Chapter 9
* * *
"I want to get out of here! Didn't they say we only had to wait for a week? Why are we still stuck here?"
It was no surprise that Estelle finally exploded. In fact, it was admirable that she had managed to hold on for so long without losing her temper.
Lethias, who was slowly picking at the cold omelet with a fork, his face showing clear disgust even from a distance, spoke in a subdued and weak voice. It was a voice I had rarely heard from him before.
"We need to finish the meal. Things are worse than we thought. Maybe something went wrong, or something unexpected happened. We can't be sure if any of our relatives are infected."
It had been two weeks since we arrived here. The first week had come and gone, and another week had passed since then.
During this time, we hadn't seen a trace of Jerome or Harris. Could it be that they, too, had fallen ill? It was a distinct possibility.
For the aristocratic children, the atmosphere had grown increasingly gloomy and tense over the past few days, as the anxiety and anticipation of life, akin to torture, continued to build up.
If it weren't for Estelle, anyone else would have exploded by now.
"I don't like this food. It's tasteless and boring!"
My heart went out to Estelle. She had always been a picky eater, but considering the circumstances, it was understandable. I patted her back gently, trying to offer some comfort.
"Have some juice at least. It's important to eat even if it doesn't taste good."
"But I have to eat even when I hate it!"
"Let's just endure and finish the meal for today, alright? We can't afford to skip our meals."
"You always say that it's just for today!"
Her words hit home. It seemed like the waiting game, thinking that tomorrow we would finally have some answers, had reached its limit.
The only person we could communicate with to find out what was going on was the person who secretly left us food every day.
No matter how early I woke up and checked, he had already come and gone, leaving a fresh cart in its place. Today, I was determined to stay awake all night, to finally meet him.
We ate our breakfast slowly, savoring each bite. Estelle managed to eat some pancakes soaked in juice and syrup, but she left the rest untouched.
Thankfully, Benya, who still had his usual appetite, finished off his younger sister's leftovers.
"Damn it, I don't know who decided on this menu, but when we get out of here, I'm going to make them eat pancakes every day for a month."
I shared the sentiment. Shouldn't we be able to bring some joy to the children who were in such dire straits?
Despite the fact that the current situation was a world of asceticism, where indulging in luxurious food was seen as a sin at the national level, the usual aristocrats didn't abide by such rules.
What's the point of life without delicious food? It seemed that everyone had decided to adopt a self-imposed celibacy to avoid divine punishment in the face of the current devastating situation.
Although it was highly unreasonable for the repercussions to extend to the children.
A day in this confined space felt unbearably long, passing by at an agonizingly slow pace. There was nothing to do all day except for meals.
To lighten the mood, I would braid Estelle's hair into different styles, or we would read a few books from the dusty library.
Unfortunately, there weren't many exciting options for teenagers. Most of the books seemed to be about economics, politics, and culture.
"I need to investigate today."
Since it was unthinkable for us to stay cramped together in a single bedroom back in the day, nobody questioned it when we gathered around Estelle's bed while she napped.
I draped a freshly washed towel over the armrest of a chair and looked at Lethias. His voice seemed to have regained some of its usual vigor, so I figured I should respond promptly.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I won't bother explaining. The fact that a new cart arrives every morning means that someone is coming in and out, even if it's not Harris. So why don't we stay up together all night and find out?"
I had a similar plan in mind, so there was no reason to reject it. Benya, who had been sitting silently with his head tilted back, staring up at the ceiling, eventually scoffed.
"Hyung, I bet you'll fall asleep in the middle of the night."
"That's why I'm suggesting that we do it together! If one of us falls asleep, the others can wake them up or keep watch."
In other words, it was a plan to take turns staying awake on night watch. Benya eventually agreed, seeing the logic in it, but as a result, we didn't have to be on high alert that day.
Shortly before the prayer bell rang, someone finally entered through the mirrored door.
Viscount Hippolyte, or Jerome, appeared before us after nearly two weeks.
* * *
I won't bother going into detail about how warmly Jerome was received by his nieces and nephews upon his return.
Estelle, tears streaming down her face, pleading for us to leave this hellish place, and Lethias and Benya dispelled the dark and damp atmosphere, suddenly becoming filled with light-heartedness.
