Like A Dry Branch In The Wind (Like Wind on a Dry Branch) - Chapter 3

Translator: Wawaa

Editor: WilsonWilson

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About ten days later, they arrived at the Archduchy of Axias late at night. After relieving the fatigue of travel in the warm bath water, Killian stopped as he entered his bedroom. A beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes sat on his bed, wearing only a see-through slip. She stood up and bowed her head.

The woman whom Killian brought from Sevitas. It was a scene that he saw a few days ago. The location had changed to his bedroom, and this time, she did not look like she was out of herself, but she was still expressionless.

The woman who had little presence in the last few days. He just remembered that a woman was included in the group by seeing the carriage when they stopped and rested sometimes. She did not make a big fuss. Even on a long journey, that would have been difficult for someone who was experiencing it for the first time.

As she was not troublesome, it was easy for Killian.

Was she a little nauseous at first?

“You are silent again today.”

The woman did not answer him.

Killian said as he walked to the table.

“Do you remember what you said at Sevitas that night?”

Her answer came back one step later.

“Yes, I remember.”

The words Rietta said that day were the words that the head handmaiden in Sevitas manor had repeatedly brainwashed into her. She was not in her clear mind due to the strong sedative, but she still remembered it here and there.

‘The Archduke of Axias has saved your life. Don’t forget that you have to serve him well because he is your life savior.’

‘What you do will determine your life and death. Don’t tarnish the reputation of Sevitas. If you were thrown out because you didn’t do it right, just know that you will be dragged back to death!’

Reputation… Even in the midst of not being herself, she remembered that she smirked at that word. Seeing her like that, the head handmaiden raised her hand as if she was about to explode, but she could not leave an ugly mark on the body of a woman who would soon be offered to a person higher up. Eventually, she just clenched her fist and struck her chest. Except for that one time that she smirked, Rietta only sat there blankly and blinked her eyes.

‘Why is she not herself yet? How much aluccino1 did that ignorant soldier feed her?’

‘Repeat after me. 

「Your Grace.」 

Repeat after me!’

‘「Your Grace. Thank you for saving my life. I will serve you with all my heart.」‘

A strong hand held Rietta and shook her. ‘Repeat after me!’

Rietta blankly recalled that night. The Archduke of Axias refused her who was not in her right mind due to being intoxicated with aluccino. His refusal did not affect Rietta at all. She did not care if she was dragged to death, as life and death were worthless for her.

But the head handmaiden’s words were false; it was not death that was waiting for Rietta.

Rietta was beautifully decorated and handed over to the Archduke of Axias as precious baggage. She faintly recalled that they stopped by her house to pick up her items. She just seemed to have picked up a few things, but she did not feel anything about that either.

Following that was the long journey ahead of them. It was her first time traveling in a carriage for such a long time in her life, but she did not care where she was going or what was going to happen to her. She did not care whose possession she would belong to or when she would die. Rietta’s mind was adrift the whole time.

The Archduke of Axias’ remarks brought Rietta to reality.

“Aren’t you going to say ‘Just kill me’ or something like that?”

Killian took out the wine prepared in the trolley, poured it into the glass, and continued.

“If you’re going to have that look on your face, saying something like that would be more fun.”

Fun… Rietta smiled weakly. Her smile was barely visible on her face.

“Everything is already up to your will. What else can this countrywoman say? Do as you please, Your Grace.”

Killian looked at her without speaking. He approached her with a glass of wine in his hand. Rietta thought she did not mind whatever would happen, but she closed her eyes so as not to avoid his hand, as not to feel miserable. Killian passed her by, leaving her alone. Rietta blankly opened her eyes and blinked, as she heard an emotionless voice behind her.

“Have you not heard of my rumors?”

What kind of question is this? There were not just one or two rumors about him, so Rietta could not figure out which rumor he was talking about. Was he talking about the rumor that if he was not satisfied with the woman, he would kill her? Maybe he said that for her to be scared or to resist. But even if she resisted, it was not like he was going to listen to her.

Rietta thought that he even enjoyed such a look and wanted to make her his plaything for his taste as a noble. She just murmured without enthusiasm.

“Do as you please. Kill me after you make me your plaything, or just kill me right now…”

“Okay.”

The relaxed voice ensued. Killian put his wine glass down on the bedside table and took off his coat.

“Get dressed. I will call the butler.”

Rietta, who had been standing blankly, asked back one step later.

“…Pardon?”

He said without looking at her.

“I don’t need you in my bedroom. I will give you a separate room, so you can sleep there.”

Rietta just stood without understanding what he was saying and replied long after.

“Why…?”

It’s good that she is in her right mind now, but she makes me repeat my words. Did she say her name is Rietta? 

Killian glanced at her face.

