Time of the Blind Beast - Chapter 37

Humans instinctively seek beauty. As a result, beautiful things naturally attract attention—a sunset blazing red after the rain, clusters of flowers blooming with the seasons, adorable puppies and kittens, golden-brown loaves of freshly baked bread, and faces of all ages marked by harmony or a unique atmosphere.

A face that drew more attention than expected for its humble origins had often piqued people’s interest, so Rose was, whether she liked it or not, quite accustomed to being watched. When someone stared at her intently, she would often pretend not to notice.

But not anymore. Especially here, in this Derosa estate, whenever visitors like doctors openly observed her face, her heart pounded, and cold sweat formed on her palms.

Sometimes, she imagined things. Like someone suddenly asking Ezekiel why a young woman with chestnut-brown hair and hazel eyes was standing right beside him.

Of course, nothing like that had happened. But even the thought of the possibility was enough to reignite the vigilance she had briefly let dull.

Some days, that vigilance tipped over into outright anxiety. On those days, Rose would double-check the way she had pinned up her hair under her headscarf and stand in the estate’s shadows, staring at her reflection in a mirror. The mansion’s dim lighting meant her irises’ color couldn’t be properly discerned. Only after confirming this detail over and over, almost compulsively, did she allow herself to feel a sliver of relief.

That was why… that man’s gaze was unsettling.

Rose glanced sideways at the man delivering fresh cherries and melons. Tasked with ensuring the estate never ran out of fresh fruit, he regularly brought just enough for a day or two.

Where did he source his goods?

The northern and eastern lands, scarred by war, had suffered severe damage to their soil, making the steady production of high-quality crops difficult for the time being. Yet this man had somehow procured fruit as fine as those found in Claris, despite operating in this barren northern region. If that were all, she might have simply marveled at his extensive connections and left it at that. But instead of quickly settling his payment and leaving, he made it a point to glance at her in passing, leaving behind an unpleasant aftertaste.

The first time she noticed his gaze linger, she had deliberately busied herself elsewhere. The next time, to her surprise, she ran into him while running an errand for Ezekiel in the drawing room. Unlike Rose, who was startled to find an outsider in an unexpected part of the house, the man greeted her with an easygoing smile.

“We meet again.”

“…How are you here?”

“Ah, haha, I must have wandered while looking around. But really, for a Valdemaira estate, doesn’t this place feel a little desolate?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“The space feels too empty. Typically, a Valdemaira house, whether the main estate or a villa, would be packed with rare collectibles on display.”

Those collections were all stored upstairs, but Rose schooled her expression and feigned ignorance.

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know much about that.”

“I’d bet the statues here are works by famous sculptors.”

“Statues…?”

As far as she remembered, there were no large decorative statues on the first floor. Anything that might obstruct Ezekiel’s movement had long been cleared out, and since that had happened before she arrived, she knew little of what had once been there.

Did that mean he had ventured upstairs, where even the household staff seldom went?

Rose’s expression hardened as she questioned him directly.

“Where did you see those?”

“There are plenty in the garden. It’s set up for easy viewing on a walk. From what I’ve heard, since this region is so cold, there aren’t many places suitable for long strolls, so decorative gardens became a trend. But it doesn’t seem like this one is maintained much anymore.”

The man responded nonchalantly, his manner smooth and practiced, as expected from someone whose profession required dealing with people. At this point, it was Rose who felt slightly off-balance.

“…How do you know all this?”

“When you meet people and travel around, you naturally pick things up.”

Even if she wanted to find fault with his words, there was nothing to grasp. Rose had no choice but to accept his answer and step back.

Yet, she couldn’t shake a lingering unease. While this wasn’t the grand Valdemaira main house, it was still an estate under their name. How had this outsider entered unnoticed, slipping past the staff and making his way to the drawing room? And what had he been doing there before she happened to walk in?

At least today, he hadn’t wandered beyond the kitchen. Instead, he simply stared at Rose intently. Debating whether to turn away and ignore him, Rose took a short, steadying breath before addressing him directly.

“Do you have business with me?”

The man grinned. “I’ve thought this before, but you’re quite a rare beauty for a place like this.”

From her experience, men rarely commented on a woman’s appearance without some ulterior motive.

Rose let the polite smile she had been wearing slip from her face.

“You’re being rude.”

