Episode 14
Possessed by the Villain’s Helper?!
And that moment didn’t last long. Zen pressed a light kiss on my head before leaving the room with Theodore.
“Stay here quietly until the nanny comes back, Natania.”
With that, I was left alone in the room.
Once their footsteps faded away, I flopped down on the sofa.
“Ah, finally—”
Stretching out my legs on the table, I felt like I could finally breathe. Then I began to think.
“Theodore Mermandi, what a useless piece of trash.”
Lying where the eldest son had been sitting, I muttered to myself while staring at the ceiling.
“Who else would say such things to a child? What a scoundrel.”
Ugh, hope karma hits you hard.
The velvet-covered walls were decorated with portraits of past dukes and duchesses—like a massive family tree.
Among them was one woman’s portrait that stood out—she didn’t resemble me at all. Her sad eyes stared straight ahead.
Would he have loved me more if I looked like the late duchess?
That thought felt pathetic, so I quickly pushed it away.
Then I noticed a half-burnt cigarette still smoking. It wasn’t as if I smoked often, but suddenly I wanted one badly.
I hesitated but shook my head. A cigar would be way too strong for this little body.
“Cough!”
I managed to resist, but the smoke in the air made me cough like an idiot. And then—I froze.
Someone was watching me from the building across the courtyard.
The man in a teal cloak wasn’t moving.
He’d been watching for a while, it seemed.
Who is that? Someone the duke knows?
As I stepped closer to the window, he quickly lowered his hat brim and turned away.
I shut the curtains and bit my lip. My heart thumped painfully.
Of all times, why did someone have to see me staring at a cigarette? I had forgotten that Zen had left the window open earlier.
Sure, a child might look curious—but this was the duke’s household. I was their precious daughter.
If that man told anyone, I’d be in serious trouble.
Then, loud music from brass instruments came from the garden outside. Guests must have arrived—the banquet was starting.
No use worrying about what hasn’t happened yet.
I walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner.
My reddish-brown hair, more vibrant than anyone else’s in the family, stuck up awkwardly.
Freckles dusted my nose, and my bright green eyes looked a little sad.
I spat on my fingers and tried to flatten my curly hair.
The reflection that smiled back had a wide gap between her front teeth—an odd, silly little girl.
I took a deep breath and told myself,
“Stick to the plan. You can change everything. You’ve been waiting for this day.”
And after that… you know what happened.
***
Butler: “My lady, are you thirsty?”
Me: “Yes, I am.”
Butler: “This is non-alcoholic wine, specially prepared for Lord Nicholas. I’ll have the servant bring some fruit juice for you.”
***
Cough!
Blurred vision.
A wine glass and dessert knife dropped on the ground.
The grass was soaked in blood.
<“Call the doctor! Now!”>
The last thing I saw was Nicholas’s shocked face before everything went dark.
***
Nicholas was walking down the corridor with Zen. The outdoor walkway to the garden had a small roof to keep out rain and snow.
Each time they breathed, white clouds of vapor rose into the freezing air. The bitter cold had hit Mermandi hard that year. Nicholas’s heart had been just as cold for a long time.
Zen tightened the thick wool scarf around his neck and blew warm air into his hands, glancing at his older brother’s stern face.
“Any news yet?”
Nicholas stayed silent.
The sharp intelligence that once filled his brown eyes was long gone.
Zen spoke again, his voice trembling.
“If this cold keeps up, she might fall ill. Her eyes are already weak, brother…”
“Zen.”
Nicholas stopped walking, glaring at his younger brother.
“We agreed not to talk about her in public. Do you want to risk everything?”
“But—”
“Father said tomorrow’s salon is important for the family. You focus on managing your dancers.”
Zen was the organizer of the duke’s performance salon, secretly writing under a pseudonym as a playwright.
Normally, he loved his work—but right now, he couldn’t focus.
Biting his lip, Zen said,
“Nate’s been missing for three days. Aren’t you worried that your only sister might have been hurt by those royal dogs?”
He stared bitterly at Nicholas. After all, it was Nicholas who suggested sending Natania to the annex—and isolating her there.
Nicholas sighed and looked around. After confirming they were alone, he spoke in a low voice.
“She’s alive.”
“……!”
“I know she is. So stop talking before I sew that mouth shut myself.”
He gave Zen’s shoulder a light tap, then kept walking.
Zen, stunned, asked,
“How can you possibly know that?”
Nicholas ignored him. His mind replayed what had happened a few days ago—
***
<“What brings you here, young duke?”>
On a rainy winter morning, Nicholas had gone to meet the Second Prince, Noah.
The prince had personally come out to greet the unexpected visitor.
Standing outside the prince’s small longhouse, Nicholas held an umbrella and said,
“I don’t like wasting time with formalities, Your Highness. I hope you’ll understand.”
Behind him stood a shining silver carriage with his family’s crest—a display of Mermandi’s power and pride.
Nicholas pulled out a letter, wrapped carefully in clear material to protect it from damage.
“This handwriting…”
Before Nicholas could say more, Prince Noah feigned ignorance.
Nicholas smirked slightly and continued,
“Familiar, isn’t it? This letter was written by the person who broke into our estate.”
Noah glanced at it and frowned.
“So what are you implying? If someone from your family went missing, perhaps you should manage your own people better.”
“It wasn’t a disappearance—it was abduction. A noble lady of marriageable age, no less.”
“I fail to see how that concerns me, young duke.”
Noah signaled to his butler to send the carriage away. His tone grew sharper.
“Next time, make an appointment before barging in. Has the heir of Mermandi never learned basic respect for royalty?”
Before the door could close, Nicholas shoved his hand into the gap, letting his umbrella fall into the rain.
Rain dripped down his coat, but he didn’t care. He glared at Noah and held up the letter.
“Mermandi doesn’t get fooled twice.”
“……”
“And I haven’t forgotten what happened before. You understand me, don’t you?”
Quoting his family’s ancient motto in a cold voice, Nicholas finally released the door handle.
The gate slammed shut behind him as he stepped into the pouring rain without hesitation.
