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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Glimmer of Kindness
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With the carriage slowing down, I could continue my observations at a much more leisurely pace.
Piles of scale ornaments, presumably related to the Temple, had been discarded along the path leading to the garden.
Not only that, but servants were tirelessly carrying out luggage.
Noticing the question mark forming over my head, Menelik explained the situation.
“We're leaving the capital as quickly as possible. The moment we took Kivrin from that estate, we broke our contract with the Temple.”
“A contract?”
“In exchange for the Temple’s active help with suppression and treatment, Kivrin was to be isolated in the Snake Pit for the duration. Winter and I were not allowed to leave the capital, where the Temple could watch us.”
“…”
“There are a few more details. For instance, sending a ‘tribute’ to confirm whether Kivrin was truly a monster.”
That ‘tribute’ must have been me.
I furrowed my brow.
Kivrin, who seemed to have known this for a while, showed no change in expression.
But this was a secret that was never even mentioned in .
In the novel, it was written that Kivrin was locked in the Snake Pit because the Duke and Duchess were horrified by their monstrous child.
The reason they sent a ‘toy’ was because they thought Kivrin might be bored.
But it wasn't a ‘toy,’ it was a ‘tribute.’
And it wasn't the Duke and Duchess's decision, but an order from the Temple.
…To think I’d be betrayed by a novel I paid to read. Author Raphael, you’ve got some explaining to do!
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Menelik answered a beat later.
“Because I’m sorry.”
“…”
“Because I’m grateful?”
“…”
I had no idea what this man—no, my father-in-law—was thinking.
“I’m serious. Not that you’d understand it all anyway.”
Right. Please, keep seeing me as a ten-year-old.
The carriage stopped. Before getting out, I asked Menelik a question.
“When we leave the capital, are we going to the duchy?”
“For now.”
“Am I going with you?”
“If you want to.”
Menelik stepped out of the carriage first and offered me his hand.
I took his hand and jumped down.
Maids approached as if they had been waiting and began to dry my and Kivrin’s hair.
The ducal maids, who didn’t have the scale emblem embroidered on their clothes, didn't hesitate to touch Kivrin in the slightest.
It was the complete opposite of the Temple’s maids, who always wore expressions of disgust whenever they came to the Snake Pit.
Another carriage appeared right behind ours, suggesting Winter had departed right away as well.
As soon as Winter stepped out of the carriage, she called for a maid.
“Mera, take Cheria and get her cleaned up.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Mera had a youthful face, as if she had just come of age.
I glanced back at Winter as I followed her.
“It’s for the best. The Pope would never have sent the Saintess to us anyway.”
Winter muttered in a self-deprecating tone, though she couldn’t completely hide her frustration.
“Lady Cheria, we should head inside.”
When my steps faltered, Mera gently guided me forward.
If the Pope had allowed it, would my sister have healed Kivrin? With her personality?
No, not a chance.
In , my sister had no interest in Kivrin’s condition.
The female lead, Muria Mayol, who was now my sister, had a very bad personality.
Muria was a saintess, but she wouldn’t use her divine power, no matter how great the damage, if she didn't feel like it.
The priests couldn’t control her and always had to summon the Pope.
Eventually, the exhausted Pope gave up, and the male lead had to come and persuade Muria instead.
The Pope was nothing more than a puppet dancing to Muria’s tune.
No matter how much she was the protagonist driving the story, you couldn’t call someone like Muria good.
Even the keywords associated with Muria were things like #Villainess-LikeSaintess, #HeroineWhoOnlyLivesForPleasure, and #SatisfyinglyRuthlessHeroine.
So, even if the Pope had permitted it and the Duke and Duchess had begged, Muria wouldn’t have given them the time of day.
Just like in .
The Muria in the novel hadn’t cared at all while Cheria was being neglected at the county, nor after she heard that Cheria had been sold off to the duchy.
I thought to myself as Mera led me away.
Besides… Muria’s personality wasn’t the only thing that bothered me.
I also doubted whether Muria’s divine power would even recognize the scales as an illness, never mind the burns.
