29 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)
Chapter 29
Rose traced the rough, raised scars with her fingertips. Ezekiel, who had described her as an exception, leaned back loosely and savored Rose's touch as it traced the center of his chest.
It felt strange anew. When had he changed like this? It felt like only yesterday she had earned his glare by touching a wound while attending to his clothes.
There was just one thing he misunderstood slightly.
To Rose, Ezekiel was closer to the meaning of transcendence than an exception. Unlike an exception that falls outside a standard, he was a transcendent being to whom no standard applied at all. He was not someone for whom it was okay to do anything, but someone for whom anything could be done. This conclusion had never changed.
"Major, how did you get so badly injured? It seems your life was in great danger… Are all other soldiers like this?"
Ezekiel answered Rose's question without much expression.
"Not all the same. It depends on which unit you're assigned to, and some have only served in rear units like cowards. However, the company I served in selected soldiers based on physique and stamina, so we were often deployed to dangerous territories. And..."
"And?"
"There was a bounty on my head at the time."
His tone was casual.
Yet, to the listener, it was a chilling story. Rose's eyes widened in surprise. Of course, considering his formidable reputation, it wasn't an unbelievable matter. It meant that the enemy nation, Dabis, considered Ezekiel, who had fought so valiantly on the front lines, a thorn in their side.
As if anticipating her silence, Ezekiel continued casually.
"It made planning operations easier, though. I could be the bait."
"As the commander of a unit, you planned an overly reckless operation."
"War is inherently dangerous at every moment."
"Even so..."
"In combat, there are only two types of operations: good operations and bad operations. And a good operation is a successful one."
Ezekiel's definition was clear. Rose, listening silently, subtly brought up a fragment of a past conversation.
"You mentioned before that you've never lost a battle."
"If I had lost, someone would have claimed my bounty by now and be living in luxury."
"Ah, that's right. Those who lose can't survive..."
What would happen to me from now on?
Rose recalled the letter from Captain Moncam that had tangled her thoughts. It was the letter she had just read aloud moments ago. Even now, recalling every word of the report within it made her blood run cold.
"Major Valdemara, this is Moncam. I am reporting the results of my inquiries regarding that woman."
'That woman.'
Even without speaking it aloud, Ezekiel's gaze changed whenever matters concerning 'that woman' came up. A distinct glint flashed across his irises. The change was dramatically evident, even in an eye that had lost its sight.
She wished she could have seen the contents of the letter Moncam had sent beforehand, but she had no opportunity. He sat on a stool in front of the bathtub, wearing only a towel around his waist, and had Rose open the letter. Then, holding her hand tightly with the hand not holding the letter, he listened to his subordinate's report.
"We have been inquiring about women Achenaus Valdemara has kept as mistresses, but among those he has met recently, there was no one matching the description we are looking for. So, we changed our search direction and investigated whether there had been any peculiar incidents at the Valdemara mansion recently. It appears a couple who had served the Valdemara family diligently for quite some time has suddenly disappeared. We heard they were taken away somewhere on suspicion of stealing valuables, but their fate is unknown."
Even with his return to the 37th Regiment uncertain, his subordinates were diligently helping Ezekiel track her traces.
Now she knew why.
He had said he'd put himself forward as bait to lure and fight the enemy when a bounty was placed on his head. Many officers of noble birth would have prioritized their own lives, but a commander who ate and slept in the same conditions as his soldiers and rushed into danger first would naturally earn their trust and loyalty. The camaraderie and loyalty forged by fighting together on the battlefield were strong.
However, as a result, the theft incident committed by his parents had finally surfaced. Rose held her breath while reading the letter, fearing her trembling hands might convey her distress.
"Given they are a middle-aged couple, their description doesn't match that woman, and the timing of their disappearance, without a trace, is actually a bit early. However, there are rather suspicious aspects that cannot be overlooked just because there isn't a clear connection. While people know the couple was taken away, no one knows what happened to them. Usually, to deter employees from stealing, maids or servants who have touched their master's property are given severe punishments as an example, and the results are displayed. But they vanished as if erased from the world. It's unlikely Achenaus Valdemara, with his temperament, would have shown mercy."
