Chapter 35
“Zion Esperos”
A strange silence filled the library.
I moved my eyes around nervously and instinctively realized—
Ah, I should change the subject.
“Ah, I-I see. I guess I never saw him in the Grand Duke’s castle! So, I didn’t know His Grace had a younger brother…”
“He passed away.”
“…What?”
“Ten years ago.”
“…”
“He died ten years ago, after visiting Zeros.”
May spoke as if she was trying to stay calm. I was left speechless like I’d swallowed my tongue.
The uneasy feeling I’d had turned into the worst reality I could imagine.
May gave me a small smile, said she would come back once the room was cleaned, and left.
As soon as the door closed with a thud, I collapsed face-down on the book I had been reading.
“…I’m doomed.”
After learning about Zion Esperos’ death in Zeros, I finally understood why the servants here hated me so much.
Zion Esperos, the beloved young master, had died during a visit to Zeros.
He must have been young if it happened ten years ago.
A boy died in a foreign land, and now someone from that country lives here?
Even if I wasn’t involved, they would still hate me.
Like when people hate a country and extend that hatred to its citizens, it made sense.
“…But why does Carriaire blame Delphian for Zion’s death?”
Why target Delphian specifically, and why do it through me?
“Do you want me to tell you?”
A voice came from above me, and I jumped up.
“It’s been a while, La… Lady.”
“Lord Laperre.”
He grinned, teasing that he almost said my real name in front of Carriaire again.
He sat in front of me, the sunlight reflecting off his silver hair.
“What do you want to tell me?”
“You wanted to know why Carriaire blames Delphian for Zion’s death, right?”
“…”
“You’ve learned a lot in the past week. Talking about Zion is taboo here, you know.”
Laperre took the teacup near me and sipped from it like it was his.
I frowned.
“Did you finish cleaning the room?”
“As you know, I’m capable. I restored the walls, ceilings, and floors.”
“And the furniture?”
“I’m sure the other capable person will take care of that.”
My headache grew worse.
Laperre sipped the tea, frowned, and then leaned in toward me.
“So, do you want me to tell you?”
“No.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought—wait, what?”
“I said you don’t need to tell me.”
I answered calmly, stood, and began putting books back on the shelf.
Laperre scrambled after me.
“W-Wait, why? Weren’t you curious?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then I’ll tell—”
“But what good would it do me to know now?”
I answered as I returned the books one by one.
Laperre frowned.
“You’re really this cold?”
His teasing tone was gone.
I looked at his serious face and said quietly:
“It’s not about being cold.”
“What do you mean?”
“If my plan works, the Crown Prince will be here the morning after tomorrow.”
Laperre coughed suddenly, his face turning red.
I watched him, puzzled.
“Did the tea go down the wrong way?”
“Y-Yeah, something like that.”
“Be careful. There’s no cure if you choke on water.”
“Thanks… you’re kind.”
I ignored his awkward smile and grabbed another stack of books.
With a flick of his fingers, Laperre made the books float to the shelves on their own.
He frowned again.
“So you’re not asking because of that?”
“…That’s right.”
“To be honest, I’m planning to leave Esperos tomorrow night.
Digging into other people’s wounds just because I’m curious would be cruel.”
“…”
“And if it’s taboo to talk about him, that must mean it’s still a painful wound.”
Laperre didn’t speak.
He stared at me for a long moment, then slowly smiled—a smile that made me nervous.
“Oh, I get it. You’re saying you’re dying to know, but you’re pretending not to care because you’re leaving tomorrow night, right?”
“Doesn’t that sound completely different from what I said?”
“Carriaire wants revenge on Delphian because Delphian was the one who invited Zion to Zeros.”
“…What?”
I blinked at the twisted statement.
Laperre continued as if nothing was strange.
“Zion was the most precious person to Carriaire.
He’s spent the last ten years wanting to make Delphian feel the same pain of losing the person he loves most.”
“W-Wait, Lord Laperre! I never said I wanted to hear—”
Clap!
He cut me off with a loud clap.
“Oh no! Lady said she didn’t want to hear this, but I made a mistake.”
“…What?”
“Ah, this is terrible. I didn’t mean to tell you such a tragic backstory.
You must be leaving tomorrow night, right?”
“…”
“I guess you’ll just have to stay here at the Grand Duke’s estate until you can comfort the wounded hearts of the people here.”
“What? What are you saying?!”
He smiled as if to calm me down.
“Staying in Esperos might ruin your plan, but it’s actually a good thing.
Delphian Zeros couldn’t possibly get here by the morning after tomorrow anyway.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know the details, but something’s gone wrong with your plan.
But you know plans never go smoothly, right?”
“You can’t just say that—!”
“Anyway, I’ll clean up this mess as quickly as possible so you can return to Zeros.
Until then, get along with that stubborn man.”
“W-Wait!”
“Goodbye for now, Lady.”
Before I could respond, he waved and disappeared.
I cursed under my breath.
“Wait, you bastard!”
“W-What did you just say?”
“I said this is my room, and your room is over there.”
I blinked several times, unable to believe it.
I forced a smile.
“And my door?”
“There.”
Carriaire pointed to the same door again.
He leaned close to my ear and whispered:
“I figured it was better to give you a new room rather than clean the old one.”
He was offering me a tiny room connected to his bedroom.
I thought to myself:
If Laperre is fake madness, then this man is the real thing.
