Chapter 58

“If you have no protest, we can hold the baron responsible for the disturbance and escort him out.”

At Gopher’s gesture, the servants restraining Mixel shifted their attention to the baron. Though the baron was obediently dragged away, the commotion seemed unlikely to settle soon.

How had things escalated this far? Bleria blinked, dazed.

“After I did all the work beating him down, you show off afterward?”

Freed from the servants’ grip, Mixel approached her.

“Are you all right? That old geezer’s face is hideous enough to be startling.”

“…It wasn’t his face that startled me.“

“Are you saying you have no sense of aesthetics?”

He had a talent for making outrageous statements with a straight face. Bleria considered rebuking him but closed her mouth when she noticed the attention drawn toward them.

Having caused such an uproar, she couldn’t precisely chastise the onlookers for their stares. Instead, Bleria alternated her gaze between Gopher, who had handled the situation unusually noisily, and Eos, who stood like a decorative piece at the back.

“Come here, Bleria,“ Gopher said in a weary tone.

Bleria reflexively took a step toward him, but a sneering voice intercepted her.

“Two partners at once? You’re quite the libertine.”

“Watch your mouth, Mixel. Do you realize how many eyes are watching?“

“And you, Your Grace, ought to mind your conduct. Stealing someone else’s lover to make them your partner when you already have a fiancée—aren’t you the last person who should be talking right now?”

Gopher lowered his voice, but Mixel raised it instead. His expression was openly hostile, and he grinned menacingly. Gopher studied that face momentarily before responding with his usual placid smile.

“Feeling like a hero, Mixel?“

“What?“

“The way you’re making a scene—it’s like a child desperate for attention.“

“Who are you calling a child—“

“If you truly wanted to help my fiancée, you would’ve handled it more discreetly without causing unnecessary rumors.“

“Who cares about rumors? They’ll blow over soon enough!“

“Hah, and you call yourself informed? What a naive thing to say. You’re not inexperienced enough to overlook the consequences, are you? Or… did you deliberately help in such a noisy way?“

“You bastard—!“

“Enough.”

The escalating argument froze instantly.

The voice that came from behind wasn’t loud, but it was more than sufficient to silence the commotion.

With her silver-white hair neatly combed back, sharp features giving her a severe impression, and rigid posture radiating authority, Stella Allnight had arrived without anyone noticing. Arms crossed, her cold gaze swept the room.

“It seems an uninvited name made it onto the guest list. I hear someone sold their invitation to pay off gambling debts, which allowed a certain degenerate to infiltrate this fine event. If anyone hears baseless nonsense from this individual, I ask that you disregard it as a favor to me.”

After making her declaration, the Duchess of Allnight’s piercing gaze landed on Bleria. Bleria straightened her posture.

“I heard you were subjected to some disgrace, and for failing to vet our guests properly, I take full responsibility.“

“It’s not necessary, Your Grace.“

“I’ll ensure appropriate compensation is sent to Heaven for your review. As for these troublemakers, I’ll take care of them. Do you have any objections?“

“Do as you see fit. I apologize for inadvertently contributing to the disturbance.”

The Duchess gestured toward her two grandsons before turning to leave. Gopher exhaled a faint sigh.

“Wait for me this time.“

“…Yes.”

The two followed the Duchess out. With the primary sources of attention gone, the crowd’s focus naturally shifted to Bleria. Though she was used to standing in the spotlight, the expressions in their eyes were not those of admiration or envy but something else entirely.

Ignoring their stares, Bleria lifted her head. Eos, meanwhile, was trying to slip away unnoticed, sneaking backward cautiously.

Was it the alcohol she’d consumed earlier finally taking effect? Her voice was steadier than she expected as she spoke.

“Lady Eos, could I have a moment of your time?”

In the banquet hall, there was no place to escape prying eyes. For that reason, Eos suggested they move to her guest quarters.

The spacious room was furnished with expensive, pristine furniture but held almost no personal belongings. Bleria compared the sterile environment to a real living space and swallowed dryly.

Eos broke the silence first.

