CHAPTER 49………………………………………..
. The Taint of the Lifmanga (2)
“How can you do that? How could you do that to your own family…?”
Lowell couldn’t finish the sentence. Just pronouncing the story he had just heard made it feel like tears were about to fall.
Why do the people here use the Taint for abuse? Why do Aria and Leon have to go through this just because they have magic? The Taint was invented for that kind of purpose…
“I am at fault too. After all, I also used the Taint for my own purposes.”
Leon spoke calmly in front of Lowell, whose trembling eyes couldn’t meet his gaze.
“No.”
At that moment, Lowell’s voice slipped out between his teeth.
“Leon, you did nothing wrong. What could little Leon have done? If your brother had cared about you even a little, he should have helped persuade the Marquis rather than resorting to such a horrible method.”
“…Are you crying?”
Leon placed his hand beside Lowell’s eye, and the tears running down his cheek wet the tips of his fingers.
Thud.
Just as Leon was about to speak, Lowell grabbed Leon’s left wrist and dragged him into the adjacent room.
“What….”
“Stay still.”
The firm command left Lowell’s lips, and in the moment Leon was stunned, he was pushed back onto the bed by Lowell pressing against his chest.
“……!”
Almost simultaneously, Lowell straddled Leon’s upper body, and with her busy hands, Leon’s tunic was undone.
Swish.
Careful hands moved over the deep scars on Leon’s shoulders.
“Ah.”
Lowell’s hands overlapped the Taint. Leon let out a small moan unconsciously, and his eyes, floating with nowhere to rest, landed on Lowell’s face above him.
“You…”
Leon couldn’t continue speaking. Tears streamed from Lowell’s purple eyes onto his body. Her lips, trying not to cry, trembled slightly.
“…….”
Leon said nothing. There was nothing left to hide, and thus nothing left he could comfort.
All he did was exhale and pull Lowell’s hair into his embrace.
‘Why do you cry over things that aren’t even yours?’
Her uneven breaths, the tickle of hair scattered over his bare chest—Leon simply stroked Lowell’s head slowly as she wept atop him.
“…Um, shouldn’t you at least wear a shirt?”
Lowell spoke timidly, fixing her eyes on the floor.
“I would, but thanks to someone, my clothes are all wet. I can’t wear wet clothes, but it’s awkward to go ask the servants for new ones right now.”
Leon cast a glance at the white shirt draped over a chair and replied casually.
“Y-yeah, that’s true.”
The couple had stormed off after greetings, and darkness had settled outside the window. Asking for new clothes now would surely invite misunderstanding.
‘You climbed on top of me so easily before, but now you can’t even meet my eyes.’
Watching Lowell ponder other solutions, Leon wondered what went on in her little head.
If she went out with puffy eyes like that, no one would think anything improper. But seeing her lost in thought was amusing enough that he let her be for a while.
“I won’t just stay still.”
“What, me?”
Leon responded playfully, looking at Lowell, who couldn’t meet his eyes and was instead looking at his chest.
“No! Ugh, don’t joke around.”
Startled, Lowell jumped up, then sat back down.
“It’s not that—I mean the Lifmanga people. I was confused, but now I’m sure. If we don’t settle what happened before, the same thing will keep repeating.”
“So you’re planning to confront them?”
“Yes.”
Lowell spoke while trying not to frown.
“No need. I told you about the Taint to make you cautious, not to fight. Besides, we’ll be leaving this place soon anyway.”
“I know. But soon, I’ll be receiving a title in the name of the Lifmanga from His Majesty the Emperor. When that happens, the Lifmanga people will interfere even more. Just like they caused you pain, Leon.”
Lowell said this while looking at Leon’s shoulder and the scar upon it with calm eyes.
“You don’t need to worry too much. You know I’ve lived longer than most. I’ve been through several years of reincarnation. Honestly, I’m probably older than the other Lifmanga members.”
Pulling her upper body closer to meet his gaze, Lowell smiled playfully, reassuring him not to worry.
Leon couldn’t help but smile in return. Gradually, the unpleasant tension tied to the Lifmanga name began to ease.
“As expected, I should just stay here today.”
Leon pressed a hand to his forehead, exasperated.
“No. After saying that to me yesterday, you’re going to skip the temple treatment today?”
Lowell placed her hands on her waist, eyes firm.
“If I’d known we were going to the temple today, I wouldn’t have said that yesterday. I was just too distracted yesterday…”
“Leon.”
Leon’s words, uttered while brushing his bangs aside, were cut off by Lowell.
“The paladin said to keep the schedule even though the Taint treatment would be secret. So we can’t skip it.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“We need to heal the injuries from this place as soon as possible. That’s for both of us.”
Lowell said this while persistently locking eyes with him and smiling gently.
Sigh. “Then avoid running into those people as much as possible. Who knows what they might do.”
“Yes, I will.”
Leon sighed deeply. Lowell’s eager response slightly undermined his confidence, but it wasn’t something he could control.
“Go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Soon, the carriage stirred up dust as it headed toward the temple.
“Hmm, Leon… I still can’t just stay quiet about that.”
Looking at the dust, Lowell muttered to herself.
‘Now I can see clearly.’
Returning to the mansion after Leon left, Lowell looked at the portrait of the Lifmanga family in the hall.
Among the smiling family members, young Leon alone wore a dark expression. It clearly showed how he was treated in this house.
“Looks nice, right? Every time I see this portrait, I get emotional thinking about the importance of family.”
At that moment, Lanis’s voice interrupted Lowell’s reflection. Turning her head, Lowell met Lanis’s gaze.
“…You’re here.”
“You surprised me by leaving so abruptly yesterday. Did you have a good night?”
Lanis stepped closer with a polite but faint smile.
“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
“But when will you greet Father? Disappearing without manners with us is one thing, but surely you won’t do the same to the highest-ranking elder, your father?”
“When Leon returns, I’ll greet him together. The Marquis has been busy recently, so I don’t want to disturb him.”
“Oh, I see.”
Although Lowell tried to be polite, Lanis scoffed lightly, clearly annoyed.
“But you know…”
Her next words were clearly meant to mock Lowell.
“You know it looks bad, right?”
“Eh?”
“Relying so much on my brother. Dragged around as if you can’t do anything yourself.”
Even with her fan covering her mouth, Lowell could imagine the slight curl of her lips.
“Also, don’t you think the title is funny? Leon ‘nim.’ The hierarchy is too obvious. I get that you’re grateful Leon saved you from a commoner’s life, but…”
“Do you normally just decide things your own way, Lanis?”
“…What?”
When Lowell said that, confused, Lanis’s mouth dropped in surprise.
“I call Leon ‘nim’ simply because it’s comfortable, not because of hierarchy. Like how you add ‘nim’ to him.”
“What? You?”
“As you know, I’m a hero who saved the empire. I’ll soon receive a title under His Majesty the Emperor’s protection. So my rank will be higher than someone just sitting at a desk writing… Don’t you know that?”
“Hah.”
“I’ll go in first.”
Turning away, Lowell heard Lanis’s angered breath over her shoulder.
‘She must be mad.’
But Lowell focused all her attention on stepping properly without trembling.
‘I won’t just stay still.’
She wouldn’t let them control her anymore. In this seventh life she had barely continued, she would regret nothing this time.
