been kicked out by her father or brother.
Maybe she even left by her own will.’

Then, after I defeated the Demon Lord and died, went back to her territoy.

The Little Beat told me a simple story that briefed over most details, but I knew it was probably not that simple.

‘She must have had a hard time.
I can’t believe she’s so successful after overcoming all that.
Lisa is the best!’

I was satisfied.

The Little Bear looked at me and pointed to a place in the forest with his hands.

“I don’t think you can see it well, but that over there is the Silver Fork.
Shall we go and get some chocolate pudding?”

My eyes shined.

“Yes!”

“It’s cold outside, so you have to be prepared properly.
Let’s get dressed first.
I’ll call the maid for you.”

The Little Bear moved with me in his arms and opened the door.
As soon as we stepped in, we spotted people walking toward us.

“Sir Gallio.
Sir Ruth.”

The Little Bear bowed politely.

Ruth, who was in his early 30s, was the first to be seen.
However, I immediately knew that he was Gallio’s son.
His large muscular body, calm expression, and horn-rimmed glasses were very similar to Gallio.
But one thing was distinctly different.

While Gallio was wearing butler’s clothes, Ruth was wearing a uniform that I was extremely familiar with.
A uniform that I had seen so many times.

A priest’s white clothes.

–You stupid orphan!

–You should be taught a lesson today!

The sudden surge of memory made me feel faint.
I clasped the Little Bear more tightly.

“Dia? What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

My trembling seemed to have been found, and the Little Bear’s words of worry passed by my ears.

“…No, I’m not.”

I took a short breath and faced my head forwards, which I had turned sideways in avoidance.

My eyes stayed down.

“Hello…?” greeted Ruth.

I knew my pronunciation had improved well enough, but I was shaking too hard that I couldn’t say it back.

I was afraid.
Not only of the Cardinal but also the priests.

I don’t like it.

‘It’s still the same…’

After being reborn, I had seen a priest.

The director of the orphanage called in a priest once a year to check for any health problems.
I was unbearably scared of the priest’s so-called treatment.

At the age of three, I once got hit by employees while shouting loudly because I didn’t want the priest to come near me.

‘It got better as I grew up.’

But inside, I was still afraid.

After leaving the Spania territory with the two Bears, I saw a priest, but it was okay because we just passed by.
However, the pain of my past life was provoked slowly when I faced one like this.

Especially my back.
The sensation of my flesh tearing became unbearably clear.

I couldn’t face Ruth anymore so I turned my head.

“Dia, are you sick?”

“No… That’s not it…”

With the weak and small voice I spoke in, even I couldn’t believe my own words.

The Little Bear stroked my head more gently than usual.

“Mr.
Ruth, you’re just in time.
Can you examine her?”

“I have been instructed by the Lord to examine the child.
Hello, Dia.
My name is Tolle Ruth, the Chief Priest of the Duchy.”

Ruth was using honorifics because I was a guest of the Duke.

I really didn’t want to, but I slowly turned my head towards Ruth.

Ruth had a friendly smile.

“I’m here to help.
If you’re sick I can heal you.”