“That’s……”

Just as he thought he had seen that bird’s ominous gaze somewhere before.

Belinda’s voice was heard from beyond the door behind him.

“Sybel.”

“Belinda……?”

But Sybel couldn’t open the door, or even turn towards it.

Because he remembered where he had seen the crow at the window.

‘Shadow crow……’

It was clearly that beast he had sent to Belinda.

And as if understanding Sybel’s feelings, Belinda’s voice continued, softly murmuring.

“I’ll forgive you generously for not opening the door. I’m only here to give a warning today.”

Moreover, there wasn’t just one beast.

So many birds were perched on the branches, eyeing their prey inside the room, that the shadow of the large tree in the moonlight couldn’t be seen.

Sybel slowly reached for the bladeless sword decorating the wall.

“If you ever lay a hand on what’s mine again, I’ll gouge out your eyes so you’ll never see light again.”

Tap. Crack.

The glass window cracked where the crow’s pitch-black beak pecked it.

“Even if it’s not something you did, it doesn’t matter. The moment something happens that displeases me, I’ll assume you’re the culprit and act accordingly.”

Tap, tap. Crack.

“So, dear brother, engrave it deep in your bones that your life is worth less than a single tear of my servant, and live out that pitiful life of yours.”

Tap, tap.

“There won’t be a next time.”

Crash-!

Finally, with a loud noise, the window shattered, and a flock of crows poured into the room.

Sybel quickly leaped to grab the decorative sword on the wall and swung it with all his might.

However, a blade not imbued with aura would only increase the number of monsters.

“Ugh, you filthy things!”

At that moment, a very faint reddish aura appeared on Sybel’s sword, and it barely managed to cut down one monster.

The monsters, which had been destroying both Sybel and the precious items adorning the office, instantly vanished at the sound of approaching employees knocking on the door, drawn by the chaos.

“Master, are you alright? We came when we heard the commotion……”

“It’s fine, go back.”

Only when he watched the monsters abandon their posts one by one, until just one remained, did Sybel finally dare to relax his guard.

Sybel turned the employees away at the door, refusing to let them enter.

He couldn’t bear to show them such a pathetic scene—himself under monster attack amid the chaos of his ransacked office.

Even afterward, Sybel maintained a silent vigil against the monsters lurking outside his window.

When awareness finally returned, he found his back soaked with cold sweat.

After steadying his ragged breathing, he noticed a document that had been slipped beneath the door.

Sybel’s eyes widened as he unconsciously retrieved it, then released a hollow laugh.

“Ha.”

It was none other than copies of the welfare corporation he was currently creating in the prince’s name.

It was a clear mockery and warning.

That she knew all about his plans.

Sybel crumpled the document in his hand viciously.

From start to finish, his plans were falling apart.

And if there was one thing among them that he couldn’t understand…

“How did she know it was a seal stone?”

* * *

It seems it wasn’t entirely a lie that he had talent in swordsmanship, as he managed to surround his sword with an aura.

I watched through Kao’s eyes as Sybel’s body became covered in wounds, and then quietly observed as his mouth opened.

<“How… did she know?”>

What’s he saying?

‘Maybe I should learn lip-reading.’

I could only share Kao’s vision, so I couldn’t know exactly what Sybel was saying.

‘Just a little, just a little more watching…’

At that moment, suddenly my eyelids felt heavy as if pressed by something, and then became warm.

“Peering into the world through a monster’s eyes is not something I would recommend.”

When I returned to reality, Sir Penadel was covering my eyes.

“Let go.”

“I beg your pardon.”

Sir Penadel withdrew at my command, offering me a handkerchief.

When I felt warmth at the tip of my nose, I touched it curiously only to discover a nosebleed—a side effect of overextending my magical powers.

‘So, he covered it because I had a nosebleed.’

I didn’t refuse the handkerchief he offered.

My body felt as heavy as lead.

