Chapter 52

Vivian worked diligently to get closer to the boy soldiers of the penal unit, just as she had planned.

She showed up often, occasionally bestowed food upon them like at a banquet, and spoke with a gentle smile. One by one, the boy soldiers—whose hearts were already somewhat relaxed—opened up even more.

“Is that so? I’m sure you’ll do even better next time. When that happens, please give Kylo a proper beating.”

“Yes...! Yes...! I swear I will! I’ll beat that bastard to death...!”

As always, Vivian had come to the penal unit’s dining hall and was chatting warmly with the boy soldiers.

They seemed to have forgotten all about their meals, eagerly waiting for Vivian to approach them.

A few maids followed behind her.

It was an open secret in the castle that Vivian had been getting close with the penal unit’s boy soldiers.

Rumors were inevitably circulating, but Vivian showed no sign of concern.

I watched her quietly.

Amidst these filthy, rough-looking men, Vivian appeared so out of place.

Her natural smile, the warmth in her words, the gentle atmosphere she exuded—everything felt so different from the woman I knew.

I understood all too well that this was her effort, her façade. Yet I was still taken aback by how flawlessly she pulled it off. Seeing her smile and behave in ways she never did around me left me feeling slightly uneasy.

But at the same time, I could sense just how hard she was pushing herself.

“Yanes.”

Vivian strolled about the dining hall, chatting here and there, then stopped in front of Yanes.

“...Yes?”

He, who always acted tough among his peers, stiffened the moment he faced Vivian.

Flustered, he hurriedly wiped his mouth, trying to tidy himself up.

Vivian signaled to one of the maids standing behind her.

It was Serena, who had once shown a brief interest in me. She looked somewhat nervous as she approached with a wooden cup and a bottle of liquor.

Vivian spoke.

“I heard you’ve come of age. Since you’re serving time here, you probably haven’t had much chance to drink, have you?”

“...No, I haven’t.”

“My father used to say that once a man becomes an adult, he ought to know how to handle his liquor. So, have a cup.”

Sounds of envy and admiration erupted from the crowd around Yanes.

His flustered expression drew laughter from everyone.

I, too, let out a small “pfft” at Yanes’ dumbfounded look.

For some reason, I didn’t particularly dislike seeing Vivian getting closer to them.

Serena handed Yanes the cup and poured a purple wine into it.

The men around him crowded in like wild dogs, sniffing at the liquor’s aroma. Overwhelmed by the sudden throng, Yanes pushed them away, grimacing, and managed to steady himself. Then, looking at Vivian, he spoke:

“...Lady Vivian, I— I won’t forget this. Th-thank you.”

His words and his face both showed genuine gratitude.

Without hesitation, he downed the wine in one go. Immediately, he let out a startled breath and glanced around, clearly unsure about the taste.

Even so, he offered his cup again to Serena and lowered his head deeply to Vivian.

Vivian smiled. Once she’d finished everything she had come to say, she turned to look in my direction.

Ever since she decided to grow closer to us and began gathering the boy soldiers as her backing, a different kind of authority emanated from her.

It finally felt like she possessed the presence of a leader.

Faint though it was, it was certainly better than nothing.

She sent me a brief smile. I pretended not to notice, continuing with my meal.

***

Vivian stood atop the castle, gazing down at the training grounds.

Below, the penal unit’s boy soldiers were hard at work.

By Kylo’s suggestion, Burger had given him authority over their training. Following Vivian’s request, Kylo himself swung a wooden sword, guiding the boy soldiers.

It was an endless cycle of exhausting drills that made you feel breathless just watching.

In the midst of it all, Kylo shouted commands, giving it his all. Vivian couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

She found herself thinking she could watch him like that all day.

Though his words were always harsh, seeing him work so hard on her behalf was strangely admirable.

A hot, unfamiliar sensation stirred in her chest.

She didn’t entirely dislike the feeling it brought.

Because it was so foreign, Vivian didn’t know what to call it.

It only reminded her of the strange thrill she’d felt playing with fire as a child.

Watching the boy soldiers diligently train also gave her a sense of reassurance.

Though none of them had yet pledged their allegiance, she felt her plan was moving forward smoothly.

Madam Linne had once told her:

A woman’s weapon is her beauty.

