Chapter 68

Keith slowly lifted his head from Enoch’s shoulder.
He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, lips tightly shut.
He glanced at me, Enoch, and Laila, then let out a short breath.
He seemed about to say something but couldn’t.
Instead, he just gripped my hands tighter.
It was several minutes before he finally spoke.

“…What do we do with the body?”

“Lishi’s?”

“I don’t want to bury her in this village…”

Burying the corpse of someone who murdered your father…
Keith was too kind.

“Why bury her? Just throw her out for the animals.”

“Then someone in town might eat the animal that ate her. Gross.”

“Then toss her far away, into a field or something.”

I honestly hoped Lishi would never rest in peace.
Enoch nudged Keith aside slightly and said:

“Dump her in Redamas, even if it’s a hassle.”

“Why there?”

“She worked at the Seymour estate for years.
And from what she said, she’s killed multiple people under Grace’s orders.
If she just disappears, it’ll raise suspicion.”

Keith pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed.
From Lishi’s confession, it was clear she’d murdered more than once.
He muttered bitterly:

“What kind of house did you grow up in?”

“A den of hypocrites.”

Enoch replied coldly.
If I hadn’t met Blake, I might’ve still thought Enoch had some love left for our siblings.
But he looked at me and brushed Keith off—not harshly, but still distant.
Keith noticed and gave a small smile.
I watched the dampness in Keith’s eyes and said quietly:

“Be honest with me, Keith.
If you can’t stand to see my face anymore because of Grace…”

“I’d understand.”

When you hate someone, you often hate everything around them too.
That’s human nature.

I’m still a Seymour.
The same blood as Grace runs through me.
If someone killed someone I loved, I’d probably hate everyone connected to them too.

I tried to speak bravely—
But I was scared.
Scared that Keith would look at me like he looked at Grace.
Scared of those purple eyes filled with contempt.

I slowly tried to pull my hand away.
But Keith grabbed it tightly.

“What, so you’re trying to protect your sister now?
You won’t stay with someone who sees her as an enemy?”

“No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Even if you kill Grace right in front of me, I won’t stop you.”

In fact, I’d protect you.

The Seymour family was practically on Linus’s side.
If they found me, they’d probably hand me over to him in chains.

Blake was different—but not by much.
Seeing him made it clear:

I don’t love them anymore.
So I don’t have to put up with their hate.

Anyone trying to kill me is my enemy.

Keith gave a tired laugh.
His smile looked awful on his worn-out face.

“Right, back to deciding what to do with the body.”

At that moment, Ted poked half of his body out of Laila’s shadow and said:

“If you’re tossing her, give her to me.”

“Ted, get back in.”

“If I can play a bit more, I’ll make it look like she died walking around Redamas.
No one will question it.”

Laila clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.
Keith said:

“As long as she’s gone and far from this village, do whatever.”

Without waiting for permission, Ted hugged the bloody corpse gleefully.
Then he disappeared into the shadows like a dog running off with a treat.

“He’s thrilled,” Laila muttered.

“You should’ve played with him more,” I said.

“You want to be his toy?”

“…”

We’d all just seen what Ted considered “toys.”
Keith looked awkward and said:

“Sorry. And thank you.”

“…Don’t mention it.
Ted was sulking because I only sent Nelson to work lately.”

Laila clearly hadn’t expected a thank-you.
She shrugged, looking a little awkward but pleased.

“So… where’s this heirloom we’re supposed to find?”

Lishi said she searched the grandmother’s villa top to bottom and found nothing.
Her claim that Keith’s father was keeping the heirloom was only a guess.

If Seymour House never reclaimed it, it means it’s hidden somewhere.
And if the doctor was trusted enough to care for the grandmother until the end,
then he must’ve known something.

This village had nothing else—so rumors about the villa were common.
Even small gossip turned into big stories.

“My dad was never the guarding type.
He couldn’t fight and had a soft heart.”

“Must’ve been tough raising you, then.”

“Like you were an angel.”

“He probably didn’t keep the heirloom directly—
but maybe he left a clue.”

“The old lady was a 7th-class magician, right?
She probably used some kind of magical device.”

“No idea. She was already dead by the time I got taken in by the Seymours.”

Enoch and Keith dug through the study.
Laila and I stayed by the door.
The study felt too private to enter without permission.

“Enoch, catch.”

Even with no warning, Enoch caught what Laila tossed—
a drop-shaped earring with a small crystal.
It was a communication item, letting wearers talk across any distance.

“We’ll check out the Seymour villa.
Call us if you find anything.”

“Got it.”

“Let’s go, Florence.”

Laila tugged my arm.
I saw Enoch and Keith waving as we left.
I let her drag me and said:

“Do you even know where we’re going?”

“…”

“I’ll lead.”

Laila had her careless moments.
I took her hand and summoned the spirit of wind.

Jin appeared, half-translucent with a pale green body,
wearing geometric tattoos and flashy jewelry.
He leaned forward to listen to my command.

I rose into the air in his arms and looked down at Laila—
who, instead of summoning her own spirit, just stared at me like I was being slow.
Then she spoke:

“I’m faster on foot. Want to bet?”

“No. I trust you.”

“That’s the problem.”

“Huh?”

“You trust me too much.”

But she was on my side—so of course I trusted her.
She said it like it was some tragic weakness.
But for me, it wasn’t even a choice.

“Even after today, you three are still so calm.”

“We helped you, didn’t we?”

“Summoning demons, torturing people, feeding corpses to shadows.
That’s not ‘normal.’”

“You were the one who offered me your corpse in the first place.”

“…Never mind. Let’s just go.”

Laila really was faster than Jin.
In no time, we reached the old villa.

As soon as I stepped inside, the memories flooded back.

The bedroom where Grandma died.
The study where she taught me letters.
The parlor table where we shared snacks.

I loved this place. I was truly happy here.

Grandma… I’m home.
Florence is here.

Tears stung my eyes.
Grandma had been the only family who ever loved me.
And since she died, I had never once returned.

That’s when it happened.

Laila, who had been quietly following me…
suddenly grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth.