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chapter 31
“……Uh.”
Of course Eshi was just Eshi, what else could she be?
In truth, Ribanu couldn’t understand what was supposed to be so wrong about red hair and freckles.
So what if she had them?
It wasn’t like she was grotesque, or had some fatal flaw. He couldn’t understand why she would be ostracized for such trivial things—people could be so petty and mean over nothing.
“Hehe, young master, you enjoyed talking with me today, right?”
“……That’s true.”
“Let’s talk often from now on! I’m already looking forward to it!”
“……I guess that’s true too.”
Of course, if it wasn’t about Grace, there probably wouldn’t be much to talk about, but it didn’t seem like Eshi wanted anything else.
She looked content just to chatter about Grace freely.
And more than anything—unlike Ribanu, whose entire world revolved around Grace and who felt he could never like anyone else as much—Eshi simply seemed to like people for who they were.
Seeing her laugh so openly, just because they had managed to talk a little, felt strangely disarming.
He could almost imagine a tail wagging happily behind her.
She was just a harmless puppy.
The tension Ribanu had been holding toward Eshi melted away all at once.
……But why had he been so wary of that maid in the first place?
Just as he was feeling the odd discomfort of not knowing the answer himself, Grace—who had been watching them closely—asked,
“What were you two talking about that was so fun?”
“Mm. Eshi’s just good at talking in a fun way.”
“Really?”
She could have pressed to know what exactly they’d been chatting about, but instead Grace just smiled brightly, as though it was enough for her to see that things had gone well.
Ribanu getting along with Eshi put Grace at ease. She had hoped they might grow closer, and though she had only stepped away for a short while, it seemed something had shifted between them.
She hadn’t been lying when she’d said before that she wished Ribanu’s world would grow broader.
She hoped it would widen and widen until, although he cherished her the most right now, one day he would learn to treat her with a little distance.
Grace didn’t expect anything grand from Ribanu.
After all, if she died, she would only return again, and being too close to someone only complicated things for the next life. Keeping a proper distance was important.
All she wanted was to let him live comfortably, to be sure he could get by.
Because remembering when no one else remembered her—each return had always been lonelier than she could put into words.
She had never had a master worth giving her heart to before. She had served only wretched people until now, so she had grown cautious.
And though not everyone had been bad, even the times she had shared genuine affection had ended poorly. The more her heart grew attached, the more she was the one who paid the price.
But Ribanu was different. He clung only to Grace, with no room for anyone else. She gave him just enough in return, but sometimes she worried about what might come of that devotion later.
Even more, she couldn’t shake what she had heard outside.
“……Sophien.”
One way or another, it was clear now—Sophien herself was the one abusing Reto.
What Grace didn’t understand was where the money for all her extravagance was coming from.
She had even checked the jewelry shop Sophien often boasted of, but all the pieces on display had turned out to be fakes.
The jeweler’s face was sly and unpleasant, and it seemed Sophien’s poor judgment left her easy prey. She likely paid exorbitant prices for worthless trinkets without realizing she was being scammed.
“Honestly…”
Grace let out a sigh. So foolish, so pathetic.
It seemed she would need to visit Reto again soon.
She arrived intending to see Reto, but instead spotted Sophien just leaving his room.
Her expression was different from the calm, gentle face she usually wore. Today she looked furious, brows furrowed sharply.
“You stay here and guard. The young master is being punished for his mistakes.”
Oh no.
Grace groaned inwardly.
If Sophien said that, there was no way she would be allowed inside to see Reto.
Sophien looked utterly resolute, leaving no room for negotiation, her authority here unchallenged.
And indeed, the servant by her side bowed low and answered,
“Yes, my lady.”
Still scowling, unable to conceal her foul mood, Sophien stalked away.
Grace was certain Reto was inside, but with the servant guarding the door, she couldn’t approach.
Even though Sophien had once permitted Grace to meet him, judging by her mood now, she would never allow it.
“Good grief……”
Grace wracked her brain for a way in.
Then, once Sophien was well out of sight, the servant glanced around furtively, coolly locked the door with a padlock, and walked away.
Huh.
Was that even allowed?
Regardless, it was good news for Grace.
Clearly the servant knew where Sophien was going and was confident she wouldn’t return for a while.
Otherwise, how could he dare defy the commands of the villa’s most powerful presence?
He must have known she’d be gone for some time—perhaps off shopping, as the villagers often said.
Once she was sure the coast was clear, Grace checked the lock.
Clatter—
It looked sturdy, but with only a few firm tugs it broke apart easily.
She tossed the shattered lock to the floor and pushed the door open.
Creeeak—
The old door groaned as it swung wide.
The room inside was pitch black, filled only with the sound of breathing.
As the sound of her steps reached him, the breathing turned sharp and frightened. Grace instinctively paused.
“……Master Reto.”
She called softly, hoping to soothe him and make clear she wasn’t Sophien.
“……Ughhh.”
A low groan, and then movement from the corner of the room.
“It’s me, Grace.”
No answer.
Taking a careful step closer, she finally heard his voice—hoarse and cracked.
“D-don’t come closer…….”
“Hm? Young master, are you hurt?”
She asked, feigning ignorance.
“……I said, don’t come closer.”
But Grace didn’t stop.
She advanced slowly, step by step, until at last she reached out her hand.
“Young master, it’s so dark I can’t see anything.”
With that, she yanked open the curtains.
Sunlight poured into the room, illuminating the space.
And there, crouched beside the bed, Reto came into view—his body covered in wounds.
So the rumors about regular purchases of punishment tools had been true. He was being abused.
“……Are you all right, young master?”
Grace asked quietly, studying him.
Reto stubbornly pressed his lips together, refusing to speak.
Grace didn’t press further. She simply waited.
Even after ten lifetimes, she couldn’t forget her time as an experimental subject. Those memories were etched deep—every detail still sharp.
She hadn’t been beaten, but the suffering had been so great she sometimes wished she had been.
And never once had anyone asked her if she was all right, never once had a hand been extended to her.
Of course, no one there had been capable of such kindness anyway.
Peaceful conversation had been impossible in a place like that.
Because of that, Grace had never been good at comforting others.
She could pretend, maybe, with empty platitudes. But when faced with someone truly hurting, her mind always went blank.
The best she could manage now was a single, simple question: Are you all right?
And of course, he wasn’t.
When she fell silent again, Reto curled in tighter and muttered,
“Please leave…….”
“What?”
“Don’t come near me.”
“Haa……”
Why were all the young masters of this house like this?
Ribanu hadn’t spoken so sharply, but he too had hated showing his weakness.
“Do you really want me to go?”
“……Yes. Go.”
“Really?”
“……Leave.”
“But last time too—you seemed like you had something you wanted to say. Didn’t you?”
Even if Grace lacked emotion, she knew very well that this situation was wrong for a child like Reto.
If she simply left because he told her to, that would be cruel.
“Hmm?”
“……I-I did have something I wondered about…….”
“What is it?”
Prompted, Reto murmured,
“You seemed… different from Sophien.”
“Different how?”
“The young master you serve—he smiles easily. I’ve even seen him taking walks sometimes. That made me curious.”
Grace tilted her head.
She wasn’t sure what exactly he was asking.
It seemed he hadn’t sought her out for help after all.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“I don’t know what’s right anymore.”
“You mean, between me and Sophien?”
“……Yes. Because every day, I…….”
Reto’s eyes fell to his wounded body, his expression clouding with pain.
For the first time, he had begun to question things—after seeing Ribanu and Grace together, and realizing his own life with Sophien was nothing like theirs.
