IDEFYEM - Chapter 86
Black Man, I'll Do Everything For You Except Marriage!
"His Highness's mother was a powerless concubine, and she was under the control of other wives and concubines, and eventually passed away after giving birth in a barn with a weakened body."
I once recalled the past history that Raphael had told me.
He said that some of his family members were caught up in a struggle for succession and died at his hands.
After learning Raphael's identity, I felt an unfamiliar feeling when I heard the story again.
"When His Highness, aged 10, returned here, the barn had already burned down."
Melua seemed to be studying my expression and continued speaking steadily.
"His Highness, as a memorial, left the barn as is without removing it."
"So you're saying that the barn still remains in this grand-ducal residence?"
"Yes. But no one talks about that place, and we live as if it's visible but invisible."
Melua looked out the window as if his actions would replace his words.
As I followed the line of sight, I saw what looked like a lone black abandoned house among buildings built in an old-fashioned style.
From the circumstances, I could tell that that was where Raphael was born. Such a small and shabby place.
I was silent for a moment, staring at the place, then opened my mouth.
"I almost opened Raphael's wounds."
I muttered in a subdued voice. It was fortunate that Melua showed up on time.
"I guess you really care about him."
But I thought it was really amazing that Melua lied like that to prevent Raphael from getting hurt. Normally, he looked like an ordinary worker dreaming of retirement. Perhaps knowingly or unknowingly, he followed and respected Raphael.
"So you must have been participating in deceiving me for a long time."
He added a bit of a sharp remark at the end. Melua avoided my gaze.
"...You found out."
"Then you don't know?"
As I spoke sharply, Melua looked embarrassed.
Thinking about what had happened in the past, I felt embarrassed, but I didn't want to take my anger out on someone who had only faithfully performed his role.
"That's it. Anyway, thank you."
Hmph, I rolled my eyes and walked past Melua into the hallway of the mansion alone.
"The room you will be staying in is the last room on the second floor!"
Melua shouted urgently from behind.
I thought about taking a look around the mansion on my own, but when I heard about the room, my heart wavered. This was because I was not yet familiar with the internal geography and was physically tired.
'I'll stop by my room first, take a rest, and then come back out.'
The mansion was so beautiful that it was a shame that it was left unused.
There was no part of the space that seemed to pass by that I did not pay attention to.
However, it also seemed clear that the excessive luxury of his predecessors would not suit Raphael's taste.
I walked around the mansion and arrived at the room I was going to use.
'As expected, it's spacious and gorgeous.'
While looking around the inside with interest, I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from a space where I thought no one was there.
"Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess."
"Oh my God!"
I was so startled that I suddenly turned around and saw a woman who looked embarrassed.
"I guess I surprised you. I thought Melua told you in advance... I'm the maid who will take care of Your Highness during your stay here."
I looked at her with wide eyes. Come to think of it, I had heard before that he would appoint someone he trusted to be my maid to replace Sarah.
After calming my voice, I became polite again and smiled.
"Nice to meet you. I showed an unsightly side from the beginning."
"No. It was my negligence."
After exchanging greetings in a shy manner, she spoke again.
"You must be tired after a long journey. Is there anything you need? I will bring you some snacks and tea, Your Highness."
"No, that's okay."
In the meantime, the title of Grand Duchess that I heard was very unfamiliar.
I declined the snack, thought about it carefully, and asked for what I really needed.
"If possible, I'd like to see a map of the inside of the mansion."
Because it's so wide, you have to be able to tell where you are.
I could have asked Raphael or Melua for guidance, but I really didn't feel like it right now.
However, perhaps because it was an unexpected request, the maid paused and nodded.
"If you wait, I will bring it right away."
"Thank you."
The maid immediately kept her word and brought me a map.
It was a map drawn on slightly faded parchment as if a long time had passed since it was created.
'It'll take a while to look around.'
After the maid left the room, I was left alone looking at the map, and soon I discovered an unusual part of the map.
