TCS 03

Chapter : 3

Did He Bring Her Here Without Knowing?

Unlike her breathless flight, the path to the Castillo mansion was nothing short of peaceful. The ringing in her head felt like a lie. Arriving at the Castillo mansion, located not far from the plaza, a servant came out to greet them.

“You have returned, My Lord.”

Head Butler Owen welcomed Adrian. At that, the gazes of the Duke’s servants turned toward Stella in her disheveled state. Adrian ignored the curiosity glimmering in their eyes and commanded the butler.

“Prepare warm water.” “Understood.”

The butler gave his reply but remained standing still.

“Is there something more you wish to say to me?”

Adrian furrowed his brow, unable to understand the butler’s behavior. It was only natural, since the man who normally moved with haste was just standing there like that.

“Shall I prepare only one bath?”

Adrian hesitated for a moment, then narrowed his brow and spoke decisively.

“Two.”

Noticing that brief moment of hesitation, Owen offered another suggestion, brimming with loyalty.

“Wouldn’t that be troublesome? Since the morning is already late, it would likely be better to have just one.” “I have no idea what is supposed to be troublesome. Dismiss anyone who says they don’t want to work.”

At Adrian’s sharp words, the butler’s gaze shifted to the woman standing behind him. Stella’s face flushed red as if she had already been soaking in hot water.

“I will prepare them separately.” “Be on your way.”

Owen gave a light bow and vanished from sight. For some reason, Stella’s tension melted away, leaving her body devoid of strength. Her legs wobbled for a fraction of a second. Adrian supported her and asked:

“Are you all right?”

She certainly gave reason for misunderstanding. A woman abruptly brought home by the young master. With the woman in such a state, it was hardly strange to mistake her for a hidden lover.

“Do not take the butler’s words to heart.” “I am, fine.”

Stella shook her head.

“The butler’s words were rude and inappropriate, but the reason the butler said such a strange thing is…”

Continuing fluently, Adrian suddenly paused, looking elsewhere with a hesitant demeanor. He glanced at her and forced the words out with effort.

“It is likely because no woman other than my mother has ever come to this mansion.”

Wasn’t that even more startling? Stella raised her head to look at Adrian, but meeting his swirling, reddish eyes, she turned her head away.

“I see…”

Then, trying to speak with dignity, her tongue tripped over itself.

“I-It was just because I was the first, that’s all.”

For a moment, the tips of embarrassed Stella’s ears turned red. Then, thinking she was being far too complacent in a situation where her life was threatened, she hastily hardened her expression. Because of that, the hand he had been reaching out toward her dropped flat.

“Go and rest for now.” “Xena, take good care of the young lady.”

A woman who looked like a foreigner with her tan skin and black hair gave a slight bow and replied:

“Understood.”

As Stella tried to head upstairs guided by Xena, Adrian’s voice stopped her steps once more.

“Oh, and My Lady.” “Yes?” “I am glad you trusted me.”

Calling Stella back, Adrian wore a bright smile. Seeing him like that, she lowered her head to hide her heated face. She couldn’t simply trust the kindness offered by a stranger. Yet, hearing the words from his mouth—that he was glad she trusted him—made her feel a strange sensation. She forced a smile.

“I should be the one thanking you.”

Ending her words briefly, Stella turned her footsteps away. Watching her retreating back, Adrian covered his lips with one hand. Hidden behind his large palm, the corners of his mouth formed a neat curve.

Sitting in the spacious bathtub prepared next to the bedroom, Stella let her body relax into the fragrant aroma. Even though she had lost her memories and this was the touch of a stranger, making the situation awkward, being tended to by a maid felt strangely familiar.

Who am I?

Sitting with her knees drawn up, she stared intently at her reflection in the water. As she gazed fixedly at the water, Xena checked the temperature and asked cautiously:

“Is the water too hot?” “It’s just right.” “Shall I take off this pendant?”

