Time of the Blind Beast - Chapter 40

“Protecting others was my way of life.”

The man whose everyday life had been devoted to protecting others and his country—why was he so cruelly abandoned when he himself was in danger?

It was a question.

And she wanted to plead with something, anything.

Please, do not let that man suffer injustice.

A world where the efforts of good people go unrewarded while the desires of the wicked are indulged is far too cruel.

“…If there were a way?”

Her first words were impulsive.

“A way?”

“Perhaps…”

Rose took a deep breath.

“It might be possible to treat him.”

She never imagined she would admit the possibility of his recovery with her own lips, acknowledging the future she had so feared.

“Are you certain?”

Her resolve had not yet solidified, and her consciousness wavered hazily. However, her lips moved against her will.

“I can’t say for sure. But there is a doctor willing to attempt detoxification, and the major’s determination is remarkable. Miracles… they say they stem from willpower.”

Rose looked Merlot straight in the eyes.

“Is expelling him from the family really such an urgent matter that it must be decided now?”

“Well… that is true.”

“Then, please ask His Excellency to continue keeping Akenaus Valdemaira occupied.”

First and foremost, she had to ensure that Akenaus never set foot in this estate. His arrival would mark the beginning of catastrophe.

After securing the estate from Akenaus, Rose continued her plea, “Let the major make his own decision about his future after receiving further treatment. If he remains blind forever, I will personally take responsibility and obtain a formal renunciation document. If a guarantee is needed, I will write a letter myself. But if his sight returns…”

She forced herself to smile.

“He was originally the one chosen as the heir, so this wouldn’t be bad news for His Excellency.”

“Then, what about you?”

Merlot countered.

“Honestly, anyone can tell at a glance that your relationship with Lord Ezekiel is not ordinary. But you will never become the lady of Valdemaira. No matter which noble house you look at, a mere maid has never become the lady of a family. A mistress, perhaps.”

“…That’s true.”

In any case, if his sight returned, she could no longer stay by Ezekiel’s side.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of being a burden to the major. If necessary…”

Rose steadied her voice as she continued, “I am willing to sign a renunciation document to prove it.”

“Are you serious?”

Whether it was true or not, she had to do it if she wished to avoid bringing harm to him.

So, she answered, “Yes.”

“Huh, this is unexpected.”

“……”

“Of course, if you truly follow through, it would ease concerns on our side as well, so it’s appreciated. But I don’t quite understand. After dealing with all the women who caused such chaos at the main estate, seeing you is…”

Merlot tilted his head.

“I may just be an errand runner, but still—really, do you have no ambition? Considering your involvement with Valdemaira, you could at least try to hold your ground. Instead, you back away so easily, as if you’ve been preparing for this moment all along. It’s strangely meticulous, or rather, your lack of ambition is almost suspicious. As if you always knew this day would come and planned ahead to withdraw without hesitation. It’s odd.”

Merlot’s assessment was accurate.

Ever since Dr. Brehman’s treatment had been decided, Rose had constantly envisioned this future. Since it was a matter of her fate, she had no choice but to prepare for it.

Rose kept her expression composed and replied, “I simply know my place. If I were to offend a great house like Valdemaira, it would do me no good.”

“Impressive. Not many people know exactly when to step back, but you are certainly not acting foolishly.”

Hearing such praise brought her no joy at all.

She felt utterly drained. A dreadful fatigue overwhelmed her.

“…Then let’s consider this matter settled. I need to return now.”

The conversation had lasted longer than expected, delaying her significantly.

She glanced sideways at the slightly open window. She had used the excuse of feeling unwell due to her cycle to buy time and bathe alone, then climbed out of the window to arrange this meeting. The meeting method had been chosen considering that the entire front of the estate was covered by curtains.

“Wait a moment.”

But Merlot was quicker in stopping her.

“I’m not finished yet. Aren’t you curious why I didn’t ignore or feign ignorance about your note and came here instead?”

Rose halted mid-step.

“The first time I saw you, you were slicing lemons in the kitchen.”

“Yes. And?”