On one hand, it was absurd that the reason for suspecting her parents, who seemed to have no connection, was Achenaus's uncharacteristically lenient treatment.
Rose painstakingly read the letter line by line.
"The problem is that they seem to have enforced strict silence within the mansion. No matter how much we questioned them, everyone kept their mouths shut. So, we went to the house where the couple lived..."
The shock at that point was still unforgettable.
...What?
"The door was locked, and the lights were off, so it looked like an abandoned house from the outside. However, after breaking the lock and entering, we found the furniture and belongings in disarray, which was strange. It looked as if they had fled in the middle of the night. But whether they had planned to flee in the middle of the night before being taken away for theft, or whether they were fortunate enough to escape and then flee, is not precise."
She had tried so hard to read the clues left in the empty house, which suggested an escape, while pretending to be nonchalant.
She hadn't expected his subordinates to search the house itself. In their haste to disappear, they wouldn't have had the composure to tidy up the house neatly. Rose and her parents had fled with only the most essential items and valuables.
After the report concluded, Ezekiel remained in thought for a moment. His firm fingers tapped her hand in a steady rhythm.
"I need to send a reply to Moncam."
"...A reply?"
"Although there was controversy about speaking like a mere merchant in a family with such a long history, my great-grandfather always said that the easiest way to control people is through money. That's why the Valdemara family is not stingy with their employees. Their employees are also quite loyal. Yet, for them to have stolen money means that an amount that couldn't be covered by their salary was leaking out. Tell Moncam to inquire with the neighbors about the detailed description of the couple and their financial situation, such as whether they had debts. It's not good to arouse Achenaus's suspicion, so don't push the employees too hard."
The strict enforcement of silence among the employees within the household must have been Achenaus's last shred of conscience. Or perhaps it was a measure for himself, to prevent troublesome issues from spreading outside the family's scandals. In reality, the latter possibility was more likely.
In any case, thanks to that, her identity, which could have been easily revealed, had remained somewhat hidden until now, which ultimately proved helpful.
However, once Moncam, following Ezekiel's instructions, began inquiring with the neighbors, they would soon discover that the disappeared couple had a daughter, and her description perfectly matched the description of the 'woman' they were desperately searching for.
The future that would soon arrive seemed distant. Rose averted her gaze from Ezekiel, looking into the distance.
Perhaps I...
May not be able to stay here for long.
"Do you happen to have any leftover lemons in the kitchen?"
Taking a brief moment, Rose wandered near the kitchen, looking for Anna. Anna, covered in flour and having paused her bread-making, nodded at Rose's question.
"Lemons? We always have plenty of lemons. They're a staple ingredient, after all."
Lemon slices were always placed on the table to enhance the taste and aroma of food. It was fortunate that it was an easily obtainable ingredient. Rose let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Why lemons?"
"I was thinking of making lemon tea."
"Lemon tea? Do you need that now? Can you just slice it thinly and preserve it in honey? Or tell me how. I'll make it for you quickly."
"Everyone seems busy, so I'll do it. I happen to have time right now."
"Ah, then just a moment."
Anna went to get the lemons without any particular suspicion. It was rewarding that all sorts of folk remedies, like boiled tree bark water and herbal teas, had been used to nurse Ezekiel, who could no longer use painkillers due to opium withdrawal symptoms. Anna didn't even ask why lemon tea was needed.
"Do you need a lot? Or is this amount okay?"
"This is enough."
Rose took the three lemons Anna brought, smiled with a nonchalant expression, and tucked them away. Then, avoiding the busy employees, she sat down in a corner of the kitchen. Fortunately, everyone was too busy with their tasks to pay her much attention. Rose's usual habit of helping with various chores also contributed to their indifference. They all assumed she was just helping someone with their work.
With quick knife work, Rose thinly sliced the thoroughly washed lemons and set aside some round lemon peel pieces separately.
Sweat beaded on her forehead from tension.
...I hope it works.
