SILHCN 32

Chapter 32

The details of the contract between Raymond and Titania were known to only a few people within the Castrain Ducal household. Therefore, the lower-ranking maids and servants, unaware that Titania had changed or that a new contract had been made with the ducal family, whispered among themselves as they watched the procession of goods being sent to Titania, who had collapsed after an accident at the imperial palace.

‘Didn’t that damned princess just use our youngest lady again?’

‘It’s possible. How did she get the information so quickly?’

‘They said she didn’t even die, right? So why are we being so generous? After all the things that princess did to young master Raymond…’

‘The story about her not waking up might be a lie, too. How many worthless lies did she tell us before? She’d complain about being sick every chance she got…’

Vivi was trying to figure out how to deal with the servants who were brazenly whispering while looking out the window in the main hallway. It was good that they had replaced the insiders who had been embezzling money on a large scale, but how could they have known that the servants they hastily hired to fill the gaps would chatter like this?

Just as she was considering stepping in, a cold voice echoed through the hallway.

‘I didn’t realize there were so many inferiors who would dare to look down on the Castrain Ducal family.’

The servants who had been huddled together and whispering instantly gasped and tried to explain.

‘Young Master Raymond!’

‘W-we were just worried about you, Young Master.’

‘That’s right. What if that wicked woman is up to something this time…’

‘Who gets to decide that?’

‘…Pardon?’

‘Who is wicked in one’s eyes, and who is righteous in another’s? Even if there were blemishes in her past, she is currently the fiancée of the young master of Castrain and the savior of our young lady. I’m surprised to find so many servants who would insult every member of the Castrain family as incompetent fools who were fooled by a staged act.’

‘Young Master, please forgive us!’

‘We’ll never speak carelessly again!’

Vivi blinked in surprise. No, she was about to step in herself if her brother hadn’t. Raymond spoke to the butler who had belatedly rushed over in a very cold voice.

‘Send all of them to the magic stone mine.’

‘Young Master!’

‘If you thought you wouldn’t be punished because your crime was committed with your mouth, you are mistaken. Silence yourselves before I regret the mercy I’ve shown.’

Yes, Vivi had not missed Raymond’s regretful gaze at his sword scabbard at that moment. Raymond had truly considered cutting them down right there.

The Castrain Ducal family owned two main magic stone mines. One employed ordinary workers and prioritized safety, while the other was a dangerous and harsh place where criminals were sent. In the past, he would have ignored it or simply cut their wages. No, nothing would have happened until the butler or head maid took care of the servants for speaking ill of their superiors.

Raymond was clearly the next head of the Castrain Ducal family, and he had acted accordingly. However, he had never sent servants to a criminal labor camp for a single mistake. They had clearly questioned the judgment of the Castrain family itself. It was no different from insulting the entire ducal family by implying that they were being fooled by Titania’s staged act.

But…

‘If speaking carelessly is considered a sin, then my needlessly righteous big brother must feel guilty himself.’

She had heard about Princess Titania’s past actions. She had heard some basic stories even before going to the imperial palace. Specifically, how many things she had done to Raymond. The things that were so shocking just to hear about. The fact that Raymond endured them without batting an eye.

Raymond was clearly fond of the current Titania. Although he rationalized it as being a natural thing to do for the savior of the Castrain family, there was a difference between showing public gratitude and approaching her personally. This was evident from the fact that Lysianthus, who used to never go near the imperial palace, was now desperately trying to find an opportunity to visit after Titania collapsed at the Empress’s palace. Raymond, even during his busiest times, would miraculously show up with all sorts of excuses to pick up Lysianthus whenever he heard he was at the palace.

Vivi found it absurd.

‘Excessive excitement is not good for a patient.’

‘Hey, bro! Bro! What are you doing! I’m really going to visit her!’

‘Do you really think your visit will be helpful to the patient? You were the one who—’

‘No, I told you! It was all a setup! Wow, she was really something. But, but… come to think of it, she seemed a little… no, never mind…’

‘Seemed what?’

‘No, like… she wasn’t being treated well in the palace? No, that can’t be right…? But she said some things about embezzlement and whatnot that sounded a bit suspicious.’

‘…Embezzlement?’

‘Yeah… she said something about how she hoped the embezzling finance manager would get screwed. I mean, from her clothes and stuff, she looks like she’s living a lavish life. Is that not the case? Or is there so much money that they’re embezzling it?’

‘…’

Raymond was silent for a moment, then obsessively questioned Lysianthus about everything he had talked about with Titania during the rose palace arson incident. Lysianthus answered obediently, but it seemed he instinctively felt something was wrong.

‘…I thought she was living a good life.’

‘…’

‘Damn, I feel for her. I wonder if she couldn’t even feel safe in her own home.’

Raymond listened to Lysianthus in silence, but Vivi, who was standing right next to the hallway, could tell. Raymond’s face was especially paler than usual.

So, in order to make him express the emotions that were swirling in his heart, she brought up the topic of marriage to provoke Raymond. Unlike the flustered Titania, Raymond was pushing for the marriage in a very calm yet single-minded manner. Just by that, Vivi felt she understood Raymond’s true feelings deeply, but…

‘So, don’t try to interfere with me anymore under the pretense of being my savior.’

She had been completely and utterly rejected.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“The answer to my actions.”

Unlike his usual self, Raymond’s gaze was fixed on the floor of the carriage. He couldn’t even look at Vivi. His voice was very low.

“…Princess Titania is right. If she wishes to convert the favor into a debt, that’s fine, too. My relationship with you isn’t bad… and the engagement was just for show from the beginning anyway…”

As if someone was poking his chest with something sharp, Raymond’s face crumpled.

“Besides, I was so late that I really…”

Every time Raymond thought about the moment Princess Titania’s breath left her body in his arms, he felt as if his own breath was being taken away. He had been present at the deaths of many injured people. He had often given peace to those who were critically wounded. But watching someone so fragile, who could be broken with just a strong hug, slowly die in his arms… was a first. When he saw the faint smile on her lips, as if she were relieved and thinking, ‘It’s all over now, I’m okay,’ his heart ached.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before.

The moment her breath disappeared, then came back.

He thought instinctively. Something was wrong. It was true that he was late. And because of that one fact, he would forever be a sinner in this person’s eyes.

“…I almost couldn’t save her.”

So, it was right for her to resent him and keep her distance. As he thought that, his golden eyes shook violently like a small boat caught in a storm.

“So, you’re saying that you’re just feeling guilty, right?”

“…”

Vivi sighed, seeing Raymond’s silence. Sometimes, things are clearer to those on the outside than to those directly involved. Raymond couldn’t refute the idea that it was just guilt, but Vivi didn’t think so. Raymond wasn’t foolish enough to push for a marriage out of guilt alone.

“Sigh, I don’t know. I don’t know. Lysianthus-oppa is having a blast. If we could split the two of them in half, it would be perfect.”

“…Did Lysianthus say anything to you directly?”

Her big brother, who was suddenly digging a hole and being shaken violently by Titania, whether it was out of guilt, a sense of responsibility, or regret for the past.

And her younger brother, who had gone to burn down the palace with her and then seemed to have set his own heart on fire, was suddenly obsessed with Titania.

And her big brother, who was reacting sensitively to her younger brother’s reactions…

Vivi’s eyes blurred.

Ah, for some reason, I suddenly want to tell Titania-unnie to just run away.