Chapter 41

Chapter 41

I clenched my fist. “How do we find Carinne? If you still have energy, maybe we can retrace her steps.”

His face clouded and he shook his head. [It’s impossible. There are traces of magic, but none point to who cast the spell.]

“Someone erased them just enough so the caster wouldn’t be identified. Our only lead is the Brienne estate.”

[I guess so.]

“It’s back to square one.”

I felt as if my plans were unraveling. Still, what little I knew was still better than nothing. Carinne’s whereabouts were something I’d have to keep looking into, along with her abilities.

[No, you’re safe.] Ash groaned as if he had read my mind. [I bought us time.]

“Time?”

[Time to figure things out.] He winked at me. [The intricacy and scale of the spell must have used up a lot of life force.]

I thought about Ash’s words for a moment, and he kept looking at me expectantly. Finally, I realized his point. “She needs to recover.”

[That’s right.]

“Until she regains her health, Carinne can only keep quiet while we snoop around.” He nodded with a proud look.

She was certainly at her most vulnerable right now. Additionally, I had Lennox on my side. As much as she had been planning for this, the situation was still in my favor at the moment.

I had to make the most of this opportunity. [You can take a break. You’re going to have a wedding and your honeymoon. Those are all things you’ve never experienced before.]

“But can I afford to…”

[It’s only been 15 days,] Ash murmured to himself. [If you had been able to change your fate during that time, that must have been no small feat…]

“Ash?”

[It means you have that much freedom and influence in the Brienne family you’ve been struggling to escape. Don’t feel guilty and enjoy your rest as much as you want. The night is too late to keep thinking about Carinne.]

At the strangely persuasive remarks, I carefully asked, “…Can I?’.

Ash smiled and nodded. [Of course. The time you’ve lost will never come back, so value your life and relationships now. Go ahead.] He paused, then added, [Don’t have regrets later on.]

He seemed to mean it.

[Everyone is going to be alright, Olivia.]

“…Yes” I leaned on the sofa with my eyes closed. I was still nervous, but perhaps it was because of the late hour, the fatigue rushed in rapidly.

Dreams quickly ate me up.

At that time, A fingernail-sized beak touched my wrist

Whispering followed, [Epure’s power will protect you.]

I think I heard a small voice.

But I wasn’t sure.

***

As Ash expected, in the investigation conducted by Brienne, there was no evidence that Carinne was a sorceress. The only thing anyone had to say about the sickly lady consisted of normal ordinary memories.

Even Mary, who had switched bodies with Carinne, was put under a spell and couldn’t remember any of it.

“Miss Carinne left the mansion without a word at all?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Rather, they heard that she had left because she was concerned about her safety and health.

And the Viscount Brienne in question…

“I’ve adopted someone I don’t even know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess I was out of my mind.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

As soon as the spell was released, Carinne would officially be stricken from the family register. His daughter’s unexpected marriage to Duke Kravant was a huge boon to him, so he approved of it the very next day.

He sent a letter to me as well.

[Congratulations on your wedding, Olivia.]

At first, it started out like any other common letter.

[I’m wishing you a happy marriage.]

Gradually, the content became more and more complicated and strange.

Maybe because the paper was high-quality, but it burned very well, just like firewood.

[Aren’t you going to tell the Duke about it?] Ash, who had read the paper over my shoulder, asked.

“My father is pathetic. I don’t need to tell Lennox.”

[But the letter asked for a response.]

“Asking for money is basically just asking to be ignored.”

I’d already lost money to the people in my life before.

[Will the viscount stay quiet, though?]

“What else is he going to do? He didn’t even provide me with a dowry and now he wants to lean on his son-in-law? How shameless.”

He wasn’t wielding a knife, but he was a robber indeed.

[Maybe he’ll come here.]

“Let him. I’ll chase him out.”

Viscount Brienne hadn’t been a good father in the story I knew, and he clearly wasn’t any better this time around.

While the biggest trigger for Olivia’s demise was Carinne, the fact that she had given up on this world meant that she didn’t have a good relationship with the viscount either.

He was an indifferent man who only saw his daughter as a stepping stone for his career or a product he could put on the wedding market.

“I’m done with him.”

I’d never liked him anyway.

***

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

No major incidents happened in that period. Well, except for Ash sleeping for four full days.

“Are you alright?”

[Yep. One must sleep when they are tired.]

“But you didn’t eat for four days?”

[I’ve tried sleeping for a month. This is nothing.]

I frowned. He wasn’t a hibernating animal, was he?

He laughed my concern off.

The days went by peacefully at the ducal house. Even the worries that I had thought would chase me faded.

Before I knew it, my wedding was just around the corner.

***

“Asuna, take it easy. I’m going to pack everything here. Are you calculating?”

I was busy packing from one side.

She dissuaded me.

Asuna was one of the newly hired staff as the older group of servants was replaced.

She originally lived in the Duchy of Kravant’s estate

She volunteered to clean up after me, and in many ways, she was a great maid. I was kind of getting used to having her around.

The problem was I was also a perfectionist. That was the point.

“You need everything”

“What are you talking about? I’ve already packed seven handkerchiefs. You know I’ve improved, right?”

“You’ll be sad if you don’t have it”

“Why would I need a handkerchief so much?”

Looking at Asuna working while I was about to go to sleep, I was jealous.

She answered back naturally, “It’s the sleep that determines the quality of travel. People usually have trouble sleeping when they change their beds. That’s why you need to bring your pillows with you. It will help you sleep well.”

Oh, my God. I buried my face in my palms.

“Madam, the first booking on your itinerary is just sightseeing in Elysium. You can think about what kind of delicious food you’ll get then. I’ll take care of the work.” Asuna smiled and pointed to the book in my hand.

Your Wedding Venue & Honeymoon Recommendations

I replied back with an indifferent look, “I’m not going to lie about the Elysium part, but I’ve also read this over ten times.”

“You always say that, but you take a look inside every time you see it.”

She was right.

“And…” I coughed and pretended not to hear.

Asuna laughed and set her attention back to packing.

Olivia, you can’t stop Asuna anyway. Just give up.

Ash spoke to me silently, and I wordlessly agreed.

Yeah. I’d just read a book to kill time.

Thanks to the bookmark, as soon as I opened the book, the first page of the part appeared.

“Pretty…”

With the shining sea and blue sky in the background and a regal ancient temple, our wedding hall was beautiful.

[The ocean city of Elysium.

Nature and ancient history in between heaven and earth It was a vacation spot with a castle that used to be the seat of power of a kingdom. The whole city was a historic site…

One of the most famous attractions in Elysium was the Delphion Temple.

With its unique sacred atmosphere and beauty, it was popular as a wedding venue.]

Even though it was just a depiction, the temple was dazzling

“As expected, I’m glad I chose this one.”

As soon as I saw the Temple of Delphion, I knew it was—well—like fate.

There were other locations that were more expensive and seemingly luxurious, but they didn’t even catch my eye.

‘I’m going to marry Lennox here…’

As soon as I started imagining it, my face burned up.

‘Ugh, I’m making such a fuss. We’re already married on paper anyway.’

I hurriedly fanned my face to cool my cheeks.

There was a knock on the door.

“Olivia.”

’Speak of the devil…’

I closed the book.

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