Just like how Ronald had gone through the bird’s corpse, Sophia also knew that this smell came from some sort of decay.
She had noticed it because the smell always got worse whenever she went near kitchens or places with death. Even with this ranch, she had to hold her nose every time she passed by in a carriage because of the strong stench.
“The smell gets worse when it’s related to dead animals.”
That was something she had realized long ago. But it made sense when she thought about it. Not just her—any normal person would find the smell of corpses unpleasant. Still, strange things often happened to Sophia.
While walking in the garden, sometimes a terrible smell would pierce through her numb nose, and when she turned around, a servant behind her would step on a bug. Or a bird would swoop down and fly away with a small rat.
Before something even died, before it became a corpse, it was as if Sophia could already smell it from the future. The smell of death.
Death had a strange smell.
It sneaks in quietly,
like a vague fog covering the city,
before he stabs the heart with a tin candleholder.
The sensitive may smell it in advance—
the scent of mucus left behind
after passion and harmony have burned away.
Every time that happened, Sophia would remember a poem by Autry, The Smell of Death Coming. That poem said there was a scent before death arrived. Had the poet also smelled something like this, just like she did?
It sounded ridiculous, but Sophia couldn’t help but wonder if she had somehow gained a strange ability.
“What exactly are you trying to check?”
Ronald asked in a confused voice. Embarrassed to explain, Sophia cleared her throat and shook her head. Then, she turned to the ranch owner who had been watching them blankly.
“Can I see the cows for a moment? It’s not a big deal. I just want to look at them.”
“Sorry? Oh, yes. Of course!”
Even if a noble suddenly showed up asking to see the cows, no ranch owner would dare say no. Especially since Sophia had asked very politely.
And more so because she had given him money.
The ranch owner quickly tucked the money pouch away and began walking. As they walked, the smell became stronger. He kept turning around from time to time, checking if they were okay.
He led them to where the cows were gathered. Sophia looked at each cow carefully and seriously. Even though the smell from the feed trough was terrible, she showed no sign of hesitation. Then, her steps suddenly stopped in front of one cow. She stared at it quietly and asked in a soft voice,
“When is this cow scheduled to be slaughtered?”
The ranch owner was surprised and bowed deeply as he answered.
“In two days.”
“And that one?”
Again, Sophia had pointed out a cow that was set to be killed. The ranch owner checked to see if someone had marked the cow somehow, but the cows all looked just as dirty as each other.
“In two months,” he answered.
Sophia nodded with a dark expression and turned away, saying that she was done. The ranch owner found her very strange and watched her leave, but soon forgot about the odd noblewoman as he rushed to check the money in his pouch.
But Ronald was different.
Ronald, always half-obsessed with fantasy and magic, was more fascinated than anyone else by what he had just seen. Even more than Sophia.
“What was that?”
Ronald asked breathlessly, as if he had used up all his patience. He had held it in this long—only asking after they arrived and got off the horse. Deep down, he had wanted to yell at her while riding.
“I don’t know.”
Sophia answered curtly. She was surprised and confused too, but at the same time, it felt oddly natural—like facing something she had always known.
“How do you know which one is going to die?”
Even though she answered coldly, Ronald wasn’t affected at all. He followed closely behind, asking again. At first, Sophia ignored him, but she eventually got tired of it and answered.
“By the smell.”
“I knew it! I knew it!”
Ronald jumped in excitement. Then he got even more excited and started talking quickly.
“So it really was because of the bird I found! Anita said the smell in the room came from that bird being hurt and flying into the tree. She said it hadn’t been dead for long, but you must’ve known it was going to die just by the smell.”
Ronald mumbled, “I knew it,” over and over again like he was thrilled. Then suddenly, he stood in front of Sophia and asked with worry in his eyes.
“But what about me? Do I smell like that too?”
“No, Ronald. Please move.”
“Did you check properly? Your nose is numb right now, Sophia. But earlier, how did you…?”
“Ronnie, I’m tired. Can’t we talk about this later?”
Sophia’s voice was desperate. Ronald flinched a little but still looked confused.
“Sophia, aren’t you amazed? Why do you look like that?”
His innocent question annoyed Sophia. She snapped.
“Then what kind of face should I make? You said normal things follow rules, right? Do you see any rules here? I’m just weird. Something’s wrong with me!”
Ronald’s eyes went wide at her sudden outburst, but he still looked like he didn’t understand. He said,
“That’s not being weird, Sophia. It means you’re special! Don’t you get it? Something magical is happening to you!”
Sophia resisted the urge to hit Ronald and walked past him.
But after a few steps, she turned back. Ronald’s face lit up when he heard her footsteps. He thought she had changed her mind and wanted to talk about this magical thing.
But Sophia had only come back to warn him.
She leaned in close and said,
“Don’t tell anyone. Not even Solid.”
“Why not?”
“Well…”
Sophia couldn’t find the words. Her heart was already confused, and now it was frustrated too. Ronald just looked at her with such a pure expression.
“She’d be glad to know, wouldn’t she? And keeping secrets from friends is a bad thing.”
Sophia sighed in disbelief. She didn’t understand how someone who was seventeen could still be this innocent. She had met people like this in high society before, and every time, she felt more baffled than impressed.
“How can someone be this naive?”
But the truth was, it was Ronald’s words that had encouraged her to find out the truth in the first place. Sophia didn’t want to blame him. She clenched her fists and spoke in the calmest voice she could manage.
“I overheard Solid say I was weird. When you were talking with her in Rillum’s sitting room. She already thinks I’m strange. And if she hears about this, how much more would she…”
Sophia hesitated. Would she hate me? That sounded too harsh. After a pause, she found a softer way to say it.
“How much more would she want to stay away from me?”
As soon as she said it, Sophia felt an empty sadness in her chest.
Yes, this was what she feared the most.
That people would realize how strange she was and pull away. Friends and family alike. She would always be alone. Especially after waking up from five months of sleep, Sophia felt that fear more often.
She blinked fast and turned her head, not wanting to show Ronald the most vulnerable part of her heart. Ronald frowned with sympathy.
“Don’t you know? Keeping secrets is what makes people grow apart.”
That sentence suddenly made something boil inside her. The heat rushed to her head. Sophia forgot her desire not to blame him and snapped.
“Don’t say stupid things. There is way more relationships where keeping secrets is the only way to stay close! Don’t you get that?”
Ronald was so surprised that he couldn’t say anything. Sophia then felt guilty for talking seriously to a seventeen-year-old. But even then, she kept going, because the thought of Ronald revealing her secret terrified her.
“Anyway, don’t say a word about this to anyone. Not to Solid or anyone else. If you really want to be a gentleman, then you know how disgraceful it is to go around telling someone else’s secret, right?”
With that, Sophia sharply turned and entered through the mansion’s back door. She didn’t care how Ronald looked at her from behind.
She already had enough trouble just dealing with this strange thing happening to her.
