MPBGS 17

Chapter : 17

As expected, the Grand Temple was extremely magnificent. It might even rival the Imperial Palace. Even Hena was quietly impressed, but Kanna’s words were flat and indifferent. For someone her age, most would marvel at such beauty, yet she seemed to exude a faint sense of hostility instead.

Hena assumed this was because the young lady disliked temples, and that sentiment had influenced her younger sister. Otherwise, what reason would her sister have to feel hostility toward a temple?

Perhaps because of the coachman’s meticulous greetings, or maybe because they had descended from the extravagantly adorned carriage of the viscount’s family, all eyes were on them. The Grand Temple’s primary visitors were nobles, so the landscaping outside was also elaborate, attracting many onlookers.

“Look at the emblem on that carriage. Whose family crest is that?”

“What emblem? The crow?”

“No, the phoenix. It’s the Rohanson Viscount family.”

“Does the Rohanson family even have children? I’ve never seen this before.”

“They have that sickly daughter, don’t they?”

“Oh, right. So which one is that daughter?”

“I suppose the one who looks more fragile?”

“Oh my, I heard she was dead. So that rumor was false, I guess.”

“Or maybe she revived, like her family crest.”

“Such a joke, haha.”

Their mocking laughter carried ridicule. Is this why the young lady hesitated to come? Hena felt it for a moment, even though she knew the real reason was something else.

Did they even realize that the joke they made to mock the viscount family was closer to the truth than they knew?

If the young lady herself were here, none of them would have dared speak. Evangeline Rohanson carried an overwhelming authority that transcended social rank. Anyone standing before her would be reduced to nothing more than a mere human.

“Excuse me, young lady. Are you… Miss Evangeline Rohanson?”

A man from the group, who had been scrutinizing them like a displayed item, stepped forward with unusual confidence. His gaze was fixed on Kanna. With Hena’s sun-kissed face and rough hands beside her, he seemed to mistake Kanna for the young lady herself.

“You must have mistaken me for her because we arrived by carriage. I’m her maid.”

“Oh, I see.”

The man immediately changed his attitude when he realized Kanna was not the young lady. The gentlemanly demeanor he had displayed moments ago vanished, revealing his true arrogant, condescending nature.

Did Kanna feel hurt by his sudden shift? Hena subtly checked her sister’s state. Fortunately, Kanna seemed unfazed, still smiling.

“True, she was too plainly dressed to be Miss Rohanson.”

Hena shivered. She should have stopped by the dress shop, just as Kanna suggested, before coming here. Even if Hena, as a maid, didn’t mind, it was upsetting to hear such remarks about Kanna.

Moreover, it tarnished the young lady’s name. Since the young lady herself wouldn’t care about such matters, it was Hena’s responsibility to pay attention.

“You’re too harsh on your lady.”

“My lady? Too harsh?”

“If you’re sending her to the temple, you should at least lend her some proper clothes so people don’t notice. Right? The Rohanson family is so rich. Oh, I suppose you wouldn’t know.”

“What am I missing?”

When Kanna asked, the man covered his mouth with both hands as if revealing a tremendous secret. But his voice didn’t lower at all, so it was purely for show.

“Her maternal family is the House of Hosaquin, right? But it seems they’re not really helping her. They can’t even afford clothes for her maid.”

The man laughed as if he had just delivered the joke of the century. His voice was so loud that others nearby awkwardly covered their mouths with fans to hide their reactions.

The only person who couldn’t laugh was Hena. Actually, two people.

Hena was too focused on her sister’s face beside her to even crack a smile. From the moment the young lady’s name was mentioned, Kanna’s smile had frozen; now it had completely vanished. Hena, who had cared for Kanna for so long, didn’t recognize this expression. Had she ever seen it before? Perhaps when looking at Donau’s corpse pierced through the neck in suicide?

Hena felt a sudden fear. Surely her sister wouldn’t actually kill this man, right? Absurd as it was, Hena genuinely worried.

Fortunately, the man’s laughter and the crowd’s chuckles quickly ceased.

“…Young lady.”

No one could laugh frivolously in front of Evangeline Rohanson.

I wonder when Hena and Kanna will return… It’s been a while since they left, yet no news. Our parents must have felt the same way when waiting for me to return late. Suddenly, I miss them, and tears prick at my eyes.

Are they living well? Mom… your daughter, Rofan, has become a villainess…

“When will they be back?”

“They probably haven’t even reached the Grand Temple yet.”

