Chapter 13
Time passed without meaning, and I couldn’t stand it. I really wanted to go to the Midnight Guild today to get new information because I hadn’t heard from Redcliffe yet, so I was getting restless.
I was forced to go to the eastern wing of the castle where Dalton’s room was. I really didn’t want to see him, but I was overcome with the urge to ask him just when he’d be leaving.
“Brother?”
“Tess.”
Dalton looked back at me with a cold expression on his face. Dressed in comfortable clothes, I found him reading a letter. But when I entered the room, he organized the documents and made a face. Seemed like that look of affection was gone now. Why didn’t I notice that it was useless hanging onto a rotten rope as a lifeline?
“What were you reading?”
“Just some letters related to work.”
And then there was silence once again. I had no idea which one was more accurate, if he truly didn’t know how to talk to people, or if he just didn’t want to talk to me in particular.
“You must be very busy.”
“Not really.”
“But don’t you have to go out for work? I thought you might be staying here for too long…”
Ah, was that too direct? But anyone who had eyes could see that he was uncomfortable staying here in the castle. But after hearing my words, Dalton made a dark expression.
Did he catch on to what I was hinting at? Ah! Just what did I say. He had no change in expression no matter what I said, before, but why was he being like this now?
“Of course, I’m also happy that you’re here with me, Brother. Haha…”
I quickly added this, laughing awkwardly. Then, Dalton’s expression… hardened and became suspicious.
“What do you usually do?”
Dalton schooled his features and suddenly asked a question. Was he finally trying to open me up? The reason why he’s staying here at the Dark Castle must really be to investigate me and see if I’m doing anything strange.
If I do something wrong again, I’m sure he’d be happy to send me over to that damn quack doctor right away.
However, ever since Dalton started staying over at the castle, I hadn’t acted suspiciously at all. I was being more careful than usual, doing the usual things that noble young ladies did.
I purposely didn’t even go to the Midnight Guild because of this. It was clear that Dalton, who couldn’t find anything suspicious about me, was still doubting what he was seeing.
“I just read, embroider, or go on walks in my spare time.”
It was a bland enumeration of hobbies that noble young ladies did. Dalton’s expression didn’t change at all when I answered, and somehow, it felt like he was aware of my lies. But what could I do? It’s not like I could just go and tell him that I was preparing for the ritual I needed to do during the Crimson Moon.
Feeling nervous after seeing his unimpressed reaction, I impulsively brought up another hobby.
“I also sometimes go downtown and spend time at a tea house.”
I brought this up because I recalled a maid talking about this tea house not too long ago. It’s popular amongst young women these days. Commoners could enter the establishment, but for some reason, the tea house was also gaining popularity with young aristocrats. Of course, I’d never even step foot in that place.
“Alone?”
“Huh?”
If I’d have gone, of course I’d goalone. Tess didn’t have any friends. I couldn’t answer his question directly, but Dalton continued speaking without a change in his expression. It was an impassive tone, as though he was watering a motionless plant.
“I’m thinking of stopping by downtown, so you can come with me.”
“O-oh, no, that’s alright!”
It was an offer that I could never take. Firstly, going to town with Dalton was something that didn’t make sense. Secondly, going to a tea house with him was even more far-fetched.
I was going to reject him firmly. With that in mind, I looked straight into his eyes, but then… When I did, his cold, sharp gaze silently put pressure on me.
I couldn’t understand his intentions, but I had already made a mistake with my words earlier. I had no other choice but to tuck my tail between my legs here.
Besides that, this just made me realize that I was still terrified of him. After averting my gaze, I begrudgingly accepted his offer to go downtown, bracing myself for what was to come.
·
It was at a small town near the Dark Castle. The people there were mostly travelers, so the population was small, but the town itself was complete with everything. Even the Midnight Guild was in that town.
The last time I visited the guild was in the evening. Perhaps that’s why it was interesting to see how lively the village was during the day. The scenery was just like the Middle Ages, so it was also fun to see what kind of wares the travelers brought from all over the world to sell here.
I was walking around with Dalton and an attendant that he brought with us. Not wanting to get caught staring at him, I lowered my gaze when he turned around. Dalton handed over an item to the servant, giving meticulous instructions that might be related to some errand in town, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.
“Where is the teahouse you mentioned?”
“Oh! The teahouse?”
Donna winked and made a subtle gesture to tell me which direction the teahouse was in. Despite my dire situation, it looked like she was having fun.
“It’s this way, ahaha.”
“……”
Here, I thought that Dalton would go ahead and attend to his business, but he started following me.
With an onslaught of dread, I could feel cold sweat running down my back as I tried to deny reality. No, it couldn’t be that Dalton was coming with me to the tea house.
You’ll just walk me there because we’re going in the same direction, right?
I glanced at Dalton, hoping that my silent question would reach him, but as we walked together, he had a grouchy expression. If he was following me with that kind of face, wouldn’t it just be better if we just went our separate ways? It’s not like any of us would enjoy this experience.
Donna said she would be waiting outside, perhaps thinking that she’d get in the way with what Dalton and I would be talking about. I hoped she would leave me alone with him, but it was customary in this world that a maid would not sit at the same table as her master. And so I was forced into the tea house alone with Dalton.
