IDIBC Chapter 5

The Desert’s Rainy Season

God had clearly designated Ricardo as the next emperor through divine oracle. Thus, people predicted that the map of the labyrinth would be in Ricardo’s mind, and believed he would draw it out himself.

After Ricardo, who had inherited the bloodline’s abilities more intensely than anyone else, took the saintess as his companion, he would only need to retrieve the chest containing the key from within the labyrinth for the great temple to unhesitatingly crown him emperor. This was more natural than the morning sun rising from the east.

For the key contained in the chest symbolized the imperial family itself.

But there was one thing they didn’t know. While it was true that Ricardo carried the map of the labyrinth in his mind, this was certainly only after manifesting the abilities of the Rochester bloodline. So everything would only happen after Ricardo left Count Fennel’s estate.

“Yes, of course. Father, I can do well.”

Since Count Fennel had played the kind father, now it was my turn to play the good daughter.

“Just trust me.”

I smiled brightly while inwardly mocking their foolishness. The emperor’s efforts to gain legitimacy he didn’t possess would prove futile, and above all…

The emperor betrays Fennel.

Count Fennel intended to hand over the labyrinth map to Emperor Dermeier to gain great wealth and power, but the emperor, fearing the conspiracy would be exposed, would ultimately have him executed by guillotine.

The man who would soon die left my room wearing an extremely satisfied smile.

After he left, I exhaled deeply and stretched my arms above my head. That boy would leave this count’s estate when he grew about a head taller than me.

Riding leisurely in the Duke of Rochester’s carriage that came to fetch him…

For now, my only hope was that Ricardo would draw the labyrinth map after that time.

Having achieved unexpected success, I personally carried a bag and headed to the east wing where the boy lived. Leaving the west wing, gloomy weather without a trace of clear skies spread before my eyes.

Even though I was merely moving from the west wing to the east wing, it felt like stepping into a new world where I couldn’t see an inch ahead.

Once a year for exactly one month, it was the desert’s rainy season when rain poured as if there were holes in the sky.

****

I had already sensed it from the dresses Sabrina wore, but her taste was truly consistent. Right now, I’m sitting on what could be called a bouquet of flowers masquerading as a bed, looking at Sabrina who is frowning intensely.

“Is that problem so difficult that you have to fold and unfold all ten fingers?”

“Shut up.”

Sabrina, who had narrowly escaped a major crisis with the arithmetic homework I had solved for her recently, was the first to invite me to her room.

“Can I actually learn letters today?”

“I told you I’d teach you after finishing all of this.”

“So you’re saying I can’t learn today.”

Since that day, Sabrina had continuously asked me to help with arithmetic homework under the pretext of teaching me letters.

“If you can’t wait, then solve it all yourself.”

“Sabrina, arithmetic is important. You can’t do arithmetic, right? Then you should consider future math studies completely wrong.”

She scrunched up her face and focused again on folding and unfolding her fingers. It had already been ten days since we started studying together. Count Fennel left the mansion again three days after visiting me.

The writing system wasn’t difficult, so except for a few exceptional readings, most could be learned quickly. I was reading a book Sabrina had borrowed while waiting for her to finish her homework.

“The more I think about it, the more unfair it is.”

“What?”

“This book. The library I went to last time didn’t have such high-quality books.”

The content was the same too.

“That’s because it’s the old library. Honestly, you should be grateful that the head butler even took you to the library.”

“Why? Because I’m an illegitimate child?”

Suddenly, Sabrina’s movement stopped.

“Well, yes. I didn’t necessarily mean to put it so harshly…”

Perhaps because we’d been together for a few days and she’d grown fond of me, Sabrina no longer treated me as carelessly as before. The girl who used to shout to the whole world that I was an illegitimate child, as if worried someone might not know, was no longer there.

I chuckled and flopped down on the bed.

“It’s fine. Being an illegitimate child isn’t exactly a compliment, but honestly, I don’t intend to be hurt by something that isn’t my fault.”

I hadn’t known what those words meant before. Yet every time I heard the word “illegitimate child,” my throat would sting as if I’d been caught stealing someone else’s belongings.

“Still, it’s pretty childish to discriminate against people even with books, not food.”