Xena pointed to the pendant half-submerged beneath the rippling water. Groping at her neck, Stella picked up the pendant and placed it on her palm. Seeing the pendant, Xena added:

“That is the crest of the House of Bronte.”

Stella dropped the pendant she was holding. With a splashing sound, the pendant bearing the crest of the Marquis of Bronte gleamed beneath the rippling water. Looking at the pendant, Stella asked back:

“The House of Bronte?” “Yes. After all, the House of Bronte is the only one in the empire symbolized by a golden bird.”

Amidst the shimmering waves, Stella repeated the words over and over: “Bronte, Bronte, Bronte.” Yet why was that? The more she did, the more an inexplicable, chilling sensation wrapped around her entire body. Goosebumps suddenly broke out across her skin.

“Oh my, have you been burned?” “A burn?”

Stella turned her head.

Before the shock caused by the word “Bronte” could even fade, a burn covering beneath her shoulder line came into her view. The words “Bronte” and “burn” tangled together in her head. A headache began to form as if a memory was right on the verge of surfacing, causing her to frown.

“After your bath, I should ask for the family physician to be called.” “No!”

Stella hurriedly waved her hands. She didn’t know why, but she felt she must never show this burn scar to anyone else. Surprised by her frantic gestures, Xena kept silent. In response, Stella offered an awkward smile.

“I just don’t want to cause unnecessary worry to the young lord.” “However…” “It’s a wound that has already healed.”

Fortunately, the wound didn’t hurt at all. If it had hurt, there was no way she wouldn’t have known she had suffered a burn. Stella pressed firmly on her temples as something related to the scar threatened to emerge in her memory. Suddenly, something grazed across her mind.

How hideous.

A voice so thin it felt like it would tear. Her body shuddered of its own accord. Stella looked around frantically, searching for something to cover her body. The burn mark burned as if it had just touched fire.

“I want to be alone.”

Spotting a large towel prepared beside the bathtub, she snatched it up in a hurry. The fluffy towel absorbed the water, weighing heavily against her body. Xena looked with bewilderment at Stella, who was trembling and glancing around in sheer fright. Then she saw Stella’s wet body shivering uncontrollably.

“Understood.” “……” “Please call if you need anything.”

After that, nothing else reached Stella’s ears. Her mind echoed solely with the single phrase: “How hideous.” A short while later, having finished her bath, Stella sat on the edge of the bed and slowly stroked the burn scar carved into her shoulder. The heat radiating from the burn mark that covered her shoulder enveloped her entire body. What calmed that heat was the cool night breeze signaling the end of spring.

Nothing bad will happen.

Entrusting her body to the wind, she closed her eyes.It’s fine. If the scar is hideous, I can just cover it.

She swept her hair to one side. So that no one would see the burn scar. The traces of the fire vanished beneath her hair.See, no one will know if I do this.

Stella forced a smile as she looked at her reflection in the window. Then she closed her eyes and listened to the cries of the birds. Even the birds wept mournfully at her pitiful appearance. As if crying on her behalf. Just as she was barely regaining her composure, a terrible voice echoed in her head once more:

If you don’t run away, you might die.

To protect herself from that voice, Stella wrapped her arms tightly around her body.Why are they trying to kill me?

Though she couldn’t remember clearly, she knew instinctively that her family had abandoned her. Weren’t family members supposed to protect one another? Staring at the cruelly echoing voice in her head, she glared down at her pendant.

If I sell this pendant, couldn’t I run away anywhere? A golden pendant could surely be sold for a high price in the black market.

The Castillo mansion wasn’t safe either. It would certainly be safer than wandering the streets in her nightgown, but if by any chance Adrian contacted the House of Bronte… The House of Bronte might come looking to take her back. When her thoughts reached that point, her head began to spin. She even felt a bitter fluid rising from her empty stomach after running all night, causing dry retching that was hard to bear.

“Ugh.”

I want to empty it all out. Everything!

It was when she was struggling to heave up something that refused to come out. Xena’s voice sounded from outside the bedroom.

