Chapter 46

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 그 악녀가 검을 든 이유
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ferdin surmised that her fear was instinctive, having accumulated since she was very young.

And at the same time, he realized that Erin was trying to suppress that fear.

He tightened the arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Just then, Karon spotted Erin. He said something to the Marquis's Wife, then quickly approached them.

As Karon drew near, Ferdin released the arm that had been around Erin.

Karon, looking at Ferdin with a puzzled expression, soon bowed his head in greeting.

"Sister, Mother wants to see you now. And..."

Karon, having said that much, glanced at Ferdin.

He wore a troubled expression for a moment before whispering quietly to Erin.

"Please, this time, don't make Mother sad."

Ferdin's expression hardened at his words.

"What are you talking about?"

Erin's voice trembled. What had Karon just said to her?

'Don't make Mother sad?'

Karon was a good child. However, he had been raised by the Marquis's Wife since he was young.

Even while Erin was being abused, she hadn't been able to tell Karon the full truth, and it wasn't solely due to Corelia's brainwashing.

It was also because she wasn't sure Karon would take her side even if she told him everything.

"Let's just go. Mother is waiting."

At Karon's words, Erin turned her head to look at the Marquis's Wife again.

Just as he said, Corelia was quietly waiting for her from a distance. With benevolent eyes that seemed to understand everything, she didn't rush them to come quickly.

She was perfectly acting the part of a mother waiting for her villainess daughter's anger to subside.

Corelia was always like this.

She was someone who knew how to twist situations to her advantage.

She also preferred to use others rather than step forward herself.

"Sister! Are you going to do this again? We haven't seen each other in so long, what's so hard about having a simple conversation?"

"Enough, Sir Karon."

As Karon urged Erin, Ferdin stepped in to stop him.

"This is not for Sir Ferdin to interfere with. This is a matter of the Resus Marquisate."

"No, I'm speaking to you as Erin's fiancé."

Karon's expression turned strange at those words. He couldn't understand why Ferdin was getting involved to this extent.

It was already well-known that Ferdin had no feelings involved in their engagement, wasn't it?

"Fiancé?"

"Yes, fiancé."

"You don't even love my sister."

At Karon's words, Ferdin shielded Erin behind him. It was a statement not even worth denying.

"Before you arbitrarily judge others' feelings, are *you* even thinking about Erin?"

"I..."

Karon's expression became complicated.

He lifted his head, and his eyes met Erin's.

But Erin quickly avoided Karon's gaze and looked at Corelia with a stiff face.

From that sight, it was abundantly clear that she didn't want to talk to Corelia right now.

"Sir Erin and I will head to the dormitory now, so please tell the Marquis's Wife that we will visit her later."

Ferdin said that, firmly holding Erin's hand, and walked past Karon.

* * *

Karon came to his senses when Corelia approached and took hold of his shoulder.

She was looking at where Erin had stood, a sorrowful expression on her face.

"Karon... I've upset Erin again, haven't I?"

A single tear rolled down Corelia's cheek. Karon looked at her, at a loss for what to do.

It was a situation that had always repeated since he was a child, but he had thought this time would be different. Because Erin had shown changes at the academy during that time.

He had believed that if it were now, the relationship between his mother and her might improve. But it seemed he was wrong.

"When will Erin finally open her heart to me? I..."

"Mother..."

"I'm just so worried about Erin..."

"Sister is adapting well in the Swordsmanship Department. And someday, she will open her heart to you too, Mother."

"But Karon... Raymond, who was protecting Erin, has disappeared."

"What?"

Karon couldn't help but be genuinely surprised by Corelia's words.

He had thought Raymond had returned to the Marquisate.

"Without him, there's no one to set Erin straight if she goes down the wrong path, is there? I'm so worried about that."

"Sister... Sister seems to have changed now, Mother. She hasn't caused any trouble at the academy, nor has she bothered anyone."

At his words, Corelia glanced at Karon, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes.

But it happened in such a brief moment that he didn't notice the strangeness at all.

"Karon... I..."

Corelia suddenly began to weep loudly. Holding Karon's shoulder, she cried mournfully, almost as if she would collapse.

At her cries, passersby could be heard whispering and glancing over.

"Has Erin Resus upset the Marquis's Wife again?"

"Poor dear... I heard the reason she came to the academy early this time was also because of Erin Resus."

"She might have hurled insults at the Marquis's Wife again."

Karon's expression turned angry at the words of the people watching them.

He was furious at those who spoke carelessly about Erin without knowing anything.

But because Corelia was clinging to him, he couldn't do anything else.

"Even during the monster extermination, she almost got hurt with the Princess, didn't she? If Raymond isn't there, there's no one to rein her in... so I thought I had to come myself. I rushed here, only to be ignored again, and this mother is so sad..."

"But Mother, if that's the reason, there's nothing to worry about. Sister... she's really doing well now. Everyone likes her."

At Karon's words, Corelia's face hardened.

'What? Is Karon Resus contradicting me right now?'

Corelia narrowed her eyes and stared at Karon.

The little boy who always obediently followed her words was gone, replaced by a young man who wore an uncomfortable expression and avoided her gaze.

'Has he grown up, then?'

He must have started thinking for himself.

However, Corelia wasn't overly concerned about his change in attitude. Types like Karon were very easy to handle.

Corelia bowed her head with a sorrowful expression. She felt Karon become flustered by her action.

Corelia confirmed his reaction with a sidelong glance and scoffed inwardly.

'Well, Karon wouldn't change, of course.'

She took Karon's hand with a pitiful gesture.

"Karon... but parents have a duty to guide their children properly..."

"..."

"Just like the bond between you and me, I must guide Erin."

"Mother..."

Corelia gripped Karon's hand tightly. A strange intensity swirled in her eyes.

Karon felt an unknown fear at that gaze.

Corelia whispered to him.

"So, will you help Erin and me meet alone?"

* * *

Was this the right thing to do? Karon hesitated. The Karon of the past would have acted on Corelia's request without a moment's hesitation.

But not anymore.

Karon bit his lower lip. He wasn't sure if what he was about to do was right.

'It's clear that Sister doesn't want to see Mother.'

But his mother's tears kept replaying in his mind. Karon felt a slight sense of indebtedness towards Corelia.

Corelia, despite being able to have children, had given up on having her own for Erin and Karon's sake.

"It's enough for me just to raise those children well."

To that extent, even though they weren't her biological children, she poured all her love and devotion into them.

He could grant Corelia's request without hesitation. Besides, wasn't it ridiculous to have to ask for a mother and daughter to meet alone?

Even thinking that, Karon couldn't hide the uneasy feeling that had settled in a corner of his heart.

"So, Sir Karon, you want me to relay a message to Sir Erin?"

Karon nodded at the Dormitory Manager in front of him and spoke.

"Yes, please tell her to meet me in an hour... at a cafe called 'Night Garden' in front of the academy."

The Dormitory Manager, Ellua, looked suspiciously at Karon for not delivering such a simple message himself.

He ignored her gaze and turned away. Fatigue washed over him.

'Still... it should be fine.'

Karon swayed as he moved to walk towards the academy's central hall. He needed somewhere to distract his mind.

His steps felt strangely heavy. By now, the Dormitory Manager had probably delivered his message to Erin.

"Karon... don't worry. I'll talk to Erin properly. She'll understand you."

"Erin won't come out if I call her. Nothing will happen... You're a very good son, Karon."

Why did Corelia's words, whispered to him with a sorrowful face, come to mind? He might be a good son, but he wouldn't be a good younger brother.