It was in this joyous atmosphere that Jerome, who had been staring at his nieces and nephews with a strange smile, lips pressed tightly together, and eyes empty like a dead fish, finally spoke:
"I should have come back sooner. I'm sorry. As you may have already guessed, the plan has gone awry."
Of course, it had.
There was a moment of silence as Jerome looked around, clearly disoriented by the sudden awkwardness. Lethias broke the silence and asked him to explain what he meant by things going awry.
"What do you mean by 'it has gone awry'?"
Jerome struggled to find the right words, saying:
"Well, it's difficult to explain..."
The tension in the room grew as Benya, in a harsh tone, questioned...
"What the hell is going on? Did someone else die?"
While we were hidden away in this secret room, we had no knowledge of the situation outside.
However, as far as I could remember, none of us had shown signs of infection. After the deaths of the Empress and the Duke and Duchess of Serpente, everyone must have been extra cautious...
Benya's question, which sounded more like a confirmation than a query, added fuel to our already unsettling suspicions.
Estelle, who had been restlessly pacing around, turned pale as a ghost, and Lethias jumped up from his seat.
"Uncle, no matter how serious the situation is, we can't stay here any longer. You know Estelle is not feeling well! They say taking warm baths, going for regular walks, and getting regular medical check-ups are essential. Continuing like this is ridiculous. Plus..."
Jerome interjected with a cold question, "Do you think we purposely kept you here because we enjoyed it?"
Lethias quickly shook his head in embarrassment, understanding that his uncle's question was not meant as a stern accusation.
He knew that such a thought couldn't possibly have crossed his mind.
At least, not yet.
Jerome took a moment to gaze at each of our bewildered faces before sighing and returning to his usual gentle smile.
"There have been various stories circulating—people who attended funerals and then died, bishops witnessing deaths, and the deceased not rising again the next morning. They say that after having lunch with friends, we'll have dinner with our ancestors in the afterlife... Under these circumstances, does it make sense for you to play outside and interact with others as if nothing has happened?"
No one replied.
Lethias and Benya exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear.
I felt Estelle's grip tighten on my arm, her large sky-blue eyes filled with tears, reflecting my own frustration and despair.
It was clear that surviving even a single day in this place seemed impossible.
This confinement lacked attendants or maids to tend to our needs. It was a small space with little privacy. The monotonous meals disgusted us, and washing ourselves with cold water became a chore.
There were no toys or books to pass the time, and we were confined, unable to freely roam or take walks. The majestic bells that used to ring at noon and during prayer times felt oppressive.
Jerome, seemingly observing our reactions closely, finally focused his gaze on me. There was a moment of puzzlement in his jade-colored eyes as if something unexpected had bloomed in his mind.
"Those clothes..."
"I don't have any maid clothes," I quickly explained.
But it seemed that Jerome, lost in thought, didn't hear my voice. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on me, more specifically on the maid attire I was wearing, his brow furrowed.
I explained once again.
"I had intended to ask Mr. Harris, but I haven't seen him since the first day. So, I ask for your understanding, and I had no choice but to..."
"What?... Oh, right. Oops, I didn't even consider that. I apologize," Jerome responded, directing his apology toward Estelle.
But Estelle was in no state to accept an apology.
"Uncle, when are we leaving...? I hate it here. I'm tired of eating the same food every day, I'm scared when I hear the bells, and I don't want to wash myself with cold water. I don't like using a towel that has already been used."
Jerome's realization sparked something within me
'Oh, did you notice that? I took the towel while you were napping and replaced it. I lied that I put all the towels I used in the library to dry.'
"Why does the new butler come and go without informing us? What if something happened?"
"Is there something wrong with the chef? I can't bear eating the same meal repeatedly, it feels like I'm being treated like a pig. If there's an explanation for all this, please tell us. Today, I almost had to sleep with my younger siblings."
Jerome, who had been blinking blankly while listening to the complaints, finally lowered his head and covered his face with his interlocking hands.
He stayed that way for a while, seemingly exhausted and distressed. The siblings, who had been eager to complain, fell silent and watched him cautiously.
After a moment, the words that finally escaped Jerome's lips were, at best, this.
"I don't know."
"Yes...?"
Before we knew it, we stood side by side.
Estelle, who had been close to me earlier, Lethias, and Benya approached, forming a united front. Jerome slowly raised his head and gazed at us, a bewildering light flickering in his eyes.
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