Chapter 72
Elena didn’t come to see Vivian until a month after the assassination incident.
“Long time no see, Vivian.”
Vivian, who was sitting at her desk handling piles of paperwork late into the night, wasn’t even surprised by Elena’s sudden visit.
For some reason, she had a gut feeling that Elena would be coming tonight.
After spending so long together, perhaps they understood each other on some level.
“It’s not enough.”
The moment Vivian heard Elena’s voice, she spoke without even looking up.
This was something she had been meaning to say the moment they met.
“What is?”
“The things my mentor does for me. It’s far from enough compared to what I do for you.”
Surprised by this sudden claim, Elena fell silent for a while and then spoke gently as if to ease the tension.
“I told you I would teach you how to be a witch, not what I would do for you.”
“If all I had was power that couldn’t even stop an assassin’s intrusion, I wouldn’t have accepted this.”
“…Vivian, you’re still just an apprentice witch. Once you offer your sacrifice and become a full witch—”
Vivian cut Elena off and turned to face her.
The beautiful witch was perched by the window.
“—I can’t wait. I refuse to watch as my mentor hides safely in the shadows while I risk my life fighting.”
“…”
Vivian warned Elena, who was silent.
“Now you’re on the same boat as me. We either live or die together… it’s one or the other. From now on, instead of ‘I’m just an apprentice witch and can’t use my powers,’ you should use any power I can’t exploit, mentor. You must use spells for my sake.”
This wasn’t solely because she figured out what the witch’s sacrifice meant.
It wasn’t out of fear that she might have to sacrifice Kyle either.
Kyle could never become a sacrifice; it would be something else instead.
However, the word sacrifice clearly resonated deeply with Vivian.
Vivian continued, “…Mentor, even though I already knew this… you’re too selfish.”
“…”
“Does it make sense that I, an apprentice witch, am fighting harder than a full witch? You must have felt how much pressure I’ve taken off the Las Order.”
“…”
“So what have you done for me, mentor? Were you by my side when those trying to assassinate me came? Did you even warn me? You only slithered out to find me now that things have calmed down, didn’t you?”
For the first time, a flicker of displeasure crossed Elena’s face.
It was a look she never expected to see on the mature witch.
“…Vivian, crawling out, you say? To my mentor?”
“I’m sorry if that hurt you. But I have no qualms left. If I’m fighting for my life, what does a verbal dispute matter?”
“…”
But still, Vivian couldn’t elicit the emotion she wanted from Elena’s face.
Although Elena showed her displeasure, she was still composed.
Perhaps she was convinced that Vivian wouldn’t take any action now that the pressure from the Las Order was slightly relieved.
But Vivian wanted to correct that misconception.
“If you won’t help me going forward, I have a way. You may not know, but Kyle Allen has become a Witch Hunter at the suggestion of the Las Order.”
As the words left her lips, Elena seemed to grasp Vivian’s intentions and shouted, “…Vivian!”
“I’ll give Kyle Allen the witch-hunting task. Who knows, I might even offer him advice.”
Vivian’s gaze swept across Elena’s body.
“…A blonde, tall, beautiful person with large assets might raise some suspicions.”
“…”
Elena and Vivian engaged in a long staring contest.
But Vivian had no intention of backing down.
Sure, she had to admit that her ability to detect lies had been a great help.
This skill had allowed her to catch Kyle before he could leave and build her hit list as well.
It was a small power, but it had caused significant change.
…But still not enough.
She had only dealt with one treasurer so far, and countless retainers and knights remained.
To fully seize Rondore, this alone wouldn’t suffice.
The political strife had begun, and the hidden enemies’ assaults would only intensify.
At this rate, even her royal lineage wouldn’t last.
…Furthermore, Vivian had no intention of sacrificing the most precious thing she had for this.
Whatever that precious thing was, she could never offer it up for such a small price.
Finally, after losing the staring contest, Elena sighed.
“…Alright, I get your point. From now on, I’ll help you.”
“You should.”
“You really don’t need to keep tabs on your enemies anymore, since you’ve organized your kill list.”
“…That’s true.”
Elena raised a finger.
“Just one person.”
Those words carried a monumental commitment.
“…I’ll kill whoever you ask me to, but no more than one. This is paying for my own life. Anything beyond that is absolutely out of the question.”
“…”
“…Be careful whom you choose to kill, Vivian. I can’t handle any more than this, so whatever pressure you put on me isn’t going to change that.”
One person was enough.
To eliminate one person without needing to lift a finger was undeniably a powerful benefit.
