There had always been doubts about the original story. For instance, the Felicia family, depicted as villains in the original, wasn’t as evil as expected. It was hard to believe that such a powerful family would rebel and face annihilation just because their daughter’s engagement was broken. In fact, they were more troubled by the Katio family, who were close to the male lead, the crown prince.
“…”
But Seraphie quickly dismissed the thought and stuffed the remaining sandwich into her mouth. Maybe I’m overthinking this.
After all, the original story was a romance novel centered on the protagonist’s success and love. Other details might not have been important.
Sigh. Exhausted from worrying, Seraphie ate the last piece of the sandwich. She just needed to use the original story to her advantage. I don’t have the luxury to think about such things. She was too busy taking care of herself to bother with unnecessary worries.
Seraphie glanced at Orkis. While she ate one sandwich, Orkis, with a stoic face, had devoured three. The face of the supposed villain from the original story was quite striking.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Orkis asked, sensing her gaze.
“It’s nothing,” Seraphie replied with a light smile.
Please don’t die.
Orkis was too diligent and kind to be considered a villain. She had grown fond of him despite thinking of him as just a character in a novel. If Orkis were to die for the crime of rebellion as in the original story, she would be truly sad.
* * *
After returning from the wasteland, Seraphie and Orkis headed to the Vallidus estate.
“Master, you’re back.”
“Yes, I’m back.”
“Shall I prepare dinner for two?”
The experienced butler asked Seraphie if the dinner arrangements needed to be changed.
Seraphie glanced at Orkis. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
Orkis shrugged. “Then I’ll send my carriage back.”
Thanks to Orkis readily accepting the dinner invitation, the kitchen of the Vallidus mansion became a bit busier than usual.
The staff of the Vallidus household welcomed Orkis warmly. To them, Orkis was a benefactor who had protected Seraphie from the former Count Vallidus and even helped in court. Moreover, Orkis was also a business partner with Seraphie, making it impossible for them to dislike Orkis.
“Does the food suit your taste?” Seraphie asked, reversing the roles from lunchtime.
The dinner, prepared with great effort, looked mouthwatering at a glance. It was clear how hard the kitchen staff had worked.
It’s a bit embarrassing… Seraphie glanced at the closed door. The presence of the chef and staff holding their breath behind it was palpable.
He must have noticed too. If Seraphie could sense it, there was no way Orkis, who was calmly eating, wouldn’t notice.
“It’s delicious.”
As expected. Orkis briefly made eye contact with Seraphie, then glanced at the door and offered a formal compliment.
“I’d like to tell my mansion’s chef about this.”
What a lie. Seraphie snorted.
The meal Seraphie had been served at the duchy was even more delicious than this. However, Seraphie felt pleased, as if she had been personally acknowledged. It was needless to say the chefs behind the door were silently rejoicing as well.
After finishing their meal, the two had tea and made plans for their next meeting.
“Next time, I’ll visit you, right?”
“Shall I send a carriage to pick you up?”
“I have a carriage now too, you know?”
The Vallidus estate now had a splendid carriage and four sturdy horses. A much more skilled and diligent person had taken the place of the coachman, who was fired for betraying Seraphie during the forced inheritance trial.
“Take care on your way.”
“Please send my regards to grand madam.”
“…Thank you.”
Seraphie saw Orkis off in the family carriage.
Another day comes to an end. After finishing all the important tasks, the sky had already turned dark. I’m tired…
Even though Seraphie had become healthier, long outings were still quite taxing. She massaged her shoulders and gently rotated her neck.
I’ll finish up the paperwork and then take a bath. Just the thought of soaking in warm water made the corners of Seraphie’s mouth lift slightly.
“Master.”
At that moment, the head maid called out to Seraphie.
“How is mother?”
“Grand madam is doing well.”
After Seraphie became the countess, her mother was referred to as the grand madam.
While Seraphie was away from home, the head maid took care of her mother alone. The head maid briefly reported her mother’s day. It wasn’t much different from yesterday. Reading her favorite books, watching the birds gather at the feeder outside the window, and wandering around the room.
“She couldn’t come out of her room today either,” Seraphie remarked with a bitter smile.
“Master, the grand madam is making an effort.”
“I know.”
Her mother couldn’t leave her room. It was the aftermath of the long-term abuse she had suffered from her husband. Even though both mother and daughter had been abused in the same way, their situations were vastly different.
Seraphie had quickly escaped from the former Count Vallidus. It was because she was not the ‘real.’ She wasn’t born here. Therefore, there was no room to be entangled in the chain of horrific violence that she couldn’t even remember.
