Chapter 17
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17
True to the rumors, the Grand Temple was magnificent, easily rivaling the Imperial Palace in its splendor. Even Hena let out a small gasp of admiration, but Canna’s reaction was unimpressed. Any other child her age would have been awestruck, but instead, a faint hostility radiated from her.
Hena assumed the Young Lady’s well-known distaste for the Temple had influenced her younger sister. What other reason could the girl have for being so antagonistic?
Whether it was the coachman’s excessively polite bow or the lavishly decorated carriage of a Count they had just stepped out of, all eyes were drawn to them. Since the Grand Temple’s primary patrons were nobles, the exterior gardens were exquisitely landscaped, and many people were out enjoying the view.
“That crest on the carriage. Which family is it?”
“What crest? The one with the crow?”
“No, that’s a phoenix. It’s House Rohanson.”
“House Rohanson has children? This is the first time I’ve seen them.”
“They have that one sickly daughter, don’t they?”
“Ah, that’s right. Then which of those two is she?”
“Well, isn’t it the one who looks more frail?”
“Oh my. I heard a rumor she had died. I suppose it was all nonsense.”
“Or perhaps she rose from the ashes, just like her family crest. Haha.”
Their banter was laced with mockery. Is this why the Young Lady was so reluctant to come? Hena felt a pang of understanding, even though she knew the real reason was different.
Did these people have any idea that their jokes, intended to ridicule the Count’s family, were dangerously close to the truth?
If the Young Lady herself had been here, they wouldn’t have dared to open their mouths. Transcending mere social status, Evangeline Rohanson possessed an overwhelming aura of authority. In her presence, anyone would be reduced to a mere mortal.
“Excuse me, Young Lady. Are you Lady Rohanson?”
A man, more forward than the rest of the crowd who were watching them as if appraising goods on display, approached. His gaze was fixed on Canna. Seeing Hena beside her, with her sun-kissed face and rough hands, he had clearly mistaken Canna for the noble lady.
“You must be mistaken. I am the Young Lady’s maid.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The moment the man realized Canna wasn’t the Young Lady, his attitude shifted. His gentlemanly facade vanished in a heartbeat, revealing a cocky, condescending nature.
Hena glanced at her sister, worried that the sudden change might have hurt her. Fortunately, Canna seemed unfazed, still wearing a smile.
“I thought as much,” he sneered. “Your clothes are far too shabby for Lady Rohanson.”
Hena flinched. If she had known this would happen, she would have listened to Canna and stopped by a boutique first. She didn’t care if she was insulted—she was just a maid—but hearing such things said about Canna stung.
Worse, it felt like she was tarnishing the Young Lady’s name. Since the Young Lady didn’t care about such things, Hena should have been the one to pay more attention.
“Your lady is quite something, isn’t she?”
“My lady is ‘quite something’?” Canna repeated.
“If she’s sending you to the Temple, she could have at least lent you some proper clothes to wear in public, don’t you think? House Rohanson is so wealthy. Ah, but perhaps you wouldn’t know?”
“What wouldn’t I know?”
When Canna asked, the man covered his mouth as if sharing a great secret. His voice, however, didn’t drop at all; the gesture was purely for show.
“That lady’s maternal family is House Hosaquin, isn’t it? I suppose the Duke’s family doesn’t provide much support, seeing as she doesn’t even have the money to buy her maids decent clothes.”
The man burst into laughter as if he’d just told the joke of the century. Since his voice was still loud, the people who had been stealing glances while pretending not to notice began to hide their smirks behind their fans.
Hena was the only one who couldn’t laugh. No, there were two of them.
She couldn’t bring herself to laugh because the expression on her sister’s face was far more terrifying than the nobles’ sarcasm.
Canna’s smile, which had begun to stiffen the moment the Young Lady was mentioned, had now vanished completely. Even Hena, who had looked after Canna for so long, didn't recognize that expression. Or had she seen it once before? When was it? Was it when she was looking down at Donau’s corpse after he had pierced his own throat?
A sudden fear gripped Hena. Surely my sister isn't going to kill this man right here, is she? The thought was absurd, but Hena was genuinely worried.
Fortunately, the laughter of the man and the crowd died down quickly.
“...My Lady.”
Because no one could laugh so flippantly in the presence of Evangeline Rohanson.
* * *
I wonder when Hena and Canna will be back… It’s been a while since they left, but there’s no word. My parents must have felt this way when they waited for me when I was late. Suddenly, I miss them so much I feel like I might cry.
I wonder if they’re doing well. Mom… your daughter became a RoFan villainess…
“When do you think they’ll return?”
“They probably haven’t even reached the Grand Temple yet.”
Looking at the clock, I realized hardly any time had passed. So much had happened in the interim that it felt like five hours had gone by.
Since Hena and Canna weren’t here today, I went down to the dining hall for lunch. It had been a while, and everyone was in a state of total chaos. The chef was so nervous about me being there that he cut himself while chopping vegetables. The maids serving me were trembling so much they dropped a plate, shattering it.
