Chapter 65
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 65
As long as she could stand by Evangeline Rohanson’s side, it mattered little whether she was dressed in splendid finery or the rags of a beggar.
Having finished her preparations, Kinder hurried down the stairs. In the foyer, the butler had a carriage waiting.
“Madame.”
Kinder stared blankly at the man who had served House Toten his entire life. Even after her husband’s death, the butler had always treated her with the utmost respect. For that, she had been grateful and had trusted him completely.
How bitter it was to realize so late that his loyalty did not extend to her child. If not for Lady Rohanson’s correction and her son’s warning, Kinder would have remained oblivious for the rest of her life.
Evangeline’s words echoed in her mind—the claim that a demon had brought her back to life. It felt like a single, desperate ray of hope. The hope that even if Ryder truly died, he could be brought back.
“When did you say Dies would arrive?”
“I was told he would arrive tonight, Madame. Though he may arrive earlier.”
The butler looked pleased as he spoke.
Yes. You must be very pleased, Kinder thought, gnashing her teeth. The timing was far too convenient. A man who had never once visited was suddenly showing up now? The butler must have secretly sent for him. Did they think Ryder would finally succumb to his illness this time? They had grasped the situation far faster than she had. Or perhaps their intuition was just that sharp.
If Ryder’s death became public, the title of Marquis would pass to Dies, her husband’s blood relative. Though Kinder carried the Toten name, she shared no blood with them, leaving her with no claim to the title. If that happened, she wouldn’t even be able to fulfill Ryder’s dying wish. She could never, ever let that happen.
“You will be heading straight to the Imperial Palace, correct, Madame? I shall inform the coachman.”
Kinder, who had been staring blankly at the carriage, shook her head. “Bring me a horse.”
“I am going to the Rohanson Estate first. Just prepare a horse.”
“Madame, it’s pouring rain. Surely you’ll take the carriage?”
“Butler,” she said, her voice sharp, “since when do you question my decisions? I will stop by the Rohanson Estate and borrow a carriage from there. It will be fine.”
Now that she knew the truth, the gentle words she was accustomed to using simply wouldn't come. Snapping before she could stop herself, Kinder didn’t bother to apologize. Instead, she mounted the horse a servant had hurriedly brought over.
She needed a chance to speak with Evangeline alone. There would be too many listening ears at the Imperial Palace; Count Rohanson’s carriage was the perfect place. Of course, Evangeline might have already left for the palace, or she might refuse to let Kinder ride with her.
“Oh dear,” the butler sighed.
But there was no time to stop her. Kinder pulled the hood of her robe over her head and spurred her horse forward.
“Can you abandon your beloved Rachel and lean on a demon, Madame? Even if the price they demand is not the Marquis’s estate, but a human life?”
Lady Rohanson’s voice was still vivid in her mind. A demon. A demon… Only now could Kinder give her answer.
She regretted every moment she had wasted agonizing over the choice. She urged her horse faster. The animal nearly slipped on the wet stones, almost causing a serious accident, but she paid it no mind. The wetness on her cheeks was not tears, but rain. Kinder pushed the horse even harder. Faster. Take me to the demon.
After Kinder rode off, the remaining servants whispered among themselves about the Marchioness’s strange behavior.
“Why did Madame leave in such a hurry?”
“I heard she’s acting as Lady Rohanson’s chaperone.”
“A chaperone? While Young Master Ryder is so sick? And she rode a horse, which she never does.”
“Is Lady Rohanson really that terrifying?”
Instead of scolding the servants, the butler decided to choose his words carefully for the high-ranking guest who would soon arrive. That would be far more profitable.
A short while later, another carriage pulled up to the estate.
“Ah, my beloved home! It’s been too long! I love it!”
The man who stepped out of the carriage puffed out his chest and inhaled deeply. It was Dies, the younger brother of the late Marquis. Perhaps it was the rain, but even the estate’s signature scent of damp rot and fish felt exceptionally refreshing to him.
“What’s this? Did everyone come out to wait for me? Oh, you shouldn’t have.”
In truth, they had gathered to see the Marchioness off, but the butler didn’t correct him. He simply bowed deeply.
“Welcome, Young Master. You’ve arrived early.”
“Yeah, well. I wanted to see my dear sister-in-law as soon as possible. Is she in that carriage? Why isn’t she coming out to greet me?”
Dies tilted his head, eyeing the carriage parked before the mansion.
“No. She left on horseback.”
“What? How bizarre!”
Dies kicked the carriage, and a loosely fitted wheel rattled loudly.
