Regbel, in the northern part of the Caspian Empire, was a place where cold winds blew all year round. The land on all sides was barren, and the roads were overgrown with thick weeds.
Regbel's only large building, the Evgenian Mansion, was located on a barren hill.
Like a faded flag, smoke billowed from the chimney on the red roof of the old mansion, and a large window appeared on the wall covered in half-dead vines.
"Is today the day my father comes back?"
Shioana, whose brown hair was braided into two strands, looked out the window and nervously opened her mouth. Martha, who was busy teasing the knitting needle, shook her head vigorously and retorted.
"Do you know that you have said that more than ten times? Did you leave your patience on Mount Regbel?"
At the playful nanny's words, Shioana gave her blue eyes a lot of strength.
"Martha! Do you know I'm your master?"
"Oh, I'm scared."
When Martha deliberately pretended to be scared, Shioana smiled faintly.
"The windows are so blurry that you can't see outside."
Shioana climbed up on the footrest and wiped the window with her sleeve. However, the difference in temperature between the inside and outside made the window foggy again.
"Miss. Tell me honestly. Are you waiting for me? Or is it because of a gift?"
As Martha chuckied-while-knitting, Shioana, who had coughed a couple of times, coldly retorted.
"Do you think I'll wait for that gift?"
"Miss, it's not a bad thing to be honest, is it? You can wait for both the master and the gift."
At the nanny's words, a faint blush rose on Shioana's pale face. Soon, she calmly opened her mouth, overwhelmed with excitement.
"Does the nanny think I'm still a child?"
There was no common market in Regbel, and you had to go out in a carriage to buy the necessary goods. Therefore, the gifts that someone brought on their way to a long distance were extremely precious and valuable.
However, as she watched the young lady pretend to be calm, a faint smile appeared on Martha's face.
"My young lady, when did you grow up?"
She was a precious young lady who lost her mother as soon as she was born and was raised by her children. Just as Martha's eyes were sour, the quiet atmosphere in the drawing room was broken by the appearance of someone.
"What are you doing standing there?"
A handsome blonde man who brushed off the sleet on the shoulder of his coat entered the drawing room.
Eli Evgenia was Shioana's older brother and the heir to the family. He was tall, but he had blue eyes that gave him a sickly appearance and a cool look.
"Brother, you're here."
Shioana greeted him in a creeping voice, then quickly went to her armchair and pretended to open a book.
"Martha, go and get me hot tea."
"Yes. Master."
When the two of them were left in the drawing room, Shioana's heart felt like it was about to burst. There was a difference in age and physique, but she was worried about what would happen if she touched her brother, who disapproved of her.
Eli muttered harshly as he brushed the mud off his shoes on the carpet.
"Damn it! If I inherit the title, I must tear this house down!"
Shioana grabbed the end of the shawl tightly.
Eli often talked about building a nice new house in the nearby town of Hybel.
'But this is...'
It was the place where the Evgenia family lived for generations. It is said that the Evgenia family, which was originally famous for producing brave generals, defended the northern frontier for hundreds of years. And in recognition of his contributions, by the Emperor, he was given the Legbel.
It was also the only place where she could remember her deceased mother, who gave birth to her.
That's why you can't tear it down...
She was thinking to herself what she couldn't bear to say to her brother, but she heard the sound of a carriage outside.
"...Father!"
She hurriedly stood up from her seat to prepare for the first time in a month.
As a result, the book she was reading rolled on the floor, and as she picked it up, her father appeared with the sound of stomping footsteps.
Twine Evgenia was a middle-aged man with blonde hair and blue eyes that looked exactly like Eli.
"Father, have you been there?"
Eli tightened his waist with his impeccable posture, and Shioana, who stood awkwardly behind him, bowed his head.
"Did you finish the work on the capital well?"
Eli, who was sitting on the sofa opposite Count Evgenia, asked calmly. The Count with the tea that Martha had followed let out a short sigh.
"Let's take a breather. I kept riding in the carriage, and I was tired."
