NMRJKM Chapter 77

 

My eyes, filled with rage, seemed to belong to someone else.

They collapsed onto the floor, trembling. Their attempts to hide behind the door were pitiful.

I realized too late that I had lost control of my divine power due to my emotions and quickly began to take deep breaths.

“P-please spare us. Please!”

“Shut up.”

After some time passed, when I had regained my composure, I saw the two of them hiding awkwardly together. I really didn’t want to look at them.

“Get lost!”

As I shouted, they hurriedly ran back inside. However, an unexpected figure remained: Rodi’s mother, who had not spoken a word until now.

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to ask for a price too.”

She shook her head expressionlessly.

“No. I just want to say one last thing to Rodi.”

I regarded her suspiciously but agreed.

“If you say anything bad, I’ll throw you out immediately.”

“Understood.”

She calmly approached the carriage, where Rodi was crying inside.

Yes, how shocking it must be. Her father and brother tried to sell her. A proof that they didn’t love her at all.

Family is a child’s world. She must have felt that the world was crumbling around her. Rodi’s mother her mouth as Rodi sobbed.

“I can’t honestly say I was a good mother.”

Her words were dry, devoid of emotion like an exhausted old woman.

“I won’t speak at length.”

A long sigh escaped her.

“Leave and live well.”

Those were her last words, far too brief for a mother. But…

“Don’t live like me.”

A heartfelt statement.

I paused for a moment.

“Fly far away and be happy.”

Inside the carriage, Rodi’s cries grew louder. Rodi’s mother, whether cruel or indifferent, didn’t even glance at the carriage and simply opened the door to the house.

I felt anger. I could understand what she felt; it reminded me of my own mother in the past. I lightly bit my lip. Why do all mothers seem to be like this? So, I impulsively said,

“If you want to escape too…”

My voice trembled as well.

“Come to the Denaves Duke’s estate.”

“That will never happen.”

She said it firmly and went inside the house. I was left standing there, and inside the carriage, Rodi’s cries only grew louder.

I clenched my fists and rushed into the carriage, pulling the crying Rodi tightly into my arms.

“Go ahead, cry. Let it all out.”

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my own face.

I thought of my mother, who had passed away long ago. She used to torment me with her constant complaints about money, but her words about not living like her echoed in my mind.

“I can’t tell you not to cry. It’s too sad. It’s too hard.”

Rodi buried her face in my chest and cried loudly. My heart felt heavy. I hugged her tightly and continued to soothe her.

“Let’s cry our hearts out today and smile starting tomorrow.”

It took a very long time for Rodi’s crying to finally subside.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

The white moonlight illuminated the room.

In the dark chamber, someone was kneeling before a mysterious man seated in an ornate chair.

“So, that relic…”

“Has it fallen into the hands of Ariadeline, that woman?”

“My apologies.”

“Haha.”

The mysterious figure laughed, yet his grip on the armrest tightened as if he might crush it.

The person hidden in the darkness trembled with fear at his expression.

“Then, the Duke of Denaves’ madness must have subsided as well.”

“That appears to be the case.”

“Well, that simplifies things.”

With a voice as smooth as polished ice yet chilling, he continued.

“If Ariadeline, that woman, disappears, the problem will be solved.”

The man waved his hand dismissively, and a golden ring with a lion emblem on his wrinkled hand glinted in the light.

“Do whatever it takes to kill her.”

“Yes.”

The man who received the order stood up and bowed his head. Before he left, he asked one question.

“What about Princess Yermondi?”

“That girl…”

The low, cold voice that followed was devoid of compassion.

“Leave her be. She’s useless anyway.”

“Understood.”

As the figure in the darkness retreated, the mysterious man rose from his seat and reached for the candle.

With a swift gesture, all the candles were extinguished, and soon the room was plunged into darkness.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

After turning Rodi’s home upside down, we returned to the mansion.

Instead of sending the sobbing Rodi back to her room, I invited her to mine, the one I shared with Carlothian, to enjoy some cookies.

“So, where did you go to get your eyes like that?”

Rodi and I had puffy, red eyes from crying. I smiled at Carlothian.

“Things happened. But we resolved one issue!”

Carlothian sighed and shook his head after hearing about the situation.

He sat down on the opposite side of the sofa, and as soon as he did, Rodi started hiccuping.

“Hiccup!”

“Oh my, the child was startled because of you.”

“Why is that my fault?”

“Well, you showed up, and this happened.”

“Ah, Miss Ariadeline. I’m fine. Hiccup.”

“Oh dear.”

I handed the cookie box to Rodi.

“Go out and share it with the other maids.”

“Uh, ah. Yes, thank you!”

Rodi took the box, bowed deeply, and then hurriedly left the room. I waved my hand regretfully and turned to Carlothian.

“Is your work done?”

“Pretty much.”

“You can’t just half-do a job. You have to do it perfectly, like me.”

“Perfectly?”

Carlothian scoffed.

“I just prevented a ridiculous rumor about you using black magic in the streets from spreading.”

“Really?”

My eyes widened in surprise. It made sense, as distinguishing divine power from anything else would be hard for commoners.

“But black magic!”

“Anyway, I took care of the knight’s report, so be more careful in the future.”

Carlothian narrowed his eyes at me. I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and then sat down next to him on the sofa, holding a cookie.

“You’ve worked hard. Really hard.”

As I said this, I held his cheek and popped a cookie into his mouth.

Carlothian chewed slowly, looking bewildered.

Oh, he looks kind of cute like this.

I couldn’t help but pinch his cheek, and he stared at me in disbelief as he chewed the cookie.

Then he leaned toward me. Our faces got closer.

“W-what are you doing?”

After finishing the cookie, he gently pulled my waist and laid me back on the sofa.

Thud.

Whoa.

In an instant, I was looking up at Carlothian, who was now on top of me. I just stared at him with my eyes wide open.

What is this mischievous guy up to now? When I rolled my eyes away, Carlothian leaned in, whispering,

“Do I look like a child to you?”

“Ah, no. Where can I find a child as big as…?”

He’s too close. Too close. I could feel my foolish heart pounding again. Oh, clueless guy, don’t do that here.

I cautiously met his gaze. My reflection flickered in his dark eyes.

Is he not planning to back away?

Why does it feel like he’s getting closer and closer?

As I felt his breath approaching, I unknowingly squeezed my eyes shut. But then—

Knock, knock, knock.

“Ahh—!”

I jumped in surprise, covering Carlothian’s face with my hand and pushing him away with all my strength.

I couldn’t see his expression, but I managed to scramble away and escape to the door.

I opened it and smiled as casually as possible, trying to act like nothing happened.

“Oh, Dolly! What’s going on?”

“It’s just that, madam… a package has arrived for you.”