Chesterfield Mansion: The House of the Man Who Hates Me - Chapter 37

“Young Duke, it’s Celian. I’m coming in.”

The door that didn’t allow even the slightest friction sound opened smoothly, and pitch-black darkness greeted her.

“……”

The lamp that had run out of fuel had long since gone out. Dust had accumulated in the fireplace, which had no reason to be lit in midsummer.

Celian’s thigh, moving relying on the small moonlight coming through the window, touched the tea table. It meant she had arrived in the middle of the room.

Celian hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure whether Izer would be at the desk, sofa, or bed. He wouldn’t be working in this darkness, so it wouldn’t be the desk, either the sofa or the bed.

And the fact that he didn’t respond even though she had made her presence known probably meant he was in a deep sleep. Her body, having reached a conclusion, turned towards the bed.

‘That’s right.’

Something that looked like a person’s head was sticking out over the bulging blanket. As she took one step closer, a familiar face came into view.

Closed eyes under black curly hair. Celian stood next to his face.

‘And they said he had insomnia.’

Come to think of it, she had never seen Izer sleeping. On the contrary, Izer had seen her sleeping many times.

It was just as she was about to give up on her plan to say goodbye and turn around,

‘Two days…?’

It was abnormal to sleep that long. Celian whirled around. As she bent down to look at his face up close, she noticed things she hadn’t seen from a distance.

His breathing was rapid. The forehead she hurriedly touched was like a fireball. But he wasn’t sweating.

Celian hastily pulled off the blanket covering the man’s entire body. His forehead, which had at least been in contact with outside air, was better. The heat that had been trapped inside his body and under the blanket belatedly rose up, warming the air around the bed.

Celian shook the man’s shoulders and shouted.

“Young Duke, open your eyes. Can you hear my voice?”

“……”

He neither answered nor opened his eyes. It was impossible for him to regain consciousness with such a high fever.

Celian gritted her teeth and opened the window. Unfortunately, since it was summer, even the incoming air was stuffy.

If left like this, he could die. A chair she bumped into fell to the floor with a thud. Still, the man didn’t regain consciousness. As Celian ran out into the corridor, she saw a maid passing by.

“We need a doctor. Please call a doctor.”

“You should ask the head butler about that.”

The moment she heard those words, an ominous feeling swept over her. And her premonition became reality.

The head butler, loyally guarding the door to the Duke’s room, said flatly.

“Not possible.”

“Someone is sick!”

“We cannot call a doctor without the Duke’s permission.”

Celian gritted her teeth.

“Then get the Duke’s permission. He’s inside, isn’t he?”

“The Duke instructed not to let anyone in except those he personally approved. And Miss Berienne is not among those approved.”

“Ha……”

Harris Chesterfield, this madman. Right after Renée’s death, he’s trying to kill his adopted son too.

Then she would go see Owen herself. Explanations could come later. She thought so until the black-clad head butler blocked her way ‘again’ just as she was about to leave with her hood pulled up.

“Move aside.”

“Miss Berienne, you haven’t been granted permission to go out.”

“I’ll be back within an hour. Move aside.”

“I cannot let you go.”

He was no different from a parrot. Celian glared at him.

“This is a dangerous situation. If we don’t call a doctor immediately, this family’s heir might die. Do you think it’s normal for you, a butler who should be loyal to the family, to block someone trying to save the young duke?”

“I serve the Chesterfields.”

“The person who needs a doctor right now is…!”

“The Duke’s orders take priority for me.”

Celian glared at the butler and turned around.

Despite this commotion, the area in front of Izer’s room was empty. Even the damned tray brought up for dinner remained untouched. Had no one thought it strange that he hadn’t touched his food for two days straight?

Or did they think it strange but pretend not to notice? Following the will of the real master of this cursed mansion.

All the energy surrounding her felt gloomy. The air laden with death, the meal tray that looked proper but received no attention, the servants who saw nothing and heard nothing in exchange for high wages.

