Chapter 52 – The Shadows Within Abner
Longtern was not the kind of man to forgive or forget a grudge.
If he tries to kill me again… I might really die next time.
This time, she had survived by sheer luck—but there was no guarantee she’d be lucky twice.
Especially since Sharon Abner was involved.
For now, the empire’s medical science was still terribly outdated.
Most people relied not on medicine but on something called the Baptism Ceremony—a ritual that mimicked ancient divine magic.
But not everyone could receive it.
From her studies in her past life, Annelia knew that the baptism was an attempt to reproduce an ancient form of holy magic.
And to perform it, one needed several extremely expensive scrolls made by the Mage Tower,
plus a skilled mage capable of properly activating them.
That was why only royals and nobles—those born into wealth—could receive it right after birth.
It’s true the baptism helps prevent small illnesses.
People who had undergone it generally fell ill less often than others.
As long as they didn’t poison themselves or get into something deadly, they lived long and healthy lives.
But… it doesn’t heal wounds.
Count Douglas in her past life, who had been gored by a wild boar, hadn’t survived—
just like Logrio, the Crown Prince’s knight.
Even after countless baptisms, torn flesh and open wounds never truly healed.
If infection set in, the only option was amputation—or death.
That’s why everyone went crazy for the Florentia flower.
The Florentia could soothe infection and help wounds heal faster.
Yet even the doctors and scholars who used it didn’t understand why it worked.
They didn’t know the cause of infection, nor the principles of treatment.
But I do.
She had been the one to discover that the Florentia flower was actually a mutated form of the Lubarin herb.
And she had gone on to create a far more effective new medicine herself.
Once this becomes widespread, medical care in the empire will evolve dramatically.
Prices for medicine and treatment, which were now sky-high, would finally return to normal.
But that revolution hadn’t happened yet.
How much was that hemostatic potion again—tens of millions of tera?
Sharon Abner had spent a fortune to save her.
And Annelia was genuinely grateful—
because without Sharon’s help, she would have died before she ever got to work with Lubarin at all.
But things can’t stay this way forever.
Sharon Abner was her guardian by contract, nothing more.
That means someday, I have to leave this mansion.
When she became strong enough to live on her own safely, she would leave without hesitation.
To do that, I need to grow stronger first.
Especially now, when Duke Longtern posed a direct threat.
Her pace quickened.
There’s too much to do. No time to rest.
Even if her body broke down, she had to do everything with her own strength.
For now, she would focus on staying safe inside Abner—
and build enough power to protect herself once she left.
…Well, at least there’s one good thing about Hyana coming back.
For the next few months, Duke Longtern would be too distracted with his youngest daughter to come after her again.
So, first things first.
Lost in thought, she eventually found herself far from the laboratory—
standing in front of her destination: the mansion’s library.
She had come here to find some urgent information.
But before she could step inside—
***
“Chairman, don’t you think Sharon Abner’s behavior has gone too far lately?”
Annelia froze mid-step.
“You heard about it yourself! She didn’t even consult us before taking in a ward—and then spent a fortune on that rootless child’s treatment!”
She quickly ducked into a nearby bush.
Not far away, a group of elderly men were gathered in the garden, talking in low but furious tones.
“This old Kainton is fuming! Spending millions of tera on some brat’s medicine—Sharon Abner’s finally lost her mind!”
One particularly mean-looking old man thumped his chest dramatically.
“That witch is finally showing her true colors. She means to destroy Abner from the inside!”
Annelia’s eyes widened.
She glanced at their clothing—
white robes embroidered with the Abner family crest.
“The elders must rise up! We can’t watch this any longer! We’ll gather the branch families if we must—”
“—and decide whether she should remain head of the family!”
They were the twelve members of the Abner Elder Council—
Sharon Abner’s greatest internal enemies, the faction that had never accepted her rule.
***
Inside the council chamber, the argument continued.
“Viscount Kainton is right,” one said. “Taking in an unverified ward, spending the family’s budget on her treatment—it’s reckless.”
“And what about the fact that assassins managed to enter our mansion?” another added sharply.
“Someone must be held accountable.”
The elders were all grim-faced.
They had recently learned that assassins had infiltrated the Abner estate—
and that the victim had been Sharon Abner’s young ward, Annelia.
Kainton slammed his fist on the table.
“She said that child would be useful, but instead she squandered a fortune on medicine! How is that reasonable?!”
Silence followed.
“This is absurd! It’s like paying more for the wrapping than for the gift!
Chairman, say something! What do you think?”
At the head of the long table sat Chairman Herrmann, his expression unreadable.
He slowly turned his gaze to Kainton.
“What exactly are you asking me to say?”
Kainton blinked. “Wh-what do you mean, what am I asking—?”
“Do you think criticizing the Duchess here will solve anything?”
“That’s not what I meant—!”
Herrmann sighed, shaking his head in weary disbelief.
“You seem to have forgotten, Kainton. The dignity of this council is the dignity of the Abner family.”
“…”
“Ranting and raving in anger accomplishes nothing.
All it does is stain your own face with spit.”
Kainton glared, speechless, while Herrmann turned his attention to the rest of the room.
He rested both hands on the table.
“Everyone, if we are to formally protest the Duchess’s actions, we need evidence.”
“…”
“The Abner Council has always been guided by principle.
And the main reason many of us resent the current head… is that she ignored those principles.”
The elders nodded reluctantly.
Herrmann was right.
Their hatred toward Sharon Abner stemmed from the fact that she had defied the family’s rules—
taking the ducal title that should have gone to the late Duke’s eldest son, Jaden.
One of the elders cautiously raised his hand.
“I’ve already gathered records of the money spent on medical expenses.”
Another added, “We could review the family laws—there should be a clause about appointing a ward without the council’s consent.”
“And do you recall the recent trial with the Coel family?
We won, yes—but we can’t deny the poor management of the mines that led to the dispute.”
Herrmann nodded.
“Good. Collect all those details. Once it’s ready, I’ll formally request a review meeting with the Duchess.”
The elders’ faces brightened at that.
They exchanged approving glances.
Only Kainton sat there fuming, his expression dark.
Procedures, procedures, always procedures.
He clenched his fists under the table and glared at Herrmann.
While the family is being eaten alive by outsiders, that old fool insists on playing by the rules.
He had hated Herrmann for years.
Even now, when they finally had a chance to bring Sharon Abner down,
Herrmann still acted like some righteous saint.
So what, you think I’m the outsider here?
Herrmann had joined the Abner family years ago by marrying a woman from a branch line.
He was talented and ambitious, quickly rising through the ranks until he became chairman of the council itself.
And Kainton couldn’t stand him.
If it weren’t for that man, I’d be the chairman by now.
He came from one of the oldest branch lines, proud of his long service to the family.
Just you wait. When Sharon Abner steps down, you’ll be leaving with her.
He was determined—
this time, he would pull Sharon Abner down from her noble seat as head of the Abner family, no matter what it took.
