IVMF 19

Chapter: 19

“Isn’t this a kind of psychological torture? To keep someone close while expecting affection, even though that person has no intention of giving any.”

“That’s not true! His Highness the Grand Duke cares deeply for the young master!”

Her words snapped me sharply out of my hazy thoughts. I shook my head firmly in response.

“……”

Ascilia looked at me, a little surprised that I dared to argue, and her lips tilted slightly in irritation.

“Oh my, the maid must be new here. Hmm… no, that’s not the case. Isn’t that right?”

“I already said it, but I don’t think that way,” I replied calmly, meeting her gaze steadily.

Ascilia’s eyebrows knitted.

“Ha, really?”

Her tone suggested that such a situation simply shouldn’t occur.

Clack—

The sharp sound of her teeth grinding made me gradually mark her as a dangerous person. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but my instincts and reason whispered the warning.

And then there was the strange scent I had noticed earlier. A form of dark magic.

Was the scent just a secondary effect?

I could roughly guess the type of dark magic she had used: a spell that manipulates or controls emotions. To an angry person, it amplifies rage; to a joyful person, it heightens delight. It takes subtle feelings and magnifies them into overwhelming emotions.

“No, I wouldn’t have thought that. It matches the curse on the young master perfectly. But how could she perform dark magic? She’s no witch. It’s not a simple curse either. Her ether—both quality and quantity—is ordinary. This isn’t something an average person could easily do.”

Ordinary curses are accessible enough that sometimes even common people perform them unintentionally. Like when someone makes a casual wish, “May the annoying person trip as they pass by!” and the person actually does.

But a spell that can control another’s emotions is of an entirely different caliber.

Ascilia spoke with a triumphant expression.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

She left without even looking back.

I stared at her in shock. I was certain she was somehow connected to Erphils.

How far have her hands reached?

Lady Ascilia enjoyed the trust of the two most noble people in this mansion.

My chest tightened at the thought of the people who could be hurt.

I lifted my head sharply. I had to stop her. If the dark magic she wielded was real, it could affect not only Heos but also Kaiden.

I thought he was scared for some other reason… but that’s why… Wait a moment… there!

Looking out the window, I saw her greeting a passing servant with a nod. Ascilia wasn’t heading for the main gate but the back of the mansion.

Where could she be going? Something about it felt suspicious.

I have to follow her quickly!

But just then, the door opened, and Heos came out.

“Miliana, aren’t you coming in? Class is over. You can come in now.”

His suspicious expression and the large, intrusive mass of curse I could see in his eyes made me tense. I held his hand tightly first, then pressed my ether into the curse to suppress it.

“Miliana?”

“Master, ignore what others say. Do whatever you feel is right.”

Though his face looked bewildered, I had no time to worry about it.

Ugh… Your Highness, I’m sorry. This is all for the young master’s sake!

I pushed Heos into the room.

“Master, would you like to wait in the room? I’ll be back soon!”

“…Alright.”

Once I confirmed he had entered, I dashed out like an arrow.

Ascilia had disappeared by then. I asked passing servants about her whereabouts.

At first, they looked indifferent when I spoke, but when I shook one’s shoulder, the servant jumped and told me she had gone to the annex.

The annex should be under construction…

I nodded and ran toward it. I thought it was silly that I was running so much today. As I approached, the noise of the construction was almost deafening.

I could see the ruinous state of the annex, partially destroyed by Heos. Its half-exposed interior was eerie, and the structure seemed ready to collapse further. Construction workers were scattered around, and a foreman was scratching his head while giving directions. Ascilia was nowhere to be seen.

Why would she come to such a dangerous place?

The suspicion grew. I confirmed she wasn’t nearby and stepped deeper into the site, only to hear someone shouting. I couldn’t fail to see her from across the construction area.

“There! It’s dangerous! Step back!”

I turned, bowed low, and asked the workers about Ascilia.

“I’m sorry, but we’re looking for someone. Did a lady come here?”

“If it’s a lady, she said she had business in the garden and went there, I think?”

“Now you tell me? You’re leaving me in the dark?”

“Yes? Huh, but the garden isn’t part of the construction. It should be fine, right?”

Ignoring the foreman’s reprimand, I headed for the garden.

It had been a long time since I had entered the annex, so I wandered slightly, but a faint floral scent guided me. Following it, I saw the garden. Some debris had fallen due to the annex collapse, but otherwise, it was an ordinary garden.

Ascilia stood before a large piece of fallen debris. I hid quickly, feeling instinctively that I should.

She gracefully bowed toward the annex, whispering something through slightly parted lips. The distance and the construction noise made it hard to catch her words, but one word was clear:

“Wish…? What wish?”

Holding my breath, I watched her back. She didn’t move otherwise. When Ascilia raised her head, I debated what to do, then ran out, calling in a concerned voice, deliberately not sounding like I was following her.

“Madam, this place is dangerous!”

“…Maid? How did you get here…?”

She seemed slightly flustered. I cheerfully replied,

“I saw you heading for the annex from the window. It’s under construction, so I wasn’t sure if you knew. But what were you doing? You seemed to be mumbling something in front of the debris…”

I trailed off, trying to peek over her shoulder. Ascilia blocked me.

“Thank you for your concern. Nothing happened. Let’s go. The young master is probably waiting for you too.”

The tension between us sparked. She had no intention of stepping aside.

What could be in the garden?

“I just need to check something.”

Her smiling face remained, but the air between us was taut with tension.

“What do you mean by ‘check something’?”

Ascilia began to look uneasy.

Who is this maid? How much does she know?

Honestly, it wouldn’t matter if she stepped aside. To ordinary eyes, nothing here would be a problem. But I couldn’t let her see it.

What are those two doing…?

The knights walked cautiously, like cattle led to slaughter, scanning their surroundings.

Upon entering the office, the door slammed, and the silent room, paired with his piercing gaze, froze their hearts. Hesitant, no one dared speak, and Kaiden urged them.

“Is no one going to speak? You are aware of your sins, I presume. I suppose you plan to leave this mansion on your own.”

“Y-Your Highness! No!”

“Then speak. My ears are open.”

Kaiden processed his paperwork silently, without even glancing at the knights.

They exchanged uneasy looks, uncertain what to do. Being expelled from the Grand Duke’s household would seriously damage their careers.

They swallowed hard. Though it seemed impossible to reason with him, they had to try. One knight cautiously began:

“Your Highness, why did you appoint the maid Miliana as the young master’s personal attendant?”

His raised eyebrows showed displeasure. The knight hurriedly continued.

“Your Highness, surely there was a reason for the appointment. But she is unsuitable as a personal attendant. A commoner, ignorant of noble etiquette. She even opened the young master’s room without permission this morning.”

“And…”

“And she went to the dining hall unannounced. The young master didn’t intend to eat there, yet she forced him.”

“Forced…”

Kaiden listened quietly.

“We are not the only ones who disregarded the young master’s wishes. That maid relies solely on her title and tries to manipulate him. Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Heos being manipulated?”

Displeasure crept into his voice. The knight’s face brightened, thinking he had convinced Kaiden, but Kaiden quietly said,

“Have you ever seen it? I can’t even recall. It’s been so long. Even before my business trip, I tried to remember if Heos ever smiled… he hadn’t.”

“Eh?”

“I mean Heos’ smile.”

“Your Highness, what does that—”

When the curtains were drawn, seeing Miliana and Heos happily in the garden, my heart melted. Someone capable of bringing out that smile didn’t seem like a threat to him.

I’ve taken so much from Heos.

Freedom, a chance to live a normal life, the opportunity to receive his father’s love… even his mother.