“You said you wished to speak with me.”

“… That’s right.”

Her darting eyes suggested how awkward she found the situation. She looked simultaneously like someone who knew the truth and someone utterly clueless.

That faint air of innocence made it even harder to speak. However, with Gopher likely to return soon, Bleria forced herself to reach the point.

“I don’t think you should associate with Gopher.“

“Ah… so you misunderstood. The young duke was simply being kind—“

“Until you find your family, that is.”

Eos paused mid-explanation, blinking. Seizing the moment, Bleria pressed on with her prepared statement.

“Wherever you go, always take a trustworthy knight with you. If no such person is available, stay only in crowded places. Always carry silver tools, and avoid being alone with Gopher whenever possible.“

“Are you saying…“

“I know it must sound strange. But there’s no harm in being cautious, is there? It’s only for a little while anyway.”

Unable to meet her gaze, Bleria looked down at the table. She wasn’t sure if she was expressing herself appropriately, but that had never been easy for her.

“More importantly, the best action would be to find your family as soon as possible and seek their protection. Unless there’s some extraordinary circumstance, I suggest hurrying—“

“Wait, hold on a moment, Lady Bleria.”

Eos raised a hand in the air to halt her words. It didn’t seem intended to draw attention, but Bleria looked up anyway, meeting his gaze.

She could see confusion written all over his face.

“Do you… believe the rumors, my lady?”

Bleria didn’t answer.

Mixel Luke had claimed the duke harmed his daughter. Eos bore no apparent scars, yet the duke hadn’t denied the rumors, and even Gopher had changed his story.

And still, she wasn’t sure what to believe. She was tired of trying to discern Eos’ sincerity. One thing was clear amid the muddled mess: Bleria Heaven wasn’t honest.

“Lady Eos, you said you couldn’t recall much from childhood, correct?“

“…Yes.“

“Have you remembered anything now?”

Bleria thought back to the banquet, to the moment Eos had been pulled from the water by Damian, crying out in pain and calling for her family. Recalling it, the memory still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“I still… don’t remember anything.“

Eos’ face crumbled oddly. Perhaps it was her inherently gentle nature or her uncertainty about being Bleria Heaven herself.

In truth, Bleria wasn’t all that curious about her truth anymore. Her head throbbed. She lowered her head and sighed, prompting Eos to hurriedly offer her a handkerchief.

“I’m not crying.“

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were.”

Eos gripped the handkerchief tightly, her expression looking closer to tears than Bleria’s.

Her breath came in quick gasps, and her chin quivered. She couldn’t keep her hands still, alternately running them through her hair or tugging at it in frustration.

Watching her struggle and weary of her presence in the room, Bleria decided it was time to stand. Before leaving, she said softly, “I’m sorry.”

As she turned away, Eos suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Wait, please!”

Eos pleaded with desperation, then turned to rush toward a drawer. She quickly rifled through its contents before returning, clutching something tightly in her hand. Her pale face was drenched with cold sweat.

“Um, this isn’t meant to offend you. Please think of it as a gift.”

What Eos handed her was a small glass bottle containing a brown liquid.

“It’s a dye made from the roots of Titriciate. Mix five drops into a cup of water and apply it to your hair. It won’t seep into the skin.”

“….”

“It’s sensitive to acid, so if you avoid rainwater, it will last a year. Rain is naturally mildly acidic, but a few drops won’t wash it out. Still, being caught in heavy rain without an umbrella would be risky. Otherwise, I mean… You don’t have to use it, of course. I just—”

Eos stammered on, her nervous rambling betraying her fear of being misunderstood. Bleria stared at the bottle for a moment before accepting it.

“Thank you.“

Eos’ expression grew stranger, but she refrained from saying anything further. Bleria turned and wondered if she would regret this day in the future.

She left the room. She did not intend to return to the banquet hall or wait for Gopher. She planned to return to the estate and prepare for what came next.

However, her steady steps faltered as she exited the annex.

Gopher was standing there, waiting for her.

“You seem to be feeling better. Can we talk now?”

