Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: The Living and the Dead
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Black ribbons fluttered from places all over Merelrof's streets. It was to mourn the count's death. However, since it was said that he had been killed by a slave, the atmosphere felt more chaotic than sorrowful.
"Living as long as I have, it's the first time I've heard of a noble getting stabbed to death by a slave. No one knows what really happened."
"I heard the slave tried to stop the count from beating his wife, and that's when things went wrong."
"What do I even start with? The count beating his wife? Wasn't he the type to pamper her so much he worried she'd wear out? They seemed completely backwards."
"That's why they say no one truly knows what goes on in a marriage."
"But what about the slave? Is he dead?"
"There's no execution ceremony mentioned, so he was probably judged on the spot. What a madman. How could he kill his master?"
"This is just a rumor floating around, but apparently the wife and that slave were involved."
"Ahahaha! That's kinda funny. Haha!"
"It's true! A friend of a friend who works at the estate told me. Otherwise, why would a slave protect the lady?"
"That guy's friend, huh. What, is the emperor his friend too?"
In groups of three or five, whenever people gathered, talk of the dead count, his wife, and the slave Clark was inevitable. With no official statement from the estate, they had no choice but to let their imaginations run wild.
* * *
Lady Rien lay motionless in her dark bedroom, spending another full day like that. She couldn't even lift a finger due to feelings of helplessness and deprivation.
"Madam. Shall I bring your meal?"
"No. That's fine."
"You skipped dinner last night as well."
"...Butler. Isn't it strange?"
At the lady's question, Sammen turned his head. She was propping her chin, staring blankly into space. Strange. Sammen couldn't deny it. Wasn't she the one who had perfectly taken control of Merelrof after the death of the Three Knights and Dive's confinement?
But...
"Rather than strange, you don't look happy."
The lady gave a faint smile at Sammen's response.
Yes. That was exactly what was strange. Her husband, who had beaten her day in and day out, was dead, yet she didn't feel refreshed. It was the same feeling as when she had cut down her mother's tree and fled.
"Has the merchant group heading to Tollun with Dive been decided?"
"The Cheal Merchant Group is going there this time. The timing is perfect. If you just send Master Dive, they'll depart immediately, the messenger bird said."
Lady Rien fumbled on the side table for a mana cigarette. Ever since the day her husband died, she had developed the habit of easily smoking ten a day.
"The cost?"
"Advance payment of 100 gold coins. Commencement fee of 100 gold coins."
"Better than I thought. I figured it'd be in the thousands."
The lady nodded in satisfaction. Then, exhaling mana cigarette smoke, she muttered.
"Butler. Tell the Cheal Merchant Group that we'll entrust the job to them."
"Yes, Madam."
"But not one person—two will go."
"Two?"
From Lady Rien's silence, Sammen realized the other one was Clark. It was decided that he would be the supervisor Ian had mentioned. She wanted to believe it was the best choice.
'Anyway, to avoid investigation from the imperial palace, that's for the best. And once they reach Tollun, they can quietly dispose of Dive and come back...'
Come back, and live together?
The lady felt like she was walking a foggy path. She could see just one step ahead, but the distant destination was completely invisible.
"Dive's servant stays at the estate?"
"Yes, Madam."
Dealing with a servant left alone was as easy as pie. The lady lay in bed, inhaling mana cigarette smoke deeply for a long time.
"When does Lord Ian leave for the capital?"
"Next week. And today, he'll visit to finalize the contract."
"Today? Time flies."
"You should eat something."
She had lain there until the afternoon sun hung low, but the lady had been sorting out the final matters in her own way. This included preparing the reward promised to Ian, as well as overall reductions in the territory's security expenses.
"Is Dive still praying in the annex?"
"Yes. Well, he seems to maintain a very regular routine."
Eat upon waking, pray, eat again, pray.
He seemed to regard his confinement in the annex, unable to return home, as its own trial. He wailed day and night to that underground god or earthly god of his to save him.
"What bullshit."
Wearing only a robe haphazardly thrown on, she left the bedroom. Servants passing in the hallway gasped and turned away pretending not to see. With a mana cigarette in her mouth, the lady headed to the underground prison.
Creak.
Clark bore clear marks of torture from the knights. But the scabs had healed, and his complexion didn't look bad. Clark, who had been sitting dazedly, recognized the lady and stood up. The two stared at each other through the bars.
"In a few days."
The lady broke the silence first.
"You'll go to Hawan Kingdom with Dive. Then head to Tollun with the Cheal Merchant Group."
"Tollun..."
"Do you know where Tollun is?"
"Yes. I know."
That meant he also knew it was an extremely distant place. The lady swallowed the many words rising to her throat and fell silent.
"In preparation for an investigation from the imperial palace later, we'll need testimony that Dive arrived there safely. So, escort him there properly and..."
Lady Rien placed her hand on the back of Clark's hand gripping the bars. It was the first time they touched. Swallowing a sigh, she quietly commanded.
