Betsy is Yurina’s maid who is also in charge of tending to Raynard .
She took a deep breath and began to recount what had transpired
after Yurina left the drawing room .
“After the young lady left, Raynard became wary of us and Mrs .
Lauren . Even though there was absolutely nothing to worry about .
Mrs . Lauren picked out a color that would match his skin and even
commented that the designs that were trendy . ”
It seems that everything was normal until then . The problem
happened right after that .
“Then while Mrs . Lauren was looking through the hat designs for his
outfit…”
“Why are you stopping? What did Mrs . Lauren say?”
Betsy waved her hand as if she had made a mistake .
“She said that Raynard’s eyes looked ominous and that he’d better
hide them if he were to go outside . ”
At that moment, Yurina thought that she must’ve heard Betsy wrong,
so she sharply asked again, “What?”
Betsy clasped her skirt tightly after hearing the reprimanding voice,
“I’ve given Robert explicit orders that if anyone were to mention
Raynard’s eyes in that regard, they would be severely punished . ”
She didn’t expect this to happen . In Yurina’s perspective, Raynard’s
eyes felt like they were her hope but it seems that others don’t think
the same . Just as people feel vague fear when encountering
something unfamiliar, when faced with red eyes for the first time in
their lives, it would definitely make them afraid . It’s for this reason
that they think that red eyes are cursed in the Empire since they
regard red as a sign of a bad omen .
The day Yurina brought Raynard to the mansion, she had ordered
Robert in advance to inform all the servants that they must be
extremely cautious . Thanks to that, there hasn’t been any trouble so
far .
I don’t think Robert would neglect his duties even if Raynard was
someone brought in from the outside .
Yurina asked why Robert had left Mrs . Lauren to say those things,
but Betsy shook her head in response .
“The butler warned her beforehand . When she said that, he had
quickly tried to stop Mrs . Lauren but she refused to listen . ”
According to Betsy, Mrs . Lauren continued to point out Raynard’s
eyes while ignoring Robert’s warnings . Mrs . Lauren even mentioned
that ‘You must always be grateful to the family of Carthia since they
decided to sponsor such an ominous child afterall’ and ‘The young
lady is really kind . ’
At first, Raynard shouted, ‘Shut up’, with a red face to which she
responded with, ‘I wouldn’t have made your clothes if it weren’t for
the Carthia family . ’ He finally lost his temper and ran at her . Robert
and the maids immediately pulled them off of each other but Mrs .
Lauren already had a scratch on the back of her hand .
Betsy continued to recount what happened . While Robert was
escorting Mrs . Lauren to get checked out by the doctor, she
stubbornly stated that she was only saying it on behalf of the Carthia
family . Even though it’s only been a couple of days since Raynard
arrived, he had already called Mrs . Lauren a ‘wicked fox’ and told
her to shut her up .
“After that, Raynard was in a fit of rage and kicked everyone out into
the hall . ”
Betsy didn’t know what was going on inside, so she knew she had to
go in and check . But every time she tried to open the door, he would
scream and throw stuff at her which made her unable to enter .
After understanding the situation, Yurina felt like she was personally
insulted and tightly clenched her fists . She trembled in anger and
she can feel her blood rising to her head . If Mrs . Lauren had done
that in front of her, Yurina would’ve slapped her ugly face instantly .
Did she think that by doing that, she would make a good impression
on me?
They despised those who were weaker than them while they bow
down so easily and wag their tails like dogs in front of the strong .
Mrs . Lauren’s obvious intentions disgusted her . When Yurina heard
of the situation, her heart felt both miserable and angry . How much
worse did Raynard feel as one who had heard such malicious words
directly?
She felt so ashamed that she didn’t have the confidence to look him
in the eye . Yurina breathed a few times to keep her emotions in
check and then shook her head .
“As soon as Mrs . Lauren’s treatment is over, bring her to me . ”
She reached for the doorknob again . The maid tried to stop her in
fright but Yurina ignored her and knocked on the door .
“Ray, it’s me . I’m coming in, ” Yurina declared with a louder voice
and opened the door .
She wasn’t sure whether she should expect a voice or a cry not to
come at this time . Yurina signaled her hands towards the maid who
attempted to go in as well and shut the door behind her .
The living room is currently a disaster . The burgundy carpet was
soaking wet with broken pieces of vases and withered petals on top
of that . She briefly glanced at the mess on the floor then slowly
approached Raynard who was sitting on the couch .
Raynard had his arms wrapped around his knees and buried his face
in it . He curled up even more . He was already small to begin with,
and now he shrank even more .
I’d rather you be angry .
If he shouted a barrage of abuse at Yurina like usual, ‘She insulted
me!’ she would have accepted his anger and would say ‘I’ll make
sure she pays the price for insulting you . ’
‘I asked you not to leave me alone,’ If he had blamed Yurina, she
would’ve apologized to him .
