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The witch’s proposal lingered in Vivian’s mind like a stubborn stain.

‘Vivian, you can survive and take your revenge, can’t you? Isn’t that exactly what you need right now?’

Whenever I got lost in thought, sixty percent of the time I found myself thinking about the witch. Out of the remaining forty, thirty percent was about Kyle Allen… and one was about family, but…

Anyway, her question about needing power kept echoing in my head.

Sometimes I pondered whether that was the only path forward. For Vivian, who had lost her support, that hand reaching out felt like salvation.

Admitting the truth, it was undeniable that her presence lightened the burden on my heart.

Seeing hope and not seeing it is an enormous difference.

Yet, even in those moments of clarity, I struggled to make a choice—it was likely due to my learned aversion to witches and the sacrifices needed to become one.

I learned that witches worshipped demons. I had heard that drilled into me by my mentor, Lady Linne, until it became second nature.

Of course, Witch Elena herself insisted it was just a baseless rumor… But honestly, it was hard to trust that perspective since I hadn’t experienced being a witch.

What if I decided to become a witch, only to genuinely worship a demon afterward?

Would I end up like the frog slowly boiling in water, unaware as I descended into demon worship?

And to sacrifice the most precious thing? What if, when that moment came, I wouldn’t want to let go of what was dear to me?

I certainly couldn’t imagine sacrificing the Rondore Family or the Roktana territory. It wasn’t even out of love; it was more about sheer audacity.

Even my two eyes, which provided me the ability to see the world, could be the most valuable, couldn’t they?

Could I really give those up when the time came?

…Well, I guess if I died before all that, it wouldn’t matter in the end.

Something precious only has meaning if you’re alive to cherish it, not the other way around.

So, in that sense, what reason did I have not to sacrifice something precious?

“Lady Vivian.”

A familiar voice jolted Vivian from her thoughts.

White hair, deeply set wrinkles. A straight back and a face filled with determination.

It was Lady Linne, Vivian’s mentor.

“Focus, please. You seem to be lost in contemplation today.”

“…”

Vivian suddenly recalled the witch’s assessment of Lady Linne.

‘In this vast territory, the only person I could call an ally is… Lady Linne Rommer, perhaps?’

While the witch probably didn’t know everything, she had deemed Lady Linne an ally to Vivian.

Even though Vivian had never specifically thought of her mentor as an ally… in her precarious state, she considered trusting Lady Linne just once.

“Mentor, before anything… I have a tiny curiosity.”

It was surprising to see Vivian asking a question first, causing Lady Linne to raise an eyebrow.

“Go on.”

“I… I want to know about witches.”

“Witches?”

Lady Linne appeared baffled at the suddenness of the inquiry, but her usual punishing stick remained undisturbed.

Instead, she responded with a slightly warmer tone.

“What about witches are you curious about?”

“I’m… I’m curious why the Las sect rejects witches so vehemently…”

“That’s only natural.”

Lady Linne replied without a hint of hesitation.

“The seeds of disaster that worship demons must not exist in this world. They deceive people, bring misery, and spread curses with malice… We cannot tolerate their actions if we wish to protect those we love. The moment they unleash cruel magic, they become less than human.”

If using terrible magic makes you less than human, then wouldn’t it make those who commit atrocious acts also less than human?

Are they acceptable while witches are not?

Isn’t magic sometimes justifiable as self-defense? Isn’t it natural to defend oneself when attacked?

“So, does that mean even a witch who hasn’t done anything deserves to die?”

Lady Linne looked puzzled by Vivian’s perspective, but she still answered earnestly.

“If they were going to do nothing, they would not have become a witch. I have heard that witchcraft is inherited. Witches seek those who feel the need for spells and promise vengeance against the world. Only those who feel the necessity of wicked power become witches.”

With every word Lady Linne spoke, my desire to become a witch slowly dwindled.

It seemed to carry some weight.

I didn’t want to become something that everyone found so distasteful.

Being shaken now felt forced as much as it was shaky.

With the constant threat of death looming, maintaining sanity became a daunting task.

I couldn’t even eat without Kyle Allen, which was a burden in itself.

The situation of relying on an enemy felt shameful.

With a sigh, Vivian brushed thoughts of witches aside.

But the moment I eliminated that possibility, the weight on my heart grew heavier again.

Then how am I supposed to live if not as a witch?

What path should I choose to survive until adulthood?

How can I revive the family that my family dedicated their lives to protect?

How can I grow to avoid shame before Kyle Allen and not be dismissed by the Allen Family?

How can I grow to make the family that left me proud?

“…”

Vivian looked up at Lady Linne.

Once more, she gathered her courage to ask. Lady Linne was the one who told her not to speak weakly, but… she felt utterly lost.

“M-Mentor. O-One more thing.”

“…”

“P-Please be honest. What… what should I do to survive?”

At that question, Lady Linne displayed both surprise and compassion.

Given that the poisoning incident hadn’t sparked extensive conversation, this was the first time they were discussing life-and-death matters.

A long silence hung in the air between them.

After exhaling a long sigh, Lady Linne slowly approached.

She drew a chair beside Vivian and sat heavily.

Staring intently into Vivian’s eyes, she seemed to hesitate for a moment. As the silence stretched, the discomfort in the room deepened.

Finally, Lady Linne shook her head slowly and said:

“I don’t… really know either. The world is far too complex, and things rarely go as predicted.”

That was not the answer Vivian wanted. Lady Linne seemed to sense it and quickly added:

“However, the path I see is but one. That is the only possibility I can see.”

“W-What is that?”

Lady Linne took a deep breath, gathering herself before delivering her heavy words.

