Chapter 14
You’re Strange
Not long ago, Jed had mentioned something similar.
“His Grace doesn’t like people, and I guess our breaths probably played a part in that, huh? It’s probably because the smell of His Grace’s breath is a bit strong, something only he can handle. Of course, it’ll probably smell like flowers to Miss, but…”
Listening to that conversation made Riche feel like she was caught between two worlds.
Whether it was their first meeting, in the Forest of Demons, or during various times spent together in the ducal residence, Deon had been smelling her breath. And apparently, it smelled awful.
‘He must have thought it was disgusting.’
It was a phrase she had heard countless times in her past life. Because of that, Riche was accustomed to the idea of being considered dirty, and she had never really denied it.
But she didn’t want to appear that way to the people of the Rodwick family.
“Oh, the smell. How could you bring that up?”
“Even if it’s at the command of Duke Gerwer, I will address you as Miss, but that doesn’t mean you should forget your position. You’re just a dirty commoner born from slave parents.”
She didn’t want to hear those words coming from them, echoing what she had heard in her past.
It was the first time she had a wish like this.
‘I never intended to get attached…’
It had been three months since she entered the Rodwick family.
At first, she thought of it as a place she could stay until she reached an age where she could live on her own.
Even after receiving her name, that thought lingered in her mind. She thought she wouldn’t be surprised if she was rejected by them at any time.
So don’t get too attached. Sometimes, Riche would wake up in the middle of the night, looking out at the dark window and warning herself.
But…
The unexplained affection she received for the first time, the kindness of the people.
It was a warmth that was too comforting to ignore. She couldn’t even imagine what it would be like if that warmth disappeared.
She didn’t want to let it go. By the time she realized her feelings, she had already opened her heart to the Rodwick family.
‘So I wanted to get along with Deon, too…’
But the smell ruined everything.
Seeing Riche, who was feeling dejected, Deon looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“You don’t smell.”
“…?”
“When did I say you smelled bad? Besides, your breath isn’t even that bad to begin with.”
While it was true that due to his latent potential, unlike Blake, Deon could smell the breath of any living creature whose breath he could regulate. The rumor that his breath smelled so bad that the knights kept avoiding him was just a lame excuse he made.
“Come to think of it, that’s strange.”
“What is?”
Riche cautiously lowered the hand that had covered her mouth and nose and asked.
Deon looked at her thoughtfully.
‘Why doesn’t she smell?’
It wasn’t just humans. Deon could smell the breath of any living creature whose breath he could regulate, including Blake, another ability user.
So why doesn’t Riche smell?
Her disappearance in the Forest of Demons was also strange. Something was off when it came to this kid.
‘…Should I test it?’
Deon raised his hand.
Their innocent silver eyes met Deon’s emotionless crimson eyes.
“Why?”
“Look at that foolish face, not even knowing what I might do.”
Deon lightly tapped Riche’s forehead as he spoke bluntly.
“You’re strange.”
“Ouch.”
“Don’t avoid me from now on.”
With that, he left Riche behind.
—
“Your Grace, what brings you here?”
Blake’s personal physician asked Deon, who had come to his office.
The door was wide open, and the room was empty, yet Deon seemed to have no intention of entering.
Leaning against the doorframe, he turned to face the physician and opened his mouth.
“How’s father?”
It was a vague question, but it was always the same inquiry.
“His Grace is holding on well. His condition hasn’t worsened.”
“Good enough.”
Deon promptly removed himself from the doorframe and turned his back.
Although his behavior was rough, the physician knew that Blake was worried, which is why he came every time.
“Tsk tsk… Our young master must be feeling quite miserable.”
It wasn’t the intention of the previous lords, but most of the Rodwick ducal line was born out of wedlock.
Moreover, Lady Rodwick, with her esteemed lineage, was a precious asset to the noble family.
Currently, Blake was the only close relative to Deon.
“How fortunate it is that Miss Riche has become a part of House Rodwick.”
Despite some nobles within the ducal family opposing the adoption of a commoner, most of the people within Rodwick Castle welcomed Riche.
Not only was the child incredibly lovable, but they were also concerned about Deon, who would be left alone once Blake passed away.
“Even though he seems to dislike people so much, he’s someone who’s deeply wounded…”
The physician reminisced about the events from six years ago.
—
Just a three-year-old child, using his abilities with a single wish to save his breathless mother.
It was not a thought-out or reasoned decision, but rather an instinctual movement. The child sat in front of his mother, lying as if asleep, and spent the night trying to revive her breath that would not return.
The next morning. Until Blake found him collapsed.
Though memories from such a young age might not be entirely intact, Deon always blamed himself for that day. That’s how he grew up.
“If I hadn’t been born, would my mother still be alive?”
