CH 136

“Ah!”

“…Linsy?”

Arsene narrowed his eyes and looked down at me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to pick you up because you didn’t come.”

“I’ll be there soon, what. Didn’t you just come out because you didn’t like sleep by yourself?” 

“Do you think I’m still a seven-year-old child?”

When I glared at Arsene, Arsene naturally grabbed my hand.

“You have to get up early tomorrow morning. Did you hear?”

“Of course I heard. Do you think I am you?”

I quarreled with Arsene and climbed the spiral staircase back to my room.

Betty wasn’t in the room, as if she had already made the bed and left.

Arsene slumps down on the bed, shaking his hand a few times. 

Then,

Paat—! 

At Arsene’s fingertips, black shadows slowly clumped together, and a huge shadow wolf popped up.

“Ack!” 

I glanced in surprise at the sudden use of powers.

“….” 

The Shadow Wolf seemed to be flustered and didn’t know what to do.

Pong—! 

It changed into a much smaller form and lay down in front of me, wagging its tail.

“Why did you suddenly bring him out?”

I squatted down and scratched the shadow wolf’s belly and said.

Arsene said, pointing to the shadow wolf.

“He will be with you throughout the festival.”

“Eung?” 

“I’ll put it on you during the festival.”

Arsene pointed at the shadow wolf.

Then the Shadow Wolf jumped up from his seat, 

Whoosh—.

It naturally blended into my shadow. 

“H, huh?” 

The shadow grew slightly and wriggled. When I stomped my feet in embarrassment, the shadow wolf changed the shape of the shadow as if playing a trick. 

“You put it on me? Then what about you?” 

“It’s okay because I can call right away when I need it.”

Arsene said it didn’t matter.

Apparently, the participation of the bird clan in the festival seemed to be bothering her. 

“If the bird clan talks to you, don’t even respond. Okay? No, just don’t get off my side. Linsy.” 

“Eung, I got it. Are you worried?”

“Why do you ask such a question? …Of course.” 

Arsene looked at me as if it were absurd, then nodded.

“You are my wife.”

“Huh? Eung. it is.” 

“That’s why there might be someone else besides the bird clan. You have to be extra careful. Although father said, he would keep the Shadow Knights attached to you….” 

“Eung.” 

“Still, just in case you don’t know. My ability is stronger than the Shadow Knights.”

Arsene pointed at the shadow wolf.

The wolf, hiding in my shadow, swayed and then slipped out of the shadow.

And as if agreeing with Arsene, it waggled its tail. 

“Honestly, I didn’t want to go, but I can’t help it.”

“That’s right. You’re the heir… I am the wife of the heir.”

“So I’m going to be as careful as I can. Of course, I rarely get separate from you, but even if I we get separate, he will protect you.”

Arsene said and scratched the nape of his neck with his hand.

However, 

“Huh?” 

I grabbed Arsene’s shoulder.

“What’s the matter?”

Arsene looked at me as if he didn’t understand why and asked.

I pulled Arsene’s shirt to check the skin in the hem.

However, 

“Arsene… I, I think your spots have gotten a bit darker?”

I was confused and stammered. 

Arsene frowned at those words.

“What?” 

“The spots have thickened a bit. It’s strange. This hasn’t happened since you were ten years old… Shouldn’t we go see Mr. Hern right away?”

“Mr. Herne isn’t at the mansion right now. Let me see.”

I took a hand mirror and showed Arsene on the shoulder.

It was evident that the spots on Arsene’s skin had darkened a little.

“Has it gotten thicker? I don’t know.”

“No! It’s definitely gotten darker. Mr. Hern…” 

“It was night, so you might have misunderstood. It’s dark. Let’s see it again tomorrow for now and sleep now.” 

Arsene shook his finger.

Then the shadow wolf scattered away into the air without a sound. 

“But!” 

“Because we have to see Mr. Hern tomorrow anyway. We can say it together then. Other than that, I don’t have any other symptoms. Do I look sick?”

“No.” 

“That’s all right. I haven’t been sick in a while. They said it was almost all good. So it will be fine.” 

