Chapter 72

Everyone’s attention was fixed on Isabella, so no one noticed the way Narcissa’s expression suddenly hardened with a frightening intensity.  

‘Even the magicians at the Imperial Mage Tower haven’t been able to solve any of the illnesses caused by the new type of monster…’  

A woman from the mountains cured the illness?  

Narcissa simply couldn’t believe it.  

“Yes, that child is so skilled at making magic potions that she recognized Penelope’s illness at a glance.”  

“…My goodness!”  

“Oh dear!”  

Everyone exclaimed, their utensils frozen in their hands.  

“She’s from the countryside, but did she at least attend the Academy?”  

“No, I heard she’s never even been near the Academy.”  

Isabella took a sip of water from her glass and answered.  

“Then she learned everything on her own?”  

“Is that even possible?”  

To have learned on her own and still make magic potions of that level?  

Narcissa’s eyebrows twitched fiercely.  

“It must be because she’s so clever.”  

Isabella’s smiling face only made Narcissa more irritated.  

“And she’s so kind-hearted that, as soon as Penelope recovered…”  

She glanced around the table before continuing.  

“She said she wanted to provide her potions free of charge to other patients.”  

“Oh my, how kind.”  

“It can’t have been easy for a commoner to make that decision.”  

“That’s why House Blumhart helped her.”  

So that’s why they hired magicians—they were making potions.  

Narcissa’s hand tightened around her fork.  

“House Blumhart is truly remarkable.”  

“Indeed, making and distributing potions is no ordinary feat.”  

“No wonder they’re one of the five great ducal houses, hohoho.”  

“Yes, this is truly something worthy of applause.”  

One after another, the ladies applauded Isabella.  

Even the Interim Empress reluctantly joined in.  

‘To think a mere potion could disrupt the power of black magic…’  

It was far too dangerous.  

‘This might become the greatest obstacle to my grand ambition… I absolutely cannot let her live.’  

She bit the inside of her lip hard.  

“It’s not me who deserves the applause, but that child. Still, thank you, everyone.”  

Isabella placed her hand gently over her heart and bowed her head slightly.  

“I hear the distribution to patients is complete, so I can only hope everyone makes a full recovery.”  

“I hope they all get better.”  

“Let’s all pray for them for a moment.”  

“Your Majesty, may we?”  

“…Of course.”  

Narcissa forced her stiff lips into a smile as she replied.  

After a brief prayer, the noble ladies began to talk about other topics.  

The Interim Empress only nodded and did not actively engage in the conversation.  

As soon as the luncheon ended, Narcissa strode quickly to her room.  

“Everyone except Carmen, leave.”  

Her voice was colder and heavier than usual.  

The maids and attendants quietly withdrew.  

She walked to the window and glared at the carriage of House Blumhart leaving the palace.  

“Carmen.”  

With slender fingers, she gripped the window frame tightly. Narcissa called her loyal maid.  

“What happened at the luncheon to make you so angry, Your Majesty?”  

Carmen approached and massaged Narcissa’s tense shoulders.  

“How is the plan to kill the young lady’s birth mother progressing?”  

“…I’ve considered several methods.”  

“And?”  

“The security at House Blumhart is so tight that it’s been difficult to get close, Your Majesty.”  

Carmen bowed her head, apologetic.  

“Do whatever it takes—kill the young lady’s birth mother as soon as possible.”  

Narcissa turned to Carmen.  

Her violet eyes gleamed fiercely.  

“What on earth happened to cause this, Your Majesty?”  

“They say the birth mother cured the Duke of Blumhart’s younger sister.”  

“…Pardon?”  

Carmen’s blue eyes widened in shock.  

“The new monsters have even the Imperial Mage Tower at a loss.”  

“It’s impossible. They’re a new breed created by black magic—how could she cure it so quickly…”  

Carmen was flustered.  

‘There’s no way she knows anything about black magic…!’  

“That impossible feat—the Dowager Duchess of Blumhart boasted about it throughout the luncheon.”  

Narcissa cut Carmen off.  

“Do you know how shocked I was when I heard that?”  

Narcissa sat askew on the sofa.  

“In that moment, I couldn’t keep my expression in check at all.”  

