Chapter 26: The Pig I Saw in the Carriage 

Eirene wanted to leave room for the possibility that she had misunderstood, but there wasn’t even a glimmer of hope. 

Especially since symbols like question marks and X’s seemed to describe the children’s fates, making it all the more disturbing. There was no other explanation. 

Why would they need personal information on what appeared to be hundreds of children, even by rough estimation? 

With trembling hands clenched into fists, she barely managed to speak.

“My guess could be wrong, couldn’t it?”

“We need to find out for certain. You’ll have to help me.”

“I will. Just tell me what to do.”

“Bring me the personal information of children with noble families listed, including those from foreign countries. Based on the condition of the paper, recent ones would be preferable, though older ones are fine as long as they’re not too ancient. With so many families involved, something should turn up.”

Clive picked up the paper he had left on the table and read it again.

“They might be trafficking, but where and how did they bring these children? If this has been going on for years rather than just recently, rumors would have inevitably spread throughout the Empire.”

“Perhaps they only selected children without guardians?”

“That’s likely the case.”

“Maybe they used the same method by which I came to the Phineas household.”

Eirene’s voice dropped significantly. Clive, who had been looking at the paper, raised his eyes to look at her. She was someone who rarely revealed her emotions. 

But now, anyone could see that Eirene was in terrible distress. 

Was she shocked by the materials she had investigated herself? Or was she reminded of her family who had been massacred by the Phineas household? 

Eirene’s hands, which had been trembling for some time, showed no signs of stopping. The bones on the back of her hands stood out so prominently that her already pale skin turned white as paper. 

Clive put down the document and moved to Eirene’s side, covering the back of her hand with his. 

At any other time, she would have shown her dislike, but her lack of response made it clear that something was wrong.

“What’s the matter?”

Despite Clive asking with concern, Eirene only stared at the table, so he waited for her to calm down. 

However, as time passed, Eirene’s breathing became rougher, and eventually tears welled up in her eyes. The growing droplets hung precariously without falling, and seeing this, Clive felt a faint pain in his chest. 

Plop. 

Finally, Eirene’s tear fell onto the back of Clive’s hand. In that moment, Eirene came to her senses, wiped away her own tears, and hastily pulled her hand away.

“I’m sorry.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… I couldn’t contain my anger.”

“You thought of your family.”

“That too. But I also realized what the Count and Countess Phineas intend to do to me. It might be the same reason they traded children like objects.”

Eirene’s breathing grew rough again. She tried to steady her breath and calm herself, but when it didn’t work well, she ran her hand across her chest.

“Should I have some cool water brought for you?”

Eirene nodded. With her eyes closed, gently exhaling, she looked precarious.

* * *

She had thought a lot after hearing from Kailro about the secret conversation between the Count and Countess, Aishe, and Siaran. Eirene agreed with Kailro that something was strange. 

Why did they call her body Aishe’s? Was it because she had used her Divine Power? Or simply because she was playing Aishe’s role? 

It seemed understandable yet not quite clear. Then she realized it while seeing the pig in the carriage. The boy who shouted that he would fatten up the pig and eat it. 

To the Count and Countess and Aishe, Eirene was like that pig. How had Aishe behaved at the ball held at Dervel Palace? 

Eirene shuddered, feeling Aishe’s touch still lingering on her hair when she had stroked it, saying how pretty Eirene had become. 

After that day, Eirene’s living conditions improved significantly, and today, after the Count and Countess and Aishe had left the mansion, they suddenly expressed concern for her health and increased her food portions.

“Do you know about dark magic too?”

“I only know the basics. Ulik knows much more than I do. Should I call him?”

At Eirene’s request, Ulik entered. As soon as he took his seat, she asked:

“Is there a type of dark magic that can exchange people’s souls?”

“Yes. Of course, not all dark mages can perform it. Only those with exceptional skills, who have trained through long contact with immortal beings like demons, are capable of such magic.”

What she had considered a mere possibility was now certain. The Count and Countess intended to use Siaran’s power to exchange Aishe’s and Eirene’s souls. 

They planned to steal Eirene’s body. 

That explained everything. Eirene’s body belonging to Aishe. Aishe telling her to be intimate with Clive. Siaran instructing her to identify with Aishe. The Countess’s concern for Eirene’s health. 

And if Eirene had a child with Clive and their souls were switched, the child wouldn’t be stolen by Aishe but would truly become hers. 

She had asked Clive to pretend to be in love to provoke Aishe, but instead had delivered a satisfying result to them. How pleased they must have been watching the two act like a loving couple. 

Eirene’s hands began to tremble again. To calm herself, she bit the inside of her cheek, applying more pressure when the salty, metallic taste of blood failed to soothe her. 

She had killed them once before, and that wasn’t enough, so she had pledged revenge in this second life she’d been given. 

Sometimes she felt guilty about deceiving God, remembering His words to live her own life, which made her feel conflicted. 

But no more. 

She would make them suffer even more terribly than she had initially planned. 

How could people born as humans do such things? Were they even human? 

Uncontrollable rage rose again, making her entire body shake. Eirene barely parted her lips to ask Clive:

“I’d like to be alone for a moment.”

