# 58 - 58
Tears that had been pent up deep inside me began to pool in my eyes.
Since when did Lycian stop stuttering when saying my name?
"When I was little, it was like that. My mother's body... I saw it, I saw it."
“…”
“Covered in blood, blood... my mother’s hair that was like spring light...”
“…”
“Tangled in…blood-stained water, he was…”
“…”
“At that time...it seemed like spring had died.”
“…”
“From that day...forward...forever...”
“My mother too...”
Was it because my insides were turning painfully to the bone?
In my mind, I always called her the late Marquis's wife, the Marchioness Fraser, Tullia's mother... distant titles like that.
But what came out of my mouth was the word “Mom.”
“…My mother was like me too.”
“…”
“Was her hair pink?”
I've never seen him before in…
It wasn't in Tullia's memory either, and it was never mentioned – it's an unimportant place.
Lycian, who was looking at me calmly, nodded slowly.
"Yes."
It was like a stagnant winter wind dissipating.
I felt more pain and more sadness.
Lisian's hand that touched my cheek was ice cold, unlike usual.
With his extremely cold hands, Lisien covered his face as if to cover it.
"Yes…."
“…”
“Promise me you won't die, hero, promise me.”
“…”
“You, you won't leave us either...”
We were children who were equally abandoned by our father.
We also lost our mothers to death.
Likewise, he had no place to call home.
Children who have barely grown up since then.
“...I promise. Lycian.”
Lycian was still covering his face.
Between his strong fingers, the moisture slowly seeped down.
What a ridiculous thing.
Even at this moment, I had such thoughts.
In 1990, Lycian was like a towering spring tree.
The solidity that patiently withstands the passage of the four seasons.
Maybe this is why.
With his pure, sad silver hair that resembles snowflakes falling on the back of the hand.
His personality is always characterized by a kind and gentle smile for others.
Lysiane Fraser did not cry.
He didn't know how to cry.
Of all the countless illustrations of the game, there was only one that showed Liziane crying.
However…
Lycian's tears that fell on my hands were hot.
Very hot.
The feeling was like burning.
So I cried too.
I felt a sharp pain in my throat that I couldn't pinpoint or explain. My inner pain was so intense that my bones hurt too.
"I'm sorry…."
Words that came out of someone's mouth, an apology addressed to an unknown person.
The wounds that had been clustered together for so long began to spread drop by drop.
* * *
“Miss!”
They say life is all about timing, right?
"fair!"
Adel, who had been absent to carry out my mission, returned that evening.
Since I had not seen Adel for a long time, I felt happy first, but then seeing Adel herself.
"Oh my God, oh my God. These bandages...the wounds..."
Her face turned pale as she eagerly examined my injuries.
“I'm fine. My condition has improved a lot.”
“This is what you call much better?”
But there was something strange.
Upon Adel's response, the atmosphere in the bedroom froze strangely.
What about the personal doctor who has been by my side constantly, dedicated to treating me since my injury in the hunting competition?
“Extremely frightened expression?”
Why does he act like this?
For your information, there was another servant staying in my bedroom.
“Assistant butler.”
When I glanced at the assistant butler's face without thinking deeply, I tilted my head.
Because I was confused.
“Why does the butler’s assistant look secretly afraid as well?”
“Miss Tulia...”
There was a slight trace of dampness in Adel's voice.
“Don't you feel pain?”
“Yes, yes. I have improved a lot.”
"You had a cold just before I left, too. Instead of taking care of the delicate young lady's health as you should, my God, how did you let her get so hurt? How did you make her wear all these bandages? How could you get paid for doing this?"
The first part was directed at me.
But the last part was clear...
“I do my best to provide treatment.”
“I have no excuse.”
When justly angered, the two middle-aged men bowed their heads deeply, and even clasped their hands respectfully while remaining silent.
Yes.
When my grandfather returns this time, my staff structure will also change.
New maids and workers will be hired, as well as various other workers.
Even then, in this small bedroom run so informally with a small team so elite it's hard to believe it's the staff assigned to the daughter of an Imperial noble…
“Adel ranks first.”
