I Regret The Kindness I Gave You - Chapter 59

The high-pitched sound of jingling bracelets rang from the wrist that flung open the carriage door.

So many that they couldn’t be counted. The countless bracelets clashed with each other, creating an ear-piercing noise.

“Since we’ve met on the way by chance, I thought we might as well exchange greetings.”

Is that alright? The slightly curved corners of her eyes formed a perfect arc.

“No. That’s extremely rude of you. We have no desire to exchange greetings with you.”

Carla firmly rejected the woman’s proposal. It was a rare display of sharpness from her.

Carla stood up completely and tried to close the door by blocking the middle, but a softly extended hand stopped her.

The woman laughed silently.

“My, how disappointing, Lady Carla.”

“That’s rich coming from someone who rudely barged into someone else’s carriage without any manners.”

“We’re going to meet at the gathering anyway, so there’s no harm in greeting each other a bit early. I wonder if Lord Benenum knows his granddaughter greets people so intensely?”

“…Why are you bringing up my grandmother!”

“You shouldn’t act so arrogant. You’ve only secured the position of heir, that’s all. This behavior will cause trouble for your grandmother, considering you’re just a young granddaughter, Miss Carla.”

The tip of her bright red fingernail tapped Carla’s chin. Carla’s body trembled as she clenched her teeth.

“Now then. Our overzealous young snake, why don’t you step aside, and let me take a look at the blonde lady who’s said to have newly become a snake?”

Dark gray eyes focused precisely on Merche.

“Hello. I’m Lena of Aquila. The head of the Aquila family.”

With a bright smile, Lena gracefully placed her hand on her chest and greeted them.

Unable to ignore the direct greeting any longer, Merche also returned a polite greeting.

“I’m Merche Benenum.”

“Mmm. I see… Miss Merche. That’s your name. It’s a pretty name, isn’t it?”

“…Excuse me, but if you have no other business, may we close the door now? As we haven’t reached our destination yet, it’s inconvenient to engage in deep conversation.”

“How prickly. We’re both approaching our destination, you know. …But.”

Lena suddenly reached out her hand. Surprised by the touch stroking her hair, Merche took a step back.

“It’s not black hair.”

Despite the rejection, her hand extended further.

“And not green eyes either.”

The hand that was about to reach her eyes was suddenly caught. Carla, who had rushed over to grab her, burst out with sharp criticism.

“This is too much! Please back off now. If not, I’ll file an official complaint!”

It was at that moment. Merche instinctively pulled Carla behind her.

“…”

Her gaze met Lena’s. Meanwhile, goosebumps rose on her skin.

It was a gaze filled with killing intent. It was scanning Carla as if it would devour her alive.

Though she had instinctively shielded her, those eerily glowing eyes were still fixed on Merche, emitting a sinister aura several times.

“…Hmm. Alright, I admit it.”

Then suddenly, Lena stepped back with a smirk.

“I went too far. My curiosity got the better of me. I’ll apologize like this, so will you let it go?”

“…At this point, apologizing to that extent isn’t enough…”

As Carla was about to shout angrily, Merche held her back.

Tightly grasping Carla’s trembling hand, she whispered softly. Don’t. I’m fine. The body behind her flinched and shrank back.

Putting her whole body in front to protect Carla, Merche spoke in the coldest voice she could muster.

“I accept your apology. Now please leave.”

Lena didn’t leave immediately, but crossed her arms at the doorway.

Her posture, with her head slightly leaning against the wall, exuded an irrepressible arrogance.

The attitude of someone who had never once bowed to others since birth. The kind of demeanor only such a person could possess.

“Our Miss Merche. …I like you too much, you know?”

The woman cackled with laughter. She might have even let out an exclamation of admiration.

Wiping away the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes, she raised her hand and waved it in a circle.

“Let’s meet again. Next time, let’s meet with smiling faces, Miss Merche.”

“Grandmother, she’s a completely crazy woman. I’m telling you, she’s out of her mind!”

They arrived at Fondo and unpacked their luggage in the designated building. Mariette, who had heard about what happened on the way, sighed and held her forehead.

“Oh, my head… What kind of trouble is this in my old age.”

“Oh, grandmother!”

“No, but you brat! Can’t you stop?”

Finally, a fist fell on Carla’s head. Clutching her aching head, Carla spun around, flailing.

Regardless of her granddaughter’s shouting, Mariette called for Merche.

“…Merche.”

“Yes, Head of the Family.”

“We’ll have to be careful. It seems the others know about your situation too.”

