CH 21

“As entertaining as it was to see, the results were catastrophic. What can I do.”

“Sa-Saintess. Please.”

“Right, what can I do. I know it’s no sin to be incompetent.”

“Have mercy…”

Wirea smiled. It was a seductive grin, formed by the curve of her delicate lips. It was a benevolent, generous, sweet, and warm-looking smile.

There was no one who knew her well that did not know the true meaning behind that smile.

“Right, Count. God is merciful.”

The meaning of that gentle smile.

“I will give you the peace that you so desperately seek.”

Her implication of peace was, paradoxically, death.

When the coachman pulled on the reins, the carriage came to a halt. He politely opened the door, and Wirea took his hand, descending gracefully.

Her steps were as lovely as the silver bellflowers* that bloomed in the spring. The very existence of the woman seemed to present a dream-like world around her.

(TL/N: Here’s what Bellflowers look like.)

“I made it look like a suicide, so there’s no need for you to do anything.”

Holy Knight Gishu, who was disguised as the coachman, nodded faithfully.

“I understand.”

“Go back to Count Artes’s manor like this.”

“Yes. However, what about the Saintess?”

“It’s time for me to meet a devout believer.”

The devoutness of Marquis Elaine Winter, the younger sister of the former Duke Richard, was famous in the Ederka Empire.

She attended every festival at the temple, contributed tens of millions of gold annually, and was an active participant in the worship service from the crack of dawn, praying earnestly for the well-being of her only nephew, the young duke, Bertrand.

Understanding whom Wirea was referring to, Gishu respectfully bowed a little.

“May God’s grace be always with you.”

“His grace is infinite—”

Wirea responded by lowering her head with her hand over her chest.

—May only peace and happiness dwell in this world.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Bertrand finished the biscuits with a childish appetite. He was famished because he had been riding since dawn upon hearing Aicila’s request.

I can’t help it. Aicila had asked him to come right away, and it would be better to sacrifice one night of sleep than to have to listen to his uncle complain forever that he had not done him a favor.

You can’t become any taller without enough rest! Hearing his aunt nagging him in his thoughts, Bertrand snorted silently.

“If I end up short, I’ll charge the Duncans for compensation.”

The boy mumbled quietly and left the study. As he descended the steps, a passing thought caused him to pause.

Shall I go and check who the House of the Duke’s distinguished guest is?

His aunt(?), Aicila Duncan, is a very strict and sharp person. She was reminiscent of a well-sharpened knife. A master of psychological warfare, she had an uncanny knack for reading people and striking fear into the hearts of her opponents.

He was intrigued by the ‘distinguished guest’ who had the power to make that Aicila Duncan show such an incredibly gentle expression.

“Uncle will be jealous if he finds out.”

He would be. I hope he cries uncontrollably. Bertrand rolled his eyes at the merciless thought.

Right. I’m curious about that distinguished guest.

Most of all, she even made that slob, Teriot Duncan, run. Bertrand, who is quite close to the Duncans, has never once seen Teriot Duncan run.

If I tell Mister Lyseltine—I mean, His Highness the Crown Prince—he’ll faint and fall backward.

Bertrand turned around and went back up the stairs. However, after climbing many levels with confidence, the boy abruptly halted and awkwardly ran his hand through his hair.

This. He had forgotten that his sense of direction was as bad as it was in Duncan Mansion.

I always forget that I’m so bad with directions.

What floor did I come up from? How many steps did I take?

He tried his hardest to think of an answer, but nothing came to him. In the end, ‘You’ll find the way if you just keep walking forward’—he moved forward in a typical gilchi* manner.

(TL/N: ‘길’ means ‘street/path/road’ and ‘치’ means ‘foolish’ in this word. So 길치 (gilchi) means someone with no sense of direction.)

He had no idea how long he had been roaming aimlessly for.

“F*cking Duncan…”

Where am I?

Bertrand looked around, standing with an attentive expression. Where is this, somewhere in the myriad of hallways that is the Duncan Mansion.

Is anyone here. I’m sorry, but I think this is the 1532nd time I’ve gotten lost in this f*king mansion.

He looked around the hall, crying on the inside, and showing nothing but a somber smile on his face. The next moment, he spotted a slipper near one of the windows.

As he picked up one pair and looked around, he found the other pair lying upside-down a little further away. Bertrand took possession of both slippers, completing the set, and combed through his recollections to find their rightful owner.

Ah. It was from that blonde-haired girl who took off running with that grumpy cat and threw them away in the process. I should probably give it back.

But how do I go about returning it?

Bertrand took on the challenge of going up the stairs again, which only resulted in him being trapped in another similar-looking hallway. Should I just go home? But how do I get out?

While he stood there transfixed with dread, a white tail swished into view at the far end of the hallway.

Once you get lost, you will even be glad to see that cat. Amazing.

“Ruby.”

