CH 4

4화

Power began to disappear in a relatively small amount, but when we date back to when the empire was built, the difference gap is huge.

[Empire Year 231, April 23rd. Lea Sperado, 12 years old fell and died. The funeral was held for two days.

Empire Year 263, January 23rd. Litten Sperado, second son, 15 years old, died from an illness. The funeral was held for two days.

Empire Year 301, December 7. Pedael Sperado, drowned at 11 years old while boating. The funeral was held for two days.]

Death by falling, drowning while boating, burglary, an unknown incurable disease…there are various reasons, the records of the children who died before becoming adults covered the book.

‘On top of that, funerals are held only for two days.’

The funeral of a noble was usually carried out for a week. Higher nobles such as Marquis Sperado increased the duration for half a month, allowing others to have enough time to share the last greeting with the deceased.

But in the book records those were only two days. And even someone who was buried the very same day.

Unable to see more, Leslie smacked the book closed.

Alive or dead, I was going to be discriminated.

Sperado died as a member of the family for the family, but their funeral was held only for a day or two. Even commoners’ are held for three days!

Many of these people have been thrown into the fire like that. I would have died in that bloody scenery and no one would listen to me, though I cried to live. And that was for those who awakened their power, like Eli.

‘…Were those the voices of the kids who died in the fire?’

Leslie’s tears started to fall when she remembered the voices she heard in the fire.

‘You, run away.’

And the myriad small hands that pushed me. It seemed that some of them told me that I must ‘survive’ with a smaller voice.

‘And why was I born with such strong powers, I know.’

Resentment, it’s all the grudge the kids sacrificed have been building up ever since the empire’s founding 1 thousand years ago.

“I’ll revenge you.”

Leslie kept moaning as her tears continued falling. A tearful voice poured out of a tight wake.

“I will make sure to tear down the Sperado family and avenge you all.”

Leslie’s desire to meet the Duke of Salvatore became stronger.

***

I did not want to see the book anymore.

If this was the time when the power began to weaken, it would have been covered with the records of the children who were offered as sacrifices.

She returned the book to the priest, and Leslie walked a little faster. Her tears were still dripping.

I felt that people were staring at me, but I did not have to worry about that.

‘Let’s go to the duke’s.’

Even if I had to beg for a few days, my mind was filled with the need of meeting Duke Salvatore.

‘Ah!’

Leslie wobbled. Because she walked to fast, she couldn’t see what’s in front of her due to her eyes still being covered in tears. Leslie, who stepped on the handkerchief on the slippery marble floor, fell down helplessly.

“Are you okay?”

Just before she would bump into the floor, someone grabbed Leslie. The amazed Leslie lifted her head and glanced at the man who just helped her.

A warm color.

That’s what I thought. The dark gray hair in the sunlight and shook slightly with the wind, and golden eyes, resembling the sun, that gazed straight at Leslie.

“I’m glad that you’re not hurt.”

The boy, who seems to be more than two years older than Leslie, easily raised Leslie.

The boy, kneeling down on his knees and shaking off the dust on his dress, had a bright smile as he watched Leslie.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Leslie barely took the word out and asked her mouth. The boy who looked at it looked cute and smiled a little.

“It’s not a big deal, you don’t have to thank me.”

He naturally gave Leslie his handkerchief as if to wipe away the tears.

Leslie, who got the handkerchief while in a mess, and blinked. This action surprised her because she had never received it. How could she say that?

“The floor is very slippery. Please be careful, Miss.”

Knowing Leslie was in trouble, the boy smiled a bit and passed past Leslie. Looking back for a moment, Leslie turned around and head to the wagon.

***

“Leslie!”

As soon as Leslie’s carriage arrived, Eli jumped out as she arrives at the Marquis’ residence.

“Leslie! My beloved little sister!”

What? Leslie quickly ignored her and tried to pass by, but Ellie hugged her first. With that abominable smile on her face.

Why are you doing this? Leslie saw the man standing behind Eli and understood why Eli acted like this towards her.

The man, with dark hair and light blue eyes fixated to her and Eli, the first prince, Arlendo Perercardius*, who came to the Marquis’ residence to see his fiancée.

(T/n*: this name might be changed later if I can find a better sounding one)

“You have no idea how worried I was when you suddenly took the carriage and left. Oh, my beloved Leslie. Are you feeling okay now?”

How fake. It’s disgusting. Leslie pushed Eli, who was hugging her.

Eli’s body staggered and an embarrassed face appeared.

