Chapter 4 - Humiliation Only Lasts for a Moment

Chapter 4 – Humiliation Only Lasts for a Moment

Ronée could not ignore the Countess’ summons. If she did not respond when called upon, the Countess would probably even fetch the knights just to drag her out.

Ronée felt like she already knew why the Countess was calling her. It was always the same. The only difference was that this time, she had Nabel following behind her. Although she told him not to come, he was adamant.

On their way to meet the Countess, Nabel passed her a handkerchief. It was one from her room.

Or rather, it seemed more like he was clasping her hand through the handkerchief. Only then did Ronée realize, she was trembling.

“Thank you,” Ronée said quietly.

She always put up a front, but she was actually afraid. Her unpredictable stepmother was quite capable of hurting her. It was only natural that she was scared of her.

Yet for some reason, she was not as afraid as before. She was not sure if it was because Nabel was holding her hand or if it was just because she was not alone this time.

Even though she knew it would not change anything.

“Again! It’s because of you again!”

Even before they reached the Countess’ chambers, they could hear her loud, hysterical voice. Somewhere in the distance, three bracelets dangled on her wrist.

That showed that she was a mage of the third rank, the third level of nine steps that leads up to the gods. It was a relatively low position — but still, she was a mage.

The mages were absolute believers of the gods. They performed strange acts by borrowing the gods’ power.

“You harbinger of misfortune! This happens every time I speak to you! I cannot reach the gods!”

In other words, her magic was not working. Her voice that was reverberating through the entire hallway caused the servants to emerge from every corner. They were muttering.

“It’s starting again.”

“So it is. With that cursed body, why did she even…”

All of their blame was directed at Ronée. Nabel’s gaze skimmed over them.

“Who’s that boy?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you?”

“I don’t know either.”

The servants did not care if Nabel and Ronée could hear them. Passing between them, Ronée gradually quickened her steps.

“Don’t come closer!”

Suddenly the Countess, who had been screeching from afar, shot up. Ronée flinched and instinctively turned her head.

The magic circle that the Countess had created was shining. It seemed that the magic had started flowing again.

Whoosh. In a flash, a flaming fireball flew at Ronée. Shocked, she quickly threw herself around Nabel. Wrapped in her arms, Nabel widened his eyes.

Boom! The fireball crashed into Ronée’s body. The hot air around them was very real. Ronée squeezed her eyes shut and endured the heat.

It’s just for a moment. It will end very soon.

The handkerchief between their hands fell to the ground and the moment their hands touched, a weak, white light shone out. Only Nabel saw it; Ronée, of course, did not. With her eyes squeezed shut, Ronée was trembling as she held Nabel.

“Ronée.” Nabel was surprised and tried to free himself from her arms, but Ronée would not let him go. The fire was spreading around them.

Splash! The servants of the House of Rieda, who were used to such incidents, had brought buckets full of water and poured them over the flames and the two people amongst them.

Ronée’s dark pink hair was soaked thoroughly with the startlingly ice-cold water. Shivering from the cold, Ronée let Nabel go. She had already known that the servants were going to pour water over them.

“My Lady!”

Even after the fire was all put out, they kept on pouring the water. It was as though they were trying to wash the dirt off the floor. Ryne, who had been dragged all the way here by the knights, ran towards them.

“Are you all right?” Ronée asked. Nabel wanted to ask her the same thing. It was Ronée who was struck by the magic. He looked at her. Other than being thoroughly soaked, Ronée seemed fine.

“Magic doesn’t work on me,” she smiled. Water was still dripping from her chin.

Nabel looked at her eyes. Although they were not red, the water dripping down her cheeks looked like tears.

“At least now you look clean.” The shrill voice of the Countess echoed throughout the hallway. It sounded almost like she was laughing. “Hmph… Let’s go. I’d like to eat something sweet in the garden.”

“Yes, mistress.”

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After tidying up the buckets, the servants followed the Countess. They all glanced at Ronée once and then quickly went away.

Humiliation only lasts for a moment.

Nabel recalled what Ronée had said when she rescued him. Her words may have been directed at him, but he supposed they had been for herself as well.

Humiliation only lasts for a moment.

Nabel did not think that he would ever be able to forget Ronée’s dripping wet face.

His gaze dropped to Ronée’s dark shadow, and his eyes suddenly widened. He could see something there, hiding in her shadow. It had twitching, pointy ears, and a swaying tail. The tail even looked fluffy.

A fox…?

As soon as Nabel had the thought, Ronée’s shadow faded.