“Young Lady, please excuse me for a moment.”

Instinctively feeling that she must never show weakness, Stella straightened her back and turned her head. As if nothing had happened at all. Xena, who had entered before she knew it, handed Stella a cup of water to drink while sleeping.

“I figured you might get thirsty in your sleep, so I prepared some water. I’ll leave it right here so it’s easy for you to reach.” “Thank you.”

Setting the cup down, Xena added with a kind smile:

“If you need anything or feel uncomfortable, you can simply pull the pull-cord beside the bed.”

Stella clutched the snow-white blanket tightly and nodded. Right now, she wanted Xena to leave quickly. She didn’t want to show a filthy, pathetic side of herself in front of a stranger.

“I’m not uncomfortable.” “I’m glad.”

Xena replied briefly. Watching Xena, who showed no signs of leaving even after finishing her task, Stella gave a bitter smile.

Could it be that she’s going to stay by my side the whole time? Naturally, she’s probably trying to watch me so I can’t run away.

Feeling anxious, she changed the subject.

“Where is Lord Castillo?” “He is tending to work in the study. Why don’t you rest comfortably for now, and ask whatever you’re curious about after you wake up? The young master wishes for that as well.” “Did you say your name is Xena?” “Yes, Young Lady.” “Will you give him my thanks on my behalf?”

What should she do if Xena still didn’t leave this time? Swallowing the bitter taste rising up her throat, Stella awaited Xena’s answer.

“It would be better for you to speak with him directly.”

After giving a bright smile, Xena closed the blackout curtains. As the harsh sunlight vanished and the surroundings grew dark, Stella managed to force out the words:

“I’ll do that.” “Then sleep well.”

Fortunately, Xena obediently left the room. Left alone, Stella’s tension dissolved, and she collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The eagle symbolizing the House of Duke Castillo held its head proudly aloft. Gazing quietly at it, she lifted the pendant that indicated her identity.

A pendant engraved with the golden bird, the symbol of the House of Bronte and known as the messenger of the empire…

Though the golden pendant radiated beauty even in the dark, to Stella, who had lost her memories, the pendant of the House of Bronte felt nothing but burdensome.

Well, it has nothing to do with me.

Her goal was singular: to survive. Whether from wandering all night or soaking in the warm water, her body felt sluggishly exhausted, but her heart was too restless for sleep. Swallowing the bitter fluid rising up her throat, Stella forced herself to try and sleep.

“There is a burn scar.”

Xena’s voice as she reported was brimming with excitement. At the word “Young Lady,” the fountain pen that had been moving unceasingly came to an abrupt halt. In response, Xena thought to herself that she had indeed brought important information that Adrian needed to know.

“So?”

Contrary to her expectations, he replied flatly.

“Might she have been abandoned because of the burn?”

Even at Xena’s somewhat exaggerated words, Adrian remained entirely absorbed in the work laid out before him. In the continued silence, Head Butler Owen stepped forward and signaled Xena with a look to leave. As the sound of the door closing echoed, Owen added his thoughts:

“This is not a matter to simply brush aside.” “You’re telling me not to get involved in needless trouble?” “Yes. Is there any need to make an enemy of the imperial palace? I think it would be best to send her back to the House of Bronte by tomorrow. Or contacting the imperial palace directly would be wise as well.”

There was not a single thing wrong with Owen’s words. Yet Adrian looked at Owen with an unbothered, slick expression. The pleasant upward curve of his lips came as a bonus.

“Did he bring her here without knowing?” “Surely…” “That’s right. He brought her here knowing the truth.”

At Adrian’s attitude, speaking as if he had intended to take Stella from the very beginning, Owen’s expression twisted into severe gravity.

“She is His Highness’s fiancée.” “Wrong.” “Pardon?” “You must speak precisely.”

Strength entered his voice.

“Because right now, the engagement has been broken.”

In the end, the relaxed curve of Adrian’s mouth warped. Owen was left utterly flabbergasted.