“…My situation?”

“That you might be of royal blood. And even the fact that you killed a basilisk.”

With a darkened face, Mariette lowered her gaze.

“I went out of my way to prevent rumors from spreading, but it seems it was all for naught. Tsk.”

“Do you think the head of Aquila intentionally approached me?”

“It must be. When it comes to scheming, Lena Aquila is second to none among the family heads. She definitely knew about you and approached you.”

Phew. A deep sigh escaped from Mariette. She shook her head a couple of times and patted Merche’s shoulder.

“To think they insisted on bringing all family members to the competition between heirs. It was all to see you.”

“…Do I also have to attend the competition?”

“Yes. They said everyone with family blood, whether direct or collateral, must attend. Looking at the situation, it’s probably aimed at you.”

They’re trying to confirm if you’re of royal blood. Mariette said with certainty.

“It’s impossible to stay out of sight now. Still, try to hide your abilities as much as possible.”

“…”

“That power of yours. The one that makes other divine beasts submit. Do you know that it’s a power only used by royalty?”

“…I know.”

It was a fact she had learned only recently.

The unique power of royalty that she had only heard of as ‘dominance’.

She had learned from Fabio the other day that it was the power to control other abilities and divine beasts.

“It might be better to spread the word that you being of royal blood is just a baseless rumor. If anyone tries to make you use your power or orders you to do so during the competition, just pretend to use it but don’t actually do it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, Head of the Family. I will do as you say.”

Mariette’s expression relaxed a bit at the immediate affirmation.

She turned around and grabbed the ear of Carla, who had been pouting with her lips puffed out.

Ack! Carla immediately let out a scream.

“You careless girl. Watch over Merche carefully so that no one can make any foolish advances on her. Don’t go wandering around just because you’re excited!”

Only after thoroughly rubbing her granddaughter’s back did Mariette say she was going to rest and disappear into her quarters.

As Mariette’s figure became a dot and vanished, Carla finally glared in her direction and stamped her feet.

“Really, why is grandmother only so rough with me? Anyone who sees this would think I’m the collateral and you’re the real granddaughter.”

“It’s because she cares about you. She’s worried about you.”

“What worry? Didn’t you hear what she just said? Don’t wander around uselessly and just guard you well! Am I your bodyguard or something?”

Geez. Feeling dumbfounded, really. Carla twisted her lips irritably and rubbed her sore back a couple of times.

But her dejected state didn’t last long.

Not much time had passed before she started stomping her feet again with an excited face.

“Merche. Let’s go sightseeing here. I saw earlier that it’s disgustingly big.”

“Sorry. I’m tired and need to rest a bit.”

“Aw… how boring. Are you really just going to go in? This is the main house of Fondo. There’s also that thing nearby, that…”

Ah. The Primordial Sea! At the words that burst from Carla, Merche’s thoughts came to a halt for a moment.

“…The Primordial Sea?”

It was a distant place.

Something she had only seen in fairy tales as a child. Only heard in the lyrics of songs her mother sang. Something she thought only appeared in the kingdom’s myths.

“You don’t know? The reason why Fondo is located at this far southern tip is all because of that Primordial Sea! They say they raised a huge fuss to some king way back when, who knows which one, to get this land so they could be close to it.”

“…”

“Merche, are you listening?”

“…Yes. I’m listening.”

“Then let’s go! Let’s take a look and see. Let’s see with our own eyes exactly what this Primordial Sea, where they say the twin gods slept, looks like!”

Click, click. It was then that the clear sound of heels was heard from somewhere.

“Well. If you don’t value your life, such an adventure might be worth trying once.”

A woman was walking towards them from the opposite corridor. Merche carefully observed the woman’s appearance.

Red hair that gave her a sense of déjà vu, tall stature, eyes whose color was hard to discern.

Lena Aquila. She reminded her of the head of Aquila whom she had met earlier.

A bit younger and less cunning-looking than her…

The woman, who had now approached right in front of the two, smiled as if painted. It was a modest smile made only with her lips, without showing her teeth.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Therese of Aquila. You must be Lady Carla of Benenum and Lady Merche, right?”

“…If you’re Lady Therese.”

Carla and Merche exchanged glances simultaneously. The heir. Aquila’s heir, Therese. It was her.

“I happened to overhear your conversation. Lady Carla, you were planning to go see the Primordial Sea?”

Carla nodded reflexively.

For some reason, there was something strange about the other party that made one respond to the conversation as if entranced.