Chapter 24
Episode 24
Damn it!
A worse ending than a death flag had arisen. A guy even more terrifying than Arjen, who imprisoned Rihart, was right here.
If I got dragged away like this, it was over.
The thought of spending my life shackled, living like a doll by Yurta's side to soothe his pain, drained the color from my face.
I had to escape.
But how? Should I scream?
It was a sparsely populated area, but with the party ongoing at the mansion, people were patrolling nearby, so someone would hear and come running.
But.
My opponent was Yurta Herthas.
Even if someone came to rescue me, nothing would change, unfortunately.
Even if Yurta committed the horrific act of killing them on the spot, he wouldn't be punished with his formidable power and influence.
All escape routes were blocked.
There was no corner to flee to.
Yurta, fully aware of that fact, looked immensely satisfied and leisurely.
What should I do, really?
"Where are you taking my maid?"
At that moment, an unexpected voice rang out.
I looked up to see a familiar face behind Yurta's back.
Arjen!
For the first time, this lunatic I had always avoided felt so welcome.
Yurta openly showed annoyance and stopped in place.
"She is no longer Marquis Evantes's maid."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, this person is......"
No!
Before Yurta could finish speaking, I slapped my hand over his lips.
It landed so crisply that the sound echoed cheerfully in the air.
In that instant, both men fell silent.
"......What are you doing?"
Arjen, who had been seriously handling the situation, looked at me with a deflated expression.
Yeah, I don't know either. But can you save me first?
If Arjen rescued me here, I was more than willing—overflowing, even—to attend his bedroom for life.
Of course, just cleaning.
I sent Arjen a desperate gaze.
Understanding my look, Arjen said exactly what I wanted to hear.
"Whatever the case, leave her behind, Count's Heir Herthas."
"No."
"You're spouting nonsense at my maid. If you're drunk, crawl to the red-light district. Don't do dirty deeds in my Evantes."
Arjen's sharp words cutting Yurta down had never felt so welcome.
"It seems Marquis Evantes is unaware."
"Marquis! It looks like the Count's Heir is thoroughly drunk!"
"Sister, what are you......"
Before Yurta could speak, I preemptively struck.
"I must resemble his sister, because he's drunk and keeps calling me sister!"
"Is that how it is?"
At my words, Yurta's red eyes gleamed strangely.
What are you doing right now, sister?
As he protested with his eyes, I replied with mine. Shut up.
"Count's Heir, I am well aware of your reputation. I hear your only sister has gone missing?"
"......"
"That doesn't mean you can mistake my maid for your sister."
As expected, 'strike first, victory' worked perfectly.
"I'll overlook your drunken antics. So put down my maid now."
Yurta's red eyes darkened deeply at Arjen's words.
"Your maid......"
"Yes, my maid."
Yurta saw Rosie as his possession. That's why he disliked Arjen treating me like his own property.
But from Arjen's perspective, it was natural.
In this marquisate, nothing wasn't his. His mansion, his garden, his servants.
"And this one is a bit special."
Yeah......?
This was an unexpected statement.
"Special?"
The more Arjen spoke, the more killing intent filled Yurta's eyes. His sanity seemed on the verge of flickering out.
Soon, Arjen smiled slyly and dropped a bombshell.
"Yes. She attends my bedroom."
Arjen, who had dropped the bomb, smiled softly. Only he could show such leisure here.
"So I'd appreciate it if you let go of my maid."
"......"
"You know how special a maid who attends the bedroom is."
This crazy bastard.
Was he saying that while helping me now? He'd make Yurta misunderstand......!
Changing bedsheets and almost getting assaulted(?)—phrasing it like that......
Sure enough, Yurta fell silent for a moment, his face dazed.
"Bedroom attendant......"
At that instant, bloodshot veins appeared in Yurta's red eyes.
He looked at me with eyes twisted in madness.
"......Sister, what is the meaning of this?"
"Even if she's not your sister but my maid, you still haven't come to your senses."
But despite Arjen's scolding, Yurta kept muttering 'bedroom attendant' repeatedly.
Like someone whose sanity had completely shattered.
I, held in his arms, felt chills in that moment. Killing intent emanated from Yurta's body.
As if he would blow up the entire mansion.
"Sister."
"......"
"You can look forward to what comes from now on."
His voice was so dark, as if he would smash this mansion right now and lock me away somewhere.
Look forward to it?
I didn't know what it was, but I didn't want to know. No, I shouldn't know.
"If that's sister's will, then I must step back."
However, the words from Yurta's mouth were unexpected.
Despite trying to drag me away by force just moments ago, he obediently set me down.
Unsure of his intentions, I watched him with wide eyes.
But Yurta elegantly bowed slightly toward Arjen.
"Then I'll see you next time, Marquis."
With that greeting, he turned away.
Yurta vanished from my sight. Completely.
But what was this uneasy feeling?
"......Thank you for helping me, Marquis."
"I just don't like anyone touching my things."
Things......
The word he uttered so casually was so absurd I couldn't even laugh.
Still, it was fortunate that Arjen had helped me when I was on the verge of being dragged off by Yurta.
I realized that Arjen, one of my top priorities to avoid, could be helpful at times.
"But what's with that luggage?"
Arjen pointed out the bundle in my arms, and I bit my lip in dismay.
What now? If Arjen found out I was trying to run away here......
Absolutely not.
What should I say to get past this......
"How long are you going to hold that filthy thing?"
"......Pardon?"
"Trash is collected over there, so you'd better discard it quickly. Holding such a filthy item doesn't look good."
Arjen seemed to view the shabby luggage bag I was holding as trash.
......This jerk.
Still, relieved he didn't know I was trying to flee with it, I decided to console myself.
I greeted Arjen and hurried to my room in the marquisate.
It seemed impossible to leave the marquisate for the time being.
The thought that Yurta might be waiting outside the moment I stepped out sent shivers down my spine.
'Dilemma.'
It fit this situation perfectly.
I collapsed onto the bed, clutched my hair, and somehow stayed up all night.
* * *
Yurta's face was cold as he walked away from the party hall in the chilly night breeze.
His red eyes, gleaming with madness, were deep in thought.
'Bedroom attendant......'
His mind was filled with that thought.
His sister had abandoned him.
And she was attending the marquis's bedroom.
Recalling that fact again twisted his lips.
"If sister doesn't want to leave this place, there's no helping it......"
He repeated to himself the words he had said to Roji—no, Rose.
"I must make her understand......"
To an outsider, it sounded like accepting Rose's will, but it wasn't.
Quite the opposite.
"Since sister doesn't want to go."
A soft smile formed on his lips.
"I'll have to make her come out of there."
It was very easy for him.
Especially in the situation where she denied being his sister.
Right now, she was refusing to be tied to him as family.
So he planned to treat her accordingly.
Until she clung to him.
"Since she denied that fact, she must pay the price handsomely."
My sister.
