Chapter 34
Laritte groped her face mercilessly, as if determined to find out which part of her face was out of shape.
“My eyes? Nose? Mouth? Eyebrows? Which is it?”
“…..What?”
Only after he realized what she was trying to say did his blood become cold.
“Wait. Did anyone say that to you?”
“He……”
“Did he scold you like that?”
“Pardon?”
His voice grew louder with every question.
“Which human becomes ugly overnight? Did you believe that nonsense?”
Grabbing her arm, he pulled her towards him.
“Even if it does, it’s not fair to punish one for their appearance!”
Then, Laritte’s foot slipped off the railing causing her body to tilt in an instant. The wall was high enough to give her goosebumps.
“Ha….!”
“Lari-”
Ian hurried to grab her collar but it tore off. Unfortunately, it was not enough to catch a person.
Leaning forward, he gripped Laritte’s waist, which made them fall together.
Laritte almost stopped breathing.
Was he trying to hurt himself to save her? Then she would die of guilt.
But, it did not matter to Ian.
Today, in 621, the people of Iassa tended to easily think of the word ‘Swordmaster’. A lot of countrymen said they were cursed. They even put a scary tinnitus like a ‘homicide’ as a sign of being wary of and in awe of a Swordmaster, but they looked just like any normal person.
‘Wow……’
Pointing the front nose of his shoes, Ian twirled half-way in mid air along the wall, thus changing their positions. Now, what was approaching the ground was Ian’s back.
“Huff.”
He lightly landed on the ground with Laritte in his arms.
As if dancing a waltz, he stood up softly on the ground. Now, he was standing holding Laritte.
“Really….. Do you not trust your husband?”
She sighed in relief as she got out of his grip. Quickly, she bit on her lips.
“I know.”
“Are you talking nonsense again?”
“No! It’s not that.”
Taking off the jacket, she returned it to Ian.
She knew. It wasn’t her fault to be blamed for her face.
However, if one blamed themselves like that, they would betray their own heart.
“There was no way to relieve my anger even if I was angry with the Count. You know, if there’s a food chain in the human race, I am at the bottom of the class.”
It was better to keep thinking that……it was her fault she didn’t care about her face.
Only after Ian pointed out the truth could Laritte accept it.
Ah, it wasn’t her fault.
“Ian.”
She called him, taking a step forward.
“…..Yes.”
Ian replied softly.
“Ian.”
“Yes, what is it?”
He began walking after her.
“Ian.”
“…..What is it, Laritte?”
That was the response she wanted.
Being called by her name.
“No, it’s nothing.”
She terribly hated her name.
Everyone had a memory to hold on to right after they were born. The memory that sunk into oblivion and could not be recalled anymore.
Laritte was no different.
This was what she first heard, which she had forgotten so far.
“My life is over. How can I survive with a child in Iassa?”
“Sister, don’t do that. Hold her. She looks just like you……”
“Get her away from me!”
“I know it’s hard, but you should at least give this little one a name. Don’t you have anything in mind?”
That’s how her mother had spat out the name ‘Laritte’.
After a lowly Goddess, born from a God and a lowly fairy resembling her mother, the illegitimate girl was named.
“Wouldn’t the meal be prepared by now?”
“Yes, let us head inside.”
She had never been called affectionately in her life.
But now, there was someone to call her softly.
“Ian.”
She paused.
She glanced back at him, who was following her as she had predicted.
“…..Laritte?”
Ironically, that detestable name sounded calm and soothing to her.
Yes, that was what she wanted.
“Just as I thought, you seem to be sick. Do you have a fever?”
He touched her forehead, only to find her warm skin against his calloused palm.
“Your temperature seems to be normal…. How do you feel now? Should I call the physician?”
Laritte decided to maintain her face.
Not because of Rose’s nitpicking, but because of Ian’s strong words.
Now, she felt like she had climbed up a stone staircase.
“I’m….. I don’t feel bad anymore.”
For now there was at least someone to watch over her.
She wouldn’t have to tremble anymore when being called by that name either.
These small changes were enough for now.
***
White cloth was laid on a table long enough for dozens of people to eat.
Atop it stood all kinds of rich dishes and delicacies.
“The chef sure was engrossed in his work.”
Ian glanced over the fancy dishes with a slightly tired face.
Laughing, Ava responded from beside Laritte.