I expected some sarcastic retort mixed with reproach, but for some reason, Sabrina remained silent.

Looking at her, I casually asked about Ricardo, whom I’d been curious about.

“About that boy in the east wing.”

“Right, that boy you like?”

“Why do you say it like that?”

My heart suddenly skipped a beat and I ended up shouting much louder than usual.

“If you don’t even like him, why did you go there? The east wing isn’t any better than the west wing.”

“Well… because I was scared of being alone.”

The lie I made up seemed quite convincing, as Sabrina didn’t respond much this time either.

“Anyway, why doesn’t that boy have a name?”

Sabrina tapped her lips with a high-quality pencil that didn’t leave charcoal marks on her hands.

“I don’t know the exact details, but the boy can’t remember.”

“He can’t remember?”

Was there some accident during Count Fennel’s kidnapping of Ricardo? If not, the boy was definitely pretending to have lost his memory. My head grew complex with a headache, but I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

I judged that the more complex the problem, the better to focus on simple goals.

“No, I don’t know if he lost his memory, but what’s certain is that he doesn’t talk about his past.”

So Ricardo was deliberately hiding his identity… Perhaps even Duke Rochester might be someone who could harm Ricardo.

But fortunately, the Ricardo I met again in the empire was definitely the heir to the ducal house. That meant he wouldn’t suffer great harm from the duke.

“Are you done?”

Having organized my thoughts to some extent, I jumped up and approached her, picking up the test paper. Tsk, nothing was correct.

“Fr-fractions are difficult.”

“You were quick to tell me I should know fractions.”

Glancing at the time, it was almost time for the tutor in charge of arithmetic to arrive. I hurriedly corrected the answers and explained them, but whether Sabrina understood was questionable.

“I deliberately got five wrong. We can’t arouse suspicion.”

“Fi-five whole problems?”

Just then, without warning, the door burst open and a woman who looked strict at first glance entered. Because she came earlier than usual, I missed the chance to leave the room. I stepped aside and paid my respects to the teacher.

“You have a guest.”

Naturally, I waited for Sabrina to introduce me, but no words came. When I glanced over, I saw a pale face.

“I am Lienne Rowe Fennel.”

When I stepped forward to introduce myself, surprise briefly crossed the teacher’s face. But that emotion soon turned to displeasure. It was a familiar reaction.

Even so, I was still a Fennel. When I gave my name first, she should have properly returned at least a small greeting. But the teacher immediately averted her gaze from me and stood in front of Sabrina.

“Please leave now.”

While it was natural for me to be looked down upon by the people of this household, there was no reason I should be treated that way by outsiders too.

“No, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’d like to observe the lesson.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Surely you wouldn’t say that I can’t even observe a lesson just because I’m an illegitimate child?”

I cut off the teacher’s words. I couldn’t bring myself to leave, seeing Sabrina trembling since earlier. My instincts were screaming that I shouldn’t leave that woman alone with Sabrina.

“As you know, I don’t have a teacher yet.”

The teacher, with a face full of things to say, turned and sat down, beginning to grade Sabrina’s test paper. Doubt briefly appeared on the teacher’s face as she graded. I was thinking that I should be more careful about controlling the number of wrong answers in the future when I heard rustling sounds.

Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw Sabrina getting up from her seat and lifting up her skirt hem. And what I saw was something I couldn’t believe even seeing with my own eyes.

I rushed to Sabrina and carefully examined her calves.

“What is this? Were you beaten?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Why?”

“For getting them wrong.”

I glared at the teacher. But she only held her head high and looked down at me.

“Beaten for getting them wrong? Explain exactly.”

My voice rose slightly without me realizing it.

“I get hit with a switch for each wrong answer. That’s the rule.”

“Rule?”

Those who became tutors were predetermined. Most were unmarried women from baron families. Occasionally there were those from viscount families who became teachers, but unless their circumstances were very difficult, there were hardly any women who became teachers.

But in a society with a clear class system, how could a woman from a baron family lay hands on the body of a count’s daughter?

(TL: 회초리 → switch (thin stick/rod used for corporal punishment, especially in school or at home), can also be cane)