CH 8

The Shinsu clan could change into a form with beautiful feathers and wings similar to a swan. The emerald eyes shone like jewels, and the brilliant silver feather sprinkled transparent and colorful light like a rainbow. The statue was made of diamonds.

It’s like… my mother. Very occasionally, my mother would show her true self. Unfortunately, I couldn’t transform into such a figure because of my mixed blood. But whenever I saw my mother, my heart was always at peace.

Is it really my mother? My eyes narrowed slightly. Since I had never seen the appearances of other Shinsu members, I didn’t know whether the changed appearance ability of the clan would be the same.

A portrait of a person with the same bracelet as mine… Even a statue of the god that looks exactly like my mother. Is this all a coincidence? I pressed my lips and turned my body around. My head was pounding as I was exhausted from releasing my power all at once. I intended to return to my room and rest my eyes.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

As soon as I turned my back, Duke Gracie appeared in front of me. My shoulders trembled without realizing it.

“Ah, I didn’t expect to be surprised. I thought I made a sound of walking.” He smiled awkwardly with an apologetic look.

“It’s… It’s okay. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“…It’s embarrassing. But It’s the first time… my granddaughter showed such a lighthearted side.” Still rubbing his red eyes slightly, Duke Gracie coughed awkwardly.

“Your sick granddaughter has gotten better, and you deserve to be happy with it.” I answered firmly while smiling lightly. Even as I gave a compliment in my mouth, my head was calculating when the best time would be to say what I wanted.

“Thank you, really.”

For a moment, I was speechless. It was because Duke Gracie bowed so low that I could see the back of his head. I didn’t know his exact age, but the wrinkles and white beard represented the years Duke Gracie went through, as much as his status as a ‘Duke’. His bow wasn’t something to be given to a guest whose name or identity was unknown.

“Well, I just helped you because I wanted something too.” I didn’t help out of pure intentions. That’s why I answered urgently, trying to hide my embarrassment because I was stabbed by conscience.

“I heard she hasn’t been completely cured yet…”

“That’s right. I have to use my power a few more times. I’m just a commoner who inherited the blood of a priest.”

“Just ask me for anything. Whether it’s gold, jewelry, dress, anything…”

“I will ask you a favor when she’s completely healed.”

Even though he bowed his head to me, I still couldn’t decide if he was trustworthy or not. It meant now wasn’t the right time. I put off my favor, barely raised my lips to smile.

“…Yes. Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask for your name. What’s your name?”

“My name is Lobelia.”

“Lobelia?”

“Yes.”

Duke Gracie’s eyes turned to the statue, while thinking it was a name with an unusual meaning for a flower. “…Were you looking at the diamond statue?”

“Yes, it’s really beautiful.”

It looked expensive. I just nodded my head without bothering to add words.

“It’s a statue of the Shinsu clan.”

“…Shinsu?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for the stupid emperor, they would still be with our empire.”

Stupid emperor. My eyes narrowed slightly. At least this person seemed to be sorry for the Shinsu clan that had to leave. I didn’t know if it was because of his pity for the Shinsu clan or because of his granddaughter’s illness.  

“But I heard everyone left.”

Everyone knew that one day the Shinsu clan suddenly left on their own. But I was the only one who didn’t think like that. If they had really left on their own, my mother wouldn’t have sealed my power, and we wouldn’t have lived in hiding with that tremendous power.

My mother had never told me the truth, but I could guess roughly. That they never left on their own. Either they ran out of sight…

My eyes sparkled bright.

Or they were killed.

If there were members of the clan, they would have contacted my mother in some way. However, my mother never had any contact with them. My mother just looked like she was waiting for someone.

“Yes… They ‘left’.”

Duke Gracie let out a big laugh with a troubled face. Then he looked straight at me and said, “Your holy power is like seeing the power of the Shinsu clan. I’ve seen the power of the Shinsu clan before.” For a moment his eyes glowed sharply.

I tilted my head in wonder as I met his eyes. Her bright red eyes seemed to be tryign to dig into me, so I blinked slowly for no reason and turned away.

“The Shinsu clan…”

“Hmm…?”

