Chapter 4

“I asked them to make it light so that you’d feel better.”

“No, everything is so good. I guess I was just really nervous. Thank you for your concern.”

What here doesn’t suit my taste?

The scent of the cherry jam applied smoothly on the thin bread, hot onion soup, and fish meat covered with an unknown sauce was absolutely tempting.

I was always madly hungry.

It’s not that I never wanted to eat, but that I ate at a place where I had no choice but to throw up.

In that sense, it was rather more comfortable to have a ball-like event.

No one cared about who ate what in those events.

The only person who could control me was myself.

Ellenia, who stared at me for a while, smiled like a happy child, and soon told me to finish up.

After a while, the empty plates were taken away. A fragrant tea and a simple dessert came out.

“As you know, here in Elendale, it’s crowded every summer, so I ask for your understanding that my brother might be a little late. My father will not return to the capital until the end of the month due to political issues. I’m sorry for the lack of hospitality.”

“Oh, no, I’m fine, I do not mind it.”

“Since my mother’s death, I’ve been living in this mansion. I was in charge of the housekeeping, but I can change it to the Lady’s preference. If you don’t like it or if you’re uncomfortable with it, you can ask a maid to switch things.”

Ah, ‘the Lady’. A strange and awkward title.

I pretended to fiddle with the teacup, my eyes gazing downwards.

“Thank you for your consideration, but I’d rather it stay the same for a while. I’m not used to the customs here yet and I’m afraid I’ll get in trouble if I go too far.”

With that impassive look on her face, Ellenia, who had put the teacup down, stared straight at me again.

“There’s nothing to worry about. No one would dare think of you like that.”

Formal words. Businesslike reactions.

Nevertheless, there were signs of her being surprised and anxious. I smiled innocently as if I didn’t know anything and changed the subject.

” More importantly, I’d like to ask you something else.”

“Feel free to ask me anything.”

“Can you just call me Ruby for the time being?”

Ellenia did not immediately reply.

I looked carefully at her perfect poker face and pretended to swallow in nervousness.

“As you know, I’m a stranger here, and even though I knew what was coming, I’m honestly clueless of how I’ll adjust. If I had someone like you as a friend, I’d have a lot of courage…”

“All right.”

“Really?"

“Yes.”

“Uwah, thank you!”

As I leaned forward and held her hands with a wide smile, I felt her trembling. I quickly let go of her hands and moved away, stuttering embarrassedly, “I’m sorry, I’m being rude.”

“It’s fine.”

“T-then can I call you Ellen?”

“It would be nice to be comfortable with each other.”

I couldn’t imagine this cold beauty, being comfortable with someone. She calmly lowered her eyes.

Then, she added, as if she was sighing, “It’s not good to act too kind. Too much humility can cause misunderstanding.”

She didn’t mean it out of concern for me.

It was an implicit suggestion that if we both were hiding our true colors, we should get to know each other comfortably and quickly.

I also didn’t expect her to let go of her guard against me already, but I think she succeeded in making an unexpected impression.

I didn’t want people here to like me, including Ellenia.

My purpose was to come off as harmless as possible. For a fool who is not like the others in the Borgia family. A mild-mannered fool, unlike rumors circulating around the world.

“I’m used to being misunderstood. I’ll try hard so that I don’t become anyone.”

Once again, Ellenia gazed at me silently.

I suddenly remembered my sister. What she looked like at the end. Blood clots stuck to her frail wrist.

“I’ll show you where you’re going to stay.”

I could see the sea through the window with the curtains pulled back.

The sunset, which painted the horizon all red, extended all the way here and warmed the white room.

Ellenia approached me behind the line, looking at the window.

“I tried my best to decorate the room, but I don’t know if you like it.”

“I like it very much.”

“I’ll show you around the mansion tomorrow. If you like any other room… “

“No, I really like it the way it is. I like the view. I’ve always wanted a room with a view of the sea.”

Ellenia didn’t flinch when I held her hand this time.

Instead, she lowered his eyes as if she was caught off-guard, and stared at the hand I was touching. She spoke in a slightly subdued tone,”You must be tired today, so it’s better to rest early. My brother might be late because of his schedule…”

“It’s fine, Ellen.”

I just wanted to sleep. I knew it would be the same from the first day. There was nothing to be hurt about it.

No, rather, I felt relieved.

Either way, my goal was not to win his love. Maybe not even compassion.

I could see a tall maid like a pole over Ellenia’s shoulder, looking silently at me. To describe her expression…

It was a mixture of ridicule and contempt, but it didn’t matter.

Being considered insignificant is familiar and acceptable.

***

Cold.

I woke up to notice my teeth chattering on its own.

I heard it was a little cold at dawn even if it’s summer, but I didn’t think this counted as just a little cold.

Holding onto the blanket tightly and trembling, I soon found out that the fire in the fireplace had died out.

The green flames lit everywhere at night in aristocratic houses in the northern part of the country, where the monsters dwelled, were not just for warmth.

It was a precious source that could be built from an official monk or someone higher in rank.

When the sun sets, it permeates everywhere like a shadow and fights against the monsters, which seeked humans.

I knew well that it couldn’t turn off on its own unless a person did it on purpose.

Who did such a childish thing? The maid from before?

“Achoo!”

I tried to get back to sleep, but it was so cold that I couldn’t bear it. I shivered out of bed and crept up to the fireplace.

I was wondering if any embers were left.

This kind of bullying was childish.

Shuuuu- Shuuuuuu-

At first I thought it was just the sound of the wind knocking on the window.

But it wasn’t the wind that came into my sight. Half frozen in front of the fireplace, I slowly turned my head.

In Romagna, there were few opportunities to encounter a demon. Not only me, but even a decent noble in the South would meet one.

Except for the Screaming Forest and very few outer areas, the Papal States were as clean as ever, and I never got to see any demons.

The first time I encountered the existence of a demon was one day in the late winter of the year of my first marriage annulment.

Cesare took me to the basement of the museum, saying he would show me something.

I didn’t really remember what got under his skin at the time.

Anyway, in that basement, I was locked up all night with a gargoyle, who was about to break the chain and tear me apart.

I was probably out of my mind with fear at that time.

I thought that the gargoyle, who exuded a green glow and shrieked, looked less disgusting than a turtle.

‘Go away!’, ‘Don’t move!’, was all I said while uttering a futile scream. I, who was terrified, must have given off quite the impression, because the monster stopped moving at some point. It curled up and stared at me all night.

Or it was just a coincidence.

“Oh, don’t come…”

The demon with black wings moved smoothly through the closed window, stared at me while floating.

Assuming that the green jewels between the bat-like wings were its eyeballs. If I screamed or turned and started running away, it would catch me in an instant.

My mouth moved fluidly, even though my knees were shaking.

“Don’t come near me.”

The Northern demon seemed to admire my struggle.

It is quite bizarre to see its wings drooping, even though it was hanging in the air, peering at me.

Is that its attack position?

It didn’t look confident.

“Go away.”

“Madam, you have to get up.”

The maid, who was about to push through the door, yelled.

It seemed like she had yelled her throat out. It had such a magnificent and long echo that I closed my ears with both hands.

At that moment, the demon with its drooping black wings spread out, ran toward the screaming maid.

“Ruby!”