VRGB 15

Chapter 15

We stood still for a moment.

After some time had passed, I pulled myself away and stood up, then helped up Ayla, who looked utterly confused.

“Now, go back to the mansion. Until I call for you, just act as you normally would. Just one thing…”

Ayla looked at me intently.

“Keep your eyes and ears wide open. Be alert and remember anything unusual related to me, our family, or anything out of the ordinary happening in Desmier. If I visit on the weekend or if there’s anything urgent you need to tell me, speak then.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“The Duke won’t bother with the movements of a mere maid. But be careful around Sir Obed. He casts a shadow over everything that happens in the mansion.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, I promise.”

Afterward, I walked her to where the coachman was waiting at the academy’s front gate.

She held my hand tightly as we walked, and just before stepping onto the carriage, she gripped it even tighter for a moment before letting go.

Sitting in the carriage, she pressed her face to the tiny window and earnestly called out to me.

“Please stay healthy, my lady. You must come to the mansion this weekend.”

“I will.”

“You promise, okay? You must!”

I waved at her as she shouted. She waved back from behind the window.

The Desmier carriage that carried my maid grew smaller like a dot and soon vanished from sight.

After watching the horizon where they disappeared, I turned around to face the vast land and buildings of Valentina.

But unlike when I had passed through the archway in the carriage this morning, I now saw it with very different feelings.

When I returned to the dormitory, the main hall, which had been a mess with my belongings scattered all over, was now impeccably clean without a single speck of dust.

I passed by Mrs. Hayden, who looked like she was seething inside but couldn’t glare at me directly, and went up to my room.

When I opened the door to Room 310, the view of the spacious room unfolded.

Cream-colored wallpaper wrapped the walls, and in the center lay a slightly darker-toned rug.

In front of a small fireplace that exuded warmth were two plush armchairs and a tea table. A luxurious mini chandelier on the ceiling sparkled brilliantly.

To the left was a separate bathroom equipped with daily-life magic that provided warm water.

To the right stood a large bed that could easily accommodate even a big man, dressed in white sheets and a cozy blue comforter.

Next to the bed was a wide, sturdy desk with a chair.

The clothes that had caused the earlier fuss were now neatly tucked into the closet, and the rest of my things were all in their proper places.

Finally, I opened the window and looked outside.

Just as I had hoped, the window faced the forest surrounding the campus.

My excitement slowly faded. I pulled myself inside and sat on the bed.

“I have to go into the forest when night falls.”

My mind felt uneasy. Hugging the pillow and rolling around didn’t bring any comfort.

It was just past sunset.

I had to wait a bit longer for the dead of night—when no one could see or interrupt me.

“When night comes…”

[…Lia, Kalia. Kalia.]

[Come this way. Come to us.]

“…the forest.”

I couldn’t tell whether the voices calling me were a dream or real.

My eyelids fluttered, and at some point, I fell into sleep without realizing it.

[…Kalia Estelle!]

“Ah!”

I shot up at a voice that sounded like it was shouting directly into my ear.

“Where… am I?”

For a brief moment, I couldn’t grasp the situation. Everything around me felt unfamiliar.

“Wasn’t I in prison? Accused of murder, waiting for execution…”

Darkness thickened around me, and I couldn’t make sense of anything.

There seemed to be a fireplace, but it wasn’t lit, and the air in the room was icy.

My shoulders shivered slightly as I pulled the blanket over me.

“Ah…”

As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I began to make out the shapes around me.

Finally, my mind started to clear.

“Right. I died… I came back five years. And I entered the Valentina dormitory.”

And then I woke up to the voice calling me.

It was just the right time—deep in the middle of the night.

“Time to move!”

I got up quickly and changed into a comfortable shirt and pants. I also put on a thick cardigan to protect against the cool night air.

[You’re finally coming? Coming? Coming? Coming? Coming? Coming?]

[Are you calling us? Calling us? Calling us? Calling us? Calling us?]

“Yes, I’m coming to you! So just shut up already!”

The voices were more excited and noisy than usual. I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted into the empty air.

