The time was fast approaching.
A banquet for the saint was to be held soon.
However, Rosenta’s days weren’t particularly different. He began and ended his days in the secret room at the top of the castle’s tower.
When he wasn’t there, he was spending his time reading the book on curse theory.
Of course, since the banquet was drawing near, the time he could spend in the tower was decreasing.
Today was the day when the tailor was performing a fitting for his clothes; it was also the day of Duke Cardia’s visit.
“Enoch.”
Enoch suddenly appeared like a shadow from behind him.
He was holding a kettle. Then, at a steady rate, the chrysanthemum tea was precisely poured into Rosenta’s cup without error.
Rosenta had been reluctant to call on Enoch at first but, after only a few days, he had become used to using him.
Frankly, it was undeniable that Enoch was playing the role of butler perfectly.
“Where is the Duke of Cardia?”
On top of that, he was a very useful butler who could also use magic.
The scope of his usefulness was considerable.
At Rosenta’s question, Enoch’s left eye became mixed with black colors, like dripping paint.
It was a strange color.
With his left eye, he was borrowing the eyesight of his crow familiar.
“There is time yet.”
Hearing that answer, Rosenta’s nervous heart was able to relax again.
‘I would like to visit the castle of Duke Estella.’
That was the content of the letter from Duke Cardia that Rosenta had received a few days ago.
They would meet when the banquet took place regardless. Why did she want to meet him in advance?
‘Are you curious about how the little kid you met as a child grew up?’
Well, he was curious too.
When he’d seen her as a child, she was a very beautiful and strong-looking person.
In particular, her dark skin and orange-colored hair and eyes made her strength stand out even more.
‘Of course, she will still be beautiful.’
It wasn’t just about external beauty.
The woman he’d seen then had caught everyone’s attention; everyone was at her feet.
She was truly a charismatic person.
That, in itself, was beautiful.
Nike Cardia was someone who was very well suited for the role of a duke.
Maybe it was genetic.
Cardia was a family where women were born with strong power.
This meant that it was tradition, in line with the region’s history, for a woman to ascend the ducal throne.
It was the exact opposite of the Estella family.
“What…”
A shadow fell over him. Enoch had rested his face against Rosenta’s.
‘Have I become accustomed to this?’
This sudden action was now nothing. He simply pushed Enoch’s face away wordlessly.
Enoch didn’t budge even though Rosenta’s hand was actively pushing his face.
He just stared at Rosenta with his face pushed back.
“What is bothering you?”
It was an odd question. However, Enoch maintained a serious expression when he asked.
He was sincerely asking what was bothering Rosenta.
“I…Did I look distressed?”
Enoch answered that question without hesitation.
“Yes.”
Rosenta touched his own face.
No wrinkles or tremors were felt anywhere along his forehead, around his eyes, around his mouth, or anywhere else.
‘Okay. How did Enoch notice such subtle emotions?’
He smiled and tried to dismiss it, but Enoch’s next action made that impossible.
Enoch caressed his eyes before slowly saying, “Eyes…..”
Leaving only those abstract words behind, he slowly removed his hand from Rosenta’s face.
Rosenta was embarrassed.
‘Is Enoch a particularly perceptive person or am I just being sensitive?’
No matter how he captured Rosenta’s gaze, Enoch’s own eyes remained unfocused.
No. It wasn’t that his eyes were unfocused, it was as though he was recalling some sort of memory.
Then he suddenly spat these words out at Rosenta, “If it’s painful, run away. If you can’t escape, kill.”
It was as if he was speaking to his own past.
From an early age, he was confined to a prison-like laboratory and was subjected to all kinds of suffering in the name of “teaching.”
Although briefly explained in the book, Enoch’s suffering must have been very long and difficult until he got out of that hell.
That’s probably why he had become a numb, apathetic, and hedonistic human being.
He had no family or friends.
Is that why he was so obsessed with the saint in the story? Because it was only possible to feel some semblance of normalcy and wholeness through Yura?
Of course, this was all Rosenta’s speculation, but he still felt sorry for Enoch.
Those words he’d spoken to Rosenta provided him with a glimpse into Enoch’s life.
‘Just like I’ve lived a life no one else could have….’
‘Enoch must have lived a life that no one, including me, could have imagined.’
‘I’ll do it.’
“Enoch.”
Was it because of this strange similarity? Or was it pity?
For the first time since knowing Enoch, Rosenta wanted to give him warm words.
“As long as you are here, you are also my person. If something troubling happens, tell me.”
A warm wind blew through the garden. In time, the petals danced along with the wind.
***
It took quite a long time to try on the newly tailored clothing and prepare matching shoes and accessories.
