Chapter 55
There was no need to accommodate a young child's slow pace, so their speed increased significantly.
Rider, leaning against the butler's chest while coughing with a hand over his mouth, tried to break the silence by speaking. He had learned that providing appropriate conversation topics to those of lower station was also part of a superior's role.
"About Lady Rohanson... are all noble ladies like that?"
And the topic that came to mind most readily was the person they had just seen. Lady Rohanson was truly strange. From every strand of hair to each individual eyelash, she was woven together with excessive precision that sent chills down one's spine.
That delicacy rivaled the transparent glass ornament depicting an angel in Rider's room. The person who seemed like hardened glass had offered Rider an elegant greeting.
"Must I become like that too?"
It was a perfect demeanor, as if she moved by consciously calculating even the angles of her fingertips. Rider was deeply impressed by her flawless execution of the greeting described in etiquette books.
"...Well."
Raak let his words trail off.
Having dedicated his life to the Marquisate and meeting many nobles, Raak had never encountered anyone like Evangelin. Having met various nobles, Raak could tell at a glance that Evangelin was not normal, but Rider was different. He had never met or formed relationships with young noble children.
Ordinary children from noble families typically mingled with their peers from childhood, but Rider had not.
Though he may not remember it himself, when Rider was even younger than now, the Marchioness had once invited the children of a Countess she frequently associated with. It was a natural flow to provide him with peers as friends.
However, a problem arose. The Count's children made remarks to Rider that "the curse transfers."
It was clear whom those ignorant children had heard such words from. The Marchioness severely scolded the children and severed ties with the Countess.
What the Countess said then was truly outrageous. In her excitement, she spewed various insults she couldn't take back, but the gist was this: she had sent her child to play with a child abandoned by the gods and cursed, and how could they be angry when she showed such sincerity?
Since then, visitors to the Marquis residence had drastically decreased. As Rider's health deteriorated, they stopped receiving visitors entirely, making Evangelin Rohanson the first visitor in a full three years.
"There is no need for you to become like that."
He wouldn't live long enough to reach Evangelin's age anyway. Raak swallowed the words left unsaid.
Yet he felt a bit fearful. Rumors had circulated that Evangelin Rohanson had also originally received a curse that holy water couldn't cure due to her weak constitution. But wasn't she now walking around perfectly fine?
If Rider one day overcomes his constitutional weakness, he wouldn't end up like Evangelin, would he? It was a very unpleasant imagination.
The cursed child, unaware of Raak's thoughts, continued chattering.
"I thought Lady Rohanson was an angel who came to collect me when I died."
Raak clicked his tongue internally. Evangelin Rohanson was not to be compared to anything so sacred, and this was also due to the Marchioness implanting strange delusions in Rider.
An angel? How could one cursed embrace God's bosom? Being so young, it was pitiful, but even in death, Rider would find no rest.
"Butler, did you think so too?"
"I was frightened."
"Frightened?"
"Yes. I never wish to face her again."
Whether because of the faint possibility that Rider might grow up like this, Raak felt fear beyond displeasure.
"You seem to respect Madam Toten quite a bit. You went so far as to tell me, whom you met today for the first time, all the circumstances of the Marquisate for fear of affecting Madam Toten."
When he sneered at Raak for mocking Madam Toten, his heart sank. He had seen through Raak's dirty thoughts as if rummaging through them, so terror naturally washed over him.
Had he sensed something suspicious from Raak's few words? Or had he already investigated? Had the Marchioness noticed Raak's machinations and asked him to probe his intentions?
Countless imaginings cluttered his mind.
Wondering if the Marchioness had truly noticed, he had特意 told Rider, who was resting, that a guest had arrived and arranged for them to meet. The Marchioness seemed not to know the truth yet, but soon she would hear the facts from Evangelin Rohanson.
However, with the child present, the Marchioness couldn't take rash actions. Raak looked at the weakness in his arms breathing shallowly.
"If anyone saw, they'd think you were the master of this residence."
He had never dared to have such thoughts. Raak simply found it unsatisfactory that evidence of being abandoned by the gods had appeared in the Marquisate he loved.
The brilliant Marchioness who loved her subjects had, for her cursed son, donated money to the temple, depleted the family fortune, and has been holed up in the capital for four years now, neglecting the territory.
Raak believed that Lord Rauphos, the Marquis's younger brother, should inherit the family rather than a young child who would soon die. That would be far more beneficial for the Marquisate.
Looking at the Marquisate's prestige now compared to just ten years ago when the Marquis was healthy, the answer was clear.
