Chapter 84
Chapter 84
“It’s been quite a while since we last greeted each other.”
“Haha…”
This is rather awkward.
I had exchanged greetings with Duke Hellis several times before.
I remember Duke Hellis turns thirty this year.
Or was it next year?
Well, around that age.
To my much younger eyes, whether twenty-nine or thirty, he looks similarly adult-like.
Especially when he’s managing his family’s affairs so properly like this.
Looking at his face that exuded the capital and composure of an adult, I reminded myself of my goal once again.
I will definitely succeed and live comfortably doing whatever I want without worrying about money.
I glanced at Cassis who was standing next to me.
“Hmm.”
I’ll definitely make Cassis successful too.
I told Cassis to take a rest for a while, but he insisted on coming along to greet Duke Hellis, following me determinedly.
And while pretending not to, he stuck close to my side, watching Duke Hellis warily.
“Why are you laughing?”
“…It’s nothing!”
I answered without suppressing my smile.
Cassis, perhaps realizing I was teasing him, pressed his lips firmly together.
Though I’m still not sure what he’s thinking, there’s no need to be this wary.
Because Hamel Hellis, Jane’s older brother and Duke Hellis, clearly had other motives.
“I didn’t know you were acquainted with Isolini.”
I thought it strange that someone who showed no interest in me before was suddenly acting friendly.
He must have heard somewhere that I was close to Isolini Blende.
While we are acquainted, we’re not close enough for Duke Hellis to make requests through me.
I dodged his questions with vague answers like “Well…” “I’m not sure…” and “I’ll ask when I see her next.”
I desperately tried catching Jane’s eye as she ate ice cream beside me.
Jane, being rather oblivious, failed to notice my signals.
It was Cassis who came to my rescue.
“Duke Hellis.”
“Ah, I heard Grand Duke Luwin had accepted the invitation, but I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”
Cassis called out to Duke Hellis while standing right beside me.
The Duke’s response was quite unexpected.
Though his words were impeccably polite, their underlying meaning seemed subtly dismissive and exclusionary.
I was a bit surprised, as he had always been quite courteous before, even aside from the Isolini matter.
But Cassis showed no particular reaction, as if it wasn’t strange at all.
He was only concerned about me.
“Irina seems quite tired.”
“…I apologize for not properly attending to the guest’s condition, My Lady.”
Cassis uttered an obvious lie to extract me from the situation.
Duke Hellis’s eyes narrowed.
But soon he burst into hearty laughter and shrugged his shoulders.
That’s how I was able to break away from Duke Hellis.
Cassis led me back to a corner of the party hall.
Jane tried to follow but was pulled to the center by the Duke.
“Ah, thank you!”
“I hope I didn’t do anything unnecessary.”
“Not at all! I’m so grateful! I wanted to escape!”
It would have been difficult to refuse the Hellis family, one of only two ducal houses in the empire.
I was satisfied just being able to get away so naturally.
“Does His Grace Duke Hellis dislike you?”
“Well, I haven’t done anything particularly to warrant dislike.”
“His behavior toward you isn’t very pleasant.”
Pleasant?
It was downright unpleasant.
But Cassis found my reaction amusing, pulling his lips into a slight smile.
“Irina, the Duke’s attitude isn’t anything special.”
“What?”
“A fallen noble, especially one from a once-prestigious family, makes for good gossip in social circles.”
As he spoke, he handed me a glass filled with fruit.
The fruit was beautifully arranged in bite-sized pieces.
“So his attitude isn’t particularly surprising.”
“Hmph, that makes me sad.”
“That’s why I dislike crowded places.”
I turned to look at the splendid and beautiful party venue.
It was already a beautiful mansion, made even more stunning with decorations.
Despite being winter, the mansion was warm.
It was so warm that sitting on the terrace created a perfect balance of warmth on your body and coolness on your face.
I had always promised myself that when I made lots of money, I would keep my mansion this warm too.
It was such a perfect space, but after hearing about their attitude toward Cassis, my fondness for it suddenly cooled.
I swept my gaze across the mansion that no longer looked beautiful but merely extravagant.
“So, Irina. Have you finished your duties for today?”
Cassis called to me in a gentle voice, as if trying to soothe my dampened mood.