But seeing him shivering like this, she couldn’t find the right words
to say .
“Ray . ”
Yurina decided to say something after thinking it through, then
approached him and took the seat next to him . Raynard buried his
head further but he didn’t shout for her to get out .
“I’m sorry I’m late . ”
“…… . ”
“I’ll make Mrs . Lauren pay a great price for insulting you . So Ray……”
With both of her hands, she carefully lifted his head and the sight
shocked her .
“Why did you do this?”
Raynard’s eyes had several wounds around it which he obviously
scratched with his fingernails . On top of his clear eyelids, his
temples, and even his cheekbones were covered with scabs and red
swellings . Looking at the swollen red wounds that stood out from
his white skin, Yurina frowned .
“Don’t look . ” (Ray)
Raynard covered his eyes with one hand and pushed Yurina with the
other .
“Don’t look . I don’t like it . ”
Hearing his trembling voice, she felt like she swallowed hot stones .
She could feel her throat burning up and tightening and hugged
Raynard’s body on impulse . If you look at him objectively, he is
similar to her physically, but right now, his body felt smaller her
arms .
Yurina hugged his trembling body a little tighter and stroked his back
gently . Raynard stammered and put his arms around her neck . His
crying voice came to her ears vividly .
“You— You lied to me . Saying that these eyes are a blessing from
the Goddess… That I’m gifted . You’re the only one who thinks so,”
he muttered resentfully as he clung desperately to Yurina .
She had a lot of reasons for why she said he was blessed by the
Goddess . Those red eyes are the very symbol, and Dave was able to
prove to him that he was indeed gifted . So she was able to say
those things confidently . Every single word she said was true .
However, even if those words were true, what good does it do? Just
like he said, Yurina is the only one who believes in it . It’s her fault
since she thought it was okay to tell him the truth because it would
be revealed one day in the end .
No matter how hard the servants stopped the bad remarks from
reaching Raynard’s ears, there was no way they could change the
person’s mind . Even if you wrapped bandages around a wound to
hide it, it won’t heal . Someday it would just bleed itself out .
For Raynard, his red eyes were such a scarred wound . Something
like this would’ve happened sooner or later .
“Sorry . ”
In the end, that was all she could say . An apology .
Yurina continued to hold Raynard’s trembling body .
“I told you that I didn’t like that woman . I told you she looked at me
weird . ”
“I’m sorry . It’s all my fault . ”
“That’s why I…… . I told you not to go . ”
Yurina could feel something wet form on her shoulders and she shut
her eyes tightly to hold back her own tears .
I didn’t think it would be this painful for you .
She already knew that he had a rough life . That’s what it is like to be
different from others . How could he have lived a comfortable life
when he grew up with such criticisms even though he hadn’t done
anything . It all happened simply because he possessed red eyes .
Not only that, he also had no one to protect his heart and body from
the harsh waves of the world . He was in such despair that had
reached out to hold Yurina’s hand for the first time, thinking she is
the only one there for him . She had thought that she just needed to
get him on her side and win his heart, she hadn’t felt any
compassion for him back then because she was busy trying to get
used to this strange place, she had neither the time nor the heart to
spare for someone else .
Perhaps Raynard wouldn’t have gotten this hurt as much if she had
done more for him . However, when she saw him sobbing like a child
of their age, she realized it was too late . She must take a little more
care of him .
In this world, at least, since she’s here .
“Sorry . ” (Yurina)
Eventually, she slid her face buried it in his neck and shuddered as
she cried .
“I’m really sorry, Ray . ”
People might laugh at her for being a hypocrite, they might dismiss
it as being the same as pity . In fact, Yurina might not even have the
right to criticize Mrs . Lauren . It was purely for her own self gain
that she brought Raynard here . She only treated him well because
she wanted to gain his favor so he that could protect her in the
future .
If they’re talking about being pure, she could say that Marquis De
Flon, in the original novel, had a purer heart since he decided to
recognize Raynard’s talent and sponsor for him . Even if he was
purchased in the beginning, even if it had not been out of goodwill
but a deal, the Marquis’ intentions were sincere .
Since she is essentially using Raynard to live, to be upset at Mrs .
Lauren for her behaviour would make Yurina a hypocrite .
Still… .
Even if someone pointed out that she is a hypocrite, she still wants
to protect not only his tattered body, but also his wounded heart .
“Ray, ignore that foolish woman . I don’t know where she is but I’m
going to make her pay greatly . Come to think of it, I didn’t like any of
the designs she had . Next time, I’ll bring someone more capable . ”
“……”
“And if anyone disrespects you… Right from the beginning, tell them
honestly ‘The person who brought me is Yurina Carthia . If you
disrespect me, you are disrespecting Yurina . To disregard Yurina is
to disregard the family of Carthia . Would you be willing to risk it?’
and also…”
Yurina softly whispered into his ear, “I do believe your eyes are really
pretty . ”
