Chapter 64

The venue for the new students’ welcome ball was gorgeous and opulent.

Countless candles were lit in the hall, and the light reflected gorgeously on the chandeliers hanging in various places, shining brightly.

The tables were filled with food that looked so delicious that you couldn’t help but drool at the sight of it, and the desserts were tempting.

I tore my eyes away from the feast and struggled to move my wobbly legs as George pulled my hand away.

Pinwheel shoes were really hard to walk in.

It was all I could do to regain my footing as the fluffy carpet almost caught on my heels.

By the time I was walking down the corridor of the mansion in my pinwheels, many students were already gathered in the ballroom and were chatting with each other, and we took our places near an empty table.

“How many times have I thought about throwing these shoes away? My feet are already sore…”

“Hey, don’t be like that when you’re so beautiful. You look good in those shoes.”

“Thank you. Yeah, well, fashion is a battle.”

Fashion is a battle.

You may not be able to endure the crushed beans on your feet or the blood from the scuffed shoes, but you may not be able to… ouch… it seems to hurt.

“Speaking of which, I wonder if Remias-sama and His Highness are already here.”

“I haven’t seen either of them. Remias…I hope his cold is already cured.”

It’s been nearly two weeks since Remias began his absence from the school.

I asked Remy many times about his condition, but all she says was that he had a bad cold.

When I asked her if I could go and visit him, she refused. It seemed that Remias didn’t want to transmit his cold to others.

“It’s almost two weeks away, you know. Can’t we visit him next time?”

“Good idea! I’m worried about it too…”

They were just talking when a voice called out to them.

“Good day to you, George-sama, Cosette.”

“Remy-sama! Good day to you.”

Unusually, there were no cronies, and Remias-sama was alone.

“I need to speak to Cosette in private. If you don’t mind.”

Remias-sama’s tense face made me worry that something bad had happened to Remias.

“Of course. Let’s go over there.”

After saying a few words to George, we moved to the entrance area where the students entered the hall. The entrance area was already deserted so it was a good place to talk.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Yes, my sister is … a little. And she would like to see Cosette. Would you please come with me now?”

“My God…! Of course, I’ll be there! Oh, and George…”

“No, my sister insists on you alone, Cosette. I think it’s my sister’s last request… so please.”

My own legs weakened and would not listen to me.

Wobbling my way, I was led by Remias-sama and got into the duke’s carriage.

In hindsight, the carriage was extremely plain and compact for a duke’s, and bore no resemblance to the opulent carriage usually used by Mademoiselle Rémy.

If I had more awareness, I might have prevented what was to follow.

But at the time, I was so consumed with the thought that Remy might die that I couldn’t think of anything else.

“We’re here,”

I was escorted by Remias-sama to Remy’s room.

In the meantime, I hardly saw anyone from the mansion, and the mansion was silent as if it were a breath of fresh air.

I knocked on the door of Remy’s’ room with a trembling hand, but there was no answer, and Remias urged me to enter the room.

The room was dimly lit and I couldn’t feel any signs of human presence.

“Remy-sama…?”

As I called out in anxiety, I was hit by something on the back of my head with a thud and my consciousness went dark.