Chapter 19 - Juris’s Monologue (1/2)

Translator: Blushy

Editor: delishnoodles

The swelling of my beaten cheeks and kicked shoulders grew darker as time went by, and it hurt when it got hot at night.

However, according to the doctor’s diagnosis, there was nothing wrong with my bones and the swelling will fade in about a week.

The swelling on my shoulders could be hidden with my clothes, but the swelling on my cheeks couldn’t be covered with makeup, and there was a possibility that it would get worse if I mess with it.

I couldn’t go out in public with my face like this, so I had to shamefully spend time in the mansion for the time being. I applied the ointment that the doctor had given me and put a gauze on my cheeks so that the blood would break down and spent time secluded in my room.

The only things I could do to pass time was read and practice embroidery. The rest of my days were spent chatting to Claire, looking out the garden, writing letters to Claude and living a simple and calm life; which was unlike what Countess Rosenstein would do.

Night came earlier, probably because the weather was terrible.

After my bath, Juris appeared in the dark with his systematic footsteps as I walked alone to my room in the corridor under the candlelight.

I, who was thinking, stopped in surprise and looked up at the butler, who had stopped in the same way.

The tall young man, dressed in a black suit, seemed to almost merge into the darkness around him, and his white, graceful features stood out, giving him a completely different impression from when I saw him when it was bright out.

Orpheus was also hard to understand, but Juris, who served him, was even harder to understand than his master.

I know he doesn’t like me, but I don’t know what he’s thinking about.

Even when he looks disinterested or smiles.

“Juris,” I called out to Juris after hesitating for a while as he bowed and tried to walk past me.

Well, I haven’t thanked him yet, so I wanted to say it here.

“Thank you for helping me.”

I didn’t face him even though I was in front of him because I didn’t want him to look at me coldly after I had given him my sincere gratitude.

I can pretend that nothing happened no matter what his expression is if I don’t see it.

“I just did my job as a servant,” Juris answered in a calm voice as if he was reading a textbook.

I looked down and tilted my head. Really?

――― Why did he help me at that time?

It was strange to me.

Why did Juris help me?

Why did he volunteer his body to protect me?

He, who seemed like he would be happy if Orpheus and I got divorced, felt that something was wrong from the conversation he had heard between that man and me, and waited outside the door while listening attentively.

He immediately jumped into the room after I was beaten, kicked, beaten again, and stopped that man.

He was even worried about my cheeks which had been hit.

Juris said he had only done what he needed to do as a servant, but his behaviour was utterly surprising to me.

“Really?” I asked as if I was teasing him while lifting the corners of my lips.

“Really. I only did what I had to do as a servant. I could have remained on the side-lines.”

Juris Heiman, like the other servants, was backing Diana. He had treated me with a lot of respect when I had married into the Rosenstein House for the first few months, but when I started my bad wife act, he began acting coldly towards me.

He probably didn’t like that I wasn’t acting appropriately for someone of the Rosenstein House, more than me tearing up the relationship between Orpheus and Diana.

He has served Orpheus ever since Orpheus was adopted into this House, so as a childhood friend, he couldn’t forgive me for being ill-matched with Orpheus.

He rebuked me many times for my behaviour, but he knew that I wasn’t going to change, and stopped scolding me probably because he was disgusted or because he had given up, and just silently sent cold glances my way.

In other words, it’s my fault that he hates me, so it was surprising for him to protect me.

Did he really just perform his duty as a servant?

If he hates me, then why didn’t he just stay on the side-lines?

Isn’t it normal to feel good when a foolish woman enrages her father since she’s getting what she deserves?

“I don’t know what kind of answer you are looking for, Madam,” Juris stopped speaking, and closed his eyes as if asking why he had to answer such a foolish question.

“It’s wrong for someone to pretend not to see a person get hit one-sidedly, no matter the reason. And you’re a frail woman, and the partner of my master, whom I look up to and respect. It would have been fine had they just been words, but I couldn’t stand by and watch as you get hit.”

“Really? I feel like that’s something you would do.”

“Are you saying I’m not human?”

“To the extent that you would ruthlessly discard the person you hate.”

Juris shut his mouth.

Is he uncomfortable with being insulted, or can he not reply because it’s true?

However, when I saw that Juris was puzzled, I suddenly realised that this was a stupid exchange.

――― Let’s stop. I don’t want to argue.

I just wanted to thank him for that time.

I only took this chance to ask him this question, not to exchange sarcasm.

And, not all humans act for profit or lost just because my thoughts are warped. There might be people who would reach their hands out without hesitation even if it’s the person who they hate that has fallen into a dilemma.

“I’m sorry. I said too much. You are human, you’re a fine gentleman. This is the truth, it isn’t sarcasm, so don’t get me wrong. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you. I’m sorry for keeping you here for so long.”

No matter his intentions, he still helped me.

I said quickly and tried to leave.

“Madam,” he called me from behind and stopped me. I stopped moving the foot that had stepped forward.

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

I was confused when he suddenly apologised with no context.

I turned back and saw that Juris was standing a bit away from me, and he stood quietly while carrying a dark shadow on his back.

“What is that apology for?”

“For being late in stopping him, and while knowing how you feel, I…”

“My feelings?”

Juris kept his mouth shut and didn’t answer.

A frown appeared on his graceful face that I couldn’t read, and he hung his head down as if he was enduring pain.

“What does that mean? What do you want to say?”

“You were perfect,” it was a whisper that sounded like a monologue, and it echoed through the quiet corridor.

“You were perfect for the first few months when you married into this House. Beautiful, modest, intelligent and thoughtful. You were a faultless woman who made that Lord Orpheus intoxicated. Nevertheless, you weren’t wasteful, and you made strenuous effort behind your graceful smile. Not only did you cooperate with us to manage this mansion, but you also learnt how to manage the fief. You used your bedtime to read books to make up for your missing knowledge.”

I held my breath and froze.

I widened my eyes and listened to his monologue of regrets.

“I looked up to you. I was against this marriage at first, but I realised that I was wrong when I saw how you acted. You suit Lord Orpheus more than anyone else.”

――― Then, why were you so cold towards me?

I opened my mouth to ask this question but didn’t say anything.

No, I’m wrong.

Juris wasn’t always cold towards me.

He helped me many times when I was struggling to become a wife worthy of Orpheus. He helped me manage this mansion, and also taught me a lot of things.

He also smoothed over my faults.

Juris told me what books I should read and answered questions about things I didn’t understand.

He didn’t tell me that I was working hard like Diana did, but he always supported me behind the scenes.

He helped me.