The first name that popped into her mind was… Jade Allen.
The father of Kyle Allen.
The legendary undefeated knight of the East Kingdom who killed her father and brother.
The root of her responsibility towards the Rondore family that she had to bear alone.
The cause of Kyle’s gnawing guilt.
They were all because of that undefeated knight.
…
If this were a while ago, she would’ve surely said Jade Allen without hesitation.
But now, a strange hesitation blossomed, preventing her from doing so.
The commotion when Kyle lost his mother was still vivid in her mind.
How badly he wanted to return home.
…If Jade Allen were to die suddenly, what would happen to Kyle?
Couldn’t the East Kingdom formally ask Delum Kingdom for another heir to their loyal knight house?
Almost four years had passed since the war ended, and Delum was gradually recovering from the damage it sustained from war.
Rumors even floated that the royal families of the East and Delum Kingdoms were growing closer.
They said the kidnapped princess of the East would be offered in marriage to the prince of Delum for peace.
Given that their relationship was no longer as terrible as it was four years ago, such proposals could very well occur.
…
Vivian’s deliberation didn’t last long.
She had no intention of loosening Kyle’s leash for anything.
She would not simply hand him over for the sake of her family’s lives.
Even if she surrendered him, it wouldn’t mean her family would return.
In the end, staying put in Roktana would cause Kyle more suffering than if Jade Allen died.
Vivian firmly believed that would be the sweeter revenge.
Furthermore, she needed to wait until Kyle’s siblings were old enough.
By then, they could take over his responsibilities while Kyle, who might not return anytime soon, would be replaced in another role.
…If that could happen, the Allen family might no longer need Kyle.
Kyle might end up living beneath the Castle of Rondore for life.
Vivian couldn’t suppress the chilling smile that escaped her lips.
…That sounded nice.
Owning Kyle for a lifetime.
He might even come to like it, after all.
He did have a fondness for her. He liked her.
If little by little, she did the things he’d like, wouldn’t he be satisfied?
For now, she would settle for kissing his cheek… but given time, she might progress to tighter embraces, actual kisses, and touching every part of his body… and who knows what else.
Vivian sighed and voiced her thoughts.
Then she turned to Elena and said, “Okay, mentor. But please, do teach me more witch spells regularly from now on.”
“I told you, Vivian. That’s something you can only use once you become a full witch—”
“—I’ll decide that. Just pass on the knowledge. If it’s a spell I can use immediately, even better.”
“Hah…”
Elena chuckled wearily.
“How could I possibly have a student this willful?”
After thinking for a while, Elena proposed to Vivian.
“…I’ll teach you how to make a listening charm. It should help you understand your enemies’ plans. Whether you can use it or not, I can’t guarantee… even if you can, it won’t work for long.”
“A charm?”
“The sounds the charm hears, you’ll be able to hear too. Is that alright?”
It seemed intriguing, but Vivian had no doubts.
She had become accustomed to using strange spells that cramped her style.
Vivian asked a sudden thought that popped into her head.
“Could the charm be a piece of jewelry? Like a necklace or a bracelet?”
It appeared Elena thought that was not a very good idea, as she tilted her head.
“That’s possible. But it wouldn’t be useful. It’s better to keep the charm somewhere in a room. If it’s jewelry, it would only be able to eavesdrop on the one person who wears it—”
“—That’s enough.”
Vivian whispered.
She was eager to tighten her hold on Kyle’s leash.
Every time he revealed his hatred for her, it sent a jolt to her heart.
“…If it can only listen to one person, that’s sufficient.”
****
“What is this?”
I asked, looking at the necklace Vivian handed me.
A chilly atmosphere hung between us.
During meals, we cared for each other, but our gazes were hostile.
In such a situation, Vivian unexpectedly gave me a gift.
“Can’t you tell?”
“I can’t. Why are you giving me this all of a sudden?”
“…It’s a collar.”
When I frowned, Vivian replied with a smirk.
“…Just kidding. It’s a gift.”
“A gift?”
Vivian elegantly moved her utensils, filling her mouth with food as she spoke.
“…I can feel gratitude sometimes, you know.”
“…”
Did I somehow miss the summer heat?
But if anyone was to be affected by it, it wouldn’t be Vivian, who lived on this southern land.
I slowly lifted the necklace Vivian had handed me and examined it.
Strangely enough, the necklace had a small charm with the emblem of the Allen family engraved on it.
“…”
Seeing the family emblem sent a shiver down my spine.
It felt as if I had confronted my roots.
After not seeing it for so long, it even felt unfamiliar.
