45. Greed

Robin Wellers unconsciously pushed away the teacup he had been holding according to perfect etiquette.

As he was assigned many important responsibilities from various places, the instances of serving others had gradually decreased.

So serving someone like this was a rare occurrence.

Robin hesitated for a moment and then picked up the tray again.

The tea was already well-brewed at a suitably hot temperature.

It might be better to give this perfect tea to the chattering tomboy rather than throwing it away.

Robin took it and headed back to the closed door.

When he opened the door, he saw Rosaline on the sofa.

He could see her nodding off, her head bobbing up and down.

At that moment, her neck dropped down and was about to plunge to the ground.

Robin quickly abandoned the teacup and rushed to her.

He caught her in his arms before she hit the floor.

“Troublesome miss.”

Robin sighed and gently placed the exhausted Rosaline back on the sofa.

But it was true that he had been rude to her from the beginning.

Robin thought that all this trouble was due to his own mistake of making unnecessary interference.

❀❀❀

“Chief chamberlain?”

Murray Dorothea, the ducal residence’s physician who discovered Robin Wellers, asked with a puzzled face.

She had been ordered to treat Rosaline and was just about to enter the castle gate.

“The patient you’re going to care for today is trying to escape to the afterlife.”

Robin Wellers showed the face of the person on his back as if showing off.

On his back, Rosaline Brienne was comfortably leaning, deeply asleep and oblivious to the world.

“Oh my, it’s Miss Rosaline. Though it’s been just a few days, it feels like I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

Murray brightened.

“By the way, it’s still early evening, why is the Miss so deeply asleep?”

“……”

Robin Wellers tried to pass by her and enter the castle without answering.

“Hmm, with the recent sleeping pill incident and all. Chief chamberlain, surely not……”

As Murray narrowed her eyes suspiciously, Robin Wellers stopped in his tracks.

“Absolutely not.”

“Hmm, that sounds like a lie?”

Robin Wellers avoided Murray’s sharp gaze.

“Just be honest with me, chief chamberlain. I believe you mentioned last time that you were suffering from insomnia.”

“I don’t understand why you think that. Does carrying sleeping pills automatically make one a suspect?”

As Robin slightly raised his head, Murray stared at him for a moment.

“Haha, I was joking. Since the imperial family is conducting an investigation, the full story of this incident will soon be revealed. For now, would you give the Miss to me?”

As Murray spread her arms, Robin lowered Rosaline from his back.

“She must be heavy……”

Murray laughed.

“I consistently exercise to build strength.”

As if it wasn’t just talk, Murray easily received Rosaline.

Robin quietly watched the scene.

“……I’ll get revenge.”

Rosaline sleep-talked at that moment.

“Ahahahaha!”

Murray laughed loudly as she picked her up.

“Oh my, it seems the Miss has a deep grudge against you, chief chamberlain. You should be careful. What on earth did you do to her?”

Robin blushed at Murray’s mockery.

“It’s not like that.”

He quickly turned around and tried to leave.

But Murray, having noticed something, called out to him.

“Chief chamberlain.”

Robin tried to ignore her and walk away until he heard those words.

“Could it be… you’re coming from that place?”

He flinched in surprise and quickly covered himself with the fabric of his outer garment.

Murray’s sharp eyes didn’t miss that moment.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t fool my eyes by pretending nothing’s wrong. Stop by my clinic after your duties end in the evening.”

Beneath Robin’s clothes, which he hadn’t managed to cover in time, was a dark red stain.

Having unintentionally revealed his wound, Robin hurried away without giving her any answer.

The smile that had been on Murray’s lips as she watched Robin’s retreating back disappeared in an instant.

❀❀❀

On the floor, something reddish was scattered like rags over a torn sack.

There was a gaze walking toward the chunks of flesh that had been torn to pieces beyond recognition.

It was Jace Riverton.

His footsteps walked around the area without hesitation.

The torn flesh pieces were mercilessly trampled and crushed under his shoe.

It was the moment when his relentless steps finally stopped after treading deep into the forest.

He stretched his arm toward the air.

Simultaneously, countless leaves began to fall from where his gaze was directed.

The corner of Jace Riverton’s mouth turned slightly downward.

“Why were you so greedy? This is unlike you. Was the meat not enough?”

The moment he spoke kindly, a giant bird appeared from the darkening forest sky, creating a strong wind.

Its pitch-black eyes vigilantly scanned the surroundings before flying straight to Jace Riverton.

As the bird reduced the speed of its flapping wings, it slowly perched on his arm.

The sight of its hideous and black hooks wrapping around his arm was reminiscent of chains binding a vicious criminal.

The bird’s massive claws, sharply honed, boasted an impressive majesty capable of tearing apart the hide of any beast.

Jace Riverton casually brought the arm he had offered to the bird closer to his body.

The bird facing him lowered its large head and brought it close to him.

“It’s troublesome when you make a mess like this. You should know better.”

At his reproach, the bird made a gurgling sound while watching his reaction.

Leaving the bird, which had shrunk its body in intimidation, Jace Riverton’s gaze slowly and carefully scanned the distance.

He stood still for a moment, glaring at one spot.

After a long while, he muttered.

“What’s that?”

Of course, it wasn’t a question he asked expecting an answer.

Unfortunately, he didn’t possess the ability to communicate with animals.

Jace Riverton slowly began to move his halted steps.

After walking a few steps, he bent down and examined what was below.

He lightly brushed with his finger over the ground where traces of moisture would have been abundant just hours ago.

With a few gestures of his hand, the dust was brushed away, and something began to reveal itself.

Jace Riverton’s stiff lips gradually began to soften.

The corner of his mouth rose slightly.

Without even realizing this fact, he picked up a jeweled pin that had fallen on the shallowly dug ground.

He immediately recognized the identity of the pin.

He couldn’t not know.

It was a pin that had entered his eyes repeatedly just a few hours ago.

The light of the pin, which had been securing the hair that swayed whenever the smile in the teacup grew, was faint and insignificant.

Moreover, it was now dirty, buried in soil.

Jace carefully picked up the pin and wiped it with a handkerchief from his outer pocket.

Though it was already a flawlessly crafted item by a master craftsman, he carefully dusted off the surrounding dirt with a soft cloth as if newly processing a delicate jewel.

In an instant, the jewel regained its remembered light.

Even if something else had fallen here, his reaction would have been the same.

For instance, something like a smoother-than-usual hem of clothing, or even softer hair.

Or a wrist so soft and thin it could take one’s breath away.

As long as his new plan didn’t go awry, it wouldn’t be long.

He had postponed Rosaline’s turn a bit.

After trampling and eliminating the political opponents, and completely severing the lineage of the Brienne family that had helped them.

He was envisioning a perfect moment.

That moment might be as sweet as the cherry placed on top of a cake that was saved and never eaten.

Would Rosaline on that day be able to smile like today?

Probably not.

Though he most eagerly awaits her pleading pitifully, trying to save her life from him, it will be a final moment that can never be reversed again.

No matter how he thought about it, the noon teatime was too short.

Even worse, the days were getting shorter and shorter.

He pondered for a moment if there was a way to see her for longer.

— Squeak.

The bird made a small, anxious sound.

Jace Riverton stroked the bird’s head with his other hand.

Realizing its master’s mood had improved, the bird rubbed its head against his hand, pleased.

“You didn’t harm Rosie, did you?”

Jace Riverton asked the bird in a whisper.

His voice asking this was so sweet that it was enough to break down the defenses of a man-eating monster that no gun could penetrate.