Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Summoned by the Matriarch
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I had never seen Hestia so weak. Her eyes, fixed on the floor, were devoid of life. How long had she been sitting here like this?
"It's because I wasn't good enough. It happened again. I'm so sorry, Young Lady."
"How is this your fault, Hestia? It's not."
This was just an accident.
It was, by definition, an unforeseen event—something no one could have prepared for. It wasn't anyone's fault, yet Hestia was blaming herself.
"No, if only I'd been more careful, this might never have happened. Not then... and not now."
"Hestia. Look at me, please?"
"It's all my..."
Her tearful voice faded. At a loss for words, I could only watch her in silence.
I couldn't begin to fathom how much she had been suffering. I was afraid that any clumsy attempt at comfort would only deepen her wounds.
All I could do was stay by her side.
"I tried so hard not to make a mistake this time. I wanted to protect you, of all people."
"...I know you did."
"...It might be for the best."
I paused, my hand still on her back. What did she mean, 'for the best'? I tried to see her expression, but her face was obscured.
But I had a feeling I couldn't just stay silent. A sense of dread washed over me, wondering what was going through her mind.
"What do you mean by that, Hestia?"
"When we return to the estate, I'm going to request to be expelled. ...I think the family would be better off with a different physician..."
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Hestia spoke so casually, even though she knew exactly what being expelled from the family meant.
Expulsion was a punishment reserved for those who had committed a great sin against the family. It meant being branded.
You would be cast out from your clan, left to wander with nowhere to go.
I felt a surge of anger.
Angry that I hadn't known Hestia was feeling this way, and that I hadn't even tried to find out.
"This was an accident. It's absolutely not your fault, Hestia. And..."
I hesitated.
Could I even bring up Estella's name? Whenever Hestia looked at me, she must have been reminded of her.
It wasn't just her. Everyone else in the family was likely reminded of Estella whenever they saw me.
"...What happened with Lady Estella wasn't your fault, either. That much is obvious."
"I should have insisted on staying with her. If I had... Lady Estella wouldn't have died in such a meaningless way."
She might have been right.
If Hestia, her personal physician, had been there, perhaps it wouldn't have happened.
And that was why Hestia was in so much pain.
Was it really my place to comfort her? Me, of all people?
My hand, which had been comforting her, faltered. Hestia's voice broke the silence.
"...You are the precious person Lady Estella died to protect, Young Lady. I will ask for the punishment I deserve."
"Hestia!"
"I'm alright, Young Lady. So please..."
Hestia, who had kept her head down, finally turned to look at me. Her complexion was pale and unwell.
It felt like nothing I said would get through to her. As I watched her with concern, her eyes suddenly widened.
"Oh, Young Lady! Y-your body! And your voice, too...!"
"Oh? Yes, it just happened. Surprised?"
"Oh..."
Staring at me blankly, Hestia shot to her feet.
"I'm so sorry! I should have checked on you first. Do you feel anything unusual? Now that you've suddenly matured... And your pheromones? I need to check..."
"Ca... calm down, Hestia."
* * *
"There are no immediate issues. Your pheromones are much more stable than before, too."
"Really? Can we go back to the South soon?"
"Let's wait and see how things go before deciding. We still don't know what might happen."
"I suppose so, but..."
I was eager to return to the South. I saw Set and Arban recently, but it had been a long time since I'd seen Kaide.
Besides.
"Dad isn't writing to me."
"...Excuse me?"
"It's awful, isn't it? Even you must think so, Hestia."
Kaide hadn't sent me a single letter since I sent word of my arrival in the North.
"Hestia, are you in contact with Dad?"
"Ah... well."
"So you are?"
Of course they were. He would be receiving regular reports on the situation. Which meant he was only avoiding contact with me.
"Haha. I'm sure the Gaju has his reasons, Young Lady. Um..."
"It's fine. You don't have to make excuses for him."
"I'm sure the Gaju is reading all of your letters."
"How am I supposed to know that if he doesn't reply?"