At his cold question, she slowly nodded her head.

59

When Bleria stepped outside, her legs gave out. Eos tried to hold onto the table but couldn’t stop herself from collapsing. She sprawled on the carpet, trying to catch her breath.

The door creaked open without a knock, and she felt a presence behind her. It was obvious who it was. Eos spoke.

“Didn’t you call me an ungrateful fraud?“

“...”

“You clearly said I schemed to steal someone’s position and deliberately deceived Duke Haven—“

“The door’s open.”

When Eos fell silent, the sound of the door closing followed. The man laughed softly as he approached.

“You really are naive. How could a commoner fool a duke, no matter how deliberate they might be?“

“I was just… stupid.“

“Just ordinary. Most commoners are, aren’t they?“

“Then why on earth would he—“

“Do you need to know that?”

The genuine confusion in his tone drew a sharper line than any cold words could. Eos lowered her head.

“You weren’t harmed by being deceived, were you? If anything, it probably made it easier for you to immerse yourself. Did she say anything strange?“

“She apologized… and told me not to stay with the young duke.”

“So her reaction finally changed, huh?”

He laughed aloud. Then, with hands that had noticeably softened, he helped Eos to a sofa. Eos felt no gratitude.

“It worked out, so relax. Don’t tell me you looked this gloomy before her, too. She’d think it was odd. …Well, whatever. As long as you played your part well.“

“...”

“You’re not comparing her to Celia just because they share a hair color, are you?“

“Celia is…“

“She just didn’t grow up well-fed, so she’s smaller than most. But she’s the same age as you. And I’m not doing this to make her miserable.“

“I know.“

Eos’s reply was weak.

By now, it was clear that the man harbored animosity only toward Gopher Allnight. But that didn’t change the fact that Eos had contributed to ruining someone’s life.

Until now, she’d been able to proceed without guilt, thinking her target was a lowly con artist.

When he noticed her trembling hands, he clicked his tongue.

“Stop worrying about someone who just resembles Celia. Focus on her instead. She’s been through something bad.“

“What happened to Celia? Is she in trouble?“

“Same as always. Seizures.”

Seizures.

The familiar yet forever alien word sent a chill down her spine.

“I managed to treat her in a rush, but it’s getting harder to hold out. To solve it fundamentally, you know what’s needed, right?”

It was a terribly clichéd story.

To cure Celia’s illness, medicine was needed. And that medicine was far beyond what Eos’s meager skills could afford. The man standing before her was the only one who could procure it, even with great effort.

There was no room for trifling morals. Seeing the determination gleam in Eos’s eyes, the man smirked.

“That’s the look I wanted.“

“You’ll get the medicine after this is over, right?“

“We signed a contract, didn’t we? No matter what, your sister will be cured.”

Yes, that was enough. Eos steeled herself against her wavering resolve.

“What should I do now, Mixel?”

***

Bleria and Gopher relocated to the study.

Tap, tap. The sound of fingers drumming on the table seemed irritable. Bleria stared at the floor with an expressionless face, waiting for him to speak. At last, the silence broke.

“What do you want from me, Bleria? You went silent for days like you were exacting revenge, then suddenly barged in.”

“I was really unwell. Ask Heaven’s staff to confirm if you don’t believe me.“

“I’m not saying I don’t believe you. Why are you here?“

“...“

“Are you afraid because I said I’d care for Eos Liche?”

When Bleria didn’t answer, Gopher let out a hollow laugh.

“Do you not want Eos to die?“

“Yes.“

“Oh, really? So your goal is to hand over your position to Eos Liche and get executed?”

It wasn’t entirely accurate but wasn’t far from the truth.

The prolonged silence made him rake his face with his hands. When his eyes met hers again, they were steeped in a deep betrayal.

“…So, I’ve been dealing with a saint this whole time.“

“...”

“Why feel guilty? Even when things were at their worst, no one from Heaven came looking for Eos Liche.“

“They just need time.“

“Bleria.“

“Everyone knows by now. There’s no going back to before, Gopher. It wasn’t my position to begin with. So I don’t want to thrash around, harming others.”

