Chapter 26

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Upon arriving at the castle, Lucy moved to the backyard where Ellie’s room window was visible.

She had heard that Ellie wasn’t opening the door for anyone.

In that case, it was likely that Ellie wouldn’t open the door for Lucy either.

That’s why Lucy decided to try entering through the window.

Ellie’s room was on the third floor, but with her skills, it wouldn’t be too difficult to get in.

Originally, she had thought about creating a bone ladder to climb up.

But that would have been too conspicuous, so she used a different skill instead.

“Shadow Step.”

As she activated the skill, Lucy’s body melted like ink, transforming into a shadow.

The shadow smoothly moved up to the third-floor window of Ellie’s room, then returned to Lucy’s form.

“…!”

Ed and Theodore, who had been watching, were left speechless.

“Wh-what was that just now?”

Was it even possible for someone to climb up to the third floor like that?

It was an astonishing ability they had never seen before.

But somehow, Ed and Theodore felt like they could accept it.

Ed knew that Lucy was a witch who could summon the undead, and Theodore had also witnessed Lucy turning Groose into a bloody mess, so he was aware that she was no ordinary girl.

Creak—

Regardless of their reactions, Lucy opened the window and entered Ellie’s room.

The room was decorated in a cute and cozy manner.

In the center of the room was a large, fluffy-looking bed, and on top of it was a small figure huddled under a blanket.

It must have been Ellie.

Lucy slowly approached and stood in front of the bed.

Perhaps sensing her presence, Ellie peeked out from under the blanket.

Ellie and Lucy’s eyes met.

“…”

Ellie seemed surprised.

Well, it was only natural to be startled when someone entered your room after you had locked the door.

She might even get angry.

She might slap Lucy across the cheek.

Ellie’s face gradually twisted, and large tears began to fall from her eyes.

“…Lu, Lucy!!”

As Ellie threw off the blanket and sat up, Lucy braced herself.

Ellie was fragile, so it probably wouldn’t hurt much if she hit her.

Thud—

But there was no slap.

“Waaahh!”

Instead, Ellie just hugged Lucy tightly and began to sob.

“…”

Lucy didn’t know what to do.

The best she could do was stand stiffly and pat Ellie’s small back.

“Hic, Lucy… why did you come so late… I missed you so much…! I… I’ve been so sad… hic, Mom… Mom…”

“Yeah.”

“Mom’s locked in the tower… I can only see her once a month…”

“Yeah.”

“Ed… I can’t face Ed…”

“Yeah.”

“And Ron…”

Ellie kept talking without pause.

After a while, she seemed to tire herself out and slumped back onto the bed.

“Lucy… how did you come in through the window? My room’s on the third floor…”

“I flew.”

“Flew…? How did you fly…?”

“Because I’m a witch.”

Lucy smiled slightly and poked Ellie’s cheek with her finger.

The soft, squishy sensation traveled to her fingertip.

Ellie frowned.

“No… I was told that’s wrong information… Lucy, you’re not a witch. They said your hair and eye color are just genetic traits.”

“That’s right, my hair and eye color are just genetic traits. But I’m still a witch.”

‘To be precise, a necromancer.’

Lucy swallowed the rest of her words and stood up.

Ellie seemed to have calmed down somewhat.

Now it was time to feed her.

She hadn’t eaten anything in days, after all.

“Ellie, aren’t you hungry?”

As soon as Lucy asked, Ellie’s stomach growled.

“Let’s eat something delicious together.”

“…”

Ellie’s expression darkened.

“But… Mom’s locked in the tower, so I can’t just eat something delicious by myself. Mom must be scared in the tower, and if I’m the only one eating something delicious…”

‘Mom brought this on herself.’

Lucy swallowed those words and hugged Ellie.

“Mom would want you to eat something delicious.”

“…How do you know?”

“Moms are like that.”

“…”

Ellie also reached out and hugged Lucy’s waist.

“Then, Lucy… can I feed you like I did that day…?”

Lucy hesitated for a moment.

She imagined Ellie shoving food into her mouth until it felt like her jaw would break.

Surely, she wouldn’t go that far.

Lucy nodded.

“Yeah. you can feed me.”

“Hehe, okay…”

Ellie came out of her room.

The maids breathed a sigh of relief, and the chef quickly began preparing a meal.

A short while later, the dining table was filled with Ellie’s favorite dishes.