“I’m sorry if you wanted me to hold you, but that look you have on your face is not very tempting. Even a love confession would sound like an obituary if you say it with that face.”

After dressing a bit comfortably, Killian picked up the glass he had put down and took it back to his mouth. Rietta dropped her head blankly when she heard the same criticism as last time. It took a long time for her answer to come out.

“My apologies.”

Her reaction was nothing new. Killian had lost his interest.

“Get dressed. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

No matter how beautiful she was, he was not interested in a woman with that look. Rietta wore a gown on top of the slip.

After a while, Killian put down his empty glass and pulled the bell. Soon there was a knock and the voice of an old man rang.

“You called for me, master?”

“Come on in, Erne.”

An old butler with neat gray hair stepped inside and bowed down. Killian gestured at Rietta with his chin.

“Show the lady the room where she will be sleeping tonight. Make sure she doesn’t feel uncomfortable during her stay. Find a house in the archduchy for her.”

Rietta looked at him with a puzzled look. The butler bowed his head.

“Yes, master.”

Killian’s indifferent gaze turned to Rietta.

“Sleep in the room in this castle tonight. You will be given a house in the archduchy, so you can stay there from tomorrow.”

Rietta did not answer anything. Killian was already not looking at her. The older butler did not seem to care that she did not answer and quietly guided her out of the room.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The next day, Rietta followed the old butler, Erne, out of the castle. Axias, the land that had yet to be reached by plague, was peaceful and energetic. She looked out of the window of the carriage, losing her blank gaze at the bustling street she had not seen in a long time.

The weather was sunny. People looked bright and everyone was busy moving. The street was full of life. Sevitas, where she used to live, had a time like this. The time when her husband and child were by her side…

“We have arrived.”

Rietta suddenly woke up from her thoughts after listening to Erne’s voice. The carriage stopped in front of a clean two-story house with a front yard and garden. Rietta looked up at the house from the carriage’s window. None of her neighbors in Sevitas had such a nice house. Rietta wondered if it was a house with a live-in maid. But it was too small to be a noble’s manor.

“How do you like it?”

Rietta did not answer for a while and answered cautiously after looking at him.

“It’s a pretty…and nice-looking house.”

“Is that so?”

Erne smiled, opened the carriage door, and got off first. Then, he extended his arm to escort her. Excluding when her husband did it for her as a joke, it was her first time receiving such kindness.

Rietta awkwardly declined. Then, she grabbed the handle and got off by herself.

Now that the house was in front of her, reality started to come back little by little.

Now I’m going to live here. I have really left Sevitas. Am I being hired by this house?

When unexpected things kept on happening, she felt bewildered at everything. She did not know what to say as she even got a place to live and work.

Although it looked a bit small for a noble that needed a live-in maid, it was comfortable to work in a small and clean house. If she needed to work in a house like this, she would not mind even if she needed to stay in the barn.

“This is a new house, it was built less than half a year ago. It’s not big, but it’s within the castle wall and in a good location so it’s not a bad place to live.”

“Ah, yes…”

Erne guided Rietta toward the house and began explaining about the geography and lighting.

“Axias has a cold and dry climate, but it often rains in the summer. In the summer, frequent ventilation is recommended. You won’t have much to worry about other than being careful not to damage the wood on the window frame from frequent exposure to rain.”

Rietta listened carefully. However, the most important, the master of the house, was not mentioned yet. Erne subsequently explained the location of the market and shops, where she could get what she needed nearby. Then, as he had done explaining, he held his hand politely and asked.

“The furniture and supplies that you need right now are roughly provided. How do you like the house? Would you like to look inside?”

“…”

Something was weird.

What does he mean to look inside? The furniture and supplies are provided?

Rietta did not ask back until she stood in front of the house.

“What about…the people who live in this house?”

“Are you asking if anyone lived in this house? No one has lived in this house yet. Madam Tristi, if you agree with this house, you will become the first tenant.”

Rietta had a strange look on her face, thinking that could not be.

“Perhaps…I’m wrong, but are you saying…that I will live in this house alone?”

Erne tilted his head a little and smiled.

“Do you have anyone to live with you?  Do you have any acquaintances in…”

Rietta shook her hand in a hurry and answered with surprise.

“N-no. I mean…I think I’m misleading you. It sounds like…you’re saying that you will give this house to me…”

Erne saw Rietta stammering with difficulty and briefly silenced to see if there had been any problem with their conversation. Then, he replied carefully.

“I don’t think you’re mistaken. You’re completely right.”

Rietta covered her mouth all in a fluster.

I’m not going in as a live-in maid, but this house is given to me?

“W-why the house?”

“Because you need a place to live. Master already talked about it yesterday. I guess you didn’t hear him.”

When he asked to find a house, he meant ‘give a house like this’?

