Chapter 17
Indeed, as the words suggested, the Grand Temple was magnificent. It was probably on par with the Imperial Palace. Even Hena let out a small exclamation of admiration, but Kanna's words were dry. A child of her age would naturally admire beautiful things, but instead, a faint hostility could be felt.
Hena thought this was because the Young Lady disliked the temple, and that influence had reached her sister. If not for that, what reason would her sister have to be hostile toward the temple?
Whether it was due to the coachman's polite greeting, or because they descended from the Count family's magnificently decorated carriage, people's gazes focused on them. The Grand Temple's main customers were nobles, so the exterior landscaping was well-maintained, and many people were enjoying the spectacle.
"That carriage's crest... which family's emblem is that?"
"What emblem? That crow?"
"No. It's a phoenix. It's the Rohanson Count family."
"Did the Rohanson Count family have children? I've never seen them before."
"There's that sick daughter, you know."
"Ah, right. Then which of the two is that daughter?"
"Who knows. Isn't it the one who looks sicker?"
"My goodness. There were rumors she had died, so it must have been all false rumors."
"Or maybe she resurrected like her family's crest."
"What a joke. Haha."
Their spectacle came with mockery. Is this why the Young Lady was reluctant to come? Even knowing the actual reason was elsewhere, Hena felt that way for a moment.
Would those people even suspect that the words they spoke as jokes to mock the Count family were close to the truth?
If the Young Lady had come, they certainly wouldn't have dared to open their mouths. Evangeline Rohanson possessed overwhelming authority that transcended status. Standing before the Young Lady, anyone would be reduced to a mere human.
"Excuse me. Young Lady. Are you the Rohanson Young Lady?"
And from the crowd that had been looking at them as if appraising displayed merchandise, one particularly pushy man approached. His gaze was directed at Kanna. Since Hena, with her dark face and rough hands, was standing beside her, he seemed to have mistaken Kanna for the Young Lady.
"You seem to have misunderstood because we came by carriage. I am the young miss's maid."
"Oh, is that so?"
The moment he learned Kanna wasn't the Young Lady, his attitude changed immediately. The gentlemanly demeanor from moments ago vanished in an instant, revealing his arrogant and condescending nature.
At his sudden transformation, had Kanna been hurt? Hena stealthily checked her sister's condition. Fortunately, she seemed unaffected, as Kanna was still smiling.
"Well. She was too shabbily dressed to be the Rohanson Young Lady."
Hena's body flinched. If she had known this would happen, she should have stopped by the clothing shop as Kanna suggested before coming. She didn't mind since she was a maid, but hearing Kanna receive such words upset her.
Moreover, it was also tarnishing the Young Lady's name. The Young Lady had no interest in such things, so Hena should have paid attention.
"Your mistress is too much as well."
"Our mistress is too much, you say?"
"If you're sending her to the temple, at least lend her some clothes where others can see. Right? The Rohanson Count family has so much money. Ah, or maybe you don't know?"
"What don't I know?"
When Kanna asked, the man covered his mouth with both hands as if telling a great secret. But seeing that his voice didn't lower at all, it was merely a showy gesture.
"That young lady's maternal family is the Hosakin Duke family. But it seems the Duke family doesn't particularly support them? Seeing as they don't even have money to buy clothes for the maids."
The man laughed as if he had made the joke of the century. Since the man's voice was still loud, people who had been glancing this way pretending not to look also covered their mouths with fans.
The only one not laughing there was Hena alone. No, two of them.
Hena couldn't laugh because her sister's face standing next to her was more frightening than the man or the nobles' sneers.
Kanna, whose smile had stiffened when the Young Lady's story came up, now had her expression completely gone. Even Hena, who had cared for Kanna for so long, didn't know that expression. No, had she seen it once before? When was it? When she looked down at Donau's corpse after he had pierced his own throat and committed suicide?
Hena suddenly felt afraid. Was her sister not going to kill that man like this? It didn't make sense, but Hena genuinely worried about that.
Fortunately, the man and people's laughter soon stopped.
"...Young Lady."
Because no one would be able to laugh frivolously before Evangeline Rohanson.
***
When will Hena and Kanna return... It's been a while since they left, but there's no news from the kids. My parents must have waited for me like this when I was late. Suddenly I miss them and feel like crying.
Are they doing well? Mom. Your daughter became a romance fantasy villain....
"When will they return?"
"They probably haven't even arrived at the Grand Temple yet."
Looking at the clock, indeed not much time had passed. In the meantime, so many eventful incidents had happened that I thought five hours had passed.
Since Hena and Kanna weren't here today, I went down to the dining hall to get lunch. When I went for the first time in a while, everyone was terrified. The chef was so nervous about me being in the dining hall that he cut himself while handling the knife, and the maids serving were trembling and broke dishes while carrying food.