“Madam, you must’ve been hungry for a while, so try this potato soup first.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Next, this…..and after it, this…..”
Laritte couldn’t even take her first bite, while Ian was getting annoyed when the food kept piling up in front of her.
“Nanny, she’ll be suffocated. Laritte is not a child to be taken care of.”
“……….You’re stopping me now? I remember, when you were a child, you used to be such a coward to always hide under the covers, and -”
“Stop! Stop!”
Ian was somehow weak in front of Ava.
Grinning, Ava tied up Laritte’s hair to make it easier for her to eat.
For Laritte, this atmosphere appeared as a fresh new start.
In Count Brumayer’s house, the employees used to do their best not to be out of his master’s sight. They would always be careful not to say anything that would offend their master.
‘The complaints of such employees that were directed at me……’
But, the Duchy was completely different. It had bright servants and a nanny, who could even be considered rude sometimes.
Ava and Ian’s interaction looked like that of a mother and a child.
A ‘harmonious’ relationship that was completely different from the mother-daughter relationship which Laritte experienced.
“Haha.”
Laritte giggled as she watched the two arguing.
Ian shouted something loudly to send Ava out, but then wiped his chin right after, feeling awkward.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Did I?”
Before he could object, she put food into her mouth with a blank expression.
Ian continued eating his noodles.
There would be no one in the world who could make fun of him if it wasn’t for Ava!
They continued their meal, while Ian, who appeared to have thought of something, put down his tableware.
“Laritte. Aren’t you curious about what the cat in the villa might be doing?”
“Lavingenis von Alexandria Anges?”
He weirdly stared at her.
It was Laritte’s opinion to call the cat like that, but it was a strange naming sense.
“Yes, Butterfly. I was thinking of bringing it to the Duchy.”
Laritte’s face brightened instantly, enough for others to easily notice. The corners of his mouth also went up when he read her face.
“Actually, I’ve already sent someone.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have a say in any of it.”
According to Ian, Butter was special to Laritte.
The one creature she had shown such affection was selected to be named after a species of butterfly.
After that, the two talked about many things.
But he never asked what she had been through when she was at the Count’s.
It would be considerate to wait a little more.
Laritte did not say anything either.
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Chapter 34
Laritte groped her face mercilessly, as if determined to find out which part of her face was out of shape.
“My eyes? Nose? Mouth? Eyebrows? Which is it?”
“…..What?”
Only after he realized what she was trying to say did his blood become cold.
“Wait. Did anyone say that to you?”
“He……”
“Did he scold you like that?”
“Pardon?”
His voice grew louder with every question.
“Which human becomes ugly overnight? Did you believe that nonsense?”
Grabbing her arm, he pulled her towards him.
“Even if it does, it’s not fair to punish one for their appearance!”
Then, Laritte’s foot slipped off the railing causing her body to tilt in an instant. The wall was high enough to give her goosebumps.
“Ha….!”
“Lari-”
Ian hurried to grab her collar but it tore off. Unfortunately, it was not enough to catch a person.
Leaning forward, he gripped Laritte’s waist, which made them fall together.
Laritte almost stopped breathing.
Was he trying to hurt himself to save her? Then she would die of guilt.
But, it did not matter to Ian.
Today, in 621, the people of Iassa tended to easily think of the word ‘Swordmaster’. A lot of countrymen said they were cursed. They even put a scary tinnitus like a ‘homicide’ as a sign of being wary of and in awe of a Swordmaster, but they looked just like any normal person.
‘Wow……’
Pointing the front nose of his shoes, Ian twirled half-way in mid air along the wall, thus changing their positions. Now, what was approaching the ground was Ian’s back.
“Huff.”
He lightly landed on the ground with Laritte in his arms.
As if dancing a waltz, he stood up softly on the ground. Now, he was standing holding Laritte.
“Really….. Do you not trust your husband?”
She sighed in relief as she got out of his grip. Quickly, she bit on her lips.
“I know.”
“Are you talking nonsense again?”
“No! It’s not that.”
Taking off the jacket, she returned it to Ian.
She knew. It wasn’t her fault to be blamed for her face.
However, if one blamed themselves like that, they would betray their own heart.
“There was no way to relieve my anger even if I was angry with the Count. You know, if there’s a food chain in the human race, I am at the bottom of the class.”
It was better to keep thinking that……it was her fault she didn’t care about her face.
