Chapter 77
“I’ve made up my mind.”
The next morning.
After a full night’s sleep in Leon’s bed, Renoa’s mind was chillingly clear.
By contrast, Leon, who had stayed up all night, had heavy fatigue under his eyes—but that was unfortunate.
Renoa sorted out the situation with the cool reason that remained after the emotions had burned away overnight.
Now that she knew witch blood flowed in her own body, what should she do?
Her next step was clear.
“I’m going to exterminate the witch.”
“Will you be going to the family estate?”
“Yes.”
Exterminate the witch.
That was the path Renoa had chosen.
She had considered escaping from the witch’s grasp together with Leon, but that did not suit her temperament.
‘I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I run away?’
She would personally punish the witch who had caused this situation.
As if her turmoil had lasted only a moment, Renoa shook off her despair and stood back up.
The disheveled look vanished, and the cold face she usually wore was back in place.
Leon felt relieved, but also worried.
What they had to do from here on was not as simple as rabbit hunting.
“How about hiding under imperial protection for a while? I’ve already told His Highness the Prince, so you’ll be safe.”
In exchange for helping with the witch hunt, Leon had struck a deal with Aiter.
With imperial protection, the witch would not be able to touch even a hair on Renoa’s head.
But.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to catch the witch.”
“Then I’m going too.”
Renoa had no intention of sending Leon away alone.
“Young lady, we don’t know what the witch might do. Please stay somewhere safe.”
“How do I know you won’t just run away and leave me behind?”
“If I were going to do that, I would have run long ago.”
“I don’t care. We’re going together, so just know that. I’m not changing my mind.”
“Hah. Understood. If that’s what the young lady wants. Don’t regret it later.”
Though he didn’t like it, if his master, Renoa, insisted, Leon would simply follow.
“Then when will you return to the duchy?”
“We should leave right away.”
“Right away?”
“The sooner the better. They’ve probably gotten some sense of the situation over there, too.”
Bibi was one of the witch’s minions.
No matter what intentions she had in feeding Renoa poison, that fact would never change.
Otherwise, there was no way a mere maid like Bibi could have learned such confidential information.
They had probably realized by now that Bibi had betrayed them.
And that Renoa would no longer be able to serve as the vessel.
“We’ll strike first before they can prepare. That’ll give us the better odds.”
That was Renoa’s plan.
“What about the academy?”
“I should leave. I’ve already built some rapport with His Highness the Prince, and I never intended to graduate in the first place.”
There was no need to stay at the academy any longer.
It was nice to live a normal life, but the situation no longer allowed for that.
“Understood. Then let’s at least say goodbye before you go.”
“Do we really need to?”
“Farewells are just as important as meetings. As a noble, you ought to wrap things up neatly.”
“…Fine.”
With Leon’s persuasion, Renoa visited the academy before leaving.
“You’re leaving, Lady Renoa?”
Elody was startled by the news that Renoa was leaving.
“Yeah. Since I can’t even use magic anymore, there’s no point staying any longer. I’m going back to the estate to focus on recovering.”
“Waaah. Lady Renoa. I wanted to spend even more time with you……”
Elody clung tightly to Renoa’s waist.
Startled by the excessive closeness, Renoa was flustered. She tried to push Elody’s shoulders away.
“What’s wrong with you? We’re not that close.”
“Pardon?”
Elody was shocked.
She looked up at Renoa with a face full of shock.
“Aren’t we… friends?”
“Friends?”
“But…… I ate with you, took classes with you, and talked with you a lot. You also stepped in to help when I was in trouble.”
“That was just because our paths happened to cross, and because I was showing the minimum courtesy expected of a noble. Don’t go assuming things.”
“Sob, you’re my first friend, Lady Renoa……. And you’re saying I’m not your friend…….”
When Elody even let out big, beadlike tears, Renoa’s unfocused gaze wavered uncertainly.
She had spent her whole life trampling others and making them cry, but this was the first time she had seen someone cry because they were sad to part with her.
No, was this really something to cry over?
In Renoa’s common sense, it was a feeling she simply couldn’t understand.
The bewildered Renoa.
Then, reluctantly, she lowered her hand, which had been hovering in the air, and patted Elody’s back.
“Stop it. People are staring at us weirdly.”
“Hic. Will you… be my friend?”
“Haa. Fine, I will. I will, so please, enough already.”
“Ehehehe. I’m friends with Lady Renoa.”
Not knowing what was so wonderful about being friends with Renoa, Elody sniffled and grinned brightly.
Watching that, Renoa could only be baffled.
Meanwhile, beside them, Leon and Helena were calmly exchanging farewells.
“Leon’s going to follow the young lady, right?”
“Of course.”
“We only just reunited, and now we’re parting again.”
“We’ll be able to see each other soon. Once things settle down, I’ll invite you to the duchy.”
“Got it.”
Renoa and Aiter didn’t exchange many words. They both knew they would meet again soon.
After seeing them off, the two left the academy.
They returned to the mansion and boarded the carriage bound for the duchy.
“Well then, shall we go?”
***
The road to the duchy was long and harsh.
Only Leon had it rough.
Because Leon had to cover for the place Bibi had left empty.
