3: From Childhood Friend to Enemy

“Mm! Mm!”

“My lady, it’s me.”

“!”

Aella, who had been struggling, froze at the familiar voice.

“L-Laura?”

“Shh. Follow me.”

Following Laura down the hallway, Aella’s body trembled.

‘Father… Father killed the Duke? No, that can’t be. I must have misheard…’

Her father’s boisterous laughter echoed in her mind, and Aella clenched her eyes shut, covering her ears with her hands.

Click.

“Come in.”

As Laura opened the door, Aella entered her room and faced her.

“Laura, you know something, don’t you?”

Laura remained silent, her lips tightly sealed. But the look in her eyes told Aella everything.

“Tell me, Laura. Whatever you know.”

“Please wait a moment.”

When Aella nodded, Laura brewed a warm cup of tea and handed it to her.

“Drink this first, my lady.”

“I don’t feel like drinking anything right now.”

“Please, drink it anyway.”

Taking a few sips, Aella set the cup down and spoke firmly.

“Now, tell me.”

“The truth will be… difficult for you to hear.”

“It’s alright.”

“Please sit down.”

Laura pointed to the bed. When Aella sat down, Laura also sat beside her and continued speaking in a calm but slightly trembling voice.

“My Lady, your father, Count Blueanz, is by no means a good man.”

“…”

“He is a devil wearing the mask of a human.”

Aella couldn’t find the words to respond to what Laura, her nanny and the head maid of the Blueanz household, was telling her.

Aella, who had believed her father had raised her alone while longing for her late mother, was utterly shocked to hear that he had secretly built a harem garden within the Blueanz estate, imprisoning young and beautiful women to satisfy his desires.

What shocked her even more was learning that her father had not married her mother out of love but to escape his life as a mere wealthy merchant by becoming the son-in-law of the Blueanz family, which only had a daughter.

The greatest blow, however, was the revelation about her grandfather, who had passed away less than a year after her mother’s death. Aella had thought he had succumbed to illness brought on by the grief of losing his only daughter. But in truth, her father had used forbidden “dark magic,” strictly banned in the empire, to curse and kill him.

“Why… why? Why didn’t you tell me any of this until now, Laura? I… I knew nothing and…”

“I’m sorry, My Lady. I feared that devil might harm you. To protect you, I became his lackey and committed countless vile deeds.”

“Laura…”

“I will accept any punishment later. If it’s for you, I will gladly endure it. You are the precious treasure Maria left with me.”

Watching Laura cry and smile at the same time, Aella felt ashamed of herself for having lived so naively, unaware of anything, in a sheltered bubble.

“My Lady, as you may have already guessed, it was the Count who harmed the Duke of Hormons.”

“…”

“He didn’t kill him directly, but he ordered the murder.”

“My fa… that man killed the Duke of Hormons? Why?”

“…”

“Did he covet the Duke’s wealth and honor that much?”

“He’s a greedy pig of a man.”

As Aella looked at Laura, whose hostility was evident, she clutched her chest and let out a long sigh.

“How… how am I supposed to face Kael from now on?”

“My Lady.”

“I can’t even like Kael anymore. I can’t imagine a future with him. Ah… sob… sob… Kael, Kael, I’m so sorry.”

“My poor Lady.”

Aella cried in Laura’s arms for a long time before finally looking up at her.

“I… I’ll tell Kael.”

“My Lady!”

“I’ll reveal the truth about the Duke’s unjust death, no matter what it takes!”

“My Lady! There’s no evidence!”

“…”

“Even if evidence were to surface, murder is considered treason against the imperial family in this empire, punishable by death. While you might escape death as the Count’s daughter…”

Aella knew this well. If she went from being the noble daughter of the Count to the daughter of a murderer, at best, she might be demoted to commoner status. But more likely, she would become a slave, forced into hard labor for the rest of her life.

For female slaves, the fate was even worse—they often ended up as s*x slaves, enduring unspeakable horrors.

‘I’m scared. But… Kael.’

As Kael’s face flashed in her mind—his stoic demeanor that softened only when he smiled at her—Aella’s guilt overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face once more.

“The Young Duke will likely uncover the truth about his father’s death.”

“…”

“Before that happens, My Lady, you must flee. I’ll buy you some time. Escape with Kina.”

“No.”

“My Lady!”

“I won’t run away. I’ll face it. That’s the only way I can atone to Kael.”

“My Lady, you’ve done nothing wrong!”

Reaching out to Laura, whose eyes were brimming with tears, Aella smiled faintly and took her hands.

“I lived for twenty years without knowing what kind of man my father truly was. Someone once said that ignorance can also be a sin. So, I will accept my punishment as the daughter of a sinner. If that can ease Kael’s anger and bring peace to the Duke of Hormons’ soul…”

Laura could do nothing but embrace the foolishly kind Aella and weep with her.