After the Seal Stone broke, the magic circuit started functioning normally, allowing me to regain my magic power little by little.

‘Cheshire said that if I train my magic circuit and increase my magic power, I could tame other monsters besides Kao, but…’

Right now, my magic power was so low that just handling Kao alone was overwhelming and often depleted my magic.

Although it was my first time experiencing magic depletion, the feeling wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

Before removing the Seal Stone from my body, I used to groan like this every morning when I woke up.

The difference now was that my head felt hazy, as if drunk.

I leaned back deeply into the armchair in the drawing room, waiting for the dizziness to subside.

Then I opened my mouth.

“What about Vivian?”

The answer came from Terry, who was uncharacteristically standing silently by the door.

“She’s been chugging caffeine, saying she can’t calm down. Fortunately, she’s not hurt. However, she’s holding onto Ratchet and won’t let go, so it seems they’ll sleep together tonight.”

Unfortunately, the goddess of fortune was on Sybel’s side.

To think he prepared for an attack on the day Terry was absent.

Sybel probably thought Terry was just an employee of the dress shop.

“It’s my fault.”

Terry bowed her head heavily.

It’s easy to blame others. But if we’re being clear, it’s neither Terry’s nor Vivian’s fault.

‘It’s Sybel’s.’

What should I do with him?

‘Should I kill him? Surely Terry could…’

I blinked in surprise while staring blankly at Terry, who had her head bowed.

That thought just now was too… brutal to be my own.

Especially in this world.

Perhaps it was Belinda’s values that had just surfaced.

She would have had no qualms about requesting Sybel’s assassination from Terry under the pretext of making up for her mistake.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

No matter how hateful and detestable a person might be, I simply couldn’t take a human life lightly.

The moment I put a person’s life on the scales and weighed it by pros and cons, I felt I would cross an irreversible line.

And most importantly…

‘Could I face Leo directly after ordering Sybel’s death?’

I couldn’t guarantee that I could.

So, I revealed the strongest card I held.

To make him pay for messing with Leo.

It didn’t matter whether Sybel guessed the fact of my ability awakening from this incident, or if he didn’t suspect it at all.

What I wanted was pressure to keep him immobilized for just a few months.

That’s why I left behind a document related to Sybel’s welfare project, obtained through Bluebird.

The moment I saw Sybel mingling with the prince at today’s ball, it suddenly occurred to me that he was secretly running a welfare organization in the prince’s name.

At first, I thought Sybel was simply helping the prince to create an image of caring for the people.

But I realized that the situation might not be so simple when I recalled my uncle’s will.

[If Belinda Blanche loses her life in an unfortunate accident before inheriting the dowry, all of this property will be returned to society.]

If the dowry that would be returned to society upon my death were to flow into the welfare organization…

The vague phrase ‘returned to society’ in the will left much room for interpretation.

Of course, all of this was just my intuition without proper evidence, but if it could be a threat to Sybel, it was worth using.

I sighed tiredly and continued to ask Terry.

“Have you finished looking into what I asked?”

“Not yet.”

Terry had been thoroughly investigating Sybel’s weaknesses, starting with the aide who was always by his side.

However, there was little information about him, which is why she had gone to the slums today.

Yet, it seemed there wasn’t much of a harvest.

“I see. Focus on the mansion’s security for now. You may go.”

“…Yes.”

Terry answered in the most deflated voice I’d ever heard from her and left the drawing room.

I should return to my bedroom too, but my body felt so heavy that I couldn’t move a finger even if I were to die right now.

Yet, my mind was so complex that sleep wouldn’t come easily.

“Do you perhaps need a magician?”

Sir Penadel, who was standing by, asked quietly.

If Cheshire were here, I could receive some of his magic power and feel a bit better inside.

But I can’t rely on others.

This is the result of what I’ve done, and it’s entirely my problem.

“No. You should go and rest too…”

“Then I’ll stay by your side until your magic power stabilizes.”