A maid passing through the corridor flinched when her eyes met Celian’s, who was glaring up at the third floor where the Duke’s room was located.

Celian spoke coldly.

“Keep young master Percy away from this area. I don’t think I need to tell others not to come.”

“……”

“It’s not contagious, so don’t treat him like a plague patient. I’m saying this because it’s not a good sight for a child to see.”

The maid lowered her eyes. She was naturally intimidated by the aura emanating from this young woman who once had more than five personal maids.

“Yes.”

The maid nodded and turned away. Celian opened the door with a determined face. As soon as she opened it, the pungent smell of blood wafted out.

His body, unable to withstand the high fever, had vomited blood in that short time. Celian bit her lip.

* * *

Blink.

‘Where am I?’

There was a rattling sound from behind, and a cart passed by so close it almost hit him. As he reflexively twisted his body to avoid it, he squinted and looked around.

He was in the middle of a bustling market. Small houses packed tightly together, stalls encroaching on the sidewalk, street vendors sitting on mats, and people walking by holding children’s hands. It was a scene that could be seen anywhere. That’s why he couldn’t tell exactly where he was.

As Izer looked around, he heard a voice from behind him.

「Izer, what are you doing there?」

Mother’s eyes sparkled above her flushed cheeks. At that moment, Izer became aware of how old he was. When his mother was healthy enough to take him to the market herself.

It was a day when he was seven years old. As soon as he realized this fact, his perspective lowered.

That day was their moving day.

「Where are we going?」

「We’re going to the capital. Your father was so happy to get a job working for someone he respects.」

The scenes changed rapidly. He no longer found it strange. Like people trapped in dreams often do, Izer accepted these unnatural scene transitions without question.

The empty moving cart departed. Izer’s first reaction upon seeing the white house was disappointment.

「Are nobles’ houses usually this small?”

The noble mansions he had seen in books were much larger and more spacious.

「I thought it was a noble’s residence……」

「To be precise, it’s a villa, Izer.」

Suddenly, his perspective heightened.

He was still in front of the villa. In front of the poorly maintained lawn, the fountain covered in algae, the window frames draped with cobwebs. Renée called him from behind.

「Izer, it’s time to go now.」

「Who did this house go to?」

「I’m not sure about that. Come on, your father is waiting.」

Izer, about to clench his fist, looked down at his hand. His right hand was tightly wrapped in bandages.

That’s when he realized he was dreaming.

But he didn’t want to wake up. The lucid dream allowed him to do impossible things. The twenty-year-old Izer immediately ran towards his mother. Renée, standing in front of the carriage, looked bewildered at her grown son’s embrace.

He couldn’t hear her response. It was natural that he didn’t know how she would react since he had never experienced it. It was okay. Izer said what he most wanted to say.

「Mother, I missed you.」

His mother’s hand stroked his head. Her response was as gentle as her nature. He wanted to stay in the dream even more.

Even his father appeared from behind the carriage. David Ren, the only father he had ever loved, was walking towards them, shrugging his shoulders. The strong man who had shown sadness for his disabled son for only one day shouted cheerfully.

「Come on, let’s go now!」

Joy filled Izer’s eyes. What he had wished for most was happening. Going together with his father and mother. He wanted to ride in the carriage with his mother, watch the scenery passing by outside, and have the conversations he couldn’t have while lying down.

So he happily replied,

「Let’s go.」

However, as soon as he heard his son’s words, David’s expression changed terrifyingly. It was a face Izer had never seen before.

「Where do you think you’re following?」

「Father…?」

David, who had walked up briskly, snatched Renée from his son’s arms. That’s when Izer saw Renée’s face. Her face was also cold as ice.

Izer sensed it. His parents were trying to abandon him. It wasn’t befitting for a grown son to show such a disgraceful display, but he started crying. He didn’t want to be left behind like this. His parents were his entire world. How could he live without them?