Chapter 22: Aberration

“Father, are… you alright?”

On the way back to Campbell City, Campbell seemed somewhat distracted.

Even when faced with Laira’s concern, he acted as if he hadn’t heard.

“You… aren’t coughing?”

She asked tentatively, unable to understand why her father had suddenly changed like that.

He was even starting to become somewhat unfamiliar.

Although she had vaguely noticed this back in Matthews Territory.

“…Laira, do you want me to live?”

“Of course, but… why do you ask?”

“Nothing. Forget it.”

With only these few words exchanged between father and daughter, they didn’t speak again until Campbell City.

The atmosphere was eerily silent.

After a long time, the carriage stopped in front of Campbell Castle.

Campbell walked straight down from the carriage.

“Father, wait for me…”

Laira also seemed anxious as he left.

She hurriedly got off the carriage and chased after him.

Ahead of them was Butler Lockbane, who was directing the servants’ work.

He noticed the two, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.

“Lord Campbell, and Miss Laira. Welcome back.”

But Campbell ignored him and walked into the castle on his own.

Laira timidly nodded to him and immediately followed.

She mustered her courage, wanting to ask her father why he had suddenly become like this.

Just as she was about to catch up to Campbell, a door-closing sound blocked her outside.

Laira stood outside the door, silent for a long time.

She raised her hand, intending to knock on the door.

But in the end, she lowered her hand.

“Father, please rest well.”

With only this sentence, she left.

At night, heavy rain fell over Campbell City.

Amid a series of thunder and lightning, Laira suddenly woke up.

She had a dream.

She dreamed that her father had turned into a monster.

It broke into a vassal’s home, brutally killed them, and even devoured the corpse.

It looked at her like that, its pupils turning blood-red.

Smiling hideously.

“Why… did I have such a dream?”

She sat up, covering her eyes with her hands.

Perhaps, it was just a dream.

A sudden bolt of lightning struck, briefly illuminating the entire Campbell Castle as if it were daylight.

“Father…”

Somehow, Laira suddenly had a bad premonition.

She quietly got out of bed, walked to Viscount Campbell’s room, and pressed her ear against the door to listen.

But all she heard was the pattering of rain.

“No, I must be overthinking…”

“Father, he must be just too tired.”

After a slight creak of the door, Laira entered her father’s room.

The window was open, rainwater seeping into the room. The huge bed was empty.

“No… this can’t be real…”

She instinctively stepped back until something cold blocked her way.

A faint smell of blood mixed with the scent of rain suddenly appeared.

Laira looked back. A pair of crimson pupils were staring at her.

Another flash of lightning fell, briefly illuminating everything in the room.

“…Father…”

“Why did you come to my room?”

“I…”

Faced with Campbell’s approach, Laira’s heart pounded wildly as she kept retreating.

“I’m sorry!”

Finally unable to bear the pressure, she quickly dodged past him and ran out.

She covered her mouth and cried, afraid to make too much noise.

She ran back to her room, locked the door, and only gradually calmed down.

The pattering rain continued, but Laira couldn’t fall asleep at all.

The next morning, a soft knock reached Laira’s ears.

“Miss Laira, please come out. It’s time for breakfast. Lord Campbell and the others are waiting for you.”

But she only glanced sideways at the door, not intending to answer, let alone go out.

“Miss Laira?”

The soft knock sounded again.

“Leave, Lockbane. I have no appetite.”

The knocking stopped. The master and servant both tacitly fell silent.

“Miss Laira, do you have something on your mind? Perhaps I can help you.”

He paused.

“But, you’ll have to open the door first.”

After a long while.

“Lockbane, are you still there?”

“I am.”

Then a creak sounded as the door slowly opened.

Laira’s eyes were swollen and red, tear stains clearly visible on the corners. Her hair was disheveled, and even Lockbane was startled at the first sight of her.

“You… how did you become like this?”

“Lockbane, I really don’t know what to do…”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her eyes.

Lockbane half-crouched and gently embraced her.

“If there is anything I can do for you, it would be my honor.”

Feeling Lockbane’s warm embrace, Laira gradually calmed down.

“A person I know best… he suddenly changed, became so unfamiliar, became like someone else…”

“This feeling makes me terrified, makes me want to run away.”

“What… should I do?”

Lockbane gently patted Laira’s back, soothing her.

“Perhaps your fear is just a dream. Only when you wake up will you realize it’s false.”

“A dream?”

Laira looked at Lockbane in confusion.

“Yes, just treat it as a dream, even if it’s reality. Letting things take their course might be the best choice.”

“But don’t worry. No matter what, I will support you from behind.”

She lowered her head, thinking about Lockbane’s words.

He was right. That was just her dream. What did it prove?

Maybe her father was just too tired, and she was overthinking.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t be so willful. I’m sorry.”

“Then, Miss Laira, do you still have no appetite?”

Lockbane stood up and smiled gently at Laira.

“I’ll come over. Don’t leave… okay?”

“Then I’ll wait for you.”

Soon, under Lockbane’s guidance, Laira arrived at the dining room.

Campbell was sitting in the seat facing the door. He nodded slightly at Lockbane.

Lockbane bowed.

“Then, Miss Laira, I’ll take my leave.”

“…Mm.”

She kept her head down, afraid to look at her father. She was terrified of seeing those blood-red pupils again.

“What’s wrong, Laira? Why are you looking down? Come over quickly, the food is getting cold?”

Finally, Campbell spoke first.

“Huh?”

But this made Laira, who had already mentally prepared herself, freeze for a moment. Her father didn’t seem as cold as yesterday.

And that familiar way of speaking…

Was she really overthinking?

She mustered her courage and looked toward her father’s eyes.

They were the familiar amber eyes as before.

It seemed, as Lockbane said, what happened last night was just a dream.

Thinking this, Laira couldn’t help but well up with tears.

She ran forward and hugged Viscount Campbell.

“Thank goodness! You’re still the same you!”

Campbell also looked helpless.

“Really… you’re this old and still acting spoiled.”

“Today, sit next to me. But only for today, okay?”

“Oh, right.”

Campbell lifted Laira to sit beside him and gently clapped his hands.

A boy covered in blood and filth was brought up by two servants.

“Laira, this is the butler I’ve picked out for you. His name is Rien.”

“You… this is?”

Laira looked at the boy, frozen on the spot.

“This child’s entire family was killed last night. Only he survived. I took pity on him and brought him back.”

Laira suddenly felt that something was wrong, but just as she was about to leave, a large hand pressed down on her shoulder.

“You said you wanted me to live, didn’t you?”

Following the sound, she looked up. Those pupils gradually turned blood-red.

“My… precious daughter…”