“The dormitory building looks like it will be finished by the week after next, but the classroom building will still take more ti. The progress itself is decent, but I’m not sure we can et the deadline.”
“Please, maintain the current pace. We can consider delaying the start date of lessons, but let’s see how it progresses for now.”
Aiselin was sitting at her desk, twirling her hair, with a pile of account books, architectural blueprints, and workers’ reports.
The next cash acquisition date, the state of construction, details of the young ladies who would arrive for lessons, the hiring of assistant instructors, the mansion’s finances… She was deeply imrsed in all that vast content, looking in every way like a businesswoman.
“…”
Outwardly, Pheline played the role of baroness, but she couldn’t even read an account book, while Aiselin seed to have already taken full control of the finances.
‘Why can’t this person just be the baroness?’
Pheline was sweating in a corner of the office, dressed in an outfit that didn’t suit her at all.
Despite the hot weather, Aiselin was completely absorbed in the work of the training center, going back and forth between the construction site and the office without concern.
“Oh, oh heavens… Pheline. I’m sorry. As you can see, Baron Ravenclaw is undergoing a great transition. I haven’t been able to properly attend to our guest.”
“Ah, no. Technically, I’m the hostess and Miss Aiselin is the guest.”
“Oh, right… I’m sorry. When I get too absorbed in work, I sotis lose track of things…”
This young noblewoman, who was practically the pillar of the Duplain Duchy, was buried in the account books of this remote barony for unknown reasons, but Pheline assud Dereck had so purpose.
“As I ntioned, Miss Pheline, you must play the role of hostess at the training center’s inauguration. As baroness, you will receive the utmost respect.”
“…But, where is Dereck?”
“Lord Dereck is currently at Count Belmierd’s estate on urgent business. He said he would return soon after finishing his work, so we need to settle the important matters before then.”
“Belmierd’s… estate?”
It wasn’t exactly close, so Pheline couldn’t help but tilt her head, puzzled by the sudden visit.
“I heard Lady Ellen is in great danger… I’m truly worried. They say necromancy is involved, which makes it even more frightening.”
Aiselin had heard the details from the Belmierd estate and had written a letter as Dereck had requested.
She wrote content that would help defend Ellen. Dereck took the letter and returned to the Belmierd estate, so the main issues would soon be resolved.
“Why is Dereck… helping with Count Belmierd’s affairs?”
“Well, partly due to so coincidences… Also, the forr heir, Lord Linus, asked Dereck for a favor.”
The forr heir, Linus, had asked Dereck to support Ellen during her crisis in exchange for helping him obtain the baron title.
So it was natural for Dereck to actively support Ellen, though there were so unsatisfactory aspects.
‘Co to think of it, why did Lord Linus relinquish the position of heir of the Belmierd estate?’
‘And how did he predict that Lady Ellen would fall into such a crisis?’
‘It’s also strange that he specifically asked Lord Dereck for help. If he needed a noble to back her, there were many others he could have asked…’
The actions of that young man nad Linus, who seed free-spirited, were too difficult to understand at face value.
In any case, since he had been one of the most decisive people in helping Dereck secure the baron title, Dereck didn’t seem to have many questions.
‘I hope everything ends well without major problems.’
Thinking that, Aiselin moved her pen again.
As Pheline watched from the corner of the office, she wondered if that girl was really the flower of the Duplain Duchy.
When observed quietly, she only looked like an employee of Baron Ravenclaw.
*
The next day, the margrave of Belmierd gathered all the high-ranking vassals and direct blood relatives in the main hall of the mansion.
Behind the butler and the head maid, several key servants stood in line with their heads bowed, and from the grand administrator, the rcenary commander, the treasurer, the legal officer, the intelligence officer, to the magical adviser—the veteran vassals who were like the arms and legs of the margrave of Belmierd were seated.
They were all busy people, but the reason for forcibly gathering them in one place was obvious.
It was to decide Ellen’s fate that day and announce the result to the whole family.