“I should go back now.”

“I’ll escort you.”

As they walked down the corridor toward her room, Aella ran into her father. She barely suppressed the nausea rising in her throat.

“Aella, why are you wandering the halls with the head maid at this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I had a long-overdue conversation with Laura. I’m heading to bed now. And you, Father…”

“This old man couldn’t sleep either. Losing such a dear friend so tragically has left me heartbroken.”

Aella’s clenched fists trembled at his shameless performance, but she managed to bid him goodnight and entered her room.

“My Lady, you did well.”

“Ha… Laura, is there no evidence we can use?”

“This was entirely the Count’s doing.”

“We need evidence, something concrete.”

“My Lady, even if you and the Young Duke were childhood friends, if the truth comes out, your relationship…”

“I know. I know, Laura. That’s why I want to uncover the truth quickly. That way, it’ll hurt less. Even if Kael and I can no longer be close, at least I want him to remember me as someone good.”

Tears streamed down Aella’s face, but she smiled faintly. Laura could only hold her trembling mistress and comfort her until she calmed down.

—

Kael conducted his father’s funeral in a quiet and solemn atmosphere. Suppressing his emotions, he began investigating his father’s death with a rational mind.

“Damn it. Why! Why is there no trace of anything?!”

It was unnaturally clean. If this had been done by a person, there should have been some mistake, some trace left behind. Yet, no matter how deeply Kael delved into the case, he found nothing. It was as if someone had deliberately fabricated the entire scene.

“Who could it be?! Only someone meticulous and powerful could cover their tracks so perfectly… It must be a high-ranking noble, someone who could easily approach my father…”

Kael suddenly thought of Count Blueanz. The conditions lined up too perfectly.

The Count, who had earned his father’s trust and was working on a joint business venture with him…

“Get a grip, you fool. Don’t let your emotions take over.”

Kael shook his head vigorously, narrowing his eyes.

“Though he offered to help…”

Since the funeral, Count Blueanz had been noticeably unhelpful.

[Young Duke, I’m sorry. With Rohan gone, my workload has doubled. Once I finish this project, I’ll assist you.]

‘It’s been nearly a month now.’

Thinking back, it was strange how the Count avoided showing his face, claiming to be busy.

“He’s definitely hiding something.”

Knock, knock.

“Young Duke.”

“Come in.”

The butler, Matteo, entered and bowed. Kael faced him.

“So, have you found anything?”

“There was a reason it was difficult to track.”

“What is it?”

“He was living in the slums. And now…”

“Is he dead?”

“Yes. According to witnesses, strange men attacked his elderly mother and young siblings shortly before the Duke’s murder. Such things are common in the slums…”

Kael donned his coat.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m heading to the palace.”

—

At the imperial palace, Kael bowed before the Emperor.

“Young Duke, I know you’re working hard to uncover your father’s death.”

“Your Majesty, has the man still not spoken?”

The Emperor sighed deeply and nodded. Kael bowed low.

“Please allow me to meet him.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“Just once. Let me meet him.”

“Very well.”

“Thank you.”

Kael followed a knight to the underground prison.

“He’s a tough one. We only give him a bowl of soup and a glass of water daily, but he still won’t talk. He looks like he’s barely alive.”

“Leave us.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kael knelt before the man lying limp on the floor.

“Can you hear me?”

The man’s eyes twitched slightly. Kael leaned closer.

“Your mother and siblings are all dead. The day before you killed my father.”

“!”

The man’s bloodshot eyes widened. Kael spoke again.

“Tell me. Who ordered you to kill my father?”

“…Blu… Blueanz Count… Damn bastard… Mother… Miranda, Joseph… Hannah… Allen… Wait for me… I’ll join you soon… I’ll…”

The man convulsed violently before going limp. Kael stood up.

“Count Hans Blueanz… So it was you. It was you. Ha… Haha… Hahaha!”

After laughing bitterly for a while, Kael strode out of the prison.

—

A month after the coming-of-age ceremony, Kael contacted Aella, saying he would visit. Aella felt uneasy.

‘If I tell him, will Kael believe me? Even if he does…’

Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and guilt. Just imagining Kael’s cold gaze sent shivers down her spine and made her stomach turn.

“My Lady!”

“Ha… I’m fine.”

“You don’t look well. Perhaps you should meet him another time.”

“I said I’m fine. Kina, stay here.”

“What? But, My Lady!”

“Don’t follow me. No matter what.”

Dragging her heavy feet, Aella reached the garden where Kael was waiting. Seeing his broad back, she called out.

“Kael.”

“…”

As Kael slowly turned to face her, Aella froze.

His cold, unfamiliar eyes told her everything—Kael already knew the truth.

“Young Duke…”

“I know everything.”

“…”

“Aella Blueanz.”

His voice was as cold as ice. Aella closed her eyes.

Their childhood friendship was over.