Misfortune 92

Chapter 92

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Faced with this unexpected separation, Delnia was unable to speak.

She decided not to ask how that could be possible. How could she so easily sever her ties with Eperne when she was still there?

After all, she already knew. To Sophie, Marian was Eperne.

That also meant that Eperne without Marian no longer held any meaning for her.

Delnia also buried the harsh truth that she could never be anything to Sophie deep within her heart.

It felt as though there were no words left to say.

"That bastard Roan………………."

At that moment, Sophie continued the sentence she had thought was finished.

"I hope he won't be too harsh on the young lady."

Her cracked voice sounded hollow, as if she already knew it was impossible.

Nevertheless, Sophie insisted on saying those words, as if to say, "How could I not wish for Delnia's well-being?"

Was it like the heart of a parent who abandons their child yet still hopes for their safety?

Delnia nodded, trying to understand a heart that seemed utterly beyond her comprehension.

"I'll be fine."

The lie flowed out more smoothly than she had expected, much like when she said goodbye to Marcel.

Even if the future that remained for her was nothing but misery, it was now something she had to bear alone. Such was the farewell.

"Sophie… take care."

Feeling the loose connection break apart forever, Delnia also offered her final farewell.

Sophie nodded instead of adding anything else. Then, she glared coldly at Margaret, who was frozen with an odd expression, before turning away.

The one who had once raised Delnia like a child was now walking away so coldly.

***

The sound of someone knocking on the door echoed through the silent mansion.

Though there was no response, Margaret reached for the doorknob as she had grown accustomed to doing in the past few days.

“I’m coming in.”

She threw out the one-sided announcement and opened the door wide. At that moment, she noticed Delnia, who had been lying in bed, just beginning to sit up. 

"No, it's okay. You don't have to get up." 

Margaret hurried into the room and stopped Delnia, who seemed to be struggling to lift her own body. Delnia then lay back down, having only partially raised her upper body. Under normal circumstances, she would have tried to sit up anyway.

“This is something Lucas asked me to give you.” (*Lucas is Margaret’s boyfriend)

Margaret forced a smile and placed the snacks she had been holding in her arms on the side table.

The table was piled high with a variety of desserts, including the honey walnut and almond cookies, dried fruit, and expensive chocolate candies that she had shared with Delnia last time.

“I guess he was worried because I said you couldn’t eat properly.”

Though she said that, in truth, Margaret had bought them herself.

Since Delnia had been skipping meals so often, Margaret had carefully selected snacks in bite-sized portions, thinking that having them nearby might encourage her to eat.

However, she didn't want to burden Delnia by being honest, so she used Lucas as an excuse.

Nevertheless, there was no point in choosing an excuse, as Delnia’s face showed no particular expression.

Nevertheless, Margaret didn’t feel disappointed. It wasn’t a situation where she could afford to make such a petty complaint.

Since returning to Blois, Delnia had been in a daze. At times, she even seriously wondered if she had left her soul at her mother’s grave.

But there was a bigger problem.

“….”

Delnia opened her mouth, but only the sound of wind escaping came out. Her usual clear, melodious voice did not echo.

Margaret pretended not to notice the tears welling up in her eyes and quickly spoke up.

“You want to give your thanks to him, right? I’ll pass it on for you.”

Delnia, who had been staring blankly at Margaret, who was filling the silence in her place, nodded slightly.

From that moment on, Delnia had completely lost her voice. She could no longer speak at all.

The doctor, who had rushed over in a panic at Leticia’s hysterical cries like someone was dying, examined Delnia from head to toe and made a diagnosis.

"There's no physical disability or functional abnormality. It seems to be the aftermath of mental shock, but if she gets enough rest, she'll gradually recover."

Though Leticia scolded her for sighing in relief, it was a huge relief that it was only a temporary condition.

Margaret gently covered Delnia with a blanket, as if to reassure her. Delnia blinked a few times before completely closing her eyes.

To avoid disturbing her rest, Margaret tiptoed out of the room carefully.

After closing the door carefully one last time, she descended the stairs, where Leticia greeted her as if she had been waiting.

“Did you leave her okay?”

"Yes."

“No reaction?”

Margaret shook her head, a bitter smile on her face.

Then Leticia patted Margaret’s shoulder comfortingly.

“Yeah. It would be strange if things got better right away. She’s been through a lot.”

Losing her mother was already enough to make it hard to keep going, but not being able to be there for her final moments must have been unbearable.

“Let’s wait until she can gather her thoughts. Things will gradually improve with time.”

“Really…?”

Margaret, who had been nodding in agreement with Leticia’s words, furrowed her brow slightly and replied ambiguously.

Margaret, who had never left Delia’s side during their trips back and forth between Blois and the Beauvais Convent, could relatively clearly pinpoint the point at which Delnia had lost her voice.

“It was right after the nanny left Delnia, I think.”

Up until then, Delnia had managed to eat the bread Margaret had cut and even exchanged brief conversations.

But in that moment when Delnia couldn't take her eyes off the nanny's departing back—that moment when her eyes seemed to gaze blankly, like a child who knew they were being abandoned but couldn't bring themselves to cling to their parents—

Margaret realized that something inside Delnia’s heart was crumbling.

Anyone who had seen Delnia at that moment would have understood. It was that clear a sense of loss.

After bidding farewell to the nanny and completing the remaining procedures, Margaret realized she couldn't speak while riding back in the carriage.

“What? What’s wrong? Delnia, can’t you speak? Is your throat sore? No? Then why…”

Unlike Margaret, who was at a loss, Delnia remained calm throughout. She wasn't trying to calm down despite being flustered. She truly seemed unaffected.

As if nothing else could possibly be taken from her…

“It’ll be okay. Time heals all wounds.”

At that moment, Leticia’s confident voice broke Margaret’s train of thought.

She nodded silently. Having experienced a similar loss, Leticia’s words were impossible to dismiss.

“But what I’m really worried about is…”

Leticia suddenly trailed off. Her gaze lingered on Roan’s room, which was right next to Delnia’s bedroom.

"Just do your best until she can manage on her own."

That was the only dry command Roan had left after being informed of Delnia's condition.

He hadn't even bothered to check on Delnia since she returned to Blois. It was hard to believe that this was the same man who had gone so far as to lock her up, blinded by the misconception that she might run away.

“Leticia?”

At that moment, Leticia snapped her head up at the puzzled voice. Margaret was looking at her with concern.

"Oh, it's nothing. As you get older, you just worry more."

Leticia forced a smile to lighten the mood.

What mattered most now was Delnia’s recovery. No matter what Roan’s true intentions were, having changed his face as if he were a different person, it couldn’t be an urgent issue.

Leticia pushed aside her complicated thoughts and began discussing the afternoon's schedule with Margaret.

***

It seemed she wouldn't be able to sleep after all.

After accepting the bitter defeat, Delnia slowly sat up.

The moonlight, unusually bright and glaring, bathed the room in a pale glow.

She silently gazed at the stream of light pouring in through the window. In truth, she was merely fixing her gaze there, not truly seeing it.

In truth, everything lately had been like that.

Others might think she had simply lost her voice, but she felt numb in every sense.

Everything simply flowed by, as if she were submerged in very deep water. The commotion occurring above the surface felt unrelated to her.

She didn’t know why. She couldn’t even tell if she wanted to figure out the reason herself. With her senses dulled, her mind couldn’t think clearly either.

“….”

At that moment, Delnia’s gaze, which had been casually sweeping the surroundings, suddenly stopped abruptly upon discovering something.

***