The Forest Race Clonne – Chapter 117

Chapter 117

I rarely got sick when I was young. I didn’t catch common colds or the widespread illnesses that others often did.

‘A child that’s easy to raise.’ I once overheard Lady Anri, my mother’s nursemaid, say this to another maid. I considered myself fortunate for that. I didn’t want to be a burden to those already struggling to care for my ailing mother.

However, being generally healthy didn’t mean I was always fine. No matter how robust, I sometimes caught colds or had unexplained fevers. During such times, I would go to Lady Anri for medicine. She would look at me sympathetically and take a fever reducer from the medicine cabinet.

“Our poor young master.”

Praises for being so good and sleeping quietly after taking the medicine often followed, which I quite liked. Back then, I was so young that receiving attention made me happy. Being a considerate child who didn’t bother the adults… Looking back, I think I held that as a point of pride.

It was when I started living with the Rouster Duke’s family that I realized not everyone thought the same way. I felt a bit of a cold coming on and asked a maid who was helping me dress for a fever reducer.

“Why do you need a fever reducer? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I think I have a slight fever.”

“…”

Seeing her sullen expression, I sensed something was off. She brought the medicine without further comment, but the atmosphere remained uneasy. It wasn’t until the head maid approached me with a troubled expression that I realized my mistake.

“If you’re not feeling well, you must let us know right away, young master. You wouldn’t want us to be scolded for failing to take proper care of you.”

“Oh… That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry if I caused trouble.”

“Yes, we would appreciate it if you could keep that in mind. Do you need any more medicine?”

“No, I’m fine now.”

I thought I heard a low click of a tongue from somewhere. Everyone kept such impassive faces that I couldn’t tell who it was.

“You see, despite having a high fever, he calmly asked for medicine without showing any change in his expression.”

“Ugh, what a fool! Who’s he trying to impress by acting stoic when he might collapse?”

“He’s just trying to get in the Duke’s good graces. Think about it—acting mature and not complaining when he’s sick would surely earn him brownie points from the superiors.”

“Right, so it’s the opposite of what happened recently. Remember, when Young Master Camille was whining because of a cold and got scolded by the Duke for being childish? He’s probably acting oppositely after seeing that.”

“Creepy, isn’t it? He’s a really unsettling young master.”

After that, I often overheard whispers wherever I went. It was a time when I clearly understood the looks and stances people had towards me.

So, instead of explaining, I chose to keep quiet. As someone living off others, I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. I was already used to living quietly and staying out of sight, so it wasn’t hard. I knew such behavior would only fuel negative opinions, but I preferred it that way.

After all, gaining favorable opinions would just tighten the noose around my neck. Once serious discussions about succession began, even Camille, who was now somewhat kind, would change his view of me. Just like how I constantly faced opposition in Lavant simply for the fact that I was an heir (although, in truth, I wasn’t even that).

It had always been the same. My very existence was always the problem. As long as I remained quiet and unnoticed, blending in like an embedded stone, peace prevailed.

But sometimes, it got a little tiring.

If my existence was the problem, why was I born at all? They say the gods give every life a purpose and meaning. Did I, too, have such a purpose?

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand. Now, I could do even less. This time, I thought things were different. The welcoming atmosphere and the genuine warmth were new, and I thought it would be okay. I believed I had finally found my place.

But once again, I was the problem. My very existence.

―Really, my lonely master can’t seem to go a moment without tormenting himself.

I heard a low click of the tongue from somewhere, accompanied by a gentle hand brushing my forehead.

‘Who…?’

My eyelids felt incredibly heavy. It was then that I realized my eyes were closed. I tried to open them, but something warm covered them.

―You shouldn’t wake up yet.

The voice that had whispered to me earlier spoke again.

―You haven’t slept enough yet. Even if it’s boring, you need to sleep a little longer.

Incomprehensible words continued to pour into my ears. Feeling hazy and detached from reality, it seemed I was dreaming. However, I could sense that he was worried about me. Suddenly, I felt a warmth in my chest.

