8 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition) Episode 8
Even in the dimness that blocked out the midday sun, his musculature and the scars that ravaged his body were evident. They were marks torn, burst, and mended by the hail of bullets, weapon fragments, and bayonet blades. The history of war was literally preserved on his flesh. With barely any unblemished parts, one should have been more surprised by his intact face.
On the day he returned in a splendid officer's uniform, accompanied by a grand victory parade, he could never have imagined such devastation.
Rose looked back at Madam Serva. The old woman shook her head gently.
Do not be surprised, and do not show surprise.
She understood the meaning of the nod.
The medals on his uniform were the price paid in blood. As a member of the venerable Valdemara family, he had been commissioned as an officer at a young age. That position required him to lead from the front, taking on greater risks than anyone else. While ordinary soldiers could flee under the cover of night if fear struck them, men from distinguished families like Ezekiel had only two options.
To return alive.
Or to return dead.
Having survived his hardships, it was time for him to enjoy his honors. Yet, before he could even savor the outcome, Ezekiel, now blind, had fled to a desolate corner of the northern frontier, barely managing to live in hiding.
Because of his brother, Achenaus, who envied him.
And because of me, who actually carried it out.
How could I ever atone for this sin?
"Rose, the towel is here."
There was no time to be lost in thought. Madam Serva handed her a wet towel. Rose spread it thinly, holding it carefully as she dabbed at the scars with the spilled wine. She knew the scars had long since healed, but their appearance was so horrific that she couldn't apply much pressure.
Her fingers hovered, almost touching the skin on his chest.
"...Ah."
She nearly cried out in surprise. Ezekiel had suddenly grasped her hand.
Startled, Rose looked up. Ezekiel was looking down at her with a slightly furrowed brow. No, "looking down" wasn't the right expression. The man, sensitive to any disturbance, had pinpointed her location with remarkable accuracy, but the focus of his dark blue, sightless eyes remained unclear.
"What are you doing?"
"I apologize."
Rose apologized reflexively. She had learned that it was wise to yield, regardless of whether she knew what had displeased him.
As she hurried to help him change into dry clothes and fasten the buttons, she was flustered. His broad, thick shoulders and chest made it impossible for the front of the garment to meet.
Naturally, she glanced at Ezekiel, gauging his mood. He had been in a foul temper all day. On days like this, the smallest trifle could escalate into a major offense.
As expected, Ezekiel's face began to show a flicker of displeasure upon sensing the ill-fitting clothes.
"Just a moment. Another..."
"It seems some old clothes were mixed in."
As she tried to placate him, offering to fetch different clothes even if it meant enduring a scolding, Madam Serva approached and loosely fastened the open front of his garment.
"Was it six or seven years ago... When I had retired to this remote place, Ezekiel-nim visited me alone. Even then, he was a head taller than most adult men, and now he's grown even more."
"Are these the clothes I left behind then?"
"That's right."
At Madam Serva's calm reply, Rose stole a glance at the clothes Ezekiel was wearing. Under the power of the memories Madam Serva had evoked, the man's displeasure faded, and he fell silent.
The atmosphere eased. Rose, inwardly relieved, neatly folded the wet clothes and towel into the basket.
Only after closing the door did Madam Serva wink at her.
"You noticed, didn't you? That those weren't the right clothes."
Rose hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"...Yes."
Six or seven years ago, he would have been a boy of about fifteen or sixteen. Yet, the clothes he had changed into were of a worn and crude style, unbefitting a teenager from a noble family.
Even though no one was eavesdropping, Madam Serva lowered her voice further and whispered.
"That night. The night Ezekiel-nim arrived at this mansion, he came with nothing but the clothes on his back."
She remembered. Ezekiel had said he arrived in the midst of a blizzard, carried on the horses of his subordinates like cargo.
Having barely escaped the fratricidal conflict, he wouldn't have had time to pack. Coming empty-handed was only natural.
"He truly had nothing. From head to toe, nothing. We had him measured quickly to have clothes made, but clothes don't just appear in a day or two. We hastily sent someone to find clothes for a large man in the vicinity. But no matter how large the clothes we brought, they didn't fit his soldier's physique."
"I thought something seemed odd. They were someone else's clothes."
