Chapter 79
Although Magnus’s face did not appear on the communicator, it wasn’t hard to imagine how flushed red it must have been.
She could hear Magnus’s huffing breaths and Dante’s gentle laughter.
Once things settled down a little, Dante turned to Linaria.
[“Liri, it’s unusual for you to contact me at this hour. Did something happen?”]
As expected, her father was quick to notice.
“It’s not that something happened, I just have something I want to ask you.”
[“If it’s something the Lord of the Tower shouldn’t hear, then I’ll need to step away for a moment…”]
[“What? What business could there be that I cannot hear?”]
“I think it’s fine if Father hears first and judges for himself.”
Fearing another clash might break out, Linaria quickly cut in.
Then, lowering her voice, she began.
“Did you know that the butler of the stronghold is Brother Ricardo’s biological mother?”
[…Of course. I know. In fact, I was the one who first gave her the position of butler.]
That was completely unexpected.
As Linaria’s expression stiffened, Dante realized that something about it was troubling her.
[I thought it wasn’t something you needed to know, but perhaps I was wrong.]
“Father, I want to know about Lady Sophia.”
[How should I put this… She is truly a pitiable woman.] Dante said in a heavy voice.
[Around the time you were born, she lost her husband, and not long after, her eldest daughter in an accident. And now, when her only remaining son was given the Great Seal, he ceased to be her family.]
“…”
[I cannot even imagine the despair she must have felt.]
Meryl’s claim—that Ricardo was stolen away from his family—wasn’t wrong.
[Considering her circumstances, I delayed Ricardo’s official registration and successor training as long as I could…]
“Wait. Wasn’t it delayed because of me?”
[Because of you? Why would you think that?]
“Well, I thought it was in case I might later awaken a contractor…”
[Liri, are you… is anyone with you right now?]
“It’s just me.”
[I see. Well, you already have a contractor, so it was expected that the divine beast Obel would choose someone else.]
Magnus already knew that Linaria had formed a contract with the divine beast of time, but since no one else knew, they had to tread carefully.
Dante continued.
[That’s why I feel deeply sorry for Ricardo. In truth, he never should have received Obel’s Great Seal, but circumstances became twisted in many ways.]
“…”
[It was out of that guilt that his registration and training as heir were delayed. I wanted him to at least build some happy memories with his family.]
In the end, Meryl’s words were half true and half false.
And at the same time, Linaria could understand Sophia’s obsession with her son.
If that obsession ever turned into betrayal against Obel, however, that would be a problem.
[Liri. Did someone blame you for something related to Ricardo?]
“No. It’s just… I remembered some rumors I’d heard before.”
[Rumors?]
“…Rumors that Father deliberately neglected Brother Ricardo because you were waiting to see if I’d gain a contractor late. That’s why I heard he dislikes me.”
She hadn’t wanted to say it.
But in the end, she had no choice but to repeat the words she’d heard long ago from Meryl.
[That’s a malicious rumor meant only to sow discord. Ricardo doesn’t dislike you at all.]
—What?
Linaria had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting it out.
She was so shocked that she wondered if the Ricardo her father knew was a different person from the one she knew.
[Ricardo is fully aware of his own situation, as well as ours. And in the first place, he isn’t the type of boy to hate someone over such matters.]
The more her father defended Ricardo, the more Linaria’s trust in him plummeted.
Just how did he manage to win Father over like this?
Indeed, only someone trusted to this degree could even think of betrayal.
[But Liri, I’ve heard that the two of them rarely show signs of being mother and son. Did something happen?]
It was only natural for him to think so, since she suddenly contacted him with such questions.
“I don’t think it’s something I can say just yet. But once I’m sure, I promise I’ll tell you.”
It wouldn’t be too late to confront them once she had solid proof.
Since no one knew how things might turn out, she gave a vague answer. Her father sounded bitter.
[That saddens me. I wish you’d tell me everything, even the little things…]
For a moment, she wondered if she should just confide everything honestly to him.
But—
[Linaria! Don’t tell me you’re being mistreated?! I knew it! I saw the signs when you looked so gaunt! I’ll rush to Obel right this instant—!]
Magnus’s outburst, as though he would storm into Obel territory that very second, forced her to change her mind.
The next day.
Linaria approached the butler directly.
“I still haven’t completely memorized the castle’s layout. If you’re not too busy, could I trouble you for a tour?”
“Of course, my lady.”
The butler gladly accepted.
“The weather is so gloomy today. At this time of year, the rains often last for days. You must be frustrated, unable to go outside.”
As they walked, the butler chatted warmly.
“You must feel much more bored here than you did back in the capital, don’t you?”
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve made a good friend. I don’t really feel lonely.”
Sophia had probably wished to see Linaria crying after being scorned at social gatherings.
But instead, Linaria smiled serenely.
Sophia, forcing herself to smile back, looked as though cracks were beginning to show.
“By the way, I heard that you’re Brother Ricardo’s birth mother.”
Seizing the chance, Linaria brought it up first.
After all, Ricardo was officially entered into the main family because of me. It’s not strange if she resents me for it.
If it had been some other branch family, they would have rejoiced.
But Sophia’s situation was different.
She was excessively attached to her only surviving son.
“Yes. Lord Obel is my son by birth.”
She said it proudly.
Linaria was just about to press further when—
Meow—
A cat’s cry rang out.
She turned her head to see a limping cat, one ear torn.
Linaria recognized it instantly.
The mother cat.
It was the mother of the kittens Anna had shown her before.
There was even a spot on its fur in the exact same place as the tabby kitten.
“Sometimes stray cats sneak inside.”
The mother cat, clearly in poor condition, was extremely wary.
It slunk backward, tail tucked close to its body.
“Some of the kindhearted maids give them scraps from time to time, so you needn’t worry, my lady.”
“…”
“Still, with such serious wounds, if it leaves the castle without being treated, it won’t survive long.”
The cat slipped out of sight.
It seemed Sophia didn’t know about the kittens.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have spoken so indifferently, without a hint of concern.
“I see.”
Since the cat’s appearance had broken the flow of their talk, Linaria could only respond briefly.
Nothing gained.
In the end, Linaria returned without getting any real evidence from the butler.
By the time she finished pondering how she might provoke her, the sun had already set.
As night fell, the rain began to pour harder.
Clatter—!
The wind slammed against the windows, howling like a scream.
Normally, she wouldn’t have cared about the weather, but tonight, unease gnawed at her.
The mother cat could barely move…
It wasn’t her concern.
The servants here were said to be kind; they’d surely look after it.
It’ll be fine.
There was no need for her to intervene.
So she told herself, shutting her eyes tightly—until—
Crash—!
Lightning split the sky.
Blinding light flashed.
It was impossible for such fragile little lives to survive this storm.
Resolving herself, Linaria hastily threw on a shawl and ran out.
There wasn’t even time to grab an umbrella.
If I hesitate any longer, those kittens might die.
“Huff, huff—”
Breathless, she ran as fast as she could until she finally reached the place where the kittens had been.
Panting, she looked up—only to meet an unexpected face.
“…Linaria?”
It was Ricardo.
