COARV Chapter 37

Lesche rose without protest. I'd meant to suggest we ask Masha, Ben, Linon—anyone in this manor to change his bandages—but he surprised me by producing fresh wrappings and binding the wound himself with practiced efficiency.

Right. In the original novel, he handled most things alone despite his formidable rank. The contradiction had always struck me as odd.

I watched the silver gleam of his hair as I spoke.

"Your Grace, the sorcerers arrive today. Should I remain sequestered in the bedroom?"

"Why? If anyone should avoid anyone, they should avoid you."

"You saved my life, Your Grace. I won't report them to the Grand Temple as heretics."

"How generous of you."

A faint smile curved his mouth.

"They're not people one enjoys encountering. But you needn't hide from them."

"You're saying I may do as I please."

"As long as you don't go whipping anyone."

"Your Grace, you make me sound like some kind of monster—"

I started to defend myself, then closed my mouth. Acceptance was the only honest response.

'Damn it. A year ago I was a monster.'

"In any case, I understand your meaning, Your Grace."

I deflected lightly, resting my chin on the back of my hand as I studied him.

"Your Grace. There's something else I've been curious about."

"What?"

He answered without looking up. I glanced around the manor, voicing the question that had nagged at me since arrival.

"Why keep a butler and Masha in a manor like this? I mean—forgive me—why maintain staff in a manor that's clearly not in normal condition? The other two don't seem to be here for repairs either."

The shadow corruption aside, this manor showed no signs of careful restoration by plasterers or carpenters. The mold-free sections showed evidence of daily sweeping and cleaning, nothing more. And a gardener and chambermaid wouldn't handle structural repairs anyway...

Lesche finished binding the bandage with casual indifference.

"I never told them to stay."

"Then what? Is there some unavoidable reason they can't leave the manor?"

"I've noticed something about you."

"Yes?"

"You're remarkably perceptive, Lady Seria."

"...I was just guessing. But apparently I'm right."

I rolled my eyes, suddenly self-conscious. The silence felt awkward. I changed the subject to something safer.

"So that's why the castle has no butler. Ben is bound here."

"No."

"Pardon?"

"Only Masha is bound."

"Only Masha?"

"Yes. The others insisted they liked this manor and wanted to stay. Obviously a lie."

"..."

That surprised me. Of everyone in this manor, Masha seemed the most serene. Not that the others looked frightened—but Masha had the demeanor of a woman serving in an unshakeable household, a Grand Duchess's attendant with solid footing beneath her feet.

In the original novel, Laurel Manor's green estate never appeared again. Within a year it would become complete ruins, for reasons unknown... The others must sense the desolation haunting this place, even if they couldn't articulate it precisely.

If Masha was bound here, she would die here too. Perhaps her serenity stemmed not from security but from resignation—a woman who'd seen where her coffin would be buried. The thought struck me: Masha possessed extraordinary inner strength.

"Are you calling the sorcerers to free Masha from this manor?"

"Yes. To free her. I've been calling them for years."

"I didn't realize Your Grace was so tenderhearted."

While we spoke, Lesche finished binding his bandages and rose from his seat.

"She's bound here because of me."

"...?"

'Because of him?'

The words sounded strange. His red eyes had darkened. I stared at him openly. For a moment I glimpsed a boy who'd been deeply wounded, and something in my chest twisted uncomfortably. I said nothing more.

Lesche left early to patrol the boundary, sword at his hip. I saw him off out of courtesy, tilting my face to the sky. Snow fell endlessly. Yesterday it had already accumulated ankle-deep; today it reached nearly to my knees.

I glanced at Linon, who'd rushed out to see Lesche off. He was suffering most in this freezing manor—now he wore his sleeping bag draped over his shoulders like a cape.

"Linon."

"Yes, my lady?"

"With snow falling like this, how does His Grace patrol the boundary? Can he even ride a horse?"

"Ah... His Grace probably just walks?"

"Walk? In this snowfall? Won't he get lost?"

"His Grace? Lost?"

Linon's bewildered expression made me understand. Right. Lesche Berke was the male protagonist of this novel. The strongest man and knight. This was merely a vast manor, not a mountain range—a blizzard wouldn't trouble him.

