Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 168 - Side Story Chapter 3

Surviving as an Obsessive Servant
Side Story Chapter 3

 

“This… is proof of the curse that plagued Denkart, isn’t it?”

He answered with silence.

In that moment, I finally understood why my late mother had fearlessly approached him.

He must have spent years visiting temples and other places, desperately seeking a way to break the curse.

‘No matter how often he traveled by carriage, as long as he carried this chest, Dif would have sensed its immense power…’

That must have sparked her curiosity, drawing her to linger around him. And eventually, she must have fallen in love, recklessly trying to get closer.

Perhaps it was also around that time that Dif became aware of the full extent of the power.

After all, when I had spoken to Edric, he mentioned that his condition had worsened around the same period.

I forced my expression into neutrality, suppressing the bitter emotions that surfaced, and closed the chest.

That was when the former Duke spoke.

“Take it.”

“I’ll make sure to deliver it to him.”

“…Why would you give it to that brat?”

“…?”

We stared at each other, both struggling to understand the other’s perspective.

If this was an artifact tied to Denkart’s curse, then it made sense for either the former Duke or Edric—the ones affected by the curse—to deal with it.

Unless…

Was this something he didn’t want to see anymore? Perhaps it was too troublesome to dispose of, and too dangerous to entrust to just anyone, so he wanted me to handle it.

That seemed the most likely explanation, so I spoke seriously.

“In that case, I’ll find a good place to bury it where no one will see it.”

His red eyes regarded me as if I were utterly insignificant before he responded.

“It’s yours.”

“…Mine?”

“You broke the curse, so you should keep it.”

I couldn’t accept that so easily.

Yes, I was the reason Edric went to the three northern strongholds. I had been the one to persuade the archaeologists causing a ruckus underground.

But technically speaking, I hadn’t broken the curse.

I hadn’t even set foot in the place where it was lifted.

All I did was efficiently carry out the tasks the Duke—no, Father—had assigned me.

I opened my mouth to refuse, but before I could speak, he cut me off.

“It wouldn’t have been lifted without you.”

“…”

“Keep it. When the time comes, you’ll find a use for it.”

Even in its broken state, this artifact still held incredible power.

It could certainly be useful in the future.

Still, did he have to phrase it so ominously, as if he were handing me a weapon for a duel…?

“By the way.”

Just as I was about to leave after offering a polite farewell, he called me back.

His voice carried a faint trace of emotion, unlike before.

“Why didn’t you ask?”

It was a question about why, after seven years of suffering in Denkart’s underground, I never once inquired about the curse or its resolution.

“At the time, I was too focused on seeing Edric again after so long. Nothing else really mattered to me.”

Even though I had quietly investigated Dip due to my unease, I never worried much about Denkart’s curse.

I had been curious about it occasionally, but given how Denkart had consistently ignored imperial summons, the situation seemed predictable.

“And… most importantly, I believed in you, Father.”

“…!”

“You prepared for this your whole life. There was no way you’d make a mistake. Isn’t that why you entrusted me with tasks without ever questioning me?”

“…”

As his expression twisted into a slight frown, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Because, in that moment, he looked just like Edric.

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

“Honey, try frowning for me.” Edric, who had just returned to the mansion after a long time, looked down at me in confusion.

He was in the middle of taking off his coat when I suddenly blurted out the request. His face clearly asked, What are you talking about?

I didn’t give him time to question me further and urged him again.

“Hurry, hurry.”

“…Is this enough?”

Edric barely furrowed his eyebrows, asking with a slight tilt of his head.

Of course, he still had a charming smile on his lips.

I was disappointed.

His mysterious green eyes and smooth, refined features were different from Father’s. I wanted to compare their expressions for the first time in a while…

But this was a complete failure.

I didn’t bother hiding my disappointment.

“Why can’t you do it? You used to be so good at it.”

“That was when I was a kid! It’s been over ten years now…”

Edric protested as if he were the one being wronged.

Not backing down, I shook out the coat draped over my arm and grumbled.

“Even if it’s been over ten years, how could I ever forget? I’ll never forget how you told me to get lost back then.”

“…”

“That’s why first impressions are so important, Duke Edric Denkart.”

“…Are you trying to make me reflect on it again?”

“Rather than reflecting, just hug me.”

I had hung up his coat myself, so when I came up to him whining, Edric obediently pulled me into a tight embrace.

We had many ways of hugging each other, but I liked this way the most.

If I lifted my head, I could look directly into his eyes.

If I lowered my head, I could press my ear against his chest and listen to his heartbeat.

And if I placed my feet on top of his, we would be close enough in height to kiss easily.

I debated unbuttoning his shirt but ultimately just hugged him tightly.

Right now, I needed this to breathe.

“…You smell nice.”

The scent of grass clung strongly to Edric.

It was a familiar fragrance, one I also found myself missing. Sometimes I wondered if I had unconsciously started syncing with the emotions of the Dif race.

