Vol. 1 - Ch. 18

Hoo...The sound of the wind cut through the thick cloud of smoke that covered Johann’s face. The cigarette’s smoke was so thick that his vision blurred. Edmund continued smoking without a care.

“Johann.”

Hiss

Although the fire was being directed elsewhere, it felt as though his own flesh was burning. Johann noticed the mist of aura rising from beneath his feet. It was only then that Johann realized.

His Excellency wasn’t calm, he was simply unable to contain his anger.

As Johann watched the writhing aura that seemed ready to consume him, he swallowed dryly.

“This will be the last time I overlook this. Send your subordinate who contacted my Godmother to the basement.”

Johann shut his eyes, “... Yes.”

Edmund didn’t let it go easily. Upon Johann’s confirmation that everything was ready, he headed to the basement.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Faint screams woke Angela up. She instinctively scanned her surroundings, relaxing only after confirming there were no signs of anyone having been there.

‘Not today either.’

Angela bit her dry, chapped lips anxiously. Despite two days passing, the maid had not brought the Chambermaid.

‘Could it be that she had taken the jewels and run?’ Angela bit her lips until they bled.

That’s when she heard footsteps. She hurriedly clung to the iron bars. It seemed like the maid was coming to bring food. But the person carrying the food was not the maid.

“You’re still alive?”

The guard tossed the bread toward Angela, who recoiled in shock.

Only after the guard had left did Angela stretch out her hands and devour the bread hungrily. Even though the bread was dry enough to choke on, Angela, who had grown accustomed to it, finished it in no time, even without water.

Angela was licking the crumbs off her fingers when she noticed a strange taste and quickly withdrew her hand. She had sensed something off earlier, but was too focused on eating.

‘I’m hungry.’

Still unsatisfied, Angela leaned on the iron bars.

Step, step.

With the sound of footsteps, Angela hid herself in the corner, trembling. Shaking in anxiety for fear that it was the guards again trying to kill her, she didn’t notice the overlapping sound of footsteps.

‘Please, please...’

Angela desperately hoped that the footsteps would pass her by, but her wish was not granted. She was left in stunned silence as the footsteps stopped directly in front of where she was imprisoned.

“Angela.”

“Chamber… maid?”

Angela’s eyes widened when she heard the familiar voice calling her. Turning her head, she saw the Chambermaid wearing a robe standing next to the maid.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Chambermaid…”

She tried to suppress the tears about to spill out.

“So, you’ve been falsely accused?”

“Y-yes. I really didn’t steal anything.”

The Chambermaid warmly held Angela’s hand covered in filth.

Though their relationship had deteriorated into one of mere business partners after Angela discovered the Chambermaid’s intention to sell her off as a nobleman’s concubine, blood was indeed thicker than water.

As the Chambermaid looked down at her with such warmth, Angela regretted having treated her coldly.

‘Why did I do that?’

She regretted everything after coming back from the brink of death.

“Chambermaid, p-please get me out of here. I-I know who’s the real criminal.”

“Chambermaid, the guard will be back soon. We need to leave quickly.”

The maid suddenly urged the Chambermaid, saying time was running out. But the Chambermaid, having heard Angela’s words, restrained the maid and listened closely.

“The real criminal? Who is it?”

“It’s… cough!”

It happened in an instant. In a blink of an eye, her eyes turned bloodshot and she found herself lying on the floor.

‘What… is this…?’

Angela couldn’t comprehend the situation, completely oblivious to the malicious intent of her own blood.

“Ah, she’s finally dying.”

Even when the maid – no, Marinda – took off her robe and revealed herself.

“Tsk, it seems like I’ve arrived too late.”

And even when the Chambermaid, who had been smiling warmly at her, wiped her hands clean after touching Angela’s hand.

“Marinda, didn’t I tell you to put in the right amount?”

“I’m sorry, but at least we get to watch her die.”

Ah. It was only then did Angela realize – the strange taste from the bread she had eaten, the maid’s identity, and the Chambermaid’s words. It only meant one thing.

‘I’m… dying.’

Angela finally realized that the dampness in her mouth was because of the blood she had vomited. Pain surged through her, her throat and stomach burning as if they were on fire, while a cold sensation flushed her fingertips. Her body convulsed slightly, and her eyelids couldn’t help but flutter uncontrollably.

“Ga, grrgh…”

Unable to scream, Angela’s tongue curled inward as she twisted in agony.

“What do you think about my plan?”

“Perfect. Watching this wretch die in such pain brings me peace of mind.”

Despite her torment, Angela did not avert her gaze from them.

“Indeed. Why didn’t she just die quietly instead of dragging me into this?”