Then, they started bowing and apologizing on top of the broken glass. Even though shards were embedded in their hands and legs, they were bleeding, but all they cared about was my reaction. What is this, some bloodthirsty villainess trope? I told them it was fine and sent them away, then instructed the butler to use holy water to treat their wounds.
Since the Count wasn’t eating with me, I ate alone, and no one else even dared to breathe loudly. In that massive dining hall, the only sounds were the clinking of my cutlery and my own chewing. I was dying of embarrassment.
I miss Canna and Hena…
I guess being friendly with those two isn’t enough to erase Evangeline’s infamy. Then again, just because the soul inside has changed doesn’t mean her past misdeeds have vanished. They probably just think Evangeline has amnesia.
I didn’t realize how empty it would feel without Canna, who treats me so comfortably. I’m worried, too. Should I have just gone with them? I only stayed behind because I didn’t have the courage to look at a painting of a corpse, but I should have just said I’d wait outside.
I can’t take it anymore.
“Jelly. Let’s go to Canna.”
I have a high-end alternative to a taxi right here—an isekai beastkin. No, a shaman. Let’s just pop in with a ta-da! using teleportation.
I feel like an overprotective parent who sent their kids on an errand and then secretly followed them to see if they were doing okay.
Before leaving, I changed my clothes and grabbed some money. I rummaged through the dressing room and picked out a modest white dress. Most of Evangeline’s original clothes were too frilly and weren’t my style, so there wasn’t much to choose from.
If I want to escape the villainess label, I need to start wearing more humble clothes. I should buy some. I just haven’t bothered until now because I never leave the house.
“Aren’t you being a bit too protective of that human?” Jelly grumbled as he busily prepared for our departure.
Even as he complained, he brushed my hair and picked out a parasol that would match the outfit. Jelly is definitely the tsundere type. A stoic knight and a tsundere wolf beastkin… since the character types don’t overlap, I wonder if the next person to appear will be a kind noble who smiles with crinkled eyes no matter the situation.
“That’s not being protective, it’s being overprotective.”
No, Jelly. You just don’t understand!
This is a dark, angst-filled RoFan where the female lead gets kidnapped and almost dies right from the start. In a dark genre, the female lead’s carriage will overturn or assassins will appear just because she went for a ride!
Ever since Canna was kidnapped, I’ve kept her by my side, so I didn’t realize I’d be this worried. To think I have separation anxiety…
Meanwhile, my own cat is quite independent. Pudding seemed to have gone for a walk again, so I just left a note. I’m glad Pudding is a beastkin in that regard. But he’s still young and can’t speak yet; can he even read? I looked back, and Jelly nodded. I guess he can.
“Shall we go now?” Jelly held out his hand.
It seems to be a universal rule that physical contact is required for teleportation. As soon as I placed my hand on his, Jelly used his magic.
I blinked, and when I opened my eyes, I was inside a carriage. There wasn’t even the usual dizziness. Jelly must be a fairly talented magician. Then again, given his appearance, he’s undoubtedly a major character in a RoFan, and major characters have to be capable.
“I moved us into the carriage so we wouldn’t stand out. Satisfied?”
“Yes. Good job.”
We had teleported into the House Rohanson carriage. The girls weren’t there, so they must have already stepped out. Looking out the window, I could see the Grand Temple.
I wondered if they had gone inside, but then I spotted two familiar silhouettes standing in the garden. People nearby were whispering and glancing at them, and a man was talking to them. It looked like they had been stopped on their way into the Temple.
Judging by his fine clothes, he seemed to be a noble. I hope that’s not the ‘kind noble’ character I was just thinking about. After getting a look at his face, I felt relieved. He looked a bit greasy and arrogant; his face screamed ‘extra.’ He was probably just some guy trying to hit on the female lead.
I was about to go and intervene but hesitated. Isn’t it a common cliché for the male lead to save the female lead from some creep? I had a history of stealing Gabriel’s entrance scenes, so I was conflicted.
Right. Let’s wait a bit. This is the Grand Temple, so there might be a Gabriel power-up event.
While waiting, I decided to listen in on what that jerk was blathering about.
“...Your clothes are far too shabby.”
Excuse me?
Right now, Canna and Hena were wearing ordinary clothes, not the House Rohanson maid uniforms. They looked neat and pretty, so what did he mean by ‘shabby’? The words that followed were even more appalling.
“Your lady is quite something, isn’t she? If she’s sending you to the Temple, she could have at least lent you some proper clothes to wear in public, don’t you think?”
Hena had said that taking the House Rohanson carriage would prevent people from picking fights, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect. It looked like Evangeline’s villainess reputation was drawing aggro.
To be honest, that last comment pricked my conscience. In my defense, I wasn’t even paying attention to my own clothes. I’ll admit I was in the wrong there, but hearing it pointed out by someone who wasn’t even an ‘Extra 1,’ but more like an ‘Extra 18,’ made me feel disgusted.
“That lady’s maternal family is House Hosaquin, isn’t it? I suppose the Duke’s family doesn’t provide much support, seeing as she doesn’t even have the money to buy her maids decent clothes.”