37 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)
Chapter 37
This errand boy, who came disguised as a merchant, wasn't interested in her. He was merely observing her because she was closest to Ezekiel. Merlo's target was Ezekiel.
Much like that man, Achenaus Valdemara.
"I will tell the Major that a spy has infiltrated from Claris."
"Wait a moment, miss."
Merlo, who quickly interjected, cut her off.
"It's true that I came from Valdemara in Claris, but the person I serve is not Lord Achenaus. You've mistaken me."
As if he felt wronged, Merlo strongly clarified, even waving his hands.
"I was sent on the instructions of Lord Valdemara."
"Lord Valdemara...?"
Rose considered the unexpected title Merlo had revealed.
Lord Valdemara. There was only one person in the Valdemara family who held that title.
Ezekiel and Achenaus's father.
In other words, the one who sent Merlo was the head of the Valdemara family.
That was why Merlo had readily responded to Rose's provocation. After all, he had the backing of the greatest authority behind him, trusting in that power.
"Of course, Lord Achenaus could also secretly dispatch someone. But it wasn't me."
Even so, the fact that he was spying on Ezekiel's whereabouts through improper means did not change.
"Now? And for what reason would Lord Valdemara do that?"
Ezekiel had endured the harsh winter alone here. The current spring was merely a small reward for surviving that winter.
"Wouldn't any parent be concerned when their child severs ties with the family and disappears to a foreign land?"
"He could have sent a letter first, or visited openly in the name of Valdemara to meet him."
"Ezekiel would have burned any letter without reading it. If he had requested a visit, he would have been beaten and chased away. If you had seen how he behaved at the main house, you would agree with me."
"So that's why he came disguised as a fruit merchant? The fruit was just an excuse to approach the mansion?"
She had wondered how he managed to procure such high-quality fruit consistently every day; his methods were certainly peculiar. Now that she knew the Valdemara family was behind Merlo, it finally made sense. The Valdemara family could easily supply any item Ezekiel sought.
"Yes. Honestly... I came down fully prepared with clothing, Rifles, hunting dogs, and even posing as a contractor, but they said the only thing the mansion needed was fruit. And when I learned it was because of you, miss, I was taken aback."
Merlo shrugged his shoulders.
"Thanks to that, I was able to enter the mansion safely, though."
"What was the intention behind searching the drawing-room and the bedroom?"
"It wasn't so much an intention as a necessity to get at least a general understanding of how Ezekiel was doing. To compare how much it had changed from the mansion's previous state that I had been briefed on, and to assess its current condition, I needed to know his living environment. I didn't touch any valuables."
"I know. If anything had been stolen, Madam Serva would have known. But it doesn't make sense that you came with such thorough preparations just to quietly ascertain the Major's well-being, does it?"
Clearly, this errand boy had an ulterior motive he hadn't revealed yet. Rose watched the man's response.
"I'm not sure how to explain this. A sense of... well, a sense of responsibility, perhaps?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Actually, Lord Valdemara bears some responsibility for Ezekiel's ambush."
"Responsibility?"
"It seems Achenaus overheard Lord Valdemara comparing his two sons. The content was that the eldest son was a coward, and the second son should lead Valdemara. In fact, while Ezekiel was achieving great military feats, Achenaus remained in Claris. Yes, well... other words are just excuses, but everyone knows he hid because he didn't want to go to war. Externally, Ezekiel's reputation was far more prominent."
"So..."
"Yes, so he must have felt a sense of crisis, fearing he might lose Valdemara to his younger brother if he remained idle. By using that subordinate, that unknown woman, he struck first."
That subordinate. The unknown woman.
Rose froze for a moment at the mention of her past, which had surfaced without any warning.
"You may be cut off from Claris, so you might not know much about the main house, but it wasn't peaceful there either. Especially the sentiments of the subordinates belonging to the King's Army are not very good. There was an instance where I barely stopped a soldier from challenging someone to a duel at a club, and bullets once flew from somewhere. Upon investigation, it was said to be an accident during a shooting competition nearby, but the truth is uncertain. Ezekiel's unit is famous for its marksmanship and ambushes, isn't it? He himself is also a top-tier marksman. In any case, there was no physical evidence, only suspicion, so it was let go."
It was a small comfort to know that while Ezekiel was confined, writhing in the terrible pain of blindness, that man had also endured his own difficult days.
Judging from the contents of the correspondence with Moncam, Ezekiel had never ordered his subordinates to avenge him. He was the type of man who would only be satisfied by exacting revenge with his own hands.
It was likely that the subordinates, who had lost their respected commander, had independently attempted a personal threat, and since they had not received orders, they had deliberately omitted it from their reports.
"Of course, Achenaus was raving, wanting to come down to Derosa immediately and confront Ezekiel. Fortunately, Lord Valdemara noticed and stopped him."
Merlo's carefully chosen words, considering the main house's reputation, were "confront," but what Achenaus had intended to do was likely retaliation.
And if Achenaus had come down, he would have recognized her at first glance. There were only two people who had seen Rose's face directly, without relying on others' descriptions. Achenaus, who had directly commissioned her murder, and Ezekiel, who had been attacked by her.
Without anyone knowing, the current peace had almost been shattered. It was a great relief that such a thing had not happened.
Rose's mind, which had reeled distantly, barely held on.
"I see."
"And so, what Lord Valdemara wishes is..."
Finally, they reached the main point.
Rose closed her mouth and focused on the request Merlo was about to make.
The man took a breath and opened his mouth.
"You are no longer of Valdemara. Live quietly, hidden in a place beyond the reach of eyes and ears, and never set foot in Claris again."
...What did he just say?
Her heart plummeted from the very beginning.
Before Rose, who had lost all color, Merlo continued to recite what he had memorized.
"Also, strictly control your subordinates who act like brash fools against Valdemara. Instead, we will provide you with enough financial support to live prosperously for life. However, since you no longer bear the name Valdemara, you cannot demand any rights from the family, and if Achenaus's safety is compromised, you will be held responsible. I wish to receive a notarized affidavit to this effect... he said. Although he couldn't find a way to deliver it to Ezekiel, this is the purpose of my errand."
It was a declaration of severance that went beyond prediction and felt utterly cruel.
Rose was speechless for a moment, standing blankly, before finally managing to speak.
"Wait a moment. Is it his decision to completely disown one son?"
"There is no other way. Would Lord Valdemara himself be at ease having to cut off a painful finger? He cannot afford to lose both sons. With the sons potentially engaging in a bloody battle, resulting in both becoming disabled or killed, Lord Valdemara, before being a father, is the head of the family who must protect it."
Her throat tightened again.
Here it comes again.
Her breathing became shallow, her vision wavered, and her limbs became uncontrollable.
These were signs of suffocation. Guilt sometimes choked Rose's breath like this. Especially when Ezekiel paid the price for sins she had committed, the aftereffects of her atonement became even more vivid.
Rose gathered all her courage and protested.
"Don't you think that's too hasty? The Major is making great efforts in various ways for his treatment."
"I know. I inquired about his condition before entering the mansion. There were rumors circulating nearby about him bringing in dozens of Doctors. And the outcome that none of those Doctors could offer treatment."
Nevertheless, Valdemara had chosen to sever ties with Ezekiel.
Why did that man keep suffering damage?
