Chapter 18

18

His distorted expression was so fierce that it seemed he was about to draw his sword.

My body stiffened, unable to move.

In the past, when I was Hella, I would have sneered and retorted.

It was a common occurrence at the negotiation table, so there was no reason not to. However, I was particularly frozen like a stone, unable to move.

"You foolish thing!"

Deschar Clown ran to me, looking startled, and suddenly bent down to pick me up.

I flinched at the sudden touch of his rough, wrinkled hands.

"What the... "

Deschar Clown's eyes were fixed on my hand.

When I followed his gaze, I saw my hand, with thorns piercing it and small blood droplets welling up.

I looked down at my hand, then back at Deschar Clown.

'So what?'

Is this something to scold me for?

It was a natural thing once I grew up a bit.

'You get hurt and fall because you're weak. There's nothing you can do about it.'

I no longer feel miserable or sorrowful about this fact.

"Shiera!"

As I flailed my arms, Deschar Clown, looking flustered, began to shake me up and down, then side to side, and then up and down again.

'Is this some new form of torture?'

Ugh, I feel like I'm going to vomit.

"Right, calm down."

He covered my mouth with his hand, which I had been flailing. I hadn't eaten much, but it felt like it was coming up.

Ugh...

"See, you understand what I'm saying."

Do you think I closed my mouth because I understood what you said? You crazy human... I knew there were no normal people in this family.

"Why did you touch the rose?"

"Pfff."

I sighed deeply, trying to express my dissatisfaction. But when I sighed, it sounded like an elephant's trumpet.

"Even animals know instinctively what is dangerous to them, let alone you, a human."

Tsk tsk.

Deschar Clown clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

'Are you saying I'm worse than an animal?'

A voice of disdain echoed in my ears.

When I raised my head, Deschar Clown hugged me tightly.

He pressed my head and leaned me against his shoulder.

"You are quite a sturdy one, just like him."

So, don't project your failed life onto me.

As I groaned, Deschar Clown's large hand patted my back.

"It's foolish that you can't even speak..."

Just leave me alone!

No matter how much I flailed my limbs, Deschar Clown only glanced down at me with an unperturbed expression.

"From now on, you won't have a low-level, incompetent wet nurse who starves you. I, Deschar Clown, promise you this."

I continued to struggle.

Deschar Clown's expression darkened slightly.

"What did you do, child?"

The voice of the old man, usually stern, sounded a bit weary, and I involuntarily relaxed my body.

As if to prove that I had been tense all day, my neck, which I had been holding up with effort, slumped, and I rested my cheek on Deschar Clown's shoulder.

* * *

Thud.

Reacting quickly to the footsteps, Sharant Clown turned his head, which had been looking down, toward the entrance. The sunlight streaming through the half-open door created a long shadow.

Standing in that shadow, Sharant Clown still had a smile on his lips.

"Father, did you find her?"

"Yes, as you said, she was in the garden."

Sharant Clown's narrowed eyes fell on Shirena, who was panting.

"Is she dead?"

It felt strange that she, who had been writhing like a cockroach on drugs, was now completely still.

Sharant Clown's eyes darkened for a moment.

"It seems she was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the way. Her hands were full of thorns, as if she had tried to eat the roses out of hunger. Kant, call the doctor."

His silver eyes turned back and looked down.

His face, with a radiant smile, was shadowed, creating an eerie atmosphere.

With a graceful movement and a soft voice, Sullivan stood motionless in front of Sharant Clown, despite not making any loud noises or movements.

"I brought in a teacher to prevent her from starving in the Clown family, but the result is terrible."

It was a very sweet voice.

"She was already in a bad state, but now she's even worse."

"I... didn't... starve her..."

The sound of his teeth chattering made Sharant Clown frown.

Sensing his displeasure, Sicily Sullivan clamped his mouth shut.

He had only been speaking softly, but the blood in his body turned cold.

His lips were dry.

Kneeling and bowing his head, Sullivan trembled under the immense pressure he couldn't see.

"Madam Sullivan."

"Y-Yes, sir."

"I don't like people who say one thing and do another, or who are foolish. So, listen carefully and remember this."

Bending down, Sharant Clown lifted Madam Sullivan's chin with his gloved hand.

Forcing her to meet his eyes, he still had a beautiful smile on his lips as he moved them.

Madam Sullivan drew a breath.

She felt like an animal.

And the one in front of her was a formidable predator.

She liked to tame dogs and enjoyed educating disobedient children.

Sometimes, nobles would call her under the pretext of being a governess or a teacher to educate illegitimate children or children of mistresses.

Of course, this was a very secret rumor among noblewomen, especially those with children.

She had never failed in her education, and the rumors about her curriculum spread very well.

It was a career she had built with great effort.

And now it was crumbling in an instant.

Sharant Clown had not used violence, threats, or any inhumane methods on her.

Still, she shrank and trembled, unable to make any excuses.

"Wouldn't it be better to return to your mansion, close your mouth, shut your eyes, and lock your door? It would be perfect if you even drew the curtains."

"..."

"From now on, it would be best not to attract the attention of any of the Clown family's bloodline. If you want to maintain the insignificant lineage of your family."

"W-When...?"

Madam Sullivan's voice trembled, unable to refuse.

Sharant Clown tapped his lips with his index finger as if in thought for a moment.

"Until the blood of the Clowns disappears from this land."

It was a gentle but complete death sentence.

It was no different from being told to imprison herself.

While it wasn't necessary to follow from the perspective of another noble family, the Clown Dukedom was different.

It was a family that even the emperor sometimes conceded to.

They had a close relationship with the emperor, both openly and secretly, and most importantly, it was a family that had no mercy.

How many people had dared to oppose the Clown Dukedom or had disappeared without a trace after angering Sharant Clown?

"Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to. This isn't a compulsion."

Madam Sullivan, pale as a ghost, clenched her fists.

It was a suggestion, but ultimately, there was no choice. If she didn't follow Sharant Clown's words, her family would not be safe.

"Right? Madam Sicily Sullivan?"

"Y-Yes, I have poor health, so I plan to rest at home from today."

Sharant Clown straightened his back at Madam Sullivan's answer.

He patted her shoulder as if he had finished his business and took off his glove.

Holding the tip of his glove with his fingertips, Sharant Clown placed it in the hand of a maid.

"Have it burned since it's dirty."

"Yes, Young Master."

The maid, bowing, walked briskly to the nearby fireplace and threw the glove in.

Sharant Clown took a wet towel from the maid, carefully wiped his hands, and handed it back.

"Take her away."

Without even a glance at Madam Sullivan, Sharant Clown gave the order to the maid, as if he had no more business with her.