These voices had been horribly persistent in my past life.

Before I died, I had no intention of facing them.

So I did my best to ignore them. But when I couldn’t endure it any longer, I’d yell and plead with the air to leave me alone.

“I must have looked possessed.”

I let out a dry laugh, recalling item #2 on my execution order: “Worshiping demons and spirits.”

What I did to avoid becoming a monster like my father had only made me into a witch.

“I can do this.”

Fully dressed and ready, I looked around the room. I’d return safely.

I encouraged myself and took a deep breath.

Then, I moved—not to become a monster or a witch, but to become a person.

First, I had to get out of here.

There was a curfew in the dormitory. At this late hour, if I tried to go out through the main entrance, I’d definitely get caught by the guards.

I opened the wardrobe. As I remembered, there was a spare blanket.

I took it out and tore down all the curtains from the windows.

I also pulled out all the clothes I wouldn’t be wearing immediately.

A mountain of cloth piled high on the bed.

I tied everything together as long and sturdy as possible to make a rope.

“I can always buy new clothes later.”

Ever since I escaped from the Baron’s grasp, money hadn’t been an issue.

Just as promised, the Duke gave me regular weekly briefings.

He reported on the operations and taxes of the Estellia territory, and the profits from investments he managed on my behalf.

As I requested, he was focusing on restoring the ruined lands my father had destroyed, and had poured an astronomical amount into compensation programs that previously had gone nowhere.

If time passed like this, the territory would recover.

Even while supporting the people of the land, Estell’s fortune continued to grow steadily under the Duke’s management—and would keep growing until I came of age.

Separate from that, the Desmier family gave me a generous allowance as my guardian.

Which means—

“I don’t need to panic over a few pennies anymore.”

Just a short while ago, I was scraping dusty corners of drawers for carriage fare.

A dramatic improvement.

I gave the rope one last tug to check its strength and tied one end to the bed and the other around my waist.

“Whew…”

Wind rushed through the window behind me.

“This is insane.”

But there was no choice. I had to finish this before morning came.

I tightened the knots one more time and stepped onto the terrace. Then I climbed over the railing and placed one foot on the outer wall.

After a brief hesitation, I gripped the rope tightly and brought the other foot up.

“Ugh!”

Even though I’d prepared myself, the impact on my hands was intense.

I slipped by about two finger joints but managed to grab hold with all my strength.

“Haah… Huff…”

I caught my breath and calmed myself. But—I was still on the wall. I hadn’t fallen.

“This is one time being scrawny is an advantage.”

Should I thank Ashley? I gave a wry smile.

From there, it went quickly.

I focused on climbing down one step at a time, not daring to look down.

After a while, I finally touched solid ground.

Grateful I hadn’t died again, I untied the rope from my waist, dusted myself off, and walked toward the forest.

The Valentina Forest, starting from the path behind the girls’ dormitory, circled the entire dorm area. It was quite deep.

It was home to many magical animals and plants, and students were forbidden from entering.

Still, every year, a few troublemakers would sneak in and get lost.

In my past life, I’d tried hard to be a model student, so I never set foot inside.

So I didn’t know the geography—but it didn’t matter.

My steps were unhesitant as I pushed through the branches and bushes.

[This way, Kalia! Come this way!]

The voices called me.

As I approached the source of those voices deeper and deeper, they grew louder and more excited, constantly repeating my name.

“My ears are going to burst.”

It got so intense that I frowned.

Even if the noise was in my head, I instinctively covered my ears and ran.

In the dark forest, only the pounding of my footsteps and their clamor echoed in my mind.

Then, at some point—while stepping on yet another branch—

Crunch—

The voices stopped.

Suddenly, silence fell over the chaos in my head.

“Haah… haah…”

Now, all I could hear was my own breathing. I slowly lowered my hands from my ears.

I brushed aside the branches blocking my view.

The rustling of leaves in the wind, the distant cry of a night bird, and the faint noise of something scurrying in the bushes…

And there it was.

A hidden clearing between the trees—a massive pond bathed in moonlight, glowing blue.