Episode 178
– Sigh…
When Frey’s carriage arrives at Starlight Mansion, a cold energy flows through it.
“…hmm?”
Thanks to that, Frey got off the carriage and frowned slightly.
Of course, it was Starlight Mansion where a cold energy flowed every day, but something was a little different today.
“”……””
All the employees of Starlight Mansion are outside, quietly looking at Frey.
Of course, this was a scene that happened every day when Frey returned home from going out.
“what?”
However, there was something different from usual.
Everyone there was wearing casual clothes, not maid uniforms or work clothes.
Also, all of them were glaring coldly at Frey.
“What are we doing now?”
Frey, who was looking around at the users, walked slowly and asked a question.
“I want to attack you right away, but let’s at least listen to the story first.”
As soon as the words were finished, someone stepped in front of the employees.
“Master Frey.”
She was the older sister of Arianne, who was employed as a maid in the Starlight family.
“I am truly sorry to tell you this, but I don’t think I will be able to be with you from today onwards.”
“what?”
“We will all cease to be employees as of today.”
After the words were finished, there was silence.
“…under.”
Eventually, Frey broke the silence and burst into laughter, then looked around at the employees and asked.
“Why?”
Then, she, representing the employees, answers in a low voice.
“Aria left the mansion a few days ago.”
Frey quietly bites his lip at those words, while she continues speaking quietly.
“So, we also have no reason to be here anymore.”
As soon as the words were finished, the gaze of those around him became even colder.
They are outside and staring at Frey with cold eyes.
They were loyal confidants of Abraham, who took them in and educated them, and who carried out a policy of hiring only immortal and needy people as employees.
They were also Aria’s friends and subordinates who treated them kinder than anyone else.
Therefore, they no longer wanted to serve Frey, who went beyond the limits of evil, took away Abraham and Arya, and tarnished the honor of the Starlight family in real time.
“So, is there a place to go when we get out of here?”
Frey asks them with a calm expression.
Of course, on the surface it was a worried tone, but Frey’s words sounded quite different to the users.
Although the majority of people were forced to stay after seeing Aria’s face, he knew very well that some people stayed in the mansion because they really had nowhere else to go.
Although they have a certain level of ability, they are a lower class that the nobles hate so much, and it is a nuance of ridicule that they wonder where on earth they can go when they are labeled as having violated the contract.
“Most people here have families or sick people to support. You can feed them by going out on the street and doing odd jobs…”
“Don’t worry about that.”
When the normally timid maid standing in front of him boldly interrupts, Frey’s expression becomes distorted.
“I received a call from the imperial family.”
“…In the imperial court?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but they said they wanted to scout us.”
After saying that, she continues her story while looking at Frey who is stiffening.
“Of course, there are many people who would like to go to Isolette’s house where Lady Aria lives as servants, but she cannot bear the burden of all of us.”
“……..”
“Of course, we will all be responsible for any violations of the contract. Regarding the penalty…”
“…it’s okay.”
Frey interrupted her and looked at someone among the workers.
“It’s done.”
Looking at Lulu carrying the luggage with a pale expression for some reason, Frey intuited the reason why the imperial family wanted to scout them.
“There is no penalty.”
He speaks to them with a calm expression.
“There will be no disadvantage or dishonor due to breach of contract.”
Then, the employees start to panic.
Those who stood here today were prepared to be beaten to death by Frey.
“And, severance pay will be paid normally.”
Frey made an even more surprising comment while looking at those users.
“So, don’t leave without permission and leave a signature.”
He placed his cane on the ground with trembling hands and slowly began to lead his uneasy body towards the mansion.
“What? Is it really time-limited?”
“…I guess it’s just a disguise to gain sympathy from public opinion as their image has been bad these days.”
“But… I heard you haven’t even been to academy classes lately…”
The workers who were looking at Frey like that started talking about the recent rumors about his health.
Frey, who was usually sickly, now looked like he was literally on the verge of collapsing.
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The lonely sight of him trudging back to the mansion, devoid of his usual venom, was enough to become the subject of gossip.
“That’s it. It doesn’t change that you’re a scumbag.”
“That’s right, even if you pretend to be nice now, nothing will change.”
“Still… you look a little pitiful.”
“Well, it’s all an act?”
Of course, the conclusion came in the form of causal retribution.
For Frey, whose public opinion had worsened several times over the past few months due to Ruby’s secret medicine, even receiving sympathy was already a luxury.
“….Ugh.”
Only Lulu, who had her own burden in her arms, was reacting violently to the story that she was terminally ill.
“hmm.”
Just like that, Frey arrived at the main gate of the mansion, leaving behind the employees who had the same cold atmosphere as before.
“you.”
He glanced back and said.
“…You’ve had a lot of trouble in the meantime.”
I entered the mansion.
“”…………””
A long time had passed since then, but no one brought up the story again.
Why?
For some reason, his last words seemed like the first sincerity he had shown to all of them?
Was it because they, who had stayed in the mansion for a long time, saw the innocent Frey as a child, even if it was only for a moment?