Depending on how the margrave of Belmierd, her father, handled Ellen’s case, accused of dabbling in necromancy, the direction of the family would be greatly shaken.
Creak.
Thud, thud.
The main door opened, and the wife of the margrave of Belmierd, Lienclof, entered.
The middle-aged woman, whose hair was beginning to gray, asked the margrave with a heavy expression.
“Why… did you gather the vassals like this…?”
“…”
“Have you… made a decision…?”
Countess Linclaire was a submissive and gentle person. She rarely voiced any objection to the margrave of Belmierd’s educational policies or direction of family managent.
This ti too, Linclaire simply lowered her gaze in silence with a somber expression.
Seeing her, the margrave of Belmierd couldn’t help but feel a small pain in his heart, but he didn’t show it.
He simply spoke in a grave voice, tightening his mouth.
“Go inside.”
When Countess Linclaire went and sat in the upper seat, the youngest son, Leonard, also followed.
Leonard also wore an infinitely heavy and somber face. After greeting politely, he went to sit in a corner.
When almost everyone who was supposed to be present had arrived, the key figure of this eting finally appeared.
She entered, escorted by her servants, with her red hair flowing down and her back straight like a noble rose.
Without changing her expression, Ellen positioned herself right in front of the vassals.
Regardless of the situation, everyone present thought the sa thing. She perfectly fit the expression “beautiful.”
“Since early morning, everyone has gathered in such a rush. Being confined to a room for so long is so exhausting that I almost welco the current situation.”
Before anyone could say anything, Ellen spoke to the assembled people in a soft voice.
“I haven’t heard anything, but it doesn’t seem like you all gathered here to apologize for so misunderstanding… Is it safe to assu you gathered to condemn ?”
“That depends on you, Ellen.”
Count Belmierd, who was sitting in the highest seat, spoke.
He placed all the materials the vassals had investigated on the table and continued the conversation in a heavy, subdued voice.
“I am in a position where I must judge your fate, Ellen.”
“…”
“And through last week’s investigation, many things ca out of your room. Not only traces of necromantic magic left in the basent that had been neglected for many years, but also your belongings found there, such as jewelry and magical artifacts, were abundant.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
Ellen still appeared composed.
Leonard, seeing Ellen’s attitude, rested his chin for a mont. He had observed her closely in recent days and had noticed she was cornered ntally.
However, the Ellen who appeared here seed to have regained her composed air.
‘What is this…?’
Leonard had completely isolated her in the mansion.
He had bribed so servants to spread false rumors, manipulated letters and the basent, and if there was anyone who could beco her ally, he had gone ahead to recruit them first.
The biggest variable had been Dereck, who suddenly visited the Belmierd mansion in the middle of it all, but even he had cooperated with Leonard, leaving no further mishaps.
However, now it seed as if soone was ntally supporting her.
Her once withered eyes had cleared, and her disheveled hair was once again neatly arranged—she had returned to being the girl who could be called the flower of Belmierd.
“And it was also discovered that you sent a letter to Valerian of Duke Duplain.”
“I see.”
Ellen walked straight into the center of the main hall, where the vassals were seated, letting her beautiful dress trail behind her, and smiled brightly.
Leonard could not decipher the source of that constant sense of incongruity.
According to his expectations, by now Ellen should have at least swallowed nervously once.
And she should be desperately trying to prove her innocence by denying the accusations that Count Belmierd was reciting.
Yet Ellen only nodded her head at Count Belmierd’s words.
She was so calm it was almost inappropriate.
When Leonard narrowed his eyes, he suddenly t Ellen’s gaze.
Ellen, who should have been raising her voice to refute sothing, remained silent.
She simply held Leonard’s gaze and then faintly smiled.
‘What is this? What is she trying to do?’
It was at that mont that Leonard was monologuing to himself.
“Unfortunately, it seems everything has been exposed.”
With that, her words fell and spread throughout the main hall, which had been as silent as a clear mirror.
It was a reaction no one had expected.
Whether it was Count Belmierd, the Countess, Leonard, or any other high-ranking vassal—everyone thought Ellen would try to prove her innocence at all costs.
