I Became the Substitute for the Runaway Heroine - Chapter 77

Where did it all go wrong?

The Dowager Marchioness’s face grew dark. Gawain was a scholar, a man far removed from the world of cunning. When she had bestowed the title of Marquis upon him, he had shown no greed for power. He possessed a stubbornness that she felt was sufficient to guard the Key of Obelon. That was why she had passed the title to him, a man of lower noble birth.

He causes nothing but trouble now. What am I to do with him?

He had assaulted a merchant while out on patrol in the territory and had reportedly molested a woman holding an infant. When the knights barely managed to stop him from threatening to throw the crying baby from the woman’s arms, they claimed they saw the color of his eyes change.

This is a grave matter.

If he was bold enough to lay a hand on a guest visiting the Dowager Marchioness, he would only become more reckless from here on out. However, even if she were to depose Gawain from his position, there was no suitable person to fill the void. The Marquis of Belmonte had to be a person capable of enduring the fate of guarding the Key of Obelon.

One person came to mind, but the Dowager Marchioness shook her head to clear the thought.

Caesar will not do.

Caesar had no interest in restoring the glory of Belmonte. He did not even want the title of Marquis, so what was the use?

I might as well pass the title to Odette, who possesses the power of the Great Saintess.

Isabelle had the ability to sense divine power. That was why she had recognized Odette immediately when they met in Raon Town. She knew Odette possessed a divine power unlike that of an ordinary saintess. Odette’s power had grown much stronger since their meeting in Raon Town. She even seemed to have learned how to regulate and hide it perfectly.

However, Odette had unleashed that power in the process of throwing Gawain across the room.

It was not just as fast as lightning; it was a power as strong as an explosion.

Seeing Odette perform a Southern-style greeting reminded Isabelle of Herabrua. Come to think of it, they looked very much alike. According to her informants, Caesar was tailing Odette. He was watching her from a distance without approaching. She did not know why he was acting that way, but one thing was certain.

He does not take after his father.

Dmitri Mais had snatched Grace away in an instant. He had moved so fast that no one had time to stop him. Was it because of that impulsive nature that he had left the world so early? Isabelle touched the pendant containing Grace’s portrait and spoke.

“Tell Odette to have breakfast with me tomorrow morning. I feel I must apologize to her personally.”

Early the next morning, the Dowager Marchioness greeted Odette warmly as she entered the dining room. After formal greetings were exchanged, the Dowager Marchioness spoke.

“The Marquis wishes to seek your forgiveness publicly. However, you are under no obligation to forgive him. Whether or not to grant forgiveness is entirely up to the victim.”

She meant that if Odette had no intention of forgiving him, she would not even bother calling the Marquis to this table. The Dowager Marchioness was a truly fair person. She was being cautious about even placing the victim and the perpetrator in the same room.

I have no particular desire to see the Marquis again, but I need to check something.

The Marquis’s face had turned black, his mouth had torn open, and he had transformed into a monster. He had also emitted a terrible stench. No one else seemed to be aware of this. Although Helena had told her many details about the Dowager Marchioness’s late daughter, she had never mentioned the Marquis’s appearance or the smell.

If only Odette could see those things and smell that odor, it might be because of her divine power.

Perhaps my power allows me to distinguish between good and evil?

She felt she had to see the Marquis once more to be sure. Odette turned to the Dowager Marchioness.

“Anyone can make a mistake, so I would like to give the Marquis a chance.”

“You are very generous.”

The Dowager Marchioness looked at Odette with a satisfied expression before turning to Helena. “Bring the Marquis.”

“Yes, Dowager Marchioness.”

A moment later, an attendant entered the dining room to announce that the Marquis would arrive shortly. Odette watched the entrance, her body tense. But the moment the Marquis appeared, Odette gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

My goodness, he cannot even walk?

The Marquis was sitting in a wheelchair, and half of his face was covered in dark bruises. His arms and legs were wrapped tightly in bandages, looking as if every bone had been broken.

What on earth did I do to him?

The Marquis of Belmonte entered the dining room in his wheelchair with the help of a butler. It was a miracle he was even alive. Sitting there seemed to be a form of torture for him, and his face was so contorted with pain that he looked like a dried pufferfish.

The real problem was the smell of rotting corpses emanating from him.

That horrific stench is still there.

No one else seemed to notice the odor coming from the Marquis. The butler pushing the wheelchair showed no sign of smelling a stench that felt like it could rot one’s nose. At least the Marquis’s face looked normal today; it was not twisted like a monster.

Once the wheelchair came to a stop, the Marquis spoke to Odette.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I was not trying to molested you. I am a man who is scheduled to marry Her Highness the Princess.”

He seemed to be saying this specifically for the Dowager Marchioness to hear. He emphasized the part about being scheduled to marry the Princess. He even projected strength in his voice, acting as if he was the one who deserved an apology.

“I grabbed your arm only because you were treating me with such loathing. Furthermore, I wish to hear your apology for assaulting me.”

“Gawain!”

The Dowager Marchioness called his name in a solemn, rebuking voice. She had created this opportunity for him to be forgiven, yet he was scolding Odette instead.

“Grandmother, look at that woman’s face. She is looking at me as if I am something disgusting!”

“Ugh!”

No matter how hard she tried to hold it back, the stench made her nauseous. As she struggled to endure it, tears welled up in her eyes. Seeing this, the Dowager Marchioness raised her voice.

“Gawain! Did I not tell you that you would deeply regret it if you did not earn her forgiveness here?”

“Grandmother, do not just interrogate me. You should investigate this woman. Her appearing before your carriage in Raon Town was suspicious, and her coming all the way here is strange as well.”

“I invited her.”

“Why did you invite such a woman! She possesses a bizarre power that allows her to throw me without even touching me.”

The Marchioness waved her hand, clearly uninterested in hearing any more of the Marquis’s excuses.

“Nonsense! To think you still haven’t reflected on your actions. Oliver? Take the Marquis back to his room and inform the Council of Elders. Since the Marquis is in poor health and unable to perform his duties for the time being, I will be making the important decisions in his stead!”

“Are you saying you are going to lock me up and take my authority as the head of the family? This is unfair!”

“The one who holds the Key of Obelon is the true master of Belmonte. You must follow my decision.”

The Marchioness was as sharp as a well-honed blade as she cornered the Marquis. It almost seemed as if she had arranged this meeting specifically to suspend the Marquis’s authority.

“Oliver, what are you doing?”

“Yes, my Lady.”

The butler pushed the wheelchair containing the Marquis of Belmonte out of the dining room with force. Once silence returned, the Marchioness spoke to Odette with an apologetic expression.

“I am truly sorry for showing you such a shameful display. I apologize on his behalf.”

“No, it is fine.”

Odette lowered the handkerchief she had been using to cover her nose.

What was that smell coming from the Marquis?

She did not know if it was because her strengthening divine power allowed her to distinguish good from evil, or if the Marquis was under some strange dark sorcery. What was certain was that she could see and smell things that others could not.

The Dowager Marchioness suggested they eat outdoors and led her to the garden. She seemed to want a walk to calm the anger the Marquis had stirred within her. The Southern wind, said to be warm all year round, was not very humid. It was a wind blowing from the sea, yet it was surprisingly dry and soft. Perhaps it was because the various trees, fruit trees, roses, and wildflowers planted near the Belmonte estate absorbed the moisture and released only fresh air.

After walking in silence for a long while, the Dowager Marchioness calmed her emotions and spoke quietly.

“I offered to help you, young lady, but it seems I am the one receiving help instead.”

Support I Became the Substitute for the Runaway Heroine