Adam looked at his mother as if he had been struck on the back of the head.

“A mother knows her son.”

“I’ve never harbored such dirty thoughts. How could I… with Marienne! My sister!”

“Yes, I hope so.”

“Move aside.”

Mrs. Rose pleaded with a desperate voice.

“Blame me instead! I’ll bear the sin against Marienne! I’ve already lost your father and Melinda. What am I supposed to do if something happens to you too, you heartless boy!”

Adam pushed past his wailing mother and ran outside.

“Adam!”

His mother’s voice pierced his ears, but he ran desperately towards Louer Castle.

As he left the town and entered the hill path, he was out of breath.

Adam caught his breath, leaning on his thighs, then looked up.

As the moon emerged from behind the clouds, the massive fortress of Louer revealed itself.

Only then did various practical obstacles calculate in Adam’s mind.

Perhaps he had sensed it from the moment he received the butler’s suspicious offer, from the moment he saw the Duke’s persistent gaze on Marienne.

That it would come to this, and that he would be unable to reach any other conclusion about himself.

As this thought struck him, his feet refused to move, as if they were glued to the ground.

He covered his face and burst into violent sobs.

The ugly sincerity he had been unwilling to admit even to himself was laid bare.

He loved her, but he could no longer go on.

He was nothing more than a pathetic brother and man.

I’m sorry, Marienne. I’m truly sorry.

Adam sat down on the dirt floor, shedding tears.

The brilliant moonlight left the sobbing, pitiful man and climbed over the castle gates. Then it moved to the Duke, who was tilting a glass of wine on the balcony.

But startled by the darkness in his eyes, it fled westward. To a woman praying with her elbows on the windowsill.

“Please protect my brother Adam from taking dangerous actions to save me. Please watch over my mother who will be heartbroken because of me. Merciful Moon Goddess, please protect my family.”

Marienne’s shoulders trembled finely as she held back her tears.

The meal she had refused was cooling on the table again today.

Feeling dizzy, Marienne leaned on the windowsill. Tears slid down the bridge of her nose.

“Goddess, please protect my brother and mother. Please watch over them so they don’t suffer because of me. I pray this earnestly.”

“Ah… it hurts.”

Marienne suddenly raised her head at the unfamiliar sound.

She looked around, but there was no one in the room filled with moonlight.

“Did I hear wrong?”

As she was about to resume her prayer, tilting her head in confusion.

“You, are you a healer?”

Marienne stood up abruptly.

At that moment, the candle on the table lit itself.

“If you’re a healer, save me.”

“W-who are you?”

Marienne, frightened, quickly scanned the now-lit room.

“Who else? I’m the monster of Heath that you all fear.”

A shadow rising from the corner dominated the wall as it tilted.

Marienne’s scream lit up lights throughout the castle.

A moment later, a maid who came running with a lamp knocked irritably on the westernmost room.

“Miss Rose? Miss Rose, may I come in?”

Hearing a heavy thud, the maid opened the door with a master key.

In the flickering candlelit room, a chair had fallen over, and Marienne Rose was standing next to it.

Marienne’s face, clutching her skirt, was as pale as if she had seen a ghost.

“Miss Rose, what’s the matter?”

“I… I fell asleep in the chair… and had a nightmare.”

The maid clicked her tongue and set the chair upright. Then she poked her head out the window to check if the lights were on in the Duke’s bedroom.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the master suffers from severe insomnia! Lower your voice and refrain from careless actions late at night!”

The maid, who had spoken rapidly, glared.

What business does a commoner have in such a luxurious guest room!

She was already annoyed at having to bring meals every time, and now to be woken up – the more she looked, the more irritating it was.

“I’m sorry for the trouble.”

She glared at Marienne and left the room.

“Phew…”

Marienne soothed her startled heart. Then she gently lifted the overturned cup.

Underneath was a small yellow lizard, curled up.

About the size of a palm, perhaps? It was a very tiny creature.

