TLMS 46

Chapter 46

At my words, Ian let out a deep sigh.

“Miss, please don’t say things like that.”

“I mean it.”

“I feel so ashamed of myself that something like this happened to you… I could go mad.”

I immediately understood what Ian meant and smiled brightly.

“It’s because of the order from Grandfather, right? You came here to protect me. And now you’re blaming yourself for not doing your job properly?

Honestly, Ian, you’re too responsible for your own good. It’s okay. I don’t have a single scratch. You didn’t fail your duty, so don’t blame yourself like that.”

“It has nothing to do with the Count’s orders!”

Ian suddenly stood up, raising his voice. I flinched in surprise.

He looked extremely angry. His gaze was so sharp that I unconsciously avoided it. The hand gripping the sofa armrest was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

“Ian, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?”

“It has nothing to do with whether I did my duty well or not! I—!”

He stopped abruptly. His furious expression suddenly seemed to collapse.

“I….”

I finally remembered where I had seen that expression before. It was during the summer festival, when we watched the dragon-shaped fireworks together.

[“A small fish could never swim up a waterfall. Even if it somehow reached near the top, it would be swept away and die immediately.

Maybe that’s what the legend really means. Know your place. There’s no point in reaching for what you can’t have.”]

It was the same expression he had back then. I couldn’t say anything. Somehow, it felt like I shouldn’t speak carelessly.

Ian slumped down onto the sofa as if his body had given up too. He buried his face in his hands.

“…Even if I’m called selfish, I can’t help it.”

He finally spoke.

“If I had to choose between everyone in this estate and your life, I would obviously choose yours.”

“Ian, that’s not selfish.”

I said carefully.

“I feel the same way. If I had to choose between the lives of a hundred strangers and yours, I’d choose you too.

People say all lives are equal, but I don’t think so. My life is more important to me than hundreds of strangers. It’s the same thing. People you don’t know, people you’re not close to, are less important than those you love.

Everyone is like that. Maybe humans are just inherently selfish.”

“Then I suppose you can understand how I feel,” Ian said quietly, still looking depressed.

“Like you said, the tragedy of the Plenigan estate might not be over yet. But that’s only speculation. And there’s no guarantee we can prevent anything by staying here.

And there’s still a chance you could be in danger. I don’t care what happens to this estate. Please, Miss, let’s just go back. I’m begging you.”

“Ian, I appreciate that you’re worried about me. But I’m serious—I don’t think I’m in danger.”

I spoke calmly.

“The one who attacked me was a person, not a ghost. That means everything that happened in Plenigan estate isn’t a curse, but something done by a human.”

“The fact that someone died every time a painting fell in the study means it was intentional. It’s not some random killer from a novel.”

“And the fact that the attacker let me live proves something too. They didn’t want to risk harming innocent people. So they’re probably targeting only members of the Plenigan family.”

Ian listened quietly.

“Delia is definitely in danger too. So let’s stay a few more days and watch her surroundings. If we can catch the attacker, that would be best. We might also find evidence. Humans make mistakes. They leave traces.”

“You…” Ian sighed deeply.

“Even after going through something like that, you don’t seem shaken at all.”

“I’ve always had too much energy for my own good,” I said with a grin. “Grandfather used to shake his head at me.”

“I suppose I have no choice but to admit your reasoning has merit.”

Ian said reluctantly.

“And after seeing you now, even if I tied you up and dragged you back to the Whitenton estate, it probably wouldn’t matter.”

“Of course not! I’m not a calf—I wouldn’t go quietly! I’d just escape right away and come back here again!”

I swung my fist into the air excitedly. Ian shook his head helplessly.

“Very well, Miss. We’ll postpone returning to the Whitenton estate. But for today, please rest in your room. Don’t wander around trying to catch the attacker.”

“Alright. I do feel a bit drained anyway.”

“Do you really not need to see a doctor?”

“I’m just a little tired! I’m fine, fine.”

“Please rest properly, and if anything feels wrong, tell me immediately. Promise me.”

“Alright, I promise. Honestly, my grandfather and you are both way too overprotective.”

“Oh, right…” I added suddenly.

“We need to let people in the Plenigan estate know that I was attacked.”

“Pardon?”

“The attacker might be an outsider, but it’s more likely someone inside the estate. Especially if it’s connected to previous events, they must know the layout and Delia’s appearance.”

“But they mistook me for a maid and attacked me, then backed off. If I stay silent, they’ll become suspicious of me, thinking I’m hiding something.”

Ian frowned and thought for a moment before nodding.

“You’re right.”

So we decided how to spread the story. I originally wanted to say I was found unconscious in the wine storage room, but Ian opposed it.

“You had already left the storage room for some time. The attacker might have returned there to check on you.”

So we decided to say Ian found me collapsed on the second-floor hallway and revived me there. That was actually closest to the truth.

It also made sense—how could someone attacked end up on the second floor?

I would say I was disoriented and didn’t remember anything, and that since I usually worked on the second floor, my body must have moved there instinctively.

My room was in the far corner of the east wing’s first floor. I planned to tell Mrs. McBride, the cook who mainly worked in the kitchen, about the attack so she could spread the rumor while I rested.

As I headed downstairs, Ian supported me.

“Ian, I can walk by myself!”

“I will not take my eyes off you until you are safely in your room.”

“I’m telling you, even if the attacker is scary, they wouldn’t dare act in the open first-floor hall.”

“You’re really stubborn, Miss.”

“Ian, if the guests see a servant like me being escorted by you, it’ll cause rumors.”

“I am known for being polite to all staff. It won’t be an issue.”

In the end, Ian won, and he supported me down the stairs. My body, which I thought was fine, ached all over as we walked. It must have been shock.

To be honest, I was still afraid. The thought of encountering the attacker again made my spine shiver.

I’m really glad Ian is here.

I thought it, but didn’t say it aloud. He would definitely tease me about admitting he was right.

Thankfully, we reached the kitchen on the first floor without meeting anyone.

Just like earlier, the corridors were unusually empty.

A thought crossed my mind.

Was this what the attacker was aiming for? Did they know the east wing would be empty today and use that chance to attack me?

And another thought followed.

Or is this someone who can manipulate the estate’s situation to their advantage?