Chapter 4: The Great Sinner
“Ria, I’m coming in.”
I made sure my voice was as gentle as possible as I entered Cornelia’s room. It was as barren as ever. If she were an ordinary nobleman’s daughter, her room would surely be filled with things Cornelia likes… I cursed my own inadequacy.
But, just a little longer. Soon, the first batch of children we’ve educated will be “shipped out.” In a remote territory like this, practically an inland boondocks, there are no damn sales channels, but for now, I’ll go sell them in the territory of the nearby Margrave, which is the most prosperous around here.
I just hope they sell for even a little bit more…
If they do, I’ll buy Cornelia a stuffed animal or something.
“Onii-sama… cough, cough.”
I hurriedly knelt beside Cornelia’s bed.
“Are you alright? You don’t have to sit up. Just rest.”
“But, I, I…”
Cornelia clung to my arm, as if pleading.
“Onii-sama, please kill me…”
“Huh?! W-what in the world are you saying?!”
It was truly a bolt from the blue. I never imagined Cornelia would wish for death…
Cornelia, ravaged by her illness. Lately, she couldn’t even get out of bed; her movements were slow, and her strength was feeble. I can’t even begin to imagine it, but how agonizing it must be to be unable to move normally.
But to think she’d wish for death…
“Even so, I want you to live, Ria. Please. Don’t say you want to die…”
“That’s not it… It’s all, all my fault… That Mother died. That Father died… It’s because I have the Curse of the Evil God… That’s why, that’s why…”
“Gasp!?”
I’ve never told Cornelia that her illness is the Curse of the Evil God. Of course, neither has Old Man. Besides, Mother’s and Father’s deaths aren’t Cornelia’s fault. Who told her such a thing?
It’s obvious! The maid assigned to Cornelia, Anna!
A fierce hatred for Anna welled up inside me.
But, right now…
“It has nothing to do with it! True, Ria’s illness is the Curse of the Evil God. But it has absolutely no connection to Father’s and Mother’s deaths! Father was frail to begin with. And Mother just had a difficult postpartum recovery. These things happen often.”
“But, but… I’m cursed, so if this goes on, even Onii-sama will…”
“Didn’t I say it has nothing to do with it? I won’t die and leave you behind, Ria. That’s an absolute promise. Can’t you believe what your Onii-sama says?”
“Nn-nn. But…”
“‘But’ is forbidden. I will live, and I will prove your innocence, Ria.”
“Onii-sama… cough.”
“Don’t worry. You must be tired from talking so much. Rest now.”
“Onii-sama, please don’t die…”
Somewhere in my heart, I had thought that as long as Cornelia was saved, it didn’t matter what happened to me.
But now, I can’t afford to die carelessly. I need to review my plans and execute them better.
And then there’s Cornelia. She’s blaming herself entirely. For a young child to wish for her own death… She must have been that cornered. Poor thing. God is giving Cornelia too many trials. I’ve come to hate this ‘God’ even more.
Getting up from beside the bed, I glared at Anna, the culprit.
Filling Cornelia’s head with all sorts of nonsense!
This woman hurt Cornelia’s heart!
“Anna, I need to talk to you.”
“Yes, Bocchama.”
Contrary to my expectations, Anna quietly followed me to another room. What is she planning?
In a dilapidated room of the aging, damaged mansion, I faced Anna.
“You’re the one who fed Cornelia those lies, aren’t you?”
“Bocchama, I have not told her any lies.”
“Then why did Cornelia wish for death?!”
“…This land is cursed. The mistress’s passing, the master’s passing, this land being barren, the taxes not being collected as expected—it’s all because of that girl’s curse! If this continues, Bocchama will also fall to the curse. That girl should be killed quickly—”
“Silence!!!”
“No, I will not be silent! In the first place, that girl is inhuman! Why do you protect her?!”
Those afflicted with the Curse of the Evil God cannot receive a Gift from God. Those without a Gift are not considered human. To hell with such rotten common sense of this world!
I smoothly drew the dagger I wore at my hip.
“Will you kill me? Is that inhuman creature so important to you?!”
“Yeah, she’s important. At least, far more so than you!”
It would be easy to kill this woman right here. It would probably appease some of my anger.
However, this territory has no leeway to kill this woman who has mastered etiquette and manners!
Sheathing the dagger with a trembling hand, I exhaled hotly, as if expelling my anger.
“As of this moment, you are removed from your position as Cornelia’s maid. From now on, you will dedicate yourself to educating and drilling everything you know into the children we’ve gathered.”
“You’ll forgive me?”
“Remember this, I will never forgive you! However, there’s nothing to be gained by killing you! So, I’ll let you live for a little while. During that time, prove your usefulness!”
It’s frustrating. To let a great sinner who wounded Cornelia’s heart go unpunished…
But this, too, is for the sake of prolonging Cornelia’s life.
I must have bitten my lip at some point; the taste of blood spread in my mouth.