"Come back."
Clark smiled instead of answering. The lady said to come back, but Clark knew. He knew what burden his return would place on her. Clark lightly kissed the back of her hand and stepped back.
It was their last moment.
* * *
"Won't the carriage wheels break?"
Berik muttered, eyeing the neatly stacked boxes. They were filled with pieces of Luron that Ian had shattered and resized three or four times.
"There are only five boxes, but they feel heavier than boulders."
"We're pulling ten carriages, so divide them up more. How's the mine cleanup?"
Ian asked while donning his coat. He had pulled out his uniform, dressing more formally than usual. Today was the day to cross into Merelrof to wrap up Dive's matter and finalize the contract.
"The manager's still handling it. He asked what to do with the powder mixed in the dirt."
"Tell him to store it separately."
Even the fragments that had turned to powder hadn't lost their power. Gathering them all would surely prove useful later. Ian glanced at Berik and instructed.
"Berik, don't follow me today. Go to the forest instead."
"The forest? Ah, Philia?"
It meant to meet Philia, Ian's birth mother. Ian would soon leave this place. He might return, but it was far more likely he wouldn't. From Philia's perspective, it could be the last time with her only child.
"Yeah. Tell her I'm leaving, and if she wants, come down with her."
"Got it. But you're going to Merelrof alone?"
"Lord Romandro and his men will be with me. Some of his men staying here need to build rapport with Lady Rien since they'll handle business with her often."
The time to leave the territory was approaching, but Ian didn't feel it at all. It was impossible to completely let go or fully secure everything here.
"Haa."
Ian sighed unconsciously while looking at the piled-up documents. To ensure the territory ran smoothly without him for the time being, he had to review and advance all of them before departing. Berik just watched, chewing gula seeds with a crunch.
Knock knock.
"Lord Ian. The carriage is ready."
"And Lord Romandro?"
"He's waiting downstairs."
"Be down soon."
At Hanna's call, Ian hurriedly left the room. Hanna turned to do the same, but her eyes met Berik's.
"Lord Berik? What's wrong?"
"You're going to Merelrof too?"
"Yes. We probably won't be back until late tonight."
Hanna had been crossing to Merelrof recently to receive various training from the butler. Even if she studied reading here, she needed someone to properly teach basic etiquette and estate management.
"What's the matter?"
"Nah, nothing big. Doesn't Ian look tired?"
Hanna's eyes widened at the unexpected comment. He had been busier lately. She hadn't seen him sleep at night for days.
"He does seem that way. And he's been leaving food uneaten."
Hanna pondered deeply, then suddenly clutched her hair in shock. Ignoring Berik's bewildered gaze, she muttered to herself.
"Gasp! The butler's essence and virtue is to watch over the master's health and comfort. Oh my god. I've been neglecting that."
"...Hanna. You okay?"
"If he's busy, how busy could he be compared to me?! Me!?"
"Hey, what's wrong? You're scaring me."
"Starting with dinner tonight, I need to prepare all sorts of nourishing things. Lord Berik, thank you! I'll work hard until I become the perfect butler!"
Hanna raised her fist in a fighting pose, eyes blazing. Berik responded awkwardly. He watched her dash off like a bullet, then flopped down.
'When you're busy, you really start losing it.'
Meanwhile, before heading to the main gate, Hanna bolted straight to the dining hall to find the head chef.
"Uncle Mander! I'm going to Merelrof, but starting tomorrow until Lord Ian comes back up, absolutely, absolutely serve high-nutrition meals."
"Hanna? Suddenly? What's up?"
"Lord Ian seems to be losing stamina. He looks tired, anyway—pig, duck, beef! Got it? See you!"
Clatter clatter!
The kitchen looked like a typhoon had swept through. A maid doing dishes inside poked her head out.
"What did Hanna say?"
"Guess I need to get some meat from the village. For Lord Ian's health."
"Huh? Lord Ian? Is he sick?"
"Lord Ian is sick? Where?"
The rumor spread in an instant. 'Ian looks tired' quickly morphed into 'Ian is sick' or 'he's ailing.' A servant who went outside drove the nail in by telling the butcher.
"Lord Ian's been overdoing it lately, so..."
"What!?"
Clop clop!
At that moment, inside the carriage heading to Merelrof. Ian suddenly felt an itch in his ear he couldn't ignore.
'Berik, talking shit about me?'
He frowned, rubbing his ear for no reason, and Romandro across from him asked worriedly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a momentary discomfort."
"By the way, we settled most things via letters, but there's no decision on the count's funeral."
The overall schedule had been easily aligned, but the count's funeral remained undecided. Ian rested his chin, gazing out the window. Far off, Merelrof came into view. The sky was overcast, as if it would dump snow any moment.
"Probably no one knowing, like that."
"Hm? No one knowing?"
"Like when the lady got married—no one knowing. That's why they're waiting for winter."
For a funeral no one could attend, or would come to.