8.
As I played, the initial tension gradually eased. It wasn’t that it wasn’t difficult for him, but of course it was easier with a child than an adult.
“oh my. I’m so wet. “My hair is a mess.”
Andrea was brushing her hair like a puppy next to her, and the nanny was trying to nag Rozny while squeezing his dripping hair.
“young master. If you play like this until you get all wet… … .”
But the nanny’s voice stopped before it even started. It was because she had discovered something.
Colorful bruises and scars were clearly visible through the child’s wet white dress.
“Ah, baby. What the hell is this… … .”
Rozny, who only then noticed my condition, was so shocked that he covered his upper body with his arms.
“Oh, it’s nothing! This is just… … .”
Only then did Andrea notice and was surprised. He hadn’t seen it while he was splashing around, but now that he looked at it, it seemed like Rosny’s body was covered in wounds.
“Why are you like this?”
Andrea asked, grabbing Rosny’s arm and pushing him away. He tried to strengthen his arms and hold on, but it was helpless for the skinny Rosny.
“that is… … I fell… … .”
I tried my best to make an excuse, but the two didn’t seem to believe me at all.
How can you fall and bruise the middle of your torso instead of your arms and legs? Moreover, even if it was just a bruise, anyone could see that the long wound was a whip mark.
“this… … Did you get hit?”
“… … .”
Without even being able to make a proper excuse, Rozny ended up discovering the truth he had been trying to hide.
＊＊＊
Finally got caught again.
The director was right that you don’t know how to do anything right. There was nothing I could do to hide my gender or to avoid revealing my scars.
“The wound… … “There is?”
Before he knew it, Rosny had changed out of his wet clothes and was standing in front of the Duke and Duchess. The child cowered even more at the sight of everyone looking very angry.
Everything was revealed. He believes that he is a worthless being who is of no use to anyone. That he was a being who deserved such lowly treatment.
I knew that just because I wore these pretty clothes didn’t mean I was precious, but… … Still, I didn’t want to get caught. She wanted to somehow remain a child worthy of love… … .
“S-sorry.”
Rosny said in a hushed voice. She tried not to cry, but her eyes were already filled with tears.
“Disappointment… … I’m sorry for making you do this. Sigh, huh… … .”
In the end, I ended up crying.
The Duke and Duchess were momentarily taken aback by the child’s apology and crying. Why is this child making mistakes?
iced coffee. They seemed to have misunderstood something about their stiff expressions. The duke raised his hand and stretched it slightly to comfort the child.
I flinch.
But the child was so shocked that he sat down. Memories of violence that she had briefly forgotten since coming here came back to her.
‘This useless piece of trash!’
‘Just by looking at it, it looks like unlucky luck! ‘I’d rather have my mouth shut when I die!’
And the brutal beating that followed.
“… … .”
Seeing that the duke was particularly afraid of himself, it was not difficult to guess who the subject of this cruel violence was.
“honey.”
The Duchess walked out, winking at her husband. Hiding her trembling insides with anger, she spoke softly, fearing that her child might be startled.
“Hey. “I’m not mad at you.”
“… … .”
But Rozny was already not hearing anything properly. The child was trembling with his eyes tightly closed.
Since treatment came first, the Duchess silently patted the child’s back and called the attending physician.
The doctor who arrived soon looked troubled when he saw Rosny’s condition.
The child’s body was in serious condition. In addition to the wounds, the nutritional and developmental conditions were particularly poor. Not only was this not at a level where it would get better overnight, but the old scars seemed like they would never be erased.
“We will provide whatever support you need, so do your best to help your child recover.”
The attending doctor, who heard the special request, carefully treated the child’s body.
It was only after a while that Rozny was able to return to his room.
A nanny was waiting in the room. When her Rosie returned, her nanny hugged her tightly without saying a word.
“For such a young child… … .”
Despite the warmth, Rozny couldn’t stop worrying. What happens now? Will she really be kicked out?
“Baby.”
“… … .”
“There is nothing to worry about.”
After saying that, the nanny immediately began decorating Rozny with great care. The Duchess’ instructions were to dress the child in the finest fashion from head to toe. I don’t know what the reason was, but the nanny faithfully followed her orders.
＊＊＊
Rosny, beautifully decorated like a doll, was soon put into a carriage. There were only two people in her carriage, including her. Rosny and the Duke of Marques.