Vivian was also aware of the whispers among the boy soldiers.

She heard how they endlessly praised her beauty and had recently begun to realize for herself that she might indeed be quite pretty.

Perhaps that was why getting close to the boy soldiers hadn’t been too difficult.

Lately, Vivian was maturing bit by bit.

Despite the uncomfortable chest binder she wore and the monthly pains that came as her body bloomed, she discovered a growing sense of allure in return.

Maybe thanks to Madam Linne’s lessons, Vivian found herself wielding that allure almost unconsciously at times.

She had only recently noticed that even a slight smile from her made most people look upon her favorably.

Not just the boy soldiers, but even the soldiers, knights, and maids... sometimes they would just gape at her.

If there was anyone who didn’t waver under that smile, it was Kylo Allen.

He was always the same—merely watching quietly or turning away without a word.

Of course, Vivian herself had never given him that masked smile.

She had no reason to... and after spending so much time together, it felt too embarrassing to try.

Vivian stepped away from the window and started back toward her room.

Vivian wanted to remain in that same spot and continue watching the training, but as she had declared to Kylo, she was now fully committed to growing stronger.

She still couldn’t shake that night from her mind.

Not Kylo’s actions, but what happened before it.

She recalled Rani, circling around Kylo like a small bird, laughing all the while.

And whenever she pictured that scene, a rage that had yet to cool flared up in her chest again.

The anger she felt today was fiercer than what she’d felt yesterday, which in turn was fiercer than the day before, and so on—day by day, it grew.

The more she watched Kylo and the more she thought of him, the more intense her fury became.

What, exactly, was he doing out of her sight?

Had he ever given anyone else that same embrace he had given her?

If it were possible, she would have monitored him every second of the day.

She had no idea why these thoughts even crossed her mind... but whatever the reason, that night had been a turning point.

After nearly having Kylo—whose life she had exchanged for her family’s—taken from her, she made a resolve.

Vivian never wanted to go through something like that again.

Before she realized it, a certain wild notion had crept into her mind.

It was impossible, but what if that night had gone differently and Kylo had really been stolen by Rani?

...What if Kylo had been willing to give his life for Rani instead of for her, protecting her instead?

...What if all his actions were for Rani, rather than for her?

“...Ugh.”

Vivian let out a groan at the dull ache near her heart.

She shook her head, quickly discarding that unpleasant scenario.

In any case, if she gained power, such a future would never come to pass.

.

.

.

Late that night, Vivian was organizing a variety of documents.

They were packed with information on people she suspected of being her political enemies.

All of it had been brought in by Nestor, her intelligence agent.

It wasn’t because he was particularly loyal that Vivian got her hands on these documents.

She’d had to threaten him to make him produce them.

She had dragged in that lanky thirty-year-old man, berated him for incompetence, accused him of contributing nothing to her security, and hinted she might send him to meet Kylo the Executioner to answer for his sins.

In a flash, he’d returned with these files.

Vivian went through them carefully.

Every last name on the list was someone who wouldn’t find it strange to aim for her life.

Robert Rondor. He had revealed his ambition to act as regent and was known to be deeply driven. He’d also fought in wars alongside the knights’ captains, which meant he had strong support. Lately, he’d been traveling between Rondor Castle and his own territory, meeting vassals and consolidating alliances.

Count Corrard. He was someone to whom Rondor had once been indebted. Thanks to the dragon Kylo had slain, that debt was repaid, but the interest demanded had been outrageous. In truth, he was never on particularly good terms with Rondor to begin with.

Perhaps it was inevitable, given the relationship between count and duke. In the distant past, the Delrum royal family had granted land to the former Count Corrard and incited conflict, fearing the Rondor family was growing too powerful.

There were also heads of families loyal to Rondor, merchants vying to control the local trade... and so on.

There were too many suspects to even begin deducing.

“Something’s really weighing on your mind, Vivian?”

Elena, the witch who remained by her side again tonight, asked as she noticed Vivian’s troubled expression.

Vivian nodded, letting out a long breath.

“I’m not even sure where to start.”

“But you’ve decided to gather soldiers, haven’t you? That alone is a big step forward.”

“...”

Vivian felt slightly reassured and bobbed her head in agreement.