“Will you be alright?”

She quietly closed her eyes, and Clive asked no more questions, leaving with Ulik. 

Left alone, Eirene raised her head to look at the ceiling. She had never imagined they would steal her body. It would have been better if they had just used her and then killed her. At least then she would completely disappear from this world. 

Wasn’t it too horrifying to see herself living on as someone else? 

Eirene tried to steady her breathing and calm her turbulent mind. She stood up, opened the window, and cooled the anger that had risen to the tips of her hair. 

She mustn’t forget this anger. 

However, she needed to ensure that her anger didn’t become actions that would ruin everything. First, she needed to view the situation coldly and decide how to respond.

* * *

“Is the Count trying to exchange Aishe’s and your souls?”

Clive asked upon his return. During his absence, as Eirene had requested, he had quickly realized what was happening. The answer was already in his question. 

Eirene’s expression had become even more blank, suggesting she had finished organizing her thoughts. Her deep purple eyes shone brighter but somehow colder.

“It seems so.”

That explained the change in Eirene’s gaze. Clive couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. 

So the portrait switch had been part of their plan all along. In the end, since the fiancée in the portrait and the one he would marry would be the same person, Count Phineas hadn’t actually deceived Clive. 

That’s why they had acted so boldly. Whatever the inner workings of the Phineas family, the plan to exchange Aishe’s soul had been in motion for a very long time. And the children’s personal information that Eirene had discovered likely served the same purpose.

“What do you plan to do?”

“I need to think about it. I only found out today.”

Eirene told him everything that had happened. While listening, Clive felt the same anger rising within him, but he didn’t show it outwardly. 

He knew from experience that anger displayed to others had no power and was of no help.

“I’ve asked Ulik to look into dark mages. We need to know more to defend against this.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. It’s necessary for me too.”

Eirene smiled at him. That smile drew an involuntary sigh from Clive’s lips. He wanted to see her smile, but not such a sad one.

“I won’t let such an absurd thing happen, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. It’s just that I…”

Eirene stopped mid-sentence, hesitated briefly, then looked at Clive with resolve.

“I have something to add to my contract.”

* * *

After parting with Clive, Eirene returned and looked for Siaran. With no direct way to contact him, she asked Gemma and Betty, but they said he hadn’t come. 

Today, the Count and Countess and Aishe were at the mansion, while Kailro was out. Aishe came to see her, almost waiting for her return, but they didn’t have any significant conversation. She asked what Eirene had been doing, as usual, and Eirene gave appropriate answers. 

She thought that would be the end of it. But Aishe, who had opened the door to leave, turned back. She closed the door she had opened.

“Sister, how far have you gone with His Highness? You must have held hands, and it seems you kiss occasionally.”

Knowing Aishe’s intentions now, Eirene wasn’t surprised.

“We’ve kissed.”

She answered casually.

“Kissed? Kiss or peck, it’s all the same.”

“I mean the kind of kiss lovers share.”

Aishe’s face hardened. She had once told Eirene to engage in physical contact and even suggested marriage, but apparently, she disliked hearing about actual displays of affection with Clive.

“The kind lovers share? Um, so with open lips…”

Unable to continue, Aishe frowned and touched the tip of her nose.

“That’s right. You did tell me to be physically close.”

“Yes. I did.”

Hearing the irritated response, Eirene maintained an expression of ignorance topped with an innocent smile.

“Even though we’re engaged, I was planning to wait until after marriage for such kisses. But remembering your advice, I went ahead. That wasn’t wrong, was it?”

“Who said anything? I was just asking.”

Aishe muttered to herself and then turned sharply. This time, Eirene called out to stop her.

“Aishe.”

“What?”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I get to enjoy such luxury.”

“If you know that, do well.”

“I will. I’ll be Clive’s perfect lover.”

After responding with “Sure,” Aishe closed the door. Looking at the closed door, Aishe suddenly felt a chill down her spine and rubbed both shoulders. 

Why did she feel so bad? 

She glared at the door before hurrying away. She needed to prepare for tonight’s ball. It wasn’t just today that she felt uncomfortable whenever she met Eirene. She couldn’t waste time on trivial matters.

* * *

Three days later, Siaran came to the Phineas mansion. Eirene told Gemma to deliver a message to Siaran without the Count and Countess knowing.

“What if Sir Siaran tells the Count or Countess?”

“Then there’s nothing we can do. You just need to deliver my message to Siaran without anyone knowing.”

The message was to meet at dawn behind the gazebo in the garden when everyone was asleep. 

A letter could fall into anyone’s hands, so having Gemma deliver the message was safer. In truth, it didn’t matter if the Count and Countess found out.

“What if Sir Siaran doesn’t stay overnight?”

“Siaran will decide what to do after hearing my message.”

If he wanted to meet, he would make an excuse to stay overnight; if not, he would leave. Eirene had a reason for wanting to meet Siaran, but she also wanted to see what choice he would make in the process. 

Whether he informed the Count and Countess about their meeting or not, she would be able to gauge his intentions. Time passed, and the dawn of their appointment approached.