Chapter 21

chapter 21

Raynald was strangled and breathed like a man who had been released and held close to Yurina’s side.

“How many people do not know Marquis in the capital?”

Yurina replied with the utmost effort, hoping that her voice would not tremble. Marquis of De Flon, who rubbed his chin with a puzzled look, gave a look to the guard behind Yurina.

Then he uttered a small exclamation as if he had noticed something.

“You’re from the Carthia family.”

Her head turned white when the family name came out of his mouth. She was more nervous and wanted to run away than when she met Prince Curtis before.

It was unclear whether it was because of her record of not being able to catch up with him for more than two decades, or because of her memory of the Marquis De Flon in the original novel, which was driving her directly to death.

Frowning in pain like the internal organs twisting, Yurina wrapped her arms around her stomach.

He lowered his head and roughly matched the eye level with Yurina.

“So this is the one that Marquis Carthia loved?”

He spoke as if he were brooding over his anger. It was only for a short time, but Yurina clearly saw his eyes twisting and shaking.

‘Why?’

It was too much to say that it was simply an attitude toward a politically confrontational family due to different interests. Aristocrats learn to manage facial expressions without revealing their feelings as a child.

Now, that Yurina who is only ten years old, and Raynald who is only a commoner sponsored by the nobles, should always show a smile without expressing their feelings for others other than his family.

She can’t believe Marquis De Flon, who spent decades in the political arena and had a hard time dealing with people, has vented his feelings like this.

“I hope my daughter will get along with you at a similar age, young lady.”

The look he just saw, with his face grinding so fast that it felt like a hallucination, gave him a look at the carriage behind him. A platinum-haired girl poking her head out of the window of a luxurious carriage carved with a pattern presumed to belong to De Flon.

She shook her head as the maid on the opposite side reached out to dry, and kept her eye on Yurina and Raynald.

‘Lydia De Flon.’

The heroine of the original novel, in which ‘Charion’ fell in love. I suddenly came to my senses.

‘What if Raynald falls in love with Lydia at a glance?’

Yurina knew that this was an unprovoked anxiety. In the original novel, ‘Charion’ came to love Lydia when she took care of him with her utmost sincerity.

But hasn’t the original been changed already? If Raynald falls in love like the original, it was theoretically right that the opponent was Yurina.

Nevertheless, the “if” assumption shook Yurina’s heart.

What if ‘Charion’ fell in love with ‘Lydia’ purely because she was the official hostess of the novel? What if he was set up to love her unconditionally from the beginning?

Raynald may fall in love with Lydia for no particular reason the moment he sees her.

What if Marquis De Flon, with lingering feelings, takes Raynald by any means and introduces Lydia?

So what if Rainard fell in love with her at first sight?

Just the thought of it was terrible. Yurina moved her shaky legs to block the front of Raynald. There was a greater sense of desperation that Raynald could be taken away than the fear directed at Marquis De Flon.

“This is a child sponsored by the Carthia family.”

Though it was out of the blue, but Marquis of De Flon frowned upon the meaning of the remark. Yurina reached out to her back and hugged him as if she was going to protect Raynald, saying again clearly.

“He’s sponsored by the Carthia family.”

“Is that so?”

His gaze shifted to Raynald at the back of Yurina.

“Carthia has been holding swords for generations, but De Flon has been on the magic path for a long time. I also inherited my ancestors’s honor. Your talent is not unusual. I’m sure Cartiavo Dan De Flon would be better off if you wanted to develop your talents properly.”

“Marquis!”

Yurina shouted urgently out of anxiety, but Marquis De Flon didn’t even blink. Taking someone who is already receiving support from another family has been criticized among the nobles.

The fact that the Marquis, who knew it better than anyone else, tried to take Raynald at the risk of all this stigma meant that he had an eye on him that much.

“What do you think?”

Unlike Yurina, Raynald, who had been silently receiving his gaze, walked out in front of Yurina. He bowed down to the Marquis with the courtesy of a nobleman.

“Forgive me for the late greeting because I didn’t know about you, Marquis. As you have already heard, I am Raynald, who is favored by the Carthia family. I appreciate your appreciation for my ability, but I am fully satisfied with my situation.”

Contrary to Yurina’s concerns, he quietly rejected Marquis’s offer with a very straight expression and tone. Raised one eyebrow as if the Marquis of De Flon had heard something he could not hear.

“Raynald?”

“That’s right.”

“Raynald. Yes, Raynald….”

The Marquis gently rubbed his chin with his eyes fixed on Raynald. The Marquis’s gaze on Raynald was all very explicit, but Raynald silently received his gaze without any sign of displeasure.

“What an interesting name. It’s an ancient name that means ‘Hope’. Did you know?”

“I didn’t know it was such an undeserved name.”

“Did your parents not even teach you the meaning of your name? I guess you would have been a wizard if your parents had named you in ancient languages.”

