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TMLP Ch. 69 — Malice is Quiet
I grabbed the wrist of Margrave Brande, who was holding the cane.
He looked puzzled at first but soon, his face contorted in anger. It was an expression that showed it was hard to accept that his actions had been disturbed.
“Princess Peresca…?”
“This is the imperial palace. There are many eyes and ears to see.”
My words dazzled the margrave’s eyes.
“Noisy! Interfering in other people’s household affairs…!”
The margrave tried to pull his arm out of my hand. But it only flinched a little, and in the end, he couldn’t pull it out.
Of course. He was a middle-aged old man, and I was someone on active duty who could immediately slash a demonic beast with a sword.
The margrave flinched a few more times, but he was still stuck.
“Ugh, what’s this…!”
There was a look of embarrassment in his eyes. Even so, it was an expression that spoke he’d never thought a girl’d push him.
“L-Let go!”
Only after the margrave shouted that did I let go of his wrist.
The margrave stared at me with a humiliated look, fiddling with his wrist with red hand marks.
“What rudeness is this, Princess?!”
“I think you’re the one being rude. A cane is not a tool for beating people.”
“It’s not your business! Is Peresca arrogant enough to meddle in my affairs?!”
“Yeah, we have enough to stop a butcher.”
“What?! A-A butcher…?!”
The old man’s face turned red. Seeing him clenching his fists, he looked like he wanted to hit me too.
I glanced at his clenched fists and said, “If you intend to wield violence against me, I will not stop you.”
“Ha?!” He snorted.
I glared at such margrave and said afterward, “Of course, I will not stand still.” I said as I put my hand on the handle of the sword around my waist. Just in time, I came to the imperial palace for a sword class today, so I had my sword with me.
Of course, knocking down these old legs with my bare body would be enough, but visual intimidation is better this way.
Perhaps thinking that there was no income to talk with me further, he took a step back.
“Get up, Yulika! We’re going back!”
At his command, Yulika grabbed her swollen cheeks and staggered up.
‘I don’t think I should send her back like this.’
I stood in front of Yulika and said to the margrave.
“Excuse me, but Young Lady Brande has business with me.”
“Do it in moderation, Princess. Shouldn’t everyone know when to step back?”
“I’ll give the words back to you. Is it okay if there’s a rumor that you’re someone who beats your daughter like a dog?”
For the first time, his face showed a sense of frustration.
He then looked around. In the corridor outside the open door were people of the imperial palace snooping inside.
‘He seems more concerned about the rumors about himself than his daughter.’
I’ve seen a lot of parents like this before.
Oh right. They were my parents in my previous life.
“Besides, you’re using your hands against His Majesty’s fiancee. Isn’t this like harming His Majesty?”
“T-That’s an over-interpretation!”
“What are you going to do, Count? I’m a little angry right now, so I don’t know what I’ll do if I force myself to take the lady.” I deliberately narrowed my eyes and stared at the margrave.
The margrave’s expression was quite spectacular. You make me angry, but it would be dangerous to touch you hastily. But my pride would be hurt if I stepped down like this…
‘The pride of not picking up the dog.’
He is a pathetic human being.
“… Hmph. It’s best to avoid crazy dogs.” In the end, the margrave took a step back.
He pretended to have made concessions despite being forced to retreat and bluffed, “I will always remember today’s disrespect, Princess.”
“It is an honor to be remembered for such trivial things over and over again. I think I will soon forget.”
“Hmph. Let’s see how long that shamelessness lasts.”
He’s like a villain who disappears into the twilight with a cry Don’t think this is the end!
After glaring at Yulika harshly, the margrave turned and left the room.
“Get out of the way!”
He didn’t forget to express his anger to the attendants who had gathered in front of the door. How could he resemble the typical villain so much?
Well, then.
Let’s take care of the rest.
“Are you okay, Young Lady?”
After taking a light deep breath, I turned to Yulika.
Honestly, this is more difficult and cumbersome than dealing with the margrave.
Yulik’s head was bowed as she clutched one of her puffy cheeks. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
“… I-If you did it in the hope of asking me to say thank you, you made a big mistake.”
Ugh. You too?
Why do they do alike like this?
“I can’t ask you for such basic manners,” I said with a smirk and sarcasm. Yulika looked up at me.
I’d look like a bad person for those who didn’t know that she was crying in front of me because she’d suffered injustice.
“Well, first of all… let’s treat the wound,” I said looking at Yulika’s torn and bloody lips.
***
I took Yulika to an empty room.
I called the attendants and asked for ointment for the wound, an ice pack, and light refreshments. The quick-witted servants prepared the things I asked for quickly without making a fuss.
Until then, Yulika had been sitting helplessly in the chair. Her droopy shoulders and bowed head were like a balloon blown down by the wind.
‘Why am I taking care of this person?’
Ha. Without hiding my sigh, I dragged a chair and sat close to Yulika.
“Raise your head.”
“… Yes?”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
Yulika’s eyes fluttered anxiously. But in the end, she looked up without a word.
