🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 24
Yet the last remaining thread of reason warned her not to do so.
Swallowing the surge of fury, I grabbed Blier by the collar.
“This is your final warning, Blier Blanchet.”
“Don’t ever let me see you again.”
The tears welling in Blier’s large eyes spilled onto the back of my hand.
I shook my hand sharply in the air, as if flinging them away.
“Tsk. Disgusting. Let’s go back, Amon.”
“But, Master—”
“Quiet.”
The moment I opened the door, the men standing on either side approached me.
“Lady Clevian. It’s been a while. Did something happen inside?”
“Why don’t you go in and see for yourselves?”
Perhaps sensing something off in my expression, they glanced past my shoulder but did not dare lay a hand on me.
As I dragged Amon by the wrist and hurried away as if fleeing, the small boy came running after me, bursting into tears.
The maid wiping down my arms with a sponge soaked in fragrant oils asked with a gentle laugh,
“Miss, do you know what scent this is?”
“Rosemary and peony. Do you think I can’t tell by smell?”
“They just released it recently. It smells lovely, doesn’t it?”
Despite my sharper-than-usual reply, Gina continued speaking softly, as if trying to ease my mood.
…Right. I was taking my frustration out on the wrong person.
Regret washed over me belatedly, and I let out a small sigh.
“It’s nice.”
“You feel a bit more relaxed now, don’t you? Try to rest while you’re bathing.”
“……”
“You haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
As if that had been her intention all along, she gently pressed her warm fingers against my eyelids.
“You’ll be out late again today, won’t you? Please get some rest.”
“I said I don’t need to.”
Even if I forced my eyes shut, sleep wouldn’t come. Instead, the face I’d been trying so hard to forget only became clearer.
Blier….
I hadn’t gone looking for her, knowing we’d eventually cross paths anyway—but I was still caught off guard by how soon it happened.
She was strange.
I had seen countless followers of the Goddess of Darkness through this work, and every rat I’d encountered had worn the goddess’s traits openly.
Violence. Sensual allure. Obsession with beauty.
Those foolish rats, while obsessively hiding their whereabouts, flaunted their nature with stubborn pride.
But what about Blier?
“Gina. What do you think of Blier?”
“Yes…? Lady Blier?”
Gina hesitated, biting her lip.
After Amon had returned home sobbing uncontrollably last week, everyone in the estate knew about the argument between Blier and me.
“She doesn’t seem like a bad person. She’s always very kind.”
“Does she ever treat you poorly when I’m not around?”
“What? No—she’s always composed. I’ve never even heard a rumor like that.”
“When she visits, have things ever gone missing? Has anyone ever been hurt?”
Gina even laughed lightly.
“Of course not. Every time Lady Blier visits, she arrives with her arms full and leaves empty-handed. She even brings us gifts.”
“……”
Honey practically dripped from her voice.
There was no doubt—my people were completely charmed by Blier.
Scowling, I dipped my damp foot into the bath.
“Doesn’t she care a bit too much about colors?”
“Oh—well, Miss, you’re the same—ah!”
The moment I opened my eyes, Gina bowed her head deeply.
“S-sorry.”
“Hmph.”
Right. What would they know?
Asking these questions wouldn’t change the fact that Blier was a follower of Cairo.
And even if I learned the reason now, it wouldn’t mean anything.
With that final thought, I decided not to concern myself with Blier anymore.
Dragged around by the maids, the long and tedious preparation finally neared its end.
“Miss, please have some water.”
“Are we done?”
“Just the makeup left, but…”
Sage ran her fingers over my dress, which bore no jewelry at all.
“No matter how I look at it, it feels too plain for such an important day. If only we could dress you up a little more…”
I slapped Sage’s hand away.
“There’s no need today. My mentor won’t be dressing up either.”
“But—!”
“That’s enough.”
No matter how I looked at it, they clearly didn’t believe I planned to return to the Kyrian Knights with nothing more than a diploma.
And besides, compared to my usual dresses, this one wasn’t exactly plain.
When I asked what exactly bothered her, Sage held out a velvet box.
“Oh? Where did you find this?”
“I know your dresses well, Miss. I sketched the design and begged Adrian to make it immediately. I told him I absolutely needed it this week.”
