Chapter 10

‘Who is it?’

Vanessa’s face was terrified. Her face turned blue with contemplation, and she trembled at the man. Yuri raised her head and looked towards the door. Soon the door opened and the man said his greetings politely.

“Long time no see. Mrs. Alford.”

He was an impressive man with golden hair and deep sea blue  eyes.

‘He looks like the Duke.’

He had a beautiful appearance that almost resembled Aslan. It was like looking at the young Aslan. The difference was that, if Aslan looked cold and strict, this man was a gorgeous man with an impressive smile.

‘Well, then this person is…’

“First young Master Herian.”

The protagonist of the rumor that the maids had been talking about for a few days. It was Herian Ethello Slevard, the heir of the duke family who was said to have a beautiful appearance and a brilliant brain.

“I was going to say hello because I heard Mrs. Alford is here.”

“Ah, Ah….”

Herian looked around the room. As soon as he saw Yuri, he looked at her with a cold face, and then immediately turned his head away. Yuri was pressed by his cold energy and had no choice but to lower her gaze.

“I think I came to the wrong place.”

He said so and laughed. Vanessa was perplexed, but soon covered her mouth with her fan and spoke.

“I was teaching her etiquette.”

“Is that so?”

“She can’t drink even a single cup of tea properly.”

“Hmm.”

“She talked back to her teacher……”

Vanessa’s thin shoulders began to shake. Are crocodile tears like that? If that was the noblewoman she had to learn from, Yuri did not want to become a noble. Yuri hated such a hypocritical face.

“This child must have been rude.”

“Yes. She’s really….

“

“I apologize.”

“No, how can the Young Master apologize?”

Herian’s gaze rested on Yuri for a moment. He soon turned to Vanessa and reached out to escort her.

“Mrs Alford, your hands are bleeding.”

“Uh, oh my…”

“It’s understandable. That child must have tormented your mind and body.”

It was a lie. Vanessa was bleeding because she squeezed her hands too hard when she couldn’t control her anger.

“I am afraid you’ll get scars on your fine hands. You’d better see the family doctor.”

Vanessa grabbed Herian’s outstretched hand. She didn’t forget to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief. Herian escorted Vanessa and went out. Before leaving the room, she looked at Yuri and shook her head a couple of times.

Fortunately, Vanessa seemed to feel much better. Yuri remained blankly on the spot, staring into the air.

‘Did he help me?’

Yuri couldn’t figure it out. It bothered her to think that a man with such a cold gaze had helped her. Just thinking about it again made her body tremble.

‘But, I have to say thank you…..’

She didn’t want to make a bad impression. Yuri immediately followed him and left the room.

Servants were standing in the hallway, but now it didn’t matter. She didn’t want to look like an ungrateful beast to Herian. Yuri headed towards the central staircase to go down the stairs as quickly as possible.

“What is this?”

A heavy voice, the voice of a man who has gone through puberty. A voice different from Herian’s voice was heard from the side.

At the voice, Yuri’s body began to tumble down the stairs before she could even notice.

“Ahhhh!”

Fortunately, it was a short staircase, so she wasn’t seriously injured, but her ankle didn’t move. Her back was hurting as if she had been hit with a club.

“It’s too bad that you didn’t die.”

After saying that, the man looked at Yuri coldly. Yuri hurriedly looked at the man. Although he had a slim body overall, a white, silver-haired man with muscles was standing on the stairs.

Thump, thump. The man soon started walking down the stairs one by one. Yuri could tell from numerous past experiences.

‘I have to run away.’

That man had malice against her and even had the power to harm her. And he was a person who didn’t hesitate to hurt Yuri.

‘Oh, I need to find someone to help.’

…..She thought someone would come to stop him. Holding on to her immovable ankles, Yuri looked at him with a devastated face.

No servants moved to help Yuri. The servants who did dare to move, and the man who acted indifferently. Yuri could guess his identity.

‘Adres Terp Slevard.’

He was the second son of the Duke. He went to the same academy with Herian. They must have come home together. Yuri tried to stand up, but with a hurt ankle, that couldn’t happen. The shadow of the second Young Master fell on Yuri. Yuri, terrified, had no choice but to look at the floor.

“Hey!”

A voice filled with anger called Yuri. Her body was trembling with unavoidable, instinctive fear. She couldn’t look straight at him.

“Yes Yes. Ah… !”

Adres grabbed Yuri’s chin as if crushing it. Yuri had no choice but to make eye contact with him. The blue light of the deep sea, similar to the first Young Master, was staring cruelly at Yuri.

“How dare you live?”

“I, I… .”

