Episode 37
The mandrake medicine Estelle had taken was originally meant for Glesia.
So naturally, Estelle thought Lennox must have told her about it.
‘But he didn’t, huh.’
“He must have just forgotten because he’s been busy lately,” Pippin said, desperately trying to defend Lennox.
It didn’t convince Estelle at all.
“What exactly is Glesia sick with?” Estelle asked.
She already knew Glesia was malnourished. She also suspected someone wasn’t taking proper care of her meals.
“She’s very physically weak.”
“Weak?” Estelle’s eyes shifted toward the broken kitchen door.
“She also seems to go through cycles of not eating and then overeating,” Pippin added.
“Yes. After something happened, she started sleeping more than being awake, so she rarely eats at all.”
“…”
“Usually, she eats only once every three or four months. So when she came outside this time, I couldn’t inform you in advance, Madam. I’m sorry.”
“Wait, say that again.”
“I’m sorry?”
“No, not the apology. Did you just say she eats once every three or four months?”
“Yes. She doesn’t even drink water.”
“A normal human wouldn’t even be alive by now…”
Glesia’s condition was far more serious than Estelle imagined.
“Don’t tell me…”
A shocking thought hit her — pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
“So because Glesia can survive without food for months, Lennox thought it was fine for Duren to starve? But he knows her condition isn’t normal!”
“Lady Glesia’s refusal to eat isn’t really an illness… It’s more like her own choice…”
“Pippin.”
“Yes, Madam?”
“Be quiet.”
Pippin zipped his lips with a gesture.
“If the Duke doesn’t come back tomorrow morning, I’ll go see Glesia myself.”
“What?”
“It’s my fault she’s been given false hope, so it’s only right to let her know the truth as soon as possible.”
“…”
“You can talk now, Pippin.”
“Whew… Glesia is usually asleep, so you might not be able to speak with her.”
“That’s fine. It’s late now, let’s go to bed. Thanks for your help, Pippin.”
After parting with Pippin, Estelle’s pace slowed.
I feel like I’m missing something.
She’d only met Glesia twice, but something about her was nagging at her mind.
To find the answer, Estelle changed direction — toward the small house she’d stayed in before.
And then…
I never wanted to hold this again…
Flash.
A blade gleamed in Estelle’s hand.
Glesia had always believed she was lucky.
She grew up in a happy family, loved by her parents, never lacking anything.
Her little brother Lennox was adorable as a baby, though he started rebelling a bit as he got older — nothing serious.
[“Glesia! You can’t hit your brother!”]
[“He deserved it first.”]
[“You hit first—”]
[“What?”]
When Glesia glared, young Lennox immediately shook his head.
[“…Never mind.”]
After that, Glesia developed a system — whenever Lennox misbehaved, she’d grab him by the collar and drag him to his room.
[“S-sister!”]
[“Be quiet.”]
She’d lock the door, turn on the phonograph at full volume, and let the grand classical music cover the sound as she whacked him with a pillow until the pillow burst and feathers flew everywhere.
Afterward, he behaved. Their mother never found out.
Life was good.
[“Mom! I’m definitely going to marry a man just like Dad!”]
Glesia admired her father’s devotion to her mother.
[“That’s not so easy, you know. I searched for over a hundred years before finding him.”]
[“I’m not like you, Mom.”]
[“More of our ancestors never made a soul-bond than those who did.”]
[“I’ll do better than them!”]
In Winterlen, “bonding” was a sacred gift from God — a ritual that connected two people for life, sharing each other’s pain and even extending life. Once formed, it could never be broken.
I’ll find my one and only partner!
Glesia always thought she would.
Until—
[“Are you insane?”]
—she learned her father had been secretly having an affair.
[“Right under our noses, in the cabin the kids play in?”]
[“Unlike you, I’m just a normal human! Feelings fade!”]
For the first time, she saw her father raise his voice.
[“You can get tired of food you’ve been eating for a long time, and be drawn to something new. Why can’t you understand?”]
[“Did you just compare people to food?”]
[“You’re not even human.”]
[“…What?”]
[“You’re a demon. It’s creepy how you never age…”]
That was his true heart. There was no eternal love.
He asked for a divorce — her mother refused.
Not long after, her father suddenly died.
Glesia hoped her mother might recover… but losing a bonded partner meant sharing in the agony of their death. Her mother slowly withered away.
Many Winterlen people avoided bonding for this very reason — the grief could destroy you.
[“Mother.”]
[“….”]
[“Mother…”]
Her mother died.
From then on, Glesia decided — no partner, no love. She’d live just fine alone, as long as she looked after her slightly foolish but trustworthy little brother.
At least he’d never betray her.
Then she met him.
[“I’m Jeremy. I’ve come to Winterlen on a mission from God. It’s an honor to meet you.”]
Since she was so young and newly in charge of the household, the temple clearly doubted her — sending this priest to watch her.
She thought he looked soft and harmless. But after a few conversations, meals, and walks… they grew closer.
[“I love you, Glesia.”]
She knew he was upright and sincere, but she still hated priests — so she rejected him repeatedly.
Eventually, she offered a test:
[“No bonding. No wedding. Legally, we’ll still be strangers. Still want to be with me?”]
She expected him to give up.
[“Bonding doesn’t measure love. And without it, I won’t be a burden to you. My feelings will never change.”]
He even gave up his priesthood to be with her.
Glesia believed she was lucky again.
She was so happy that she earned the nickname “crazy woman” because she grinned even when fighting monsters.
One day, after a hunt, she rushed to see him without fully washing up — only to have him collapse in her arms.
[“Jeremy?”]
He was dead.
Cause of death: Magi.
A tiny trace of it had been under her fingernails from the hunt.
It had killed him instantly.
