Chapter 96

Chapter 96

When Luka knocked on the deep-cherry-colored door, a young voice from inside bade him enter. He stepped into the room and saw a man slowly propping himself up on the bed. Beside him, a woman still tangled in sleep was bundled in the blankets.

“I heard you called for me.”

Luka bowed his head toward the man and spoke.

“So it was you. I saw your face around the manor often enough—I just took you for a manservant the Lady had brought along.”

Then a man’s voice drew close. Luka lifted his head slowly, and saw the man standing before him at a slant, wearing not a single thread.

No—

I jolted, screaming inside my own skull.

“This brat Luka! Close your eyes!”

But against my own wishes, Luka didn’t shut them. He just stood there, rigid with deference before the half-naked man in front of him.

“So this is what our lady’s taste looks like?”

The man grabbed Luka’s chin this time, tilting his face up to look down at him. The words dripped with mockery, yet his voice carried a calmness more hollow than anyone else’s.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Luka dropped his gaze and answered without meeting the man’s eyes.

“I called you in because I need to remember your face. That way, if the lady bears a child, I can check whether it’s mine or yours.”

“What…”

“But if the child takes after the lady alone, it’ll be hard to tell. Well, guess it doesn’t matter.”

“…You’re mistaken. I am merely the madam’s attendant. I don’t suit her, and of course, such a thing is unthinkable.”

“Ha. Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to blame or punish you. I’m just as well…”

The man jerked his chin toward the space behind him. On the bed, a woman was stirring awake, her hair tousled from sleep. She spotted Luka watching her and quickly dragged the blanket up to cover herself.

“……I figure your lady could do the same.”

The man kept talking. Luka turned his gaze back to him. A twisted smile hung on the man’s face, catching in Luka’s sight.

“Ah. No. Madam is… not like that. I’ve served her since she was very young. I know her well.”

“That doesn’t matter. What I’m saying is, make sure your seed doesn’t take. It’d get complicated in all sorts of ways. Understood? Then get going.”

“……Yes, Your Excellency.”

Luka bowed his head to him, then slipped out of the room at once. His chest felt clamped tight, like something was pressing down on his heart. I couldn’t tell if it was simple pity or discomfort at having his sanctuary trespassed.

He stood before the door for a moment, staring at its cherry-red surface. Then slowly, he turned on his heel and began to walk down the corridor.

“Luka!”

He was halfway along the long hallway when a thin voice rang out from behind him. Turning his head, he spotted a maid hopping toward him in little bounds.

“Hey, Luka! Perfect timing. Do you know what color Madam likes? Is she into ribbon decorations and such?”

She sidled up close, elbowing him lightly as she spoke.

“Madam’s favorite color?”

“Yeah. She’s seemed a bit down lately. Thought I might make her a hair ornament in her favorite color. But Madam just says to handle it myself—she never tells me anything.”

“……She’s upset?”

“Mm. Seems that way. Honestly, our master is way too indifferent. Why does he keep bringing in courtesans when he’s already married?”

“Is that so? That’s troubling……”

Luka stroked his chin, as if deep in thought.

And I thought back to the man I’d glimpsed in Luka’s memory just moments ago. From the look of it, he was the head of House Bandark—the lady’s husband. And from what I could tell, he wasn’t much of a decent person, either.

“Troubling?”

The maid glanced up at Luka and asked.

“Yeah. When Madam’s melancholic, it always shows on her face. It dims her beauty.”

Luka looked down at the shorter maid as he answered. She looked back at him with her freckled, pretty face, her expression brimming with puzzlement. She seemed to sense there was something off about his words.

“Ah……. Is that so? Luka, you really seem to adore Madam……”

“Of course. She’s an incredibly beautiful woman. Besides, when I was a child starving to death on the streets, Madam saved me. I knew it from that moment—she’s my everything.”

“…….”

The maid’s face stiffened subtly. But Luka showed no sign of concern. He simply turned back to her and spoke again.

“Oh, right—you asked what color Madam likes. She favors deep red. But pale blue suits her better, so a pale-blue hair ornament would be best. She’s more beautiful than anyone else, but the master doesn’t seem to see it……”

And those were his last words. The next moment, the world around me began to blur slowly, like black mist seeping in. As darkness filled my sight, a sudden thought struck me.

‘What the hell is that bastard’s deal?’