“If it sounded like an evaluation, I apologize. But to my eyes, you don’t seem like someone born in the North. I was simply curious about what brought you to this estate.”

“That… isn’t that the same for you? You may speak with a northern accent, but you seem like someone who has lived in the capital for a long time.”

At Rose’s pointed remark, the man briefly showed a flicker of surprise.

“Why do you think that?”

She had only thrown out the observation as a mild probe, yet his reaction confirmed her suspicion, leaving Rose slightly surprised herself.

“It shows.”

From the start, she had thought there was something refined about the way he removed his hat when greeting others. His mannerisms were polished, suggesting he had dealt with many high-status individuals. That meant he must have spent considerable time in the capital, where the upper class congregated.

“Merchants travel all over the country as part of their trade, so I suppose that’s why you see me that way. As for you, I happened to overhear someone call you Rose the other day. Is that your real name?”

Rose fixed him with a firm gaze. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I just thought it was a waste for someone young and beautiful to be staying in such a remote and dark estate. You could easily find a more prominent position elsewhere. Fortunately, I have connections in various places. If you so desire, I wouldn’t mind introducing you to some good opportunities. What do you think?”

“No, I have no need for that.”

Rose rejected him outright.

Seeing her expression, the man let out an awkward laugh.

“I only mentioned it because I was interested in you. No need to be so wary. I’m not a bad person. Now that I think about it, we haven’t even introduced ourselves. My name is Merlot. Judging by your reaction, though, I doubt you’re very curious.”

People who spoke like that were rarely trustworthy.

Was he truly interested in her, or did he have another motive?

Rose did not lower her guard and continued to glare at him.

***

Could a mere dream truly startle a person so much?

Rose had woken with a jolt, trembling so violently that the bed shook. She had dreamed of being abandoned by him. The content of the dream was absurd, yet the fact that parting ways with him could be a nightmare for her brought Ezekiel a strange sense of satisfaction. At the same time, he reflected on whether he had failed to reassure her enough.

No matter how many times he made promises with words, language alone held little weight without proof. Though he felt hurt by the distrust that her unconscious mind revealed, Ezekiel resolved to understand her fears.

“Serva, I want to obtain a fine diamond.”

This was part of that reflection and understanding.

He quickly added another request.

“A red diamond.”

A red diamond would suit Rose, with her crimson hair.

“A red diamond? Those rarely appear at auctions. Most are only obtainable through personal connections.”

“That only makes it more valuable. It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time. Find a large, high-quality stone. I intend to have it set into a matching set of earrings, a necklace, and a ring.”

Serva tilted her head slightly. “Hmm, Master. Are you aware that highly rare and expensive red diamonds usually have a nickname?”

“A nickname?”

“They’re often called the ‘Blood Diamond.'”

Men typically sought out extraordinary gemstones for a limited number of reasons. One of the most common was to gift them to a woman. And diamonds, in particular, carried an undeniable meaning. Madam Serva quickly grasped the purpose behind this request.

“Unusual diamonds tend to attract attention. The more sought-after a gem, the more stories and rumors it gathers. Over time, many of these diamonds are said to bring misfortune to their owners, hence the nickname ‘Blood Diamond’ or ‘Cursed Diamond.’ If Rose were a member of the aristocracy attending high society gatherings, such a unique piece might enhance her status. But for someone like her, who has led a quiet, ordinary life, wearing a jewel with such a sinister reputation would likely make her anxious.”

Moreover, in Madam Serva’s eyes, Rose had no inclination toward social gatherings where she could flaunt such a piece. Though Ezekiel was of the Valdemaira family, he was not fulfilling any formal role within the household. As things stood, he would continue to live in seclusion, interacting with only a handful of people in this estate. There was no chance for them to engage in extravagant socializing. A red diamond was too excessive for their circumstances.

“For an engagement gift, wouldn’t it be better to choose something more neutral and understated rather than something notorious and flashy?”

“Serva, do you really believe in such superstitions?”

Ezekiel scoffed.

“Every coveted object naturally accumulates stories. The idea that certain jewels are cursed or bring misfortune is nothing but baseless superstition. Don’t let that concern you.”

For a proposal, offering something “neutral and understated” was an insult to a man’s sincerity.

He dismissed the idea firmly.

“Anyone afraid of such nonsense is nothing but a coward. Serva, I want the finest, most expensive jewel available.”