3 – It Rained Like Rain.
“I will protect this place with my life!”
After entrusting the bedroom to Glentino,
I secretly left the Imperial Palace.
Glentino Geronde.
Certainly, he was not a reliable person.
But no matter how unreliable he was, things change when death tightens its grip.
By any means necessary, I will keep the secret.
Leaving the Imperial Palace behind, I headed towards the main gate.
My steps were light as feathers.
There was not a single cloud in the blue sky.
The pond in front of the Imperial Palace was shining brilliantly with dazzling dew.
It had only been a week.
Just that alone was enough.
There was plenty of time for spring to ripen.
Just a few days ago, the wind was slightly cold, but now it had become as warm as the breath of life.
The trees along the road had suddenly dressed themselves in fresh green leaves.
Even on the blooming yellow flowers scattered everywhere.
Bees buzzed around, diligently sucking up sweet honey.
Everything was buzzing with spring.
The refreshing scent that tickled the nose and the vibrant green that covered the palace vividly portrayed the trace of spring.
Of course, it was still early in the morning.
Except for the soldiers guarding the palace.
There weren’t many people walking around.
And then.
I came across two noisy maidservants strolling leisurely.
“His Highness the Crown Prince seems really handsome.”
“Oh, come on, the Crown Prince is far better looking.”
“But his personality is in shambles.”
“Well, I prefer that. I mean, I’m attracted to bad guys.”
“Oh, you crazy woman. Don’t go crying after meeting a guy like that and getting beaten up.”
They exchanged quite audacious words back and forth.
But as they walked, they laughed brightly and chatted more cheerfully than birds.
Of course.
Since I had already made my entire body transparent, no one could recognize me.
But then, as I was leaving through the main gate, it happened.
I was so captivated by the sight outside the palace that I lost focus, and came face to face with the captain of the royal knights.
I was so startled that for a moment, it felt like my heart stopped.
Even screams escaped from my throat, but thankfully Aqua blocked the sound.
Just before colliding with the captain, I quickly stepped aside.
It was a close call, to say the least.
He was also a person from the queen’s side.
If he had discovered my true identity, it would have been troublesome.
My life would have been in danger, probably.
Fortunately, he was relaxed and didn’t suspect anything.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t even let out a sigh of relief.
“……!”
The crisis was still ongoing.
How vast this palace is.
I had barely stepped out of the main gate, and yet my mana was almost depleted.
If I had known, I should have hurried a bit more.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before my mana completely ran out.
There was a moment of life-or-death crisis, where I could have been found unconscious right in front of the palace.
I quickly changed direction.
I turned 180 degrees towards the center of the palace.
Then, I swiftly released the invisibility.
Fortunately,
I wasn’t exposed thanks to the hood I had put on beforehand.
But the gaze of the palace guards who discovered me late was filled with deep suspicion.
Considering my current appearance, it was a natural reaction.
I was wearing a black cloak that covered my whole body, with a hood that cast a shadow down to my nose.
It was undoubtedly a suspicious sight.
Someone like that approached quickly, without me even realizing it. They must be here.
It was an inevitable situation that the palace guards would be on edge.
One thing was certain.
Among them, there was undoubtedly the Empress’s eyes.
Perhaps at the moment my true identity was revealed,
It would immediately flow into the Empress’s ears.
And then.
Ultimately, there was no doubt that my life would be in imminent danger.
But I have nothing to worry about.
Because I am currently facing the direction of the palace.
“Hey, this isn’t a place where just anyone can enter.”
“Stop messing around and go back already.”
As expected.
Their reactions were just as I had intended.
Everyone here seemed to think that I was trying to enter the palace.
“Hey, did I tell you to back off nicely?”
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“Do you really want to die, punk?”
“Hey, can’t you hear me? Get lost.”
Unconsciously, they all had an unusual appearance, enough to make me hesitate and mumble.
With faces as fierce as a pack of wolves that had come across an abandoned lion cub, they growled threateningly.
“You, you’re really suspicious, aren’t you?”
“Hey, take off your hood.”
At the moment when the biggest person among them stepped forward and reached out his hand, I suddenly turned around and sprinted towards the city, using every ounce of strength I had left.
“Get that punk!”
“Don’t let him get away!”
It was my first adventure, my heart pounding.
***
The soldiers’ pursuit was short-lived.
It seemed certain that the distance between us could never be closed.
It was all because of my already good physical abilities that I was able to push myself to the limit.
My breathing, once rapid, and my pounding heart had now all settled down calmly.
“……”
Now, I was crouched down.
I was tightly pressed against the imposing fence of Count Bart’s eerie mansion.
I only lifted my head slightly.
Through the tightly packed window bars of the somber fence, I peered inside.
Saint Elaine.
Meeting her was the purpose of today.
And now, in my eyes,
Her figure was coming into focus vividly.
“……”
I felt a strange mix of emotions.
It was because I had directly come face to face with her dark past, hidden behind the dazzling name of a saint.
Elaine was a bastard child of Count Bart.
Born between Count Bart and her mother, who was a maid.
She was not acknowledged as a noble.
Just like most of the bastards in the empire.
She, too, could not be granted anything other than her name.
With just that fact, it was not difficult to guess.
That her childhood was never smooth.
The scene in front of her spoke volumes about it.
“Really, I didn’t steal it….”
Saint Elaine.
She was now crying, dressed in a maid’s outfit. And on top of that, she was kneeling on the ground in front of the mansion.
Underneath her shining golden hair.
Her flushed red cheek was visible.
“Why on earth…would I steal my sister’s belongings….”
Even as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
Elaine was desperately asserting her innocence.