Only after Ian pointed out the truth could Laritte accept it.
Ah, it wasn’t her fault.
“Ian.”
She called him, taking a step forward.
“…..Yes.”
Ian replied softly.
“Ian.”
“Yes, what is it?”
He began walking after her.
“Ian.”
“…..What is it, Laritte?”
That was the response she wanted.
Being called by her name.
“No, it’s nothing.”
She terribly hated her name.
Everyone had a memory to hold on to right after they were born. The memory that sunk into oblivion and could not be recalled anymore.
Laritte was no different.
This was what she first heard, which she had forgotten so far.
“My life is over. How can I survive with a child in Iassa?”
“Sister, don’t do that. Hold her. She looks just like you……”
“Get her away from me!”
“I know it’s hard, but you should at least give this little one a name. Don’t you have anything in mind?”
That’s how her mother had spat out the name ‘Laritte’.
After a lowly Goddess, born from a God and a lowly fairy resembling her mother, the illegitimate girl was named.
“Wouldn’t the meal be prepared by now?”
“Yes, let us head inside.”
She had never been called affectionately in her life.
But now, there was someone to call her softly.
“Ian.”
She paused.
She glanced back at him, who was following her as she had predicted.
“…..Laritte?”
Ironically, that detestable name sounded calm and soothing to her.
Yes, that was what she wanted.
“Just as I thought, you seem to be sick. Do you have a fever?”
He touched her forehead, only to find her warm skin against his calloused palm.
“Your temperature seems to be normal…. How do you feel now? Should I call the physician?”
Laritte decided to maintain her face.
Not because of Rose’s nitpicking, but because of Ian’s strong words.
Now, she felt like she had climbed up a stone staircase.
“I’m….. I don’t feel bad anymore.”
For now there was at least someone to watch over her.
She wouldn’t have to tremble anymore when being called by that name either.
These small changes were enough for now.
***
White cloth was laid on a table long enough for dozens of people to eat.
Atop it stood all kinds of rich dishes and delicacies.
“The chef sure was engrossed in his work.”
Ian glanced over the fancy dishes with a slightly tired face.
Laughing, Ava responded from beside Laritte.
“Madam, you must’ve been hungry for a while, so try this potato soup first.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Next, this…..and after it, this…..”
Laritte couldn’t even take her first bite, while Ian was getting annoyed when the food kept piling up in front of her.
“Nanny, she’ll be suffocated. Laritte is not a child to be taken care of.”
“……….You’re stopping me now? I remember, when you were a child, you used to be such a coward to always hide under the covers, and -”
“Stop! Stop!”
Ian was somehow weak in front of Ava.
Grinning, Ava tied up Laritte’s hair to make it easier for her to eat.
For Laritte, this atmosphere appeared as a fresh new start.
In Count Brumayer’s house, the employees used to do their best not to be out of his master’s sight. They would always be careful not to say anything that would offend their master.
‘The complaints of such employees that were directed at me……’
But, the Duchy was completely different. It had bright servants and a nanny, who could even be considered rude sometimes.
Ava and Ian’s interaction looked like that of a mother and a child.
A ‘harmonious’ relationship that was completely different from the mother-daughter relationship which Laritte experienced.
“Haha.”
Laritte giggled as she watched the two arguing.
Ian shouted something loudly to send Ava out, but then wiped his chin right after, feeling awkward.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Did I?”
Before he could object, she put food into her mouth with a blank expression.
Ian continued eating his noodles.
There would be no one in the world who could make fun of him if it wasn’t for Ava!
They continued their meal, while Ian, who appeared to have thought of something, put down his tableware.
“Laritte. Aren’t you curious about what the cat in the villa might be doing?”
“Lavingenis von Alexandria Anges?”
He weirdly stared at her.
It was Laritte’s opinion to call the cat like that, but it was a strange naming sense.
“Yes, Butterfly. I was thinking of bringing it to the Duchy.”
Laritte’s face brightened instantly, enough for others to easily notice. The corners of his mouth also went up when he read her face.
“Actually, I’ve already sent someone.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have a say in any of it.”
According to Ian, Butter was special to Laritte.
The one creature she had shown such affection was selected to be named after a species of butterfly.
After that, the two talked about many things.
But he never asked what she had been through when she was at the Count’s.
It would be considerate to wait a little more.
Laritte did not say anything either.
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