Chapter 10
She was feeling strangely unwell today. Her body has always been a terrible performer, but today it was even worse.
It’s her body, but it’s like a computer that makes a lot of errors when it moves, so she felt like she ate a million sweet potatoes.
Possess her healthy body.
“Arellin!”
The commotion in the mansion broke out.
She ignored it and closed her eyes to sleep, but it was loud because it happened so close to her room.
What the hell is going on?
So she walked out.
‘I’ll just stay in my room.’
She was bothered.
“Are you okay, Arellin? It’s been a while!”
Why is he here?
That was all she could think of as she saw the Crown Prince of Peshion walk into her mansion.
“Are you all right? I heard you were sick! Are you sure you can stay out here like this? Last time you said you collapsed just from running. Isn’t it hard to stand for this long?”
After bombarding her with questions, Pession waved his hand in front of her face when she didn’t respond.
“Huh?”
…She’s dizzy.
She wants her body back.
“Are you sick?!”
“What are you doing here?”
“Huh?”
Pession rolled his eyes. He’s trying to come up with an excuse.
“Oh, I’m visiting a sick friend.”
“Ah.”
That didn’t make any more sense.
Arellin and Pesion weren’t close. It was a natural distance, caused by her inability to engage in the “vigorous, active play” that Pession loved.
But why did he come to visit her so suddenly? What was his change of heart?
“So, you’ve come to visit.”
“Yes!”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his bright, cheerful smile, as if to say that you should be happy that I’m here.
It’s cute, but…
She didn’t have the mental space to enjoy this cuteness right now.
‘He’s a shadowless statue, raised with love, even if he pretends to be.’
She knew this kind of person.
Good family, good parents, good personality, good talent, surrounded by good people, never had to work hard to get ahead, just lived life, and was kind and gentle.
The type of person who was welcomed and loved wherever they went, and therefore had the attitude and idea that the other person would love and welcome them back.
‘They usually have a lot of money.’
Is that why? She didn’t feel sorry for Pession, but she didn’t want to be that close to him.
She felt like she knew the end of this relationship all too well.
“You’ve been a good support about it, and I’m afraid I’ve upset the maids, so I apologize.”
“Huh?”
“Because as the master of the house, I am solely responsible for the disturbance.”
At that moment, Graham, who had quietly taken his place behind the crown prince, looked at me strangely. What was that?
“What?! No!”
“Is it?”
“Arellin hasn’t done anything wrong!”
“I see.”
That’s nice of him to say.
She said the words out loud.
“Thank you for being angry on my behalf.”
“Oh! Were you watching?”
What is it, why is he blushing, is he uncomfortable?
“Yeah. I was watching.”
Honestly, she wondered why he was upset.
Was it because he didn’t like the fact that she, a woman of noble blood, was being called names like a real mojiri?
‘I don’t know.’
Being called names behind her back was as familiar to her as eating from her previous life.
She has been called names to her face before, but she didn’t have time to waste on hurt feelings now.
‘But if I say that, they’ll just get annoyed.’
She chose her words carefully because she knew she would be met with pity, sympathy, or a strange look in her eyes, astonishment at how she could say that, and a suggestion that she should go to a mental hospital for counseling.
“Thank you.”
That’s all she can say in the end.
Even with that greeting, the crown prince’s expression brightened.
“Hehehe.”
His eyes looked at me with a twinkle in them. It was as if he was saying, ‘Did I do well?’
What, is he trying to compliment her?
“It was nothing!”
“I see.”
“Hmmmmm. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone out of my way, but I can’t leave it alone…”
The stealing glances are clearly directed at her, but she doesn’t know … intentions.
A stranger’s favor is strange.
And uncomfortable.
She didn’t know how to react, especially when faced with such an unexplained favor.
“Thank you.”
She was sure he didn’t do this just to be thanked.
“…Yes!”
She shook her head, unable to understand Prince Pession despite the instant brightening in front of her, but soon gave up trying.
“Trust me, if this happens again, I’ll do it!”
“No, next time it happens, don’t do it.”
“Huh?”
