Chapter 10

“Go.”

“Um... but how are you going to return home without me? And it’s getting colder...”

He had been waiting to leave all day long. But an ounce of his conscience made him ask just one more time.

“I'll take care of it. Just go. And tell the marquis that I’ll be staying at the temple to attend the prayer vigil to be cleansed of sin. Do not mention a thing about the duchess, do you understand?”

“But then I’ll be lying to the marquis...”

“It’s better than talking about the duchess and being interrogated about it. If you don’t want to get hurt or fired, do as I said and keep quiet.”

The carriage man thought hard at Leslie’s words. But in the end, he fixed up his hat and haltered in the reins, preparing to leave.

“I-I will. But know that I tried to bring you home. If anything goes wrong, I don’t know anything about it!”

In case something happened, he wanted to ensure he would be fault-free. So, he yelled out as he turned the carriage to return to the marquis.

“That’s what I told him to do. So, you don’t have to worry about it.”

Leslie smiled bitterly and finished her story, looking back at the duchess. The duchess’ head tilted and her grin grew wide.

“That’s great. Why don’t you stay the night here at the residence, then? We don’t get many guests, so it’s nothing special, but we have plenty of clean rooms. And...”

The duchess reached out her palm to Leslie’s forehead, measuring her temperature. Then her hands traveled to Leslie’s arms.

She then rolled up Leslie’s sleeves to reveal the burns, her eyes narrowing.

Bethrion, observing his mother, gasped a breathy sound in disbelief.

“Let’s get this treated. It’s a serious burn, and if it doesn’t get treated right away, you might end up with scars like mine. Did you receive any treatment?”

Leslie shook her head slowly. No doctor has been sent to her since the night at the cliff. All she was given was a small tin of nastily smelling crushed herbs. Even then, it didn’t do much other than make her smell awful. But since that was all she had, she had been applying it every day.

“It must’ve been painful...”

Duchess Salvatore carefully rolled down the sleeves and brushed Leslie’s silver hair behind the ears. Then, with a smile, she led Leslie to her room.

“I’ll call a healer, so let’s get you patched up.”

‘It’s like a dream.’

Leslie was led to one of the lavishly decorated guest rooms of the residence. She was now lying on a gigantic bed with a thick duvet pulled up to her nose.

The ceiling was so high that it would be impossible to touch even if she had a chair on top of the table. But it didn’t lessen her desire to reach out and touch the ceiling. The ceiling was tastefully painted with a detailed painting, which was a depiction of famous historical figures and scenes of the empire. But her eyelids kept drooping as the blazing warmth of a fireplace drew her into sleep.

Leslie tugged at the duvet. The soft silk tenderly tickled her cheeks. Even Eli doesn’t have bedding as nice as this, so Leslie happily sighed.

‘It really feels like a dream.’

Slowly blinking from the drowsiness, Leslie stretched her arm towards the ceiling.

Her arm escaped from under the heavy duvet and revealed equally soft pajamas that smoothly snaked down, revealing a now burn-free arm. Just a few hours ago, it was oozing blisters and blood from the swollen knots of the burned skin. Every second, her rough linen dress pulled at it, and the sticky pain had stung her. But now, she didn’t feel any pain and the disgusting fluids oozed no more.

Even the place where the muscle and skin had been hurt from one of Eli’s violent tantrums was healed. Eli had thrown an expensive table decor at Leslie and it had caused her frail muscles to cave in. But it was no longer there. It was as if it had never happened. Her skin was clean as snow and felt softer than before. It was as if she had been given a new body. Leslie blinked again and thought about her meeting with the healing priest a few hours ago.

“My goodness... what kind of evil and immoral people would leave this on a child? How heartless for them to not treat it for you?”

At the duchess’ summon, the healing priest had come at once. Upon examining Leslie’s burn, his face twisted with compassion, looking like he was the one suffering from the burn.

“It looks like bare minimum was done for the child. It must’ve been beyond painful for you... What a brave girl.”

With that, he gently patted her head. Leslie was a bit confused. Was he praising her because she had endured it well or that she doesn’t have to suffer anymore? Perhaps both, Leslie reflected.

The healing priest’s pats continued for a long time as if to wash away Leslie’s pains and traumas. Then he had carefully taken her arms into his hands and began to pray.

