Time of the Blind Beast - Chapter 31

Rose traced the rough, protruding scars with her fingertips. Ezekiel, who had referred to her as an exception, leaned back loosely, enjoying the sensation of Rose’s hand roaming across the center of his chest.

It was astonishing. When had things changed so much? It felt like just yesterday when she accidentally touched his scars while helping him dress, earning a sharp glare.

However, there was one thing he slightly misunderstood. To Rose, Ezekiel wasn’t just an exception; he was something beyond that. Unlike an exception, which exists within the bounds of standards, Ezekiel transcended any such bounds entirely.  He wasn’t someone who simply endured whatever she did to him—he was someone for whom anything was permissible. This conclusion had never wavered.

“How did you get such severe injuries, Major? It seems like your life was in serious danger… Are other soldiers like this too?”

To her question, Ezekiel responded nonchalantly, “Not everyone. It depends on the unit they’re assigned to. Some cowardly types stick to rear units. My company, however, selected soldiers based on physique and stamina and often sent them into hazardous missions. And also…”

“Also?”

“At the time, there was a bounty on my head.”

His tone was casual. But to the listener, it was a chilling revelation.

Rose’s eyes widened in shock. Considering his reputation, it wasn’t entirely surprising—it signified just how much Ezekiel’s exploits across the enemy frontlines had been a thorn in Davice’s side.

Perhaps anticipating her silence, Ezekiel continued as if it were nothing, “On the bright side, planning missions was easier. All I had to do was act as the bait.”

“You were in charge of a unit, yet you planned such reckless strategies?”

“War is inherently dangerous at every moment.”

“Even so…”

“In battle, there are only two kinds of strategies: good ones and bad ones. A good strategy is one that succeeds.”

Ezekiel’s definition was concise. Rose, who had been silently listening, timidly brought up a fragment of a past conversation.

“You once said you’ve never lost a battle.”

“If I had, someone would’ve already cashed in my bounty and been living luxuriously by now.”

“Ah, true. If you lose, you wouldn’t be alive…”

What about me in the future? Rose mulled over the troubling letter from Captain Montcalm, which she had read aloud earlier. The chilling details of the report still made her blood run cold.

“Major Valdemaira, this is Montcalm. I am reporting the results of inquiries regarding that woman.”

‘That woman.’

Even without voicing it aloud, anything related to ‘that woman’ always made Ezekiel’s gaze change. A distinct light gleamed in his iris, even in his blinded eye.

Rose had no chance to pre-read Montcalm’s letter. Ezekiel, clad in nothing but a towel around his waist, had sat on a makeshift stool in front of the bathtub, forcing her to open the letter and read it while he gripped her free hand tightly.

“We searched for women rumored to be Akenaus Valdemaira’s mistress but found no one matching the description among those he recently met. Instead, we shifted our investigation toward any peculiar incidents involving the Valdemaira estate and discovered that a long-serving couple abruptly vanished. Allegedly, they were accused of stealing valuables and taken away, but no one knows what became of them.”

Despite the uncertainty of his return to the 37th Regiment, Ezekiel’s subordinates had diligently helped him track her down. Now she understood why. Ezekiel had said he used himself as bait to lure enemies after a bounty was placed on his head. Unlike other officers who would use their noble status to ensure their survival, Ezekiel shared his soldiers’ hardships, earning their trust and loyalty. The camaraderie and dedication they built together were unshakable.

But the result was that her parents’ theft had surfaced. Rose held her breath as she read the letter, afraid that her trembling hands might betray her emotions.

“A middle-aged couple doesn’t match the description of the woman we’re searching for. The timing of their disappearance also seems slightly earlier than expected. However, there are suspicious aspects that make it difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence. While there are those who know the couple was taken away, no one knows their fate. Typically, when a maid or servant is caught stealing from their master’s property, strict punishment is meted out as an example, and the outcome is made public to deter others. But in their case, it’s as if they’ve been erased from existence. Considering Akenaus Valdemaira’s infamous temper, it’s unlikely he would have shown them mercy.”

