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Episode 12
Later, when I learned the truth, I was deeply relieved that my younger sister, alone in that dark house, had at least an imaginary friend to play with.
Thinking of Cindy again, I felt a bittersweet pang as I gently stroked Tania’s hair.
“Mm. Stay close with that friend of yours, Tania.”
The little village was called Serville.
After tidying up the house, we made our rounds to greet the neighbors. Still, there didn’t seem to be any children around Tania’s age.
One evening, after putting Tania to bed early, we gathered in the yard around a crackling bonfire. Sitting beside Viti, I let the flickering flames light up the page of my book before asking casually:
“Then, Mother… is there no school here?”
“…Huh?”
Viti, still awkward with the new title, turned to me a beat too late.
“Ah… it’s because we’re at the edge of the territory. There aren’t many families raising children here…”
She quickly tacked on a hushed honorific, but I pretended not to notice, lowering my eyes back to the book. Thankfully, we’d packed plenty of fairy tales for Tania.
Good thing both Viti and I know how to read.
In my past life, I had only managed to learn much later—hurriedly, after realizing Cindy’s sight was failing.
Cindy again…
Ever since leaving the opulent manor, I’d been thinking about her more and more.
“Still, children around Tania’s age might visit once in a while…” Viti added in a whisper, as though remembering something late.
“Who?”
“The viscount’s friends. This region has a famous resort, so nobles close to him often visit their villas here.”
I instantly grimaced.
“Ugh! You mean those guys!”
Too late, I realized I’d shouted. I quickly clamped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late to suppress the names bubbling up in my mind: Julia, Illan, Jeremy.
Those detestable faces…!
And thanks to Zar erasing their memories, whatever fleeting goodwill I’d built was erased too.
“Still, I heard they haven’t been around Serville for some time. You needn’t worry,” Jack said as he entered through the gate, lugging firewood.
I forced my attention back to the book.
“Well… at least I won’t have to worry about anyone finding out when I suddenly fall sick.”
It was meant as a comfort, but—
“……”
“……”
Huh?
I raised my head, uneasy at the sudden silence, to find both Jack and Viti staring at me.
“…W-what?”
“Milady… hearing you say that breaks my heart…”
“Edel, you don’t have to pretend to be so strong,” Viti whispered, her voice trembling as she pulled me into a tight embrace.
Jack, normally the better actor, forgot himself as well. His face was heavy with grief.
“Curses like this will fade soon. Our lady is strong—so very strong.”
Jack knelt at my side, placing a hand over his chest.
“Until then, I’ll protect you, so not even the smallest scratch can touch you.”
“A-ah…”
That… wasn’t what I meant to say. And weren’t they supposed to be acting like parents right now? If anyone overheard—!
Still, my chest warmed at their sincerity. I could feel how much they cared.
So I hugged Viti back, patting her gently.
“It’s okay. I’ve got such a reliable mother and father to protect me, after all.”
But the word “protect” triggered another thought—
If there’s no proper male lead, couldn’t I be the one to protect Tania myself?
Yes. That was it.
I lifted my head sharply, making both of them jump at my sudden energy.
“Mother! Father! Starting tomorrow, I’m learning swordsmanship!”
“Hff—huff—!”
“I told you, Edel. I won’t go easy.”
“I-I know… I know, but—!”
I’m dying here! Literally!
A few days after my bold declaration, I was gasping for breath, clutching a wooden sword in front of Jack.
“Thirty swings. That’s all you’ve done.”
“I know that, Father!”
And with that, I collapsed flat on the dirt.
“A young lady shouldn’t be lying on the ground.”
Jack planted his wooden sword at his side as he approached.
“You don’t need to force this. Someone will come along to protect you. Until then, you have me.”
No! I don’t want protection for myself—I want to protect Tania!
His defeatist tone only fueled my stubbornness. Gripping the wooden sword tighter, I forced myself up again.
“I’ll keep going.”
“…Edel, this is too much.”
“Big sis!”
At that moment, Tania came running over.
“Big sis, you’re not supposed to lie on the ground!”
“…Funny, coming from you. You look like you’ve been rolling in the dirt yourself.”
“Ah—!”
In just a few days, Tania had perfectly transformed into a rustic village child—dusty, cheerful, and free.
Still… she looks much brighter here than she ever did in the manor.
There, servants had trailed her everywhere. Here, Viti and Jack were too busy with chores for such pampering. Even I had to run errands.
Surprisingly, Tania adapted easily. She played alone without fuss—though perhaps with that mysterious “friend” of hers.
Now, she fidgeted by Jack, eyes locked on my sword.
“F-Father… can Tania try too?”
“You’re interested in swordsmanship?”
“I wanna do what big sis is doing!”
“In that case… Edel, you should rest a bit. Let Tania train with this sword.”
And just like that, Jack pried my wooden sword from my hands.
He’s just using this as an excuse to make me rest, isn’t he?
“Father… isn’t it too big for her?”
He gave me a sly wink.
“These experiences help children grow independent.”
How could I argue with that?
“Alright, Tania. Hold it with both hands. Yes, just like that.”
Though the sword seemed far too long for her small frame, Tania’s gaze was steady as she fixed on the blade’s tip.
And then—
Whoosh!
“…?”
“Wh-whoa—?”
“Heehee! This is fun!”
Once, twice, thrice—each time she swung, the air split with a sharp slicing sound.
What the—?
Even at my hardest swings, I never made a sound like that.
Could it be…?
Jack’s voice confirmed my thought.
“Tania… might have a tremendous natural talent.”
Beaming, Tania swung again, laughing brightly.
“Big sis! What’s talent?”
That night, exhausted from her discovery, Tania quickly fell asleep.
She’ll be sore tomorrow, I thought, massaging her tiny arms with Viti. But still… this makes me happy.
She’d found something she excelled at. And with Jack as her teacher, she would only grow stronger.
“Edel, it’s time you got some sleep too.”
“Alright, mo—”
But as I sat up, dizziness overtook me.
“Edel!”
“Hhh—ahh—!”
Heat surged violently from deep inside, spreading through every vein.
“T-the curse…”
“Jack!” Viti cried, panicked.
Jack rushed in, dropping his tools.
“What do we do? Edel—!”
“Calm yourself. The manor promised to send herbs. They should be arriving soon.”
He pressed his cool hand against my burning forehead.
“There’s only one path to Serville. I’ll ride out to meet the courier.”
While he saddled up, the fever roared higher.
“It hurts…”
“Please, endure it a little longer, Edel.”
Viti dabbed my face with a cold cloth, desperate, while beside us Tania slept peacefully, oblivious.
Watching her chest rise and fall, I felt a flicker of relief through the pain.
At least today ended as her happiest day.
Meanwhile, in a hidden underground chamber far away—
“Ghh—!”
Zar stumbled against the wall, clutching his chest, his breath ragged. The same torment consumed him, as if mirroring Edel’s suffering.
Unable to restrain himself, he clawed at the stone wall, leaving deep gouges where his nails scraped.
He no longer had the strength to control it.
“Why… does it have to be now…?”
