40: The Final Letter

Aella wrote down the things she needed to do before she died in her notebook.

First, she wanted to meet those who had treated her kindly, even if it was just once.
Second, she planned to visit the orphanage she had been supporting and play with the children. Third, she wished to heal as many sick people as possible.

As she continued to write, Aella clenched the hand holding her pen tightly.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

[The Final Letter to Kael]

Aella decided to leave a letter that was almost like a will before her death.

She planned to reveal everything—the fact that her father, Hans Blueanz, had killed her grandfather using black magic, that he had kidnapped women from the village and locked them in his harem, and lastly, the truth about the death of the former Duke Hormons.

She intended to include all these truths in the letter, along with how much Aella Blueanz loved Kael Hormons.

She loved him so deeply that she was prepared to die for him.

“Will Kael be sad when he reads my letter? Will he… believe me? Maybe he’ll believe me if I die… Ha!… Kael. Ah, Kael.”

Aella clutched her chest with both hands and bent over.

Kael had stayed by her side in the hospital for a few days. When visitors came, he acted like a husband concerned for his wife. But once they left—

[Why can’t you heal faster? If you’re pretending to be sick, know that I won’t find it amusing.]

His cold, thorny words made her feel worse than when he ignored her entirely.

And yesterday, as soon as he returned to the duchy, he resumed his role as the captain of the imperial guard.

Knock knock.

“Your Grace.”

“Come in.”

When Matteo entered and greeted her politely, Aella asked what brought him there.

“His Grace plans to visit the orphanage this weekend to select a child for adoption.”

“I see.”

“Are you feeling unwell in any way?”

“I’m fine.”

“Very well, then. Please rest.”

As Matteo was about to leave, Aella stopped him.

“I have something important to ask of you.”

“Please, tell me.”

“Take good care of Kina. Your son seems to genuinely care for her.”

“Haha, yes, Madam. I’m well aware. He seems completely smitten with her.”

Talking and laughing with Matteo like this made Aella feel as though she had returned to the past.

“Matteo and Natasha have always felt like parents to me.”

“Thank you for thinking of us that way.”

“Matteo, even though Kina is older than Ian, I hope you’ll look kindly upon her. Please relay this to Natasha as well.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you so much.”

After Matteo left, Aella sat at her desk.

“Just in case, I should write the letter to His Majesty first. I’ll entrust this letter to Matteo. Matteo wouldn’t read it before delivering it.”

With determined eyes, Aella wrote to the emperor, revealing that Hans Blueanz had long been involved with the dark sorceress and was currently hiding her.

She also detailed the vile and repulsive deeds of Count Blueanz, including how he orchestrated the death of the former Duke Hormons and was now targeting Kael, his only son, driven by his endless greed.

Aella desperately hoped for the emperor to punish such a devilish man in the most horrifying way possible.

“Even worse than how Grandfather suffered before his death…”

Aella couldn’t forget that day.

Even after losing his only daughter, her grandfather had tried to protect the granddaughter she had left behind. But one day, he began to waste away, coughing up blood and eventually dying in excruciating pain.

She never imagined at the time that his death was caused by the curse of a dark sorceress.

“Will I… die like Grandfather? If possible, I’d like to leave this world peacefully, as if I were asleep. But will I be allowed that?”

Aella smiled bitterly, placed the letter for the emperor in a drawer, and decided to write letters to Kina and others she dearly missed.

“Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t deliver the gift for Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

Aella picked up the handkerchief soaked in her blood.

“I need to wash it clean before giving it to her. As for the flowers… the countess said she would send them again…”

With a smile on her lips, Aella busily moved her pen.

—

Kael had a habit whenever he returned to the mansion. He would check on Aella Blueanz’s activities.

“Has she done anything suspicious?”

“No, Your Grace. She seems to have spent the last two days writing letters in her room.”

“Letters?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…”

“And…”

“And what?”

When Matteo suddenly stopped talking, Kael furrowed his brows and spoke sternly.

“Why are you stopping mid-sentence?”

“Well… It feels as though she’s preparing to leave for somewhere far away. Not just me, but everyone close to Her Grace feels the same way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know why, but her actions seem like she’s tidying up her surroundings, as if she’s planning to go somewhere far away. Natasha also feels worried…”

Before Matteo could finish, Kael headed straight to Aella’s room. He opened the door without knocking and was greeted by the sight of her holding Charlotte and smiling.

“What are you scheming?”

“What do you mean?”

Kael strode over and grabbed Aella’s chin roughly.