—Why do you seem sadder now?

The owner of the voice sounded slightly flustered. I shook my head to signal that it wasn’t the case. It wasn’t sadness. It was just that I remembered a kind memory.

—What memory?

Hesitating to answer, the hand stroking my head grew more soothing, as if to comfort me. It reminded me of a cherished time when I was young and my mother was still mentally sound. Before I knew it, I started speaking.

‘Earlier, Talis… noticed I had a fever…’

—…

‘I didn’t say anything, but just by holding my hand, he figured it out.’

Somehow, that made me a little happy.

How clueless could I be? Even in the midst of such a dire situation, I found joy in that. The maids were right. It felt like I was exploiting my illness, such a distasteful trait.

‘I am really the worst.’

The voice remained silent for a moment before a deep sigh emanated. It seemed like he was either bearing something or was angry.

―…Those unworthy ones have ruined someone else’s precious tree. They’ve planted a terrible poison.

I must have flinched instinctively, as a gentle pat followed. The advice to sleep again came with the touch, saying that it wasn’t the time to wake up and that strange thoughts would keep arising if I tried to.

―It’s okay, don’t worry. The injuries can be treated. These wounds will heal as if they were never there.

The whispered words seemed to have a magical effect as my consciousness began to blur. Even though I tried to resist falling asleep, I was powerless. The thoughts I tried to argue with—saying I didn’t understand, or that I wasn’t injured—scattered into nothingness.

―So remember this, Seirakia. You haven’t done anything wrong. Everything you’ve gone through is not your fault.

Not my fault.

Amidst the fading consciousness, those words echoed clearly. It seemed like something I had longed to hear from someone. The overwhelming desire to cry was proof of that.

* * *

A gentle breeze blew from somewhere.

It was a pleasant, mild wind, carrying the sweet scent of flowers and the aroma of grass. It felt as if it were impossible for it to be winter.

Had I been floating in that comforting sensation for a while? My eyes opened when I felt the sunlight tickling my cheek. As soon as I became aware of the brightness around me, my eyelids opened involuntarily. Whether it was morning or afternoon, my mind felt oddly refreshed, like after a good night’s sleep.

Indeed, I must have been sleeping. The soft feeling supporting my entire body was undoubtedly bedding.

‘…But when did I start sleeping?’

As soon as the nagging question crossed my mind, the lingering drowsiness quickly faded. Blinking repeatedly, the blurry vision cleared and the surroundings came into focus one by one.

There were large windows without blinds or bars. The furniture and decorations were made of materials I couldn’t identify. The walls looked like they were made of tightly packed bricks, with roots or vines embedded here and there. It was as if huge trees had grown through the walls. I could tell it was an unfamiliar place, even though the details were unknown.

‘…Where am I?’

I didn’t even know why I was in such a place. My head still felt fuzzy, and I couldn’t recall the events before I lost consciousness. However, the most startling realization was the piercing gaze I felt on me. As I sensed movement and turned my head, I locked eyes with several pairs of sparkling eyes beside the bed. Some children were staring at me intently.

‘Are they really children?’

I swallowed dryly without thinking. At a glance, they seemed like little girls, but upon closer inspection, something was off. They appeared human, but their bodies were covered in various plants and flowers. Their skin was moss-covered, and their hair seemed more like stems and leaves. Initially, I thought they were decorative, but upon closer inspection, they were indeed connected. It was as if the plants were parasitically using the children’s bodies for nourishment.

“What is this… Ugh.”

Trying to sit up too quickly gave me a splitting headache. Clutching my head and curling up, those strange beings quickly clustered around me. They all seemed flustered and restless.

‘Are they worried about me?’

Forgetting my headache, I observed them quietly. They blinked and returned my gaze. Noticing that I wasn’t moving, they tilted their heads in confusion and started prodding me curiously.

Their actions were so endearing that I couldn’t help but smile. They, in turn, smiled back at me, seeming to reflect my emotions.