Her violet eyes, dark and sunken, stared at the maid kneeling before her.  

“I almost let those fragile noble ladies see my true face.”  

She mocked herself, lightly stroking Carmen’s cheek with her finger.  

Still kneeling, Carmen kissed Narcissa’s fingertips, as if in a devout prayer.  

“…Before that woman can get involved in any other matters related to black magic.”  

And she swore an oath.  

“I will definitely kill her, Your Majesty the Interim Empress.”  

She could not allow some country woman to interfere with Her Majesty’s grand dream.  

“I trust you won’t disappoint me, Carmen.”  

“Yes.”  

Carmen’s blue eyes flashed with murderous intent.

* * *

After seeing Isabella off, Lia went to the Mage Tower to meet Dorothea.  

“Lia, you heard a few days ago that all the patients received their medicine, right?”  

Dorothea asked, crunching into a cookie Lia had brought.  

“Yes, Sir Samuel told me.”  

“This is news I just heard before you arrived.”  

Dorothea gently grasped Lia’s shoulder.  

“Everyone is starting to get better!”  

She immediately let out a joyful cheer.  

“Really?”  

Lia covered her mouth in disbelief.  

“Thank goodness.”  

Tears of joy and relief welled up in her eyes.  

“Lia, it works for everyone.”  

Lia had been anxious, worrying that the potion might only be effective for Penelope and not for others.  

Everyone had said her worries were unnecessary, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy just in case.  

“Lia, do you know how amazing you are? Everyone is incredibly grateful.”  

Dorothea took Lia’s hand and patted it.  

“Don’t let that precious talent go to waste. You are a wonderful magician.”  

“Yes, I will.”  

Lia wiped her tears with her hand and nodded.  

She hadn’t realized helping someone could make her heart feel so full.  

When she lived in the isolated mountains, she never imagined she’d do something like this.  

She felt sorry for her grandmother.  

‘…I want to keep making potions.’  

She wanted to use her abilities to help even more people, she prayed silently to her grandmother in heaven to not be angry and to understand her.  

After finishing her conversation with Dorothea, Lia was on her way back when a carriage stopped beside her.  

It was House Blumhart’s carriage.  

“…Why is it here?”  

Johann’s voice came from the carriage window.  

“Oh? Duke?”  

“I thought you took the carriage.”  

“I wanted to walk a bit today, so I sent the carriage ahead.”  

On such a happy day, she wanted to enjoy her joy by walking rather than riding.  

“…I see.”  

Johann opened the carriage door and got out.  

“Would you mind if I walked with you?”  

“Pardon? Yes.”  

Lia replied, flustered.  

“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”  

The coachman drove the carriage slowly far behind them.  

“What is it?”  

“They say the patients who took your potion are showing results.”  

“Oh, that? Dorothea just told me about it.”  

Lia smiled softly as she answered.  

“…So the news reached her too.”  

Johann furrowed his brow.  

‘I wanted to be the first to tell her…’  

Why did it annoy him, when it shouldn’t matter who told her first?  

“Still, thank you for letting me know.”  

“I only said what needed to be said.”  

He shook his head slightly as he replied.  

“Hearing good news several times makes it even better.”  

Lia smiled brightly, her eyes curving into half-moons.  

Perhaps because the sunlight was shining on her, she looked especially, especially—  

Beautiful.  

Once again, his heart pounded wildly.  

“…Don’t let that talent go to waste.”  

He couldn’t take his eyes off her as he spoke.  

“You sound just like Dorothea.”  

She blushed slightly.  

‘Even this, I’ve lost my place.’  

He was startled by his own thoughts.  

Why did his mind keep going that way? He was so flustered.  

‘Like a fool in love…’  

In love?  

Wait.  

‘…If I think I love this woman, then all my strange behavior so far makes sense.’  

Even the jealousy he’d just felt over Dorothea.  

That’s why his heart always raced whenever he saw her.  

‘My god, I’m only realizing this now.’  

“Ha.”  

Johann let out a short laugh.  

The woman he’d come to love was standing right before his eyes.  

When their eyes met, his face flushed red.  

Just like a young boy falling in love for the first time.  

His heart felt like it would burst.  

He stopped walking and covered his face with his hand.