Yet, she never tried to avoid the gaze of the person looking down on her.
Anyone could tell.
Those unwavering blue eyes.
They were inflicting wounds on the pride of the one looking down on her, wounds that couldn’t be erased.
“Even though my ring was found in your room, you still claim you didn’t steal it? Do you really think that makes any sense? Huh?”
It was a contemptuous gaze and an irritating voice.
“And what? Sister? Who’s your sister!!”
Finally, the woman couldn’t hold back and let out a sharp scream.
She was probably Elaine’s step-sister.
“I really don’t know anything… Why would I do something that would eventually be found out?”
“Then, are you saying that I despise you right now? You, who are nothing more than a lowly maid? The illegitimate daughter of a viscount like me?”
With each word, Elaine pushed her forehead with her index finger and spat out sharp words.
In fact, if you only looked at the content, it seemed like a thief confessing in a fit of anger.
Of course, the fact that the thief was a powerful figure made him so confident that it could be considered a difficult part to endure.
Anyway.
Judging by the blatant hatred on her face, it was undoubtedly a false accusation.
“……”
The other servants around them were making uncomfortable expressions, as if vaguely guessing the whole story of the incident.
And maybe.
The freckled maid standing behind the infuriated woman seemed to be an accomplice.
Saint Elaine.
Living as a maid without even being recognized as a legitimate child.
Clearly.
She was being hated.
It somehow resembled me.
And to make matters worse, I had possessed the notorious wastrel prince.
For a whole month, I endured all sorts of disdain, and now I seemed to be completely indifferent to other people’s eyes.
That’s why this situation.
Was unbearably uncomfortable.
I commanded Aqua to make it rain.
Of course, one could say it was just a prank, not actually manipulating the weather. It was nothing more than sprinkling a little water in the air. The range was limited to a few narrow areas above people’s heads. But even with just that, it was enough to make it feel like rain. Thump-thump-thump- Splash! Thick water droplets suddenly started falling over people’s heads and instantly turned into a heavy downpour. Startled, everyone hurriedly covered their heads with both hands. But it was futile to try to stop the pouring water. It was only blocking a little sunlight. “Why is it suddenly raining…?” “No, the weather was so clear…” “Miss, please come inside quickly!” There was not a single exception. Elaine didn’t even hesitate. Everyone rushed into the mansion, only taking care of the Viscountess. “That ungrateful thief who doesn’t appreciate this favor!” Smack! Along with the insulting words, a slap was delivered.
It was Katia Bart.
And the object of her humiliation was Elaine.
Despite enduring severe contempt,
Elaine remained composed.
Even when slapped and forced to kneel,
Her heart was as calm as a still lake.
It had become familiar now.
She had already experienced similar situations several times before.
First, it was an earring.
Then, a necklace.
There were even expensive dresses.
And today, it was a ring.
She didn’t really know how it happened,
But her half-sister’s extravagant belongings always seemed to appear out of her humble room.
Elaine was not a fool.
She knew all too well about mockery.
Especially when it came to her father, the Marquis,
Keeping it a secret from him was as certain as anything.
There was no need to confirm the obvious.
It was just another one of her step-sister Katia’s cruel tricks, done in collaboration with someone.
And that someone was…
Standing behind Katia, it would be Anna, the maid, who couldn’t help but burst into laughter as if finding this situation amusing.
The torment from her younger sister, who was not even worth the night’s pay, seemed endlessly childish.
She didn’t even show anger and seemed to have no value to retaliate against.
But Katia, at least when it came to tormenting others, displayed a considerable intelligence.
She knew very well how to shake Elaine.
“Truly, like mother like daughter.”
Even Elaine, who had been calm in everything.
She couldn’t bear the insult towards her mother.
“You, a lowly maid, and your mother who steals other women’s men, and you who steal my belongings. It’s all the same. Got it? You despicable creatures.”
Upon hearing those words, Elaine couldn’t help but try to explain herself without even realizing it.
Since she couldn’t defend her already expelled mother, she had to defend herself.
It was a kind of instinct.
It was no different from a crushed worm squirming.
It had always been that way. And it was no different now.
Even though she knew they wouldn’t listen anyway.
With the determination to catch at straws, she could only explain while crying.
It wasn’t that she wanted to cry.
She couldn’t bear it.
Once the pent-up injustice started to burst, it was not easy to stop it.
No matter how much she wiped away the tears, they wouldn’t stop.
Nevertheless, Elaine confessed her innocence with a trembling voice.
But what returned as always was,
as expected,
nothing but forced hatred.
In the end, today again,
until the Viscount returns, unable to eat or work,
she must remain kneeling in front of the mansion, even until late at night.
If she had known this would happen, she should have followed her mother no matter what.
The belated regret surged and raised the temperature of her tears.
She wanted to see her mother.
All she had was the desire to leave this place immediately.
But the plea her departing mother left behind, in tears, made it impossible even for that.
It was infinitely sad, to the point of hating the blue sky.
If only it would rain.
If the rainwater could flow down and cover her tears, it would bring some comfort.
Of course, she didn’t expect it to actually rain.
It was just a fleeting thought.
Swooosh-
But suddenly, rain really started falling from the sky.
Even though the sky was still clear and sunny as ever, without a trace.
It was clearly raining.
It was something unbelievable.
For Anna.
For Katia.
Everyone was drenched in the rain, looking like rats drowning in water.
But the whipping raindrops were avoiding only her.
In the moment of despair, she saw blooming big and small rainbows.
Elaine smiled for the first time in a long time.
Like on a spring afternoon when her mother was still there.