Orléans, Orléans, she kept thinking of the name, and then suddenly she thought of something. Orléans, isn't it the family name of the younger brother of the King of Gallia?
“Why is there a dishonor sign on the crest of this house?”
“It appears you are a foreigner, please forgive me, can I ask for your name?”
“I'm Germania's von Zerbst. By the way what on earth is this house? Why has Tabitha gone to study abroad using a fake name? Why when she was just a child?”
The butler listened to Kirche's questions and then sighed.
“The Miss calls herself Tabitha... I see... she has never brought a friend before. Since it's a person to whom she has opened herself, it shouldn't be a problem to tell you the story.”
After that Percerin bowed deeply and then continued to talk.
“This residence is in fact a prison.”
Tabitha knocked at the door of the deepest room in the residence. There was no answer. It was normal here.
Over the past five years, no one had ever opened the door when it was knocked on. At that time Tabitha was just ten years old.
Tabitha opened the door.
The inside of the room was of a different layout than the rest of the mansion. The only things in the room were a bed, the table, and a chair. Nothing else. The cool breeze flowed in through the open window. The curtains rippled as the wind pushed against them. The inside of the room wasn't disturbed by the intrusion.
Holding a doll tightly with her hands. There was a thin and tall woman. What remained of her beautiful face was now gone because of a disease. She was between thirty five and forty years old, but she looked twenty years old.
She peeped at Tabitha with terrified eyes just like a child.
“Who is it?”
Tabitha bowed deeply while approaching the woman.
“I have returned, mother.”
However the woman didn't acknowledge Tabitha as her daughter. Not only that, but she also turned coldly to Tabitha and said:
“Go away, you insolent girl! Are you a spy of the royal family? You want to snatch my beautiful daughter Charlotte from my hands? I will never give Charlotte to you!”
Tabitha didn't respond and kept her head bowed.
“How horrible to even pretend that this child would one day aim for the throne...
I have had enough of dirty court life! We just want a quiet life... just leave me now!”
The mother threw the glass of water on the table at Tabitha. Tabitha didn't avoid it. It struck her head and rolled on the floor.
The mother returned to rubbing the doll's face. Part of its face was exposed and revealed the cotton underneath, most likely worn out from all the previous times the mother had rubbed it with her hand.
Tabitha revealed a sad smile, an expression she would only show in this room in front of her mother.
“Your husband has been killed, that's why you are this way; anyhow, I will be leaving now, but I will come back sooner or later. Until that day, please pray for your daughter-doll's safety.”
The wind blew into the room through the open windows, shaking the curtains. Even though it was early summer, the wind that blew from the lake was chilly.
“A victim of a succession fight?” When Kirche asked it, Percerin nodded.
“Yes, it happened five years ago with the death of the King. He left behind two crown princes. The one on the throne now is the eldest son, Joseph. Miss Charlotte's father, the Duke of Orleans, was the second son.”
“So she really does belong to the royal family.”
“The Duke of Orleans was talented and loved by all and appeared as a qualified ruler in the eyes of the people, even though he had to meet hardships being the second son. Because of this, many people supported the Duke and wanted him to take the throne. The palace was then divided into two factions, launching into an ugly struggle for power.
Finally, the Duke of Orleans was murdered. He was struck in the chest with a poisoned arrow. A person who was nobler than anyone else in this country was killed not by magic, but by a poisoned arrow. The regret and the indignation were unimaginable. However the tragedy was far from over.”
Percerin took a deep breath and continued.
“Next those who made Joseph the King started targeting the Miss. They wanted to stamp out the source of any possible future trouble. These people summoned Madame and the Miss to a banquet in their honor. However they had poisoned the Miss' drink. Madame had realized this, and in order to protect the Miss, drank it herself. A magic which breaks one's mind had been cast on the water. Since then, Madame has been insane.”
Kirche, shocked and at a loss for words, was listening to the butler's confession.
“Since then, the Miss sealed away her words and expressions. Miss Charlotte originally was lively and bright, a different person than she is now. However it is understandable. Anyone who would witness their mother going mad would become like that.
The others, knowing they had failed and in order to protect themselves, sent a royal order to Miss Charlotte. The task was extremely difficult, no one had been able to accomplish it alive.
However the Miss did complete the task and pledged her loyalty to the royal family, to protect them. But Miss Charlotte was still treated coldly by the royal family. Normally this achievement would have been enough to deserve a territory, but instead she was granted the title of Chevalier and was forced to study abroad.
The Madame stayed here at the house, in the current condition she is in.”
Percerin bit his lip with regrets.
“Then...! Whenever the royal family had a difficult task to be done, they asked her to do their dirty work? Her father was killed, her mother was poisoned and driven insane, and she is led and directed by her personal enemies like a beast of burden! I never knew something could be as tragic as this, how people could be so cruel to this level.”
Kirche now realized why Tabitha had remained silent. She had never known the reason why she was given the title of Chevalier was for a task she didn't apply for.
On their travels she had remained staring at the same page in her book.
Her runic name was 'Snowstorm'. Cold wind had been blowing inside her heart and it still hadn't ceased. This cold feeling she felt, Kirche thought, was unimaginable.
“Didn't you say that the Miss introduces herself as Tabitha?”
“Yes.”
“Madame was a very busy person, however, the young Miss kept an open and bright disposition. The young Miss was in fact quite lonely. Madame had gone into the city and had selected a doll especially for the young Miss during her busy schedule. The Miss was very happy and treated it as though it were a sister. Now the doll is in the hands of Madame. Because of the current state of her mind, she believes the doll to be Miss Charlotte.”
Kirche was startled.
“Tabitha. That is the name the young Miss gave to the doll.”
Suddenly the door opened and Tabitha walked in.
The butler bowed, hiding his painful expression and handed her a letter from the royal family.
“These are the instructions from the royal family.”
Tabitha removed the seal after receiving the letter and began to read it casually. When she had finished reading it she nodded lightly.
“When do you intend to begin?”
Tabitha answered as if she was just scheduling a stroll.
“Tomorrow.”
“Understood, I will convey this to the envoys. I wish you safety on your completion of this task.”
The butler bowed solemnly and left the room. Tabitha walked over to Kirche.
“Wait here.”
Kirche shook her head.
“Sorry, I heard everything, I'm also coming.”
“Dangerous.”
“I can't let you go alone.”
Tabitha didn't answer. However she lowered her head lightly.