27405-chapter-63
Chapter 63 ??
“It’s not yet confirmed. There’s still Marchioness Toten…”
“The Crown Prince’s birthday is only two days away. Will there be any contact from Madam Toten within that time?”
Raphaela seemed to have never experienced being ghosted before. If this senior in life may give you a piece of advice, Raphaela, whether it’s in a romantic relationship or a team project, someone who went silent usually never shows up again. That’s why it’s called ghosting.
“Or, there’s my mother as well. If the opponent is a duke, even Bishop Maric wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.”
“Didn’t you say you were disowned?”
“No! That’s just what people say, but in reality, she’s very worried about me. I’ll cling to her pants and beg her to be the young lady’s chaperone!”
Raphael urgently exclaimed. Is he worried about my safety? Seems he has some sense of loyalty after all. I’m a bit touched.
“And it seems like surveillance has been assigned.”
What? That’s not something mentioned in the letter. Could it be that she’s trailing me because of the rumours? But I hardly ever leave the house, so how is she planning to keep watch on me?
At this, Jelly, who had been picking and eating grapes in the back, casually replied.
“Ah, that guy who kept lurking around the house? I’ve already dealt with him.”
Dealt with him? No, Jelly. Have you secretly been patrolling and acting like a dark hero behind my back? And here I thought you were just lazing around all the time!
“You shouldn’t have dealt with him! It’ll become even more suspicious if the eyes placed in the mansion disappear!”
But it seems that was a mistake. It must have been something deserving of scolding. Without even knowing who was speaking, Raphaela suddenly got angry, but then looked at Jelly with a bewildered expression.
“Young lady … come to think of it, what is that person?”
Is this their first meeting?
“Me? I’m Jelly?”
“I was asking the young lady.”
A subtle war of nerves followed. Huh, did he realize that he was a rival in love over Daisy? But since Daisy likes Raphaela right now, I should also take Raphaela’s side.
“Young lady… Come to think of it, who is that person?”
Is this the first time they’re meeting?
“Me? I’m Jelly.”
“I was asking the young lady.”
A subtle tension ensued. Gasp, did he realize they’re rivals for Daisy’s affection? Daisy likes Raphaela right now, so I should side with Raphaela.
“Jelly is… my dog?”
Oops. Trying to explain the relationship in a way that keeps Daisy out of it, I accidentally just called him a ‘dog’. Now I might get criticized for discriminating against beastmen.
“Oh, I mean, he’s like a servant who works for me like a dog.”
I quickly added. But doesn’t that sound like something a wicked employer would say? As if he’d heard nonsense, Raphaela started tapping his ears roughly. I’m, I’m sorry.
Meanwhile, Jelly seemed unbothered by being called a dog, wagging his tail gently. Wait, was that an illusion? He’s in human form right now, but maybe I saw it wrong.
No, it wasn’t a mistake. Jelly’s tail popped out. And he even had ears. As his ears twitched atop his head, my hand reflexively twitched too. So I wasn’t seeing things earlier! No, why does it pop out now when he usually hides them well?
Thankfully, Raphaela was still busy patting his own ears and hadn’t noticed yet. I sent urgent signals with my eyes, and Jelly quickly tucked his ears and tail back in.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, this? The master likes things like this, right?”
“I like things like that?”
What nonsense is he talking about? Why would I like that?
“Yes. Isn’t that why you only favour Pudding all the time?”
Aha. He wasn’t talking about my taste, just saying I prefer animals more. Hmm, so that’s why Jelly has been calling me master, full of competitive spirit toward Pudding. But come on, you can’t compare them. Pudding is still young. Of course I need to take more care of him, right?
I was about to tell him to act more mature, but Raphaela looked at Jelly with a puzzled expression, unsure of what to say. Did he, perhaps, see the ears and tail on Jelly? Raphaela, in a suddenly much gentler tone, spoke to Jelly.
“Um, well…”
“Are you calling me?”
“If you’re under any unfair pressure, please make sure to report it.”
“What?”
What is he talking about? Unfair pressure? Does he think I’m some kind of perverted beastmen collector? There are already so many rumours, and now another one will be added. How do I explain this? I don’t like beastmen? No! That would sound even more suspicious! It would make me seem like I’m hiding my preferences and come across as even more perverted!
Jelly seemed equally baffled, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Hey, you’re hilarious. Are you telling me to report the master?”
Don’t call me master! You’ve never called me that before, and now you’re stirring up all sorts of suspicions!
“If I report it, who could even catch her?”
Jelly laughed and kept eating grapes. He even tossed a few to Pudding, as if wanting to show off. Of course, our haughty Pudding caught the grape and threw it right back at Jelly’s face with all his might.
After getting hit by a fruit thrown by the cat, Jelly just laughed even harder. Does that look like someone suffering from unjust labour conditions? To me, he just looks like a carefree freeloader who found a good guardian. When I shot him a resentful look, Raphaela avoided my gaze.
“Haha, of course, I’m just joking. You know that, right?”
No, I don’t. Here I am, trying to protect your relationship with Daisy, and you’re accusing me of being a wicked employer? When I glared at him, Raphaela hastily started packing up his things.
“Then I’ll go find my mother just in case.”
Raphaela tried to run away. Where do you think you’re going?
“Don’t bother.”
“Pardon?”
Do you think begging at the last minute will do any good?
Even for me, if my son who had cut all ties with the secular world and went into the temple returned to see me after a few years, whining that the temple’s head monk had a girlfriend and asks me to act as her chaperone, I would probably kick him in the butt and throw him out myself because I was so annoyed. Let’s just give up on the Duke.