The only ones eating in the dining room were Ed, Ron, and Lucy.

Their father, the Lord of Leyton, had gone to greet a guest arriving from the city.

“…”

No one spoke as the steaming dishes sat on the table.

No one even touched the food.

Only an awkward silence hung in the air.

Ed fidgeted nervously, glancing at Ellie, while Ron continued to read his book.

Ellie also bit her lip and kept her gaze down.

Ellie was tightly holding Lucy’s hand under the table, gripping it so hard that Lucy’s hand was starting to go numb.

“Um, Ellie…”

Finally, Ed spoke up.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, your mom ended up like that… You must be really upset, right? I’m sure you resent me. I’m sorry.”

At Ed’s words, Ellie’s body trembled slightly.

Ellie slowly shook her head.

Tears began to fall onto Ellie’s lap.

“It’s not your fault, big brother… I’m the one who’s sorry…”

“Why, why are you sorry…?”

Ed’s eyes also turned red.

“You didn’t do anything wrong…”

“Still, still, I’m sorry… I’m sorry, big brother Ed…”

Ellie also apologized to Ron.

“Big brother Ron, I’m sorry too… I, I kept hating you… but it’s not your fault… Maybe you’re hurting inside just like me…”

At those words, Lucy glanced at Ron.

Ron was still reading his book without any change in expression.

However, the hand holding the book was trembling slightly.

Eventually, Ron raised the book to cover his face.

“…I don’t mind.”

“Hic, sob…”

Ellie buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.

Ed also began to sob, and Ron’s shoulders shook.

…In the end, the children are hurt because of the greed of adults.

‘But when are we going to eat…?’

While thinking such thoughts, Lucy gently patted Ellie’s shoulder.

◈

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

A carriage entered the grounds of the Leyton family’s castle.

It was a large carriage adorned with gold decorations.

The silver handles engraved with patterns, the wheels plated in gold.

And even the purple velvet curtains decorating the windows.

It was so luxurious that it was hard to believe it was the carriage of a bishop from the holy Diaz Cathedral.

On the driver’s seat sat a coachman dressed in a red uniform, and in front and behind the carriage, knights in pristine white armor rode on horseback as escorts.

On both sides of the carriage was embroidered the symbol of purity, the lily crest, but the surrounding decorations of gold, silver, and jewels made it resemble a royal carriage.

A short we later, the carriage slowly came to a stop in the castle’s courtyard.

There, the Lord of Leyton was already waiting with his knights to greet the guest.

The coachman grabbed the handle and opened the carriage door.

“We’ve arrived, Your Excellency.”

“Good.”

Bishop Oswin slowly stepped out of the carriage.

His movements were elegant, and the priestly robes that draped his body were dazzlingly ornate.

The Lord of Leyton approached to welcome him.

“Your Excellency, thank you for coming such a long way.”

Bishop Oswin of the Diaz Cathedral.

Oswin was a man as rotund as Groose, and he was also bald.

The only difference was that Oswin’s eyes were much smaller, and his face was slick with oil.

Not only that, but he was sweating profusely, even though the weather wasn’t particularly hot.

“Thank you for welcoming me, Lord Leyton.”

Oswin smiled as he greeted him.

The smile was overly gentle, giving off a somewhat insincere vibe.

Oswin kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and his fingertips glistened with oil.

“I’ve heard that some unfortunate events have occurred in your territory recently. The appearance of bandits and monsters, and even a plot to harm the heir…”

“That’s correct.”

“What a pity. It must surely be a trial from God. But please don’t worry too much. God’s will is always good. I believe my coming here is also guided by God. By the way, where are your children…?”

Oswin asked cautiously.

He had already heard the rumors.

That the youngest daughter of the Lord of Leyton, a girl named Ellie, was exceptionally beautiful…

“My children couldn’t come out together due to some matters. My apologies.”

“What a shame. I was hoping to meet the children of such a distinguished lord as yourself.”

“Haha, they’re still very lacking. Let me show you around the castle first, and I’ll introduce them to you later.”

“Very well.”

As he followed the Lord of Leyton, Oswin’s face was filled with anticipation.

Just how beautiful could she be?

Ellie’s beauty.

‘She must be first-class, surely.’

Oswin’s breathing began to grow slightly heavier.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
In another world, these people would be youtubers or twitch streamers.

That aside, church high-ranking individual stereotype checks out.