Karada wo Ubawareta Watashi to, Madoushi no Papa - Chapter 44

Interlude: Brother of the villainess’ entourage ①

From the time I began to have awareness of the things around me, I, Albano Orcus have recognised people through colour. Of course, I can visually perceive things like hair colour and eye colour, but more than that, to be able to judge a person’s true essence by their colour would be a more accurate description.

I had thought that anyone could perceive these colours. That was why I had talked about it. But when I did that, Mother, Father and Brother were all perplexed. 

Day by day the once warm colours, warped as they conversed with me. Their change in colour, I realised in time, was the change in the feelings that others around me had towards me. 

Mother, Father and Brother, had judged what I said as lies, and were perplexed by my words. The servants, on the surface, thought that I was a strange child, but I knew that they were laughing at me behind my back. 

And that was when I realised, that the colours were not something others could see. 

And so, I pretended that I couldn’t see them. 

Even if I could see a person’s personality, or what they may be trying to instigate and try to warn my family about them, I would be dismissed if I didn’t have solid proof.

The colour of the person’s soul, is proof enough for me about their personality, but my family would not believe me. It can’t be helped since they cannot see it. That was why I would only inform them, only when I had solid evidence.  

Seeing as how I could sometimes provide information, and how I did not act like a child, it seemed like my parents thought of me as a slightly creepy, though capable child. Although it was not that they had not loved me, they were also creeped out by me. 

And probably due to jealousy towards my parents praising my excellence, Brother’s feelings towards me changed as we grew up. Although he had loved me as a brother, he did not want me to perform, and take his place as heir to the house. Even though I didn’t want the status of being a Count. 

My sister, Nenedelia, was born, and the family showered her with love. I had not concerned myself with her much. The reason for that is that I had not thought that Nenedelia, who was attached to Brother, would like me. 

However, since Nenedelia and I were close in age, we would attend tea parties together. 

―― And in attending tea parties with Nenedelia, I met a beautiful red that drew my interest. She had beautiful red hair, water-blue eyes, and was a strong-willed lady.  ―― Bella Kuishuin. The only daughter of the Duke’s house. 

Though she had strong will in her eyes, and spoke commandingly―― Her soul was a pure red. She was probably straightforward at the core, her colour and form were unwavering. She was there just establishing her presence. 

To Bella-sama, her selfishness, and her importance―― all came naturally to her. Not caring about the state around her, as though it was natural, she had an unbreakable will. 

Although Bella-sama was a selfish lady, she was not hated for it. She would speak her mind―― it might also be because she couldn’t read the room, she was just straightforward. 

I was attracted to this beautiful red. 

For children, the colour of their souls can change greatly as they mature. Their tempo might change, or the colour might change―― That was what I had learnt from observing my surroundings up until now. 

Bella-sama’s beautiful colour as well….., might not be as pretty after she grows up. But this red that has fascinated me, should stay like that forever. I want to be able to see it forever. That was what I thought. That was the reason I wanted to get along with Bella-sama’s brother.

Something happened one day. 

When I met Nenedelia, who I had not seen for a few days, the colour of her soul was different. Her colour and form were warped. It had taken over Nenedelia’s original colour, and tried to pose as Nenedelia. 

「 ― ― Who are you? You’re not Nenedelia 」

In that instant, she had a surprised look, and Nenedelia’s colours returned. 

「 Al-niisama!! Al-niisama, Al-niisamaaaa 」

「 It’s actually Nenedelia this time. What was that? 」

「 I don’t know. My body was taken, all of a sudden!! No one noticed it wasn’t …..me!! Al-niisama!!」

Nenedelia cried her eyes out. 

When I questioned her, a few days ago, out of the blue, someone took over her body and chased her out. It was a shocking discovery. I knew since I could see the colours, but to the rest who can’t, they didn’t know….. But it was a different person inside at the end of the day, you would think that they would know from her mannerism and speech, but it seems like people put more emphasis on appearance. 

It was from then on that I got along with my estranged sister, Nenedelia. Nenedelia also became colder to others since they didn’t notice. Thinking that I was responsible for her change, my parents and Brother questioned me harshly which was quite troubling. 

Still, I should smooth things over considering my life from now on. 

「 Nenedelia, it can’t be helped that nobody noticed when you were not yourself. It would be easier for you if you showed affection and get along with everyone rather than being cold 」

「 But….. They didn’t notice!! Only Al-niisama did!! 」

「 ….. I can see something like colours from a person 」

「 Colour? 」

「 Yeah. And from a person’s colour, somehow, I can see their personality or soul. This is a secret between us. That “Nenedelia” looked different from Nenedelia 」

It didn’t matter if she did not believe me, or said that I was a liar. We were already estranged. 

That was what I thought, but Nenedelia with glittering eyes said 「 So that’s why….. Al-niisama is amazing 」

Nenedelia accepted me after having experienced her body being taken. It was after that that Nenedelia and I got along. 

….. And more than anything, Nenedelia was a comrade fascinated by Bella-sama. It might have been that we were siblings, that we were fascinated by the same person. Even though Nenedelia couldn’t see her colour, she was fascinated by her straightforwardness. 

That was probably the reason we got along as comrades. 

The two of us were worried, since Bella-sama got sick. And when we go the news that Bella-sama is finally coming to the tea parties again after two years we got the servants to bake a cake to celebrate. 

By the way, since Nenedelia, who was close to Brother, now stuck around me, Brother became more hostile towards me….. Though I wasn’t completely hated since we were family, he seemed to think that I think that I took our parent’s praises and the role of the beloved brother. 

