APIBAGS Chapter 56

Oh, come on. Why is he being like this.

"You already know this." I give him a look. "Lady Toten wants the child to live even a little longer—but without putting another soul into a body, how would a dead person come back to life."

Melek was a similar case. A ghost who took up residence in a dead body.

Gabriel realizes there's no solution and lowers his head, pained. His blue eyes waver. He looks about to cry.

Over this.

Enough.

And Gabriel held the tears back admirably, as a male lead should.

"I see. Lady Toten will likely never return to the temple again."

He said it with certainty.

"God betrayed her faith."

For a holy knight, remarkably irreverent. Gabriel looks so decent and yet goes cold sometimes. In front of me he's soft... Is this just the collateral damage of the warm-only-toward-his-woman male lead type?

"You made some kind of deal with Lady Toten, I heard?"

Surely not just sad about losing a reliable client. The warm-only-toward-his-woman character type made me suspicious.

"Yes. I provided holy water to Lady Toten."

An actual black-market deal?

Of course not. Gabriel explained how it all came about from the beginning, adding clarifying notes along the way for me, who lacks common sense.

"People refer to those like the young marquis—for whom holy water doesn't work—as abandoned by God. Or as cursed."

Rahel was not a god of equal mercy to all things. Where sunlight falls, there are shadows. Those on whom holy water has no effect fall into the darkest portion.

Even condemned men receive mercy—so being beyond holy water was reasonably called a curse. Some said it meant the soul had corrupted itself, and God had refused to embrace it.

That was just talk going around, though. Gabriel's actual position: holy water is medicine for recovery. Someone born constitutionally weak simply wouldn't respond to it.

So Evangeline was one of those cases.

Lady Toten had originally been devout and a regular temple-goer. Her body damaged by a difficult birth had recovered with holy water's help, which made her an even more devoted believer. Then the young marquis was born premature, weak. She assumed what worked for her would work for the child, and gave him holy water. One bottle wasn't enough, so two. Three. The bottles kept multiplying—and the rumor spread.

"The young marquis was cursed, they said."

The temple, conscious of the rumors, banned Lady Toten from purchasing holy water. Lady Toten, who had an acquaintance in Gabriel from before, went to her knees.

"I couldn't look away from someone asking for help."

The arrangement: Gabriel provided holy water; Lady Toten donated the equivalent value. Not above-board—but a workable way to manage both their consciences. She couldn't have gotten holy water at all without this. Lady Toten was genuinely indebted.

So that was why she'd agreed to the out-of-nowhere request to chaperone Evangeline.

"We should probably find a different chaperone."

"Isn't that too rushed?"

"Lady Toten should spend the remaining time with the young marquis."

Gabriel was going to put in more legwork. Two days left—would there even be anyone? I'd honestly rather push the debutante back a bit. It wasn't as if I was making a formal debut through a court presentation anyway—just sneaking in on a borrowed Crown Prince invitation through the back.

"All right."

I let myself grow melancholy alongside Gabriel.

A child dying is sad—but there's nothing I can do. If I had the source material, maybe I could find some thread. Everything else I've managed through sheer reading mileage, but in situations like this I'm useless.

If there were something I could do, like with Daisy's siblings, I'd have done it without hesitation...

"If it's beyond my ability, I'll try asking Duchess Bael to serve as chaperone."

"Duchess Bael?"

"Yes. She's Raphaela's mother."

A duke-level heavyweight appearing out of nowhere was already startling—and it's Raphaela's mother.

I nearly had my jaw drop.

He looks refined enough I thought young lord at most—and he's a duke's son.

He outranks me, doesn't he.

Could Gabriel also turn out to be something, once you looked into it. Says orphanage, turns out he's the former emperor's child—that kind of thing.

Though if he had a connection that good, why not approach her first. Could she have refused, not wanting to chaperone someone like Evangeline.

"It's complicated since Raphaela essentially severed ties when he became a knight—but the Duchess does care for Sir Raphaela."

Ah. Last resort, in other words.

Raphaela... didn't look it. Apparently quite the rebel.

"Then may I ask now why your ladyship called for me?"

