Chapter 48
“There’s no need for you to accept their apology. I did it for my own peace of mind.”
It was as though the lady had read the discomfort in my heart and added that line.
She gestured for her aide and coachman to step aside, leaving just the two of us alone.
As the air grew awkward, I hesitated, unsure what to say — but she spoke first.
“I’m also partly responsible for those boys’ rudeness. I sincerely apologize.”
“Oh, no, please don’t! It’s not your fault, ma’am.”
“They acted that way because they lost someone precious to the demons.”
When she mentioned someone precious, a fleeting trace of longing passed through her eyes — but before I could read it fully, she quickly composed herself and continued.
“Of course, I’m not trying to excuse their behavior. It’s just… you seem new to the capital.”
“Gasp—how did you know?”
She didn’t answer that, simply continuing instead.
“So I wanted to tell you that not everyone in the capital will fear or hate you for that reason alone.”
Her tone was calm, as if she were stating a fact — yet somehow, those words sounded genuinely kind.
“I didn’t realize even those boys would react so harshly to a dark spirit summoner. As you know, dark spiritists are rare enough as it is.”
“……”
“I’ll take responsibility as their superior and make sure such behavior never happens again. Please don’t take their rudeness to heart.”
“I’m fine, really. There were a few people in my hometown who reacted the same way.”
Having faced those reactions all my life, it didn’t particularly surprise or hurt me anymore.
“Maybe what happened today will even give them a chance to change their perception about dark spiritists.”
“……”
“The people in my hometown who used to be afraid of me — they all like me now.”
That was how I’d always dealt with people’s prejudice:
When they feared me, I responded with kindness, so that fear would turn into understanding.
…Well, and if anyone approached me with actual malice, I just crushed them with strength.
At my casual tone, brushing the story off as nothing serious, the lady suddenly laughed.
“I worried for nothing.”
At that moment, her bright smile overlapped with a face I knew all too well.
…Dad?
But I quickly shook my head.
No way. That’s ridiculous.
Sure, her shining silver hair looked like his, and she was every bit as stunningly beautiful as him —
But unlike someone who left his worried daughter behind and ran off, she was responsible and dignified!
Comparing her to my father was practically an insult.
“Anyway, thank you. I had an urgent matter to attend to, and thanks to you, I was spared some trouble. I’d like to repay you somehow.”
Because I’d been momentarily distracted by her face — so strangely similar to my father’s — I realized a second too late that she had extended her hand to me.
Flustered, I hurriedly grabbed it.
“Ah, well, I do love being rewarded, but… if you’re in a hurry, shouldn’t you go right away?”
“That’s why, for now, I’ll just ask your name and where you’re staying.”
“I’m Vivian Hessen. And as for my lodging… I haven’t decided yet, haha.”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “I’m not really the planning type…”
The lady studied me for a moment, then said,
“Egrane Rowswith.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s my name. When you’ve settled down, come visit the House of Rowswith.”
Rowswith.
My eyes widened.
Of course, part of my surprise came from realizing she was of higher rank than I thought —
but more than that…
That means she’s the sister of Dane Rowswith, the one from the history books!
So she treated me kindly and without prejudice even though she knew I was half demon — the same race that had killed her younger brother.
Yes, prejudice is wrong, and people shouldn’t hate others for such reasons…
But still — when it’s something tied to your own family, it’s hard to stay perfectly rational.
While I blinked in shock, she smiled and said,
“Then, until next time.”
The Marchioness gave me a gentle nod and turned to head back to her carriage.
“…Well, I probably won’t get to see her again, huh?”
She’d told me to visit the Rowswith estate once I had a place to stay, but it felt awkward to go running there just to offer thanks for such a small matter.
Still…
I had a good feeling — that I would meet many kind people in the capital, people like her.
So I wanted to tell you that not everyone in the capital will fear or hate you for that reason alone.
Those words — soft and warm, shielding me from prejudice — lingered in my heart.
A little while later, I arrived in the capital.
“Wow…”
True to its reputation as the largest city in the empire, it was full of towering buildings and bustling crowds.
I stared blankly for a moment at the scene before snapping out of it.
Let’s not act too country-bumpkin-ish. Look too naive and you’ll just attract pickpockets!
The coachman, hearing that I hadn’t yet chosen a place to stay, dropped me off at an inn.
“This one’s among the safer ones in the capital. It’s near the city center too. For a lady traveling alone, safety’s what matters most.”
“Thanks to you, I got here comfortably and even found a place to stay. Thank you for everything.”
“Hope you find your family soon, miss.”
Wishing me luck, the coachman drove off.
I paid the innkeeper and went up to my room.
Being in the city center, the inn was noisy even in broad daylight, but as the coachman had said, the crowd made it feel safer.
And if anything happens, I’ve got Kkamang anyway.
I patted Kkamang’s head — he had helped me carry my bags — and then collapsed onto the bed.
Even though today’s travel hadn’t been that long, the accumulated fatigue hit me all at once.
As I stared at the old ceiling, I began organizing my thoughts.
Should I check out that guild the coachman recommended? Or…
Suddenly, I remembered the Duke’s words — “If you ever come to the capital, don’t hesitate to visit.”
Since Rahel left our village, the Duke and I had exchanged letters about once every six months.
At first, I didn’t intend to contact him, thinking he’d soon forget a little country girl like me.
But then a letter came first — from him.
What kind of friend goes half a year without a single letter? You naughty thing.
My father hadn’t liked me getting close to the Duke, of course.
But once Rahel was officially declared dead and the Emperor’s attention moved elsewhere, he reluctantly gave his permission.
So yes, I’d kept in touch with the Duke for years now, but…
I can’t just impose on him.
When I was a child, it was fine — he probably found me cute.
But now that I was grown, showing up out of nowhere would just seem rude.
Still… I came all this way. I should at least go and greet him.
At that thought, the image of both the Duke and Rahel came to mind —
My dearest friend, whom I hadn’t seen in ten long years.
Rahel’s still in the Kingdom of Erwan, so I probably won’t get to see her this time either…
I sighed deeply at the thought, when suddenly — I remembered something I’d completely forgotten.
Right! My diary!
I jumped up from the bed and rummaged under my bag until I found the diary.
After telling Rahel I’d be coming to the capital, I had shoved it at the bottom of my luggage and hadn’t taken it out since.
Now, the magic stone attached to its cover was flashing urgently.
I hurriedly opened the diary.
A short while later—
I was standing in front of the Edelvine Duke’s mansion.
Because inside that diary, just moments ago, I had found this message:
Vivian, when you reach the capital, go to the Duke’s estate.
That was all it said.
Since I’d already been planning to visit him eventually, I decided to just follow through.
But… is it really okay to show up so suddenly? What if he’s busy…?
Still, if Rahel had written that, she must’ve told him in advance.
It’s been almost ten years, though… it’s kind of awkward.
My worries tangled one after another.
Finally, I shook my head and marched up to the gate.
If I wasn’t going to turn back, then I had to face him properly.
“Hello. I’m here to see the Duke.”
I was about to give my name when the gatekeeper, after glancing over me, suddenly flinched and said,
“I’ll escort you inside immediately, miss.”
Huh?
I hadn’t even told him who I was yet.
