Episode 5

 

They had heard I was coming, but they seemed quite surprised that I actually came, with a tinge of pity in their expressions. 

 

However, everyone here was a noble. They knew what decorum and courtesy were, and upon seeing their surprised faces, they quickly concealed their reactions. 

 

As I was used to such gazes since I was young, I smiled nonchalantly and stood tall with my shoulders back, even though I felt slightly uncomfortable after such a long time.

 

As I slowly took a few more steps inside, I saw Baron House’s young ladies approaching me.

 

 “Lady Anaïs! You’ve really come! I can’t express how delighted and thrilled I am that you’re here. Come this way, please. We’ve specially prepared a fragrant floral tea for you.”

 

“Lady Anaïs! It’s been a while.”

 

“Oh, Lady Anaïs!”

 

As the baron’s daughters greeted me, everyone else there also began to greet me. The tense atmosphere from a moment ago vanished, and soon, a warm and lively atmosphere enveloped us.

 

I looked at each of them and exchanged eye contact, then followed Baron’s daughters further inside.

 

“Lady Anaïs, please have a seat here,” Baron’s daughter pointed to a chair, inviting me to sit.

 

It was the seat next to her, and she was the hostess of today’s event.

 

“Thank you,” I said as I took the offered seat. As I sat down, several other young ladies, including Baron’s daughter, joined me around the round table.

 

“Lady Anaïs, try this floral tea once. It’s made from very precious flowers that were brought from a distant country to serve you.”

 

“I’ll enjoy it,” I replied with a smile, raising the teacup to take a sip.

 

“Wow, it’s really delicious. The aroma is wonderful.”

 

“Isn’t it? I thought you would like it. Try these cookies and biscuits too.”

 

After nodding, I took a small piece of the cookie and put it in my mouth. Not only the floral tea but also the cookies were excellent in taste.

 

While enjoying the tea and snacks and engaging in pleasant conversation with the people around the table, I looked for an opportunity to slip away from my seat.

 

“But, did everyone hear about it?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

One young lady lowered her voice and changed the topic of conversation.

 

“Lord Lloydin Blighton has returned from the expedition.”

 

“Ah, Blighton… Yes, what about it?”

 

Upon hearing the name Blighton, everyone’s expressions turned uneasy, as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have.

 

On the other hand, I perked up my ears and focused on their conversation as soon as I heard the name Lloydin Blighton, setting down the teacup I was drinking from.

 

“It was supposed to be a campaign that would take several months, but he returned in less than a month. Everyone is puzzled, and during this time, there are rumors that he used some strange trick during the expedition.”

 

“A trick?”

 

“Yes. As you know, the Blighton family has that… special blood.”

 

“Right, but…”

 

As they spoke, their expressions turned even more disdainful, as if they found the topic repulsive. Just from listening to their reactions, I could tell that the Blighton family was much more disregarded and not as well-received as I had imagined.

 

“They say he might have overused that power.”

 

“Power? No way, they can’t be…!”

 

“Diane Baroness! Lower your voice!”

 

“Baroness!”

 

Diane, the Baroness sitting across from me, was so surprised that her voice became louder, and everyone quickly calmed her down with one voice.

 

“I-I’m sorry. I was just so startled…”

 

“We understand. We all feel the same way.”

 

“But we must be careful. Some terrifying curses can be transferred to others just by talking about them.”

 

Transferred just by talking about them…

 

As someone who vaguely knew the contents of a novel, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh inside at the conversation.

 

‘Even though they know that those curses protect them…’

 

I didn’t want to continue listening to this absurd conversation, but I had to endure it to gain information I didn’t know.

 

So, I continued to listen carefully to their words.

 

“By the way, if he used that power excessively, it’s a big problem. Does that mean the seal has been broken again?”

 

“I’m not sure yet. But my father said it might lead to big trouble soon.”

 

“Big trouble?”

 

“Perhaps something will happen to Lord Lloydin Blighton…”

 

“Oh…”

 

“Oh no…”

 

Even without hearing everything, each of them understood the rest of the conversation, and they sighed with pity. However, there was something different about their sympathy for Lloydin Blighton.

 

“But what can we do? If he broke the seal and used the power excessively, he’ll have to face the consequences.”

 

“Right. The previous Duke also broke his oath and shattered the seal, so that’s what happened to him.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“If that power becomes too overwhelming, it might end up causing harm to the Empire. We should subdue him as soon as possible.”

 

Then, they reluctantly accepted the fact that something inevitable would befall the Blighton family.

 

“Then, would his younger brother succeed the title?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Oh my, what should we do? I heard he’s not even fifteen yet.”

 

“More accurately, he’s twelve years old.”

 

“Twelve years old? That’s so young. But can such a young child go on a campaign?”

 

“He’s the one who inherited that power, so it’s definitely possible.”

 

“He has to do it to protect his own life and family.”

 

“Ah… it’s so cruel. But still, how can such a young child…”

 

“Diane Baroness! You shouldn’t have such weak thoughts.”

 

“I-I’m sorry. But…”

 

When Diane Baroness expressed her pity, another noblewoman nearby reprimanded her.

 

“That family is nothing like us nobles, nor can we even call them human. Don’t think such thoughts.”

 

“That’s right. There’s no need to feel sorry for them.”

 

“That’s right. It’s what keeps them going.”

 

‘I really can’t listen to this anymore.’

 

With that thought, I deliberately made a loud sound and stood up from my seat.

 

The noblewomen sitting around the table looked up at me with puzzled expressions.

 

“Lady, are you feeling uncomfortable?”

 

“Is there something bothering you, Lady?”

 

Seeing them being polite to me now, unlike when talking about the Blighton family, I felt a bitter feeling once again.

 

Before I remembered my past life, what did I think of the Blighton family?

 

I couldn’t recall it well.

 

No, it wasn’t that I couldn’t remember, but I simply had no interest in them.

 

Because I was always suffering from illness, I had no spare energy to care or think about anything other than myself.

 

But…

 

Even so, I didn’t want to tolerate the behavior of those who treat the same person differently, who say things to children they wouldn’t say to others, and such.

 

“I should go now.”

 

“What? Already?”

 

“Lady, couldn’t you stay a little longer?”

 

As I firmly stated that I had to leave, they held onto me with regretful expressions.

 

“No, I don’t want to stay any longer.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Lady, is the seat uncomfortable for you? Ah, is it because of the cool breeze in the garden? Should we go inside?”

 

Baroness Barion tried to call for attendants around to take action, but I raised my hand to stop her.

 

And as I was about to say something to brush them off, I managed to find some composure and swallowed my words.

 

What would it even mean to say something here?

 

Besides, I suddenly felt that I might not have the right to point fingers at them either.

 

“There was something I needed to attend to today, and I almost forgot about it. So I must leave now.”

 

There was no such thing I needed to attend to, but it was the most plausible reason to get away from here.

 

With that excuse, I immediately turned around and left the garden, boarding the carriage to depart from Baron Varion’s estate.

 

“Miss… Are you okay?”

 

Seeing my troubled expression, Lia cautiously spoke to me.

 

“Yeah, I’m fine. But more importantly, I have a place to go.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“To Blighton Manor.”

 

“What? Bl-Blighton Manor?”

 

Lia’s eyes widened, and she asked if she heard correctly.

 

“Yeah, to Blighton Manor.”

 

I explained to Lia once again about our destination.

 

“But, Miss, Blighton Manor…”

 

Like the noblewomen before, Lia’s expression also became uneasy as she heard the name Blighton family.