Soon, warmth began to spread around her arms with soft glowing golden lights. It was coming out of the priest’s hands like a spider threading its webs. As the glow surrounded her arms, her burns began to heal. Swellings were gone, fluids dried, redness turned into pale pink, and her skin soon became white like untouched snow. She also felt the biting coldness at her core from standing out too long dissipate along with exhaustion and only a faint hint of the common cold.

Leslie couldn’t take her eyes off of the gold-hued healing magic.

Wow. Her eyes fluttered at the sensation of energy, vibrating her whole body.

She didn’t know that it would be so quick. She had never seen a priest perform the magic. Whenever Eli caught a cold or got ill, the marquis and marchioness paid a small fortune to call the priests for healing. But Leslie wasn’t allowed to leave the confines of the attic during the visits. They hid her so well that the priests were clueless about Leslie just as she was clueless about them. So, she had never seen such powers or knew that it only took a couple of minutes for her burns to be healed.

After the healing, she was led to an enormous bathroom. A tub, as big as a small pool, was filled with hot water. There, for the first time in her short life, she was bathed by maids.

And it was the most wonderful sensation she had ever experienced. They were kind and accommodating to her requests if there were any. After a relaxing bath, she was led to this luxurious guest room.

And she had to try her best to keep her jaw from falling. It would have made her look like a fool if her jaws fell as they toured the room.

Her eyes wandered to her now evenly manicured nails. Her nails had been cut and cracked from the night she had been dragged into the firepit. She had scratched at anything to survive, so it was bruised and broken. Since then, she had to act, staying on her feet to prolong her survival and didn’t care for her nails. But during the bath, the kind maids had taken care of them without question. They were shorter than ever before, but it looked normal without a hint of the terrible night.

Everything seemed like a dream and she still couldn’t believe her eyes. Her body smelled good, the bed was plushy, and the pain was gone. Leslie lowered her arm and pinched her cheeks hard.

“Ouch.”

She cried out in pain, but also sighed in relief. ‘It’s not a dream,’ she laughed softly as she buried her face in the pillow. It was safe to laugh here. No one was there to reprimand her for that. But habits die hard, and she kept her head buried.

A lot happened today. For the first time, she washed up with warm water in the morning and had a scrumptious meal.

And her plan was coming together. Though she waited awhile, she finally met with the duchess.

‘And she accepted the proposal and now I have a contract.’

“She called me ‘my daughter,’” Leslie smiled as sleep once again pulled her into unconsciousness. The duchess was nothing like the rumors. She was kind and considerate.

‘But I shouldn’t let my guard down.’

The duchess still hadn’t told Leslie what was required from her. Most of all, there was no guarantee that the duchess would release her when she became of legal age.

Though the House of Sperado had lost its former glory of powerful magic for over a hundred years, some families still remembered its powers. Such was the dark magic, tempting and irresistible.

Having been forced to completely memorize all of the empire’s history books, Leslie knew all too well about what would happen to the children with powerful magic. For over a thousand years, they were taken and used by nobles and imperial families alike. Some were as young or even younger than she was, but all ended in the same way: Tragic and premature deaths, which were all forgotten through time. They were her guides for the future. Their examples told her what to do and what not to do.

She would no longer be used and tossed aside. It was the kind of life Leslie wished and worked so hard to avoid.

She will be Leslie, normal and happy, paving her own paths. Whether it be at the duchess’ residence, imperial court, or going back to the marquis, whatever it is, she will make the choices. She won’t let anyone force her ever again.

Leslie yawned. ‘I have so much to plan and still discuss with the duchess,’ she thought as she drifted into blissful sleep.

She was relaxed from the bath. The room was warm and cozy, thanks to the fireplace, and her bed was so comfortable that it felt like her whole being was being enveloped into a soft cocoon.

Soon, there was no sound or movement, but a soft snore.

“She will be leaving tomorrow, won’t she...?”

A maid sighed softly as she lit up a candle in the hallway.

Everyone was still bustling about the little girl, Miss Leslie Sperado.

It is part of human nature to be fond of cute things as it is essential as eating delicious food and listening to good music. But the duchess’ family was far from anything cute.

Work wasn’t hard compared to other noble houses. The duchy paid them well and was in no shortage of goods and resources. Their masters were never unreasonably demanding. But...

“They're a bit intimidating.”