Looking at the clock, only a short time had passed. Between all the tumultuous events, I had thought it had been at least five hours.

Since Hena and Kanna weren’t around today, I went downstairs to the dining hall for lunch. It had been a while, and everyone was flustered. The chef was so nervous at my presence that he cut himself, and the maids serving food trembled so much they broke plates.

Then, apologizing while kneeling on the broken glass, they looked only at me even though blood from glass was on their hands and legs. What a blood-inducing villainess. I told them it was fine and instructed the steward to heal them with holy water.

The viscount wasn’t eating either, so I ate alone. Everyone was so silent that only the clattering of dishes and my chewing could be heard in the enormous dining hall—it was mortifying.

I miss Kanna and Hena…

Being close to them isn’t enough to dispel Evangeline’s notorious reputation. After all, changing her content doesn’t erase the evil she had accumulated. People would just assume she has amnesia.

Without Kanna’s comforting presence, I feel strangely empty. I worry. Maybe I should have just followed them. I didn’t dare face the corpse drawings, so I didn’t go, but I could have just waited in front instead.

No, I have to do something.

“Jelly. Let’s go see Kanna.”

Beside me is a magical beast from another world, well… more like a sorcerer. With a touch, we can teleport instantly.

I feel like an overprotective parent secretly following their kids on an errand to check if they’re doing well.

First, I changed my clothes and took some money. I picked a modest white dress from the dress room. Most of Evangeline’s original outfits were frilly and not my style, so there weren’t many suitable options.

To avoid looking like a villainess, I should dress simply. I’ll have to buy some practical clothes too, since I never go out.

“You’re spoiling her too much.”

Jelly grumbled while helping me prepare. He even combed my hair and suggested which parasol matched the dress. A tsundere wolf beast, huh? A gruff knight and a tsundere wolf beast—our character types don’t overlap. I wonder if the next noble character who appears will be kind and gentle, always smiling with his eyes curved.

“It’s overprotection.”

No, Jelly, you don’t understand!

This is a dark, tragic villainess story from the beginning. Even riding a carriage risks overturns or assassination!

Since Kanna’s kidnapping, I’ve kept her close, and I didn’t realize how worried I’d get. I suffer from separation anxiety…

My own cat is independent. Pudding must be out on a walk; I just left a note. Luckily, Pudding is a beast, but he’s too young to speak. Can he read? Looking back, Jelly nodded. So he can read.

“Shall we go?”

Jelly extended his hand.

It seems that wherever we go, the rule is physical contact to teleport. I placed my hand, and Jelly used magic to teleport us.

I blinked, and we were inside a carriage. No dizziness at all. Jelly must be a talented mage. Given his appearance, he’s clearly a main character in this story, so he has to have skills.

“We moved inconspicuously by carriage. Satisfied?”

“Yes, well done.”

We had teleported to the Rohanson estate carriage. The children weren’t in sight yet. Looking outside the window, the Grand Temple was visible.

We thought they might have entered, but we spotted a familiar silhouette standing in the garden. People around were whispering, and a man was talking to them. Judging by the scene, it seemed they were about to enter the temple but were stopped.

He looked like a noble, well-dressed. Could he be the gentle noble character I was expecting? After a moment’s consideration, I felt relieved. He was a bit sleazy and arrogant—not a protagonist. Maybe just a man trying to flirt with the heroine.

I was about to intervene but paused. Isn’t it usually the hero who saves the heroine from some sleazy guy? I had previously had my own scene stolen like this by Gabriel, so I hesitated.

Alright, let’s wait a bit. Since this is the Grand Temple, a Gabriel-enhancement event should occur.

While waiting, I eavesdropped to hear what this guy was spouting.

“…Her clothes were too plain.”

Wait, that jerk?

Kanna and Hena weren’t wearing maid uniforms from the Rohanson estate, just casual clothes. Clean and pretty—how could they be plain? What followed was even more absurd.

“You’re too harsh on your lady. If you’re sending her to the temple, you should at least lend her some proper clothes, right?”

Hena thought taking the carriage would avoid trouble, but it backfired. Evangeline’s villainess aura seemed to attract attention.

Honestly, I felt guilty. To be fair, I wasn’t paying attention to my own clothes. It was my fault, but being scolded by someone not even an extra, more like extra 18, was infuriating.

“Her maternal family is the House of Hosaquin, right? But it seems they’re not really helping her. They can’t even afford clothes for her maid.”