Rietta shook her head with a pale face. She was so scared that her voice grew louder.

“It’s too big… It’s too much for me.”

“This is a house from His Lordship. It could not be more shabby.”

Erne replied with a gentle smile.

What did he mean shabby? Is that a joke?

Erne took out a key, opened the door, and guided Rietta, who was at her wits’ end.

“Let’s take a look inside.”

Unable to be stubborn when Erne was holding the door like that, Rietta hurriedly followed him in. Upon entering, it became clearer that it was too good of a house to live alone in.

The house was completely furnished with a table, sofas, and a built-in closet. They were all new furniture. It felt weird that a house that was fully furnished had never been used. She only thought it was a house where she would work as a live-in maid.

Rietta barely opened her mouth after standing awkwardly like she should not have been there.

“Does this happen often?”

She did not even go from place to place to look for the house with the butler. He just took her on the carriage, came straight to the house, and opened the door with the key that he already had. It was as if it was a house prepared in advance in case something like this happened. Erne’s answer came back with a smile.

“If you’re talking about the master giving a house for the people that he brought back, then, yes, it’s often the case. You don’t have to feel pressured. Would you like to see another house?”

Rietta shook her head in confusion.

“No… No.”

Is the butler trying to test how shameless I am?

Rietta asked in a smaller voice.

“I’m not saying I don’t like this house. But don’t you have a smaller one?”

“Most of them are similar in size, but they may feel different. Would you like to go?”

Rietta stopped her complicated thoughts at the old butler’s answer. She did not want to bother him more. She just bowed her head in haste and replied.

“No. It’s shameless of me, but I will accept this house…”

“Will you? All right, then. I’ll have the servants deliver your luggage this evening.”

Erne said so and asked Rietta to give her hand. Rietta held out her hand and Erne took a bag of coins and placed it on her hand. The sound of metal hitting inside came with a sense of heaviness. The bag opened slightly, revealing the gold coins inside. Rietta’s eyes widened.

“This is your settlement fund. You can use it for a month’s living expenses.”

Rietta became bewildered when she saw Erne offered an amount that she had never touched in her life as her monthly living expenses. Before she could even say that the amount was too much for her, the old butler calmly continued, as if he had already expected Rietta to say such a thing.

“You will have to spend a lot of money as this is your first time. The items in Axias are more expensive than the ones in Sevitas. I will come every month to give you half of this amount for one year.”

Rietta asked back.

“You will be giving me money every month?”

“Yes. We don’t give them all at once because there’s a risk of theft or loss. If you’re at a loss for a living, or if you’re not sure what to do, feel free to visit me and ask.”

She became speechless as she was flustered for a lot of time. But Erne had not yet finished.

“If you want to open a store or buy land, you can come and tell me. If it’s a big business, you will have to come up with a business plan. If it’s fairly good, master will look at it and give you permission.”

Allow me to do business? Give me land?

Rietta, who was standing absentmindedly, suddenly realized why he was so generous. She closed her mouth as if she had been struck with cold water.

He’s buying me. He thought I spent the night with His Grace.

Her mind went blank in an instant. She was in a position where she had no more shame left to feel humiliated.

Rietta stood silently with her mouth shut. Hesitating so as not to be seen as rude, she gave the bag of coins back to Erne.

“I also have money from Sevitas. That would be enough.”

The old butler replied without hesitation.

“Don’t say no. It’s my duty to support master’s people without lacking anything.”

Rietta thought Erne was beating around the bush gracefully. Without lifting her hand, she bit her lips and lowered her head. She raised the bag a little higher and said.

“…His Grace did not have me. I can’t accept this money.”

Erne replied calmly.

“I know.”

“Pardon?”

Killian did not let the woman he had out that way at night. Erne already knew about that. Instead of explaining to Rietta who was surprised, Erne just bowed his head.

“What I said was misleading. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything else. Now that His Lordship has brought you here, Madam Tristi, you’re his subject and one of his people.”

Rietta looked at Erne with a confused face. She opened her mouth for a long time, but without realizing it, only silly words came out.

“Aren’t you…treating me kindly…because I spent the night with him?”

The old butler smiled.

“I’m just showing my courtesy to the people that master is taking care of.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

After Erne returned to the castle, Rietta was left at home all alone. She sat dumbfoundedly in her bed. All the conversations she just had with the old butler seemed unrealistic.

Not long ago, she was flustered that she suddenly had an excessively large house and a terrifying amount of money, it still did not feel real that Erne had left her alone.

Not long ago, back when she was still in Sevitas, Rietta was trapped in her house and lived while waiting for the day to be buried in Casarius’s grave. She still felt it out there; guards that were guarding her to make sure she did not run away.

The bird chirping outside was so peaceful that Rietta shivered. It was like waking up from the aluccino she drank two weeks ago.

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