Or was it just because his last appearance was so detached yet so lonely?
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
“…yes.”
But the door to the mansion was already closed, and they had already made their choice.
After some time passed, there was only chilly silence in the yard of Starlight Street.
“…….”
Except for the girl, Lulu, who had lowered her head with a pale expression until then.
.
“…Tsk.”
Lulu, who was standing quietly in the yard of Starlight Mansion, now facing a rather chilly wind, suddenly raises her head.
Then, the Starlight Mansion, which she was now quite familiar with, came into her sight.
Aside from Sunrise Academy and the house she lived in with her parents when she was young, which she can barely remember anymore, this is the place she stayed for the longest period of time.
– Sigh…
Lulu, who was looking at such a place, soon took something out of her arms.
“If this is true…”
An imperial seal with a magic effect that even Frey, let alone most high-ranking nobles, would be safe from if forged.
The first sentence of the letter contained in the envelope with that seal engraved on it was something I could not believe even to this day.
– We officially appoint you as a member of the warrior party.
After that, various benefits and privileges were written down.
And, a message from the ‘hero’ Ruby, which is currently known only to a very few people.
– …and the cake we ate together last time. That was really delicious… Oh, this is not the time to talk about this!
“I am…”
– You are exactly what we need at our party! So, please join us!
“Ugh…”
– To my dear best friend Lulu.
As she took those words into her mind once again, she slowly turned her gaze to her shoulder.
“Almost… almost everything is gone…”
The ‘stigma of unhappiness’ that had been so vividly stained on her shoulder had now blurred to the point where it could not be distinguished unless one looked closely.
To the point where even the slightest misfortune no longer brings her any more. So much so that she no longer has nightmares at night.
“Whew.”
Lulu looked away from the stigma she had stabbed several times with a knife because she was disgusted just by looking at it, and sighed quietly.
– Hwii…
The cold wind was still blowing around her.
“Still, greetings…”
Just like that, Lulu, who had been just looking at the mansion for quite a long time, slowly took a step forward.
– Plop, plod.
Even though all the footprints were pointing towards the exit of the yard, she alone made footprints towards the entrance of the mansion.
– Sigh…
Slowly open the tightly closed door of the mansion and step inside.
I pass through the living room of a desolate mansion where all the residents who used to fill the mansion have disappeared.
I climb the stairs that seem to stretch even longer today.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Frey’s room gets closer and closer.
– Knock knock
“P-frey.”
Eventually, Lulu knocked in front of Frey’s room and whispered in a low voice.
“Well, I’m here to talk to you for a moment.”
However, no answer came back.
“…what?”
Thanks to this, I activated my magic eye with a puzzled expression, but for some reason, I couldn’t look into Frey’s room.
“Hmm…?”
In that situation, Lulu, who looked around with a troubled expression, soon opened her eyes round.
For some reason, Frey was in a room other than his own.
“Uh, over there…”
Therefore, Lulu turned around and headed toward that room.
“uh?”
Immediately he stops walking and opens his mouth.
“…….ah.”
A huge room that has never been opened before.
Frey, who was inside such a huge room, was quietly staring at the photo hanging in the center of the room.
A photo of his father, mother, younger sister, and his younger self all gathered together and smiling happily.
“……”
The back of Frey, standing precariously with his cane in his hands, staring blankly at the photo, looked so bleak and lonely.
“hmm?”
At that time, Lulu was staring blankly at Frey with her magical eyes.
“…what.”
Suddenly Frey looks back with sharp eyes.
-Flutter…!
Soon, Frey lowered the curtain on the picture by pulling the rope next to him, and with a cold expression on his face, he raised his staff and headed towards the exit of the room.
“Lulu?”
The door opened before I had time to hide.
“You weren’t leaving.”
Lulu looked at Frey, who was asking her a question with a calm expression.
– Kwasik…
Without realizing it, I crumpled the letter with the imperial seal that I had been holding in my hand until then.
Why did they do that?
Wealth and fame, a chance to erase a terrible life, and a path to end the deformed relationship with Frey lie before our eyes.
Why on earth is he doing this?
“I’m not particularly interested in pets that have left the house.”
When Frey spoke in a cold voice to Lulu, who was confused while thinking about such things, her eyes began to tremble.
It was because his voice, which had become as sickly as it was rumored to be, was somehow shaking her heart.
“Get out of here.”
Thanks to this, Lulu was staring at him blankly when Frey, who was leaving the room leaving her behind, gave an order with a cold expression.
“No more for you…”
“Pff, Master Frey!”
Without realizing it, I closed my eyes tightly.
“Use, write…”
“…..?”
He speaks in a trembling voice.
“Please pet me…”
“what?”
I looked at Frey, who was starting to look embarrassed thanks to me.
“Well, I am…”
Lulu began to feel confused and strangely relieved at the same time, completely crumpling the letter she was holding in her hand.
“…It’s your pet.”
Conclude in a low voice.
– Shaaa…
A faint light was shining from her shoulder.
fantasy,