When I let out a deep sigh of contentment, Edric chuckled and rested his chin on the crown of my head.

After staying in his embrace for a long time, I finally remembered what I had wanted to show him and pulled away.

“Wait. I have something to tell you.”

Edric raised an eyebrow, looking a little reluctant to break the mood, but he followed me without complaint.

“Here. Do you know what this is?”

“…A hairpiece for your debutante ball?”

I smiled and nodded.

Following the dress code for the Terua Debutante, I had prepared a feathered headpiece.

It was pure white, fluffy, and perfectly complemented my silver hair.

I carefully pinned it in place and spun around proudly. Edric clapped his hands in response.

It was the result of my long-term training—teaching my emotionally reserved husband how to express himself.

“Can’t you add flowers? You look better with flowers, Lobelia.”

“No way! Father got this for me!”

Edric’s lips parted as if he were about to say The Duke did?, but then he stopped himself.

Just as it still felt strange for me to call him Father, it was even harder for Edric.

I understood why.

His resentment toward my mother hadn’t faded, and he had even challenged him to a duel over it.

“Wayne told me. Apparently, he reserved this in advance after carefully selecting it.”

“…He reserved it in advance?”

“Yep.”

“…”

“I get what you’re thinking. I had a hard time believing it too.”

Before we were even married, he had outright purchased a farm that bred birds for feathers.

Now that I thought about it, he had arranged for my education, too…

Had he considered me Edric’s match from the beginning?

“He’s an unusual man in many ways. Anyway, just so you know, I was being spoiled even while you were away.”

“…”

Edric’s face darkened slightly.

Then, as if suddenly making a decision, he reached for the charcoal and canvas sitting between our sofas.

Not just here, but in nearly every part of the mansion—our bedroom, the garden—there was always a canvas and charcoal nearby.

Ever since our marriage, Edric had started learning how to draw.

Now, as he gazed at me intently, he quickly sketched an outline.

His skill was remarkable. Before long, a figure of me sitting on the sofa took shape on the canvas.

Watching him so engrossed in drawing me, my thoughts drifted.

Edric only ever painted me.

…It all started after he visited the Dip forest.

He once told me that my childish graffiti—Edric and Lobel were here—and the footprints we left behind often came to mind.

And he realized he wanted to preserve my image even when no painter was around.

Even on an ordinary day like today, he was determined to capture me.

Not just recent moments—he even recreated scenes from the past.

Me, laughing in the garden with a flower crown.

Me, dozing off while crouched on the staircase.

Scenes I didn’t even remember seeing, yet he had committed them all to memory.

[ You remember all of this? ]

[ Yeah. ]

While my outfits often repeated, he even replicated the intricate patterns of my hat and dress from a long-ago dance lesson with Mrs. Sylviet.

That level of detail was astonishing.

[ …You really do remember everything. ]

When I asked in disbelief, Edric firmly stated that he could recall everything about me.

I felt a mixture of admiration, envy… and embarrassment.

More than anything, I realized that, while he had many talents, his greatest skill was idealizing me.

The version of me in his paintings was always the most beautiful one I had ever seen.

My eyes always sparkled, my face was full of life.

At first, I was delighted. But after a while, guilt crept in.

So, I decided to try drawing him for a change.

I was ambitious, but as it turned out, art required a solid foundation.

I had to practice drawing lines, understand proportions…

That was when I realized how naturally gifted Edric was.

I muttered under my breath, I guess I’m just a background character, not the protagonist…

One day, I jokingly complained about it to my art instructor.

She simply smiled.

But her words were far from gentle.

[ It’s not just talent. ]

She spoke with surprising firmness.

[ …What? ]

[ The Duke has been observing you for a very, very long time. He could probably draw you with his eyes closed. ]

She explained that to recreate something so accurately, one needed not just talent but time and effort.

Edric had watched me for years.

Remembered me constantly.

Our mansion’s gallery was slowly filling with his drawings of me. Each one unique in size and composition.

After my conversation with her, I wandered through the gallery, looking at his work for a long time.

For some reason, I found myself on the verge of tears.

Thinking about how long he had silently watched over me filled me with both happiness and an inexplicable ache.

I wanted to give something back.

So, with renewed determination, I told him I would work harder at drawing.

But Edric shook his head.

[No.]

His rejection caught me off guard.

He had always acted as if he would grant me anything I wanted, yet this time, he refused.

Finding it odd, I hesitantly asked,

[Why not?]

[…]

For a brief moment, I wondered if he simply wanted me to focus on managing the household.

But that didn’t seem right—he had always encouraged me to take breaks or travel to Velikan if I wanted.

After a pause, Edric mumbled gloomily.

[…I think I’d get jealous if you ended up looking at your drawings of me more than I look at mine of you.]

I stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

But he didn’t take back his words.

And as I met his unwavering gaze beneath his neatly combed bangs, my heart pounded uncontrollably.

Just like now.