Chapter 15
“He said that goat’s blood is a conduit for summoning demons, and goat horns are a flute that calls forth Masuda, a minion of the devil.’’
When I secretly went out earlier, I saw him carrying something. It turned out to be goat horns.
“I roughly understand what happened.”
Détor sneaked out.
And a sudden invasion of Masuda.
Ronan, who had followed behind Détor, killed Matsu and returned. In Détor’s arms, there were goat horns, said to be the flute that calls Matsu, the minion of the devil.
“Ha, That crazy guy.”
Brushing his hair back, he spat out rough curses, startling the maid next to him.
“Leah, Have you also become a Northerner?”
Before I knew it, I was also receiving the strange treatment reserved for Northerners.
“What on earth have you done and come back?”
Delia, who eagerly welcomed the barely returning Détor, was filled with anger.
“…I couldn’t sleep all night, so I’m tired. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Dettor collapsed onto the bed, showing signs of exhaustion, His hidden face underneath betrayed an expression of frustration
The reason he had taken the goat’s horns and secured them in the carriage was purely for precautionary measures, in case of unforeseen events.
Driven away by an investigation, he embarked on a journey.
It was necessary to protect himself, and the thought of using the goat’s horns to summon a horse and escape in case of trouble lingered in his mind.
There was no reason behind taking the goat’s horns other than that. That was the whole story. After fleeing the city, the carriage broke down by chance, halting in the northern region.
The appearance of the detestable Violentus family was not a pleasant sight. The fact that he needed assistance from that family was irritating enough. Meanwhile, when Delia showed interest in Laches, Dettore’s anger grew steadily.
Because Delia was always clinging to Dettor.
Looking at Delia, who would cling to him and beg not to be abandoned, Dettor’s self-esteem was bolstered. So, it had to be done that way.
But then, in the middle of the night, there was a need for a solitary stroll, not because he was going for a walk. His attire was clearly a matter he cared about.
“All because of you, Delia.”
When the situation unfolded, Dettor’s patience snapped completely. Impulsively, he grabbed the goat’s horns to summon the horse, challenging the notion that he, too, belonged to a protective family.
The outcome was a miserable failure, The goat’s horns, stained with blood, seemed to play a serpent’s tune as the horse charged menacingly, and Dettore even shed a few tears.
If it hadn’t been a knight of the Violentus family, it might have been different…
“Where on earth have you been? What’s with these goat horns? Whom are you planning to give them to?”
“Quiet!”
There was no Imperial citizen unaware that goat horns were a flute to summon a horse. Except, perhaps, for the ignorant Delia.
Dettore was furious at the thoughtless Delia.
Dettore, expressing his frustration, threw a cushion. The cushion narrowly missed Delia, hitting the wall and falling weakly.
“Dettore, did you just throw that at me?”
“Delia, can’t you see how tired I am right now? Do you really love me?”
Dettore sighed as if he was truly fed up, However, Delia remained unyielding.
“You’re the one who must have done something somewhere to be tired. Were you with another woman all night?”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Someone saw you with another woman!”
Delia burst into tears, accusing him with frustration.
“I’m saying something ridiculous like, ‘Where is the girl I know around here?'”
“How would I know! Just tell me where you came from!”
“Sigh.”
It might be better to die than to confess that embarrassing incident with my own mouth.
Dettor covered his eyes with his palm.
Lovely Delia, Delia, who was good to play with because she had no thoughts, That was all.
“Reprentia wouldn’t act like this.”
“…What?”
“Reprentia never asked or got angry just thinking about herself.”
Delia stopped breathing at Dettor’s muttering.
When Delia suddenly heard the name of her former friend, it felt like she had been hit in the head with a stone.
Reprentia wouldn’t act like this, Those words ruined Delia’s entire life.
She barely escaped, but she was still in the shadow.
“Hu, huhu.”
Delia eventually burst into tears. Dettor, who had been angry all along, sighed heavily.
Then he stood up and tightly embraced the crying Delia, Like a caring and kind person.
“Sorry, Delia. Don’t cry. …I told you I was too tired.”
It was an ambiguous comfort, whether it was blame or a genuine apology.
“I really didn’t meet any other woman, We came on a trip together, right? But why would I meet another woman.”
“Hu, huhu…”
“Believe my words, not what others say. Huh? It’s true, Delia. I just took a few walks.”
Delia didn’t answer.
In Dettor’s arms, the scent of the chilly dawn wind was clearly felt. There were fine traces of dirt and leaves on his back and pants.
This definitely meant he lay down, but the Dettore Delia knew wasn’t a man who suddenly lay down on the grass while looking at the night sky.
Unless it was undressing a woman.
So, this must mean he rolled somewhere.
“Let’s explore the northern region together tomorrow, okay? You said there are many places you want to see on the first day.”
But Delia couldn’t ask any more. Surely, if she asked now, she would be compared to Reprentia again.
At least she had to be a better lover than Reprentia.
“Okay, Sniffle.”
This surely meant he had laid down, but the Dettor Delia knew wasn’t a man who suddenly lay down on the grass to look at the night sky.
Unless it was suddenly undressing a woman.
So, this must mean he rolled around somewhere.
“Let’s explore the northern region together tomorrow, okay? You said you wanted to see a lot on the first day.”
