CHAPTER 61……………
Jacqueline entered carrying a black box, her face shadowed.
Adele, standing by the window, did not ask what it was. With a hardened expression, she opened the box and stared into it for a long while.
“It’s already too late. It’s barely holding on, but its neck is broken—worse than death. And I can’t just force it to die. The physician said it won’t last more than two or three days.”
“Where did you find it?”
“Outside the city. I thought, of course, it had gone to Young Master Caden, but… it had collapsed like this.”
Jacqueline closed her eyes as if in horror. But Adele reached out and touched the limp body of the hawk inside the box.
Farewell.
Offering prayers for the dead meant little, but it was the least courtesy. Had this creature met a normal master, it might have lived out its years.
“If it dies, bury it in the family cemetery. Deep enough so monsters can’t dig it up.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Adele sighed, the weight of her feelings clear. Jacqueline assumed she would be saddened by this incident, but in truth it was something else.
…A little later than in the original?
Trying to recall the original novel gave Adele a headache. Perhaps because she was too content with her current life, but the memory was hardly pleasant. Especially this part.
[Noella first took a life in the winter of her twelfth year.]
It sounded like some great achievement, but in truth it meant she had begun rotting from within.
Adele had suppressed and restrained her all this time, but it seemed Noella’s true nature was finally resurfacing.
So it begins.
She should have realized it when Noella pretended to dissuade Mertel so sweetly.
The reason she had dressed herself so prettily was obvious. She wanted to see just how disastrous the engagement ceremony would become.
In the novel, too, Noella always adorned herself most beautifully when she went to witness the aftermath of her own schemes.
“…A pervert.”
What a vile taste. Yet Adele reminded herself: Noella was originally the protagonist.
They had shaped her so carefully, only to smash everything to pieces and turn her into a villainess at the end. No wonder the story twisted itself into knots.
That’s why I never finished it.
Out of loyalty she might have read to the end, but Adele hadn’t. What waited ahead was nothing but Noella’s increasingly elaborate and miserable ruin.
Why should she pay to stress herself?
She had started believing Noella was the protagonist. It was bitter enough that she became hated into villainy—why would she want to see her ultimate downfall?
Even now she had no desire to. Adele’s expression hardened.
Seeing her unease, Jacqueline quickly pushed Adele’s hand off the box.
“My lady! Someone’s coming!”
“….”
“Master Caden never uses the door. Oh—perhaps it’s the Captain…”
“No. You’d better hide this first.”
Adele swiftly shut the black box and leaned into Jacqueline.
Speak of the devil—she could tell that gait instantly.
And sure enough, as the door opened, Noella’s clear face appeared.
“Sister, may I come in for a moment?”
“…Of course.”
Adele smiled sweetly, and Jacqueline bit her lip in the middle.
Trying to slip away, Jacqueline found Noella blocking her path with practiced ease.
“Oh my, Jacqueline. You’re here too. But… what’s that?”
“My lady—”
“Ah, it must be a gift for Sister. The wedding is soon, after all.”
Isn’t that right?
Noella smiled so brightly it was burdensome, clasping her hands together. Adele, arms folded, nodded.
“Yes. An unexpected gift arrived.”
“Really? The box looks plain—did it come from Mount Fidelio, perhaps? Oh, please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t mean to insult the Captain…”
“It’s fine, Noella.”
Adele waved her off, approaching her sister. Jacqueline fidgeted nervously, sweating, but Adele only smiled and rolled her fingers over the lid of the box.
“…Curious? Want to take a look?”
“Eh? Me?”
Caught off guard, Noella tilted her head.
Adele turned tender, as if ready to open it.
“Of course. If you want, I’ll even split it with you. Maybe I’ve been too greedy, keeping it all for myself.”
“….”
“What do you say?”
Her voice was gentle, coaxing, as her fingers tapped the box.
Staring at her sister, Noella suddenly shook her head and stepped back.
“N-no. How could I dare take what’s yours?”
“…I see.”
So you only have good instincts, nothing more.
Adele smiled faintly, then gestured Jacqueline to leave.
Jacqueline fled as if with wings, leaving Noella clasping her hands before Adele.
“Sister, you’re truly beautiful. You’ll soon be a bride.”
“Noella.”
“In fact… I need to apologize about the engagement.”
Tears already welled in her eyes—she wanted to get ahead of things.
Perhaps she thought the hawk had died, but Adele could easily discover who had written to Caden with just a few words. That was why this false display of remorse was necessary.
“I thought you’d be happy to see Caden. You two are so close…”
“Is that how it looked?”
“I—I couldn’t possibly intrude, but still… I wanted to surprise you, inviting Caden to the ceremony.”
Wiping her eyes, Noella bit her lip.
The more indifferent Adele seemed, the more pitiful Noella appeared.
