TWLW 40

chapter 40

It had already been ten minutes since the wide carriage began to rattle along.

Rudels and I sat in silence, each of us turning our heads toward the window, keeping still in the heavy quiet.

Every time I caught sight of beastmen outside staring curiously at the carriage, their eyes flicking to me, I flinched.

The memories of the past were the biggest reason why.

In the Witch Nation, white was considered an impure color, so children in every village would mock me for my white hair, tugging at it and pulling it out.

So after my coming-of-age ceremony, unless it was something very important, I always wore the hood attached to my cape.

White hair was said to be rare even in the Human Kingdom.

Fearing that people would curse me, sprinkle salt on me, and call me unlucky, the hood had become something like my salvation—I always wore it.

That thought suddenly struck me, and I hurriedly pulled the hood over my head.

Seeing me do that, Rudels asked,

“Teacher, why do you wear that hood? Is the sunlight too strong?”
“N-no. That’s… not it.”

Unable to answer properly, I just clutched the hood tightly, my fingertips trembling as if it were my lifeline.

Rudels stared quietly at me, then reached over and pulled the curtain across the window.

“Iriel. Listen to me carefully.”

He stepped closer, bent his knees so he was below me, and lifted his gaze to my face.

“Slowly. Exhale… inhale.”

Following his words, I began to breathe slowly and evenly.

Before long, the trembling in my fingertips subsided, calmed by the steady rhythm of my breath.

When I had regained my composure, Rudels watched me for a moment, then straightened up and faced me again.

“Feeling calmer now?”

Seeing the gentle smile on his face, I slowly nodded.

I had been so nervous, wondering if he would ask me why I acted that way.

People always want to know the reasons behind such behavior.

Don’t ask. Please, don’t ask.

But Rudels asked something entirely different from what I feared.

“Iriel. What were you feeling just now?”
“…What?”

I gave such a foolish reply that even I thought myself stupid. Rudels only smiled and repeated gently,

“Your emotions before I spoke to you.”

The question was so unexpected I hesitated for a while.

“Uh… my chest felt tight. I was tense. Scared, too. And I was trembling.”
“Can you tell me why you felt that way?”

Lowering my head, I whispered,

“Because I’m afraid people will see me and think badly of me.”

I closed my eyes tightly after saying that.

If Rudels hadn’t comforted me earlier, that dreadful feeling would have overwhelmed me again.

I imagined those smiling faces outside, peeking curiously at the carriage—once they saw my true self, they would all sneer and whisper insults.

I know. I know not everyone is like that.

But even knowing that, I couldn’t stop my body from trembling.

As I began to feel those emotions rising again, Rudels leaned closer and asked,

“And now? Even with me here, do you still feel that way?”

I nodded slightly at his kind question.

He asked again, softly and unhurried,

“Do you think I would ever speak badly of you? Think badly of you?”

At those words, I felt tears well up.

I knew he always treated me like a gentleman would.

Even though I was a witch, he always greeted me with a smile, gave me respect, and supported me so I could do what I wanted.

And yet, at times a poisonous thought would whisper:

What if Rudels looks down on me? What if he secretly thinks I’m filthy?

What if he only treated me well because he needed me, while secretly mocking me as a witch?

I had always forced those thoughts deep down, afraid of stirring up wounds better left closed.

When I gave no answer, Rudels reached out and placed his warm hand over my trembling one.

“Iriel. Look at me.”

At the warmth of his touch, I opened my eyes a little and looked at him.

He was staring at me with a face that looked close to tears.

“Iriel.”

His lips parted as he spoke,

“Do you remember the day we first met? When I was injured?”

I shook my head faintly.

At the time, things were too chaotic. He had been covered in blood, near death—I barely managed first aid before rushing him to the nearest hospital. That was all I remembered.

Rudels gave a wistful smile.

“Back then, I really thought I was going to die. I tensed up at the sound of rustling nearby. But instead of the smell of blood, a fresh scent of grass filled the air. Forcing my eyes open, I saw a girl who looked like a little white rabbit.”
“A… a little rabbit, you say…?”

Despite my flustered protest, he continued with his eyes closed, recalling the moment.

“You were so startled by my condition, fussing over my wounds, rushing about—it was so cute. Just like a rabbit hopping around when its companion gets hurt.”

I was dumbfounded. How could he recall such things when he had been on the verge of death?

He slowly opened his eyes again.

“You still look that way to me now, Iriel.”

At that, I felt my face burn. Exaggerating only slightly, it was as if I might have a nosebleed.

“That’s why I worried that other beastmen might fall for you. Your hair seemed to hold the moonlight, and your violet eyes were like violets in bloom.”

With those words, he lifted his hand from mine.

“This place, Iriel, is more open than you think. People here won’t look at you with prejudice.”

He smiled with his eyes as he continued,

“They won’t discriminate against you for being a witch, or for having white hair, or for your sparkling violet eyes. On the contrary, they’ll…”

He stopped mid-sentence, hesitating.

I noticed then that the tips of his ears, peeking through his silver hair, were red.

“…you have a charm that draws people to you because of those very things.”
“What does that…?”

Before I could finish, the carriage came to a halt.

“Young Master! The Marquis of Volefino’s villa is in sight!”

The coachman’s loud voice announced our arrival.

Rudels glanced toward him and rose from his seat.

I stared blankly up at him as he stood taller than me.

He opened the window slightly and spoke quietly to the coachman.

“Drive straight on to the Marquis’s villa.”
“Yes, sir!”

Neigh—!

The carriage began moving again, this time more slowly.

I clenched my fists and looked down, my body stiff. Heat was rising all through me, starting from my face.

What is this?

My heart pounded, my head swam as if I’d stepped into a hot spring, and I felt dizzy.

Why is my body suddenly…?

I placed my fingers on my wrist to check my pulse.

Is this real?

My pulse was twice as fast as usual. I was horrified.

No, no, no! What’s happening to me? Could it be—

The heart disease people talk about?!

I kept repeating to myself this is bad, this is bad, cold sweat trickling down.

Heart disease—the one most likely to cause sudden death.

I was far too young to die! I still had so much research to do!

Should I… start exercising?

I was terrible at exercise, but if it meant survival, maybe I could manage a bit of running now and then.

Even though I really hate it…

My hands trembled as I thought of the miserable future ahead.

“Iriel? Are you unwell?”

Apparently, I looked bad enough for my employer to notice.

I forced a laugh.

“N-no, I’m fine. Hahaha. But earlier, what you said—what did you mean…”

But before I could finish, the carriage stopped again.

“Rudels Iffin, heir of House Iffin, has arrived!”

A bear beastman at the gate announced his arrival loudly.

Rudels stepped out first, then extended his hand into the carriage.

“Careful now.”

I took his hand, as I always did, and stepped down carefully.

And then I saw the Marquis of Volefino’s villa for the first time.

“Wow…”

I felt like an utter fool for believing it was just a “villa.”

It’s practically a massive castle…