“What is this? Why is it so worn out?”
“I couldn’t say, sir.”
Embarrassed, Dies cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“Well, I hope my sister-in-law has a good time. This might be her last banquet, after all. Once I become the Marquis of Toten, she’ll have no reason to attend such events. Surely she won’t try to remarry me just to keep her status? Ugh, gross.”
Watching Dies act as if he were already the master of the estate, Lak reconsidered his choice. But the die was cast. All he could do now was pray for a high roll.
“It is raining, sir. Please come inside. Sion has prepared a room for you.”
“It’s been a while, Nanny.”
Lak ushered Dies inside. Dies, strutting as if he owned the place, suddenly stopped.
“Oh, right. What about the kid? Did my sister-in-law take him, too?”
The “kid” he was referring to was Ryder.
“No. Young Master Ryder is ill and resting in his room. Seeing as the Marchioness is attending the banquet, his condition must have improved significantly after these past few days.”
The butler, unaware that the child was dead, offered his own speculation. It was a logical deduction for a man who had no idea the Marchioness was pretending her dead son was merely asleep.
“Tsk. If he’s going to die, he should just get it over with. He clings to life so stubbornly,” Dies clicked his tongue and sneered.
Lak agreed. They had all said Ryder wouldn’t live past five, yet he had survived well beyond that. His life, hanging by a thread, simply refused to snap.
Worse, there was an unexpected precedent of someone escaping the curse. Normally, they would have been content to wait for the child to die, but the situation had changed. The reason Lak was acting so hastily was Evangeline. He feared she might actually improve Ryder’s condition. That could not be allowed to happen. A cursed child could never sit in the seat of the Marquis.
The one who had helped the agonizing Lak was an unexpected figure. Of course, that person was not the fool standing before him.
“Is that so? His own uncle is here, and he doesn’t even come to greet me. Well, since he’s sick, I suppose I should be understanding. Shall I go take a look at his face after all this time?”
Dies smirked and started up the stairs, looking highly amused. To the butler, he looked exactly like a young boy about to throw a stone at a helpless frog.
*
“…”
“…”
Wow. I didn’t know such a perfect, oppressive silence could exist between a father and daughter during a meal. The only sound was the clinking of silverware.
I was currently having a meal with the Count, who had insisted he had something important to discuss before the banquet. I had taken time out of my busy debutante preparations for this, and this was what I got? I felt like I was going to choke.
Even to me, a novice in the world of etiquette, the Count possessed impeccable table manners. No wonder Evangeline’s mother had fallen for him. Sigh. Looks really aren’t everything.
My mood soured. I threw all the etiquette Doline had taught me out the window and began stabbing at my steak. It must have been cooked rare, as blood seeped out and spread across the white plate. Ugh, there goes my appetite. I’m a well-done kind of person. With my appetite ruined, I just minced the meat without eating it.
As I was making my displeasure glaringly obvious, the Count finally set down his utensils. What? Are you uncomfortable because your daughter’s table manners are absolute garbage? Well, do you think I’m comfortable?
Of course, the people truly suffering were the kitchen staff, who had been thrown into a panic by the sudden demand for a meal in the dining room. The servant serving the courses was trembling so badly that when our eyes met, he almost spilled the wine. I had been keeping a close watch on him, anticipating some kind of accident, so I quickly caught the tilting glass and set it upright. Phew. Not a single drop spilled.
“You should be careful.”
“Y-yes. I-I am so sorry.”
After that, all my plates were served by Yulma, who had been pushed forward by the others. I’d heard Yulma, who used to cook at Daisy’s orphanage, was now working in the kitchen here. I wondered why they were making a kitchen assistant serve tables, but it turned out they had sent her because they figured she was the most likely to survive.
“Yulma, you’re the only one who won’t tremble in front of the young lady.”
“You’re the hope of the kitchen! Go!”
“I’m so glad you came to work with us.”
“It’s not like the young lady will kill you for making a mistake. Why is everyone so scared?”
“What are you made of, iron?”
If they were going to gossip, they should have at least done it quietly. Their voices were so loud I had to struggle to pretend I couldn’t hear them. Glancing over, I saw the Count was also eating calmly, feigning deafness. Well, I suppose pretending not to see what you see and not to hear what you hear is a noble virtue.
Yulma finished serving and bowed her head. It felt like it had been a while since I’d last seen her. Then again, since I had no reason to come to the dining room, it really had been a while. Still, she was a child I had rescued, so I wanted to ask how she was.
“You seem to be doing well.”
“Yes, thanks to you, my lady.”