Elena exhaled a long plume of smoke, then approached Vivian with a distinctly different aura.

Her steps were no longer leisurely; she looked somewhat anxious.

Finding this strange, Vivian glanced up at Elena.

“...What’s wrong?”

“Vivian, I hate to bring this up, but... I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor?”

“I mentioned it before, didn’t I? How the Las Order is persecuting witches more and more with each passing day.”

“...Ah.”

“That movement is intensifying even within Roctana. Who knows—perhaps your executioner Kylo Allen will soon be asked to take a few new heads?”

“...So?”

“If you could, please hold back the Order’s tyranny—even just slightly. Simply suggest that they not create such an oppressive atmosphere in your domain.”

“...”

Vivian mulled over Elena’s words.

She was still in a precarious political position, and now she was expected to petition the Order?

Asking them to reduce what was essentially the Order’s core duty—capturing witches—seemed unthinkable.

Even though that had been part of the initial agreement, Vivian couldn’t help but weigh the gains and losses.

Perhaps it was only natural, given that their partnership had begun under such circumstances.

“...Master, I’ll be honest with you.”

“Go on.”

“Frankly, I don’t believe you’ve done enough for me to grant you that kind of favor.”

“...What?”

“I mean, I haven’t even used any proper spells, nor have I really gotten any help from you, have I?”

“...I understand, but couldn’t you do this just a bit earlier than planned...?”

“...I don’t know. Lately... I’ve been wondering if you’ve been deceiving me, Master.”

“Deceiving you? Vivian, how could you say something so hurtful? I taught you a spell to detect poison and one to steady your heartbeat...”

“But that’s hardly enough to grow strong. And to be honest, they haven’t really been of much help.”

“That’s because truly powerful magic requires you to be an adult and offer a sacrifice—didn’t we already discuss this?”

“...You also promised to teach me practical spells that an apprentice witch could use.”

“Even for such spells, you still need a suitable vessel first... hm?”

Elena suddenly paused, seeming puzzled.

Holding her long pipe between her lips, she rushed over to Vivian. Then, crouching beside Vivian’s chair, she placed a hand on the girl’s lower abdomen.

“Wh-what are you doing...?!”

Startled by the cold touch, Vivian knocked Elena’s hand away. But Elena seemed to have forgotten their conversation entirely, pressing forward with a sudden declaration:

“Vivian, your vessel has awakened.”

Elena spoke as if it were obvious. Vivian, confused, asked,

“A... vessel? What kind of vessel?”

“The one I just mentioned—the vessel you need to use more powerful spells.”

“...”

“It means you’re becoming an adult. It’s more fitting to call you a woman now, rather than a child.”

Vivian felt uneasy.

“...I don’t like this, Master. How could it just appear out of nowhere—right when I’m starting to doubt you?”

“...I understand. But to be precise, I think it’s been there for a little while. I just didn’t notice it sooner because I wasn’t paying close attention.”

Even with Vivian’s wary gaze upon her, Elena insisted confidently,

“Does it really matter when it formed? The important thing is for you to try using magic for yourself and decide if a witch’s power is truly worth it—whether or not you’ll continue to trust me.”

“...”

...Well, that was true.

No matter how suspicious she felt toward Elena, the question of whether a witch’s power was real or not could be answered by testing it herself.

“What kind of spell are you going to teach me?”

“Hmm...”

Elena glanced at the documents scattered across Vivian’s desk, then offered a stunning smile.

“Vivian, if I teach you a useful spell, will you do something to rein in the Order for me—just a bit?”

Vivian deliberated, then answered,

“I will if I think the spell is worth it.”

Elena nodded in firm assurance.

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I promise—it’s very useful.”

“...What is it?”

Elena replied,

“A spell that can detect lies. Isn’t that exactly what you need right now?”

“...”

The practicality of such a power drew Vivian in. She looked up at Elena in mild astonishment, surprised such a thing was even possible.

If she had that power, she might be able to expose her enemies one by one—She could figure out who stood against her and who was truly an ally.

...Yet for some reason, when Vivian heard she’d be able to detect lies, her thoughts immediately wandered to Kylo.

She suddenly found herself curious if he had ever lied to her.

– – The End of The Chapter––

 

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