“Why did they leave the Tiazen Empire all of a sudden?”

Duke Gracie shut his mouth for a moment at my question. After a brief silence, he spoke again. “…They say they left because they hated this empire.” Then he continued in a certain voice. “That’s what people say.”

“…You mean they didn’t hate it in their mind.”

“Haha. What does this old man know? My memory is now hazy.”

Duke Gracie suddenly changed his attitude and laughed out loud. Then he continue das if he thought about something. “Ah… Come to think of it, I had a diary I wrote down in case my memory became hazy.”

“A diary?”

“I think I put it somewhere in the library…” He muttered quietly, as if talking to himself, but in a voice just appropriate enough for me to hear.

“Library, was it in the corner…” It was as if he was trying to tell me where the diary was.

Is it because I saved his granddaughter’s life? However, Duke Gracie’s attitude was strangely benevolent to his mere benefactor.

“Ah, you can go anywhere while you’re here. If you’re bored, you can use the library. I would be more grateful if you could talk to Bella.”

“Ah… yes. Well…”

“Tell me if you have any inconveniences. I think you should get some rest too. You look tired.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll order to bring the meal to your room.”

“Yes, thank you.” I smiled awkwardly as I answered bluntly.

What I wanted from him was not kindness. Being kind on the outside was possible even for a dark-hearted person, just like Endimion. Ah, but wasn’t Endimon a slightly different case? Cause he’s a complete madman.

When I thought of Endimion, a thousand rages began to rise in my mind. I felt suffocated if I stayed here longer, so I roughly said goodbye and hurried into my room.

Breathing deeply, I collapsed onto the bed. The fluffy blanket gently wrapped around my body. I could see the sunset out of the window. Before I knew it, my first day here was passing by.

Merilly.

Five years had passed in this world, but it had only been a day since I parted away with Merilly. I wondered how Merilly had been. The clear voice of my child, who used to call me mama while looking at me, was ringing in my ears.

I bit my lips and clenched my fist. It was like yesterday that I was almost crippled by Kriella and killed by Magorit. I need to check Merilly, to see if she’s doing well…

Even though I was lying down, I started to get short of breath. It was because Bella’s illness was so severe that I had to use a lot of holy power. I breathed slowly, calming my heart. At the same time, my eyes slowly dimmed. Eventually, I couldn’t overcome the surging fatigue and gradually fell asleep. Just like that, my first night at Gracie Duchy was passing by.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Mama!”

“Mom…!”

“Mother!”

Merilly’s growing voice rang in my ears. At the same time, my consciousness, which was wandering in dream, slowly woke up as I listened to something rustling. Bright sunlight poured through my slightly opened eyes.

Crazy… I should have made sure Merilly was well, but I fell asleep. Sleeping over finding my daughter, I didn’t even deserve to be a mother. Blaming myself, I jumped up from the bed.

“Gasp, are you awake?”

My head swung at the first voice I had heard.

“My name is Sera, the maid in charge of Lady. Please feel free to call me.”

“Ah…” Only then did my tense shoulders fall down as if they were relieved.

“First of all, I brought a simple breakfast. If there’s anything Lady wants to eat, please tell me. Also, since Lady’s bath preparation is in the next room, Lady can take the bath right away… If Lady needs help, let me know.”

Explanations poured out of Sera’s mouth like a waterfall. She seemed to be a very talkative maid.

For a moment one of my eyebrows raised. The more she liked to talk, the more she would listen. The maid was more likely to know a lot of rumors. With half-confidence, I opened my mouth. “That, by any chance.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything about Marquis Hamilton? There’s a friend of mine there… I want to know how they’re doing.” I asked that question, pretending it wasn’t really important.

“Marquis Hamilton? Hmm… they’re famous. It’s a place where the maids really want to work there.” She talked excitedly as if she was happy to be questioned about what she knew.

“Want to work there?”

“Yes. The big madam is scary, but she goes out every day so you rarely see her… The little madam is kind, and the two ladies are very cute and kind. The Hamilton family is famous for being very harmonious.”

My heart skipped a beat at the word ‘harmonious’.