Many had even prepared counterargunts for her expected refutations.
Yet Ellen did not utter a single word in her defense.
“W-what do you an… Lady Ellente?”
“No, Lady Ellen…! Is that true?!”
The murmuring began to spread among the crowd.
At Ellen’s unexpected and explosive declaration, everyone present could only widen their eyes.
Bang!
However, the scene had to fall silent again when Count Belmierd slamd the desk.
The most authoritative figure in the room, who held the power to judge everyone’s fate, was about to speak.
“Ellen…”
His expression, which always displayed a strong character, now seed torn between anger, sorrow, and doubt.
No word could represent his feelings.
In his infinitely complicated heart, Count Belmierd barely managed to speak with difficulty.
“What… what do you an, Ellen… that you have been researching necromancy?”
“Father. You, who know
better than anyone, will understand , won’t you?”
Finally, Ellen spoke with a soft smile.
“Walking the path of power, one needs a weapon that no one else can obtain… a weapon only for oneself. A hidden dagger in the heart, ready to stab the opponent when they least expect it. For , that blade was necromancy.”
“Ellen!”
“But now that it has co to this, I must tell you. Yes… I used necromancy as my weapon and intended to make it the foundation of my power. No matter how cursed and forbidden it is, depending on how it is used, it can beco a sword to strike down enemies.”
Then she let her hair fall loose and laughed louder, curling her lips upward.
Her appearance began to carry an unsettling air beyond beauty.
“Carving corpses, painting with blood, kneading flesh… it may seem ghastly at first. But human life is fleeting, and if it can be used for a greater cause, it is an endeavor worth pursuing. Please, understand my philosophy… Father.”
The high-ranking vassals watching Ellen began to break out in cold sweat. Even Briana and Milton, who still held a shred of loyalty toward her, swallowed hard.
“A… a witch…”
Murmured a rcenary.
It was a blasphemous remark, yet no one could refute it.
With those words, nothing else flowed from the crowd.
A tension like standing on the edge of a blade. The servants’ throats trembled.
The most bewildered among them all was none other than Leonard.
Because he knew.
Ellen had never studied necromancy. All of this had been orchestrated by Leonard, and she was only falsely accused.
Even so, why was she admitting to all those cris?
Leonard had anticipated every move Ellen might make upon coming here.
He had calculated every scenario two, three, ten tis, and was prepared for every possible outco from that point—yet he had not foreseen this situation.
He could not see.
He could not understand the intent behind Ellen’s seemingly warm smile.
It felt as if his entire body was being dragged into a place full of unknown variables, not the board he himself had designed.
— Why try to fight on the battlefield created by the opponent? Let’s redraw the board where we are the masters.
Dereck’s words, spoken as he dried the rainwater in the dark room, floated in his mind.
Clinging to the brilliant idea that man had given her, she smiled again—with the smile of a madwoman.
“Everyone, your expressions do not look good. But it is not right to see
as such a lunatic. Manipulating corpses and dealing with human lives is not only the realm of necromancy. Do not forget the essence of humans who wage wars and bleed at every opportunity. If you forget that humanity has advanced through blood, you will only regress forever.”
“Ellen! You… you…!”
“Father! I told you since I was little! I will use any ans and thod to seize power!”
Ellen whispered with a more lancholic voice.
“This is my ans and thod.”
A mont of silence.
Count Belmierd took a few steps back and then collapsed into a chair.
“Ellen… I trusted you…”
“Oh my… In the end, even Father cannot understand …”
The Count Belmierd’s last words.
They ant that even her last ally, the Count, had abandoned her.
That was the signal.
With the Count, her greatest ally, turning his back on her, all the servants of the family completely lost their trust in her.
Her confession was the proof that she had betrayed the faith of all the servants who had followed her.
“How… how could you…! I trusted you and followed you…!”
“She’s a witch…! A witch who seeks curses, groping among blood and corpses…!”