Marienne pulled the candlestick closer to examine the lizard carefully.

Its back was torn, as if attacked by an animal.

Is it dead already?

Finding that more horrifying than the monster, Marienne poked the lizard with a fork.

“How uncouth, poking with a fork. I’m not dead.”

Marienne covered her mouth.

“A lizard that talks!”

“Your ears must be terrible too. I said I’m not a lizard, but a monster. Ah… it stings like death. What are you doing, not helping right away!”

Marienne pretended not to hear and averted her gaze, which angered the monster.

“It’s no use pretending. I can smell the scent of a healer all over you! Hurry up and heal me. Then I’ll let you sleep soundly while you’re in the castle.”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

It was quite a prickly lizard.

Marienne hesitated, but feeling sorry for its suffering appearance, she placed it on her palm.

There was blood speckled around its small mouth, as if it had internal injuries.

She infused energy into the suspicious lizard.

The lizard checked its now-healed back, rubbing it with its long tail.

“Thanks. I’ll repay the debt.”

“It’s alright.”

“Hey, I can’t live with debts. My name is Rahta. You?”

“Marienne Rose.”

Rahta muttered, seemingly trying to remember the name.

“You’re the one who healed Nigel in the forest before, right?”

“How do you know?”

The lizard raised its chin haughtily.

“I know a thing or two about Nigel.”

As soon as Rahta finished speaking, Marienne asked.

“Then do you know why the Duke is angry with me?”

“To some extent.”

Marienne, seemingly overwhelmed with sorrow, poured out her frustrations while on the verge of tears.

“I saved his life, but instead of gratitude, I’ve been treated harshly. If he needed my help, I would have given my all if he had just asked. He didn’t need to choose such a cruel method. I really don’t understand him. I feel wronged and resentful. And sad.”

Rahta, feeling sorry for Marienne who had been skipping meals and sobbing for days, opened its mouth.

“Nigel is doing this because of hope.”

“What?”

“That day, you gave him a clumsy hope. The hope of being saved. To Nigel and his father.”

Marienne burst out in anger, raising her voice.

“Then how can he repay hope with despair to the benefactor who gave it? It wasn’t something I did expecting anything in return, I just wanted to save him!”

“I understand your feelings. But Nigel had to suffer because of it.”

“What suffering could there be for someone living in such a splendid place, respected by all? Is it so great that it justifies stabbing an innocent person and separating a family?”

“Calm down. No one can fully understand another person’s circumstances. Just as Nigel doesn’t know your pure intentions, you can’t fully understand his situation.”

Marienne, drained of energy, sat down in the chair.

“The Duke in my memories was kind, but now I fear and resent him. And above all, I can’t stand how pathetic I am.”

“There’s nothing you can do against Nigel. All you can do is wait for his mood to change. Nigel needs your ability too, so he’ll eventually change his attitude.”

Marienne sighed deeply and slumped over the table.

With nothing left to say, Rahta plucked a newly sprouted flower and savored its fragrance. The petals completely covered its face.

It was a monster that loved flowers immensely.

Unlike the happy Rahta, Marienne lamented in a voice filled with despair.

“I still can’t believe it. How the Duke could do this. I wish it were a nightmare that would disappear when I wake up.”

“Yeah. If it were a nightmare, I could help you.”

“Rahta, how long will I be here? I want to go home, even if just once. I’m worried sick about my mother and brother.”

Marienne burst into tears again and sobbed.

Rahta sighed and put down the flower.

“You’ll lose your eyes crying like that. Why don’t you go lie down on the bed?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Tonight will be different. Come on, stop sniffling and get into bed.”

Yielding to Rahta’s nagging, Marienne lay down on the bed.

“I told you I can’t sleep.”

“Alright. Sweet dreams.”

As Marienne was about to protest, Rahta tapped her cheek gently with its long tail. As if by magic, her eyelids closed.

Marienne woke up well past noon the next day.