Chapter 26

Vivian was at a loss for words at the woman's proposal.

Countless questions struck her all at once.

‘Do you want to become a witch?’ 

Was this woman a witch?

Was it because she was a witch that she could reach this high place without any commotion?

What would happen if Vivian called the guards now? What was her intention in approaching her?

"Don't think too deeply about it."

The woman's soft voice interrupted Vivian's thoughts.

Blowing out a puff of smoke, she entered the room with a seductive grace.

Unconsciously, Vivian stepped back.

She felt an instinctive fear, but an equally strange curiosity held her in place.

Leaning against the tea cabinet, Vivian summoned her courage once more.

"I—I asked who you are."

"You already know the answer."

At her words, Vivian asked again.

"A—a witch...?"

"My name is Elena."

Introducing herself as Elena, the witch sat on Vivian's desk. With a snap of her fingers, the unlit candles ignited.

Along with that, the witch's face shone more clearly.

At the magical sight, Vivian held her breath.

But ignoring Vivian's confusion, the witch continued.

"Vivian Rondor. The last direct heir of the Rondor family. Fourteen years old. Lord of Roctana. A very precarious position. Many political enemies. Already faced one assassination attempt. In this vast territory, the only person you can call an ally is... Lady Linne, perhaps?"

The witch recited Vivian's personal circumstances as if reading from a record, showing no sign of agitation.

"It must have been tough for you."

"…"

The situation was too bewildering for her consolation to sound sweet.

Vivian swallowed hard and quietly stared at the witch.

Elena smiled warmly and said,

"It hurts my feelings when you're so wary."

"H-how can I not be cautious...? You're... a witch."

"So what if I'm a witch?"

Vivian listed the knowledge she had learned while reading aloud to Lady Linne.

"The existence of witches is strictly forbidden by the Church...! Don't you know that being a witch alone is grounds for execution? Not long ago, I even stamped the execution order for a witch...!"

"That doesn't give you a reason to be wary of me."

"I—I learned that witches also worship demons...! They harm many people because of it...!"

"Worshiping demons is misinformation. And causing harm to others—everyone does that, don't they? Even some old lady somewhere has lived causing trouble for others."

Elena's voice was both enchanting and sharp.

After exhaling another puff of smoke, Elena stood up.

She leisurely walked toward Vivian.

Vivian didn't move. Whether it was fear, tension, or bravado, she didn't know.

"Vivian Rondor, as I said earlier... I came because you seem to need help."

"…"

Vivian wanted to refute her but couldn't easily open her mouth. It was because the witch's words pierced the helplessness she had been trying so hard to hide deep inside. The witch's words precisely targeted her pain.

Vivian did need help.

Elena calmly continued.

"You can't do anything by yourself, can you? You have no one you can trust by your side, right? You're struggling under the fear of death, aren't you?"

Each word dug deep into Vivian's heart. A person she hadn't known for long was approaching relentlessly.

Vivian's heart ached. In fact, hadn't she been struggling with the same anguish just a moment ago?

Feeling the shadow of death in her loneliness, hadn't she been disgusted with herself?

"You're still being tormented by your hated enemy, aren't you?" The witch came closer and whispered in Vivian's ear.

"You want to beat Kylo Allen somehow, don't you?"

At the mention of his name, Vivian's heart pounded fiercely. Even now, the witch was laying her thoughts bare. The image of Kylo scattering insults, saying her family died because they were weak, was vivid.

She didn't want to lose to him.

But despite the witch's sweet words, Vivian could feel the darkness hidden beneath.

"H-how do you know me so well?"

"I've been watching you. Because you seemed to need help."

"Just because I seemed to need help... you came to find me like this? Who am I to you?"

The witch shrugged.

"Well, to be a bit more honest... I thought you could help me too? I thought we could help each other."

Though the witch's tone was light, her underlying intentions were revealed.

"These days, persecution against witches is intensifying."

She turned her head to look out the window and said,

"Not only are the Church's witch hunts becoming more aggressive... but the search nets are being cast too wide. Most of those dying are innocent people, not witches, but occasionally real witches are captured and executed."

"…"

"But…" The witch turned to look directly at Vivian. "You're the lord of Roctana? And you need help? I thought we could join hands."

"Wh-why should I do that? Being a witch is a crime deserving death."