Mer mer. How dare you call upon this expensive body. From now on, you’ll pay 10 gold every time you call out my name.

“Where’s the girl who ran away with you?”

What business do you have with my butler?

Its blue eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion. Bertrand ignored its glaring eyes and quickly asked the most important question.

“And how do I get out of here? I’m lost again.”

You’re such an idiot! You’re the only one who ends up lost every time you visit. What a pathetic, stupid human you are,

Huff, Ruby snorted and cried out loud.

Mew mew!

Jump out of the window, and you’ll be out in no time!

“Go out there…”

Bertrand clicked his tongue as he interpreted the cat’s cry perfectly. This stupid cat always have such a temper every time we meet, and—

“But why are you so fat? Are you not heavier than the last time I saw you?”

—I think it gained weight.

Me–ow!

Ruby, who had already been teased enough by Teriot and Aicila, could not stand it anymore. Feeling cheated out of its chance to beat up that ugly boy before, the cat sprang upon the boy’s head and whacked his face with its tail.

You’re, by–all–odds, more handsome than that brat from before! You have a certain charm about you even with that body, I’ll admit it! But so what! No matter how good-looking you are, I will not stop attacking with my tail!

Accurately recognizing the cat’s furious cry, Bertrand sighed. This cat always causes trouble every time I see it.

Some cat in that world was slapping the Duke’s face with its tail.

Reinhardt Duncan, I can see why that nutjob of a grandfather stated in his will he would give the cat’s next butler 10% of his property.

It was a mandatory requirement.

With the cat placed on his head, he was unable to move since his sight was constantly blocked by its swaying tail. Even though the tail slapping wasn’t particularly painful, he was afraid that his neck would snap if the cat continued to sit on him for too long. Damn it.

“Oh my gosh, Ruby! What are you doing!”

Tak tak tak, they heard running footsteps and a young voice condemning the cat.

Mr–ow, the cat cried and started complaining due to the unfairness.

He started it first, Butler! It’s not my fault!

However, the main character of the footsteps didn’t seem to be able to interpret the mean cat’s cry.

Ignoring Ruby’s protest—which was natural—she began to apologize sincerely.

“I apologize!”

“…It’s oka—”

“I am so sorry, my sincerest apologies. Ruby! Apologize immediately.”

Meow! He should apologize, Butler!

Someone pulled the cat down, and the weight that was fixed on him from above finally disappeared. Her apologies rang repeatedly.

The fluffy white tail vanished, and he was met with a pair of light green pupils. Bertrand glanced down at her sullen eyes.

Although her dense facial features were lovely, it was the bright-green color that first drew his attention.

A color that seemed to embrace all life as it bloomed magnificently. A color reminiscent of the scent of freshly bloomed young leaves in spring. Calming, pure, bright, and refreshing.

Bertrand watched them as if he were possessed.

Those were such pretty eyes. Brilliant eyes that seem to outshine all other gems in existence.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Ronell.”

This is my ‘distinguished guest’.

Ronell recognized Bertrand and hastily bowed.

“Th-thank you for saving me from Lloyd earlier!”

“That’s all right. I just did what I had to do, of course.”

“Erm, may I ask who you are…?”

“I am Bertrand Richard.”

“Thank you. Sir Richard.”

Beautiful golden hair flowed down from the girl who bent her back.

It was such a pretty color that even Bertrand, who dislikes yellow because it reminds him of someone with blonde hair, was charmed.

“That’s all right. You may call me Bertrand.”

“Ah, then please call me Ronell as well.”

Bertrand looked down silently and later realized she was barefooted. When he noticed her bare feet on the plush carpet, he got down on one knee without hesitation.

“S-s-slippers. Thank you for also bringing my slippers.”

He looked up this time. Even from that vantage point, her golden hair shimmered in the sunshine and looked so beautiful.

As he ignored his rudeness and continued to stare at her for a little while, the hesitant girl parted her small lips.

“Erm… Bertrand. I’m sorry.”

“Yes?”

Ronell’s face turned red.

“Th-that. Ruby played around, and now you have a lot of cat fur on your head. I apologize.”

“Ah.”

That stupid cat should stop being a nuisance.

Bertrand raised his hand and fumbled with his hair, attempting to clean it. Huh. His fingertips were erupting with a strange sensation.

Don’t tell me that all of this is… cat fur.

The recollection of Ruby’s notorious attack made him quietly give up. He was certain he couldn’t handle it on his own.

“Erm, I can’t fix it, so… can you lend me a hand?”

“Y-yes!”

Bertrand lowered his head slightly, and her small, soft hand began to carefully remove the white fur from his hair.

Naturally, his gaze was drawn to her slender ankles. Having been abused, the girl with a thin frame looked particularly skinny.

Her white ankle bones stood out in the early morning light.

Bertrand, having traced the contours with his eyes, averted his gaze and found the feet of the second person.