He kept Renoa company in the carriage, and when bandits or monsters attacked, he went out and subdued them.
He even played the role of a court food taster, checking whether the food was poisoned.
He stayed by her side until she fell asleep, and when morning came, he got up first to wake her.
‘Is this right?’
Ever since Bibi’s betrayal, Renoa’s spoiled behavior had grown worse by the day.
At this point, he couldn’t even tell whether he was a servant or a knight.
After several days on the road, the carriage arrived in the duchy.
Renoa looked up at the grand manor she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Just as she had felt the first time she came to the duchy, just looking at it made her feel suffocated.
Whether it was because of its overwhelming grandeur or because the place itself was the problem, she didn’t know.
Maybe both.
“You…? Why are you here?”
The women of the family, who had been leisurely enjoying teatime in the garden, spotted Renoa.
Duchess Florencia.
The eldest daughter, Idella.
And Sylvia, the third daughter, who had been admiring the flowers nearby.
The moment she saw the three of them, Renoa let out a sigh.
“Have you all been well?”
“Why are you in the territory? What about the academy?”
“I quit. It was boring.”
“What?”
“Sorry, but unlike some people, I don’t have the leisure to enjoy teatime. I’m going in first.”
Renoa left the three dazed women behind and entered the manor.
Before long, she ran into Duke Pascal, who came hurrying over in a fluster.
“Renoa!”
“I greet you, Head of the House.”
Renoa narrowed her eyes and took him in.
This, too, matched the impression she had when she first saw the manor.
A visceral disgust.
She had thought it was resentment toward the father who had neglected her, but it must have been because of the identity lurking inside him.
“What’s this? Showing up without even a word? I was just thinking how much I wanted to see you.”
“I wanted to see you very much, Head of the House.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m tired from the long trip, so would it be okay if we moved somewhere else?”
“O-of course. Let’s go at once.”
Soon after, they arrived at the duke’s private chambers.
The duke and Renoa sat facing each other. Leon stood behind Renoa as if guarding her.
“What on earth happened? Your mana core……!”
“I’m not really sure. My mana core suddenly turned as hard as stone. According to the doctor, I won’t be able to use magic anymore, or so he said.”
“Seokrinhwa…!”
The duke immediately blurted out the name of that poisonous herb.
Renoa didn’t react, maintaining a calm expression as she continued.
“I looked into it, and there is an antidote. Silver thistle, I think. If I can get that, the problem should be solved. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“A-ah, yes. Silver thistle. Yes, yes. It certainly is a useful herb when someone’s been poisoned. But…….”
“Why? Is there some problem?”
“A problem? No, it’s just…… um.”
The duke was plainly flustered. He couldn’t string his words together properly and fidgeted in place.
Watching from the sidelines, Renoa’s gaze was cold. She knew why he was doing that.
“Head of the House.”
“W-what do we do? Should we call a priest? But that won’t work either. Black magic? That’d ruin the mana core…….”
“Head of the House?”
“Y-yes?”
“I’m tired, so may I go in and rest first?”
“Oh, yes, of course. You absolutely mustn’t let your body get worn out. Rest well. Really rest!”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Renoa rose from her seat and left the room. Leon followed after her.
“What do you think?”
“What is there to think about? It’s obvious.”
Maybe he really was knowledgeable in herbal medicine; even with only Renoa’s symptoms, the duke immediately realized Seokrinhwa was the cause.
That much was understandable.
Since it produced such distinctive symptoms, it would be easy enough to pinpoint the cause.
But when she mentioned silver thistle, the duke couldn’t hide how flustered he was.
Because he knew it was fatal to witches.
“You were right, Leon.”
Seeing the duke’s reaction, she became certain.
He isn’t the duke. Strictly speaking, he’s the witch Cersia wearing the duke’s mask.
There was no need to look any further.
“How do you feel? Your mother, whom you thought dead, is alive. Aren’t you happy?”
“Is that really the time for that kind of joke?”
As Renoa glared, Leon gave a light shrug.
As if he were making a joke to ease the tension.
At that shameless attitude that went beyond the pale, Renoa let out a sigh.
At the same time, she replayed her meeting with Cersia in her mind.
The witch commonly imagined in people’s minds is a being with an intelligent, decadent, yet refined air.
But what was that, then?
It was impossible to tell whether she was an adult or a child. The sight of her flailing around gracelessly was truly laughable.
“For a woman that stupid to be my birth mother. That’s ridiculous.”
“…Huh?”
“If a duke was taken in by a woman like that, he must be hopelessly lacking in intelligence.”
“Um….”
Otherwise, there is no way he would have fallen for such a stupid woman.
“Born between those two people, I could only be described as a miracle from God. Don’t you think?”
A matter-of-fact, outrageously unfilial take.
Narcissism that used her parents as a sacrifice to advertise her own excellence.
‘It’s black magic in everything but name.’
While Leon was left speechless in shock, Renoa shot him a sharp look.
“I’m asking you. Isn’t that right?”
“Oh, yes. Absolutely. Someone like our young lady is saintly enough.”
Even as he said that, Leon secretly thought to himself.
If this woman were a saint, the church would collapse that very day.
Who the real witch was.
Leon could say with certainty.
Renoa was far more fitting to be called a witch than Cersia was.