But Delia couldn’t ask for more. Clearly, if she questioned now, it would inevitably be compared to Reprentia.
At least, he had to be a better lover than Reperentia.
“Okay, Sniff.”
Delia bit her lower lip, nodded, and looked at Detor. When their eyes met, DeTor smiled, said she was cute, and kissed her on the cheek.
A man who quickly rushed over to comfort her when she showed tears and embraced her tenderly.
A man who had to be believed to be gentle and kind.
Delia buried the uncomfortable sense of dissatisfaction that bloomed like a thorn and filled the empty satisfaction of being loved.
I read the memories of the knights who trampled Dettor that day, And I had to barely hold back my laughter.
Despite DeTor bravely summoning the horse, when the snake-like mount appeared, he wet his pants and begged for his life.
When Ronan appeared, there were even tears in Dettor’s eyes.
On the way back, there was also a memory of trying to hide the wet pants and walking awkwardly.
“More satisfying than when I got revenge in the past.”
When La Ches was angry and asked for an explanation, the sight of him begging to change his pants first was worth seeing.
It was a pity that I couldn’t see it with my own eyes because I was laughing too hard at the memories. The knights had found it suspicious.
Due to the absurd incident that occurred, I thought Détor and Delia would at least exercise some restraint for a few days. However, my expectations were pleasantly off the mark. It seemed like that was a story only applicable to normal people.
“Northern women are rumored to be strong, and it seems true. Unlike the fragile women in the capital, they look healthy, Healthy women are said to produce heirs well.”
Is that really something people say?
I coldly stared at Déttor, who was making inappropriate comments to the young maids.
This wasn’t the first time he behaved like this, and it was directed at different women each time.
‘With such a bad reputation and being expelled from the capital, he still hasn’t learned his lesson.’
I shook my head disapprovingly. Every time I saw that face, I couldn’t help but remember him clinging to his torn trousers, tears streaming down, and it made me laugh.
After mocking him to my heart’s content, I turned away. I was eager to avoid him, considering how freely he roamed around.
I wished we could repair the carriage quickly and leave.
One thing puzzled me: Delia must be aware of Détore’s behavior, yet she didn’t impose any sanctions. Did they agree to live freely, or did she trust Détore?
If it were me, I would have grabbed him by the hair and thrown him off a tall building.
‘Perhaps she’s unaware?’
Either way, it wasn’t my concern. Delia chose Détore, and whether she discards or embraces him for a lifetime is her decision.
‘By the way, during this time, Delia was pregnant. What happened to the child?’
In this current life, when I didn’t plan revenge and behaved somewhat favorably, Delia always denied any connection with Détore and announced her pregnancy around my wedding dates.
In this life, I left, feigning death, a day before the wedding, and quite some time has passed since then.
If Delia was pregnant, I should be cautious, but there was no sign of that from either of them.
Even if my reputation in the capital worsened, traveling so far north by carriage implied a lack of concern.
‘… After hearing news of pregnancy, I always died, so I have no idea what happened afterward.’
Suddenly, the face of Delia, who had informed me of her pregnancy for the first time, came to mind.
On the day of the wedding, you were smiling as you looked at me.
‘Why…’
My steps slowed down, and soon I came to a stop.
“Ha.”
An uncontrollable bitter laugh escaped me.
I didn’t come back to life a few years ago; it was just a few months before I died.
A doctor could only confirm pregnancy after at least several months had passed.
So, if Delia revealed her pregnancy on the day of my wedding, it meant she was pregnant at least several months before that.
However, when my reborn self acted favorably, Delia informed me of the pregnancy, but when I planned revenge to separate the two of them, she didn’t tell me about it.
And this time was no different, Despite living favorably, Delia did not inform me of the pregnancy for the first time.
This could only mean one thing.
‘The pregnancy was a lie.’
Unstoppable ridicule flowed. So, Delia used the pregnancy as a means to take Detor away from me.
Whether I was planning revenge or the end of Detor and my relationship was predetermined due to a deadline, Detor would be her man anyway, so there was no need to lie about being pregnant.
“Ha, you’re more ruthless than a devil.”
The hand holding the laundry basket tightened involuntarily.
That’s when it happened.
“By any chance, do you know who’s in charge of laundry? I have something to ask separately.’’
“I’m in charge of the laundry, right? I was probably just about to pick up and walk… huh? There you are. …Lea!”
I heard someone calling me from behind.
“…Lea?”
At the same time, Dettor’s voice calling me also reached my ears.
Dettor, with the familiar name on his lips, seemed to turn to look at me.
The back of my neck tingled as if someone was staring at me.
My heart thumped beneath my chest.
“Hey… is your name Lea?”
Dettor’s footsteps approached me, I had to escape this place immediately.
I pretended not to have heard anything and hurried my steps, tightly gripping the laundry basket to appear nonchalant.
“Just a moment!”
Dettor followed from behind.
It would definitely look strange if I ran away from here.
No, I can’t, I can’t get caught.
I barely survived.
I can’t go back to that time and die again.
My fingertips trembled, and my lips were parched.
“Just wait a moment! I’m not a suspicious person! What I wanted to ask wasn’t something else but about my pants…”
Thunk.
And then, someone quickly grabbed my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.
