21: Discovery

Aella walked around the square, hugging the wolf doll Kael had given her tightly with both hands.

Since it was a place they had frequented together as children, memories came flooding back at every turn.

‘That fountain…’

She remembered a hot summer day when, trying to cool off by touching the cool water spraying from the fountain, she slipped and fell into it. Kael, who had reached out to help her, ended up slipping as well, and they both returned home soaking wet like drowned rats. The next day, both of them caught colds, and when they met again after a few days, they burst out laughing at the memory.

Though the memories were small and simple, they were incredibly precious to Aella because she had shared them with Kael. Her eyes grew misty as she reminisced about the happy days of her childhood.

“Ella? Do you have any memories tied to that fountain?”

“Yes. Kael and I…”

As Aella began to recount the story of the fountain, Kael, though unable to remember, laughed heartily, saying it sounded like something that could have happened. However, Aella’s smile gradually faded.

‘I shouldn’t be too happy. I shouldn’t rejoice. After all, when Kael regains his memories…’

Aella recalled the cold gaze and harsh words Kael had once directed at her. She remembered how, in the end, he wouldn’t even look at her.

‘The Kael now only treats me this way because he’s lost his memories. I shouldn’t be happy or let my heart flutter because of him. This is for my own good.’

Steeling her heart, Aella turned to face Kael.

“There’s a small theater just ahead. Would you like to visit it? You used to love going there. You always enjoyed watching the actors perform.”

“That sounds great! Ella, let’s go see it right now!”

Seeing Kael act like his innocent childhood self filled Aella with joy. Holding his hand, she followed him into the now much older and worn-down small theater.

The theater, like the streets and the passing years, had aged significantly. As soon as they stepped inside, memories came rushing back to Aella.

She remembered the first time she had entered this theater.

Kael had held her hand tightly as they sat down, knowing she was afraid of the dark. To ease her fear, he kept talking to her and even made funny faces with his handsome features to make her laugh.

It was then that Aella’s bittersweet first love—a one-sided love—had begun.

From the moment they were in their mothers’ wombs, it had been decided that Kael and Aella would be friends.

Even if she couldn’t confess her feelings, Aella was content just being by Kael’s side, even if it was only as a friend.

In fact, being friends might have been more reassuring.

While the thought of becoming lovers with Kael filled her with joy, she feared that if their relationship soured, they would never be able to return to being friends.

Though it broke her heart to only watch Kael from afar, Aella believed it was better to suffer in silence than to risk becoming estranged from him.

“It’s starting!”

Kael’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked ahead, and Aella took a moment to take in the sight of him.

After losing his beloved father so tragically, Kael had lost himself.

No, more precisely, he had cast aside his softer self entirely.

All for the sake of his burning desire for revenge.

The thought that Kael might turn his blade of vengeance toward her when his memories returned made her heart ache unbearably.

‘Kael… if only I weren’t the daughter of Hans Blueanz, that cursed man… Would we have been able to live a normal life together, the happiest in the world?’

The more she thought about it, the more her chest tightened. Even as she tried to stop thinking about it, memories of the real Kael—the one consumed by hatred, resentment, and a burning thirst for revenge—came flooding back. Her chest felt so tight she could barely breathe.

As she took a deep breath and placed a hand over her heart, Kael spoke up.

“Ella, you’re not feeling well, are you? I’m sorry. I got too excited, acting like a child.”

“N-No, Kael. It’s just… I’m so happy to be out with you after so long and to visit the theater again. That’s all.”

“Really?”

Smiling warmly, Aella nodded. Kael grinned back, his smile reaching all the way to his gums.

“Alright, Ella. Let’s focus on the play now.”

“Okay.”

Aella watched Kael as he intently focused on the actors giving their all on stage. Then, she turned her gaze to the performance.

The story was about two lovers who couldn’t live without each other but became enemies because of the heroine’s father’s betrayal.

‘This play…’

For some reason, it reminded Aella of herself and Kael, and it didn’t sit well with her.

However, despite becoming enemies, the two protagonists genuinely loved each other.

Unlike her own situation, the story captivated Aella. She became so engrossed in the play that she didn’t even notice Kael occasionally glancing at her.

“Juliana! Let’s elope!”

“Kallion… If we’re caught, neither of us will survive.”

“I’ll protect you to the end. Just trust me and follow me.”

“Oh, Kallion!”

The two protagonists risked their lives to elope. Before she knew it, Aella was completely absorbed in their story, clenching her hands tightly, hoping they would escape safely and find happiness together.

Even though it was just a play, the actors on stage were undoubtedly pouring their hearts into their performances.

‘I’m glad we came. If only Ella… If only she would look at me like that.’

Kael pretended not to notice.

He pretended not to notice that Aella was deliberately keeping her distance from him.

Though he was curious about the reason, he was too afraid to ask.

He feared that he might uncover a truth he desperately didn’t want to know.

