Misfortune 61

Chapter 61

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Leticia suddenly whispered meaningfully to Delnia.

"The Colonel's bedroom is just around the corner."

Leticia's gaze rested on the other side of the bed, and when Delnia followed it, she saw a passageway that seemed to lead somewhere.

When Delnia's gaze returned to Leticia's, she gave her a knowing wink.

It was clear where Leticia's kindness had come from.

"I've been sweeping and mopping the room every day without the owner. Imagine my surprise when the Colonel called to have it ready for him."

Leticia muttered with a slightly emotional tone, as if she was watching her youngest child, who had always been out and about, finally come to his senses and settle down.

As she watched, Delnia took in the room again.

She took in the room one at a time: the large, lace-covered bedding, the sofa big enough for her to lie on, the wooden table in front of it, the mirrored dressing table.

Despite having all the furniture she needed, the room itself was spacious and didn't feel cramped. She didn't have to ask whose handiwork was behind the cute appearance of the room.

"What do you think, do you like it? I'm not very good at this."

It was a cautious question, a far cry from Leticia’s previous cheerful tone.

It might have been unsatisfactory for a noblewoman used to living in luxury, but Delnia nodded happily.

"Well, that's good, then you can take a look around and rest for a while, and if you need anything else, just let me know. Okay?"

"Yes, I will."

Leticia smiled at the meek answer, then turned back to Margaret.

"Come on, Margaret. It's about time I showed you your room."

"Yes!"

Margaret exclaimed excitedly and followed Leticia out the door.

Not long after Delnia was left alone in her room, a whisper came from outside. It didn't seem to be far from her room.

"Her room is also on the second floor? It's on the same floor as the Colonel's bedroom, is that okay?"

Margaret asked, her voice rising in excitement. Margaret was surprised, as it was customary for servants to occupy the basement or top floor, where they were not noticed by the employers.

But Leticia, as if she'd heard something absurd, immediately responded.

"Why waste. It's better for someone else to use it than to leave it empty, and the Colonel is often away for months at a time when he's on a long mission."

"I've never had a room this nice in my life."

Delnia, her attention slowly returning from the somewhat questioning tone of the servant’s voice and her excitement, looked around the bedroom once more.

It was a cozy bedroom with lots of thoughtful touches, but like Margaret, she didn't feel like this was her room.

‘But it is.’

Delnia chided herself. Her eyes lingered on the passageway that probably led to Roan's bedroom.

The passage was not made for Roan to come and see Delnia; it was made for Madame Barthez, the real owner of this room.

She could see why Leticia had no hesitation in giving Margaret the second floor room as well. A man who would give his future wife's room to a slave could hardly be expected to care where the maid's room was.

But if the real Madame Barthez should come in one day.

If Roan really does marry.

Delnia sucked in a sharp breath, and her head snapped to attention. Unnaturally and abruptly, even to herself, as if a wheel had suddenly fallen off a carriage in full motion.

In retrospect, it made sense. Roan Barthez was a man of marriageable age, a man of honor, even one recognized by the Emperor.

Most nobles would consider his lack of a title a flaw, but even if they were excluded, there was no shortage of families who would covet him with a venal intent. If he wanted, there would be women lining up to marry him tomorrow.

And yet, it was only now that the obvious dawned on Delnia. It was a realization she had never felt before, not even in the presence of Josephine, the woman she was sure would become Madame Barthez.

Her slightly trembling, apricot-colored eyes took in her surroundings once more.

The space of the future Madame Barthez that she had only preempted.

An unreal reality that no one, not even the maid, would find strange.

“Why shouldn't you be more pleased, you've been diligently flirting with the Colonel.”

There were quite a few people in the capital's mansions who felt that way about her.

But they also knew that she was nothing more than a slave. No matter how she was treated, she was not worthy of a 'person' like them.

But not here.

In Blois, at least in this hall, she was Roan's mistress before she was a slave.

But a mistress.

Nothing could be more absurd.

In reality, she had never done a single thing that was mistress-like. Not in mind, not in body, not in...........

'Please...................'

Delnia squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered the voice, shaking and pleading. Her thick eyelashes fluttered as she recalled the hot hands that groped her, the moist breath on her skin.

But even so, Delnia didn't think it was a very mistress-like thing to.

But, wasn't a mistress was supposed to be kept on the side even if they didn't like them?

If it was based on wanting the other person, whether out of affection or lust, then technically Delnia couldn't even be Roan's mistress.

Roan hated her so much that he would dirty his own hands to hurt her.

Perhaps that's why she felt so uncomfortable, like she was wearing someone else's stolen clothes.

Even if it was a position she never wanted for a moment.

"...."

Fingers curled suddenly, and Delnia clenched into a fist.

A shame she'd never felt, not even when she'd been enslaved, slowly ate away at her from the bottom of her feet.

Perhaps this was Roan's punishment for her, she thought suddenly. Given that he'd called Leticia to clean up her room, she wouldn't be entirely wrong.

If so, she had no choice but to endure it, for it was the only way she could atone.

"You'll pay for your sins for the rest of your life.”

A lifetime.

The sound of waves that seemed to never end echoed faintly in the distance. Delnia suddenly wanted to cover her ears.

***

The next day, true to her promise to show them around town, Letitia led Delnia and Margaret out of the residence early in the morning.

They had to travel by carriage, as the military area, including the military port, was some distance from the bustling center of Blois.

"We have to take a carriage every time we go to town, what a luxury."

With a mild grumble from Leticia, the carriage continued downhill. Other government offices and military installations dotted the high ground, glimpsed through the dense trees.

Eventually, the dense foliage thinned out and the view gradually opened up.

Suddenly, the world was unobstructed, with an endless blue ocean. It was a far cry from the military harbor, a deep bay fortified by steep cliffs.

"I prepared those bedrooms for you two a while ago, but I'm sure it will be lacking. I know what young ladies like these days."

As the carriage pulled into the village, Leticia spoke up.

"So if you see anything you need on the way, just ask. I've been paid handsomely by the Colonel."

"Really?"

Margaret clapped her hands in delight at the good news.

Delnia laughed at Leticia's industrious extortion. There was no telling when she'd managed to extort money from a man who didn’t even cast a shadow in the manor.

Of course, no matter how she got it, there was no way Delnia would ever spend it.

She thought of the coin pouch in her small handbag. She counted the number of coins that must be sleeping peacefully in there.

Why Roan had thought to return it all, she still didn't know. Was it some sort of reparation for the harassment she'd suffered at the hands of the maids, or was it to let her know that she would have to atone for the rest of her life, regardless of the money.

She honestly didn't feel comfortable not knowing the real reason.

Of course, she would take even a penny, she couldn't refuse for any reason...

As her thoughts continued to drift in a negative direction, Delnia shifted her focus. Like what she would do with the money.

***

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