🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 15
Do You Think So Too? (1)
Everything in this room was a rare item. In fact, there wasn’t a single ordinary thing in the entire mansion. True to Simon’s obsession with “only the best,” even the doorknob was a delicate masterpiece crafted by an artisan.
What’s more, the scale of the charity work he had undertaken far exceeded the imagination. The initial budget alone for the shelter he built in the slums was equivalent to the three-year budget of an average noble family.
So, the concern about the family’s future wasn’t merely baseless worry.
“I need to prepare for the worst, just in case. And it has to be done without anyone knowing.”
Only then would this endless anxiety begin to fade.
To do that, she first needed information from outside. Whether it was land, buildings, or anything else—she needed information to make a plan.
“And besides, I’ve become a bit curious about the world outside this mansion.”
But would Simon easily permit her to go out?
Not long ago, she had said she wanted to see the ocean, only to witness a hole being dug in a corner of the garden. At that time, Simon had said:
“My dear, since I can’t give you the sea, I prepared a small lake. Once it’s finished, I’ll even place a lovely little boat on it.”
…He had said that with such a warm smile. Her neck had tingled at the time.
Since then, she hadn’t dared to say anything carelessly. If she said she wanted to live in the royal palace, he might actually build one for her.
“That’d be treason. Yep. High treason.”
Then how could she leave the mansion?
Just as Elusiana was searching for a plausible excuse, her crimson eyes suddenly sparkled.
“That’s right! There’s that method!”
Glancing toward the inner part of the dressing room, where only the hem of a dress was visible, she whispered quietly toward Trisha.
“Trisha. I totally forgot, but something urgent came up. I need to go right now… but it’s kind of awkward if we go together, right? Ahem. Then… I guess I’ll just… go alone?”
Sneaking out of the dressing room, Elusiana gently closed the door.
“I made it clear, Trisha. I’m definitely not sneaking out, okay?”
Barely stifling her laughter, Elusiana quickly stepped away. And the place she headed after escaping was none other than Astein’s room.
✦✦✦
“Young Lady!”
With a flustered knight trailing behind, Elusiana and Astein made their way through the bustling crowd.
In truth, there wasn’t anything special required to leave the mansion. Simon had kept her hidden within the estate for the sake of her safety. So as long as she had an escort, that concern was resolved.
More importantly, the one truly in power right now wasn’t the absent Simon—but his successor, Elusiana.
“Ohh, so this is the central plaza of the capital!”
After barely ten minutes, they arrived at the heart of the capital. Elusiana gasped in awe as she looked at the dozens of roads spreading in all directions from the plaza.
“Young Lady, please return to the mansion now. If the Viscount finds out, there will be serious consequences.”
“Sir Ron, just a moment. Just a little longer.”
The scenery, which resembled a blend of medieval and futuristic elements, was striking.
The antique buildings that filled the wide-open view, and the way magic was seamlessly woven into daily life—it was fascinating. Especially the out-of-season flowers blooming around the central fountain, which looked so fresh and fragrant as if time had stopped.
“Ast, look here. It’s lisianthus!”
“…It really is.”
Astein’s crimson pupils trembled slightly as he stood quietly beside her. Considering how he had asked about her necklace when he first saw it, lisianthus clearly held a special meaning for him.
And it was the same for Elusiana, though the meaning was different.
She bent down slightly to take in the floral scent.
“Do you know what lisianthus means in flower language, Ast?”
“…I don’t.”
“‘Unchanging love.’”
A bittersweet expression spread across her face.
There was a time when she had wished for such a love. Even if she had nothing, she thought perhaps she could have at least that. She had hoped for it.
But in her past life, she never got it.
As she lightly touched the pink petals, Elusiana muttered casually.
“That’s why I ended up liking it. I wanted to believe that somewhere in this world, that kind of love exists.”
“…There’s no such thing, Lusi.”
Seeing Astein’s seemingly upset expression, Elusiana smiled brightly.
“Maybe it’s not that it doesn’t exist—maybe you just haven’t found it yet? Maybe you gave up before even trying to find the right person.”
“…You’re saying I couldn’t find it because I gave up?”
“Yeah. So even now, you should try looking for it, Ast. I’m sure there’s someone out there waiting for you.”
