Chapter 38

“Young master, this is Doyle. I apologize for interrupting, but I have some news to deliver.”

“Come in.”

The butler was usually composed, but his face was particularly stiff today. After greeting Bleria, he gestured outside. Gopher excused himself to Bleria and stepped into the hallway.

Bleria, watching him leave, noticed that the door didn’t close completely.

Should I close it?

As she pondered and got up, she overheard the butler whispering.

“…Lady Eos has collapsed.”

Her legs gave way, and she fell awkwardly back onto the sofa.

Collapsed?

She had seemed perfectly healthy earlier. Clutching the edge of the blanket, Bleria recalled their earlier meeting. Eos had been with Gopher. Her heartbeat began to quicken.

“Is she dead?“

“No. Fortunately, the Duchess was meeting with Priest Beirin at the time.“

“That’s lucky. What happened?“

“The exact results aren’t in yet, but it seems she was poisoned by an inhaled toxin. It’s suspected to have been mixed into perfume.“

“Someone said a bottle of perfume was broken this morning.“

“It was the maid who accompanied her on the outing. She hasn’t been seen since returning, and we’re investigating.“

“She’s not dead, right? Don’t go overboard. Whatever happened, the maid unlikely did it out of personal spite.“

“…Understood.“

“Make sure Lady Eos is treated properly. It’s bad luck for a guest to die in the mansion.“

“Yes, young master.”

After concluding the conversation, Gopher returned to the study. Though he must have seen the door ajar, he didn’t react. Instead, upon entering, he pushed the door closed.

It became clear—he had intentionally let her overhear the earlier conversation.

As Gopher approached, he asked Bleria, “What do you think?“

“About… what?“

“Do you think it’s just a coincidence that Grandmother suddenly called for a priest?”

His words confirmed the doubts already forming in Bleria’s mind.

“She can be the most ruthless when necessary, but at times like this, she acts so leniently. She should have used a fast-acting poison, even if it was risky.“

“…Were you trying to kill Eos?”

A brief silence followed. Then his eyes curved into a precise shape, accentuating the beauty mark near them. Sitting on the sofa’s armrest, Gopher countered, “Why?“

Despite his smiling face, his voice was calm and heavy.

“Ruining Eos Liche’s reputation to silence her isn’t bad. But it’s not as clean as eliminating her altogether. The stage is set to make it look like a lovers’ quarrel. Pinning it on someone else would be easy. There’s no shortage of scorned fools who turn violent.”

“…”

“I thought you’d be pleased, Bleria.”

Liar. You never thought that.

Like a cat toying with its prey, he twirled the ribbon of her bonnet around his finger.

“It’s not like I harmed an innocent person. She’s a fraud trying to take what’s yours.“

“…Is there no way to resolve this without killing her?“

“Even if we proceed legally, the end result will be her death.”

For a moment, the ribbon of her bonnet felt like it was blocking her airway. She couldn’t breathe. Gopher gently stroked her tense shoulders.

“This isn’t just an insult; it’s impersonation and defamation. Any court would deliver the same verdict.“

“What if she’s not a fraud…?“

“Why entertain such pointless doubts?”

The hand caressing her shoulder slid to her face, tilting it toward him. Her tangled hair brushed against his fingers, its texture unpleasant against her cheek.

Gopher cupped her face, turning it to meet his eyes.

“If that were true, then you would be the fraud. You don’t want to die in Eos Liche’s place, right?”

Unable to say a word, she could only grip the blanket tighter. Struggling to exhale, she recalled his earlier words.

“If I tell you to sit quietly and wait until everything is resolved, you might think it sounds too violent.”

“But let me assure you again—no matter the outcome, you won’t be harmed.”

So, this had been his plan from the start. Whether Eos was genuine or not, she was destined to die under Mixel Luke’s hand.

Logically speaking, Eos Liche’s actions were heinous. Impersonating someone and stealing their place could never be justified.

But admitting that would mean confronting her own guilt. The truths she had tried so hard to ignore now dangled beneath her, threatening to strangle her.

Her voice quivered.

“Why… why are you telling me this?”

Until now, he had kept it hidden. Even on the day of the prophecy, when he said they would share everything, he didn’t mention killing Eos. So why now?

