I didn't hide it, I sneered and clicked my tongue.
"That's a shoddy record. A witch who can cast curses being given an immortal curse? Wouldn't the curse of immortality end if she cast a curse of death on herself?"
"Well, according to the record, it says that once someone is cursed, they cannot be cursed again. So, that's why."
Once someone is cursed, they cannot be cursed again. Indeed, it's a hard-to-believe record.
"If such amusing stories are recorded, perhaps the witch really existed."
Finias chuckled softly.
"If Fereshati really reports it... "
The countess, who was about to protest, was startled by the cold gaze of Princess Dodolea and tightly closed her lips. She huddled up, trembling like a criminal.
"Did I do something wrong by asking you to do it?"
"N-no, it's not that."
"Then did you not want to do it?"
The countess pressed her dry lips together.
"Did you disobey my order and not want to take out the pill?"
Dodolea asked again. This time, there was no response. Dodolea slapped the carriage wall hard. The carriage, receiving the signal, stopped abruptly on the slope.
"If you don't even have the guts to do that, get out here. I must have misjudged you."
Dodolea kicked the carriage door hard. The door handle unlocked, and the door opened with a loud bang. The countess felt her heart sink as if she were a three-year-old child abandoned by her parents. She couldn't be abandoned. If she were abandoned by the princess, she would lose everything she had just regained.
"Your Highness, I was presumptuous. How could I question what Your Highness ordered? I was lacking."
"See, Reina."
Dodolea smiled, looking at the countess as if she were an amusing toy.
"The countess said she would do anything I want."
Dodolea tapped the countess's cheek and stepped back. She hit the wall again, and the carriage started moving. The countess clasped her hands as if she had received a favor and kept muttering incomprehensible words, as if in prayer. Reina, who had bitten her lip, tried to pry apart the countess's tightly clasped hands but failed. Reina eventually gave up trying to calm the countess and leaned against the carriage wall. Something was going wrong. She could clearly feel they were entering a strange abyss, but she could do nothing about it. After returning from the secret meeting Dodolea recommended, the countess's thoughts had completely changed. She tried not to miss a single meeting and, when Reina visited, would sit her down and talk about things Reina couldn't understand. Reina, who had been staring at the carriage floor, lifted her head resolutely as if making a decision. Reina spoke to Dodolea in a gentle and soft voice.
"Your Highness, but you took the pill Mother had and returned it, right?"
"That's right."
"Did you do something to the pill? Did you coat it with poison?"
Dodolea chuckled and glanced at Reina from the corner of her eye.
"Curious, are you?"
Her appearance didn't seem human, and Reina felt a slight shiver. Reina swallowed hard and forced a smile.
"Originally, it was supposed to be for Fereshati, but the plan changed, and the Duke of Laphireon took it. I'm worried something might happen."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, the Duke of Laphireon is someone Your Highness has in mind."
Reina's answer made Dodolea giggle. The laughter echoing in the small carriage sounded like that of a child and an old grandmother.
"It doesn't matter who eats it. I didn't coat it with poison."
"Really?"
"Instead, I did something more interesting. I gave her an old, bitter memory."
"Memory?"
"Yes. The tragic end of someone she loves."
Dodolea stretched, looking forward to it.
"Reina."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember what I said when I first met the countess?"
"When I first met Mother?"
Reina thought hard but couldn't recall anything. Dodolea, resting her chin on her hand, laughed.
"I said that the best way to hide a secret is to pin it on someone else first."
"Oh! Yes, I remember now. ...But why is that?"
"That's important. You have to pin it on someone, whether they know it or not."
"Really?"
Reina tilted her head, not understanding. Dodolea, still resting her chin, tilted her head and looked outside with eyes full of joy.
"Since no one will remember anyway, it doesn't matter."
"..."
"It will become another interesting curse."
As Reina tilted her head, the carriage stopped at their destination. The three of them got out of the carriage, and a maniacal laugh was heard. At the top of the rugged mountain, many people had gathered. They bowed deeply to the three and laughed joyfully.