It was a library so large that one wondered if it had been drawn incorrectly.
'Hmm, can this be possible?'
If what is depicted on the map is real, it would be comparable to the royal library.
Even though I was tired, I couldn't control my curiosity and jumped up.
Without any belongings and with a light body, I closed the door and went out into the hallway.
The library was built in a separate building, so I had to leave the mansion and walk to the right for about 5 minutes.
'No one will be looking, so it would be fortunate if the door opens. But if the sizes recorded on the map are real...'
I walked to the library with a calm mind the whole time.
***
"Is there anyone there?"
I asked timidly and opened the huge middle door that made a squeaking noise. Seeing as there is no one managing it, it may not be as good as expected.
Just as I was thinking that, I looked up and my eyes widened.
The ceiling is so high that I have to lift my chin all the way to see it.
On the walls were well-preserved paintings that appeared to be from a private collection.
Inside the huge wooden bookshelves was a huge collection of books that seemed to number in the tens of thousands.
"What is all this...?"
Even at a quick glance, many books looked quite valuable. I forgot to admire it and walked deeper into the interior.
Indeed, the tradition of the Grand Duchy is at a level that cannot be ignored.
The types were as varied as the seemingly endless quantity.
As was my habit, I looked for the magic book first and soon discovered something strange.
No matter how many times I looked through the numerous bookshelves, I couldn't find the magic book.
'That's strange. Is there at least one copy?'
I tilted my head at the suspicious sight as if it had been hidden intentionally.
What I thought of at that time was a familiar who was as interested in books as I was.
'I feel a strange sense of discomfort, but I think I should call Vermont and get his opinion.'
There were a lot of tools for bleeding all around. About 10,000 books?
Ugh. I hate cutting my hand on the corner of paper more than getting stabbed by a knife.
When I tried to bleed on purpose, it didn't work out as well as I wanted, so the pain was repeated.
After several struggles, I finally lost a drop of blood and summoned my familiar.
Boom, there was a loud explosion sound that I couldn't get used to any time I heard it.
Today he had a humanoid appearance.
"Vermont!"
"What? Where am I....."
The familiar looked around with a confused face for a moment, then immediately knelt down.
I asked, taken aback by his uncharacteristically condescending attitude.
"what's the matter?"
"I told you not to bleed."
Vermont was looking at the wound on my finger that I had intentionally inflicted as if it were something serious.
Embarrassed by that sight. I muttered in a hushed voice.
"It's nothing special. Why are you doing this?"
"Because I'm upset."
"What?"
I lifted my head and looked at Vermont's face, but he was as calm as if he had never said such a thing.
'Did I hear wrong?'
As I scratched the back of my head, doubting my ears, I inadvertently remembered a fact I had forgotten.
"Now that I think about it, your magic power has recovered a lot. You must have suffered without help."
"This is really no big deal."
"Still, would you like to have a bite after such a long time?"
I asked playfully, touching the slightly exposed white nape of my neck. It was something I said as a joke, but soon his neck twitched.
At the sound of gulping and spitting, the tension and silence fell in the air for an instant.
"... Really?"
There was hesitation in his low voice. Because I noticed that, it was even more difficult for me to refuse.
'I received help from Vermont for a while, but I think I was actually neglectful.'
I was a little scared, but I met him with my wide-open eyes and nodded.
Vermont let out a long sigh, then walked over and took a seat.
I closed my eyes tightly as the shadow fell over my head. My fingertips seemed to tremble a little at the thought of having my neck bitten for the first time in a long time.
How much time had passed while waiting for the pain to come so soon?
"As expected, it's done."
The pain in my neck was gone everywhere, but instead, it felt like something was being caught.
I raised my hand and traced the back of my neck. I felt a soft string.
"Is it really okay to eat it? And what is this again?"
"Congratulations on your wedding, Enrica."
Is it a gift?
I looked down in confusion, but then my eyes widened in joy.
"Wow, it's a magic stone!"
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