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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: A Small Favor
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A faint smile bloomed on Winter's lips.
“Besides, even if you were a bad person, you wouldn't torment me or Kivrin, would you?”
I looked up in surprise.
“Of course not! I would never!”
“Then that's settled. As long as we get along well, who cares about anyone else?”
Winter offered a wonderfully villainous, yet clear-cut answer.
“...Can't I be included too?”
Once again, Winter ignored Menelik.
I had to spend thirty minutes placating my sulking father-in-law, but it was a peaceful time nonetheless.
Lunch on the boat was delicious, and Winter also relaxed at a leisurely pace.
“I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of crazy stunt the Marquis has pulled. It would be truly disappointing if he did nothing after we deliberately gave him the opportunity.”
Winter muttered with a serious expression.
For a moment, I wondered whether I should hope for Marquis Ingram to cause trouble or not.
On the way back, Winter kept me by her side as she admired the sea.
Winter poured out all the things she hadn't been able to say until now.
“Someday, I want to teach you how to ride and hunt. I guarantee there's no better teacher in the empire than me. And when you go to your first party, I'll absolutely go with you. The only one who would go with me was Rik. As you know, Rik can't react rationally when I'm criticized. My parties were the absolute worst.”
Winter muttered that at least three people had probably died, then smiled sweetly.
“It's fine. Kivrin won't do anything like that. I taught him to handle things quietly instead of causing a scene.”
“Th-that's a relief.”
I answered without thinking.
Wait, I don't think that's a relief at all?!
Winter also told me a bit about the history of the Moritia Kingdom.
She said Moritia was a small kingdom, even smaller than the duchy.
But because its shamanism and magic were extremely advanced, it enjoyed a long golden age.
“The god Moritia served never answered people's calls like the empire's state god. It didn't share its power, either. Was it angry that they worshipped it without permission? Or was it just not in a position to do so?”
“...”
“Right before Moritia fell, a rumor like that started to spread. That they were worshipping a dead god. So no matter how earnestly they prayed, their pleas would never be heard. Well... for now, it's just an old tale whose truth we'll never know.”
As I listened to Winter's voice, the boat arrived at the port.
Mera, who had been waiting for us, ran over and reported.
“The minor lord has come to visit. He's been waiting for an hour.”
A hint of displeasure colored Winter's eyes.
“I'm sure I told them not to acknowledge our presence, as we only came here to rest.”
“We tried to send him away, but he insisted on meeting you in person to give you a gift...”
Mera's voice trailed off.
A modest carriage was waiting in front of the Coral Villa.
Seeing us approach, a young man stepped out of the carriage.
His neatly combed-back brown hair and wrinkle-free clothes seemed to speak to his character.
Mera explained in a low voice, just loud enough for me to hear.
“That's Lord Elbert Romero. He is trusted by his people and the neighboring nobles. The Duke and Duchess also treat him quite favorably.”
“...”
“That's why today is so surprising. He's not the type to act so rashly.”
The man bowed politely.
“I trust you have been well.”
“We were, until a moment ago.”
At Menelik's reply, Elbert gave a guilty smile.
“I have been very rude. My sincerest apologies.”
My parents-in-law let him into the villa.
The fact that he had waited quietly outside instead of snooping around the villa seemed to have slightly eased my parents-in-law's irritation.
Elbert personally carried in boxes filled with lavish gifts that made his worn-out carriage seem all the more humble.
Then, he suddenly dropped to his knees.
“I have a request. Please, allow me to speak with the Young Lady.”
Huh? Me?
Menelik, who was opening a gift box, spotted some cigars and bluntly refused.
“No. I don't like the gift.”
Winter clicked her tongue.
“So immature. I just don't want to.”
“...”
What's the difference, Mother...
Kivrin, who had been upstairs, came down. Yelena, intrigued, also peeked over.
Winter swept back her platinum-blonde hair and warned him.
“If you wish to speak with Cheria because she is the Saintess's sister, then you should leave right now.”
Elbert flinched as if she'd hit the nail on the head.
What, really?
I was about to move next to Kivrin, but I froze, my eyes wide with surprise.
In contrast, both Kivrin and Menelik wore expressions that said, "What other reason could there be?"
Elbert lowered his head.
“My wife... is very ill. No medicine works, and her condition only worsens. They say that without a miracle, she won't make it past spring.”
Winter, who had been about to gesture to Menelik, paused.
“Eugenie?”
Huh? Do they know each other?
Mother called her by name so familiarly.
“Miracles are only found at the Temple. But... *hic*, even if I sold everything I own, I couldn't afford the Saintess's healing fee.”
Elbert said, his voice thick with barely suppressed tears.
But Winter's sympathy only went so far.
“Unfortunate, but this doesn't seem to be a matter we can help with.”
“...”
She refused to change her mind.
It was as I had expected.
Even when Kivrin's treatment was on the line, Winter had never asked me to call my sister.
She knew how I had been treated at the Count's estate, so it was clear she had no intention of accepting my help.
She would sooner have concocted a gruesome plan to kidnap my sister.
Even that idea seemed to have been abandoned after Kivrin relayed the message that "only a monster can heal another monster."
Swallowing his sobs, Elbert managed to get to his feet.
Elbert's gaze briefly met mine.
There was no trace of resentment in his eyes.
Instead, he bowed deeply and apologized.
“I am sorry to have shown you such an unsightly side of myself upon our first meeting.”
“...”
Elbert also bid a polite farewell to my parents-in-law and Kivrin before leaving.
Only after the sound of the carriage departing did Winter speak again.
“Yelena, find out if there's truly no cure.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I fell into deep thought.
My sister changed her attitude toward me after seeing the future.
This was also a chance to test whether that change was temporary.
I approached Menelik.
“Father, please let me borrow the communication stone.”
Menelik's eyebrow twitched.
“This has nothing to do with you. There's no need to contact the Saintess.”
“Whether she agrees or not is up to her, isn't it?”
When I even tugged on his sleeve, Menelik glanced at Winter.
Winter pressed a hand to her forehead.
“...Let her do it. This is my fault for acknowledging Eugenie.”
In the end, he took out the communication stone.
My sister answered the call immediately.
[Sister! Have you been well? Ahem, did you get the gift I sent?]
My sister's voice echoed through the spacious room.
Winter shook her head, seemingly blaming herself.
“I got the necklace. Thank you for sending it.”
My sister didn't ask about the gift she sent to Kivrin.
It was a relief not to have to explain that Kivrin had tossed the coins out the window and a crow had flown off with them.
I gave an awkward smile to Kivrin, who was just standing there blankly.
My sister asked.
[No need to thank me. What's going on today? Do you need my help, perhaps?]
This is so strange...
To think my sister could change this much.
I spoke slowly.
“There's someone I'd like you to heal.”
The reply came in less than a few seconds.
[Healing? It's so f*cking annoy—I mean, not at all! Sure, I'll do it!]
My sister readily agreed.
Winter and Menelik looked surprised.
Of course, so was I.
“Really?”
[Yep. But in return, I have one small favor to ask. Will you hear me out?]
Of course there's a catch.
I narrowed my eyes.
My sister, worried I might refuse, quickly added.
[You can say no after you hear it.]
