Chapter 143: Discovery – 2

I read the book Kayla gave me multiple times, but I couldn’t find any mention of a counter-curse.

The book continued with details about the origins of witches, the demons they worship, and the spells they commonly use, but there was nothing about breaking curses.

Among the spells used by witches, the one that caught my attention the most was undoubtedly the magic related to lies.

It was said that witches possessed a spell that allowed them to discern lies from people.

The author even noted that this was something they had personally confirmed through a witch’s testimony.

-Don’t lie to me, Kailo.

Vivian’s habitual phrase echoed in my mind.

…Was that why she could always see through my lies so easily?

I had naturally assumed it was because we had spent so much time together, learning to read each other’s emotions.

But the more I thought about it, the deeper my sense of betrayal grew.

And yet, even as I thought of Vivian, I couldn’t help but wonder when she would finally lift this curse.

Kayla was right.

I was going to spend my whole life in this land, but I couldn’t keep having nightmares about Vivian forever.

To move forward, I had to break this curse.

Maybe the reason I felt nothing for Gisela was because of this curse.

I left Alan Castle and went to find Kayla.

I watched for a moment as she handled her duties with the dignity of a proper head of the family.

Noticing me, she soon smiled.

“Brother. What brings you here?”

I waved the book at her and said,

“Find someone for me, Kayla.”

“Tell me. I’ll do my best.”

I tapped the book and spoke.

“The author of this book. Scholar Lyle. I want to meet him.”

“Is the book useful?”

“It didn’t have the information I needed, but I believe this scholar might know.”

***

Valon could feel the growing unease within Rondor Castle.

He read the sharp, tense expressions of the maids, the soldiers, and the vassals.

It all began when the Las Order started stirring up the castle.

They claimed there was a witch within these walls and demanded to take away any women who might be witches for questioning.

Naturally, all the women in the castle were trembling in fear.

The reputation of the Las Order was well known.

They were a group dedicated to hunting witches, but… to be honest, no one could say for certain if the people they executed were truly witches.

After all, witches didn’t have marks on their foreheads identifying them, nor did they have any distinct features to set them apart.

If the Las Order declared someone a witch, then that person simply became one.

Rumors, both exaggerated and terrifying, spread openly.

People said the Las Order forced false confessions through brutal torture.

Others claimed that sometimes, they would accuse people they simply disliked and put them to death.

The families of accused witches would kneel before the Las Order, desperately pleading that their loved one was innocent… but doing so only led to their own execution for the crime of defending a witch.

Valon didn’t know what to believe.

He had been raised hearing stories of how wicked witches were, so he knew that the Las Order was doing the right thing, but…

…The idea of them taking away women he personally knew for interrogation filled him with deep unease.

“Who was taken yesterday?”

Martin replied.

“Rachel, Linda, Sei, Glare… well, them.”

It seemed another group of maids had been taken away today.

The sight of them pleading with the holy knights, crying that they were not witches, was still vivid in his mind.

No one had yet been officially accused of being a witch, but Valon could already foresee the grim conclusion.

The Las Order wouldn’t act like this without a purpose.

“These bastards… They must’ve come in knowing that Lady Vivian is struggling.”

Wallace muttered.

“If only Kailo was still here, they wouldn’t have dared set foot inside.”

After all, the only reason the Las Order could run rampant in the castle was that Vivian had allowed it.

She must have had her own reasons for not refusing them.

Perhaps, as Wallace said, she was simply too exhausted to resist right now.

But still, it was a regrettable choice.

“…If someone we know gets accused and executed…”

Martin’s words carried an ominous weight.

Valon shut his eyes tightly at the thought.

They had always maintained a good relationship with the maids.

As servants to Vivian, they helped with their duties, while the maids secretly smuggled food to keep them fed.

They shared stories to relieve the exhaustion of the day, laughing together and building friendships.

Some had even grown so close that they started families together.

When they were younger, they had even helped each other satisfy their burning desires.

“…It feels like everything’s falling apart since Kailo left.”

Valon murmured.

Then, forcing a smile, he joked with his companions.

“Maybe we should have stopped him from leaving.”

Wallace and Martin chuckled at the joke.

“Why not bring him back now?”

“Yeah, Valon. Go fetch him.”

Deng! Deng! Deng!

Just then, the distant sound of bells echoed from the castle gates.

“They must be back.”

It was the signal that the taken maids were returning.

But it was also the bell that announced the Las Order’s reentry into the city.

***

“…You’re not showing me today?”

Vivian murmured to herself as she sat silently on her bed.

If Elena was here, she would have heard those words.

Sitting around all day in a daze was unbearable.

Yet, she had no motivation to do anything else either.

Vivian wanted to see Kailo.

Even if watching him tore her heart apart, it was better than not seeing him at all.

After all, the witch hunters were closing in.

If she was going to die soon anyway, she would rather see him.

But Elena remained silent.

She didn’t show him to her.

Had she given up?

The thought made Vivian chuckle bitterly.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Duchess Rondor, it’s Bishop Baristan.”

Vivian didn’t respond, but Baristan continued.

“To report… We did not find the witch. All ten maids were innocent. That is fortunate.”

Of course, they were.

Because she was the real witch.

“We have examined sixty women so far, with thirty-two remaining. In eight days, this will be concluded. I have no doubt that we will find the witch. As always, I am grateful for your cooperation.”

Eight days.

Baristan’s words felt like a warning directed straight at her.

Vivian nodded to herself.

Eight days until her secret was revealed.

After that, there would be a trial.

Then, execution.

A laugh suddenly escaped her lips.

She felt strangely calm.

Maybe she had already died a long time ago.

When her family perished, leaving only her behind, she had died back then.

Kailo was the one who had revived her.

But now that he was gone too, she had returned to how she was before.

Stammering, emotionless, lifeless.

She realized she no longer had any attachment to this world.

A filthy world.

A world desperate to kill her.

Just look at it now.

Eight days.

That was all the time she had left.

The world without Kailo was unbearably harsh and painful.

“Then, I will return again. Duchess of Rondor, please rest in peace.”

The sound of Baristan and the holy knights of the Las Order departing echoed through the hall.

Only after they had vanished did the muffled sobs of the maids begin to seep in.

She wanted to tell them not to worry.

She had never been a kind mistress, not even once, but at this moment, she found herself thinking that way.

After all, the one who would die was herself.

…Thinking about it, she wasn’t entirely without regrets.

As death crept closer, her thoughts twisted and tangled, shifting by the moment.

There was just one lingering regret.

She could understand now, even if Kailo no longer loved her.

Even if he found her repulsive and wanted to spit on her, she could accept it.

Even if he never spoke her name again… she, who was about to die, could come to terms with it.

It hurt, but those were things she could finally let go of.

But just one thing—

…She wanted Kailo to know that she had never placed a curse on him.

Even if the entire world refused to believe her, she wished for Kailo alone to believe it.

The time they had burned together in hatred was, to Vivian, a treasure beyond comparison.

She hoped—

He understood.

“…I did nothing, Kailo.”

She whispered to herself, unable to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.

That time they shared had been genuine.

They resented each other, hated each other… liked each other, and loved each other.

Nothing impure had tainted those moments.

Soon, the world would brand her as a witch, pointing fingers in condemnation…

But to Kailo, at the very least, she did not want to be called a witch.

“…I did not place a curse on you.”