In recent decades, the Evgenian family has focused on commerce, and the Count has frequently traveled to the capital. It was not known how well the business was doing, but the Count had little time to stay in Legbel.
"Nothing has happened in the meantime, has it?"
"Sure. As long as I am here, you don't have to worry about anything, Father."
Eli smiled leisurely, and Shioana only bowed her head.
Shioana always wanted to see her father, but she didn't know what to do when they met.
"...Hmm."
The Count frowned as he looked at his daughter, who was sticking out her slender neck like a turtle. Instead of talking to Shioana, he called his servant Joseph.
"Bring that child."
A moment later, Joseph returned, leading something wrapped in a cloak. Eli's beautiful brow furrowed at the sight of the mysterious figure.
"Father, what is that?"
"On the way, the fog was so thick that I almost hit a slave with my carriage."
The Count, who had been sipping tea, spoke nonchalantly.
"What are you doing standing there? Hurry up and greet the master and the young master."
Joseph shouted and tore off his cloak with his rough hands. A boy covered in soot emerged from within.
It was difficult to tell his age at first glance because he was so skinny and underdeveloped.
He was probably around fourteen or fifteen years old.
The mark of being a slave of the Caspian Empire was clearly visible on his wrist.
"...Father, what is this?"
Eli, who was blowing his nose at the stench coming from the child, couldn't quite forget what he was saying.
Siona was also surprised.
"I'm scared."
It was impossible to tell whether the opponent's appearance was human or beast. Beneath his pitch-black hair, his red eyes blazed.
'It's like the hell bird in the book Martha used to read.'
That ominous being that steals your soul when your eyes meet.
Shioana couldn't take her eyes off the terrifying red eyes.
It was definitely scary, but it was also exciting to see children her age for the first time. In Regbel, there were old people.
Meanwhile, the Count continued speaking calmly.
"He didn't seem to have any injuries, but for some reason, he couldn't speak."
The Count left his contact information in a nearby heart because he couldn't find the owner or his parents, even after asking around.
After that, the child was brought to Regbel.
"I have a social standing. I can't just abandon a child like that."
Twine drank the remaining tea in one go and smiled with satisfaction.
"Enough with the greetings, I guess I'll just rest for a bit."
He got up from his seat, leaned on his cane, and gave instructions.
"Before dinner, wash this child and bring him home. Since it's his first day, let's have a meal together."
"Oh my, you've done so much damage to your hair. Washing it once won't make it clean. And you're sharing the table with us!"
As Martha frowned, the Count, leaving the drawing room, lightly tapped his cane.
"Stop fussing, that child is now a member of our family."
“...Yes, Sir.”
Although she had no choice but to bathe the child, Martha seemed quite reluctant to do so. She prayed in a voice too quiet for anyone to hear.
"Oh, Diana, look down on this poor soul."
Martha poked the child's back as he stood still.
"It's shining and standing there. Even if it were stuck in the gutter, it would smell better than this!"
Perhaps unable to understand what she was saying, the child remained motionless. He seemed to lack the strength to stand, yet he stared intently at Shioana. Shioana, entranced by his crimson eyes, couldn't look away either.
As soon as the Count had completely disappeared, Eli immediately jumped up from his seat.
"Where do you dare to stare at a nobleman?"
Eli, who had been holding a poker near the hearth, swung it at the child's back. He couldn't stand being under that roof with such a slave. Furthermore, the sight of a lowly slave raising his head irritated him.
"How cheeky of a beggar to be!"
Only when the gaunt child collapsed on the spot did Eli stop swinging. The once-clean carpet quickly became crumpled and dirty. Breathing heavily, Eli picked up the poker and the gloves he was wearing and stepped out of the living room.
"Martha, clean that up."
The living room, where a commotion had been, was filled with silence.
Blood soaked through the child's tattered outer garment, and a faint moan escaped his lips.
Soon, the child was led out by Joseph and Martha's hands, leaving Shioana alone.
Her lips were pale and drawn as she let out the breath she had been holding.
Comments
Post a Comment