‘Where are we going?’
I didn’t know because no one told me. She didn’t even dare to ask first.
Rosny stood upright nervously and looked out the window. Then he suddenly realized that the scenery outside was familiar.
‘This road… … !’
It was definitely the path I took when I left the orphanage.
‘Are you going to the orphanage?’
Rosny’s face turned white.
He’s clearly trying to give himself back. They must be trying to say that there is no need for such an ugly child who gets beaten every day, and that a more decent child should be produced.
‘Oh, what should I do… … .’
Should I hang on? Should I pray… … . All kinds of thoughts went through her mind, but she couldn’t get her mouth to speak. After all, he is the most difficult person. If he had been around, he would have said something… … .
Rosny’s misunderstanding was becoming more and more solidified, but the duke, who was busy controlling his anger, had no idea what the child was thinking.
In fact, the duke was feeling anger for the first time in a long time, and was trying to control his energy by closing his eyes for fear that it might leak out and startle the child.
As an experienced martial artist, he was good at controlling his emotions and never went wild or lost his temper over trivial matters. But his current emotions were unbearable.
‘Where on earth can you hit that small and delicate body?’
The doctor said it was a sign of indiscriminate pounding. As a human being, I felt intense anger at the violence suffered by a child who was so small and weak that he could not even resist.
What can I do with that little child… … !
Squeak.
Meanwhile, the carriage stopped as if it had already arrived.
“Wait here.”
He spoke in a voice that feigned as much composure as possible. But to Rosny’s ears, it sounded even colder.
“… … .”
“I’ll call you later.”
The reason we brought Rosny in was because we thought we might need her opinion. When it comes to how to punish them, the intention of the person concerned is probably the most important. If you want, you can show me the punishment yourself.
“Go, Duke.”
Rozny, who was shaking as if she was going to cry, urgently gathered courage when she saw him trying to leave. Although the voice was as small as an ant, it was clearly heard in the Duke’s ears.
“Please don’t abandon me…” … .”
A small, trembling hand was desperately holding on to the collar.
“please. I will do really well in the future. “I will work hard every day to avoid getting beaten!”
“… … .”
When he didn’t say anything, Rosny thought it was really the end.
But just when my vision was starting to blur, I felt a warmth holding my hand. Since the only person riding with him was the Duke, it was naturally his hand, but Rozny thought he had felt the wrong thing because of something unexpected.
“Peacock… … sir?”
Since he was the kind of person who didn’t know how to express himself, he seemed to have misunderstood the child. The duke scolded me for my patheticness, lifting the corners of his stiff mouth into a smile. Then she held her child’s small hand tightly so as not to frighten her as she would be left alone for a while.
“There is nothing to worry about.”
It was like a magic spell. I had heard these words from my nanny, but hearing them from him felt completely different.
My heart, which had been racing so hard, surprisingly calmed down. Although she still wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, Rozny felt relieved by the warmth of her hand.
＊＊＊
The director, who had been excitedly preparing the children in hopes of doing something bigger like the last time, felt something was wrong when he saw the Duke coming in with a stern expression, accompanied by a knight.
“The child taken away was a girl.”
Those were the Duke’s first words.
“… … yes?”
The director, who did not immediately understand what was being said, soon understood the meaning and became thoughtful. Ronnie… … A girl?
‘What kind of nonsense… … !’
Ronnie was clearly a boy. At least he knew so himself. But why does this happen? There is no way the child’s gender will suddenly change.
However, common sense suggests that the duke would not lie. This was because there was no reason to lie and find fault with something he would know right away if he sent the child back. So that means,
‘How dare that bold thing!’
I was furious, but the priority was to avoid the situation.
The peacock in front of me was really radiating anger that seemed to cut into my flesh. The last time she came with her wife, her gentle appearance was so brutal that it was hard to imagine.
Only then did the director remember how scary this pale, young-looking Duke Marques was.
Slayer.
That word that made me feel sick just by hearing it was the word that referred to him.
A nickname given by allies rather than enemies. Even though they were on the same side, the sight of them slaughtering the enemy was so terrifying that it made me cringe. And the enemies called him the devil, the grim reaper, the plague, etc.
“How dare you deceive me?”
“Well, what is that…” … . Me, really? Ronnie… … “She was a girl?”
The director, terrified, decided to appeal the injustice somehow. That way, his own faults will be reduced.