I scoffed. What good was it if he read them but never replied?
If he didn't reply this time, I'd just give him the cold shoulder when I got back.
Besides, this next letter was going to be about something rather serious.
"Hestia."
"Yes?"
"If it's not you, I don't want a physician. I will never let anyone else take your place."
I gave her a wide smile before leaving the room. Hestia, who seemed to be at a loss for words, returned it with a faint one of her own.
There was no reply.
* * *
The first thing I needed to do when I got back to my room was write to Kaide.
Of course, he would never allow Hestia to be expelled, but I'd feel better asking him to prevent it anyway.
As I walked down the hall, I glanced out a window and spotted a familiar head of blond hair.
Our eyes met, and Sage looked at me with recognition.
Was he coming back from somewhere?
I waved, happy to see him, but Sage just gave a curt nod before abruptly turning and disappearing from view.
My hand froze mid-air.
"What...?"
Did he just avoid me? No, I must be imagining things.
...No, that was definitely him avoiding me.
I stood there, stunned. Staring in the direction Sage had vanished, I slowly lowered my hand.
"It must be my imagination."
It felt strange, but there was no reason for Sage to avoid me. I nodded to myself, trying to rationalize it.
"I should just go back and write that letter."
And I'd be sure to threaten that if he didn't reply this time, there wouldn't be a next one.
Just as I started walking again, Karma appeared before me. My eyes widened as he bowed his head and spoke.
"Young Lady."
"What is it?"
"The Kiraas Gaju has sent word. She wishes to see you."
"...Lady Muhella?"
"She says there is much she wishes to hear regarding the recent incident."
Ah. Right, Muhella knew nothing. We hadn't given the North any explanation for our visit.
She must have been quite shocked by what happened. I wouldn't have been able to argue if she asked us to leave the North immediately.
Sage might have already told her everything.
"Alright. Where should I go?"
"She is waiting in the Gaju's office. An escort is on standby."
"An escort?"
When I asked in surprise, Karma glanced behind me. A man with a stern expression stood there, waiting for our conversation to finish.
"Alright, please lead the way."
"Yes, I will show you the way."
The man led the way. My mind raced as we walked toward the Gaju's office. What did Lady Muhella think of all this? She must have heard that I had collapsed.
"While you were unconscious, Young Lady, the Kiraas Gaju came to visit."
"Really?"
"Yes. ...She was quite emotional and angry at the time. However, she has entrusted the matter to the Kiraas heir."
To Sage?
Does that mean Lady Muhella has no intention of making this a public affair?
The Gaju's office in the Kiraas castle was located in its deepest recesses.
Though it was on the same third floor where I was staying, the Gaju's office was situated much deeper within.
After we navigated a maze of corridors, the Kiraas clan members guarding the entrance stopped us.
"The escort may go no further."
"Wait here, Karma."
"Understood."
I had to enter alone from this point on. I took a deep breath. It was time to face Muhella by myself.
As I stepped inside, the man who had guided me announced my arrival.
"Gajunim, Lady Aileen Astrofel has arrived."
"Let her in."
A heavy voice granted permission from within. I straightened my posture.
The moment the door opened, my eyes met Muhella's. She was staring right at me.
"Welcome, Aileen."
"I heard that you summoned me."
"Yes. I called for you because I felt there was something I needed to hear."
Muhella's eyes narrowed.
The door closed with a thud behind me.
"Sit."
"Yes."
"I've prepared my favorite tea. I'm not sure if it will be to your liking."
"Thank you for your consideration."
We exchanged pleasantries. Muhella was waiting for me to be the first to speak.
Where should I even begin? I was at a complete loss.
After all, everything from my arrival in the North to my collapse and subsequent maturation was shrouded in mystery.
An apology seemed like the right place to start.
"Lady Muhella, I want to express my deepest apologies for having to deceive you."
"Sorry?"
"Yes."
"Then let us hear it."
The slight curve of Muhella's lips flattened into a thin line.