Another maid below the maid, who was lighting the candle on a small ladder, chimed in, both nodding in agreement.

Their masters were indeed very intimidating. They were at least a head taller than most people. They were big-boned and muscular as most have fought in the war or currently serving the empire as knights. Their presence was at a whole new level, making onlookers feel suffocated from just a glance.

But then, a little girl appeared like magic. She was glowing from the light as everything about her was white: her silver hair, pale lilac eyes, and porcelain skin. Most of all, she was so tiny! Her rosy cheeks were like a squirrel’s as she busily chewed food in her mouth. Then it pouted into the shape of a small bird’s beak when Master Bethrion incorrectly guessed her age. And when the maids guided her to a guest room, her eyes twinkled more than the brightest star in the night sky!

“She was so adorable.”

Thinking about the girl, the two maids displayed excitement from how adorable she was. She was like rain in a drought, making the duchess’ residence and the members of it more approachable and finally relatable.

“But didn't the duchess call her...?”

“You two.”

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of a low, dull voice. Turning, they saw their master, Bethrion, who was now dressed in simple casual wear.

“Master Bethrion.”

Exchanging nervous looks, they quickly bowed their heads. ‘Did he hear us?’ one maid looked at the other, questioningly.

“Bring sets of tea to the duchess’ study room. I’ll be with my mother.”

They breathed a silent sigh of relief. One of the maids looked up with a small smile and nodded obediently.

“Yes, master. Shall I bring some night snacks as well?”

Bethrion shook his head and walked towards the direction of the duchess’ study. The maids, too, quickly turned on their heels to the kitchen, not forgetting to collect their tools.

‘Unusual. The mansion’s buzzing.’

Bethrion’s brows knitted a little. The employees of the duchess have always been calm and quietly efficient. But today, the mood seemed unusually upbeat and a few even approached him in odd excitement. Of course, there was only one reason for that.

‘I knew she was going to be adopting a girl, but why the Sperado child?’

Bethrion could not understand why his mother even approved the little girl’s request of meeting in the first place.

Then, an image popped into his head. A tiny person with her hair the color of clouds, her lilac eyes, and pale skin. She looked so soft, quite literally.

He was often told that he was insensitive. But he knew that the girl was indeed cute.

‘...but surely, Mother couldn’t have chosen her simply because she’s cute, could she?’

‘Could... she?’ Bethrion contemplated his mother’s actions earlier in the night, suddenly growing concerned.

Just like the maids and the servants, even his mother’s closest confidant, Jenna, had asked, “Should I call a seamstress to the residence, or should I take her to the shops?”

Sighing from growing concerns, he stood before the huge doors to his mother’s study.

“Mother, it’s Bethrion.”

He knocked politely and opened the door. The duchess tilted her head a little to the side, looking distracted from her thoughts.

“What brings you here at such a late hour?”

“I’m here to ask about the child.”

Bethrion flopped down on the sofa, his eyes never leaving his mother. It was always difficult to read her due to the mask covering half her face.

‘No, it wasn’t just the mask,’ he sighed a little. His mother was a difficult person to read in general.

“Please explain to me why her, a Sperado, of all the children in the empire. It could’ve been a child from any other house, but her? People are going to talk a lot later.”

“Yes, they will. It will be a great difficulty adopting her.”

The duchess let out a small, delightful laugh. Her son was correct. The marquis and the marchioness were indeed still alive. It was going to be a great hassle to make the adoption legitimate. Especially considering that the marquis was none other than the famous Sperado, it was going to take a lot of work.

Of course, more than the time it would take for the adoption to sort out, what happens after is another thing to keep in mind. The marquis would do everything in his power to overturn the decision and might even involve the imperial family.

Bethrion, upon seeing his mother’s conflicted expressions, carefully asked again.

“Is she worth all the work and rumors?”

“Yes, and more. I personally assure you of that.”

With that, the duchess tapped her desk and got lost in her thoughts. Tap, Tap. Her fingers created regular rhythms until they stopped. Her dark green eyes finally focused and found her son’s still questioning eyes.

“Besides...”

“Whew,” The duchess sighed deeply. Bethrion silently watched his mother, wondering what inner turmoil his mother might be experiencing.

“How can a mother turn away a child when the child begs for her life?”

The moon shone down on the duchess’ peculiarly remorseful smile.