I carefully applied the ointment to Yulika’s wounds. Every time I touched her wound, her body flinched, but she made no sound.
“That’s all right. Put the ice on your cheek. Fortunately, I don’t think you’ll get a bruise.”
“…”
“Eat sweet things. You have to eat something sweet when you’re depressed.”
“…”
“Ugh, my hair is all messed up. I’ll have to call someone and touch my hair before I return later.”
I talked nonstop, not caring about her reaction. It wasn’t for her sake. I only did it because I couldn’t stand the awkward atmosphere.
After I talked to myself for quite some time, Yulika eventually opened her mouth.
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why… did you help me?” After saying that, Yulika bit her lower lip with an ‘Ugh’ sound. It looked like she was barely holding back her tears.
“… What do you want me to say?”
“How should I know that?” Yulika frowned and looked at me. “Princess, are you so good? Do you want to be nice to me like that? Do you enjoy making me miserable?!”
“… Hey, wait a minute. You’re ahead of yourself. No, I don’t even want you to thank me, but is this something to be criticized for?”
I was so dumbfounded that laughter leaked out. Why is she so nervous when she’s getting help?
“Should I say something shameless? Should I say that I helped you because you’re pretty?”
“Then why?!” cried Yulika.
The whole room echoed.
“I never asked for help, so why?! I have more than you, so why?! Why are you giving me sympathy?!”
Halfway through, she started speaking informally.
After I mumbled Hoo, I said. “Yulika Brande.” She looked at me with trembling eyes as I softly called her name.
“What does it have to do with me, whether you’re miserable or not?”
“… What?”
“You feel miserable. Your pride hurt, your inferiority complex… No, why should I care about that too?”
At the word ‘inferiority’, Yulika’s face turned red.
“If you’re so sensitive, you will die of exhaustion.”
“P-Princess, what kind of vulgar thing-!”
“Why did I help you? Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
Why did I act like such a pushover? I must be the most desperate to hit Yulika.
But I helped for a simple reason.
“I helped because it was the right thing to do.”
Yulika looked at me with a stunned face.
“You must not use violence against the weak. Isn’t it common sense? If you can stop it, you should. That’s the right thing to do.”
“That… B-But I’m your enemy…”
“Whether you are an enemy or a foe, that is no reason for me to stop doing the right thing.”
Yulika’s, who was staring at me, gaze shook as if she had lost her way and then slowly fell downward. Her fists clenched at the hem of her skirt trembled.
“That’s the difference between you and me. At least I’m not ignoring what’s right.”
You, willing to use cowardly means to get what you want, cannot be the same as me.
“It’s because… y-you’re strong… It’s something you can say because you have a lot of things…”
“You’re always making excuses.”
I sighed out of pity. Yulika’s shoulders flinched lightly at my sigh.
“Yulika Brande. I’ve never had a single one of my possessions easily.”
Yulika didn’t answer.
Melted water from the ice bag she held in her hand dripped onto the carpet. No one cried, but there were wet marks on the carpet.
I didn’t think the conversation would continue any longer, so I stood up.
“It’s late. I’ll excuse myself first.”
As I said that, Yulika didn’t even look at me. Stubborn to the end.
It was not disappointing because I had no expectations.
I left the room, leaving Yulika alone, whether she ignored me or not.
It was not rewarding, and it was not pleasant, but at least it was not uncomfortable. If I had gone after seeing Yulika being hit, I would have felt uncomfortable the whole time.
Let’s be satisfied with that.
‘Cause I don’t want to have anything left behind.
“My lady!”
When I went down to the hall, Agoth was waiting for me.
“What? Didn’t I tell someone to tell you that I’d be late?”
“I heard it, but I don’t know when you’ll come,” Agoth said with a big smile.
I put on the coat Agoth gave me and then left the building.
When I got on the waiting carriage, I asked Agoth.
“Agoth. If you have a strong enemy.”
“Enemy? Like the Burns?”
“Well… Well, let’s just say so. What would you do if Count Burns fell into the water and there was no one to save him but you?”
“Why is he drowning?” Agoth asked, tilting her head.
Is that the main question here?
“Just if. If.”
“I see. Mmm, I will slowly savor and watch as he sinks into the water and dies, and I will applaud when he drowns, and the body floats on the water.”
“Ugh.”
What, is this normal?
Am I truly a pushover?
“I’d love to do that, but…”
“…?”
“If it were real, I think it would save him.”
“Really?”
“If a person dies like that in front of you, it’s uncomfortable.”
It’s uncomfortable.
The goodness of man, ridiculously, may come from just that kind of heart.
I remembered Yulika’s cry. Because I am strong, because I have it all, and therefore, I do what good I can.
But Agoth can’t even swim.
People can choose the right thing even if they are not strong, Yulika.
‘I don’t know if you’ll ever realize that.’
I leaned against the carriage wall and slowly closed my eyes.
I’m glad that I didn’t leave a feeling of discomfort.