Finally—the actual point. Obviously I called for Gabriel to practice dancing. If we're pushing back the debutante it won't be necessary, but Gabriel clearly has no intention of delaying even as a last resort.

"I need a dance partner."

"I understood you had a tutor arranged?"

"She didn't last long and fled. All that's left is Dolly."

Dolly's name got Gabriel frowning in disapproval. Recently Gabriel had gone and investigated Dolly's background and asked whether it wouldn't be better to let her go given the drug use. For a moment I thought Gabriel had evolved into the possessive male lead type who systematically severs all surrounding relationships.

I asked Dolly about it. She said it was a momentary lapse, that she absolutely doesn't touch anything now, and that she loves the Rohanson estate too much—she cried and begged not to be dismissed. The estate loyalty on that woman was something else.

Her remorse was too visible to dismiss. I decided to let the momentary lapse slide. This is a novel world, not reality. It happens.

Gabriel didn't object to my decision to keep Dolly on, but the disapproval hasn't gone anywhere.

"So you'll have to be my partner."

I rise from my seat and extend my hand. Gabriel hesitates slightly.

For one beat, the tutor who fled rather than take my hand flashed through my mind.

Does taking my hand kill you?

You've held it more than once or twice, Gabriel.

"Do you not want to?"

"Of course not."

When I say it with an edge, Gabriel hastily clasps my hand.

"Truly. An honor."

Gabriel is pulled to his feet by my hand. His gaze shoots upward—and he is close. Breath meeting. Eyes meeting. His long lashes, covering those eyes, tremble the finest tremble.

Standing close like that, hands joined—from outside came tat-ta-tak running footsteps.

Is it Mary? The only person who runs through the estate like this is Mary. But the footsteps seem heavier than hers.

The thought wasn't even finished before the door flew open.

"My lady! The dress is—!"

Misha.

She hadn't left her room for days, nothing but the dress—apparently already finished.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry. Enjoy your time!"

BANG!

Misha's face was red. The door slammed.

Gabriel, having suddenly been caught in what looked like a secret tryst, froze up.

The timing was genuinely straight out of a novel.

Well.

It is a novel.

"Schmitiana?"

The timing really is something. The situation's a little unfortunate, but we weren't doing anything strange—we were dancing, obviously.

Though Gabriel is my partner in the first place—do I even need to explain? I'm still wrapping my head around it when there's another knock.

"My lady, it's me, Misha."

She didn't actually flee.

"Misha."

When I say her name, Misha scratches her cheek sheepishly and peeks her face in.

"The knight was serving as my dance partner."

"Yes! I believe you!"

I explain quickly, but Misha smiles and answers offhandedly. She clearly doesn't believe a word.

Gabriel had had important things to say, so Daisy had been sent out of the room as well—leaving just the two of us, which only made the situation worse. In an instant I'd gone and become the lover who'd even sent the maid away to enjoy a secret tryst.

Look on the bright side... I was maintaining the fishing grounds with Gabriel anyway, so it's not a bad outcome. For now, redirect Misha's attention.

"What is it?"

"Ha ha. Well—since you're going to be together anyway, couldn't you be together while you're wearing the fitted dress? I'd love to see the full picture!"

She fled in embarrassment a moment ago and came back for the dress. Misha is dead serious about this dress.

"Of course. Knight—could you wait a moment?"

"Yes. Dancing in the dress will also be easier to adjust to."

With Gabriel's cooperation secured, I go to follow Misha—but Gabriel doesn't release my hand.

"Sir Gabriel?"

"Ah. Oh no— ...I'm sorry."

He seemed unaware he'd done it at all. He hastily let go and covered his face, clearly embarrassed.

Of course he is... The ear he hadn't fully covered was red.

Right. Standard setup.

Give him a moment alone until the color fades.

Misha watches Gabriel with a deeply satisfied smile, then takes me out with her.

"You can't be too shocked the moment you see it, all right?"

We stop in front of the room given to Misha. Nearby, her tailors and seamstresses were all clustered together.

Why are they all waiting outside instead of in.

"You're the first to see the finished dress, my lady!"

Ah. Misha must have stationed them out here so they couldn't look.

Da-dum. Da-dum.

Before opening the door, Misha made a sound effect with her mouth.

"Ta-da!"