On the other hand, it was absurd that the suspicion cast on her parents—who, at a glance, had no apparent connection—stemmed from Akenaus’s uncharacteristically lenient behavior.

Rose struggled to read the letter, line by line, barely holding herself together.

“It seems the household has been strictly ordered to remain silent. No matter how much we pried, no one would speak further. So we visited the couple’s former residence…”

The shock of that part still lingered.

…What?

“The house appeared unoccupied, with the door locked and no lights on. However, upon breaking the lock and entering, it was strange to find the furnishings and belongings in disarray. It looked as if the occupants had fled in the dead of night. Whether they had planned to escape before being taken as thieves or managed to survive and subsequently fled remains unclear.”

She couldn’t count how much effort it took to read the report’s details nonchalantly, even as it mentioned traces of their hurried escape.

She never anticipated that his subordinates would search the house so thoroughly. In their hasty departure, there had been no time to tidy up. Rose and her parents had only taken the most essential items and valuables before fleeing.

After the report concluded, Ezekiel fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. His firm fingers tapped a steady rhythm on the back of her hand.

“I need to send a reply to Montcalm.”

“…A reply?”

“Though there’s been controversy about our family acting like merchants, my great-grandfather always said the easiest way to control people is through money. That’s why the Valdemaira family is generous with its servants, ensuring loyalty. Yet, for that couple to resort to theft suggests there was an expense beyond what their wages could cover. Tell Montcalm to question the neighbors discreetly—find out the couple’s detailed appearance and whether they had debts or other financial troubles. Avoid stirring up the servants too much; we don’t want to draw Akenaus’s attention unnecessarily.”

The strict silence imposed on the household staff regarding the matter seemed to be Akenaus’s last shred of conscience—or perhaps it was merely a calculated move to prevent further scandal from spreading and creating complications for himself. The latter seemed far more likely.

In any case, thanks to this, Rose’s true identity, which could have easily been exposed, remained hidden for now. In that sense, she had benefited from the situation.

However, once Montcalm began questioning the neighbors under Ezekiel’s orders, it wouldn’t take long to discover that the missing couple had a daughter. And that daughter’s appearance would align perfectly with the description of “that woman” Ezekiel was desperately searching for.

The looming inevitability of the future felt overwhelming. Rose averted her gaze, focusing on a distant point to avoid Ezekiel’s eyes.

Perhaps I…

Perhaps I can’t stay here for much longer.

***

“Do you have any spare lemons in the kitchen?”

Rose wandered near the kitchen, looking for Anna. Covered in flour and mid-bread-making, Anna nodded at Rose’s question.

“Lemons? We always have plenty. It’s a staple ingredient, you know.”

Lemon slices, used to enhance the taste and aroma of dishes, were always a part of the table. Thankfully, it was an easy ingredient to procure. Rose let out a silent sigh of relief.

“Why do you need lemons?”

“I thought I’d make some lemon tea.”

“Lemon tea? Do you need that now? Just slice them thinly and soak them in honey. Or I can make it for you. It’ll be quick.”

“Everyone seems busy, so I’ll do it. I happen to have some time right now.”

“Oh, alright. Hold on a moment.”

Without much suspicion, Anna went to fetch the lemons. All the efforts Rose had put into nursing Ezekiel through his withdrawal from opium—using everything from decoctions of bark to herbal teas—had paid off. Anna didn’t even ask why lemon tea was needed.

“Do you need a lot, or will these do?”

“These will be enough.”

Rose accepted the three lemons Anna brought, putting on a casual smile as she did. Then she found a quiet corner of the kitchen, away from the bustling workers. Thankfully, everyone was too busy with their tasks to pay her any attention. Her habit of lending a hand here and there had also worked in her favor; people simply assumed she was helping someone.

Quickly, Rose sliced the freshly washed lemons into thin pieces and set aside a few round peels. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the tension.

…Let this work, please.