How did Kivrin get rid of his scales in ?
It would be best if they simply disappeared naturally as he grew up.
“You must have been so cold, weren't you?”
Mera’s voice was filled with a bewildering amount of kindness.
As I took off my wet clothes and got into the bathtub, Mera suddenly looked like she was about to cry.
“Oh, my goodness… You’re so thin, my lady.”
“…”
I was dumbfounded, as she seemed to be genuinely worried about me.
Even the maids at the Mayol county, who I’d spent ten years with, had never acted like this.
Mera must have known that I was sold to the duchy, even if it was dressed up as a marriage.
On top of that, I was the sister of the Saintess who wouldn’t heal Kivrin.
…And I’m in a position where I couldn’t complain even if I were accused of arson.
Why do I have so many charges against me?!
“I’m so sorry we couldn’t help you sooner. Maids unaffiliated with the Temple were forbidden from entering that estate… Still, I should have found some way to look after you…”
“…”
“How silly of me, I keep tearing up… After your bath, I’ll make you some warm cocoa. It’s very delicious,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
Is Mera just an exceptionally kind person?
It’s not like I plan on running away anyway…
My chest felt strangely ticklish, so I changed the subject.
“What about the Young Lord?”
“The other maids are taking good care of him, so please don’t worry. Viscount Rose will be back soon as well. The Viscount worked as the Young Lord’s nanny before he was confined. They’ll be overjoyed to hear that the Young Lord is out of that estate.”
“…”
Mera washed me with careful, gentle hands.
As if worried I might feel uncomfortable, Mera deliberately adopted a brighter tone.
“I’m so glad you both made it out safely. I hope the Duke and Duchess can finally sleep peacefully now. Oh, when morning comes, you should take a walk in the garden. The flowers Her Grace planted herself are in beautiful bloom. There’s even a viburnum tree, which the Young Lord loves.”
“…”
It was natural for Mera to worry about my parents-in-law.
But for her to neither suspect nor be wary of me…
“Is the water too hot?”
“It’s fine.”
Mera—no, the angel—smiled.
After being completely ignored ever since I was reincarnated, meeting an angel is throwing me for a loop.
“Your hair is as beautiful as the flowers in the garden, my lady. It’s the color of the dawn sky.”
“Th-that’s not…”
Wait, why am I stuttering?
I should just brush it off. Be confident!
But my conscience, having met an angel, suddenly started working overtime.
“And what about your eyes, sparkling like stars? I can’t wait to see what you’ll look like when you’re older.”
“…”
“You must have been so scared, but thank you for staying by the Young Lord’s side. I’ll stay by your side now. So you have to eat lots of delicious food and become healthy, alright?”
“…”
My embarrassment reached its peak, and I submerged myself completely in the tub.
“Lady Cheria?!”
I’m in trouble.
She’s found out I’m weak to compliments.
* * *
Drowsiness washed over me as Mera dried my hair.
Mera took me by the hand as I dawdled and led me to Kivrin’s bedroom.
All the while, she kept muttering that she was worried my hand would break in her grip.
Kivrin’s bedroom was decorated with walnut wood and thick carpets.
It was spotless, without a speck of dust, and exuded a cozy atmosphere, as if someone had been constantly tending to it while waiting for the room’s owner to return.
“You’ll have to sleep here tonight, but you’ll have your own room soon. It’s being decorated as we speak.”
My own room? Really?
A fresh and clean Kivrin greeted me.
“Ch-Cheria-nim, you’re amazing! I-I’m really home!”
“…”
“M-Mother said I don’t have to go back… Cheria-nim, you can d-do anything, can’t you?”
“Not anything…”
“…”
“…Yes, actually, I can do anything.”
“Wow!”
His golden eyes widened.
I need to find a way to defend against Kivrin’s puppy-dog eyes.
Mera brought two cups of cocoa, checked the temperature of the bed, and then quietly closed the door.
I don’t know if this is the calm before the storm.
No one asked me why the estate caught fire or how I escaped.