“Is Bishop Maric the kind of person who would readily agree to chaperone a young lady she doesn’t know?”
“No, she’s kind, but she’s strict with boundaries. Even if we ask, she won’t agree.”
If she’s stepping in, it must mean she finds me highly suspicious. Considering the rumours about Evangeline, it’s no wonder people think she’s possessed by an evil spirit, given how severe some of the stories are.
“If Madam Toten doesn’t come, I’ll accept Bishop Maric’s offer.”
“Bishop Maric is dangerous…”
“Refusing desperately will only make us look more suspicious.”
In any genre, when a character is trying to flee, the suspicious pursuers always chase them. The more you hide and avoid, the more suspicious you seem, and the more they cling.
They dig into everything, causing trouble and frustration, all in the name of a thorough investigation. I’d bet anything that Bishop Maric is that kind of character. So instead of running away, it’s better to face things head-on, right?
Above all, I am no longer the same person I used to be! The days of being terrible at acting and getting found out left and right are over. I haven’t just been learning manners and dancing. Introducing the new ‘Evangeline,’ refined through Doline’s delicate lessons and Daisy’s memories of the real Evangeline!
Now, I’m confident I can even fool Count Rohanson. For some reason, the Count suddenly invited me to lunch on the day of the banquet, so I’ll have to test him out then. But isn’t fasting standard on banquet days? So inconsiderate. No wonder he’s still neglecting his daughter regardless of whether she is a villainess or possessed.
“Please, Madam Toten, please come…”
This brat. Raphaela must really dislike me. Or maybe he’s just that afraid of Bishop Maric. She wouldn’t actually beat me with a branch from a World Tree for exorcism, would she? That would be a bit terrifying.
I tried to stay composed, but seeing Raphaela so scared made me think I’d prefer it if Madam Toten did come after all. But it’s shameless to pester her to leave her sick child. Maybe I should have just told Raphaela to take this chance to reconcile with his estranged mother. Raphaela now looked at me with eyes that were starting to glisten with tears.
“Since there’s no word yet, she’s probably not coming, right?”
Seeing Raphaela so frightened, I suddenly became mischievous.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“What?”
As expected, Raphaela frowned like I was talking nonsense.
“I’ll bet that Madam Toten will come.”
Raphaela looked puzzled, probably because I’d been so certain earlier that she wouldn’t come, and now I was betting the opposite.
“She probably won’t come, right? Her child is sick.”
“Well, who knows? Things could change.”
Tsk. That’s why beginners are beginners. Don’t you know you have to bet the opposite in gambling? That’s what makes it exciting.
But in truth, I really didn’t want to get hit with something made from the World Tree branch! Please, Madam Toten, come!
***
The day of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet finally arrived, but the torrential monsoon that had been raging for five days still hadn’t let up. The sun had disappeared by midday, with nothing but dark clouds drenching the world with rain. By nightfall, the world was shrouded in gloom, hidden beneath the shadows of the storm clouds. The relentless downpour, seemingly intent on flooding the land, violently pounded against the windows as if trying to force its way inside.
Kinder Toten double-checked that the window was securely locked and pulled the curtains shut. The Marquis Toten’s mansion, which was usually filled with the scent of sunlight, now smelled damp and mouldy.
Having stayed up all night for several days, dark circles were visible under Kinder’s eyes. Her eyelids were swollen red from crying, and her back ached from sitting in the chair by the bed all day. Yet the pain faded as soon as she heard the faint sound of a voice.
“Mo, m ….”
“Ryder! Yes, mom is here.”
Kinder rushed to the bed in one swift motion and began gently stroking her son’s sweat-soaked hair, speaking to him continuously. His skin felt unusually hot to the touch.
Ryder’s condition had worsened ever since the monsoon began five days ago. Yesterday, he hadn’t opened his eyes at all, burning up with fever the whole day. Now, after one night, he was barely awake.
Ryder had been frail since birth, constantly sick, but this was the worst he had ever been. The servants working in the Marquis household had secretly prepared black mourning clothes without their madam knowing—and in the mansion, there was only one person still refusing to accept the child’s imminent death.
t/n: so as you saw the notice, salmon latte is closing down. at this time I’m still unsure if I’m going to move to another group or just create a random personal website, but I’ll definitely repost the chapters so others who haven’t got chance to read can read while those who want to reread can reread freely.
I started translating this series since ch 5, and the translator of ch 1 – 4 disappeared, so I decided to just retranslate ch 1 – 4 (I have finished them but ch 3 & 4 still need proofreading—I usually proofread after finish the chapter since english is my second language). and while doing so, I found out that there is actually a part that got omitted in ch 4 that is quite important in my opinion, so I’ll put it here, that way you won’t need to reread:
[ How to Summon Demon ]
[ You the one standing in the end. Defile the earth with the martyrdom of one’s will. Draw a circle with your bloodstained hands. Bow down and yearn for salvation. ]
[ Bear grapes on thornbushes. Thistles shall bear figs. Revere and worship. Welcome the angel of light who has descended upon the earth, roaming the land. ]
these paragraphs supposed to be around Donau’s point of view, I don’t know why ch 4 didn’t include them. I’m sorry I didn’t notice this sooner ?? ????? ??
also ‘Hossaquin’ will be changed to ‘Josaquin’. I just realized it was referencing to Joachim in hebrew. If I really want it to be very reference-point, it’ll probably be ‘Josachim’ but that sounds sooooo ugly ….
sorry for the inconsistent updates, I really hope you enjoyed your time reading!