The crown prince, who had shrugged his shoulders with pride, stiffened and stammered back.
She blushed.
“I appreciate you stepping in for me today, but I don’t want to put Your Highness an awkward position, so please let me handle things myself next time.”
“Uh, uh…”
Pession rolled his eyes.
“Was I being presumptuous?”
He asked.
“No.”
But he couldn’t be honest. For some reason, Graham behind him was exclaiming in admiration, but that was a side issue.
He’s weird, too.
‘Send him away.’
Behind her, she could feel the nursery troop stamping their feet. Her stamina was wearing thin.
“Normally, I’d offer you a glass of juice,” She says, “but the mansion is a mess, and I’m not recovering, so we’ll have to let you go.”
“Huh? Yeah. Right.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t see you again, and thank you for your work today.”
“Huh? Huh. Yeah!”
“Bye, then.”
“Uhhh, bye!”
Goodbye. It was a bother to meet him, and let’s never meet again.
***
The crown prince and Graham left the mansion after the visit. Graham recalled what had happened earlier.
‘What the hell was that?’
That was the speech of a seven-year-old child? He thought back to Arellin’s appearance earlier.
Her tired, bored demeanor, the kind that would put Graham off if he tried to talk to her.
And then there was her impassive expression.
‘Now that I’ve seen it, I understand.’
The crown prince’s arellin disease.
There was something different about her, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, but he could tell when he saw her face to face.
She’s not like other kids.
‘Still, I feel sorry for him.’
Thinking about what happened today, he felt a little sorry for the crown prince.
He’d been kicked in the face.
‘Now that you’ve been kicked once, I’m sure you’ll restrain yourself.’
Graham looked at him expectantly.
“Graham.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I think Arellin likes me.”
“…”
What a load of bollocks.
As Graham stood stiff with disbelief, Pession spoke, his eyes twinkling.
“She’s got that kind of advice for me, doesn’t she?”
Graham wanted to correct him that he was mistaken.
***
The second round had begun.
‘What, this isn’t a raid with endless bosses.’
She sent the crown prince away, and the next boss appeared and grabbed her.
The Nursery.
The butler and the maid’s older brothers, whose job it was to take care of her.
“I’m scum. Rubbish that doesn’t burn…”
“People burn, bones just don’t burn as well.”
“Well, bones do burn.”
What the hell is wrong with these people?
The only reason this is better than dealing with the crown prince is because it’s happening in her room.
‘Has my room ever seemed so small?’
It was unusual to see all of the butler’s maids in attendance.
It was disconcerting to see them all looking at me with apologetic eyes and body language.
Why are you sorry?
“Did you swear at me?”
The people who had been bowing their heads like sinners jumped up and down in anger.
“No!”
“Don’t say that!”
“Us?!”
She sighed, looking at the stunned and retorting parenting group.
“Then why are you sorry?”
I know you guys didn’t swear at me.
Call it timid revenge, call it what you will, but it was all she could do, because all she could do was duck and hide from those malicious humans.
Because they were interested in my looks, in my ashes, and in whether or not they could get a piece of my beans by catching my eye.
“Then why are you acting like a sinner?”
She genuinely didn’t understand.
Why would they do that?
“Because we didn’t… protect you.”
“We didn’t trust you.”
Uni, the maid responsible for her health checks and medication, cried.
“It is our duty and pleasure to keep you, to protect you, to nurture you.”
…She doesn’t understand. They’re not even family.
Why? Because this is work?
“Why is it a pleasure?”
“Because we like you, of course.”
“Do you like me?”
She feels like she’s heard something she shouldn’t have.
“Why?”
Why… like her?
Wasn’t it just work, weren’t they taking care of her and looking after her because it was work? Wasn’t there anything personal there? Did she get it wrong?
After a breathless moment of staring at each other with shocked expressions, her vision suddenly blurred.
“Huh? Lady?”
The first thing she saw was Yuni’s surprised expression. Why did she look so worried…
“I’m dizzy…”
She must have moved too much today to be dizzy.
It was then.
Poof. Her vision went black.