“My parents were not wizards. My name wasn’t given by them either.”

“Then who gave you the name?”

Raynald looked at Yurina instead of answering. The sharp gaze of the Marquis De Flon also turned to her. Yurina clenched Raynald’s arm unknowingly.

‘It’s unpleasant.’

No matter how many times she faced it, Marquis of De Flon had a creepy corner like a bug crawling on his arm. I feel like I’m naked.

“Did young lady learn the ancient language? I haven’t heard of rumors that you’re talented at magic.”

“I just learned a few words for fun.”

“Is that so?”

His eyes were on Raynald again. The Marquis looked up at Raynald’s red eyes and raised one corner of his mouth.

“Young lady has got a really nice gem. It’s been really fun. I don’t know what kind of talent you have.”

Contrary to the expectation that he would try to persuade Raynald more, he turned away without hesitation.

“Maybe it’s a lot of luck.”

Finally his murmur sounded very small in the wind. It was so small that she couldn’t tell whether he really spoke or whether Yurina heard the hallucinations.

Yurina clenched her fists and stared at the back of the Marquis.

The Marquis of De Flon and Lydia left, but for some reason the shadow of death still seemed to hold her ankle.

*****

Yurina, who was shaking her lips until the Marquis De Flon left, ran to the corner and throw up what was inside her as soon as he disappeared. Even though she didn’t usually have a lot of food and she didn’t have anything to throw up because it was before dinner, she grabbed the wall and continued to feel nauseous.

Betsy ran hurriedly, but Yurina managed to gasp out her words before she could even reach her.

“Don’t come.”

It was a nervous, sharp voice. Raynald has never seen Yurina so nervous in her life with him in the last three months.

Two years younger than him, she always acted like an adult.

Despite the similar level of eyes, she always felt like looking down at him from above, and said quietly, even if she was angry, she didn’t lose her composure. She never raised her voice when she warned her employees.

So Raynald would often forget that she was younger than himself.

But what broke down her reason?

“Don’t follow me.”

Yurina stumbled a little further into the alley. The conflict between the command obedience and the protection of personal security prevented the maids and guards from immediately following her.

‘What a pity.’

Raynald glanced at them for a moment and ran in the direction of Yurina.

Yurina speeded up as if she heard the footsteps following her. Looking at a precarious step, Raynald was forced to stop at the spot.

“I’m not coming anymore. So you should stop too. What are you going to do if you fall down?”

Only then did Yurina stop walking. She sat down, leaning back against a stone wall, unlike the nobleman’s favor.

Raynald slowly aproached her and sat down while he was looking at her head resting in his lap. Even though he must have noticed, Yurina didn’t say anything or running away.

‘I was like this too.’

Raynald found himself in her defensive form. He was wary of everyone when he first came to Carthia’s mansion. At that time, Yurina was the only one who came close to him, despite his difficult appearance.

So this time it’s his turn to approach her.

He hesitated and put out a handkerchief stuck in the left chest of his outer garment to her.

‘I didn’t know why nobles would wear these as decorations.’

He seemed to know a little bit why.

“Yurina.”

She didn’t budge at the urging. Raynald forced a handkerchief into her trembling hand. The hand that touched was cold.

He wanted to blow his breath on her hand, but before he took action, Yurina lightly shook her hand. Raynald moistened his lips for a moment, looking at her still holding a handkerchief.

‘What should I say?’

He thought he should say something. Yurina looked so precarious that he wanted to joke or comfort her. But he couldn’t think of any words.

He has never soothed anyone before.

He carefully laid his shoulder on her shoulder. A small tremor passed from shoulder to shoulder. He waited in the same posture for Yurina to find stability.

Yurina, who was still crouching, wiped her face with a handkerchief and clenched her fist. The blue handkerchief resembling her eyes was crumpled in the white hand.

“It’s unfair.”

After a long wait, Yurina muttered something she didn’t know if she was talking to herself or him.

He wanted to ask again what was so unfair, but Raynald kept his mouth shut and waited for her words. For some reason, he seemed to have to wait for her calmly now.

“I’ve only been nice so far. It’s you. I don’t think my personality is that good either. I was the most precious to me than anyone else, so I used to act selfishly. But that’s what it’s all about, right? How many people would live in altruism?” (Yurina)

That’s true. You’re right. There are many people in the world who only know themselves. But Yurina, you’re nice. I’m the proof next to you.

He retorted inwardly, hoping that she would understand his thoughts.

“But I didn’t do anything harmful to anyone. I just lived a normal life like everyone else. If you look at it, there are more vicious people here and there than me. But why me? Why should I be the only one who should be in this position? What did I do so wrong?”

The trembling voice made her cry. Raynald wondered why she was so anxious.

Why on earth is Yurina suddenly like this? What did the man do to her earlier?