My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 7

“I’m sorry for dragging you out so forcefully.”

“Eh…?”

Shortly after they had distanced themselves from Iama and the others, Varick said this. He had asked a server to portion out some food and was gently escorting Otilie.

“No, it’s not like that…”

“I thought if we continued talking there, Miss Iama would interrupt us. There were things I didn’t want her to hear, you see.”

“Is that so…”

Though she answered this way, Otilie wasn’t entirely convinced. She simply couldn’t understand the feeling of being troubled by having a conversation interrupted.

To begin with, the very act of having a conversation with Varick like this was overwhelmingly intimidating. The attention of the other nobles was steadily gathering upon them, and she strongly felt the jealous and envious gazes of the young ladies her age. On top of that, she was beginning to clearly hear the nasty remarks directed at Otilie.

(Compared to my sister’s inner voice, these are quite gentle, though.)

Even so, it didn’t feel good. Otilie trembled, her spine quivering with fear.

“Actually, my mother possesses the ability to see the future.”

After putting sufficient distance between themselves and the other nobles, Varick began calmly.

“The ability to see the future?”

“Yes. However, it’s not that she can freely see any future she wishes. Instead, she suddenly sees major events that are about to happen or important people. For example, my mother foresaw the coup d’état in the neighboring country and the large-scale flood in the borderlands.”

“Eh? Those two incidents?”

Otilie remembered the two incidents Varick mentioned quite well.

Regarding the coup in the neighboring country, because all the resident nationals had been withdrawn to their home country beforehand, there were zero human casualties. Furthermore, regarding the crops that relied on imports from that country, domestic cultivation had been strengthened slightly before the incident, so the impact on the nation was minimal.

(I had thought they were able to probe the neighboring country’s movements in such detail because the spy was from the Einhorn family, but…)

It seemed it was actually due to the Queen’s foresight.

As for the great flood in the borderlands, although a record-breaking downpour caused the great river to overflow, the residents of the affected areas had evacuated beforehand, so there were no casualties at all. Additionally, because the embankments had been reinforced right before the flood, damage to houses and fields was minimal.

“Thanks to my mother prophesying the future events about to occur, we were able to implement countermeasures in advance. We managed to minimize the impact on our country.”

“Is that so… But why are you telling such a secret to me?”

The Queen’s ability and achievements were wonderful. They deserved praise.

However, since they weren’t public, it could only be assumed they were being kept secret intentionally. Why would he confide in Otilie—?

“My mother said she saw you, Miss Otilie, in a future that is to come.”

Varick smiled warmly. Otilie’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“Yes. She doesn’t seem to know specifically what will happen yet, but she said she clearly heard your name in the future. So, wanting to know what kind of woman you are, I invited you to the soirée like this.”

“I see.”

As she replied, Otilie let out a small sigh. She had been wondering all along why she had been summoned to the palace. Learning that there was a proper reason for it, Otilie felt relieved.

“—And, telling you this was the main reason I brought you out. But, there’s one more thing I want to confirm.”

“Something you want to confirm?”

“Otilie, are you really eating properly?”

Varick asked with a serious expression. Otilie inadvertently gasped.

“Escorting you made me realize it anew. Your thinness is abnormal. It’s not something seen in a person who is eating satisfactorily. What’s the cause? Your father? Or Miss Iama?”

“N-No, I’m not…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to harm you.”

At Varick’s words, Otilie glanced at Iama. She seemed to still be chatting and laughing with the Queen and her father. They were far enough apart that they couldn’t hear each other’s voices. Otilie let out a small sigh.

“Ever since I can remember, neither my father nor my sister wanted to eat meals with me… I—I’m disliked by both of them.”

Confessing to someone that you are disliked is pathetic. It feels like admitting you are a ‘worthless person,’ and it was very painful and required courage.

“So, I started taking my meals in my own room, but I’m disliked by the servants too. Gradually, I started hating going to get my meals, and I voluntarily reduced the number of times.”

As she confided the circumstances, Otilie’s heart sank. It was so awkward she couldn’t even look at Varick’s face.

“I see… So that’s how it was.”

“So, this isn’t my family’s problem, but my own. If I were stronger, I could have an environment where I eat properly for every meal. It’s all my fault…”

“That’s not true.”

Varick denied it firmly. Otilie inadvertently raised her face.

“To begin with, it’s abnormal that meals aren’t provided unless you go to get them. Moreover, the Marquis and Miss Iama, who are tolerating that situation, are clearly wrong. It’s a mistake. Miss Otilie, you’ve done nothing wrong. You have every right to be angry with them.”

At Varick’s words, tinged with anger, Otilie felt like crying.

This was the first time anyone had taken her side. For the longest time, she had thought she was the one in the wrong, and had been told so repeatedly. On top of that, he was angry for her sake. That made Otilie incredibly happy.

“Thank you, Your Highness Varick. Your words have saved me.”

“Saved, you say… Even if you’re fine with it, I’m not. Let’s go to the Marquis right now. I’ll protest—”

“Please! If you truly care for me, let your feelings remain as just that. If Your Highness tells my father or sister about this, I will receive severe punishment. I have nowhere else to go and no one else to rely on besides that house.”

“…I see.”

As he replied, Varick wore a thoughtful expression.

(I wonder what he’s thinking about?)

He was definitely deep in thought—but why? She couldn’t hear his voice at all. Normally, no matter how much she covered her ears, other people’s voices would flow into her head, but this was strange.

“Your Highness Varick.”

Just then, Iama’s voice rang out behind them. Turning around, Otilie saw Iama smiling with a clearly displeased expression, and she flinched, her body trembling.