Chapter 13
The head of the House of Sevice, Holton von Sevice, had clearly come to the castle to see his daughter’s children, but he had been refused a meeting for several days now.
What kind of grandsons won’t even show their grandfather’s face a single time?
He narrowed his snake-like eyes in irritation as he raised his teacup. Whether sipping tea or staring out the window in boredom, his green eyes simmered with rage.
The servant, who could feel firsthand that his master’s mood had dropped lower than the depths of any infamous cavern, was on the verge of death from the stress.
While gently brushing Holton’s long indigo hair and tying it low with a white ribbon, the servant was nervous not to provoke his temper.
Just as the last tie was secured, a knock came at the door.
“Two o’clock, the greenhouse… is the message.”
That was all the servant said after briefly stepping outside to speak with the messenger.
Two o’clock, the greenhouse.
It wasn’t likely Bled wanted to meet him, so the half-hearted invitation must have come from his grandsons.
“Did a servant come?” Holton asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Hah. Those bastards still choose to neglect their family, even with the dead long gone. This is worse than before.”
If at least one of them had come personally, he would have tried to understand them with a grandfather’s heart. But instead, they sent a mere servant with that soulless invitation.
He couldn’t help but curse the wretched child who had died alongside her mother—or perhaps because of her mother.
“What was so wrong with ordering the execution of someone who was no more than a family enemy?”
Beni lo Ransel. Sophia Beni.
Just because the child of some woman who crawled out of nowhere almost died, they locked his own daughter away in a tower, ignoring the dignity of the marquis.
His daughter.
With that single thought, Holton’s fury surged again. He had wanted nothing more than to kill Beni lo Ransel and Sophia Beni. When he showed that desire openly to his grandsons, they turned their backs on him.
Even though their own mother had faced death, they refused to be angry at the ones responsible. Holton could not understand.
They must be confused. Still young and not yet clear-headed. He had assumed that once they processed the situation, their rage would rise. But even after Chase died, Benjamin and Joshua still refused to agree with him.
“Please stop now.”
“There’s no one left to take revenge on.”
“You’re not bold enough to shake the heavens with a needle anyway.”
Fine. He couldn’t touch Bled. That was why he’d directed his rage toward Beni and Sophia. But the two of them had left this world a day before Chase.
And to think Benjamin and Joshua mocked him for that—he still couldn’t believe it. Not once had they taken his side.
Holton hated the ones who died before he could vent his anger on them.
He blamed everything on them—Chase’s death, Benjamin and Joshua’s rejection, every bit of misfortune in his life.
Clenching his fists, he forced his aimless fury deep into his chest.
“Why didn’t they stay alive…”
So I could take it all out on them.
“…Roscent Castle.”
As he calmed down, that castle came to mind.
That was where the former marquis Chase had lived, and where Beni—the unwanted guest—had later resided. It was now empty. But not just anyone could enter.
“Doesn’t the Loash family restrict access to Roscent Castle?”
“Yes. Without clear justification and the lord’s permission, entry is impossible.”
“They’re acting like there’s some hidden treasure inside.”
The Loash family was very close to the castle lord, yet even they were not freely granted entry.
“Maybe that treasure could benefit me.”
“You won’t know its value unless you dig it up.”
“True, very true.”
Holton smiled faintly and raised his teacup again.
“Were all the servants in this place sent by the Loash family?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell Count Aros to prepare several people suitable for serving in any noble house.”
“People… as in?”
“I mean, to send as new servants to this castle.”
It was a plan to plant his eyes and ears inside. Since no servant bearing the Sevice name would be accepted by Bled, he intended to use Count Aros’s name instead.
Aros, a man with close ties to Holton, publicly supported the current lord.
In the spacious, warmly lit second-floor library, Sophia sat precariously atop a ladder to retrieve a book from a high shelf. Through the window, she caught sight of something.
“The greenhouse is visible.”
She muttered quietly, spotting the greenhouse roof far behind Forne Castle. Loray, who had been holding the ladder below, looked up with a puzzled expression.