His kind voice carried a slightly coaxing tone.
“Yes, I have.”
There wasn’t really any need to attend the party in the first place.
I only stayed to properly congratulate my regular customer Jane.
“Shall we go then?”
“Should we?”
“Oh, please.”
Cassis answered rather theatrically while extending his hand.
When I lightly placed my hand on his, he guided me gently as if I were a lady from a prestigious family.
My heart strangely skipped a beat at his courteous manner.
I quietly looked up at him, but he led me along with just a faint smile, without meeting my eyes.
Just as I was about to follow him, almost as if in a trance.
“…!”
Riiiiiing.
I stopped moving.
The ringing in my ears seemed to resonate beyond my eardrums into my head.
The terrible sound soon led to a headache, and I could only stand frozen in place, barely supporting my body.
“Irina?”
I could hear someone calling me, but it didn’t reach me.
It sounded muffled, like someone calling from above water while I was sinking deep below.
“Irina, Irina! You need to breathe. You must breathe.”
Breathe?
Was I not breathing?
What does it mean to breathe?
How do you breathe?
Where am I right now?
Riiiiiing.
The ringing wouldn’t subside.
With my barely functioning thoughts, I tried to understand why I had frozen like this, why I had fallen into panic.
Finally, through my blurry vision, I could see my trembling hands, and only then did I realize I was shaking with fear.
“Sister, sister! You need to breathe.”
“…I’m scared.”
“Yes, Irina. I’ll hold you so you won’t be scared.”
I’m scared.
So scared.
But what am I scared of?
If it were just the ringing and headache, I might be okay, but the fear enveloping my entire body left me helpless.
I could only feel hands holding me firmly, arms embracing me, and through my thin dress, warm body heat barely helping me calm down.
“Sister, take my divine power. I’m channeling it into you.”
“Cold…”
“Give me your hand. I’ll hold it.”
As Seiren’s divine power flowed in, the ringing and headache began to subside.
As the pain decreased, the fear and helplessness surrounding me also faded.
“I-I think I’m okay now.”
“No, Irina. You’re still trembling.”
At his words, I tried to calm my pounding heart while half-leaning on Cassis.
I looked around.
I was sitting on a couch in a corner of the party hall where I had been with Seiren earlier.
Cassis was almost holding me, and my face was streaked with tears.
People weren’t staring directly at me, but they were casting furtive glances of concern.
I wiped my messy face with the back of my hand and lowered my head.
‘Ah, this could affect the Lu & Cream business.’
If the CEO collapses like this, it could make it difficult to find investors.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“I’m a bit better now.”
“But sister, you’re still shaking.”
Seiren held my trembling arm.
“I’m not shaking from cold. I’m just… so scared.”
But why?
What is making me shake like this?
If I had to describe what I’m feeling right now, it was like standing before a massive beast that could tear me apart at any moment.
“It’s not my specialty, so I’m not sure, but sister, your divine power is completely reversed.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder why.”
Could that be related?
All these questions were answered within minutes.
In fact, it would have been better if they hadn’t been.
CRASH!
“KYAAAAH! Someone’s trapped! Someone’s trapped under it!”
“Call someone quickly! Someone’s trapped under the chandelier!”
“Damn it, why did a perfectly fine chandelier fall… uh… huh? U-UWAAAAAH.”
The party hall, filled with sweet melodies moments ago, was instantly covered in shattered glass, blood, and screams.
At the growling sound like something was scraping from below, I looked up and began to panic again.
“Oh, f*ck. What is that?”
“Irina, Seiren! Step back!”
Where the chandelier had been, space itself was literally torn.
The space twisted and tore, and through that gap, a pitch-black creature poked its head out.
“KYAAAAH!”
“UWAAAH! What the hell is that! R-RUN!”
“P-please spare me. sob.”
Standing in the middle of what had been a beautiful mansion, I stared blankly at the black creature.
Ah.
I know this unidentified creature.
“Irina, we must get away from here. Take my hand.”
I had no time to spare a glance at Cassis who was desperately trying to grab me.
I barely moved my lips.
“A demonic beast. It’s a demonic beast.”
That unidentifiable being is a demonic beast.
The cause of the world’s destruction.
