CH 64.1

64.1　Monologue of A Certain Marquis 6

I immediately headed out the moment I received a notice from Duke Lilac’s Mansion. When I arrived, the Duchess was there to welcome me. Her face, though, was obviously haggard with stress. However, I didn’t pay attention to the courtesy that much due to the urgent situation. Thus, just like that, I was guided toward where the children were.

The girls were placed in the rooms located beside the Duke’s daughter’s room. Meanwhile, considering they were still conscious, the boys had gathered in a room near the salon to rest. There, I saw His Highness Elliot and the other kids sitting on the sofa, all with exhausted looks on their faces. All the while, their attendants were doing their best to take care of them.

Yet, I couldn’t find Theodore’s figure among them.

“Over here.”

I passed by them without a word, following the Duchess toward one of the girl’s rooms. The one where an aura of death was drifting out from.

Entering that particular room, I finally found Theodore. He was sitting on the chair beside the bed, face as expressionless as a block of ice. And without even looking, I knew the girl who was sleeping on the bed. Muriel. He was guarding the girl.

“This is…”

“I’ve been waiting for you, Lord Goldberg. Please, you have to force Theodore to go home immediately.”

Bates-dono’s voice rang in my ear, startling me slightly.

“He’s been in that state for a long time. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he didn’t even try to open his mouth to speak back to me. At this rate, I’m afraid that Miss Muriel’s condition will affect Theodore’s state. Please, you’re the only one who can separate them temporarily. I tried, but it’s no use.”

“Well, that matter aside, what happened here? And what happened to Miss Muriel?”

Hearing that question, Bates-dono opened his mouth, an extremely sorrowful expression etched on his face.

“It’s my fault. This incident happened because of my inadequate crisis management. Even though that guy was right there when I taught the children about barrier magic… I’m not wise enough to consider why that guy appeared in that place and took it lightly.”

I had absolutely no idea of what he was talking about and the person he referred to as ‘That guy’, but it seemed Bates felt that this incident was his responsibility. Then, noticing my confusion, he explained what happened in detail.

After that, he also told me that no matter what method the doctors or healers used to improve Miss Muriel’s condition, they couldn’t see any improvement. Even with Bates’ knowledge of magic, they still couldn’t stop Miss Muriel’s condition from slowly debilitating.

“Are you telling me that Miss Muriel is…”

Bates-dono shut his eyes and shook his head.

“She’s still breathing for now. But… it is just a matter of time. Even as we spoke, her life force was still being continuously drained. Even though we have already removed the misanga… I- The doctors, healers, and I have tried all possible methods to prevent this, but we still can’t stop it. At this rate, Miss Muriel’s life force will be completely drained in a while. That’s why I think we should separate Theodore from Miss Muriel during that time. I mean, I’m afraid that Theodore will lose his desire to live if he sees Muriel’s death.”

“Is there… really no other way to save Miss Muriel?”

What would happen to Theodore’s heart if Miss Muriel died…

“We’re doing our best to find a way to save her. But… it’s better to be prepared.”

Bates-dono spoke, a grim expression on his face. Suddenly, I heard the sound of the door being opened up behind me. When I turned around, I saw the pale face of Viscountess Amber as she was supported by her husband, Viscount Amber.

“T-The story just now… Is that… true? Is there really no way to save Muriel?”

Viscountess Amber clung to Bates-dono as she asked that question, desperation emanating from her whole body. Bates-dono tried his best to calm her down, but unsurprisingly, he failed spectacularly.

“P-Please calm yourself, Madam.”

“How can I do that in this kind of situation?! Muriel will be safe, right?! Right?! Please tell me that she’ll be safe!!!”

“Madam.” Duchess Lilac softly said, coming to the Viscountess’ side and hugging her.

Somehow, the Duchess managed to calm the Viscountess down. Perhaps it was due to their relationship. After all, the Duchess had always gotten along well with the Viscountess when they were still students. And if I was not wrong, they even tried to get pregnant at the same time so that their daughters would be born in the same year. They were also even more delighted when they knew that Miss Katrina and Miss Muriel got along.

On the other hand, Viscount Amber was glaring at Theodore angrily, as if he was a plague god in his eyes. Still, his reaction was not unwarranted, so I simply said, “My apologies, Viscount Amber. I’ll force Theodore to leave his seat immediately.”

“My apologies for the trouble, Lord Goldberg. However, at the very least, I want her last moment to be with her family.”