“We cannot repeat the tragedy of Duplain…! Right now…! By any ans, we must cut off this root of disaster!”
“I have served Lady Ellen for more than ten years…! How could it end like this…?!”
“I vaguely knew it for so ti. Soone who only spoke of power, soone who would one day cross the line…”
“I knew it too…! But I didn’t expect it to be this severe…!”
And then, the arrows of criticism fell upon her.
The loyal ones who had sworn to believe and follow Ellen all their lives now threw disappointed reproaches against her.
Ellen softly closed her eyes, lifted the corners of her lips, and raised her head.
The gazes of admiration and respect that had always been directed at her, now turned into lights of criticism and hatred—she entrusted her whole body to that situation.
In the midst of it all, the girl broadened her chest and soliloquized.
‘So, this is what it ans to be at the bottom.’
This pit of despair and frustration is sothing one must experience at least once in order to soar high.
The world is full of people who struggle in deep despair.
There is a girl whose half of her family was devoured by necromancy overnight, and a boy who crawled his way up from the very bottom of the slums since birth.
Compared to that, how sweet and comfortable this pit of fire feels.
If one cannot endure this temporary pain, how can they speak of great ambitions?
Ellen smiled even more radiantly.
And then, she fixed her gaze directly on Leonard’s eyes.
*
Thud, thud.
Leonard walked quickly down the hallway.
At first glance, he had the elegant appearance befitting the young master of the Belmierd family, but his steps were twice as fast as usual.
‘What is this? What the hell is happening?’
Things were slipping out of Leonard’s control.
The situation itself seed favorable to him. Just as he had planned, Ellen was falsely accused of researching necromancy, abandoned by all her vassals, and falling into ruin.
After the eting in the main hall, the desperate Count Belmierd had left first.
After that, the vassals raised their voices, arguing over what to do with Ellen, and standing silently among them, Ellen looked like a sinner.
All of that was within Leonard’s plan.
However, Ellen’s conduct was completely unexpected. Without a doubt, there was sothing hidden in her sche.
But Leonard still couldn’t see her trick. That was clearly a bad sign.
He had to find out what she was aiming for. This was no ti to get drunk on victory.
So Leonard headed quickly toward the successor’s private chamber.
It was a large room that Ellen had used until now, and one that Leonard might soon use himself.
In the basent connected to that room, Leonard had installed facilities by bribing a servant.
The laboratory, stained with corpses and blood. The servant who had helped Leonard prepare that place was already mixed among the pile of bodies in the basent.
Leonard was a man who left no loose ends.
‘There still might be sothing I haven’t uncovered. I must thoroughly inspect every place that may have been influenced by my sister Ellen, starting with the private chamber.’
He couldn’t lower his guard. Leonard clenched his teeth and pulled the secret lever behind the bookshelf in the private chamber to open the door.
Creakk.
The heavy secret door opened, and he descended the stairs to the basent.
While racking his brain trying to anticipate what Ellen might do, everything remained uncertain. What could she possibly do in this situation?
The girl who only knew how to give orders to her vassals—what could she do when they had all turned their backs on her? In truth, she could do nothing, right?
This was not the battlefield Leonard had designed.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the view of the basent appeared, still perated with the stench of blood.
Just as he was about to open the wooden door and step inside—
Creak.
“…?!”
“Oh.”
There was a guest.
In the darkness of the basent.
A pair of red eyes glowed between white hair, briefly observing Leonard.
The man, draped in a cloak, adjusted the sleeves of his leather tunic and, seated on a chair, polished his sword.
The man’s blade glead blue, reflecting the light coming from behind Leonard.
“What the hell…?”
“Young master Leonard.”
“Baron Ravenclaw… what are you doing here…?”
“Who knows.”
Leonard felt an ominous sensation and instinctively stepped back.
The man, hunched over and rely polishing his sword, seed like a beast before its prey.
Then, who was the prey?
In the instant Leonard instinctively asked himself that question, Dereck rose to his feet.
Though it was the warm season of late spring, it felt as if an icy chill filled the basent.
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