Then they apologized, bowing on top of the broken glass, and even though glass shards were stuck in their hands and legs and bleeding, they were only watching my face. What kind of blood-calling villain is this? I told them it was okay and sent them away, and told the butler to use holy water to treat them.
Since the Count didn't eat with me either, I ate alone, and no one even made breathing sounds. In that large dining hall, only the sounds of tableware clinking and my eating noises could be heard, so I was embarrassed to death.
I miss Kanna and Hena....
It seems I can't shake off Evangeline's evil reputation just by getting close to those two. Well, just because the contents inside changed doesn't mean the evil deeds accumulated so far disappear. They probably just think Evangeline has amnesia.
I didn't know I'd feel this empty without Kanna who treats me comfortably. I'm worried too. Should I have just followed them? I didn't go because I didn't have the courage to see corpse scenes, but I should have just said I'd wait in front.
This won't do.
"Jelly. Let's go see Kanna."
Don't I have a sorcerer, a superior version of a taxi, by my side? Teleport and appear with a bam!
I feel like an overprotective parent sending kids on errands and secretly following to see if they're doing well.
Before going, I'll first change clothes and bring some money too. I searched through the dress room and wore a modest white dress that came out. Most of the clothes Evangeline originally wore were flashy and not my taste, so there weren't many clothes to wear.
If I want to escape being a villain, I need to wear some modest clothes, so I should buy some in that style too. I haven't paid attention because I haven't had occasions to go out.
"Isn't cherishing that human too much?"
As I was busy preparing to go, Jelly grumbled. While doing that, she also combed my hair and chose a parasol saying it would go well with this outfit. Jelly is a tsundere type. A blunt knight and a tsundere wolf beastman—seeing that the character types don't overlap, I wonder what will appear next—perhaps a kind noble who smiles with eyes crinkling in any situation?
"That's overprotection."
No, Jelly. You don't know anything!
This is a angst-filled romance fantasy where the heroine gets kidnapped and almost dies from the beginning! In angst-filled works, the heroine just riding a carriage causes it to overturn and assassins appear!
Since Kanna was kidnapped, I've always kept her by my side, so I didn't know I'd worry like this. I have separation anxiety....
My own cat is independent though. Pudding wasn't visible either, probably went for a walk, so I just left a memo. This is fortunate since Pudding is a beastman. But he's still young and couldn't speak, can he read? Looking back, Jelly nodded. Seems he can read.
"Shall we go now?"
Jelly extended her hand.
It seemed like a universal rule that bodies need to touch for teleportation. When I placed my hand, Jelly used magic to teleport.
I blinked my eyes closed and opened them, and I was in the carriage. Without even the usual dizziness. Jelly must be quite a skilled mage. Well, looking at Jelly's appearance, she's definitely a major character in this romance fantasy, and if she's a major character, she has to be capable.
"I moved to the carriage without being noticed. Are you satisfied?"
"Yes. Good job."
The place I teleported to was the Rohanson mansion carriage. The kids weren't visible, probably already got off. Looking out the carriage window, I could see the Grand Temple.
I thought they went inside, but I found familiar silhouettes standing in the garden. People around were glancing and whispering, and a man was talking to the two. Just looking, it seemed like they were stopped while trying to enter the temple.
He was dressed well so he looked like a noble. Surely that's not the kind noble character I just mentioned? I worried a bit but was relieved seeing his appearance. He was somewhat greasy and arrogant, and judging by his physiognomy, he wasn't a main character. Then he must be a hunting guy hitting on the heroine.
I was about to go stop him immediately but hesitated. Isn't this a cliché where a strange guy comes on to someone and the male lead saves her? Last time I stole Gabriel's entrance scene like this, so I was conflicted.
Right. Let's wait a little. This is the Grand Temple, so Gabriel's strengthening event will happen.
While waiting, I listened to what that guy was spouting.
"...clothes were shabby."
What did that bastard say?
Right now Kanna and Hena weren't wearing the Rohanson mansion's maid uniforms but casual clothes. They looked neat and pretty, so what's shabby? The following words were even worse.
"Your mistress is too much as well. If you're sending her to the temple, at least lend her some clothes where others can see, don't you think?"
Hena said if they rode the Rohanson Count's carriage, they wouldn't get picked on, but it seems to have backfired. Evangeline is a villain so she drew aggro.
Honestly, that last one pricked my conscience. To make an excuse, I wasn't paying attention to my own clothes either. This is honestly my mistake, but having it pointed out by someone who's not even Extra 1, but about Extra 18 level, feels dirty.
"That young lady's maternal family is the Hosakin Duke family. But it seems the Duke family doesn't particularly support them? Seeing as they don't even have money to buy clothes for the maids."