This was because it didn’t end with changing outfits just once or twice.
This is why the days spent preparing for the banquet would leave Rosenta exhausted.
This day was no exception.
“Duke. Can I bring you something?”
“It’s okay, Anna. If I eat, it will make me want to sleep even more.”
“Then wouldn’t it be good to rest for a while?”
He shook his head.
According to Enoch, Nike Cardia was due to arrive in the capital soon.
Rosenta didn’t know if she would come to the Estella Castle after unpacking, or if she would come there directly.
It was more comfortable for Rosenta to prepare in advance.
“I’m fine so, instead, I need you to run an errand for me.”
“What is the errand?”
“I ordered a gift for the saint. I would like you to pick it up.”
“Ah! Did you place an order with Mr. Hugo?”
“That’s right.”
Anna brought out the clothes she kept in the corner of the closet.
They were the clothes Rosenta had borrowed and worn during the emergency that morning in the past.
The clothes were a type of magical device made by Hugo. They had a type of stealth magic.
It couldn’t be made known that the duke’s personal maid often met with a magic tool designer.
Rosenta was already wearing a lot of accessory-type magic tools, but he couldn’t be at ease when it came to rumors.
That’s why Anna wore these clothes whenever she went on errands.
“Then I will go now.”
Leaving behind a cheerful greeting, Anna left to meet Hugo.
With Anna gone, naturally, only he and Enoch were left.
There was nothing else to do.
Without saying anything, Rosenta quietly focused on the book in front of him.
Then Enoch, bored with the silence, quietly spoke to Rosenta.
“Are you having fun?”
“No, it isn’t fun.”
It really wasn’t fun.
How fun it would be if a book about curses could be interesting.
“If you’re bored, go outside and get some fresh air.”
“That’s not necessary.”
Enoch stepped back.
Then, perhaps because they were alone, he dropped his butler façade.
He was sitting on the windowsill, staring at Rosenta with a relaxed posture.
It seemed like Rosenta was getting used to that pale green gaze staring at him, but that wasn’t the case.
After shaking his head, he returned his focus to the book once again.
After finishing the table of contents, he was about to move onto the next section, but the moment he saw the title, he was very curious.
‘Mind Curse.’
‘Is it possible to cast physical, as well as mental curses?’
‘A curse inflicted on the mind is very dangerous. This is because, if the spirit of the caster is weak, it will also affect them. However, if the caster has a large capacity, the scale of the curse they cast will increase considerably. Examples include hypnosis, brainwashing, memory manipulation, seduction, and illusions.’
This was new knowledge that Rosenta had never heard from his father.
This made it event more confusing.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
***
It’d been a while since Rosenta last had these kinds of doubts.
Without hesitation, he immediately closed the book. Enoch informed him of the arrival of his guests.
“They are here.”
He had no father in this world who could answer his questions anyway.
It would be a waste of time to dwell on unanswered questions.
He thought, ‘My father passed away, so he probably never got the chance to teach me.’
“Then I will escort them here.”
Enoch put on his butler mask again. He bowed very politely and gave a greeting.
Still, Rosenta was worried.
This guest was no ordinary aristocratic opponent. Would he be able to deal with her well?
He pulled back the curtains by the window.
This was to make sure that Enoch was performing his duties correctly.
Through the window, he saw a group of people waiting in front of the castle.
“It’s the same as back then.”
She was the same as she was when she met his father in Silva when Rosenta was young.
Nike was still showing off her supple brown skin.
Even her orange hair and eyes retained the same glare.
She didn’t look like she was in her 40’s.
“Hmmm. Are all those men her husbands.?”
It is said that the Dukes of Silva have maintained a harem for generations.
They practiced polygamy, always taking their husbands with them.
It was like that even now.
Aside from her attendants, there were several men who appeared to be husbands standing near Nike.
Their ages varied.
“The more I look at it, the more I worry.”
Just like the Cardia family, which maintained strong female power for generations, the region known as Silva also had all the characteristics of a matrilineal society.
He was worried that he would make a mistake in front of Nike, but on the other hand, he was curious about how Enoch would deal with the situation.
He observed the situation from the window.
Soon, Enoch appeared, and things flowed happily and blandly.
Enoch did not show any signs of error.
He treated Nike with the decorum of an ordinary, excellent butler.
Enoch, who started guiding Nike, lifted his head slightly.
For an instant, he met eyes with Rosenta.
Enoch stared at him clearly and smiled with the corner of his mouth raised.
Rosenta drew the curtains.
The pure white silk curtains moved smoothly and covered the windows. Through the gaps, sunlight still dazzled through the window.
He sat down in front of the table where the sunlight shined down on the middle.
He began waiting for them.