‘I’d rather… stay like this. And if I could get a little closer to Ella… Yes!’

Clenching his fists tightly, Kael made up his mind.

He would win over Aella’s heart—his wife’s heart—no matter what.

***

In the back garden, where no one could see her, Rensi fiddled with the communication lacrima given to her by the dark sorceress.

“If anyone finds out I’ve been conspiring with the dark sorceress…”

She wouldn’t survive. Not even as a noble.

“Wait…! Why am I hesitating? Haha! Finally, I can get rid of that thorn in my side right before my eyes.”

Clutching the communication lacrima tightly, Rensi returned to the mansion and headed toward the places Aella frequented.

“No matter how I think about it, isn’t it strange?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, the master! He only lost his memories of that cursed daughter of our enemy.”

“Right? I was thinking the same thing.”

“Could it be… sorcery?”

“Oh my! That’s possible!”

Hearing the maids whispering exactly what she wanted, Rensi smirked.

“But that woman always returns to the same places at the same time.”

“Oh…”

“Ahem!”

“R-Rensi!”

Rensi stood before the gathered maids. She needed their loose tongues for her plan to succeed.

“There’s another girl who can move more freely than that woman, isn’t there?”

“Oh! That girl! My goodness! Could she be conspiring with the dark sorceress?”

“Like father, like daughter!”

“Poor master.”

As everything unfolded as she had hoped, Rensi whistled inwardly and spoke.

“We need to find evidence that the devilish woman, just like her father, is conspiring with the dark sorceress. Will you help me?”

“Of course!”

“We might need more people.”

“I’ll gather them!”

“Haha, good. Thank you.”

Leaving the obedient maids behind, Rensi headed toward Aella’s room but quickly hid herself.

“D*mn it! Why is he still standing there?!”

Seeing Ian guarding Aella’s room, Rensi bit her lip in frustration.

‘Calm down. Even if it’s not that room, if I plant this on her body, it’ll be enough to get rid of her!’

A wicked smile spread across Rensi’s face as the lacrima in her hand glowed red before fading.

***

When Aella returned to the mansion, she felt a strange tension in the air.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

Her intuition was spot on.

While she was out, rumors had spread that she was conspiring with the dark sorceress to manipulate Kael’s memories. The maids had searched her usual spots and her room, claiming they were looking for “evidence.”

To make matters worse, Kina informed her that the rumors included her supposedly contacting the dark sorceress under Aella’s orders.

As expected, the culprit behind the rumors was none other than Rensi.

‘Rensi… What grudge do you have against me to go this far?!’

Though Aella had endured everything so far, this false accusation crossed the line.

If she were officially accused of conspiring with the dark sorceress, her life would be in danger.

‘It’s not just my life at stake…’

If things went wrong, Kina, who had followed her into this mess, could also get caught up in it.

‘I have to protect myself for Kina’s sake. First, I need to quash these baseless rumors.’

She needed to find the “evidence” the maids were so desperately searching for.

“I heard they’re looking for something that could link you to the dark sorceress.”
“Thank you, Kina. For now, let’s be careful about what we say and do.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

An eye for an eye. Aella vowed not to let this slide. That night, when Kael asked if something was wrong, she smiled and reassured him that everything was fine.

[Your Grace, I know it’s strange for me to say this, but the master as he is now would protect you. Even if the entire household has gone mad, if the master gives the order, they’ll quiet down immediately.]

Recalling Natasha’s words, Aella clenched her fists.

‘I don’t need Kael’s help. If I want to survive in this mansion, I have to handle this myself. First, I’ll deal with Rensi. I’ll make sure she’s kicked out of this house.’

Sharpening her resolve, Aella didn’t realize just how ruthless Rensi truly was—or what she held in her hands.

Waiting for Kael to leave for the palace, Rensi used the lacrima to silence and restrain Aella.

No matter how much Aella struggled, the maids under Rensi’s control treated her even more harshly.

Once the head maid and steward were put to sleep under Rensi’s enchantment, the mansion became her playground.

‘If only the master could also be enchanted by the dark sorceress, I could become his wife!’

Though frustrated by this limitation, Rensi decided to enjoy herself. After tormenting Aella to her heart’s content, she planned to frame her for conspiring with the dark sorceress and get rid of her.

“You… It was you. You’re the one conspiring with the dark sorceress…!”

“Haha, so what if you know? What can you do about it? You’re just a pathetic Aella with useless healing powers.”

As Rensi mocked her and ordered the maids to beat her, Aella glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

‘This is humiliating…! But…’

Just as she was drowning in despair over her helplessness, a loud bang echoed through the room.

“!”

“M-Master…”

“…Kael…”

Kael, who had left earlier, had returned.

With a terrifying expression, he quickly approached and embraced the bloodied Aella. Then, looking at everyone in the room, he spoke.

“Is this what you’ve been doing while I was away?”