Beast Castle

“Episode 65”

Ray couldn’t help but burst into tears as she took a step forward. The gardener standing beside her seemed to be about to throw some picked flowers at Jack and say something. Jack, feeling even more unfamiliar in the now unfamiliar mansion. Just as tension tightened her throat, meeting Mrs. Merry felt like salvation.

“Oh my, oh my…”

Mrs. Merry shed tears like pearls and gently touched Ray’s face, as if searching for any changes or injuries with a maternal touch. Ray, feeling even more sorrowful, muttered in a choked voice.

“Jack… strangely, he came back, but no one was here…”

“Jack?”

As Mrs. Merry looked at me with sharp eyes, Jack turned his head and pretended not to hear. Mrs. Merry’s reproachful gaze didn’t stop until the gardener grabbed Jack and dragged him outside.

“That rascal.”

Mrs. Merry murmured softly, trying not to let Ray hear. “How did you get here? You?”

“To tell you the truth… it’s a long story.”

“Did the master allow it? The master… No.”

Mrs. Merry’s eyes, now brighter, scrutinized Ray carefully, especially around her mouth. Other than looking a bit pale, there seemed to be no visible changes. Mrs. Merry’s complexion turned ashen, like an unripe apple.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“What’s wrong here? With these fangs! Right now!”

Only now did Ray realize the situation and hurriedly covered her lips. It was to spare Mrs. Merry from feeling disappointed if she knew, but with that small gesture, Mrs. Merry seemed to have already guessed, sighing in resignation.

“Oh my… I can’t believe this.”

Mary explained each fact about Philip one by one. After conversing with Mrs. Merry, Ray’s conclusion was that she wasn’t cursed, but that Clodan had used some sort of trickery.

The more they talked, the more Ray found herself unable to speak. Even though Mrs. Merry offered her mint tea to calm down, Ray could barely swallow.

“You might be able to find a solution. It doesn’t seem like the master has cursed you.”

Mrs. Merry tried to comfort her by patting her back, but none of it helped. Ray only toyed with the smooth surface of the teacup filled with mint tea. The meaningful glances exchanged between Mrs. Merry and the gardener who was by her side didn’t escape her notice.

“Miss.”

“Yes…”

“There’s one more thing I haven’t told you yet.”

Ray looked at Mrs. Merry with eyes that were tired of being surprised, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak. There was still a bigger secret left. Ray felt like slapping her own cheek. Would that make her less surprised?

“Well, um… John.”

Before Mrs. Merry could finish her sentence, the gardener, who had not seen Ray’s stuttering speech, interjected. Come to think of it, Philip and John weren’t around. Ray had heard that Philip was busy taking care of the stable, but somehow, they hadn’t mentioned anything about John. Ray wondered if something had happened to John, or if they were talking about the aftermath of the incident with Haysch. Either way, the gardener and Mrs. Merry were exchanging meaningful glances.

“Um… John.”

“John?”

“Miss, I understand if you’re upset. But we couldn’t help it because we were afraid of the master… But really, there was nothing we could do…”

Just as Ray’s forehead began to crease in confusion, the gardener’s mouth, which had been drawn in guilt, finally revealed the truth.

“John… John, Miss, they’re brothers.”