Chapter 10: "A Slave To Loyalty"
I squeezed the damp cleaning cloth and continued to wipe the polished wooden floor of the dining hall.
Wipe wipe.
I look up to coincidentally see Karter pass by, a stack of books balancing in his arms.
Dia thinks back to the conversation the two had after leaving the kitchen earlier.
- - -
"Thank you again... for helping Rome and Lillia." He seemed reluctant to say it, but he's trying.
"I couldn't just stand by and watch."
That is exactly what I would've done if it wasn't for the sub-event. I look away guiltily.
"I noticed how everyone else just stood and watched me struggle." I try to avert the topic, "No one spared me a glance."
When they did, they looked away as if they saw nothing. However, I cannot deny I was just like them. I could understand if their reason was because it would be difficult for them or they did not have the ability. Maybe they were helpless themselves. But no, they had a good physique compared to this pitiful body of mine.
I then remembered what Rome told me.
"The kids told me something about the hierarchy of servants," I turn to meet Karter's eyes, "about the line between children and adults."
Karter narrows his eyes. "And?"
"Who made such a ridiculous rule?" I frown. Karter, leaning on the wall with arms crossed, straightens his back. "Why does it matter? You doted on that rule."
"What?"
Karter reluctantly continues. "You abused that belief. You treated Lillia, Rome, and Heril coldly because they were younger than you." His voice cracks as he lists the things Dia did, it sounds almost like a plea.
"When Lillia was sick, you left her alone without telling me or Rome," he swallows the lump in his throat before continuing, "When you were sick, she took care of you all day. You also ordered Rome around to do your job, even the simplest of tasks. When Heril needed your help with a task she couldn't understand, you shrugged her away."
All I could do was stare at him in disbelief. His anger is reasonable, but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth how his disappointment was taken out on me. I did not have a choice but to accept the fact that this damn body did all those things.
"I know the older maids treat you unfairly, but the ones younger than you were being treated unfairly too. You've changed, Dia." His eyes waver as he looks at her. "You used to be so nice."
I felt pity for him. His sincerity is undeniable.
"I'm sorry." I instinctively blurted out an apology.
He stumbles back, stunned, "Since when did you care so much about stuff like apologies? Who are you?"
This is just absurd. Knowing when to apologize is a basic human decency.
"I'll change, Karter. I might even end this hierarchy madness." I let out a haughty scorn.
"I doubt that," he says but his expression says so otherwise. A part of him somehow believes that Dia will change and influence this house.
"This hierarchy thing... it is about how the young cannot ask for help from anyone older than them, am I wrong?" I ask.
Karter looks around, just realizing how it is a dangerous conversation to be having in the hallway. "Yes? Unless the older one offers their help first."
I click my tongue, "Ridiculous."
Karter looks at me, still astonished. "You...what happened to you?" He glares at me for the nth time,
In the midst of the silence, I stare back straight into his eyes. This makes him frown even more.
"You are not Dia."
This time, it wasn't a question of doubt. It was a certainty.
As expected from him.
Karter. One of the supporting characters in
He is a wizard who willingly became Dia's sword and shield. All I can say is that this guy is not a threat to Dia. He was her most loyal and likely only ally. He was loyal. Too loyal for a matter of fact. And that undying loyalty led to his unfortunate fate.
Truly tragic.
I sighed.
It was never mentioned in the novel that Karter was also once a servant in this residence, so I never expected to meet him here. I am still uncertain whether it is a good thing or not. He may be loyal to Dia, but I am not the Dia he devoted his life to in the novel.
"You can blabber all you want. If I'm not Dia, then who am I?"
He looks at me. He is certain but still, he knows his claim seemed baseless and illogical.
"Even if I'm an imposter, I am kinder than the Dia you know, no?"
"..."
Still skeptical, Karter didn't say anything back but just gave a slight nod.
- - -
Karter...
I wonder what I should do with him. Should I change his fate too? Could he be the 'certain person' I had to save? It would make sense if it was him, considering how pitiful he lived from devoting his life to a villainess. Maybe she wanted to save her only ally?
"..."
I shouldn't worry about him for now, I have enough on my plate just thinking about my fate.
So about that hierarchy...
I should start by treating the younger ones well. The older ones can be dealt with the help of a friend later on. Since I neither have the power nor authority, I just have to use someone who does.
I won't be seeing you for a while, my goddess Eldina.
- - -
Karter's POV
What happened to Dia?
The Dia I know turns a blind eye. She was selfish, careless, and easy to read. But the Dia I met earlier today had eyes that had thoughts I could not comprehend; I couldn't read her expressions either.
And as if she was possessed by someone else, her gestures were nothing like before. She even wore a magenta ribbon to tie her hair,
but Dia hates magenta.
She disliked the color of her very own eyes. She also hates wearing any makeup because she finds it itchy. It could be just a part of her 'I've changed' persona. However, Dia never once held eye contact with me, but earlier she barely looked away. The change in her gaze bothers me.
But it wasn't bad. It's as if an angel heard my prayers and magically transformed Dia into a sane person.
"Brother Karter?" I hear a small voice call me from behind. It was Lillia, looking worried. "Is everything alright?" Rome, next to her, asks.
Such sweet kids.
I gave the two a head pat and raised a reassuring smile.
"Of course..."
Maybe this change may turn out as a good thing...