Rose let out a long sigh.
"It seems I'm quite fortunate to have you here, Madam."
"...Well. It's not entirely so."
Madam Serva's voice held a sense of helplessness.
"Certainly, Ezekiel-nim is kind to me. I was his wet nurse, and I practically raised him. Perhaps among those belonging to the Valdemara family, including blood relatives, he feels most comfortable with me... Though it may be presumptuous, I find myself growing fond of him as if he were my own grandson."
Madam Serva gazed into the distance for a moment.
"But he doesn't need an old woman like me. What few years do I have left? If I too disappear, he will only grow more lonely... The thought of it makes me jolt awake even in my sleep."
Rose nodded quietly. She understood Madam Serva's worry.
The reason this mansion was functioning relatively well was largely due to Madam Serva's presence, acting as the lubricant that kept the household gears turning smoothly. However, if she grew frail and her health declined, the person who sometimes controlled and sometimes protected the employees in front of the increasingly ill-tempered Ezekiel would disappear...
A blind master would inevitably have limitations in controlling the mansion, and Claris's Achenaus was not someone who would show mercy to his isolated brother.
"He needs someone. Someone he can keep by his side for a long time, someone he can trust, someone willing to understand him."
Madam Serva glanced at Rose.
"When Ezekiel-nim was making his name on the battlefield, there was no one who didn't admire him. Even in remote villages like this Derosa. Girls who knew of the Valdemara's summer residence here would linger with the hope that he might stop by if he passed nearby. The atmosphere in the capital and larger cities must have been even more fervent."
"He was that famous. I didn't live in a major city, but many people around me, when they heard the name Valdemara, immediately thought of Major Ezekiel of the 37th Regiment."
Rose carefully mentioned Ezekiel's name, lowering her gaze.
Madam Serva observed the new maid in the laundry room, who possessed a calm and quiet demeanor. She recalled the face of the girl who had appeared at the mansion's door, pale with cold and nervousness, on the day Rose first arrived.
Her interest in Rose had actually been simple. While other employees focused solely on their duties and tried to keep their distance from Ezekiel, Rose instead closed the gap. She didn't show her distress even when her clothes were pulled off, and when she occasionally asked about Ezekiel's condition, she displayed visible anxiety and concern. Rose was also the first person to willingly blind herself and experience Ezekiel's suffering firsthand.
That's why she began to think.
Could this child...
Under normal circumstances, it would have been an utterly absurd notion. However, the main Valdemara estate had long fallen into Achenaus's hands, and Ezekiel, driven to the north, blinded, and now with a volatile temper, was no longer the knight that women would swoon over.
Moreover, the Valdemara name had become an obstacle to his future. Families of comparable standing would undoubtedly keep their distance from Ezekiel, fearing Achenaus's displeasure. While he still had subordinates from the 37th Regiment who remained loyal out of shared battlefield experiences, they too would not be able to support Ezekiel indefinitely, materially or emotionally, once a new commander arrived.
No matter how much she pondered, there was only one answer.
A young, healthy new head steward, a new housekeeper, and a new Mistress of the house.
If you combined these, it was a woman.
Ezekiel needed a woman.
A woman who could serve as head steward, housekeeper, and Mistress of the house.
She didn't ask for much. A person who knew her place would suffice. As long as she didn't offend Achenaus and didn't harbor great ambitions, she would at least not go without food or clothing.
Ezekiel was no longer the excellent prospective son-in-law who was once at the top of everyone's list, nor could he be a kind and good husband. However, he was exceptionally handsome. Madam Serva had also accumulated a considerable fortune while managing the summer residence.
If Rose was knocking on doors late at night to ask for work, her financial situation likely wasn't very good either. Therefore, this might not be such a bad proposition for Rose.
"You know, my feeling is that Rose..."
"Madam, Madam!"
A servant rushed in, calling for Madam Serva urgently. The conversation was abruptly cut short by this sudden interruption.
"A letter has arrived for the Master, and he is asking for you to come to him at once."
"A letter has arrived?"
It was welcome news. Ezekiel, confined to the mansion as if his limbs were broken, waited day and night for news from the outside.
Madam Serva turned and headed towards the master's bedroom. Rose, caught off guard, followed along.