“Was it wrong of me? The Captain seemed quite shocked that day…”
“It’s fine. He was surprised, but not for the reason you think.”
The truth was, Killian had hardly cared about the family clash that broke out—he had only muttered in daze, ‘So you were the one who overwhelmed me…’
No need to explain that to Noella, nor to feign sympathy.
“That’s a relief. I was so worried… If anything had happened to him because of me, I couldn’t bear it. Who would’ve thought Caden would react that way at your engagement…”
“You didn’t know?”
“….”
“You know very well what kind of news Caden reacts to. Strange that you’d miss that.”
When Adele smiled, Noella’s cheek twitched.
She looked ready to excuse herself, but Adele waved it off.
“Perhaps you two need to grow closer. Don’t you think?”
“Y-yes, of course. I’ve always wanted that.”
“Then I’ll arrange something soon.”
“…Th-thank you, Sister.”
“No need to thank me. When it’s your turn to wed, it’ll help if Caden and you are already close.”
Now that was a real ticking bomb.
At Adele’s teasing words, Noella forced a smile, tension sharpening the air.
Sensing her disadvantage, Noella soon excused herself.
“I’ll go now, Sister.”
“Wait. Do you need anything?”
“…What?”
Caught off guard, she turned back.
Her face might still look angelic to others, but Adele knew the truth: Noella was silently asking why her sister was doing this.
“You’ll soon be engaged too. I’d like to give you a gift. Something you truly want.”
“Ah… well…”
“Think carefully. It’s your one chance—what do you truly need for your future?”
Noella’s eyes wavered at Adele’s weighty words.
After a pause, she composed herself.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s beyond what you can give me.”
“Is that so?”
“You’ve given me everything already. What more could I ask for?”
Her eyes curved beautifully as she smiled.
But Adele knew exactly what she meant.
She circled Noella slowly, smiling back.
“I see. Even if I’m the heir, I can’t give you what you don’t want.”
“…Sister.”
“You don’t look like a girl about to be married. It’s strange. You’re marrying the one you wanted—Zerox will be hurt to see you so downcast.”
At Zerox’s name, Noella only smiled sweetly, giving nothing away.
She bowed gracefully, and Adele nodded.
Perfect, poised—the tension climbed.
Even as she left, Noella walked with careful grace, smiling kindly at Jacqueline in the hall.
Only when the door shut did her lips tighten.
“…Indeed.”
She looked as if she had just realized something. The sharp arch of her brows suited her more than the angelic facade.
“My sister… she really seems ‘real.’”
“Oh, my lady, I was so nervous.”
“Why?”
“I feared you’d fight.”
Jacqueline grumbled as she worked.
As if I’ll die peacefully anyway.
No matter the generous pay, it was nothing but hazard compensation.
“If the Captain had walked in, what would we have done?”
“He’s out with Father.”
“He could return suddenly.”
“No. He isn’t impulsive like that—”
Or is he?
Adele faltered. Killian was both the most upright man she knew and the most unpredictable. Hot and cold, ruthless and kind in equal measure.
How could she define such a man in one word?
But one thing she knew for certain.
“If I killed Noella, he wouldn’t be surprised.”
He had already seen enough of her to know. She had revealed just how far she could change. There was nothing left to hide.
“Still, why did you hold back? I thought you’d end her this time.”
“….”
“Maybe you’re softer than I thought.”
“Me?”
“Of course. If it were Young Master Caden, you’d have broken his neck without hesitation. Why be so lenient with Noella?”
Jacqueline spoke as she worked, diligent despite her chatter.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t have been shocked if you’d killed her. How dare she harbor such thoughts toward you?”
“Well… because.”
Because she was the villainess. Villainesses needed no reasons.
Expecting reason from the girl fated to be history’s greatest villainess was a waste of time.
Yet, strangely, Noella’s eyes earlier had pricked at Adele’s heart.
It wasn’t sympathy or affection. She wasn’t foolish enough to grow fond now.
‘What I need…’ She doesn’t even know what she wants.
It was pathetic enough to kill any will to bother with her.
And yet Adele had pitied her. Even given her a chance—one she had thrown away.
Why did I do that?
Hadn’t she decided not to care whether Noella lived or died?
The girl had no worth for pity. Yet for a moment, Adele had felt sorry.
Perhaps because when Noella spoke of Zerox, her expression was nothing like Adele’s when she thought of Killian.
Clumsy anger, jealousy, false smiles and hollow laughter.
Not the stuff to build a lifetime upon. Adele knew now there were far greater emotions.
“…Foolish. Life is short enough.”
“Pardon, my lady?”
Jacqueline, beating the blankets outside, frowned.
“Nothing.”
Adele raised her brows, glaring at the spot where Noella had stood.
“Just… I don’t have to kill her myself.”