“L- Leslie.”

Glancing behind the scene, Eli stared at the prince and shed some tears. And raised her voice as if for him to hear.

“Leslie! You really have no idea how worried I was about you, how could you do that to me?”

Eli shivered and sat down as if she couldn’t stand it. Then she raised her head slightly and made eye contact with Leslie.

Honestly beautiful. No matter how high-end emeralds are processed, they will not be able to replace those eyes.

Tears fell on those eyes, and tears fell between the long lashes. The whiteness of the cheeks became red and blurred, made people feel sorry for her.

The people of the mansion looked at her and sighed, staring at Eli as if he had been wronged. Then looked at Leslie with eyes as if looking at the most pathetic waste in the world.

The joy in Eli’s eyes when she heard the people. Eli know. How will Leslie be treated after this?

After being slapped by the Marquis, his wife would then starve her.

Repressive servants will drag Leslie without a chance of rebellion into the attic, and the maids will knock over the attic door as they pass by and harass her all night so she can’t sleep.

And Eli will see it and laugh with the most colorful and beautiful smile.

In addition, prince Arlendo was coming today. Eli will receive the prince’s attention and Leslie will be punished more vicious than usual.

In fact, they knew it. Leslie did nothing wrong, and the wrong one was Eli.

But to avoid Eli’s nervousness, she threw Leslie at her. Then he was on the side of Ellie, teasing and enjoying Leslie.

At some point in time, the people there acted as Eli, looked down on Leslie and slapped her.

The servant who Lesley struck in the morning was the representative. The Marquis, even though Eli did not tell him to beat her, he still took the lash.

And looking at Leslie said

‘It’s an order and we can’t help it. Isn’t it all your fault?’

At that time, the man was smiling brightly as if he really enjoyed it.

‘……They’re all the same.’

I won’t be hit by you anymore.

“Did you really care about me, sister?”

Leslie bent to match her eye’s height with Eli’s. Eli’s emerald eyes were flustered.

If it were as usual, Leslie wouldn’t have said anything, shedding tears and her body shaking, or she would have admitted her fake crimes against Eli to weaken any punishment.

“Of course, your big sister is always worried about you.”

But Eli embraced Leslie with a brighter smile as if she didn’t want to reveal her true color. But unlike a bright smile to forgive everything, Eli’s fingernail pierced Lesley’s thin back.

“Sister Eli.”

Leslie sneered, feeling pain in her back. And whispered in Eli’s ear with a smaller voice.

“Who cherishes me so much to even throw me in the fire. Sister Eli.”

“Shut up. What if the prince listens? ”

It was a heartwarming scene in which the sisters hugged each other, but the conversations given and received were not.

Eli twisted her lips and smiled. It was a smile infused with her bone color, showing it only to Leslie, not to anyone else.

“It seems that you’re whining about such trivial things…”

“How is it that you speak such similar words as the Marquis?”

Leslie cut off Eli’s words and smiled at her. Seeing Leslie’s eyes from a short distance, Eli’s eyes grew big and soon her red cheeks became pale.

“You. Ho- How do you have this power…”

Effortlessly feeble, Eli looked closely at Leslie’s eyes and realized that she had dark power.

When Leslie saw despair in Eli’s eyes, she smiled.

“Shh, sister is the only one who knows.”

She inclined and whispered to Eli’s ear.

“What if the Marquis finds out? Then I’ll be the one to bring glory to this house and he will divert all of his love and attention to me.”

Leslie got up. Eli’s hand, which was stuck in Leslie’s back, fell, and her arm fell to the ground.

More shocked than she thought, Eli glanced at her eyes without even knowing that she was looking up for Leslie.

Leslie looked at her and put her finger on her lips.

“I don’t wish to be loved by that monster, not a single bit. But regardless… Won’t you be in trouble too?”

Lesley grinned unknowingly because it was so funny that she didn’t focus on her eyes. She passed by and moved to the mansion.

“You! Wait…!”

Ellie, who didn’t know the usual way of speaking about Leslie, reached out and grabbed his brother’s arm roughly.

Rips-.

Leslie’s old dress couldn’t stand Eli’s strong hands. Leslie’s cuffs were torn, and the burn in her arm from a few days ago caught prince Arlendo’s eyes.

Unpleasant burn marks left because of its poor treatment. Leslie looked at her arms and smiled at the prince.

“Look at this, it’s a gift given to me by my sister. Isn’t it elegant?”

Then this time she could enter the mansion without anyone’s interruption.