Gopher replied, “Because you’re wavering. You can’t even distinguish friend from foe anymore.”

Bleria immediately realized he was referring to Mixel Luke Dice and retorted.

“Count Dice broke his arm because of me. I only helped him temporarily. You know we’ve done nothing but argue otherwise.“

“And you don’t find it odd that a docile horse suddenly went wild?“

“That’s because of the pearls on my bonnet—“

“Even if that’s true, you—!”

Gopher raised his voice, only to quickly suppress it. Yet, his hand on the sofa’s backrest was tense, as if he might tear the fabric. His restrained words still carried traces of anger.

“You must always be wary of Mixel Luke Dice.“

Bleria’s heart seemed to stop for a moment before pounding explosively. She could feel her hot blood coursing through her limbs. Overwhelmed by confusion, she couldn’t contain her bewilderment. Her gaze wandered aimlessly as if seeking help.

“I don’t… understand why you’re angry with me. I….”

Has she ever misbehaved toward Mixel Luke?

They always met by chance—or perhaps by Mixel Luke’s design—and she had consistently rejected, ignored, or even gotten angry at him. Sure, he had helped her out of the carriage with his arm in a cast instead of hers, but she had only treated him kindly once.

That was it. Indeed, that was all.

“Just tell me to avoid the count altogether,“ she said.

“I’m telling you now.“

“…Why?”

Under normal circumstances, she would have obediently agreed, but her rising sense of injustice compelled her to ask. When Gopher sighed in response, the sorrow inside her grew even more substantial.

“What exactly happened with the count? The succession dispute is over, isn’t it?”

“Do I need a reason?“

“To—.“

“If I have to persuade you on every little thing, then why must it be you?”

His words were shockingly cold. Her heart, which had been beating so strongly, fell with a thud.

Even Gopher seemed surprised at what he had just said. Perhaps he hadn’t meant to let slip his true feelings, and now he was flustered.

Yes.

That was it.

She thought she had come to terms with it, but a few moments of kindness had made her forget. Bleria—or rather, she was not indeed Bleria—was not on equal footing with Gopher.

Even if he didn’t abandon her, she was still… no better than a dog. Bleria opened her mouth absently.

“So, I just need to avoid Mixel Luke Dice?“

“…Bleria.“

“Not touch him, not speak to him? But it’s hard to completely avoid someone who always shows up out of nowhere. Maybe I should stay locked up in the Heaven Estate until the wedding?“

“Bleria.“

“Then, what else should I do? What can I do? Tell me exactly where to draw the line. If you don’t tell me, I won’t know. I’m too stupid for that, so you must explain—.”

Gopher pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry.”

The warmth that enveloped her body made her want to cry.

Don’t cry. If you cry, he’ll hate you even more. He’ll despise you as a fool who can’t control her expression. Bleria forced her tears down her throat.

Be useful. Do as you’re told. Don’t ask questions, just comply.

So he won’t abandon you.

She couldn’t tell whether this was something she had learned as Bleria or something Norma had told her. Did it even matter? Everyone likely wanted the same thing anyway.

Bleria, unable to muster the courage to return Gopher’s embrace, spent a long moment holding back her tears.

After some time had passed, Bleria finally calmed down. Only then could she objectively assess her reaction.

Why did I do that? Why was I so afraid?

She must have seemed strange. As she fiddled with her sleeve buttons, stealing glances at Gopher, she quietly composed herself. Even an old habit she thought she had long overcome flared up again.

Gopher placed a teacup in front of her. Speaking more cautiously than usual, he said, “I’ve been on edge because of Mixel Luke. Even after you left, he kept getting under my skin.”

“…”

“I overreacted this time. Forget about it. And don’t worry about Eos Liche either.”

Bleria parted her lips but chose not to voice any thoughts swirling in her head.

“I will.“

“…Sometimes, pretending not to know is the better option.”

It wasn’t an impossible request. In fact, she acts as if she knows something is more complicated for Bleria. She wasn’t the one doing anything wrong. If she didn’t interfere with Gopher’s work, closed her eyes briefly, and let things run their course, everything would be fine.

Her vision darkened. In that darkness, where she couldn’t take a single step without someone else’s help, Bleria found a familiar sense of tranquility. But unlike before, it no longer brought her joy.