Read Novel Full Chapter 26, Gina, Pondering
Chapter 26, Gina, Pondering
Translator: Lizz
Calogero would find opportunities to speak with Gina and Sylvia when it was just the two of them.
He would tell myths to the two, who were not particularly devout, as if sharing fairy tales with children, or he would ask them about their likes and happy experiences.
Gina gradually began to let her guard down around Calogero.
In fact, Calogero was highly regarded in the town, even aside from his good looks.
The story of him being rescued after being swept away by the river was well-known. At that time, he reportedly said, ‘I believe my survival was due to God’s mercy, and that drifting here was guided by God,’ and decided to devote himself to serving as a priest.
It seemed more like he was there to preach to the two, rather than to ingratiate himself with Sylvia.
Perhaps…
Gina glanced at Calogero.
It seemed that Calogero adored Sylvia quite a lot.
He praised Sylvia even more than Gina.
He was unusually eager to see Sylvia’s magic, and whenever she fixed something, he went out of his way to commend her with great exaggeration.
Since he and Gina both lavished Sylvia with praise, Sylvia’s confidence had grown to quite an extraordinary degree.
And…
He harbored an intense dislike for Edward.
He often asked Gina about how she and Edward had first met, but Gina couldn’t bring herself to say, ‘Both Sir Edward and I met Lady Sylvia on the roadside’.
After all, Sylvia was a proper Duke’s daughter, and even held a contract to become the Lord of a Fortress. If it were revealed that her escort knight and lady-in-waiting were strangers she had met by chance, Sylvia herself might come across as suspicious.
Initially, Gina had thought to evade the question with such reasoning, but when she told Edward about it, he pointed something out.
“So, what you’re saying is that guy never believed from the start that we were Lady Sylvia’s escort knight and lady-in-waiting.”
With Edward’s curt remark, Gina realized it with a start.
Certainly, commoners aren’t well-informed about the employment practices of nobility.
That being said, even Gina, a commoner herself, wouldn’t think to ask how a lady-in-waiting or an escort knight came to be in their position.
–Of course, they would have met at the estate where they were hired.
“Calogero is…”
“He’s suspicious of us, isn’t he? …Though from our perspective, he’s the one who’s way more suspicious!”
Edward spat out the words with disdain.
Gina, hearing that from Edward, temporarily heightened her wariness toward Calogero. However, Calogero noticed this and apologized.
“…I’ve been overly intrusive with my questioning. It was inappropriate of me as a priest. I’m sorry.”
“…No, it’s not exactly like that…”
Calogero shook his head.
“I acted out of worry, and it led me to overstep. …But I’m genuinely concerned. You and Lady Sylvia are so pure-hearted that I fear you might not notice if you were being taken advantage of.”
Gina realized that Calogero was referring to Edward. It wasn’t Gina and Edward he doubted, but Edward alone.
Seeing Gina rendered speechless, Calogero smiled wryly and said, “Again, I’ve said too much. I’m sorry”, apologizing once more.
Gina was lost.
It wasn’t that Calogero was trying to deceive her.
She had come to understand that he was wary of Edward and genuinely concerned for Sylvia and Gina.
–Thinking that he was purely worried about them made Gina feel apologetic.
After all, it wasn’t just Edward who appeared dubious; Gina herself did as well.
In fact, Edward had a respectable background as a former Knight from a Marquis’ household. Though the details of his being deceived kept it from being widely known, Gina was the one who wasn’t a proper lady-in-waiting. She had been a seamstress who fled from her previous employer.
Gina appealed to Calogero.
“I understand that you are concerned about Lady Sylvia. However, both Sir Edward and I have pledged our loyalty to her and dedicated our lives to her service. That is unmatched. Please understand that we are not serving Lady Sylvia lightly.”
Gina spoke earnestly, leaving Calogero bewildered.
“…I see. I suppose that must be true for you, Miss Gina.”
Calogero’s hesitant tone prompted Gina to press further.
“Sir Edward too! Sir Edward has sworn an oath as a Knight and entered into a contract with Lady Sylvia. He is truly someone who can be trusted.”
The more Gina defended Edward, the more worried Calogero’s expression became.
(Why does he doubt Sir Edward so much…?)
Certainly, Gina had been deceived for a long time, and Sylvia was a pure-hearted young girl.
Yet Edward, who had escorted the seemingly helpless Sylvia all the way to the fortress out of concern, seemed to be quite a good person.
Even for buying necessary daily items, Edward had used his own money. Later, it was revealed that Sylvia had some funds prepared for her, and she tried to give money to Edward. However, he laughed gently and said, ‘I can’t possibly accept personal money from someone of Lady Sylvia’s age’, showing both his generosity and integrity in financial matters.
Gina had followed Sylvia with ulterior motives. She had hoped to escape completely from her master and his family by entering the fortress and becoming Sylvia’s lady-in-waiting.
“…Sir Edward is far more sincere than I am. He is always worried about Lady Sylvia and acts with her well-being in mind, even if it means sacrificing himself.”
Gina said this, but she wasn’t sure if it would reach Calogero.
It seemed to Gina that Calogero had stubbornly arrived at the conclusion that ‘Edward is evil’.