While sharing impressions about Evangelin Rohanson, they had already arrived at the room. Raak was about to see the child to bed and leave when his hem was caught.
"Butler. I want to hear a lullaby."
He meant the lullaby the Marchioness always sang before he slept.
Normally he would never act so spoiled with the butler, but today he seemed particularly exhausted.
"I won't sing as well as the Madam, but if that's acceptable, I'll sing for you."
Raak stroked the child's head and sang a messy lullaby. His wrinkled, aged hand stroked Rider's head as if wanting to absorb all the child's vitality.
"...Are you asleep?"
Before he knew it, the child had quickly fallen asleep. Raak brought his hand to the child's nose and withdrew it when he felt warm breath.
The old hand moved from the child's soft nose tip toward his slender neck and caressed the sleeping child's neck. The cowardly old man, lacking the courage to act directly, prayed for God to quickly take the child's life.
"Please die soon."
Raak prayed to the merciful God. Then, holding his breath lest the child wake, he left the room.
The hinge twisted as the door closed. In the silence, the breath that had been exhaled regularly to the sound of the clock's second hand grew ragged with moisture.
The child knew very well that the only one in the world who loved him was his mother.
***
It had been quite a while since I visited the Toten Marquis residence. Now the debutante ball was really approaching. I counted the days and found there were only three left.
What? Only three days really left? Even less than I thought. Is this real? When did time go by like this?
I was lamenting the time flowing too fast without me when Gabriel visited the Rohanson residence again. This was because of my request for him to stop by once more.
Instead, perhaps because work had piled up and he was busy, he arrived several hours later than the announced time. I had waited until I was exhausted, thinking he simply wasn't coming, and was in the middle of a deep sleep when I heard the news of his late arrival and went out to greet Gabriel.
How dare he wake my sweet sleep? Do you know how good the dream I was having today was?
It was a dream where a woman in a white dress was stroking me. I don't remember her face, but I vaguely recall calling her "mother" in the dream. I had a nostalgic dream about my mother for the first time in ages, never expecting it to be interrupted.
Still, Gabriel isn't at fault since I was the one who called him. The butler must have taken good care of him, as Gabriel was waiting leisurely in the reception room. When he first came, he was so tense and stiff, but now after visiting a few times, he acts like it's his own home.
My my. I see they've brought out quite an elaborate tea service too. The servants who were initially wandering about at the news that a villainess and paladin were associating have now apparently grown accustomed to Gabriel's visits and showed no agitation.
Gabriel, having discovered me, rose from his seat and paid his respects.
"I apologize, Lady Rohanson. I'm late."
He's late to our appointment and disturbs my sweet sleep, but does he think an apology settles everything? Of course it did. As a villainess, I couldn't complain to the precious male lead who was like the heavens to me.
"Have you been busy?"
"If I were to make excuses, yes. Our Pharos Knight Order is also standing guard for His Highness the Crown Prince's birthday celebration."
Gabriel seemed to be showing off that he had come to see me even during such a busy time. Of course, being a stoic male lead, he wouldn't be insinuating anything sinister with roundabout words.
Thanks to Doline's art of conversation lessons, all words in the world sound like sarcastic remarks with implied meanings, which is a huge problem. If I keep this up, I might misunderstand a compliment and get angry. On that day, I would become a true villainess.
"Did you meet Madam Toten well?"
"Didn't you receive word?"
"Madam Toten hasn't visited the temple since then. I sent a letter just in case, but received no reply either."
Given that Gabriel seemed to have some kind of connection with her, I thought he would have already heard the news, but it appeared Madam Toten hadn't gone to the temple since then. I hadn't received any separate contact either.
"Did something happen?"
The words were soft, but that was essentially an interrogation. Whoa. Gabriel, are you suspecting me? No, surely you don't think I threatened her not to go to the temple?
With strange rumors circulating and all, it seems his blinders are gradually coming off. I'll need to pour on some charm today and tighten my fishing line firmly.
"It seems the young lord Toten doesn't have many days left."
"The young vice-maroquis?"
To do that, I had no choice but to tell the truth. If I falsely insisted I did nothing wrong, I might get double-checked later.
"The Madam asked if there was a way to restore her sick child like me."
"And what did you answer?"
"That without offering one's life to a demon, it's impossible."
In short, it was absolutely impossible. Gabriel would know that since he's aware I was possessed, he'd understand recovery through the same method wasn't possible.
"...Is there truly no method?"
However, contrary to my expectations, Gabriel asked with suspicion.