And when we went to the tea parties where Bella-sama would make her return, Bella-sama was not there. 

No, something that called itself “Bella Kuishuin” was there. However, it was not the Bella-sama I was fascinated by. 

Bella-sama’s straightforward and beautiful pure red, was not present in the girl. It was a distorted soul. It had no colour….. When one becomes an adult, the soul becomes tangled by their intent, which distorts the soul. That soul is an adult’s. She was an adult, but was forcing herself to act like a child. ―― That was why, there was an excessive amount of distortion. 

Bella-sama had a soul that was compatible with fire, the representation of the Kuishuin house, but her soul was different. If anything, it was probably better suited with water. And her feelings toward the children around her, was not one of friendship―― She was just keeping up an appearance. 

Just like how an adult gets along with a child―― it was not an equal relationship, the adult would subconsciously think that they were better, that was her attitude. 

There was not even a vestige of Bella-sama’s straightforward――, and for some reason, she was fixated on me and Nenedelia. Her soul was somewhat disgusting, and had an undiscernible desire. 

「 ―― I am sorry for what I have done 」

Bella-sama apologised for her behaviour until now. Bella-sama’s behaviour was selfish, and she might have been hated for it. ―― But, to completely reject Bella-sama, and to say that it was natural to hate the Bella-sama until now, that attitude was disgusting. 

At least for me, and the silent Nenedelia beside me―― we longed for the strong-willed and straightforward Bella-sama clad in an intense red rather than the girl in front of us who had turned a new leaf to become kinder. 

In the first place, when something happens to cause a change in the colour or form of the soul, vestiges of the past would remain. But nothing remained. 

Something had remained when Nenedelia was taken over by that something. ―― That was probably evidence of the possibility that Nenedelia could return. ―― Then, what about Bella-sama that had nothing remaining? Has Bella-sama….. Completely vanished?

The possibility left a sense of loss and grief. 

The feelings that I had, being fascinated by Bella-sama, were not something I could truly understand. But the grief of losing her, showed just how much attachment I had towards Bella-sama. I did not know if it was something like the love girls like Nenedelia yearn for.

However, Bella-sama is gone.

Nenedelia tried to search for Bella-sama with a sombre look. ―― I was depressed as somewhere in my heart, I came to the conclusion that Bella-sama had vanished. Nenedelia refused to accept it…… There was no proof. Even I did not want Bella-sama to vanish. 

But the chances that we’ll be able to see Bella-sama again were extremely low. 

It had been a year of living depressed. The girl pretending to be Bella-sama had a good reputation. She had become less selfish than before, friendlier and was said to be a model lady. No one realised that she might have made a soul vanish….. It was disgusting. 

When I thought about it, after having met Bella-sama with her beautiful and straightforward soul, I had looked forward to how her soul would change, but since I had been able to see the colours, I had not acted my age. I was only returning to how I was before I met Bella-sama….., Somehow, the world seemed duller than before. 

In the midst of that, I saw it. 

On the way to a gathering of nobles―― Whilst being shaken in the carriage, I saw a girl. A girl with pure white hair and yellow eyes――, I met the eyes of the girl together with a man with the same hair and eye colour that looked to be her father. 

―― Her soul, that colour, I could see Bella-sama from them, I could see Bella-sama’s soul, and my eyes opened wide. 

It was a beautiful straightforward red―― it was unwavering, and as if glowing, let out a warm glow. The intense red might be a little hidden, but it’s not much, and when the time comes, the strength of her core will probably show. 

―― It was a beautiful, straightforward colour. It has changed from before, but it was still more beautiful than any colour I have seen, that straightforwardness, the soul that has fascinated me. 

―― Ah, it was Bella-sama

I did not know the reason, but Bella-sama, has a different appearance. I had been captivated by the beautiful colour, and with the carriage moving, Bella-sama left. 

After having been released from my daze, I told Nenedelia that Bella-sama was here.

Nenedelia got excited. And when I told her how I saw Bella-sama’s soul, and how her body was different, she asked「 So where’s Bella-sama!? 」. But I was unable to answer her question.

「 ….. I was so captivated by Bella-sama’s soul that I couldn’t confirm anything 」

「 Come on!!  Al-niisama becomes so unreliable when Bella-sama is involved!! But I understand how you feel. I would be out of it too if Bella-sama were here. But Al-niisama noticed because you can see souls!! Let’s go look for Bella-sama」

「 Yeah 」

At that time, if I had stopped, we could have known more about the current Bella-sama. Why did I not stop, and chased after her―― Regardless of whether I had been captivated by her soul….. I regret it. 

「 Since we’ve found Bella-sama, let’s have a party!! We’ll bake some cake!! 」

「 Yeah. Let’s celebrate 」

Since Nenedelia had become interested in making sweets, she baked the cake. Though it was not praiseworthy for noble children to be in the kitchen, our parents relented after Nenedelia begged them. I also helped bake it. 

The 『 Celebration for finding Bella-sama(Name by Nenedelia) 』held in my room was, of course, attended only by the two of us. Brother had wanted to join, but we did not allow it.  

It was, after all, a celebration for having found Bella-sama.

We can’t have Brother, who has been getting along with that girl pretending to be Bella-sama, join in. 

Even though Brother glared at me―― knowing that Bella-sama has not vanished, and was somewhere in the world, made me so happy that I ignored Brother’s attitude. 

―― We went to look for Bella-sama after that, but were unable to find her. However, the knowledge that Bella-sama has not vanished and is still alive, gave us strength for when we meet her again.