The path was terribly dark and desolate, and no one set foot here.
The Duke had abandoned me in this place.
'It would be best not to do something like this again. Unless you want to go back to where you originally lived.'
Rigrin coldly said, leaving me in the room, but I didn't hear a word of what he said.
I was just trying my best to understand this situation.
'……Tsk.'
Bang.
Rigrin, displeased with me in this state, clicked his tongue and left.
I stared out the window at Rigrin's back as he disappeared along the path.
And beyond that, I looked at the place where beautiful lights leaked out, and then I curled up.
'It can't be. It's because that child might be surprised, that's why…….'
I desperately denied the reality I was experiencing and muttered all night.
But even after that day, the Duke still didn't look for me.
All that came was bread delivered once a day.
Only then did I realize.
I really was abandoned. Abandoned even here.
'Is it because I'm not lovable?'
I wondered, clutching my stomach, which ached as if it would tear all night, wondering if there was something wrong with the bread that had been delivered.
'It's because I'm not cute, not lovable, not shining like that child.'
That's why everyone doesn't love me, right?
If I had a chance…… I would do my best to become as lovable as that child.
Then someday…… maybe someone would love me.
'Ugh…….'
That day, I hovered between life and death once again.
The servant who brought the bread found me dying, and he immediately informed the Duke of this fact.
Perhaps thanks to that. The Duke, who thought I might die at any moment, brought me into the main house and gave me a spare room.
However, due to Banshees and Estio learning of my existence at that time, I was chased out to the attic, and I tried to be loved by him, just like my last resolution.
No…… I imitated Miracle.
'I thought if I acted like Miracle, I could be loved too.'
Calling him Father every day, waiting in front of his room.
'Without even knowing it was useless.'
It was a memory I had been trying to forget, but getting on the carriage naturally brought back that memory.
"Wow, Miss. I can see the building over there!"
At Marin's shout, I also looked out the window.
A snow-white building with a dome-shaped roof stood tall.
It looked very large at a glance.
'This is really starting now.'
Seeing the building of the testing grounds, it finally began to feel real.
Clunk-
"We have arrived."
The carriage stopped, and Marin and I got out of the carriage.
Then, a servant who had been waiting in front of the door bowed to me and said.
"Greetings, Miss Lucia Rodbel. I will guide you to the room where you will wait while the test begins."
"Please."
"Yes, please follow me."
I moved to the room with Marin, following the servant.
I looked around the inside as we went.
'So this is what a place like this looks like.'
If Rodbel's main house emphasized harmony, not too flashy and not too plain, this place seemed to be flamboyance itself.
Gold patterns were engraved on the pure white marble that looked like it was covered with snow.
Huge pillars with elaborate patterns in relief stood at regular intervals, and luxurious and beautiful works of art filled the spaces between them.
The ceiling was also filled with paintings meticulously drawn by the best painters of the time.
It was so extravagant that it was dizzying.
"Miss…… this is really amazing here. Right?"
As expected. Marin whispered in a subdued voice.
I nodded.
Well…….
'It would be a problem if she weren't intimidated.'
Because the purpose of this building itself was to intimidate visitors, something Rodbel had deliberately created.
In a word, it was a building for show, to boast Rodbel's power.
'The intention is obvious, but.'
It's even more impressive because the intention is visible.
Even if you have such an intention, if you lack the ability, it becomes neither one thing nor the other.
'In that case, you only invite ridicule.'
That's why ostentatious buildings are not even attempted unless you have considerable wealth and power.
Mostly, they only focus on decorating the reception room.
'Rodbel can do it, is that it.'
The wealth and power to use an entire building for show. That's what Rodbel is.
"You can wait in this room. I'll come to get you later."
"Okay."
"Then."
The servant left, and I looked around the room.
The room was also very splendid.
"The main house is really amazing too, but this is on a different level. If you lived in a place like this, every day would feel new."
Marin muttered with a dreamy face as she looked around the room.
'I don't know.'
I didn't want to break her dream, so I just left it at that.
'If she knew what was in the basement here, she wouldn't think that.'
Because in the basement of this building, there is a huge underground prison and torture chamber.
'It's not used much now, though.'
It had been abandoned for a long time because it was far from the main house and too large in scale, making it inefficient.
A somberness hidden beneath splendor and beauty.
'It suits it well.'
It's Rodbel itself.
Anyway, it's hard not to feel uneasy when you think that something like that is beneath my feet.
Well, Marin doesn't know that fact, so she can purely admire it.
It was then.
-Knock knock.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Huh? Who is it?"
Marin approached the door.
I also craned my neck from behind.
'Who is it?'
It wouldn't be Aen or Rigrin. They already came.
Except for those two, there wasn't really anyone who would come, so I was wondering…….
"Ah……."
The moment I saw the face of the person standing beyond the door, my expression hardened.
That's because.
"E, Estio Rodbel-nim……?"
The sudden uninvited guest was none other than Estio Rodbel.
'Why did that human come to find me?'
He must know that this room is my room.
Moreover, seeing that he's staying still even though he's made eye contact with me, it's definitely not because he mistook it for Banshees' or Miracle's room.
"D, Do-ryeon-nim, what brings you here…… This is Lucia Agassi's room."
Marin said, trembling, as if convinced that Estio had come to the wrong room.
But…….
'Why is she shaking like that?'
In the moment of wondering, Estio met my eyes.
Then, he gave me a gentle smile.
Shivers- I got goosebumps all over my body.
Steadily, Estio, who had intruded into the room without permission, approached.
"It seems you've prepared well, Lucia."
"……What's going on?"
I don't think we're close enough to ask about each other's well-being?
I asked, putting that meaning into my words.
Then Estio smiled again.
No, did this guy eat something wrong?
'If you ate something wrong, go see a doctor.'
Don't come to my room and make people angry.
"Does there have to be a reason? But if you insist on a reason, well……."
Estio, who trailed off meaningfully, bent down and hugged me just like that.
"……?!!"
While hugging me, who had frozen at the sudden event, he whispered in my ear.
"I came to comfort my foolish sister who didn't listen to my advice to know her place."
"……."
"Because it's going to be very hard from now on."
It was like pouring in a curse rather than comfort.
'Well, I expected this.'
There's no way this guy would come to find me for something good.
That being said, does it have to be like this?
I could listen to curses a million times, but I can't stand this posture for even a second.
But I didn't openly show my displeasure.
Because the more uncomfortable I am, the more Estio will enjoy it.
There's no way I can do that.
So I-
"Thank you."
I decided to ruin his mood in the same way.
And the most effective way to ruin his mood is…….
Comments
Post a Comment