“No problem.”

With that, I turned to persuade Theodore before finally managing to drag him back. However, it was clear to me that Theodore’s situation was abnormal. Because, even though his body was right there, he had this blank look in his eyes that said he was not there. It was as if he was simply an empty body whose heart was gone.

And it stayed like that even after we returned to the mansion.

He didn’t even react when Serena, Wendy, or Chester hugged him. However, there was nothing that I could do. I could only ask Martha to send Theodore to sleep as soon as possible.

“Richard, please stay by Theodore’s side for now. Kevin, I need to hear your report.”

After making sure that Richard understood my order, I left and headed toward my office accompanied by Kevin.

◇

As soon as we reached my office, I received Kevin’s oral report. Generally speaking, it was the same as the one I heard from Bates-dono.

Bates-dono saw a black cat and then taught the kids how to form a barrier. Then, because Miss Muriel’s magical power was lacking, Miss Sonia gave the magic tool she bought at the street vendor to her. Unfortunately for everyone – including Bates – there was a trick in the magic tool that escaped Bates’ examination. It was simply hidden too deeply and ingeniously to be noticed. Thus, the dangerous magic tool was worn and went out of control when the girls tried to form a barrier, sapping the girls’ life force.

“And the said black cat is….”

“Yes. It escaped with all the magic tools. Duke-sama’s soldiers have been trying to locate it in the entire mansion, but they failed to find the said cat.”

That cat might be a part of the demon race. If that was the case, then did that mean the kingdom’s barrier failed to function properly?

Moreover, a magic tool that sapped one’s lifeforce… Was this… the continuation of the magic tool research… the case that almost cost my dearest family seven years ago? From where in the world did they gain the fund to continue this kind of thing? We should have already kept a watch on all nobles who could possibly prepare a research facility. Besides, none of them had any reason to commit treason either.

But… let’s set that matter aside for now.

“―― How’s Theodore’s condition?”

“… Young Master is really sensitive when it comes to sad events. Yet, he seems to endure it, at least on the surface. Even though it should be normal for him to cry at this kind of event, he seems to forcefully kill his emotion.―― This is just my personal opinion, but I think this may be because he doesn’t want us to worry about him, or… it might be because of something else.”

“Something else?”

“Yes. It’s… it’s as if he had no idea how to express his sadness. I don’t know the correct words to use for his situation, but if I have to say it, it’s as if he doesn’t want to cry too loudly.”

Kevin tried to explain Theodore’s current condition as best as possible with his own interpretation.

“Since I’m married and have children on top of that, I can understand children’s emotions somewhat. As far as I know, children are a creature that moves with their emotion. They will change their faces frequently according to their mood. One time, you’ll find them in a good mood. At another, you’ll find them sulking or angry for no reason. Or so that’s what we thought. However, I have been by Young Master’s side since he was a toddler, and I realized something about him after having my own children. Compared to them, Young Master’s behavior is clearly abnormal. Whereas my own children require more care and attention, Young Master doesn’t need it that much. It is only from this that I truly understand what my wife meant when she said Young Master is special.”

Kevin got married two years ago to one of the maids in the mansion, and his wife was currently pregnant with their second child.

“Yeah. I’m really surprised when I find just how lively Chester was.”

“Master, Young Master Chester is, in fact, still a docile child compared to other children. And he only grows up like that thanks to Young Master’s care. In fact, both my wife and I even learn a rather strange way to handle children from watching him.”

Seriously?

“Although it’s a mystery from where he learned that, Young Master Theodore is clearly a special child. Truthfully, saying this only makes me realize again just how special Young Master Theodore is. He has grown up wise beyond his age, yet, he also seems to have trouble when it comes to expressing his sadness. It is as if―― his emotion is rather distorted in that particular area… My apologies, milord, it seems I ended up saying something rude about Young Master Theodore.”

“No. It’s okay. Rather than that, thank you for your honest opinion.”

But… distorted, huh? Sure, that child has never cried when he was sad… and it was only after I said it was okay for him to cry that he finally did so. Even then, it was such a subdued crying rather than a loud one…

When I tried to compare him to my childhood, I realized that indeed, Theodore was rather distorted in that particular area.

“I wonder what would happen to him if―― Miss Muriel is dead?”

“I hope it will not happen, but… if it does happen, it may just break his heart. And Young Master will definitely hate the culprit behind this incident.”

“Yeah. I really hope that Miss Muriel will survive this incident, but…”