The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 126

Because Shailoh all but pounced on her, Rose had no choice but to drag out everything she knew and spill all her knowledge about interpreting dreams. Shailoh listened closely, trying hard to remember anything that might be useful.

 

“Do animals ever show up in your dreams, Milady? Not just people?”

 

“That’s… I’m not sure. I don’t really remember.”

 

“What kind of animal it is tells you what sort of presence it is to you. That kind of thing matters too.”

 

“I see…”

 

Nodding, Shailoh tried to fix Rose’s words in her memory. Of course, she didn’t believe every last thing. But things handed down over a long time, whether folktales or superstitions, usually had some reason for surviving. It couldn’t hurt to know it. Some strange intuition whispered that to her.

 

They talked for quite a while. Just as Rose was running out of things to say, she realized time had flown. “We got so caught up talking that it’s almost mealtime. I’ve left some water here for washing, so please wash your hands and face. I’ll go bring your food.”

 

“Okay. Thanks.”

 

Smiling up at Rose as she stood, Shailoh dipped her hands into the basin on the nightstand. The water was just right, pleasantly lukewarm, as if it had been boiled and left to cool a little. She bent over to wash her face, and her face was reflected in the still water. At the same time, she saw a woman. Studying her own complexion, Shailoh murmured without thinking, “…My cheeks have filled out a little.”

 

Before she escaped from the villa, the face she’d seen in the mirror had been somehow haggard, her eyes drained of strength. She still couldn’t go back to the dazzling figure she’d once been, but at least she looked better now than she had then.

 

“I wonder if Doris is doing well. And Jenin…”

 

Now that the hectic days of hiding and adapting had passed, the people she had buried deep within her heart suddenly came to mind. Doris and Jenin, whom she had parted from until the very end without being able to give them a proper explanation.

 

As for Jenin, he had a younger sister to look after and now had an adult to care for him, so she was less worried about him. But in Doris’s case, Shailoh couldn’t help but feel concerned and uneasy. She didn’t think Caleb would do anything to a mere maid who knew nothing about the circumstances. But her heart ached when she thought of how deeply betrayed Doris must have felt after being left behind like this.

 

“I had no choice. Doris… I wanted to bring you with me, but the situation just didn’t allow it.”

 

Murmuring as if making an excuse, Shailoh bit her lip and washed her face. As she wiped the water away with the towel beside her, the drowsiness that had been creeping over her seemed to completely vanish.

 

After she finished washing, she walked slowly to the window and looked outside. The flowers Declen had mentioned hadn’t bloomed yet, but the sight of the vast plains stretching out before her made the tightness that had been pressing on her chest suddenly ease. In the distance, she could see sheep grazing here and there, and a dog herding them, and a shepherd in a wide-brimmed hat, leaning on a long staff. As Shailoh braced a hand on the windowsill and watched them from afar, Rose came back into the room, balancing a tray of food.

 

“Milady, are you feeling cooped up?”

 

“Not really. I just happened to see them. And it reminded me of when we milked the sheep the other day.” Shailoh shook her head and stretched. “It doesn’t look like there’s much grass for the sheep here. Does the shepherd stay here all the time?”

 

“Ah. Those people are nomads. They roam around the North grazing their sheep. They’ll probably leave here before long.”

 

“Leave?” The answer was so unexpected that Shailoh spun around as if she’d been scalded with hot water.

 

“Yes… Why do you ask?”

 

“No…” Shailoh shook her head and murmured, her face a little alight, “I was just thinking there really are people who live that freely. It’s amazing.”

 

“Still, living a life without settling down anywhere must be lonely and exhausting.”

 

“How long are they staying here?”

 

“They said they plan to leave tomorrow. That’s what they told me when I went to get sheep’s milk yesterday.”

 

Tomorrow was soon. For some reason, a prickle of impatience ran through Shailoh, and she chewed on a fingernail. “Then, would it be alright if I went down to see them for a bit?”

 

“Pardon?” The question burst out of her on impulse. Rose’s eyes went round, and she waved her hands. “But, wouldn’t that be a bit difficult? The baron’s party may be quiet, but they’re still staying in the castle…”

 

“…Right?”

 

Her excitement faded as quickly as it had flared. At Rose’s gentle refusal, the color drained from Shailoh’s face. She knew the people of the castle and the villagers were all keeping their mouths shut for her sake, out of deep loyalty. The baron’s party might even know her face and identity, yet they’d found not a single clue and were still lingering here, probably for that very reason. Thinking of their sacrifice, her heart grew heavy.