Gopher started to argue but suddenly stopped. He stared at her as if he’d realized something.

“You’ve been using formal speech this whole time…”

He trailed off and sighed.

“You do that sometimes. When something overwhelming happens, you pretend it’s not your problem and walk away. Like that changes anything.“

“This won’t harm you. Her Grace is already considering a new marriage prospect—“

“You wouldn’t mind if I married Eos instead?”

Gopher abruptly stood.

“Even though you love me?”

The rawness of the words hit like a physical blow.

Without realizing it, Bleria gripped the armrest of the sofa. Gopher’s gaze caught the movement. Even as she reminded herself not to falter, she couldn’t meet his eyes.

Once again, this was how it unfolded.

You, who had finally calmed me down and let me find peace, now try to provoke me with cutting words as if solving everything with deceit. Knowing that, Bleria’s voice trembled.

“Why are you speaking like that? What does it matter how I feel? I get it—it’s more convenient to marry someone who holds a weakness over you. But we’ve long passed the point of convenience, haven’t we? I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”

Even if I bring up my feelings in this situation, what meaning does it hold besides causing me more pain?

You don’t care. It’s not essential to you. You were shaken when you saw Eos smile. The grip on the armrest in her hand grew tighter.

“In the end, you were always planning to expose my story when things got dangerous, weren’t you? You intended to claim you were deceived, report it to Heaven, and demand compensation. That’s why you kept the diary in the drawer…”

Ah, I hadn’t intended to bring that up. Bleria trailed off, but the words had already left her mouth. There was no way Gopher hadn’t understood.

“Bleria.”

A softer voice spoke nearby, close and low, just below her face. Even without turning her head, she could picture Gopher bending forward.

“You opened the drawer?“

“…Yes.“

“Did that letter suggest you open it?”

So he knew about the letter as well. Bleria, nearly resigned, let the words spill out carelessly.

“No matter where it came from, it doesn’t change the fact that you kept your diary nearby.“

“So, you feel betrayed?“

“...”

“Look at me, Bleria.”

Bleria didn’t turn her head, but Gopher’s voice softened slightly. A hand, bare from when he had removed his glove, rested atop hers on the armrest.

“I won’t lie. I kept the evidence as a precaution. But what’s the result? You know I haven’t used the diary as a weapon.”

He behaved as though he had just realized why Bleria was acting out.

It is as if knowing the reason could solve everything. As if a few gentle words and affectionate touches could tear down any firm resolve.

So far, he hasn’t been wrong. Bleria had been weak to such things. But this time, no amount of comfort could change her mind. Slowly and heavily, sorrow welled up inside her.

She blankly stared at Gopher’s hand, which was stroking hers.

“If you expected me to have disposed of the diary, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that wasn’t the case, was it? You know I don’t think you’re someone I can’t trust. What matters is that I haven’t betrayed you.“

“Then the pendant.”

The sudden mention caused Gopher’s expression to darken.

“After inquiring about your affairs from the nanny, guiding me toward that person, deceiving me, making me uneasy, and then acting as if you were offering goodwill—was that not betrayal?“

“Who told you that? No, I don’t even need to ask. It was Mixel Luke, wasn’t it?“

“Does that matter?“

“It’s not true.”

Gopher clenched his jaw hard enough for the muscles to stand out, then spoke again.

“The intent is obvious. Do you trust Mixel Luke more than me?“

“I want to trust you, but I can’t.”

Bleria bowed her head, tightly shutting her eyes before opening them again. Her eyelids trembled.

“I don’t know what I am to you, why you act this way toward me, or what you want from me—not a single thing.“

“...”

“If I think about it rationally, by now—or long before—it would’ve been reasonable for you to abandon me. There’s no reason it absolutely has to be me for you…“

“Is there truly no reason you can think of?”

Interrupting her, Gopher firmly gripped her hand. She felt as if her heart was tumbling out of rhythm.

“You must have thought of something, even for a moment.“

“I’ve never once—“

“You have to look me in the eyes to say that, Bleria.”