Yuri tried not to look into his blue eyes. Whether he knew it or not, he squatted down beside Yuri.

He squatted gracelessly in the same position as the roadside rookie, but no one stopped him.

“You’re alive and have been sleeping in that comfortable bed.”

“…”

“While my sister is lying on the cold dirt floor.”

He grabbed Yuri’s chin and looked at her face carefully, as if tearing it apart. His face was contorted with hate.

“Do you remember?”

“I, I….”

For a brief moment, he realized that Yuri didn’t even remember what had happened, so he let go of Yuri’s chin roughly.

“Do you know what I can’t forgive you for?”

“…”

“What are you doing here?”

He tapped Yuri’s forehead. For some reason, whenever he tapped it, he felt like his stomach was going to turn upside down.

“No, no, no… I can’t tell you this easily.”

“…”

“If you have a conscience, you will know the answer.”

“…”

“Answer.”

“I, I, I… ”

“You do not know?”

Adres sighed. His expression began to contort.

“That day, you easily forgot.”

“…”

“I can’t forgive that the most.”

Was it because of the impact she fell down the stairs earlier, or was it because she shook her head? Her nosebleed dripped belatedly.

‘What about the dress?‘

Ironically, in the meantime, Yuri was worried about the dress. It was the dress Aslan had bought for her.

‘Blood does not wash well.’ 

Yuri bit her lip.

“I still haven’t forgotten.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Are you going to come back here with ease and shamelessly?”

Yuri looked at Adres in front of her. Tears seemed to fall from his eyes.

It was  strange. It was Yuri who fell down the stairs, but he had a face like he was about to cry. Her heart sank to the bottom once more.

“Adres.”

A calm voice was heard. Yuri raised her head. It was Herian who went to see the doctor with Mrs. Vanessa. At that moment, Adres turned his head away from Yuri.

“Brother.”

“Stop it.”

Yuri was glad to hear Herian’s voice. However, Adres burst into laughter.

It was said that beasts ruled with fear, and in this case, it seemed that he was really no different from the beasts.

“Brother, this woman…… !”

“Go back to your room. I’ll take this kid.”

“…”

“Adres. There are many eyes.”

“Why does brother help this woman…… !”

“Adres.”

Adres immediately closed his mouth and headed towards his room. Seeing that, Herian reached out to Yuri.

“Yuri.”

“I, I…”

“I will support you. Let’s go back to your room first.”

The gloved hands immediately grabbed Yuri’s hand. Herian raised Yuri up, took Yuri, who was limping, to her room. He said after sitting Yuri on the sofa very affectionately.

“Don’t hate him too much. Adres loved my sister very dearly.”

“Oh, I don’t hate him… .”

“Adres really cared for you, too.”

Yuri didn’t know what that meant. She looked at Herian as if she didn’t know anything, and he sat down in front of Yuri affectionately at her eye level.

“So did I.”

“…”

“Yeah. You really don’t seem to remember anything.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry……”

He was smiling all the time. His smile was like a wax doll. It was as if he was forced to wear a mask.

“Are you seriously hurt?”

“Oh, I was just a little surprised.”

“Really? I’m glad.”

Herian’s gloved hand gently stroked Yuri’s cheek. As soon as his hand touched her cheek, she trembled in surprise, but Herian looked at her condition without hesitation.

“I’ll send a doctor just in case. You have to show it to the doctor. Your ankle is also a little swollen. Did you fall?”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’m glad you didn’t get seriously hurt.”

Heian took out a handkerchief from his pocket. Yuri took the handkerchief and stopped her nosebleed.

“……Ha, thank you…”

“Yuri.”

“I, I really don’t remember… But I want to say sorry.” (Yuri)

“….”

“That, so… I’m really sorry.” (Yuri)

“So……”

“So, I want to apologize.” (Yuri)

“Don’t hold me, I feel offended.” (Herian)

When Yuri hurriedly grabbed Herian’s sleeve as he was about to leave, he calmly slapped Yuri’s hand. Then he smiled brightly again.

“Do you understand right? Our position.”

“Yes, I understand………”

“Yes. Of course you should.”

Herian still smiled as he said that. Yuri has lived her life observing others’ expressions. She understood how they felt when she looked at their faces.

And Herian’s feelings were not mild hatred, but it was an indescribably deep hatred.

“I will go now. And…..”

“….”

“If possible, it would be better not to run into me. Okay?”

And the door slammed shut, as if it didn’t matter what happened to Yuri inside.

Suddenly, Yuri felt terrified. She wasn’t sure she could live with them.

It didn’t matter if they cursed or harassed her. She will get used to it someday.

But it was unlikely to get used to such hatred of an unknown depth, even if she died.