TCS - Chapter 18
“If I’m being ignored just because I’m sending letters, then I can just go there myself, right?”
All he had to do was become the messenger himself, witness the letter being received firsthand, and get an immediate reply.
To think he’d wasted so much time foolishly sending others to do such a simple and easy task.
“If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll even get to see Seiana that day.”
Once the plan was set, he was unstoppable.
He wanted to go to the count’s manor first thing that morning, but worried Seiana might see him as a troublemaker, so he held back and chose to move between breakfast and lunch.
It was only natural that the count’s manor was thrown into chaos by Raymund’s sudden appearance.
As he pushed through the terrified onlookers, his eyes met the count’s distant, stern gaze.
Just as Raymund took a step forward to hand over the letter, the count suddenly shut his eyes tight and bolted in the opposite direction.
“...Huh?”
Raymund hadn’t expected the count to run away, so he could do nothing but stare dumbfounded as the count disappeared into the distance. Usually, people either froze in fear or attacked to defend themselves upon seeing him.
But soon, Raymund realized the count wasn’t fleeing out of fear of him.
“Ugh...!”
The count was fleeing because he didn’t want to accept the letter. Even though the count had been rude and dismissive before, he couldn’t bring himself to ignore Raymund.
Realizing this, Raymund hurried after the count but couldn’t catch him—he was desperately fleeing.
“This is ridiculous...”
Raymund couldn't hide his bewilderment, but he couldn't stop the person who had already disappeared into a dot.
'Can't be helped. If not the Count, I must meet the Countess.'
He went to the mansion intending to get a definite answer from the Countess instead of the Count, but the Countess chose seclusion instead of running away.
She had locked herself in the bathroom.
"My, my Lady is feeling unwell..."
The servant stammered, trembling, but still managed to say everything. Because she was of a different gender and was locked in a private place like the bathroom, even Raymund couldn't force his way in.
It was then, when the couple's shared absurdity made him let out a hollow laugh. Through the window, he saw two people on horseback spurring out of the mansion.
They were Seiana's older brothers.
Seeing the entire family trying their best to refuse Raymund's letter, he couldn't help but laugh. Their actions were so beyond common sense that he couldn't even feel angry.
Should he wait until the Countess came out? As Raymund pondered, another brilliant idea flashed through his mind.
'The Count and brothers have fled, and the Countess has locked herself away, so isn't there no one left to stop me from meeting Seiana?'
Then I'll just find Seiana. Raymund walked without hesitation. He didn't know where Seiana was, but there was a place his soul was drawn to.
Seeing Raymund suddenly move without a word, the servants tried to block his path, but it was only for a moment.
They were quickly rendered powerless by fear and easily bypassed. The servants hurried to evacuate Seiana, but due to coinciding circumstances, Seiana wasn't in her room.
Finally, Raymund, who had followed where his soul led him, was able to meet Seiana.
"Found you."
Seiana's face, which was peeking out from the bushes like a mischievous child, slowly lifted, and their eyes met.
“Ah...!”
The moment their gazes locked, Raymund felt the emptiness inside him fill up. His chest swelled tight as if it might burst at any second.
While waiting for the count’s reply, all Raymund could do was imagine what expression Seiana would have when they reunited.
Would she smile like last time? Or would she be happy to see him? In his imagination, Seiana had never shown anything but positive reactions.
Of course, that was only natural. It was what Raymund wished for.
But reality was cold.
Her eyes wavered aimlessly, her expression darkened. It was clear she wasn’t welcoming him, and Raymund’s heart shattered.
The oasis he had sought was nothing but a mirage.
“Please, don’t do this.”
He prayed she wouldn’t fear him, even if she didn’t welcome him. But the words that came from Seiana’s lips tore Raymund’s heart to pieces.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“...”
“Please save me...”
Ha... What was I expecting? The expression drained from Raymund’s face instantly.
He shouldn’t have had any expectations. He had dreamed too sweetly despite being cursed.
Waking up from this dream hurt more than the betrayal by the guards.
‘...Let’s go back.’
From now on, I’ll stay locked away in the prince’s palace and not come out. I won’t rely on others anymore. At least if I don’t expect anything, I won’t feel the pain of soaring high and then crashing down.
Just as Raymund was about to turn away, he heard her speak.
“Why would I want to take you away?”
“Um... because I touched the prince without permission?”
“...”
“...and spoke informally?”
Her hesitant face showed she had imagined something far worse and was scared.
Since she wasn’t afraid because of his curse, Raymund felt overwhelming joy.
“Why would that matter? I do the same.”
Holding her hand and speaking informally himself, he laughed and asked if he should be taken away too. Confusion flickered across Seiana’s face.
But soon, realizing he was different from herself, her eyebrows furrowed.
“...But you’re the prince. If I did those things, it would be rude, but if the prince does them, it’s different.”
“That’s not true. Seiana, you’re my savior. So whatever you do, I forgive you.”
“Your savior?”
“Yeah. You protected me from frightening people. You took me and ran away.”
You held onto me even though I was trapped by my curse.
Raymund truly could forgive anything Seiana did. If she killed someone, he would not only forgive but also clean up the mess for her.
“...It wasn’t a big deal.”
“But that ‘not a big deal’ saved my life. How could I punish you when I owe you so much? I’d give you an award instead.”
As Raymund repeated this, the anxiety on Seiana’s face vanished completely. Her relieved expression finally blossomed into a smile.
Seeing her smile aimed at him, Raymund was captivated once again.
‘I really want to keep that smile all to myself.’
To hide it away forever. A deep desire rose within him, but he barely held it back.
If Seiana knew this sticky feeling, she might shudder and leave.
After meeting Seiana, Raymund’s greatest fear became her running away from him. So he had to keep a harmless expression.
She must never realize the monstrous creature standing before her.
* * *
Ray, no, His Highness the Prince, was a better person than I thought.
Even though my father burned the letters he sent, he understood magnanimously, saying, "It couldn't be helped because the Count cherishes his only daughter. If she meets me, she might someday be in danger again."
His lonely-looking eyes became moist, and his lips trembled slightly.
It was when the teardrops gathered beneath his eyes were precariously shimmering, looking as if they might fall at any moment.
"Actually, the people who attacked us that day... were my guards."
"Guards..."
"Yes... They were people I trusted and entrusted my life to, but who would have thought they would betray me like that? Not only that, but Seiana was put in danger because of me. So, it couldn't be helped that the Count was wary..."
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