I Became A Wretched Extra In A Healing Story - Chapter 5

Surprised by the unexpected question, Reibella immediately shook her head.

Then, as she tried to look at Duke Vicheravali again,

‘Ouch.’

One eye stung. Something must have gotten into her eye, carried by a sudden breeze.

As Reibella unconsciously squinted and rubbed her eye, a large hand blocked her gesture. Then, he blew a gentle puff of air towards her eye.

She was now comfortably cradled in his arms.

…What just happened?

“Are you alright?”

Startled by his unexpected action, Reibella nodded reflexively. And just as she was about to express her gratitude, the furious librarian caught the duke’s attention.

“What is the meaning of this!”

The duke’s gaze turned back to him.

“No matter who you are, Your Grace, this is too much! Suddenly, to a person…”

“A person?”

At the words that seemed to question whether he was a person, the librarian’s face turned bright red.

However, soon, as a murderous intent flashed in the duke’s eyes, the librarian froze instantly. The mouth that had been spitting sharp words closed like a clam, and his complexion turned as white as a sheet. The hand that had been threatening Reibella began to tremble.

Like a young lamb before a predator.

‘He’s really pathetic.’

Is this what they call the strong preying on the weak?

Was this really the same person who had been looking down and sneering at her just moments ago?

Watching him struggle to even breathe properly, she couldn’t help but feel contempt.

But she could understand him to some extent. Duke Vicheravali’s glare was so fierce that even Reibella, who was just observing, felt like crying.

Realizing his thoughts, the librarian bowed his head in submission and stood up, clutching his chest and stomach as if several ribs might have been broken.

The moment the librarian raised his head again, his anger-filled eyes turned towards Reibella.

‘…I’m doomed.’

He seemed to misunderstand that all this humiliation was her fault.

Watching the librarian weakly enter the library, Reibella instinctively knew that she wouldn’t be able to cross the threshold of the library until the day she fled the imperial palace.

What should I do?

Should I try to clear up the misunderstanding now?

But…

‘You’re just as foolish as your father. Your father was also greedy and didn’t know his place.’

It was obvious she would only hear more insults like before if he was still so angry.

‘Let’s go back.’

It seemed better to come back when the librarian had calmed down. Besides, it was almost time for the princess to wake up, so it might be more productive to go back and think of other ways to find the antidote.

“…Please put me down.”

When she asked with a voice still thick with emotion, Duke Vicheravali promptly set her down.

“Thank you.”

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Reibella politely expressed her gratitude to Duke Vicheravali.

Although she didn’t know why he had helped her, it was certain that his small whim had been an enormous comfort to Reibella.

Thanks to that, she felt she could endure a little longer.

Taking solace in the fact that there had been someone who took her side in this crazy world.

‘It’s unexpected though.’

Reibella stole a glance at Duke Vicheravali.

Silver hair and violet eyes.

Despite his angelic appearance and holy aura as if blessed by God, he was actually the one who ruled the darkness within the empire.

Cassius Vicheravali.

In the novel, he was described as indifferent and cold-hearted, and he was clearly a villain.

To receive comfort from such a person. While being treated like human trash by those she had thought well of.

It was truly ironic.

“Well then, I’ll be…”

Judging that she shouldn’t get involved with him either, she turned to leave.

…Wait a minute.

Reibella paused, then turned back to Duke Vicheravali.

…Since I’ve already received help, should I ask for a favor?

It seemed more likely to succeed asking the duke rather than the librarian.

Having quickly made her decision, Reibella asked carefully with a bright smile.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

“Could I possibly borrow a book?”

“A book?”

“A plant encyclopedia. Anything about plants. Since I’m a food taster, I’d like to know more about poisonous and medicinal herbs.”

“……”

“I’ll keep it clean and return it.”

“……”

“If you lend it to me, I’ll help you in return someday, Your Grace.”

His eyes answered that statement for him. They seemed to say, what help could someone like you possibly offer?

Of course, Reibella had a lot of information that could be helpful to him. From dangers that would befall him to numerous business ideas.

If she wanted to, she could recite dozens of pieces of information he would want right here and now.

Reibella decided on the information that would be most necessary for him and opened her mouth to propose an exchange for the book.

“I’ll have a knight lend it to you later.”

But there was no chance to speak. He had given permission without even listening to what she had to say.

…So readily?

“R-Really?”

“Yes.”

Really?

Reibella’s pupils dilated at the unexpected statement. Her eyes, filled with excitement, turned to him.

“As soon as possible, please!”

“Alright.”

What’s this, he’s actually a good person?

“Um, I’m staying at the princess’s palace. I’m Her Highness’s food taster, you see.”

“……”

“Thank you so much! Your Grace, you’re a good person!”

Reibella bowed her head repeatedly as she expressed her gratitude. Then, belatedly remembering the princess, she hurriedly left the place.

As she moved away from him, she thought.

That she should repay him somehow after receiving the book.

* * *

“Your Grace.”

His aide, Henan, approached carefully and informed him that it was time for his audience with the emperor. Cassius continued to watch the child’s retreating figure for a long while even after that.

“What about what I asked you to look into?”

“It’s as you expected, Your Grace. There was a traitor among Duke Felicity’s retainers.”

“……”

“It seems they prevented Lady Felicity from coming to Postarimo by giving her the wrong time for the ship’s departure. Afterwards, it appears she hid for a while, but gave up on running away after hearing the news of Duke Felicity’s death.”

“…I see.”

Cassius recalled a letter that had arrived for him a few months ago.

The sender was Duke Felicity.

It asked him to take care of his child, pleading to look after a child more precious than his own life.

It was quite an absurd content for a letter sent to the frontlines.

As far as Duke Vicheravali knew, Duke Felicity was a man known for his extraordinary love for his child. Naturally, he had dismissed that letter as a joke.

But while he was dealing with the aftermath of conquering Postarimo, the leader of the allied nations, Duke Felicity had been charged with treason and passed away, and the child had lost everything and was now living on borrowed time in the imperial palace.

“Is there a way to bring her?”

“There isn’t. Since it’s treason, she should have been executed originally. Without the emperor’s permission, she can neither leave the palace nor die.”

“Things might change if I go back to the battlefield.”

“…That’s true.”

The reason the emperor had summoned him today was probably to order him to return to the war.

He could refuse. It had been less than two months since the war with the allied nations had ended, and the current conflict areas only had minor battles with neighboring countries, nothing that could be called a major problem yet.

Even so, war was war. It wasn’t a place to go sightseeing mountains and fields.

Was it worth taking such a risk for that child?

Because of that letter that had quickly burned to ashes?

Cassius recalled the child smiling and thanking him. Her voice overlapped with a voice buried somewhere in his memories.

‘Thank you so much! Your Grace, you’re a good person!’

‘Anyway, you’re a good guy.’

Two pink-haired people calling Vicheravali, who couldn’t even be called ‘good’ as a polite formality, a ‘good person’.

“Find a plant encyclopedia and bring it to the child.”

Cassius ordered Henan as he turned his gaze away from the child’s retreating figure.

It was after the afterimage of the one who had smiled while brushing back pink hair had disappeared.