"Shall we start today?"
Dodolea turned her gaze to the back. A snow-white temple, like a blanket of snow, came into view.
***
After Finias left, Terdeo's fever dropped cleanly. Strangely, he said he no longer had the nightmares he used to have every night. I always felt like I wasn't getting enough sleep because I was dreaming about crying or apologizing in a fire. Seeing his improved complexion, it seemed he was now sleeping well.
'Perhaps he was having those dreams because he was sick.'
He has a childlike side. I smiled, thinking of Terdeo, and sat in front of the vanity.
'Anyway, I need to meet my stepmother alone.'
When I said I would invite her to the mansion. But even if I invited her, she wouldn't come. The Laphireon mansion is where I can be the most confident and the safest. Since she tried to poison me with the pill, she would never come to my territory. And if I just went to her mansion, she would avoid me.
'I need to figure out her movements and wait for her. Then, I'll take her to a quiet place...'
My thoughts trailed off. At that moment, Rebecca, whom I hadn't seen for a few days, stuck to me.
"Your Highness, I missed you!"
I gently detached the clinging Rebecca and stopped my thoughts.
"Me too."
"I'm your lady-in-waiting! It was frustrating not to be by your side even though we live in the same mansion!"
Rebecca pouted her lips like a spoiled child. Then, she looked at me and widened her eyes in surprise.
"Goodness! Your Highness, look at your skin!"
Suddenly, I remembered what Selphius had said, calling me a black cat with only my eyes showing. I rubbed my eyes and asked casually.
"Is it that bad?"
Rebecca, instead of answering, picked up some oil. She grumbled as if she were upset and applied a generous amount of oil to my skin.
"I know His Excellency is sick, but that doesn't mean Your Highness has to suffer too! Just let the maids or me handle the trivial tasks."
Indeed, I hadn't eaten, slept, or rested properly for days while taking care of Terdeo.
"To the point where my skin is a mess... I did my best."
"You two really have a good relationship."
I wanted to delegate, but Terdeo didn't like others touching his body. I swallowed the words I couldn't say and smiled bitterly. Rebecca massaged my skin for a while to let the oil soak in. Then, she applied the remaining oil to my hair.
'If it's Rebecca...'
I started the conversation naturally about the Rebecca family.
"Rebecca, how is the Knights family doing lately?"
"Me?"
Rebecca was surprised and asked.
"Maybe if you need money urgently, you can tell me. I can help..."
"No, no!"
"Really?"
"A relative's friend helped, and the urgent issue was resolved. We even have some extra money now."
Rebecca lowered her head slightly, looking embarrassed, and smiled awkwardly.
"Your Highness's words alone... are enough to make me grateful..."
"That's good. If you ever need help, just let me know."
Rebecca nodded quickly. Then, as if she remembered something, she exclaimed, "Oh!"
"I almost forgot to tell you about the Countess Zahart!"
"...My stepmother?"
I narrowed my eyes and gestured for her to continue.
"It seems the Countess Zahart has fallen into heresy."
"...Heresy?"
"Yes, she no longer shows up at the parties she used to attend... and the families she associates with now all worship heresy."
Suddenly, heresy? I remembered my stepmother talking about God when she left the courtroom.
'Maybe it will be easier to track her movements?'
"Rebecca, find out more. If it's heresy, which sect, where is the temple, and what time does she usually move?"
"Yes!"
Rebecca answered enthusiastically and subtly changed the subject.
"By the way, you said you became friends with Aedus, right?"
I nodded, watching Rebecca carefully in the vanity mirror.
"Did you meet Aedus?"
"Since I had no errands for Your Highness, I helped the mansion staff for a few days. I met him outside by chance while running errands for them."
"Good job."
"It was a good choice. Aedus knows a lot of information, so he will definitely be of great help to Your Highness!"
Rebecca smiled brightly. Great help... indeed, he has been helpful, so I can't deny it. I nodded, and Rebecca exclaimed.
"Oh! Your Highness, Aedus asked you something strange, didn't he?"