MHHC Chapter 23

Choice

Adelheid couldn't even look at Padre's eyes, lowering her gaze, which had been hovering around her chin, to the floor entirely.

"You anointed His Grace's clothing with holy oil."

"...It's not an unusual practice. In the north where demons swarm, it's done deliberately, isn't it?"

"Of course, I heard His Grace was completely unaffected. If something evil had taken root, he would have suffered accordingly."

"Holy oil's effects sometimes manifest belatedly. It doesn't always appear as pain. The common factor is losing consciousness for a while."

Adelheid shook her head.

"I never saw His Grace lose consciousness or suffer. The servants didn't either."

"Naturally, you must observe for a full day at least."

"I was hasty in contacting you. I know how shameful it is to reverse my words after you've gone to such trouble. But..."

"Lady Adelheid."

Adelheid pressed her lips tightly together. Padre, who had been looking down at her with a stern face, exhaled deeply. Then he spoke in a soothing, gentle tone.

"When people face something difficult to understand rationally, they show one of two reactions. They reject it, or they fervently worship it."

"......"

"Yet whatever choice you make, you cannot turn away."

Adelheid's ashen chin trembled slightly. Padre's words were a sharp awl digging into her conscience. In truth, she had desperately wanted to turn away, just as he said.

Just because she'd tasted a fragment of the unconditional affection she'd so craved...

"But the beasts' attitudes changed."

Adelheid spoke, her cheeks flushing with shame.

"You know well how livestock can smell demons. They're too frightened to approach, let alone get close—they're busy tucking their tails. But just now..."

"Adelheid. I know well that beasts have more sensitive instincts than anyone. When a predator hides among people, they keenly detect it and send warnings. But when something lowers itself to pretend to be human and mingles among people, eventually the smell becomes similar."

"......"

"They've adapted to the situation. Didn't you write to me yourself that the livestock were frightened when they saw the Grand Duke?"

"That's true, but..."

"In such cases, it's better to follow your initial instinct. Trust me."

"......"

"Leaving a demon unchecked invites greater disaster. Many people might die. Adelheid. You made a noble report to me."

Adelheid finally raised her pale face to meet Padre's eyes. The priest's gentle eyes seemed to instill some courage in her. But as if one side of her heart had been pierced, the courage and support Padre breathed into her couldn't fill her chest and simply flowed out.

Even she couldn't understand it. Had Valentin truly been an evil demon who had employed some trick on her in that short time?

"What should... I do?"

She barely asked. Her lips felt so stiff they didn't feel like her own. Padre drew a small glass vial from his robes and pressed it into Adelheid's hand.

"Since holy oil has touched his body, if he's a demon, he won't wake easily from sleep tonight. Request to share his chamber tonight. Then try shaking him awake, and if His Grace cannot regain consciousness, use this medicine."

The bottle was warm with body heat, as if he'd carried it for a long time. Was that why? The green liquid inside looked ominous.

"What is this?"

"A method used within the Church. Apply it to a blade's tip and stab. About a finger's length."

"...And then?"

"Look through a mirror."

"What should I look for in the mirror?"

Rarely stripping away all smiles, Padre's eyes fixed precisely on Adelheid. They were sharp and perceptive, as if they would scrape out everything hidden deep in her soul.

Adelheid's hand holding the bottle trembled slightly.

"If it truly is a Shadow, you'll recognize it at a glance."

"Grand Duchess."

At Head Maid Margaret's call, Adelheid drowsily raised her head. Dusk had already fallen. She'd been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed night approaching.

While Adelheid fumbled in confusion, the head maid entered the room and skillfully lit the extinguished candles one by one.

"His Grace will arrive at the bedchamber soon. You must prepare now."

"Al-already?"

Adelheid rose in dismay from the chair where she'd been sitting.

"Yes. These girls will help with Your Grace's attire."

Following Margaret's gesture, the maids who entered the room helped Adelheid undress. The maids lightly wiped Adelheid's entire body with washcloths dampened with fragrant water, then pulled a thin, airy chemise dress over her head.