 

“Sorry for saying something so childish, Rose.” Shoulders drooping, Shailoh apologized weakly.

 

This place was certainly different from the villa. But ever since Caleb’s emissary had come, she’d been shut up in her room during the day just like back then. Without realizing it, she must have grown very stifled.

 

“But…” Seeing Shailoh quickly deflate, Rose looked at her with sympathetic expressions, hesitated for a moment, and opened her mouth. “If it’s in the evening, it might be fine for a short while. If I ask the shepherd in advance to spare some time.”

 

“Really? You’d do that?” Shailoh’s eyes sparkled as she anxiously pressed for a clear answer. “Would it really be okay?”

 

“Of course… Though we’ll have to assign you an escort.”

 

“Thank you, Rose! I’ve wanted to meet that person and talk with him.”

 

Shailoh suddenly pulled Rose into a hug, thanking her over and over. Rose blinked in surprise for a moment, then patted her back.

 

When they’d first met, Shailoh had seemed distant and wrapped in a mysterious air, like someone hard to approach. But the more Rose saw of her, the more her pure, lively nature showed through. If she’d managed to stay true to herself after everything she’d been through, then she really was an extraordinary person.

 

* * *

“That’s out of the question.”

 

The moment Rose finally managed to get the words out, the butler, Rohan, shook his head. His face was stern.

 

“The shepherd is someone from outside the outer walls. You surely know that we lock the gates between the inner and outer walls once night falls.”

 

“That’s… right.”

 

It was fortunate Rose hadn’t mentioned the lady and had simply asked if she could step outside at night. Had she said she was going out with the precious young lady, a severe reprimand would surely have fallen upon her.

 

“Why do you ask? Could it be—”

 

“No! It’s nothing!”

 

Seeing Rose scratch the back of her head, Rohan narrowed his eyes and was just about to question her further when Rose cut him off and bolted upright.

 

“I was just curious, that’s all. Leaving the outer walls after sunset is forbidden, right? Even though it’s fine in spring and summer.”

 

“Well, that’s—”

 

“Milady must be calling for me. I’ll take my leave now, Butler.”

 

Before Rohan could even finish his sentence, Rose bowed quickly and bolted, practically running for her life. Only after she’d hurried out of Rohan’s line of sight did her pounding heart start to calm down.

 

“I almost got myself in big trouble there…” Left alone at last, Rose let out a sigh of relief and slid down the wall until she was sitting.

 

“Big trouble?”

 

Startled by the person who had approached without so much as a hint of his presence, Rose snapped her head up, her eyes going wide. “Cay?”

 

The person was none other than the man she’d grown close to lately, after talking with him so often. He stubbornly refused to take off his mask, calling it a matter of security, so she still had no idea what his real face looked like.

 

“I saw you walking so far, as if you were being chased.”

 

“Ah…” At his comment, Rose pushed herself up from the floor.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“It’s nothing…” Her answer came out weak, but what really weighed on her was how to break the news to the young lady, who was so full of excited anticipation. Just picturing her disappointed face made guilt creep up on her. “Well then…” Rose gave him a dispirited little bow and turned to leave.

 

“Rose.”

 

A large hand closed around her arm and gently turned her around. Facing him before she knew it, Rose opened her eyes wide at the sudden tickle of bergamot at the tip of her nose.

 

“Cay…?”

 

Mysterious turquoise eyes were fixed on her.

 

“I actually happened to overhear what you were discussing with the butler just now.”

 

“…What?” Rose’s mouth opened and closed in surprise.

 

He added, “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on purpose. I was just passing by and heard voices.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Well, that could happen. Rose nodded. She didn’t even know what he looked like under that mask, but when she met those eyes that seemed to see straight through her, her mouth went dry, and her heart started pounding again for a very different reason than before. It had been like that from the start. There was something about this man that drew people in. That slightly low voice, those unreadable eyes, that dangerous air about him.

 

“Rose, if you don’t mind,” he murmured, his voice soft and gentle. “May I help?”

 

“T-That’s…”

 

She couldn’t tell him. No matter what, Cay is an outsider, and he’s part of the baron’s party. The whole reason her lady couldn’t go out during the day was because of these people. Her reason warned Rose. That she shouldn’t nod.

 

It was just as Rose took a deep breath and barely managed to part her lips.