Vivian replied in a trembling voice.

Even though she had just told her to her face that she deserved to die, the witch remained unshaken. She reacted as if such disdain was natural.

"No need to be so inflexible, is there? With my help, if you decide to become my apprentice, if you decide to become a witch... you too can stop trembling and have countless people under your feet."

"…"

To say she wasn't momentarily tempted by the offer would be a lie.

Something inside her wavered.

She didn't know what power witches held, but Elena's confidence implied that she could solve all of Vivian's problems.

The witch brought the end of her long pipe close to Vivian's face.

Startled by the sight of the burning tobacco like a glowing ember, Vivian flinched and turned her head away, but Elena didn't stop and pressed it against Vivian's left cheek.

Contrary to her expectation that it would be hot, a cold sensation flowed over Vivian's cheek.

Elena, making Vivian face her directly, said,

"It's a simple matter, Vivian. If you promise to help me just a little... I'll pass on the power of a witch to you. It's not an opportunity that comes easily. Besides, I took a liking to you. Having the lord of Roctana as my apprentice... hehe, isn't it interesting?"

"What exactly is the power of a witch?"

"You can kill anyone you want with a curse... you can eavesdrop on others... Think of it as gaining another weapon that no one knows about."

In a word, it was an unsettling power. But it was equally certain.

As if trying to shake off that discomfort, Vivian retorted.

"B-but if it's found out that I'm a witch... I'll be executed."

"At this rate, you'll die anyway."

"…"

"Don't you think you need to make a choice to move forward?"

Vivian remained silent. The witch's words were gaining weight.

Before she knew it, Vivian couldn't easily refuse this tempting offer.

Rather than rejecting it, she was calculating the pros and cons beneath it.

Was this a hand she could grasp so easily? Was there some hidden intention?

Accepting this, what would change? What kind of future awaits? What would I have to lose...

"But then... couldn't you just help me without me becoming a witch?"

"Oh dear. I came here to become your teacher, not to be your servant. I can't tolerate the humiliation of becoming someone's thug."

"…"

"And power is something you need to learn to wield yourself. It's not something you leave to others."

Vivian couldn't refute her.

In the end, she was just throwing a minor tantrum over the discomfort of becoming a witch.

"Then really... is that all? If I help you, you'll pass your power on to me..."

Sensing that Vivian was wavering under temptation, the witch smiled.

Then she candidly revealed:

"Ah, there is one more thing."

"Pardon?"

"It's not that you have to do something for me... but to become a full-fledged witch, there's a price you must pay. After all, you can't seize great power without cost. A sacrifice... you might say."

"A... sacrifice?"

The witch gazed at her for a long moment before quietly answering.

"…The thing most precious to you."

"…"

"To become a proper witch, you must sacrifice what is most precious to you."

If Vivian had heard these words a few years ago, she would have ended the conversation right then.

But now, the witch's words didn't sound so chilling.

"The most precious thing..."

Vivian murmured softly, her gaze falling to the floor. Her mind drifted through memories of the past.

Her father's warm smile. Her brother's reassuring presence. Her mother's comforting embrace... All of that had vanished now.

Vivian had nothing precious left.

"…I... I don't have anything precious."

The witch replied as if it were no issue.

"You don't have to sacrifice it now. Witches usually make the offering when they come of age. You need to be at an age where you clearly understand what you hold dear."

"What if, even when I become an adult, I have nothing precious?"

"That's something to consider when the time comes."

"What did you... sacrifice?"

The witch placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

"I sacrificed my descendants."

"…"

"My children, and the children they would have had... I sacrificed them all."

Vivian didn't know what to say.

This proposal that had come to her in her helplessness was certainly tempting.

The fear of death, the pressure from the adults, the helplessness and self-loathing she felt—it was hard to endure.

"…"

But still, she was conflicted. It was difficult to take the plunge when she didn't know what the precious thing she might have in the distant future would mean to her. She even doubted whether she'd have such a thing at all.

Vivian asked.

"If I have to sacrifice something precious... is there any point in becoming a witch?"

"You can't have everything. If you can obtain what you desire by sacrificing a bit of happiness, shouldn't you?"

"…"

"Vivian, you can survive, and you can achieve your revenge."

The witch said simply.

"Isn't that what you need most right now?"

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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