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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: An Unpleasant Welcome
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The guards designated by Marquis Ingram began their preparations.
Cesar took the opportunity to speak.
“None of the weapons here show any signs of use. They're either brand new or old pieces put on display for decoration. It seems the rumors about the Ingram domain not suffering a single monster attack in the past year are true.”
“…Is that even possible?”
Marin had said the Duchy protects its vassals' domains from monster attacks too.
Cesar shook his head.
“It's unprecedented. It isn't our place to pry, as we are indebted to them, but I believe we should observe carefully.”
For even Cesar to say such a thing, it seemed this family was already marked as having something shady going on.
I suppose it was fitting for a family that gets wiped out first in the novel.
I could almost see why they were cast out as vassals of the Duchy.
In any case, we traveled in the Marquis's carriage.
The sky was pitch-black. To make matters worse, it began to snow.
After a difficult journey, we arrived at the Ingram marquisate, which was half the size of Crescent Moon Castle.
In **, the Ingram family had enjoyed luxury.
That castle must have cost a fortune, yet compared to Crescent Moon Castle, it gave the illusion of being modest.
My assessment didn't change even as I got out of the carriage and took in the main hall.
Just then, a girl came down the stairs.
“Daddy!”
The murderous look on Marquis Ingram's face, which had been directed at us, instantly softened.
“Sabrina? Why aren't you waiting in your room?”
Even in the warm main hall, he wore a worried expression, as if concerned his daughter might catch a chill.
I returned the coat to Rose and observed the girl.
The name Sabrina was familiar too.
She was a character in ** who bullied her older sister and received harsh retribution.
“Daddy, did you buy me a present?”
Well, that's still a few years from now.
She might still be a decent kid, right?
…The moment I had that thought, Sabrina threw a fit.
“Why are your hands empty? Where's my star-shaped ruby necklace? You promised you'd get it for me, even if you had to arrest the owner of the Fairy Jewelers!”
Fairy Jewelers?
I quickly darted my eyes around.
In **, the Fairy Jewelers was located in the capital.
The place, owned by Cheshire, was filled with treasures so rare that even my sister coveted them.
Jewels, art, and artifacts.
Marquis Ingram answered, flustered.
“Calm down, Sabrina. I've sent a servant to buy it. The jewelry shop is nearby, so they'll bring it soon. More importantly, you must greet the Young Lord and his wife.”
Hmm, so the Fairy Jewelers is in the marquisate now, is it?
I might be able to treat Kivrin's hand another way.
Only then did Sabrina finally notice us.
Sabrina's expression faltered for a moment.
Not that Kivrin or Rose cared.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
Her greeting reeked of insincerity.
When she turned to Kivrin, she managed a slightly more natural smile.
“Young Lord, I've been waiting for you to visit our family. I even sent you a letter… You didn't reply, but I understand your feelings.”
What is she talking about?
Why is Rose scoffing?
Sabrina suddenly grabbed Kivrin's gloved hand.
“I don't think of you as a monster, Young Lord. As proof, see? I can even touch you like this.”
Kivrin pulled his hand away and stared at Marquis Ingram.
His gaze clearly said, 'Get this nuisance away from me, now.'
Was I imagining it? The usually soft Kivrin was colder than he'd been with Menelik.
Marquis Ingram broke into a cold sweat and placed a hand on Sabrina's shoulder.
“My child is still young and unfamiliar with etiquette.”
“…”
Sabrina is two years older than me.
I was momentarily dumbfounded but didn't let it show.
Marquis Ingram took Sabrina's hand and moved toward the door.
“Now, now, let's leave them be. The two of them need to rest.”
Cesar stepped forward.
“I will explain the situation.”
While Marquis Ingram was summoning the head butler, Cesar gave a quiet instruction.
“Viscount Rose, do not take your eyes off them.”
“Don't worry. I'll make sure they don't fall down the stairs.”
Rose swooped me up into their arms.
I looked over Rose's shoulder.
Suddenly, I felt incredibly disgusted.
Others might not have seen it, but held in Rose's arms, I saw it clearly.
Sabrina had taken out a handkerchief and was scrubbing the hand she had used to touch Kivrin.
Is she really doing that just because she touched Kivrin?!
I clenched my fists without thinking.
Rose hesitated upon hearing me grind my teeth slightly, but then continued walking.
The marquis's head butler guided us to the guest suite.
Even by my standards, which had been raised by Crescent Moon Castle, it was a rather nice room.
Rose set me down and checked the window.
The head butler bowed politely.
“We will prepare dinner. If you require anything else, please do not hesitate to call.”
The moment the head butler left, I reached out to Kivrin.
“Young Lord, give me that glove.”
Kivrin handed over the glove.
I threw it in the trash can, and with it, I threw away the thought that Sabrina might still be a decent kid.
Then I put my own glove on Kivrin's hand.
After I've been raising Kivrin so carefully!
It was even more infuriating that she had grabbed his hand of her own accord, only to act disgusted.
“It's a common occurrence.”
Kivrin muttered.
Rose just gave a look that said they understood.
“That's true. Before Kivrin was confined to the Snake Pit, kids like her would come visit with their parents all the time. They'd say that since he's the heir to the Duchy, they didn't care if the Temple hated him or if he was a monster—they wanted to marry or get engaged. All while claiming they were different from everyone else.”
“…”
“Of course, she was the most memorable of them all. Before Kivrin could even refuse, she screamed that he was scary and ran away. I mean, for me to even remember her face says something, right?”
Hah.
I was so dumbfounded my mouth fell open.
Didn't you just say you don't see Kivrin as a monster!
Kivrin tilted his head.
“N-No one could stay with me for even a moment. Th-They'd run away, scared of my mother or father.”
It was an expected outcome, considering they only approached him for the Duchy's backing.
When Cesar returned after explaining the situation to Marquis Ingram, he was even more wary of his surroundings than when we entered the Waning Moon Forest.
Despite the attitudes of the Marquis and Sabrina, the dinner was clearly prepared with great care.
“Is it customary in this domain to treat even unwelcome guests so well?”
Cesar denied it.
“No. Which means we don't know what might be in it.”
“…”
My appetite suddenly vanished.
Cesar, saying he had to be cautious, tasted small portions of the food to check for poison while explaining about the Ingram family.
“They are not a well-respected family in society. I've heard their reputation is in tatters after they failed to even maintain their position as vassals to the Duchy.”
Cesar hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“My father… Marquis Silentium, openly disregards this family. He once said he would rather throw money into the gutter than invest in any business the Marquis is involved in.”
It was as cold an assessment as saying the family just took the money and did nothing.
After confirming the food was fine, I offered a freshly baked piece of bread to Cesar, who wasn't eating.
“Then you should eat too, Sir Cesar. You need to eat well to have strength.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Cesar told us another story.
“There was also a rumor that during the All Saints' Festival this year, the Marquis's daughter demanded someone snatch the dress the Saintess was wearing. The designer who made that dress was sought after even by the imperial family, but I believe they currently reside in the Duchy's domain.”
“They opened a dress shop in the Duchy's domain? That's surprising. Someone that famous would usually stay in the capital.”
“Because the sum the Duchess offers is in a different league. Even now, they are likely only producing clothes for a girl in her early teens.”
I almost choked.
“You don't mean…”
As I stared in disbelief, Rose said,
“You really have no idea how much the Duchess adores you. She once tried to follow you to a tea party with a telescope.”
“…”
What Menelik had said was no exaggeration.
