Chapter 134
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134
His own foolishness and inadequacy held him back. Despite his misgivings, Gabriel knew he needed to maintain his position as Commander of the Knights. That meant he couldn't stay at the duke's estate to help Evangeline—not that she probably needed his help anyway.
"It is fine. You are doing more than enough, Sir Gabriel."
Evangeline replied with a smile, but it was nothing like the one she had shown Canna moments before. This smile was a perfect imitation of a human one, and Gabriel knew all too well the coldness that lay beneath her gentle facade.
The emotion he’d glimpsed in her today was especially clear: Evangeline loathed him. The realization tore him apart. It felt just like the old days, when they had held hands and danced.
Has nothing changed?
He asked himself the question, then shook his head. Things were different now. He was no longer the boy who, forgetting his place, had stepped forward out of mere curiosity. Heeding Canna’s warning, Gabriel had resolved to accept Evangeline for exactly who she was.
It didn't matter if the world no longer seemed as beautiful as it once had. It was Evangeline who had reached out to him. His nightmare was over. Evangeline had redeemed his immature youth. He had found his true savior—not the Sun Goddess, but her.
Gabriel carefully took Evangeline's hand. Unlike before, she didn't pull away. His heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't bring himself to press his lips to her skin, his mouth hovering just above her hand.
"Lady Evangeline, please take care of yourself."
"You too, Sir Gabriel."
With heavy steps filled with regret, Gabriel took his leave.
Behind Evangeline, Canna bowed to Gabriel and Raphaella, a gesture of thanks for the escort and their work. Her demeanor was remarkably gentle, a stark contrast to the past when she had so sharply and overbearingly demanded he love her lady.
Perhaps Canna had realized that Gabriel was now determined to accept Evangeline completely, just as she had wished.
* * *
After Canna and I had our joyful reunion, Gabriel, having finished moving the holy water, tentatively announced it was time for him to leave.
He’d just been telling me how much he missed me, but it was all just lip service, wasn't it? The second his work was done, he was trying to leave without a second thought. I grumbled internally, chewing on my complaints like a petulant child, but I couldn't actually ask him to stay. In truth, it was a miracle Gabriel had managed to squeeze out any time to see me at all.
If I had my way, I’d have him stay at the Duke Hosaquin estate and hunt rats with me. Unfortunately, Gabriel had too much on his plate. Since I was stuck here, he had to be the one running around outside, keeping Bishop Marik in check. Sigh. The fate of a Male Lead. I’d let it go.
Saddened to be parting after such a brief meeting, Gabriel stared at me, his eyes filled with lingering regret. He probably felt like we were in a long-distance relationship. Thinking of it that way, it made a certain kind of sense.
"I am deeply sorry that I cannot be of help to you, Lady Evangeline."
Gabriel's apology was even more polite than usual, which only made me feel like a terrible boss nagging an overworked employee.
"It is fine. You are doing more than enough, Sir Gabriel."
I praised him, adding that I wouldn't forget his contributions, but his expression only fell further. Was he really this upset just because he couldn't help me? Was being useful to me that important? He had really fallen hard. Once again, I was terrified by my own prowess.
"Lady Evangeline. Please take care of yourself."
After his solemn farewell, Gabriel started to leave the greenhouse, only to suddenly turn and walk back. I thought he'd forgotten something, but he asked if he could whisper in my ear.
When I nodded, Gabriel glanced at Canna before leaning in close.
"Do you have anyone in mind regarding the informant in the Rohanson Mansion?" he whispered. "One of your maids, perhaps, Lady Evangeline..."
He was asking about the spy hiding in the Rohanson Mansion.
I’d wondered why he was being so secretive, but it seemed he wanted to know if Canna could be trusted. What a pointless worry. I could guarantee that my three closest aides were not spies. Pudding and Jelly were innocent, and so was Jeremia. Betrayal was impossible between people bound to me by a salvation narrative. After all, there’s a reason protagonists go around helping people in these stories.
Gabriel also seemed to be asking about the mansion's servants in a broader sense.
To be fair, if Count Rohanson had planted a spy among them, it would be difficult for me to root them out.
Even with the Count away, the Rohanson Mansion was still his. It was only natural to be wary of the servants he had hired. The butler was a bit suspicious, too.
"Well, I wonder..." I trailed off, giving a vague answer since I couldn't just say everyone was a suspect.