“People from the north tend to be naive. None of them seemed to realize what you were using the lemons for. And I doubt it was Lord Ezekiel’s decision, either. Soldiers only know the contraception methods used by prostitutes, and in their case, they use specially made instruments for insertion.”

Had he been closely observing even the moment she smuggled out the lemon slices?

Now, no matter how much she forced it, not even a strained smile would come out.

“It’s not a commonly known method. It’s somewhat shocking at first glance, yet also seems like a way to maintain a certain dignity. I happen to know someone who uses the same method of contraception. These matters typically fall under the duties of the lower servants.”

Her palms grew damp with cold sweat.

Merlot, being affiliated with Valdemaira, would be well aware of Akenaus’s promiscuity. And now, standing before him was a woman using the exact same method of contraception. It was enough to arouse suspicion about her identity.

An unexpected misstep.

“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?”

This errand runner was far more cunning and sly than he appeared. His feigned interest, the way he strung words together—everything was a trap meant to probe her.

Now that he no longer needed to maintain a pretentious facade, Merlot openly revealed his true intentions.

“Moreover, as an errand runner for the Valdemaira main house, it is my duty and responsibility to verify the identity of the woman by Lord Ezekiel’s side.”

His interrogation sent a chilling sensation down her spine.

“Who exactly are you, miss?”

Chapter 7: His Path and Hers

Rose was acting strange.

Ezekiel attuned his ears to her presence. Even today, she sat in silence, lost in her own world. No matter how deeply she was lost in thought, she often failed to respond when called, or answered with a noticeable delay. At times, she even repeated the same tasks multiple times—sweeping, sweeping, sweeping, then wiping, wiping, wiping. Though he couldn’t see it, the floor must have been spotless, gleaming without a speck of dust. It wasn’t a task that Rose needed to do, but she always sought out work, making it impossible to stop her.

Yet, despite her diligence, she had forgotten the lemon tea she always prepared for him the past few days. When he jokingly brought it up, she was startled, exclaiming “Ah!” before hastily preparing it, as if she had been constantly lost in thought.

She claimed to be unwell due to her cycle, taking separate baths and postponing their nights together, but somehow, her energy seemed even more depleted than before. Whenever he held her close in bed, she remained nestled against him yet never seemed to fall asleep. Rather than moving naturally in her sleep, she lay motionless for long stretches before occasionally shifting slightly, a restlessness that felt different from unconscious movements during slumber.

The frustration burned within him.

If only he could see her face, he could immediately tell what was troubling her. It was moments like these that made him curse Akenaus and that woman all over again.

“Rose, are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”

“No.”

Even her response sounded like she was forcing herself to appear fine. She was the type to suffer in silence, never voicing complaints, which made it all the more stifling.

“Then why—”

“Major, would you like to take a walk in the garden?”

Their voices overlapped as they spoke at the same time. Ezekiel, quick-witted as ever, promptly fell silent to let her speak.

“A walk?”

“Ah… the rain has stopped, and there are many clouds tonight, so the moon isn’t visible. I thought maybe it would be a good time for you to go outside.”

In truth, the garden wasn’t exactly a suitable place for a blind man to take a stroll.

Even in his vague memories, he recalled that the garden of this estate was vast. Naturally so—it was still a Valdemaira residence, after all. The estate had been built to match the family’s prestige. Moreover, the garden lacked clearly designed pathways like those inside the house.

Stepping stones scattered throughout? Unless he crawled along the ground to locate them, he had no way of knowing where they were.

Additionally, the garden was maintained with only minimal care. Unlike other regions, where harsh blizzards weren’t a frequent occurrence, the northern climate was hardly suited for elaborate landscaping. And since the curtains remained drawn over the windows, there was no one to admire the garden. As a result, Madam Serva had drastically cut down the maintenance budget. It wouldn’t be surprising if the garden had turned bleak and desolate over the winter.

Yet, the fact that Rose, who had been so low in spirits, was now suggesting an activity on her own was reason enough for Ezekiel to welcome the idea.

“Alright, let’s go out.”