The Chambermaid clicked her tongue at Angela’s foolishness. Though she felt a grim satisfaction at watching Angela die, the unease in her chest made her frown as she stepped back.

“Let’s go now, Marinda.”

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The Chambermaid turned around without hesitation. Marinda knelt down in front of Angela.

“Look at you now.”

Angela’s eyes rolled back.

“I won.” You lost. Marinda smiled.

“Goodbye.”

All Angela could do was shed tears as she felt her body gradually stiffening. Watching the two figures fade into the distance, Angela clenched her teeth. And shortly after, her body, now rigid, lost its warmth, growing cold forever.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Damian suddenly turned his head.

The crimson sunset, just beginning to fade, enveloped him through the swirling snowstorm.

It wasn’t just the unexpected arrival of Sophia that had the entire mansion in disarray. The servants, usually more visible, were oddly absent, creating an atmosphere that was both quiet and tumultuous.

‘Is something going on?’

As he stood in the hallway staring blankly at the raging blizzard, someone appeared in front of him.

“Young Lord.”

“Count Wiesz.” Count Wiesz, one of the vassals, bowed.

“Please take this.”

The Count wiped his half-bald, glistening forehead with a handkerchief, repeatedly.

“Are you returning from your lessons?”

“Yes. What brings you here, Count?”

“I couldn’t attend your coming-of-age ceremony. As an apology, I’ve brought a small gift.”

The Wiesz family had long been in the business of mining magic stones, a commodity similar to gemstones that could be extracted from mines. However, magic stones were unique in that they could contain a swordsman’s aura, the wizard and spirit mage’s mana, and even holy power.

Magic stones had many uses.

Inserting a magic stone imbued with aura, mana, or holy power into a machine could instantly heat a room, making them indispensable in the northern regions.

In addition to their versatility, magic stones were so valuable that over half of the empire’s supply came from the Wiesz family, known for the high purity of their stones, making everyone eager to acquire them from Wiesz.

But all of this was a mere shadow of the past.

Within just ten years of assuming the headship, Count Wiesz had ruined his family’s once-prosperous empire, which had been one of the financial pillars of the Empire. The Wiesz family found itself buried in debt, and all their property, including the mines and magic stones, was confiscated.

The reason he hadn’t attended Damian’s coming-of-age ceremony was because he was on the run from creditors. Although he claimed to have brought the remaining magic stones, he had risked his life to hide from being seized.

Damian was unimpressed.

“I’ll have my subordinate take care of it.”

“Young Lord, why don’t you take a look? Just once?”

Count Wiesz would normally obey Damian’s orders, but he clung to him, seemingly desperate.

“A rare magic stone has come into my possession.” Count Wiesz looked around nervously, lowering his voice, “Big and rare.”

Big and rare.

Damian, as if entranced by those words, nodded but quickly regained his composure. Count Wiesz, as if expecting this, swiftly guided him to the prepared reception room.

The magic stone Wiesz had brought was indeed no ordinary one; each had been crafted with the meticulous care of a master artisan.

“This one was made by Liconas, the third master of Rüband….”

But Damian, who hadn’t even had the intention of examining the magic stones, let Count Wiesz’s words go in one ear and out the other. Seeing this, Count Wiesz, sweating profusely, immediately played his trump card.

“In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that I prepared this meeting just to show you this.”

Count Wiesz presented an ordinary wooden box, unlike the previous magic stones, where the box was lavish but the contents were mediocre. When the lid of the unassuming box was opened, a small locket was revealed. Count Wiesz opened the locket.

This time, the magic stone inside was different. The stone, uncut, was a large piece about the size of half a fist, with a mysterious green hue.

“It’s the Tear of the Mermaid.”

Count Wiesz instantly recognized that this stone had caught Damian’s eye.

“It’s deliberately uncut. As you know, the Tear of the Mermaid is a magic stone so rare that it might only appear once in a century. It can hold mana, aura, and even holy power….”

“I’ll take it. Vent.”

Count Wiesz beamed with satisfaction.

“As expected, the Young Lord has an exceptional eye! The Tear of the Mermaid is….”

“Take it. Don't lose it.”

Count Wiesz’s words trailed off as his mouth hung open in shock.

It was no wonder. Damian had extracted the Tear of the Mermaid from the locket, tossed it to his attendant standing beside him, and kept the locket for himself. Count Wiesz’s face turned pale as he watched millions of golds worth of magic stone fly through the air.

“Y-Young Lord, please handle it with care…”

“Tell Vent what you want.”

Damian rose from his seat.

“He’ll grant most of your requests.”

Caught off guard, Count Wiesz stood up and tried to reach for Damian, but stopped abruptly. The young heir had been aware of Count Wiesz’s intentions from the start. But he chose not to say anything about it.

“Well then, I'll be off.”