Clack!

Charlotte, who had been following Kael like a second master, bared her teeth and hissed at him for his harsh treatment of her owner.

“Charlotte, I’m fine. Your Grace, please… not in front of Charlotte…”

“Shut up. Answer my question.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Kael pushed Aella down with the hand that was gripping her chin.

Hiss!

“Charlotte! Come here!”

Meow!

“I’m sorry, Charlotte. I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”

“Aella Blueanz.”

“…”

“Making me angry won’t benefit you. The only reason I’ve kept you alive is to drain you of every last drop of your spirit.”

“Do as you wish.”

“…”

Aella stood before Kael.

“Curse me all you want.”

“…”

“Say whatever you wish, do whatever you want. I came here willingly for that very reason.”

“…What?”

“Do it while you can. If it brings you peace, then go ahead.”

“You wretched woman! You disgusting woman!”

Unable to contain his rage, Kael threw everything in sight in front of Aella.

“Your Grace! Please stop!”

“Let go of me!”

“Aella Blueanz. Starting tomorrow, you won’t be allowed to leave the mansion—not even to the garden. Do you understand?”

“I will comply.”

Lowering her head, Aella watched Kael’s retreating figure as he left, cursing her.

‘Kael… Somehow, I feel like this is the last time I’ll see your back. Still, I’m glad we could talk for a while, even if it was like this. Goodbye, my Kael. I truly… love you.’

Aella held back her tears with a forced smile.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

“Kina, don’t cry. I’m fine.”

“Your Grace, I wish… I wish I could take you and run away!”

Aella stroked Kina’s back as she sobbed and held her head in her hands.

“Kina, thank you for everything. But don’t cry for me anymore. Just be happy with Ian… live happily, that’s all I ask.”

“Why do you keep saying such things? Do you know how anxious it makes me? It’s like… you’re about to leave us forever…”

“Kina…”

Aella touched Kina’s flushed cheeks, wiping away her tears.

“There’s a saying, isn’t there? People’s lives are unpredictable. That’s why I say what I want to say when I can.”

“Your Grace…”

“Could you tidy up the room for me?”

“I’ll clean it right away.”

Once Kina left, Aella clutched her rapidly beating heart and struggled to walk to the bed.

“It’s happening again… It feels like something is gnawing at my heart… Haah. Ah, is this what dark sorcery feels like? Hoho. But it seems Laura carried out my request… Laura, I’m sorry. I made you do something so cruel.”

Meow!

“Charlotte…”

Aella hugged Charlotte tightly as the cat burrowed into her arms and cried pitifully.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte… Forgive me for leaving you first.”

Meow!

“Charlotte, don’t grieve too much when I die. Kina will love and protect you in my place. I love you, Charlotte.”

Meow!

“Don’t cry, my precious Charlotte.”

Aella’s tears didn’t stop until Kina returned.

—

Even after becoming the Crown Princess of Albazar, Elena was still treated as an outsider by the noblewomen.

“Princess… No, Your Highness, how long will you tolerate this? You’re officially a member of the Albazar royal family now!”

“Azet, you’re too worked up. Calm yourself.”

“If this continues, I… I’ll die of frustration! Your Highness, sob!”

Elena hugged Azet, stroking her hair as she spoke.

“I’m sorry, Azet.”

“Sob, Your Highness… Let’s just go back to Roden. Sob. Before you become empress, it would be better for you to return to your homeland as the former Crown Princess. Sob.”

“Azet, I don’t want to.”

“…”

“Even if I die, I want to die here. Because I love His Highness the Crown Prince that much.”

“That’s too much! You’re too cruel, Your Highness!”

Elena hugged Azet again, apologizing repeatedly.

Watching this quietly, Julius turned to his mother as she approached.

“What do you think, Julius?”

“…”

“I hope you stop making things difficult for the Crown Princess. Please.”

“We’ll handle our marriage ourselves, Mother.”

“…I see. Julius.”

Julius turned away from his mother, who had called out to him again.

“I hope you won’t do anything you’ll regret later.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Julius walked away, his retreating figure reminded Alenoa of the time when he refused to accept her as his mother. Her heart grew heavier.

Clutching her aching head, she bent slightly, only to be struck by a vision of Julius holding a bloodied Elena and crying out in anguish.

“What I just saw… No, it can’t be. I must have imagined it. It has to be.”

Muttering softly to herself, Alenoa’s gaze remained fixed on Elena, who continued to comfort Azet.