“…You must grow into a beautiful woman. Then, take a strong man as your husband.”

“…”

In that moment, the room fell silent once again. Lady Linne’s words were concise, but their weight felt heavier than the air between them.

Vivian could only gaze at Lady Linne, speechless.

Her mind swirled with confusion, a suffocating sensation settling in her chest.

It meant she would have to flatter someone she didn’t love to survive.

Though Vivian had never experienced love, she could instinctively anticipate how she would feel.

Even now, she was struggling to say a word to the adults around her just to survive.

Yet, the idea that such a situation would continue into adulthood felt utterly deflating.

Lady Linne’s wisdom could be understood rationally, but it made life seem pitiful once again.

“Lady Vivian, a man’s weapon is strength, yet a woman’s weapon is beauty. It’s a powerful force that can enforce loyalty and sacrifice.”

-Smack.

Lady Linne’s stick lightly tapped Vivian’s leg.

This straightened Vivian’s legs that had been relaxed without tension.

Lady Linne shook her head.

“But, Lady Vivian, you are far too lacking at this point. No one would want a stuttering woman as a wife.”

Her firm tone carried a cold warning to face reality.

“Of course, many men might chase you just for being from the Rondore family. But if you stutter, your options will dwindle.”

“…”

Why did Kyle Allen pop into my mind at that moment?

In front of him, I hadn’t been stuttering lately. Maybe because I had nothing to hide from someone I disliked so much.

At least we didn’t wear masks around each other, so while I didn’t feel safe, I at least felt comfortable at his side.

It was funny. I didn’t stutter in front of the one person in the world I absolutely shouldn’t.

Lady Linne sighed again.

“It doesn’t stop at just stuttering, either. Lady Vivian, have you had your period yet?”

“…”

Vivian didn’t answer out of embarrassment.

Lady Linne didn’t press her further.

“Once your period starts, you’ll need to learn various knowledge and gestures. After you grow up, that includes dance for balls, elegant movements, sexuality, and conversation skills.”

“E-Education about sexuality?”

“It would have been better if you could grow up without knowing such things… but Lady Vivian, you are not in a position to be picky. You will have to learn all the theories in detail and how to act innocent while pretending not to know.”

With a swift smack of her stick again on Vivian’s shrinking shoulders, Lady Linne kept going.

“I will also teach you how to seduce men. You should steadily learn lewd phrases. Your face is turning red now, but you shouldn’t be embarrassed. You need to survive, don’t you? Subtle hand gestures, glances, expressions… Even things that happen at night, you’ll be learning those too.”

“W-What do you mean by nighttime activities?”

“You will know soon enough.”

In that moment, Vivian’s perception of Lady Linne shifted just a bit.

Having only received punishment and ineffective education, she had harbored a certain dislike for Lady Linne.

But even though she didn’t immediately trust her just because she said such things, at the very least, she was grateful that there seemed to be a plan for her.

Lady Linne solemnly added:

“You must become a perfect woman. It’s easy to kill an ugly woman, but it’s hard to kill a beautiful one. It’s a brutal truth, but the consequences are different. Should anyone possibly love you, they will become your enemy. You’ll need to manage not just your behavior but also your body. You need a well-rounded bust, a slim waist, and wide hips.”

“But that’s something beyond my control.”

“That said, you shouldn’t gain excessive weight. Self-care is necessary.”

Given the speaker was Lady Linne, it was hard to argue back.

Despite her old age, she still seemed to take care of herself well.

Eventually, Vivian could only give a half-hearted nod in response.

“You seem troubled by your expression.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“That’s why I didn’t want to be the one to say it first.”

“…”

With Lady Linne’s cold reprimand, Vivian felt herself shrink further.

But how could she not feel deflated?

She was told she would have to live a life focused on seducing men… how could she not feel hopeless?

Listening to her future being reduced to such a simplistic choice was horrifying.

However, before her feelings could completely crumble, Lady Linne offered a small smile.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“Huh?”

Vivian was dumbfounded by that comment. It was the first time someone had offered her such consolation.

“Once you’ve learned everything and can love the man you desire, you will surely find happiness.”

That word, happiness, felt so distant. Vivian unwittingly questioned.

“Is it… is being with the man you love really that happy?”

Lady Linne nodded.

There was no doubt on her face.

It was the expression of someone who had experienced life.

“It’s far warmer than parental love.”

“…”

That was a metaphor I couldn’t wrap my head around.

Could anything truly surpass the love of one’s parents in happiness?

But somehow, knowing it was Lady Linne, who had only spoken cold truths until now, made me feel a flicker of hope.

-Clap!

Lady Linne clapped her hands, shifting the atmosphere.

She got up from her chair and said,

“However, it all starts after you fix that stutter.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Once you fix that, I’ll think about inviting various guests to Roktana again. You desperately need friends for socializing, Lady Vivian. Inviting the daughter of Baron Dubos would be nice too—they’re all really cute and lovely.”

Friends?

But before I could express my confusion, Lady Linne handed over a book she had brought with her.

“Now, shall we continue with the lesson?”

-Boom!

At that moment, the door swung open as if bursting.

In a sudden flurry, Kyle Allen, with his black hair, strutted in like he owned the place.

“I came to check in on today’s lesson.”

He said it nonchalantly.

But given the topic of conversation I’d just had with Lady Linne, I felt my face flushing for the first time.

“Get out!”

-Whoosh!

Before I knew it, I threw the book that had been right in front of me at Kyle.

-Thud!

Kyle, blocking the book that came flying towards him with his arm, was about to scowl but then realized something was off about the atmosphere.

He sniffled and turned away.

 

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