However, the former countess was different. For a long time, the former countess had suffered from unjust violence and abuse, leaving her body and mind scarred. She hesitated and feared stepping outside her room. This was why she had committed the rudeness of not showing herself to greet Orkis, who had visited just a while ago.
Thinking of the former countess, who couldn’t even open a door properly due to the deep-seated wounds in her heart, made Seraphie feel heavy-hearted.
“It’s not my mother’s fault,” Seraphie said firmly. “There’s no need to force her out. But we need to find a way for her to be more comfortable.”
The crime was committed by that damned man, but the aftermath was entirely their burden to bear.
“Maybe we should renovate my mother’s room? If we make it bigger, she’ll have more space to move around.”
“Haha, that might give the butler a heart attack.”
“Still, I think we need to do a major renovation of the mansion at some point…” Seraphie looked around the hallway where they were standing.
She’s still not free.
The damned man was gone. But traces of him still remained. For a fresh start, Seraphie was willing to completely overhaul the mansion.
Looks like I’ve got more work to do.
It seemed like Seraphie was destined to take on more tasks.
“And you too, Master.” At that moment, the head maid spoke with a worried voice. “Please always take care of yourself.”
Seraphie smiled warmly at the sincere advice. “I will.”
* * *
“…Lord Ester?”
Peonia, who was on her way to work at the Magic Tower, stopped in her tracks. She recognized the loafer sprawled on the sofa in the living room of her house. With his bright blond hair and annoyingly kind face, he was the Empire’s third prince and the damned friend of her damned brother.
“Good morning.” Eks smiled and gave a short wave. “Heading to the Magic Tower for work? You’re quite diligent.”
“What brings Your Highness here so early in the morning…?” Peonia, who was about to ask, suddenly remembered something. “Is it because of the business my brother is involved in?”
“You’re as sharp as ever.”
The reason Eks visited the duchy early in the morning was because of the Emperor’s command.
“My mother is curious about the progress. It’s been centuries since the treasures of God have surfaced, after all.”
“I see.”
Peonia replied curtly. She didn’t know much about the business herself.
“My brother should be at the training grounds.”
“I know that much.”
Even though the person Eks needed to meet was elsewhere, Eks just stretched and yawned widely.
“But I don’t feel like seeing those grotesque muscles so early in the morning.”
The thought of him being drenched in sweat made Eks shudder in disgust.
“So, I’m waiting here.”
“I see.”
“If you’re not in a hurry, Lady Peni, why don’t you join—”
“I apologize.” Peonia, who had been giving half-hearted responses, quickly replied. “I need to get to work now.”
She didn’t have time to deal with him. And she didn’t want to be around someone who called her by nickname without her permission. Peonia wrapped her genuine displeasure in a veneer of high-class etiquette.
“That’s a shame.” Eks, who had been lying down, sat up and smiled brightly.
“Do my parents know that Your Highness is here?”
“Probably not.”
“Should I tell them?”
“Come on, you said you’re busy.”
Eks vehemently declined. Not only did Eks dislike the sight of the knights’ bulging muscles, but even more so, Eks hated meeting the duke and duchess.
“Take care.” Eks waved Peonia off, urging Peonia to be on their way.
“By the way,”
Just as the farewell ended,
“Lady Peni,” Eks asked. “How are things going with my brother?”
Peonia, who was about to leave in a hurry, hesitated.
“Are you meeting well?”
“Recently, we’ve been too busy to meet.”
Peonia’s voice, answering without even turning her head, was as calm and composed as before, almost to the point of coldness.
“Because he’s a busy man.”
With those words, Peonia headed to the Magic Tower.
Darn it. The smile that had been on Eks’s face quickly disappeared, replaced by a sigh. I couldn’t even bring myself to say it.
Only then did Eks start moving towards the training ground where Orkis would be. Although Eks knew the shortcut well from having been there many times, Eks chose to take a longer route today. The shortcut felt too complicated, and his conscience was a bit troubled.
“What should I do…”
Eks’s face was filled with worry as he picked up a fallen branch and waved it in the air.
How am I supposed to tell her that my brother was with another woman?
It wasn’t out of loyalty to his brother that Eks couldn’t say it. Eks would rather catch a stray cat and cry his heart out than feel such a thing.
Eks was worried about Peonia. Peonia, whom Eks had known since childhood, was like a precious younger sister. She was more like family than Eks’s real siblings, so Eks genuinely wanted her to be happy.
I should have stopped her when she said she was getting engaged. It was a regret that would haunt him forever.
“If she had known…”
Even the great Peonia was just an ordinary person when it came to love. If Peonia found out about this, it was certain that she would be deeply hurt, even if not completely devastated.
But who was that woman?
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