I lost myself in the moment, running my thumb over the bear emblem of the Allen family for what felt like ages.
Finally, I said nothing and put the necklace on.
After all, not only was it the Allen family emblem, but it was a gift from Vivian.
I had no strength to refuse it.
So I donned the necklace without even expressing my thanks to Vivian and continued eating.
…
Time passed.
Along with it, various changes began sweeping through the castle.
The execution of Brinden and Kelsy marked the turning point.
The local lords started flocking to me, saying they saw potential in Vivian.
Many came to pledge their enduring loyalty, with several from desperate backgrounds like Kelsy, who had to support their families and those whose lives had been shattered by the war.
Whenever this happened, Vivian and I would interrogate them closely to decide whether to accept them, but no matter how much we tried to smooth things over, the number of people residing in the castle only increased over time.
Some had come to strengthen the interior of Rondore, while most were soldiers wishing to participate in monster hunting.
Things had become complicated, but that was far from bad.
It was a good thing that naïve loyalty was melding into the midst of the vile retainers.
Since all the soldiers who volunteered had been incorporated into the Punishment Unit, Vivian’s military strength also grew.
There were already more than ten people managing Rondore’s finances alongside Kelsy.
Moreover, a few especially enthusiastic soldiers had been assigned surveillance duties like I did to my companions, which granted us a clearer picture of the overall atmosphere within the castle.
We were able to know who bore grievances against Vivian.
Who led the strange atmosphere, and so on…
Though the rebellions had quieted down as Vivian’s followers increased, it was undeniable.
It was evident that control of the Rondore Castle was gradually shifting towards Vivian.
Vivian stood on the second floor, overlooking the courtyard.
I was there, keeping her company.
Vivian gazed down with a somewhat proud expression, smiling at the bustling castle.
She too must have felt a certain pride as she observed the transformation of the castle.
From the moments of utter helplessness to now being in a position of recognition.
“…It’s nice.”
Vivian muttered.
In fact, I felt it too.
Despite harboring hatred towards Vivian, I couldn’t deny that I was also filled with pride.
Especially having navigated our painful childhoods relatively safely was something I took pride in above all.
Recently, even Baelor was avoiding making eye contact with me.
Could there be any clearer sign of change than that?
“This is just the beginning, Kyle.”
Vivian crossed her arms, looking out over the courtyard as she rested her head on my shoulder.
Our enmity was definite, but so were the emotions that lay beneath it, making such close contact feel natural.
Especially since Vivian seemed more confident now that she knew my feelings.
She had grown more comfortable extending her physical contact, as if touching me would make me happy.
…The problem was that her assumption was correct.
Right now, I wanted nothing more than to plant a kiss on her forehead as she leaned against my shoulder.
Perhaps it was the exhilaration I felt, realizing the changes in the courtyard that sparked these feelings.
“I’m going to rebuild Rondore from now on.”
-Swish.
Vivian lightly rubbed her hair against me.
It felt like an instinctive act.
Her floral scent was melting into my being.
“Be sure to watch closely, Kyle. I’m going to carve out a position you can’t ignore.”
Vivian flashed a seductive smile.
She was now fully in her adulthood.
Was three or four years such a long time?
The childlike look she had when we first met was long gone.
Vivian was tall for a woman.
Her face was beautiful, adding depth to her charm.
Her red hair flowed like silk, and her body was as smooth as her locks.
Now, no matter what she wore, her figure was alluring.
Her long, sturdy legs were flawless.
…It would only be natural for me to feel a desire towards her.
She possessed an ethereal charm that could send chills down anyone’s spine.
Her eyes were sharp, and when she was expressionless, she appeared quite cold.
From what the soldiers who had newly joined the Punishment Unit said, they found Vivian scarier than they anticipated, which likely confirmed my view.
However, I knew her well enough from our time spent together.
…She used to be a frequent crier, a soft-hearted girl easily overwhelmed.
Only I knew this, making Vivian feel all the more personal to me.
…It gave me an odd illusion, like she was meant only for me.
“Lady Vivian.”
At the sound of the voice that suddenly rang out, Vivian hastily removed her head from my shoulder.
Turning around, she saw Lady Linne standing there.
“The dance instructor has arrived. Let’s go.”
“Yes. Let’s.”
I tilted my head at the mention of a dance instructor.
“…Dance?”
Had she learned to dance?
Vivian seemed to understand my confusion, chuckling lightly as she replied.
“I need to step out and establish my presence too.”
“…Establish your presence?”
Vivian said earnestly, “The social circle.”
