Chapter 55

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"Welcome to the Rodenwaldt family."

Leda and her companions were greeted in the mansion's reception room by Tieda Amurs Rodenwaldt, the Margrave.

In other words, the lord himself.

Leda knew intellectually that he was a young lord at only twenty-six, but seeing him in person, he looked even younger due to his childlike face.

Without prior information, he would appear to be a beautiful young boy with flaxen hair.

"Lord Dixon, I sincerely apologize for putting you and your daughters in danger. I am truly sorry."

Leda, who was somewhat nervous about meeting the lord, remained calm, while her two daughters were unperturbed.

Tieda bowed deeply to the three of them in apology.

(…For a noble, let alone a lord, to bow to commoners… No wonder he’s called eccentric.)

The reason he was called "eccentric" was because he had moved from the land he inherited to a rural border area to develop a town.

"Please, raise your head. I have accepted your apology."

"Thank you."

Leda sighed in relief as Tieda raised his head.

Making a noble bow is hard on the heart.

"Lord Rodenwaldt, I have a question for you."

"Please call me Tieda."

"…Then, Tieda. We were attacked by someone. Even with your apology, I would like an explanation."

"Of course. Let's get to the main topic then. Lord Dixon, there is someone I would like you to treat."

Tieda looked at Leda with a serious gaze.

There seemed to be a hint of pleading in his eyes, though it might have been his imagination.

"Who is it?"

"…My sister, Valerie."

Valerie Rodenwaldt.

Even Leda, who had just arrived in town, knew that she was Tieda Amurs Rodenwaldt's sister.

However, according to his memory,

"I was told that Lady Valerie is in the capital."

Leda had received various pieces of information about the town from her adventuring companions, including Tex.

Information about the Margrave's family was also included, and he had heard that Valerie was studying in the capital.

"That's the public perception. …Please follow me. I would prefer if your daughters could wait outside."

He glanced at the girls who were watching the adult conversation.

"There are some things that might be disturbing to see. Especially for young girls."

"…I understand. Dad, Mina and I will wait here."

"Good. Be well-behaved."

"Thank you."

He patted the heads of his obedient and cute daughters.

"I'm sorry. Maisel, please give these children some sweets."

"Of course. I will serve them a special treat that arrived from the capital recently."

"Yay!"

"Lucky!"

Both Leda and Tieda smiled warmly at the delighted girls, but Tieda quickly returned to his serious expression and looked at Leda.

"Please, follow me."

"I understand."

Waving goodbye to his daughters, Leda followed Tieda out of the room.

They walked through the modestly decorated building, which was surprisingly unostentatious for a lord's mansion. The two-story building was well-lit.

"It's a bit of a walk, but please bear with it. The land is vast here, so the mansion is quite spacious."

As Tieda said, the mansion was indeed spacious.

Flower beds with colorful flowers and fruit trees were visible.

It didn't give the impression of a lavish noble's mansion but rather a serene noble's retreat.

When they reached the second floor, a beautiful woman stood in front of one of the rooms.

"That's my wife."

She was a young woman in her early twenties, a slender beauty with lustrous black hair.

She bowed when she saw Leda and her husband.

"Welcome. I am Gabriella Rodenwaldt."

"I am Leda Dixon. Nice to meet you."

"Thank you for coming today for Valerie."

As Gabriella's eyes began to tear up, Leda realized the gravity of the situation.

"My wife and sister have been friends since their student days."

"Valerie was bright, kind, and a wonderful girl. But now, this has happened…"

Seeing Gabriella start to cry, Leda inferred that the situation must be dire.

He understood that a healer was needed, but even if Leda had not recently arrived in town, there should have been healers available.

"This is the sunniest room. My sister is in here."

Leda hesitated to ask why it was him, but Tieda reached for the door handle before he could.

"Lord Dixon, I believe that once you see my sister's face, you will understand what I am asking of you. You will have thoughts, and you will feel things. But I have one request. Whatever you think, please do not say it aloud."

"I also ask this of you."

Leda had no choice but to nod in agreement with the lord and his wife.

"…I am grateful. Let's go in."

Tieda knocked lightly and then opened the door quietly.

"It's me, I'm coming in. Today, I have someone I want you to meet. They might be able to help you."

Leda followed Tieda into the room.

"…!"

He gasped.

In the room, a woman lay on a large bed.

Despite being in her early twenties, she had no vitality.

Her lifeless eyes stared blankly out the window, seemingly unaware of her brother's voice.

(…This is terrible. Now I understand why he asked me not to say anything.)

If he had spoken his thoughts aloud, it could have been disastrous.

Leda swallowed his words along with his saliva.

(…This is Lady Valerie Rodenwaldt… Poor thing, what a terrible 'burn' she has.)

Seeing Valerie, whose beautiful face was marred by severe burns, Leda felt a deep sense of sorrow.