Even If You Tear Me Apart - Chapter 32
The chapters are split like this so that the TL can update more consistently over time (✿ ＞◡❛)
Feeling somewhat awkward, Ezekiel quickly changed the subject.
“I never thought I’d actually enjoy doing things like this.”
“Things like what?”
“Repairing the estate, butchering pigs… work like that.”
“Goodness, Lord Ezekiel. Don’t say such frightening things.”
Felicia frowned.
“Outrageous. For a prince to say he enjoys doing menial labor—what an absurd thing to say.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course it is!”
With a snap, Felicia opened her fan and launched into a speech.
“Everyone is born with a role to play, you know. A laborer should live the life of a laborer, and a swineherd should live the life of a swineherd. If you try to step outside of that, you’ll incur the wrath of the gods!”
Étienne shook his head behind her. Ezekiel didn’t refute her, he simply smiled.
“Then I suppose things turned out quite well for me.”
“Excuse me?”
Felicia blinked, her eyes round, as if she couldn’t make sense of it. Ezekiel answered,
“I’m someone dedicated to the gods even before I was born. Whether I become a paladin or a priest, I don’t know—but generally, servants of the gods are expected to do everything themselves. So, I suppose I’m someone well-suited to my assigned role.”
“Well, I never…”
Felicia opened and closed her mouth, dumbfounded. Étienne cut in instead.
“So my little brother truly enjoys mixing mud and patching walls, huh?”
“Yes.”
Ezekiel gave a pleasant smile to Étienne as well.
“To be honest, I’m a little excited about a life of clerical service.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Étienne gave an unreadable smile. Ezekiel was about to say something when Felicia jumped in.
“By the way, Lord Étienne, I have an idea…”
Felicia always seemed eager to share even the smallest things with Étienne. Especially now that her arm was injured, she appeared to lean on him all the more.
As she whispered trivial things to him like secret words between lovers, Ezekiel quietly packed mud into the gaps in the stone wall.
With the hope that someone might spend the winter just a little warmer.
***
There was enough pork to go around for everyone in the castle. Even amid the rain, villagers from the Quilluxia estate came eagerly to receive large chunks of meat.
“It may be a lord’s castle, but everyone certainly comes and goes as they please.”
Felicia said this as she sat before a bowl of pork soup seasoned with pepper and a plate of fried pigskin.
To someone else, it might’ve sounded like a complaint, but it was Felicia’s own form of praise. Fortunately, Iris gave a bashful smile.
“Father gets along well with the vassals. It’s a relief that everyone’s so pleased. Please eat before it gets cold.”
“Hmph.”
Felicia gave Iris a once-over and picked up her spoon. She did seem to look down on Iris in some way, but it wasn’t with disdain.
“Well, I suppose it’s not bad.”
“Felicia.”
Fortunately, Étienne interjected. Felicia wrinkled her nose, then spoke again.
“…I meant, thank you.”
“You should say what you’re thankful for, Felicia.”
Étienne broke in again, smiling. Felicia gripped her spoon tightly, sighed through her nose, and added,
“For letting me rest in your estate… for giving up your room. I really am grateful.”
“Oh my.”
Iris beamed brightly.
“I only did what was right.”
“It’s nice to see you two getting along.”
Étienne smiled at Felicia, and she blushed. Ezekiel also stifled a quiet laugh.
In truth, Ezekiel knew that Felicia felt at least a little sorry for how rudely she’d behaved toward Iris. It was because of something Felicia had said to him that afternoon.
‘Your Highness, I have a dilemma. Would giving Lady Quilluxia a dress of mine be seen as offensive?’
Apparently, the comment she’d made upon arriving—mistaking Iris for a maid—had been bothering her ever since.
Iris had waved it off, saying, ‘It’s fine. I was dressed in a way that could easily cause confusion,’ but such things tend to weigh on the person who made the mistake.
When Ezekiel asked why she was bringing it up to him, Felicia had snapped,
‘Because among the people I know, Your Highness is the most proper and well-mannered!’
Ezekiel had burst into laughter and replied,
‘Lady Arbois, just do whatever you feel is right.’
Still, it seemed the dilemma continued to gnaw at Felicia.
‘If she were a subordinate, giving her a dress or two wouldn’t be a big deal. But that… Lady Quilluxia is the owner of this place, after all.’
Showing courtesy as a guest… was no easy task.
