The Devil Who Breaks My Neck

cloth was revealed underneath it.
Ezekiel’s hand snatched the cloth as if snatching a precious object.

 

“Ah…”

 

The place where the man’s crazy eyes were fixed was an embroidery located in the center of the cloth.
The man slowly stroked the temple pattern engraved with the lily pattern, held the cloth tightly, and called his wife’s name.

 

“Herace.”

 

****

 

“Ah…… oh dear.”

 

Miguel sighed deeply as he sat on the couch eating cookies.
At the sound, Charlotte, who sat in front of the dressing table and looked at the newly bought necklace, turned her head.

 

“What’s wrong, Miguel?”

 

“The Duchess could be back.”

 

“…… what?”

 

Charlotte threw her necklace away and jumped up.
She ran to the couch and grabbed her son hard on the shoulder.
Her trembling pupils showed how frightened she was.

 

“Don’t worry, mother.
I’ll protect you for the time being.”

 

Miguel tapped his mother’s hand on his shoulder and said cheerfully.
But Charlotte groaned, touching her forehead as if she was shocked.

 

“Ah…”

 

“I feel sad without my mother.
So you can stay here for a while.”

 

Charlotte shook off the crumbs of the cookie and raised her eyes to her son, who spoke calmly.
A sharp voice suddenly popped out as if it were a seizure.

 

“Shut up, you monster!”

 

“Oh, my.
You can’t say ‘shut up’ to your son.
You can’t say things like that.
That’s a vulgar word used by people from the bottom of the society like my mother.”

 

“How long are you going to play with me? Ezekiel, and you…… You, too!”

 

Miguel smiled at his mother’s scream and grabbed her mother’s finger pointing at him with his small hand and pulled it hard.
Then Charlotte’s body, who was standing, moved and her knees bent in an instant.
Miguel looked down at his mother kneeling down below him and whispered in her ear.

 

“Then leave now.”

 

“What? What?”

 

“I won’t stop you.
If you want to leave, go ahead.
As promised, my father will take care of you with a lot of gold.”

 

The child’s voice, which became lower, was still bright and sparkled with innocence peculiar to that age.
However, Charlotte shook her son’s hand away with a blue face as if she had heard a scary story.

 

“No!”

 

With her hands wrapped around her face, she shook her head roughly. No, I don’t like that.
That’s not enough.
Why do they have to take what’s mine?

 

“Then what do you want me to do? My mother is too fickle.
Is this also because of that humble background?”

 

“No! I am a noble Duchess! Your mother!”

 

“…….”

 

“I gave birth to you, the successor.
So I must have not only gold but also everything of this castle!”

 

Charlotte felt strangely comfortable after spitting out the injustice done on her. Yeah, I’ll take everything what’s supposed to be mine.

 

She buried her face in her son’s lap as the trembling body subsided.
Then Miguel picked up the same kind of cookie as before and put it down and said as if it was annoying.

 

“Ha… I’m tired of trying to eat the same thing again and again.
Isn’t it time to change it?”

 

****

 

Winter has come.
It hasn’t been long since the fallen leaves fell, but the days of snowing have become frequent.

 

“Try this.
One of the village believers brought it, but the jam inside is quite sweet.”

 

“Thank you for always taking care of me.”

 

“What are you thanking me for? There’s a lot left.
Erzen, you should eat a lot, too.”

 

Despite the cold weather, the temple life of Herace, Erzen, and Anna was smooth.
Yulina openly took care of them, and Dianna, the representative of the temple, often visited and offered firewood and food to them to pray for Goddess’s protection.
Other priestesses also adored young Erzen and gave him snacks, so the group was having a warmer winter than ever.

 

Of course, not everyone in the temple was kind to Herace’s party.
Wherever she went, there were times when she didn’t know why people looked at her with scornful eyes.
Especially, apprentice priestess Rizbelle.
She always looked at Herace’s party with discontented eyes.

 

“We already don’t have enough food, but we still have to do charity…… They have no shame.”

 

“Rizbelle!”

 

It was the same now.
Rizbelle murmured more irritably by Yulina’s side, looking at the bread basket.
Yulina quickly scolded her, but Erzen, who who was smiling before the words came out, hid behind Herace.

 

“I’m sorry.
We shouldn’t have…….”

 

“No, Lady Herace.
Apologise to her, Rizbelle.”

 

“No! Hmph! So annoying.”

 

“Hey, you! I’m sorry.
I’ve been raising her since she was young, so she is unusually rude.”

 

Yulina hurriedly apologised while looking at Rizbelle, who was disappearing with big strides, as if she was angry.
It was Yulina who took care of them in the first place.
But seeing her apologising, Herace, who was terribly sorry, shook her head in a hurry.

 

“No, Priestess.
We’re fine.”

 

“I guess it’s because it’s a sensitive time.
I’ll scold her later, so don’t keep it in mind.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then I’ll go.
The weather is cold, so don’t try to save too much firewood…….Erzen, don’t play outside too much.
I’m very worried that you’ll fly away because of the strong wind.”

 

Erzen, who had been scared, nodded at Yulina’s friendly words and stretched out his arms as if to ask Herace to hug him.
And as soon as he was in his mother’s arms, he put his little lips on Yulina’s cheek.

 

“Thank you, Priestess Yulina.”

 

Erzen, who thanked her with a kiss, hid his face in his mother’s arms as if he was embarrassed.
Yulina and Herace burst out laughing at the child’s cute behaviour and said goodbye to each other pleasantly.