Chapter 19
It was Olivia.
I relaxed my stiff expression and smiled brightly at her.
“Hi, Olivia. Did you come out to greet me?”
“…Auntie, are you hurt?”
“Huh? Oh, this? I got a little hurt, but it’s nothing! Doesn’t hurt at all.”
I wiggled my toes to show her I was fine.
Olivia just stared at me quietly, then suddenly pouted.
She dropped my dress, turned around, and ran off toward her own quarters.
I let out a deep sigh.
‘…Well, I guess it’s not something that can be fixed just because I’ve been nice for a day or two.’
I understood how Olivia felt—but honestly, it still hurt a little.
I’m human too. Trying so hard to be kind to people who hate me for something I didn’t even do isn’t easy.
It was Evangeline Roxanne Este who committed those awful deeds, but I’m the one suffering for them.
A bitter smile crossed my face as I sighed again.
With the maids’ help, I entered my bedroom and went straight to the bath.
Warm, fragrant water washed away the dirt and scratches on my skin.
After changing into a clean dress, I sat by the window and let out a lazy breath.
Someone once said sadness melts in water—and it was true.
After that bath, I felt so much better.
Then, Jane approached, holding a small medicine bottle.
“My lady, let me put some medicine on your knee.”
“Thank you, Jane.”
I placed my injured leg on the footstool.
Jane poured a red, sticky liquid onto my wounded knee. A sharp sting ran through me, but soon, the torn skin began to close up quickly.
As I winced, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me.
‘Hmm?’
I turned toward the slightly open door—but there was no one there.
I was about to look away when a small head peeked out through the gap.
It was Olivia again.
She looked so adorable that I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“Olivia? What are you doing here?”
She gasped, surprised that she’d been caught, and hesitantly slipped into the room.
Jane was startled to see her.
“Young Lady Olivia! How did you get here? Don’t tell me—you came alone?”
“…Yes. Olga told me not to, but…”
“Oh dear! So you snuck out without Olga noticing! Please wait just a moment, young lady. As soon as I finish treating the Madam, I’ll take you back to your quarters.”
Olivia nodded sadly.
I tilted my head.
“Why not just call Olga here? Jane can fetch her, and Olivia can stay with me in the meantime.”
Jane looked at me with confusion.
“…Pardon? But, my lady, you’ll be uncomfortable. And besides…”
“Hmm? Besides what? Go on.”
“Before… whenever you were even slightly unwell, you would get angry just seeing Young Lady Olivia from afar. So I thought, of course…”
“I… did that, huh?”
“I’m so sorry, my lady! I spoke out of turn—please forgive me!”
Jane’s face turned pale as she bowed deeply. Olivia looked between us nervously.
I smiled sadly.
“There’s nothing to forgive, Jane. You didn’t say anything untrue.”
“…My lady.”
“It’s fine. I won’t get angry about things like that anymore. Olivia, come here.”
Olivia hesitated for a moment but slowly approached me. I gently patted her soft brown hair.
“Did you come because you wanted to talk to me? Or were you just bored?”
“…Because of your leg.”
“Huh? What was that?”
“…You were bleeding a lot… so I came to see.”
“Really? Were you worried about me?”
“…I don’t know.”
Olivia turned her head away with a pout, pretending not to care.
But I could tell—she was worried. She just didn’t know how to say it. It was so sweet that I couldn’t help smiling.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Olivia! Look—see? It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“…It doesn’t?”
To my surprise, Olivia’s eyes filled with tears.
‘Huh? Did I say something wrong?’
Was she disappointed that I wasn’t hurt anymore? Or maybe she came to laugh at me for being in pain? If that’s the case, then maybe I should pretend that I’m still—
Before I could finish the thought, Jane whispered softly beside me,
“My lady, pretend to be in pain.”
“…What?”
“Just pretend! Act like it still hurts!” she said, gesturing at my knee.
Still confused, I decided to play along.
“Ow, ow! It still hurts! I can barely stand it!”
“Auntie, does it hurt?”
As I faked my pain, Olivia suddenly smiled brightly.
“…Yeah,” I said, pretending to groan. “It hurts a little.”
“Do you want me to make it better?”
“…How?”
Olivia knelt in front of me, excited, and took out a little toy bottle. She dipped her tiny finger inside, tapped around my knee, and said,
“Pain, go away!”
“…”
She looked up at me with wide eyes.
“See? It doesn’t hurt now, right?”
I grinned.
“Wow! You’re right—it doesn’t hurt at all! You’re amazing, Olivia!”
Unable to resist, I cupped her cheeks with both hands. Olivia’s face turned pink, and she giggled shyly.
I pulled her into a gentle hug and gave Jane a thankful look. Jane smiled back and said,
“Then, Young Lady Olivia, I’ll go fetch Olga. You stay here and play with the Madam until I return.”
“…Okay.”
“Have fun, both of you!” Jane said, leaving the room.
Once we were alone, I turned to Olivia with a warm smile.
“So, what shall we play, Olivia?”
She silently pointed at the bookshelf in the corner of my room.
“Ah, you want me to read to you?”
“…Yes.”
“Alright! Let’s see, which book should we pick?”
I stood up and walked toward the shelf. Olivia followed quietly behind me, pretending not to be excited—but her eyes sparkled.
I smiled to myself.
‘That’s it. Slowly, little by little, we’ll get closer.’
Maybe someday, Olivia would stop hating me.
And maybe, I’d finally be safe in this world.
I held onto that small hope.
Meanwhile, in Litendra Cathedral in the capital—
Linus Kay Carmine sat across from Cardinal Cario, reading the letter the man had handed him.
The letter contained a full report of the chaos that had unfolded at Marchioness Lillian Matilda Windy’s party after Linus had left.
A cold smile spread across Linus’s lips as he spoke.
“Well, well. Something that should never have happened… has happened.”
“…I’m deeply sorry, Your Holiness,” said Cario.
“Not only did you fail to frame Evangeline, but even Count Ortel and Baron Mintle were captured by Duke Nigel Clyde Este. Because of this, not only have we failed to punish that heretic saintess, but we’ve also lost our main source of funds for the new cathedral.”
“…I have no excuse. But we never imagined the saintess would overhear their conversation…”
“So what you mean,” Linus said, his smile widening, “is that it was all just bad luck? That no one is actually at fault?”
His smile grew sharper—chilling.
Cario’s face turned pale. He knew that the angrier Linus became, the more he smiled.
Which meant—right now, he was furious.
Terrified, Cario bowed deeply.
“Your Holiness, I never meant it that way! I take full responsibility. If you command it, I will atone with my life right here and now.”
“God despises lies and excuses,” Linus said coldly. “As His first disciple, I despise them too. If you ever try to avoid blame again, I’ll cut out your tongue with the sacred sword.”
“…I—I understand completely, Your Holiness.”
Cario nodded rapidly, his face drained of color.