An assistant butler who would challenge even the main butler of the castle to get me what I needed.
A talented personal doctor who allegedly graduated among the top three graduates from the medical academy.
Even these special people.
I didn't realize until today that they rank much lower than Adele.
Could this happen later...
I mean, Adel is Rock's invisible younger sister after all.
Later, after everything is resolved, definitely not.
“Definitely fair not fair.”
Isn't she also ignoring all of Rock's advisors?
impossible.
Whatever the case, they are the direct advisors to the Iron-Blooded Grand Duke, Grand Duke Fraser's assistant...
It won't come to that. correct.
* * *
Klang!
Klang!
Klang!
The sounds of coins being inserted are heard incessantly.
If I said her voice was as exciting as the orchestra's closing performance, I would be really mad for money.
But it's a very abundant sound.
Ah, I just want to stay here like this forever.
Adel was talkative.
The butler's assistant was even more silent.
The personal doctor was more lively than them.
A middle-aged biologist. If the comedy style is right, he has a lively presence.
What they had in common was that they were all “from my family,” so they were polite and kind.
They did their best to take care of me.
So I wanted to stay like this without moving a finger.
That's how I felt.
'But…'
I have to go see Lycian.
“An emergency council meeting has been called at the main castle. It will be held this evening.”
That's what the butler's assistant told me.
Well, they couldn't ignore the unfortunate incident that happened in the hunting competition.
Frankly, this is a world where social status is extremely important.
At the same time, it is also a world that regards noble dignity as paramount.
Even if this had happened to a young lord or lady from a humble baron family, it would have caused a huge uproar.
But the person who was hit by the arrows was none other than Leon Fraser, the young master of the Marquis House.
Although she is a scoundrel, it is Tulia Fraser who has been maintaining a close relationship with the Grand Duke recently.
“It's very painful, but anyway, seeing how things develop this way is not a bad thing.”
Lycian was the eldest among us and bore the seal of the Marquis' heir.
Therefore, it is natural that his role will be extremely important in the emergency council meeting that will be held this evening.
I went to look for Lycian, thinking that I would discuss various matters with him.
...or so I thought.
“Miss, Miss...”
“Hmm…?”
“We have arrived.”
“...Did I fall asleep in the meantime?”
“You said you wanted to recover quickly. I had no choice but to add several sleeping medicinal herbs. Miss.”
I nodded my head in agreement with the treating doctor's words.
But to fall asleep while moving from one end of the main castle to the other, which does not even take a 15-minute walk.
“Put me down.”
“Yes, Miss Tulia.”
The butler placed me very carefully as if I were a fragile piece of glass that he was afraid of breaking.
Of course, I was not oblivious to the fact that Adel's stern outlook was behind all this.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Ah. Miss Tulia?”
“Where is Lycian?”
“He's inside, but...”
“Can I come in?”
“Well, this is…”
The servant Lysian brought from the academy hesitated slightly.
I was confused.
Why? once again. What caused this response?
Usually, if the situation didn't let me in, he would say it wasn't a situation that let me in, or if Lycian was busy, he would say he was busy.
Or if he's doing something like taking a shower, he'll hint at it indirectly.
But this servant was only hesitant.
It was as if he wanted me to break in and meet Lycian alone.
But he didn't dare ask directly.
What could it be?
‘Hmm.’
To fulfill this unspoken server request, I'll have to compromise a bit.
A little touch of noble elegance.
'Right.'
That's why I had the cheap Tulia.
Etiquette?
Not mentioned.
Women's dignity?
It can even be ignored more than that.
She pushed the servant aside.
“Come on, move.”
"Yes…!"
The servant pretended to fall weakly on his side without stopping me.
“Ah, miss…!”
“…”
“If this is really Miss’s will…!”
“…What else is up with this guy?”
I had only tapped him gently on the shoulder, but he collapsed and looked at me as pitiful as a lonely white lily.
When I saw the tears shining in his brown eyes, I wondered if Lycian was raising an actor instead of a servant.
It was amazing in so many ways, but that's about it.
“Everyone wait here.”
I entered with confident steps.
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