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chapter 43
“S-sorry,”
Before Leto could apologize again, Livanu stopped him.
“How many times are you going to apologize?”
“Ah, s-sorry agai—”
Livanu blocked Leto, who was about to apologize out of habit.
“I’m the one who should say sorry.”
“Eh, eh?”
Leto’s eyes widened in surprise at the apology.
“…Sorry.”
Livanu, who had been silent until now, cautiously revealed himself to Leto.
This was the first time Livanu had shown himself like this.
“Uh…”
When he took off his robe, Leto was startled by the melted-looking skin.
“Disgusting, huh?”
“…N-no, not at all!”
Leto quickly denied it, but Livanu shook his head.
“Honestly.”
“…”
When Livanu firmly said “honestly,” Leto seemed unable to lie and simply kept his mouth shut.
“I got emotional when you said things like I look good or cool. I’m not cool at all.”
“Eh?”
“I’m disgusting like this, I smell bad, and I can’t even do much… I’m utterly inadequate compared to Grace…”
Grace, surprised by the sudden self-deprecation, stared at Livanu.
I thought he had improved a lot, but he still feels this way?
Grace opened her mouth to say something, but Leto was faster.
“No!!”
Shouting as if he were using all his strength, Leto startled everyone. All three of them looked at him wide-eyed.
“No, that’s not true! Livanu is not that kind of person. If you speak like that, what does it make me, who thinks so highly of you?”
“Huh?”
“I like Grace and Essi too, of course, but I like you, Livanu, more than both of them. I feel that you are a good and warm person.”
“…”
“It wasn’t empty flattery when I said you’re cool. Of course, your appearance is… a bit… but I don’t care! Looks aren’t everything, and you never know what will happen. I think, whatever illness you have, you can get better… I mean it…”
“…Uh-huh.”
“So please don’t say things like that. And if you talk like that, Grace will be sad too.”
“Grace…?”
“It’s not like only you like Grace. I think Grace likes you too and follows you well, but if you put yourself down, it will make her sad…”
Leto was saying all the things Grace wanted to say.
“I see.”
Only then did Livanu glance at Grace. She nodded in strong agreement with Leto’s words, then pouted slightly.
“Leto, you’re the best.”
Then she said briefly:
“…G- Grace.”
Livanu stammered, shocked.
Grace exhaled a soft sigh and glanced at Livanu.
“I thought you had gotten much better, but I didn’t know you were still putting yourself down like this.”
“…Sorry.”
Livanu lowered his head as if he had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.
“But…”
“…”
“It’s natural that you can’t get better quickly. Emotional wounds are like that. Even if it seems trivial, for the person who went through it, they feel wronged for days, keep thinking about it, blame themselves… Eventually, they justify it by focusing on their own flaws.”
Listening quietly, Leto sighed without realizing it.
“…I was like that.”
“Huh?”
“When I was with Sophien, I felt like everything was my fault, but Grace and Essi told me it wasn’t, so I was confused. They said everything was Sophien’s fault.”
“…Ah.”
“Honestly, I still don’t know what’s what, but I feel better than when I was with Sophien. That’s for sure.”
Grace smiled brightly.
“See? I told you to be prepared.”
“…I see.”
“I knew you’d come around.”
Hearing that he feels better than when he was with Sophien, Essi’s expression brightened as well.
“So, you’ll keep staying with us?”
“Huh?”
“We’ll treat you well.”
When Essi said this firmly, Leto blinked in surprise, and the corners of his eyes softened.
“If you’re all right with it…”
He had been smiling frequently over the past few days, but it still felt awkward. This time, however, it felt like he was laughing naturally because he wanted to.
Leto didn’t seem aware of how he was smiling.
Meanwhile, feeling a quiet sense of pride, Grace watched Leto with satisfaction. Seeing this, Livanu, who had been feeling left out, gently held Grace’s hand.
It seemed like he wanted some attention too.
“Master.”
“Yes.”
So she looked at him.
“It’s really fine. Even if you think like that, it’s okay. It might be a little upsetting, but I think things will gradually improve.”
“…Yes.”
“It will get better, right?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Grace smiled, as if she couldn’t help it.
Since Leto’s stamina was weak, he got tired quickly after walking a bit.
Essi offered to take Leto to his room, leaving Livanu and Grace to walk a little longer.
“By the way, Master.”
“Yes?”
“How’s Sophien?”
She asked, pretending not to know anything, since he was forbidden to go out.
“She’s become quieter.”
“Again?”
“She’s not eating well and wants to go out.”
“Again?”
“…Again? I don’t remember well.”
Livanu really seemed uninterested in Sophien.
“Are you getting reports properly?”
“Yes. The maids in charge visit in turns. But I don’t like them.”
“Why?”
“They’re too obvious.”
He looked really disgusted.
It was a different feeling from when he felt uncomfortable with Essi.
“How do they act?”
“…I think they want to get on my good side, but since they smell bad, they don’t come too close. That’s actually a relief. But…”
Livanu’s expression suddenly twisted fiercely.
“But?”
“They keep trying to take Grace’s place. It’s annoying. I want to kill them.”
Ssshh.
Grace sometimes found it fascinating to see Livanu lose his temper like this.
He’s kind, yet not kind—something like that.
“I don’t mean actually kill them. I just hate it.”
His expression was extreme.
“You should have said something.”
“If I did, Grace would go to Sophien again. I have to endure it. Don’t change anything just because you heard this. I’m fine.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes. I’ll deal with Sophien and deal with this at the same time.”
“You haven’t decided how yet. You’ve thought about it?”
He planned to confine Sophien to make her feel the consequences, but the maids’ part was postponed.
“Judging by their behavior, they show no signs of reflection.”
“…That seems true. Probably, they think everything Sophien did isn’t their problem.”
“Even more aggravating.”
“So what will you do?”
“…I want to make sure they can’t live like this again. No earning money, no moving around like bats. If I let them go, they’ll do the same elsewhere. But I don’t know how to do that. I have no power.”
He wanted to completely stop them from making a living as maids, but obviously, Livanu couldn’t do it alone.
“Should we ask the Duke…?”
But if it was Duke Forret, things would be different.
“…That’s probably the only option, huh?”
At the same time, Livanu’s expression darkened.
But there was nothing they could do for now.
“Master…”
Grace called softly, and Livanu forced a brave smile.
“Let’s do that.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Yes. Doing this will make me feel better anyway.”
“Understood.”
Since Sophien had sent a letter to the Duke before, the timing seemed perfect.
Grace smiled quietly to herself.
After reassuring Livanu that she’d handle everything and he didn’t need to worry, Grace wrote a letter.
It detailed the misdeeds of Sophien and the maids she commanded.
Nothing written was false.
She also mentioned Leto, but made it clear he knew nothing.
“Hmm.”
Sophien’s earlier letter had already been sent, so hers would likely arrive shortly after.
Then the Duke would take immediate action.
Grace looked forward to seeing what would happen.
The next day, after Grace sent her letter, some news arrived.
It was about the swordsmanship teacher she had requested from Veronique for Livanu, and information about Sophien.
The swordsmanship teacher had been found and was on his way to the Albatana estate, and the information about Sophien would be looked into and sent immediately as well.
Judging by how quickly Sophien’s information was delivered, it seemed finding the teacher had taken longer than expected.
