It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 19
At the moment when his mind was becoming a chaotic mess, torn between the urgent sense of impending death and the helpless thought that it might be better to die and be freed from it all—
“…Dantère Ortatum.”
The crimson eyes vanished from his field of vision, and only then was Dantère freed from the hallucinations.
As Dantère coughed violently, Lionel, who had straightened his posture at some point, spoke in a calm, detached voice over his bowed head.
“The cost of luring a maid in my household and insulting me and my family will be charged to your family.”
With that, Lionel turned away and walked toward the door.
Thud. Thud.
Dantère remained frozen, curled up, his entire focus on the sound of retreating footsteps, like a mouse waiting in silence for the predator to pass.
Finally, the sound of the door opening and closing reached him. At that moment, Dantère shot up, bolted to the window, and, gripping the frame, leaped out.
The fact that it was the second floor didn’t matter.
He might have twisted his ankle upon landing, but compared to the horrifying pain he had just experienced, it was nothing.
Dantère scrambled into his carriage and fled the Luanax estate.
By the time he arrived back at the Ortatum estate, he was grumbling while rubbing his twisted ankle.
“Lionel threw me out the window again today.”
* * *
Now formally introduced to Lionel’s attendant, Cale, I was escorted to a room on the third floor.
“This is connected to His Grace’s private chambers.”
It certainly looked the part.
The layout was similar to Vivian’s quarters, befitting the head of the Luanax family, though its contents were of a wholly different class.
Passing through the sitting room-c*m-reception area, there were likely a bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room further inside.
“You are the first non-family member to be allowed here.”
“I see.”
I cast a sidelong glance at Cale, wondering why he volunteered such unsolicited information. His face betrayed a hint of confusion.
‘Oh… I see.’
I realized belatedly the kind of misunderstanding Cale might be entertaining.
‘For His Grace’s first guest to be a priestess from the Church?’
It was only natural to assume improper relations, which were strictly forbidden. Even if the interest was genuine, it had to remain hidden until the priestess formally left the order.
Any rumors could result in disgraceful excommunication for both parties involved.
It was precisely for such reasons that I chose the monastery to escape the Crown Prince.
The Church require priests to personally file their applications for secularization; no one, not even the Crown Prince, could force it upon them.
And while I doubted Lionel would bypass such a process, the possibility was unthinkable for someone like the Crown Prince, given the political repercussions.
What about Lionel Luanax, then?
Thinking of the descriptions of him in the novel, I couldn’t help but smirk internally.
It was an absurd notion.
Even if I were Serenia Solen, a guest of the Luanax household, and even if my family had remained intact, it would still be absurd.
“You’re Sir Cale, correct?”
I directed a question to Lionel’s loyal aide, standing nearby.
“Do I appear as a woman to you?”
“Wh-what? Certainly not!”
Cale practically jumped out of his skin at my question, prompting me to offer him a faint smile.
“It’s the same for His Grace. To him, a priestess is simply a priestess. Status and gender are irrelevant.”
Cale’s lips parted slightly as though to speak, but he quickly closed them and bowed his head.
“…If I’ve caused any offense, I deeply apologize.”
“It’s fine.”
It was an understandable misunderstanding. Lionel kept breaking norms, after all.
“Besides, life is unpredictable.”
I added a playful remark, prompting Cale to flash an awkward, nervous smile.
After bringing me some refreshments and excusing himself, Cale left the room, likely heading to see Lionel.
Now alone, I nibbled on a cookie, letting my gaze roam over the sitting room’s interior.
“To think I’d set foot in the chambers of the Luanax patriarch.”
