After convincing Sara to come to the mansion,
โShall we head back?โ
With that, Mother began walking out of the room.
โAh, Mother. Wait.โ
I glanced back out the window at the detached building where Marion was.
That eerie feeling was gone now. It would surely be fine.
โLuria, whatโs wrong?โ
โMm, itโs fine.โ
I followed Mother out of the room.
Holding Saraโs right hand and carrying Carro on my shoulder, I walked along. Sara clung tightly to her stick doll with her left hand and followed closely.
Mother walked straight toward the front entrance after leaving the room.
In the entrance hall, the noblewoman who had earlier whispered about me was there.
Sara flinched, flattening her ears and tucking her tail between her legs.
โโฆItโs fine. Luria is here with you,โ I whispered, squeezing Saraโs hand tightly.
โYour Highness.โ
The woman smiled and addressed Mother.
โIt is an honor to have you grace our humble home todayโโ
โThis isnโt your home,โ Mother cut her off in a cold tone without stopping. She continued walking toward the door.
โTo think you would speak to meโฆ donโt you know your manners?โ
Mother muttered under her breath. The womanโs face twisted in fear, and she flinched. It was a breach of etiquette for those of lower status to address their superiors without invitation.
Earlier, she hadnโt dared speak to me. What changed? Was she just that happy about something?
Without looking back, Mother spoke to the attendant beside her.
โCould the baron not bother to come see us off?โ
โโฆHe must be quite busy.โ
โEven the steward isnโt here to see us off?โ
โโฆNo doubt, they are terribly occupied.โ
โWell, if thatโs the case, it canโt be helped. There must be something far more important than seeing me off.โ
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
The woman turned pale and flustered.
โKyu!โ
At that moment, Carro let out a warning cry.
โWhatโs wrong?โ
Perched on my shoulder, Carro was staring intently toward the reception room where we had greeted the baron earlier. I followed her gaze.
โHuh?โ
A strange sound escaped my lips.
โWhatโs wrong, Luria?โ
โN-nothing.โ
Black miasma was seeping out from under the door of the reception room. The room must be filled with that dark mist.
(What could have happened?)
I froze, staring at the reception room door.
I noticed Motherโs puzzled expression and Saraโs anxious gaze, but I couldnโt take my eyes off that door.
Was the baron using some sort of curse?
If so, I had to stop him.
But I was just a five-year-old, even if I had been learning swordsmanship. Could I rely on the attendants? No, they wouldnโt understand anything about curses.
If only Kuro were hereโฆ or maybe Carro and Daru, the guardian beasts, could manage somehow?
But while Carro was reliable, her small size limited her strength. Daru was large and strong but was outside the house.
I thought through my options but couldnโt come up with a good plan.
โโฆWhat should I do?โ
โLuria? What are you talking about?โ
Just then, the reception room door burst open violently, and the baronโs steward came rushing out.
Simultaneously, the black miasma spilled into the hallway.
โAh!โ
I let out a scream.
โWhatโs happening? Investigate,โ Mother commanded, glancing at the attendant.
โAt once.โ
One of the Grand Duke familyโs attendants ran over to the steward. After a brief exchange, they returned quickly.
โโฆIt seems the baron has collapsed.โ
โIs that so? Exhaustion, perhaps?โ
Upon hearing this, the woman who had whispered about me earlier dashed frantically into the reception room.
โLuria, Sara. Weโre leaving.โ
I couldnโt help but wonder about the baronโs condition. Why had that miasma poured out of the room in the first place?
As I was lost in thought, a voice spoke from below me:
โDo not respond.โ
Kuro emerged from the floor, his upper body visible as he addressed me.
โโฆโ
I walked silently, staring at Kuro. He kept pace with me, explaining as he moved.
โThe curse Marion cast has rebounded on the baron.โ
โโฆShouldnโt we do something?โ
To my question, Mother answered,
โThereโs nothing we can do for him. Theyโll call for their own doctor.โ
Kuro added,
โLuria-sama could dispel the curse, but since he brought it upon himself, itโs his own fault.โ
โI see.โ
I decided Iโd have to ask Kuro about curses in detail later.
Following Mother out of the mansion, we reached the waiting carriage.
โThe carriage is ready,โ a maid informed us.
โThank you. But thereโs somewhere I need to go before we leave.โ
With that, Mother headed not toward the carriage but toward the back of the mansion.
The garden was well-maintained, but there were no proper paths for someone in a dress to walk on. Mother ignored the fact that her dress got caught in the undergrowth and continued forward.
I followed her, along with Sara, the maid, and the attendants.
โMadam, what are you doingโฆ?โ
โDaru has come, so I need to go greet him.โ
โThen let me fetch him for you.โ
โNo, I want to do it myself.โ
Mother smiled warmly at the flustered maid.
โBut walking here in your dressโฆโ
โIโm sorry.โ
Mother gave an impish smile, looking like a young girl.
โMother is quite the tomboy, isnโt she?โ
Mother had given birth to my brother at 18, and now, at 33, she still looked like a teenager at times.
โYou resemble her greatly, Luria-sama.โ
โReally? Hehe.โ
Being told I resembled Mother made me happy and a little shy. While I giggled awkwardly, Sara patted my head.
โHehehe.โ
Feeling bashful, I followed Mother to the back of the mansion, where Daru awaited.
Daru, who had been told to โstay and wait,โ was there patiently.
โWoof, woof!โ
Daru came up to me, pressing his large head against me affectionately.
โโฆYou really helped today. Thank you.โ
I whispered into Daruโs ear and stroked him firmly.
โKyuu.โ
โWeโll get scolded together if that happens.โ
โPii.โ
Daru flipped onto his back, rolling over. I rubbed his belly thoroughly.
โSara, you should try petting him too.โ
โOkay.โ
Sara joined me in stroking Daruโs fluffy belly.
โHeโs so soft.โ
โIndeed. Daru is very fluffy. He prefers being petted on his belly rather than his nose.โ
โOkay.โ
Sara had been patting Daruโs nose earlier, so I gave her the tip.
As Sara and I petted Daru, Mother walked toward Marionโs detached building.
โMarion! Itโs me, Amalia! You donโt need to reply!โ
Mother called out loudly to Marion inside.
โYou can rest easy about Sara. Iโll take full responsibility for her!โ
โโฆThank youโฆโ
Marionโs voice came weakly. Mother started to say somethingโlikely to reassure her not to speak, as even talking must exhaust herโbut Sara suddenly ran up and shouted loudly,
โMommy! Itโs Sara!โ
Clutching her stick doll tightly, Sara seemed worried Marion might forget her.
โSaraโฆ You look well.โ
โYep!โ
Hearing Marionโs voice, Sara smiled brightly.
โMy sweet Sara. Iโm so sorry I couldnโt protect youโฆ couldnโt hold you closeโฆ Iโm sorry.โ
โMommy, itโs not your fault! I love you!โ
โThank you. Mommy loves you too, my precious Sara. Listen to the madam, okay?โ
โOkay. Iโll be good.โ
โThatโs my girl. Youโre my treasure. Be happy, my darling.โ
It sounded like a final farewell from Marion to Sara.
โYep! Iโm Mommyโs treasure!โ
Tears spilled from Saraโs eyes as she scrubbed them away with her sleeve.
โMarion, youโll get better soon. And Sara is my little sister now, so donโt worry.โ
โThank youโฆ My dear young lady.โ
Marionโs voice was faint, drained of strength.
โMother, could you bring some food to Marion?โ
โI will. Leave it to me. I wonโt let things stay as they are.โ
โOkay.โ
For a while, Sara continued talking to Marion through the wall.