A gold robe embroidered with the wolf emblem was draped over Adelheid's thin shoulders.

"How shall we style your hair?"

"Just... however you like."

"Then I'll brush it down nicely. Your hair is too lovely to put up."

The maid who answered kindly began brushing skillfully. Adelheid clasped her trembling hands together to hide them. Whenever she met Margaret's gaze through the mirror, Margaret watched Adelheid with strange, indecipherable eyes. Was it reproach? Or concern?

In fact, even if she were in the head maid's position, she wouldn't want to respect a mistress like herself. To greet one's husband with a face frozen in terror. It must look pitiful beyond words, even unsightly...

Adelheid endured several finishing touches, then asked as if something had just occurred to her.

"Um, where is Greta? By now, she should know that His Grace is coming to my room tonight..."

It was strange that Greta hadn't shown her face yet, despite this being their first night together in the true sense. Since the day Valentin returned alive, she'd insisted they must be wary of him until her lips were worn out.

Perhaps because all means of escape were blocked? Because she knew she couldn't escape this place no matter what? After what happened to Greta that night, somehow Oskar had also fled as if his tail were on fire...

At Adelheid's question, Margaret hesitated slightly before speaking.

"I understand she's resting in the priest-blessed chamber. She's still somewhat afraid to leave the room. Of course, she's improved considerably from before..."

"Is her health still poor? I've been distracted these past days and haven't checked on her properly."

"Her voice hasn't returned yet, but she has no trouble moving. She should be able to resume her duties within days."

She seemed to have regained stability after seeing Padre's face, but today's commotion must have triggered her anxiety again.

Still, it was fortunate she'd improved from before. Adelheid exhaled in relief.

"That's good, at least. She shouldn't be ill for long."

With the application of holy oil to her plump lips, the preparations were complete. It felt horrible, like being drenched in poison, but since it was an old northern tradition, there was no refusing it.

Adelheid checked her appearance through the mirror on one wall.

Gone was the lively, rosy-cheeked appearance from morning; a woman pale as a ghost stood blankly.

"Then we shall withdraw now."

As the maids competed to offer their farewells and retreated outside the room, Margaret entered carrying a delicate emerald necklace on a soft velvet cushion.

"Grand Duchess. This."

It looked antique, as if passed down to the mistresses of House Ansgar for generations. Probably because today was the first night in the true sense, they'd prepared thoroughly.

Margaret fastened the necklace around Adelheid's slender white neck. The clasp seemed troublesome, as Margaret worked slowly when she spoke carefully.

"Um, Grand Duchess."

"Speak, Margaret."

"Well, I know this is presumptuous, but..."

Margaret couldn't continue for some time, only moving her lips. Like someone who'd impulsively broached a subject only to regret it. Or like someone facing extremely uncomfortable words.

Adelheid recalled that Margaret had often looked at her with these eyes.

Too troublesome to intervene, yet unable to completely ignore it and remain troubled—that conflict had always clearly shown on her honest face. It always ended with Margaret looking away. So what wind had changed today?

"What could it be that you hesitate so much?"

At Adelheid's prompting, Margaret finally spoke as if resolved.

"Wouldn't it be better to send Greta away now?"

"......"

Through the mirror, the two women's gazes met.

While Adelheid only blinked, Margaret's cheeks flushed pink. She seemed to think she'd meddled unnecessarily when the advice wouldn't be heeded anyway. Margaret continued as if to salvage the situation.

"I thought it would help Your Grace adapt here more quickly that way. Rather than having not a single proper maid and keeping only Greta at your side."

"I understand your meaning. But Greta has nowhere else to go but here."

"Wouldn't Reichenau take her back?"

Adelheid shook her head.

"The Countess is not such a generous person."

"...Please don't be angry, as I speak after long consideration. The truth is, that woman..."

"Margaret, you needn't voice difficult words on my account."

Adelheid cut off the accusation that was about to unfold at length. Margaret looked at Adelheid with surprised eyes.

Only after seeing that expression did Adelheid smile faintly.

"Did you really think I knew nothing about Greta?"