“He had time for that?”
“Of course! When Kelden stood behind him fingering his sword, he agreed instantly.”
I hadn’t sent Kelden to threaten people.
Still… I liked the hairpin.
Seeing my satisfaction, Sage subtly reached toward the vanity.
“Miss, could we change the accessories a bit to match the hairpin?”
“You’re sly. Just open the window—it’s stuffy.”
Sage opened the window with a disappointed expression.
Cold air rushed in, instantly chilling the room.
“The wind is sharp today. That shawl looks thin—are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“It’s not cold enough to kill me.”
…Though it is chilly.
The ashen landscape and trembling branches alone were enough to make one shiver.
Gina draped a thick blanket over my shoulders.
“The weather’s been strange lately, hasn’t it? Just yesterday it was warm enough to go without a coat.”
“Yeah.”
With a calm expression, I thought of the Goddess of Darkness.
The longer winter this year, the colder air today compared to yesterday—it wasn’t their imagination.
Night and winter were influenced by Cairo, the Goddess of Darkness. Which meant her power had grown to rival even Seerlus.
If I’d thought about it properly even once, I would’ve noticed. Why didn’t I realize back then?
The thought that I’d wasted all that time in ignorance sent an uncontrollable chill through me.
“…Bring me a thicker coat.”
I murmured weakly.
Sage’s eyes lit up as she’d been hovering around the vanity, waiting for an excuse.
“Of course! It’s freezing. Gina, close the window and bring the white fur shawl—the one from the second wardrobe in the third room!”
“Which one?”
“Hurry!”
Fearing I might change my mind, Sage rushed Gina out of the room.
Honestly… The priests clearly said graduation attire should be decorated in each other’s symbolic colors.
Yet Sage’s hands, already selecting jewelry, showed not the slightest hesitation.
Watching her confident movements, I narrowed my eyes.
“You already had an outfit in mind, didn’t you?”
“Ah—!”
Apparently I’d hit the mark. Sage bit her lip.
No matter how earnest she was about my appearance, ignoring her mistress’s words was another matter.
As soon as I frowned, Sage clasped her hands together in a plea.
“I’m sorry, Miss. It’s just been so long since you went out—I wanted you to look your best…”
“It’s only been a month.”
“Still… I heard Lady Asiol’s been taking over all the parties while you were gone.”
“……”
Judging by her trembling expression, she must’ve heard more unpleasant things than just that.
Considering I’d been a constant presence at social events before disappearing for a month, gossip was inevitable.
And the incident with Blier must be circulating too.
I’d lived loudly, stirring trouble wherever I went. I’d already seen how messily my absence could be filled.
It doesn’t even bother me anymore…
Even after my sharp words, Sage continued fiddling with the earrings in her hand.
“……”
A faint groan slipped from my lips.
She’d rushed out at dawn to choose jewels, stubbornly insisting on dressing me up even after being scolded—thinking of her reasons made even my heart waver.
“Fine. Pick the accessories however you like.”
Sage’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
Perhaps she was right.
My circumstances were completely different from when I’d planned to leave the capital for good.
Making an appearance after so long—without a partner and dressed plainly—would be nothing short of pitiful.
However, the fur Gina brought back far exceeded my expectations.
“Ah. I didn’t pick that, did I?”
I eyed the fur, glossy as if wet, and Gina answered in Sage’s stead.
“No. Lord Pelius sent it as a graduation gift.”
“I thought so. It’s not a color I’d choose.”
Wearing something like that would make it look as if I were matching outfits with Hayden.
The fact that it was Pelius’s gift only worsened things.
“How long has it been since we broke up? And he sends this?”
“……”
At my irritated glare, Sage and Gina exchanged nervous looks.
“But you said you’d accept it, Miss…”
“I did?”
“Of course. We wouldn’t accept Lord Pelius’s gift without your permission.”
Ah. Right.
Struck dumb, I fell silent, and Sage’s brows knitted in concern.
“Miss…”
Before she could say more, I waved her off impatiently.
Lately, the side effects of living such a proper, structured life had led others to believe I was suffering from severe forgetfulness—and the constant nagging to get more rest was becoming unbearable.