Arsene soothed me like an adult and lay down on the bed.

I looked at Arsene’s shoulder with a very uncomfortable expression, then lay down.

***

“Lady! The sunlight is strong. You should wear a hat!”

“Eung? Eung, okay.” 

The servants were busy.

Betty helped me put on a dress and put a hat on his head.

She tucked the cloth under my chin and gave me a handkerchief.

“If you get on the carriage and go first, we’ll follow right away.”

“Eung, okay.” 

I answered Betty, and my eyes looked for Arsene. 

Arsene was nowhere to be seen.

‘Is he late again?’

At that time, Arsene opened the door and came in.

“Arsene, what about your spots?”

“I think it’s fine?” 

Arsene unbuttoned his shirt, but he stopped when he saw Betty and the maids.

Then, he gave a chin as if to leave soon.

The maids gave me one last helping to change, then left the room as usual.

“Eung, come here and see.”

I took off Arsene’s shirt and checked the area around his shoulder where the spots had thickened last night. 

“It’s true… It’s blurry again today.”

“Are you not mistaken, Linsy?”

“No, it was really clear yesterday.”

I shook my head.

I could be mistaken, but when I looked yesterday, the spots on his shoulders were clearly visible.

“Okay, anyway, it’s fine because it’s blurry now.”

Arsene nodded and buttoned his shirt again. 

“Yes, but should I tell Dr. Hern just in case?”

“Eung. The teacher will go with us anyway.”

Arsene called back the maids who were out.

The maids carefully examined my dress once again.

When we were ready, we went out for a carriage together, holding hands.

“Have a good trip, Lady.” 

“Are you not going together, Ethan?” 

“Yes, I decided to protect the mansion this time. The butler of the second house will take good care of you.”

Ethan answered, raising his monocle. I nodded.

“Then I’ll be back!”

“Be careful, be careful again.”

The servants came out in a row and saw Arsene off.

Because Kendrick had a place to stop by, so he left before us and said he’d go to the second house after he was done.

Only Arsene and I had to move.

Behind a huge carriage with Yeckhart’s crest on it, dozens of escort knights stood tall.

Looking at the escort knights, I tilted my head slightly and whispered to Arsene.

“I think there is a lot of escorts?”

“There will be more on festival days.”

Arsene answered lightly and held my hand so that I could get on the carriage.

I took Arsene’s hand and got on the carriage.

The carriage door slowly closed, and soon the carriage departed.

“Did Gale take over the position of head of the family?”

I spoke carefully.

“Now we will find out. I haven’t heard anything about the bird clan in the past nine years…” 

“Actually, I’m curious about the kid in that news.”

I looked out the window and said.

Schville Raniero.

My half-sister who is now awkward to even pronounce.

What happened to her?

Schville’s ability was to steal the life force of others. That is to say, it is an ability that can be exploited sufficiently. 

Would he really have left such a child alone in Raniero?

In fact, over the years, I have often wondered about Schville.

Since all news about Raniero was blocked, there was no way to find out the news of Schville. 

There were times when I wished I had brought Schville with me. 

‘In Raniero, they must have abused that child’s ability.’

They must have exploited it in some way.

In my previous lives, they were the ones who used Schville to kill Arsene. 

But taking Schville out was impossible for a seven-year-old me. 

Didn’t I have a hard time getting out with my body and doing well? 

“Who?” 

“It’s Schville, my half-sister.” 

It wasn’t that I was curious because I liked Schville.

I didn’t like all the members of Raniero that much.

Everyone ignored me when I was ignored and neglected. But Schville.

‘She’s too young…’

The last time I saw her, and when she was killed in my previous life, Schville was too young.

So even though I didn’t like Schville, I didn’t hate it either.

It was more of a pity.

Anyway.

‘Will Schville be alive?’

She was killed unfairly in my previous life, so maybe in this life…

That thought struck me.

I turned my eyes out of the window, hoping to hear from Schville at this festival.

But,

‘I didn’t want something like this.’

I muttered.

I’ve never wanted to reunite with Schville this way.