Seeing he wouldn't get a definitive answer, Gabriel advised me not to trust the people in the mansion too much and promised to investigate further. The way he kept glancing at Canna, however, made it obvious he was just wary of her. As expected, the 'Female Lead and Male Lead fighting over me!' trope was alive and well.
In any case, I planned to stay at the Duke Hosaquin estate until 'The Rat' was dealt with, so I’d be fine for now. Gabriel nodded in agreement and was the first to leave the greenhouse.
The problem now was Michel. When he stubbornly insisted he would stay with me if it killed him, Uriel literally chopped him on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious before dragging him away. Is that really something knights are allowed to do?
This is exactly how I got a bad reputation for bewitching the knights. I could almost understand the rumors when it came to Gabriel, but I’d never done anything to Michel. It was completely unfair. The only thing I’d ever done to him was splash some water on him to put out a fire…
As I stared blankly at the spot where they’d disappeared, I made eye contact with Raphaella. He seemed to be pondering the purpose of the knights' existence as well. Thankfully, Raphaella was my ally. You really do need at least one competent subordinate who can think normally.
"I hope the matters of the Duke's estate are resolved smoothly."
Raphaella gave a polite bow and was the last to leave the greenhouse.
Huh?
Why was he leaving Canna behind? Weren't you going, Canna?
As I looked at her, puzzled, she grabbed the hem of my clothes.
"My lady, I... I'm so worried about you I can't even sleep at night. Can't I stay for just a little while? Just to see how you're doing, and then I'll go back."
It seemed she didn't want a brief visit; she intended to move into the Duke's estate and serve me. No wonder she'd come with Gabriel instead of just asking Jelly. By arriving with him, she had an official reason to be here, avoiding any suspicion.
"Please..."
Canna looked up at me with sparkling eyes. She wasn't a six-year-old Mavka, but did she really think whining would work on me?
She was absolutely right. I introduced Canna to Rico, explaining that she would be attending to me from now on. Coincidentally, I had just dismissed Hazel as my personal maid, leaving me with no one. It wasn't that Hazel had done anything wrong; I was just being cautious while I didn't know the identity of 'The Rat.' Since Canna had just arrived, there was no way she'd been compromised. I could relax.
But if Canna was here, was Hena all alone at the mansion? I couldn't imagine Hena letting her come by herself. Curious, I had to ask.
"Did Hena really let you come alone?"
"Right now... Sister is a bit out of sorts," Canna said, scratching her neck. Red marks bloomed on her skin. She was scratching near the long scar, and I grabbed her hand, afraid she would draw blood. My heart grew heavy.
Donau had inflicted the wound, but tracing it back, it was my fault for failing to control the summoning circle. Because of me, Canna had developed this terrible habit.
Holy water would have been the best treatment, but Canna adamantly refused it. I silently vowed that if she touched her neck one more time, I would heal her, whether she liked it or not.
"What do you mean, 'out of sorts'?"
At my question, Canna hesitated before finally speaking.
"Lately, Sister has been strange."
"Hena?"
"She's been interfering with everything I do and is constantly on edge. I thought it would be better to give her some space to rest."
I processed her words. So... ah. They had a fight.
Come to think of it, Canna was at that age. Puberty hits hard. They had always gotten along, but being nagged by an older sister was bound to spark some rebellion. She’d run away from home and, having nowhere else to go, came to me.
Still, I was glad she hadn't ended up somewhere dangerous. This was probably all due to the trauma from her kidnapping by Donau.
If I could, I would have hung a banner that read, 'Congratulations! Canna's First Runaway!' Of course, Canna would have glared daggers at me, so it was an impossible fantasy.
* * *
The Rohanson Mansion was unusually quiet. The entire estate had been subdued since Evangeline’s departure, but today the air was particularly heavy. It felt like a premonition—like the eerie calm of the sea receding just before a tsunami.
Even to Jeremia, who hadn't lived in the Rohanson Mansion for long, the mansion's gloomy energy was palpable. She pondered the reason for a moment, then thought of Canna and her hair as brilliant as a flower. Canna fawned over Evangeline, yet she wasn't the least bit intimidated when dealing with Jeremia, a princess in a demon's body.
Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Canna all day. The moment she realized this, Jeremia stopped a passing maid.
"I haven't seen Canna around. Is she sick?"