“From where?”
“Up here.”
Following her gaze, Loray could also see the greenhouse clearly.
Sophia watched her for a moment, then took the book she wanted. But as she prepared to descend, she hesitated.
She hadn’t considered the height when climbing, but looking down now, it felt like standing on a cliff.
…To be honest, she was scared.
“Loray.”
“Yes?”
“Help me down… please.”
So this is what living long leads to—needing someone’s help because she climbed too high and became afraid to come down. She had forgotten she had a fear of heights because she so rarely needed to climb anything.
Suppressing a laugh, Loray climbed a few rungs and lifted Sophia in her arms.
Once safely down, Sophia saw the wide smile on Loray’s face and turned her head in embarrassment.
“Q-Quit laughing.”
She said that while moving toward the table where tea had been prepared.
“I’ll be away for a bit because we’re hiring new servants.”
“Why you?”
“I may be your personal maid, but I’m also the head maid of Roscent Castle.”
“No, I mean…”
She was about to say there wouldn’t be any new servants, so there was no need, but she held her tongue.
Only she knew the future. Only she knew no new servants would come. She almost made a serious mistake.
She shifted the topic smoothly.
“Is it okay to bring in new servants? What if one of them finds out about me and tells someone outside…?”
“There’s no need to worry. That will never happen.”
“….”
“Because I, Loray, am the one who manages all the servants and staff in this castle.”
Her smile wasn’t arrogant—it came from the confidence of someone who had successfully kept a difficult secret this long.
There were so many mouths in this castle. Numerous servants had seen the supposedly-dead Sophia walking around, and just as many had heard rumors about her.
Yet none of them had said a word.
That was all thanks to Loray.
Since no new servants were coming anyway, Sophia decided not to worry any further.
About a week after Loray left, she returned with a man in tow.
“This is Lucion. Starting today, he’ll serve as your attendant here at Roscent Castle.”
An attendant? Why?
“Greetings, Lady Sophia. My name is Lucion. Please feel free to call me Sion. I’m honored to serve you!”
Lucion. Sion…
Dark blue hair and blue eyes. Freckles dotted his nose, and his drooping eyes gave him a gentle appearance. His friendly smile greeted her, and Sophia held her throbbing head.
Wasn’t there not supposed to be a new servant? So there’s nothing to worry about?
She had forgotten that saying things like that only guaranteed the opposite outcome.
Next time, I swear I won’t say anything like that ever again.
Oblivious to Sophia’s internal frustration, Loray came over with a concerned look and lowered her voice.
“You don’t like the new servant?”
“No… Why is there a new one?”
“The lord heard that you collapsed and was concerned. He apparently thought you needed more support and ordered at least one new attendant to be assigned.”
“The lord…?”
That was unexpected. To hear he was worried about her? She wasn’t sure if Loray’s words were true, but it seemed to be a fact that the lord had issued the order.
Did he really worry?
A tiny bud of curiosity bloomed like a spring flower, only to wither instantly under a cold wind.
“You don’t need to exaggerate.”
There’s no way he would. It must be another one of Loray’s white lies—like when she secretly prepared a gift.
Assigning a servant? Who knows. He hadn’t done anything like that in her past life.
Sophia forced away the bitter taste in her mouth and continued.
“Is it just him?”
“…Yes. I thought you wouldn’t like having too many, so we kept it to the minimum.”
“Thanks.”
Knowing she had been considered eased her anxiety. If more people had come, it would have meant more deviation from the future she knew.
Of course, things might still follow the path she remembered, but any change was a variable. And so far, there had already been many unexpected developments.
She wanted the future to remain unchanged as much as possible. Only then could she feel safe, knowing what was coming and exactly when she would die—without having to fear dying too early.
She didn’t want to die before Rune. That child should never have to witness her death.
She wanted to show only good things and leave only warm memories before disappearing.
One person… should be fine.
As long as he wasn’t an assassin sent to kill her.