When Deon was six years old, it was what he said to his attending physician.
The physician replied, “If the Duchess were to hear such words, she would be saddened. The Duchess was very happy to have her young master.
Since that day, Deon never asked me about the Duchess’s life or death. He began to distance himself from people from that time on.
It was speculated that he had heard what outsiders visiting the mansion said before asking me questions.
There were rumors like, ‘The Duchess passed away because Lordwick’s son was too strong in the womb, weakening the Duchess’s body.’
‘Nine years old and already so powerful that he’s putting his mother’s life at risk.’
Whether it was because Deon disliked humans for their weakness or because he feared accidentally killing them if they came too close.
The only one who knew the reasons was himself, who had once treated Deon, plagued by nightmares, and happened to hear him talk in his sleep.
The physician looked at the empty space left by Deon with a regretful gaze.
—
Riche started taking etiquette lessons twice a week starting last week.
While other learning came later, since she became a noble, at least she had to act accordingly.
“If you’re not going to live in the aristocracy for the rest of your life, it’s better to learn etiquette.”
“Do you take etiquette lessons? But miss, do you know that… there’s no one besides the Emperor who can say anything even if Lordwick eats with his feet.”
“Jed, don’t say pointless things to Riche.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It’s good to learn etiquette. Blake’s words fueled Riche’s eagerness to learn.
Madame Michelle, with a warm impression, became Riche’s etiquette teacher.
Riche always came to the empty study half an hour before class to wait for Michelle.
When she encountered Deon today, she was on her way to the study before class.
Riche sat at the desk and murmured while looking at the curtain swaying in the spring breeze.
“Am I strange?”
—
[How strange.]
Python’s immediate response came to Riche’s murmuring.
Python lay sprawled on the thick cover of a book lying on the desk.
Then, without changing his posture, he turned only his eyes towards Riche and began to mutter.
[Really strange. A being who freely uses the power of the stars. Is there anything I don’t know? Everything in the world should be under my eyes.]
Hmm. Python, with his short arms crossed, muttered in frustration.
‘No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out the identity of that monster-like fellow. Ruteom is Ruteom, but…’
First of all, he planned to continue the training to use the power of the stars, which he started a few days ago.
It seems like there’s a long way to go, still burning the floor.
At least I should be able to control the power to do something.
‘If one of those brats comes out into the human realm, I’ll feel their energy again. I can’t miss that moment.’
Thinking of his friend who was deeply asleep in the grave, Python made a resolution.
Riche asked Python.
“Did Deon notice?”
[What? That you’re Ruteom?]
“Yeah.”
[He doesn’t seem to have any idea.]
“Well, that’s a relief then…”]
Whether her uneasiness was completely resolved or not, Riche lowered her voice.
[You worry too much. But hey, Contractee, are you never going to reveal that you’re Ruteom? Now that you won’t feel pain even if you’re purified, why not reveal your identity? Wealth and glory will pour in at once. Isn’t that enough? Ruteom is revered by ability users like a treasure.]
Python chuckled. Before the great star fell asleep, Python had seen Ruteom occasionally beside a friend who watched the human realm.
They wore expensive things, ate well, and lived in cozy, lavish places. People praised Ruteom, and ability users devoted themselves to Ruteom.
“Your life will change. You’re a young Contractee.”
“I… I don’t want that.”
Riche shook her head.
Though it might seem glamorous on the surface, she didn’t think such a life would be good.
The transformation from the cramped basement where I was trapped to a spacious and comfortable place was all it was going to be.
There was no freedom there. The ability users wouldn’t let Ruteom go.
And among those ability users was Duke Gerwer. He had been obsessively attached to her in his past life.
“My Agnes. I killed my own son to possess you.”
Duke Gerwer worried that his son, an ability user, would lose his position and Ruteom to Riche.
When Riche turned 15, he confessed to her that he had killed his son. It was as if he was declaring passionate love, with a poignant attitude.
Riche couldn’t forget Duke Gerwer’s madness and confession from that time.
“Do as you please. If I can figure out the intentions of the one who saved you while being by your side, that’s enough.”
“…What about Lord Blake’s words? How much time is left?”
Riche hesitantly asked Python, referring to the diminished lifespan due to the accumulated dark energy from Blake.
Python turned his body sideways and teased Riche with a sneer.
“What about you? You call him dad so well in front of Lord Blake. How about calling him dad even when he’s not around? Daddy, Riche~.”
“I-I’ll handle that myself.”
“Hmph. You’re already in adolescence. If left like this, it’s only two years.”
“Just two?”
“He was originally a bit frail. Just-.”
“Miss Tyritche Lordwick.”
As they conversed, Michelle entered the study and signaled the start of the lesson.
Riche stood up from the desk, greeted her, and pondered her complex thoughts.