Elusiana’s gaze wandered toward the many curious and unfamiliar things, but Astein couldn’t take his eyes off the lisianthus for a while.
Meanwhile, Ron, who had been watching them, felt a sharp headache from the stress. This little lady clearly had no intention of going back to the mansion any time soon.
Maybe she had brought him along just to earn a small “pardon.”
Ron sighed anxiously about what lay ahead.
At that moment, Elusiana, who had been glancing around, suddenly dashed toward one of the alleyways.
“Ast! Hurry up! They have fruit candy here!”
Beaming like a child receiving a Christmas present, her smile made Astein chuckle quietly and walk faster toward her.
“Do you want strawberry?”
“I’ll take… green grape.”
“You like green grapes, huh?”
As the sugar syrup hardened over the cold fruit surface, it quickly turned into a hard candy.
“Enjoy!”
With a piece of fruit candy in each of their hands, the two finally slowed down to savor the sweet treat.
“It’s so sweet it stings the tip of my tongue, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Astein frowned, clearly not a fan of sweets. Elusiana giggled as she crunched down on the hard candy.
“You really hate sweet things that much?”
Astein shook his head and distanced himself from the candy.
“I do.”
“Why?”
With a troubled look, Astein replied as if unsure how to explain it.
“It doesn’t suit me at all.”
“…Huh, what?”
Caught off guard by his unexpected answer, Elusiana blinked.
“Then why do you like sweets, Lusi?”
“Me? B-Because it makes me feel good!”
“Makes you feel good… huh. That’s interesting.”
Elusiana turned to look at him. He was standing there, unsure of what to do with the discarded candy.
Interesting? What’s so strange about eating sweets to cheer up? That’s just natural—like not being able to imagine red bean buns without the filling!
Just then, her face turned pale.
“You idiot. How could you forget that already? It’s only been a few months!”
Why had he come to the Viscount’s estate? He had fled from persecution. He had looked so broken, barely human. And that someone might still be—
“Oh no! They might still be looking for Astein!”
While Elusiana panicked inwardly, Ron suddenly blocked their path.
“You can’t go any further, Young Lady. That’s the commoners’ district.”
“…The commoners’ district?”
“Yes.”
Elusiana hesitated. Between the crowded plaza and the commoners’ area, which would be safer for Astein? The decision was quick.
“Um… I don’t know much about it, but is it forbidden to go into the commoners’ district?”
“Not forbidden, but the security is definitely worse than here.”
“Still—”
“You may not.”
Ron’s firm tone left no room for argument.
Elusiana began thinking again.
“Then where should we go? We should stay out of sight until it gets dark.”
Maybe they’d already been discovered—but probably not. If they had, they would’ve been dragged back already.
Elusiana looked at Astein, hoping for a good idea. But he was just walking beside her, expressionless.
“Doesn’t he worry about his own situation? I really can’t read that poker face of his.”
Still, she didn’t want to stir up his bad memories. As she sighed, something caught her eye—just beyond the commoners’ district. An idea flashed in her mind.
“Sir Ron, is there a slum beyond the commoners’ district?”
“Yes.”
“Then… that means we could meet my father if we go there?”
Caught off guard by the completely unexpected question, Ron looked flustered.
“Young Lady… you’re not seriously thinking of going to the shelter in the slums, are you?”
With the brightest smile she’d shown that day, Elusiana clung to Astein’s arm and responded.
“Yes! That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
“Young Lady! Absolutely not!”
“You’re going to stop me from visiting my father?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Hurry up, Sir Ron. We need to get there before sunset. My father will be so happy to see us. Right, Ast? Don’t you think so too?”
Ignoring Ron’s horrified expression, Elusiana boldly stepped into the commoners’ district. Pulled along by her arm, a faint smile appeared on Astein’s lips.
As if softly melting into the air, a ticklish whisper slipped out:
“…Yeah. He’ll be happy. Just like I am.”
But their confidence was a grave mistake.
If they had known what Simon meant to the people of the slums—if they had understood what the appearance of his daughter Elusiana would stir up—they never would have made such a reckless choice.
Because to them, Simon was a blessing equal to divine grace.