No matter how much I tried to understand, it just made no sense. I had to wonder if I should try harder to empathize with him. Maybe then I could grasp him at least a little…

*Blink.*

In that instant, the scene shifted, brightness flooding back. This time, Luka was perched on the edge of a bed, running a hand through his hair. The room was cramped, smelling of old wood. The furniture was simple—just a bed, a wardrobe, and a small shelf. This had to be a servant’s quarters, I guessed.

“What? Worried about the madam again?”

The woman who had risen from her bed wrapped her arms around his shoulders and asked. As Luka turned his head, her freckled face came into view.

“It’s just… she keeps sinking deeper into melancholy…”

“I know. Lately she won’t even step out of her room. She just sits on the terrace, passing the time. Come to think of it, that friend who used to visit often hasn’t come around anymore… Wasn’t her son sick or something…?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. She should be eating well and sleeping properly… At this rate, it won’t be long until…”

Luka drew his words out slowly.

“…Until I can’t bear to watch her anymore.”

Then he murmured it as if to himself, a voice so small only he could hear.

“Huh? What did you say?”

The maid met his eyes and asked. But Luka didn’t answer right away. He just paused, as if mulling something over, before abruptly turning and gripping both her shoulders.

“You said your parents’ home works a farm, didn’t you?”

“Mm-hmm. That’s right. Why, though?”

“How about we get married?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s leave this mansion together. We can go to your parents’ place first……”

“Wha—all of a sudden?”

She stumbled over her words, flustered. It looked like she was pulling back, but her face was already flushed red. At least she didn’t seem to dislike it.

“Just… I don’t see any reason to stay here anymore.”

“Why? ……Weren’t you in love with the madam? If you stay here, you could keep seeing her……?”

“That’s exactly it. Staying here, I feel like I’d only watch the person who was my sanctuary crumble. I don’t want that.”

* * *

Flash. Her eyes opened. The corridor of Cuvershaiden was dark and cold. The abstract painting on the wall was still hanging crooked. At last, she was back in her reality.

She shot up from her seat in one quick motion.

‘Why the hell did Lady Vandark love that guy?!’

Luka was a complete mess of a man. It was baffling what the lady could have seen in him.

‘I need to tell her he wasn’t worth loving. Tell her to just ascend and find happiness in her next life…’

I quickened my steps toward the room with the pond. Then, steeling myself, I threw the door open wide. It slammed against the wall with a sharp crack from the force of my push.

“Hello, Laura. You seem full of energy today.”

The lady rose from the pond and turned to look at me. I strode over to her.

“Hello!”

“Mm. What brings you here today?”

“…….”

“……?”

“…….”

But despite my resolve, the words about Luka wouldn’t easily leave my mouth.

“How is it? Did you find out anything about Luka?”

As I just stood there opening and closing my mouth, the lady swam over to the edge of the pond and spoke. I took a deep breath, preparing to tell her something momentous. Something that might even cause her pain.

“……If you couldn’t find anything, do you want to look through my memories instead?”

But before I could get a word out, she asked me abruptly.

“Huh? Yes? Y-yes……!”

Before I knew it, I was nodding my head in answer. Then she leaned her face toward mine and pressed her forehead against it.

“Look carefully and find me news of Luka. I hope you can find traces of him in my memories.”

Soon, my vision began to fill with black. When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at a rectangular artificial pond. But it wasn’t the pond at Cuvershaiden. This one was more ornate, larger too. And around its edge, there was a gilded frame like an elaborate picture frame.

“Madam.”

Turning at the familiar voice, I saw Luka approaching me.

“You’re here again.”

“Mm. I think this is my favorite spot in the whole mansion. How is it, Luka? Take a good look. I think it was a great idea to build a pond by the terrace. Isn’t it beautiful?! I’m thinking of raising some fish in it later.”

The madam of House Bandark laughed, her voice full of joy. A small smile bloomed on Luka’s face in response.

“Yes. It’s lovely. Very much so. But still, please don’t stay here too long. I worry about your health, Madam.”

“……Is that so…? Hmm… Yes. I see. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Umm… Madam. Everything is ready now. I plan to leave at sunrise tomorrow. Actually, I came to see you to tell you this.”

In an instant, the joy I felt from talking with Luka plummeted, as if I’d slipped off the edge of a cliff.