Thinking of it as the original story's power scaling made everything easier to accept.

But Linon's expression remained troubled. When I asked why, he sighed heavily.

"The heavy snow delayed the sorcerers' arrival even further. I just received word via magical communication device. Those things are so expensive we rarely use them, but for them to send urgent word through one... They should have arrived at midnight, but now..."

"It can't be helped. But is there a reason the sorcerers' delay matters?"

"Because it delays our return to the main castle!"

Poor Linon wailed while trembling violently. The original story's god had clearly blessed him with intelligence 10 and constitution 1. I found myself curious about these sorcerers from Nesla Kingdom, but another question bloomed alongside it.

"Linon."

"Yes, my lady?"

"Um..."

I hesitated before asking.

"Why is Masha bound to this manor?"

"Ah, Masha?"

"Yes."

"Well, Lady Seria..."

Contrary to my expectation of a brief overview...

"The late Grand Duke once humiliated His Grace alongside his vicious bastard son."

"Pardon?"

"His Grace was only about fifteen at the time, but was already the acknowledged heir to the Grand Duchy. However, the late Grand Duke and the bastard wanted to drive His Grace from the succession."

"..."

"They picked quarrels over trivial matters, then tried to assign Sir Elliot—His Grace's page knight at the time—to become a mere gatekeeper at this green manor. They even brought the Case of the Azure Sea to threaten Sir Elliot."

"The Case of the Azure Sea?"

"Yes. It's a Berke family heirloom... When you place hair inside it, you become unable to leave Laurel Manor. In exchange, protective magic activates to guard the manor, so elderly knights seeking honor would sometimes take the guardian's role."

"And they demanded this of young Sir Elliot?"

"Yes. Claiming that if he truly served House Berke, he should willingly become a guardian. Sir Elliot would have become a living mummy trapped in this green manor under the name of 'guardian,' but Masha—who was the late Grand Duchess's confidante—volunteered to take the punishment in his place."

Linon spoke matter-of-factly.

"It's a long story, but condensed for easier understanding, that's what happened. After that day, Masha became unable to take a single step from the green manor, and the others stayed voluntarily because they're close to her. If only the green manor hadn't deteriorated like this, life here would have been quite comfortable, but the way things turned out..."

"..."

I lost the ability to speak. I'd only wanted to know what magic or curse bound Masha here. Instead I'd suddenly received detailed, heavy history. Linon seemed oblivious to my bewilderment—he even added more.

"So please don't be too upset that His Grace brought you to this ruined manor temporarily. His Grace simply wanted to show you to Masha. She's always been deeply loyal to Grand Duchesses."

"I'm not upset."

"Then I'm relieved."

"You explained all that in such detail because you were worried I'd taken offense?"

"Yes, my lady."

Linon nodded.

"Are you allowed to tell outsiders such private Berke family matters?"

"Are you an outsider, my lady? You're part of House Berke now. In fact, you're the Berke closest to His Grace. Imperial approval to become the official Grand Duchess will take a year, but that's just protocol—it can be ignored."

His shameless sincerity deepened my thoughts unexpectedly.

When I thought of myself as "Grand Duchess," the word "temporary" was always silently omitted. Omitted, which meant it was always there, unspoken. I didn't need to articulate it—I was someone who'd become a temporary Grand Duchess solely because I'd been saved from death.

Of course, I had no intention of divorcing until Lesche suggested it. I possessed some dignity. After borrowing the empire's most eligible bachelor's first marriage and owing him my life, I wasn't shameless enough to say, Well, I'm done with you now, time to step down from this terrifying role of Grand Duchess.

'Besides, somehow I don't think Lesche would let me.'

Just... a gut feeling, no clear reason. And Linon too—he was being friendly and helpful now. But if I tried to walk away first, I sensed he'd find ways to retaliate and squeeze me dry. He'd been rather frightening in the original story.

"Linon."

I decided to practice early with the chief aide I'd soon need to release.

"What I heard today, I'll take to my grave."

Speaking like a proper Berke, I watched Linon's lips curve into a smile. He pointed toward the cliff behind the manor's left wing.

"You can't see it now under the snow, but that's actually sugar rock. When sunlight hits it, it sparkles like jewels—quite beautiful. You should ride out and see it sometime."