When we stepped inside, an employee came out to greet us. Noticing that Dalton was a noble without even introducing himself, we were led to a private, quiet area.
Unlike the middle of the tea house where most of the customers sat, the table we were guided to was next to a window and there were no other people sitting nearby. I could feel myself sweating as I pretended to have been here at least once before.
But when I hesitated over what to order, Dalton just went ahead and asked the waiter to recommend some tea for us to drink. I think the lie that I’d been here once had already been caught.
It’s not like I didn’t expect it, but… there was only silence between me and Dalton. The view outside the window was beautiful, but I couldn’t appreciate it fully because of how awkward it was.
Before we came in, the tea house was buzzing with chatter, but right now, I couldn’t even hear anyone whispering.
When the employee brought over our tea, the awkward atmosphere slightly got better. I really had nothing to say, so I just took the teacup to my lips and sipped, but I was surprised by the unexpectedly amazing taste.
It was my first time tasting anything like this. It wasn’t black tea, coffee, or milk tea, but the fragrance and flavor were so sweetly delightful. I fell in love with the tea, and so I could feel myself having a better mood.
“So you like things like this.”
I was so captivated by the tea that I was startled when I heard Dalton’s remark. I forgot that we were together. As he stared at me drinking tea, he still looked indifferent.
“Sometimes it’s not bad to enjoy things like this.”
That’s it, my lie was caught. It really was my first time coming here, but I answered back with bravado anyway. Dalton raised his teacup to his lips, unbothered by my answer as he sipped indifferently, then he placed the cup back down on the table.
The teahouse’s interior was full of pink, frilly furniture, but that kind of warm, lighthearted atmosphere was 500 lightyears away from how it was between us right now. The juxtaposition was actually kind of funny.
Come to think of it, he wasn’t at all reluctant to enter this place. There was no other male customer here, but didn’t he feel even a hint of embarrassment?
Breaking the stifling atmosphere, a group of noble ladies sat at the table next to ours. Thanks to the interior design that prioritized privacy, our faces weren’t exposed to one another. However, their voices could still be clearly heard.
“Lady Beth, you attended the Milend family’s charity party, right? Who else was there?”
“You won’t even believe what happened. As expected of a party hosted by Lord Milend, many rare faces appeared. Even the owner of the blue sword attended.”
“Oh my, Sir Dalton as well?”
Cough!
I was startled by the sudden mention. Embarrassed by spewing out a little tea, I avoided looking at Dalton’s face. Was that his nickname? ‘Owner of the blue sword’? I could feel Dalton’s gaze on my flushed face, but I didn’t look at him.
“Did you get to see him? Ahh, as long as I could see his perfectly chiseled face again, I’d even sell my soul to the devil.”
“Anyone would, come on. Just a glimpse of him makes even his surroundings feel like a sacred oil painting. Even your soul wouldn’t be enough to sacrifice to get the best groom in the kingdom.”
“Goodness, Lady Beth! Please don’t insist on who you think is the best groom in the kingdom. We decided not to argue about that.”
“Well excuse me, Lady Jeilda, but the number one in my heart is still the eldest son of the von Cador family, Sir Dalton of the blue sword! Ohoho!”
Now my face was definitely bright red like a burning sweet potato. I didn’t expect their conversation to turn in that direction after they brought up Dalton’s name like that. And I didn’t know that the number one groom in the kingdom would be Dalton. I didn’t expect that topic to be brought up when I was with Dalton himself!
Furtively glancing at Dalton’s reaction, his eyes were as unreadable as ever as he looked outside the window, chin on one hand and only half of his face visible. Was he not affected, even if only a little?
“By the way, besides Sir Dalton, another person from the von Cador family came to the party.”
“Are you talking about the Duke?”
“No. Tess von Cador.”
After my name was mentioned, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere. I prickled my ears to hear what they had to say.
“Oh, that person…”
“She looked completely different from before—from head to toe.”
“That must have been quite the sight to see.”
It was only to be expected that positive things wouldn’t be said. Of course it was worth seeing just how much my maids made an effort to pretty me up, but their tone didn’t express any appreciation. Was her name Beth? I’ll be sure to remember her…
“Isn’t she infamous for saying such terrifying words at a party?”
“It does seem like she has a hobby of scaring people by saying she’s seeing invisible people.”
“She’s just doing that for attention. Who even cares? And her birth is also questionable…”
“Oh my, keep your voice down.”
Tess hated even just taking a step outside the Dark Castle, let alone going to parties. She wasn’t interested in dressing up either. How could people think that she was saying such things only for attention…
If they saw the world with Tess’ eyes, they wouldn’t have been able to talk about her lightly. I was thrusted into this position and I kept having to double check if the person I was looking at was a ghost or a human being. Far from enjoying any parties, every single day was difficult unless I was staying at the Dark Castle.
Of course, they wouldn’t know this, but it felt unfair. I had only experienced a minuscule fraction of Tess’ life, so I couldn’t imagine how Tess herself managed to endure. It was all so depressing.