Chapter 85
“Have you been well?”
The room was quiet.
Following my strict instructions not to let anyone in, there wasn’t even the slightest sound of footsteps outside Rachel’s room.
I quietly checked on my pet sparrow, Chirp, perched on the window sill.
Increasing my holy power was important before entering this room.
“Grand Duchess Selena.”
Rachel gave a weak smile and looked at me with dazed eyes.
Her focus wavered, so it seemed her mind hadn’t fully returned yet.
I carefully approached her, controlling my holy power just in case.
“How is your body feeling?”
On the round table beside the soft-looking bed were warm water and some pills—the prescription for Rachel’s weakened state.
Noticing me looking at the medicine, Rachel hurried to speak, trying to reassure me.
“I’m much better. I’m just sorry for causing trouble.”
“It’s not trouble. The stories you share with me are helpful—if everything you’ve told me is true.”
Surprised, Rachel widened her eyes and waved her hands.
“I-I wouldn’t lie. Everything I’ve said is true.”
“Good. I’ll believe you. If it were a lie, there would be no reason for me to help you more.”
It was a firm line—maybe even a little harsh.
‘But I can’t help it.’
Just hiding Rachel was already a heavy responsibility.
I handed her the newspaper I had brought from the carriage.
Though slightly crumpled from carrying it, the article was easy to read.
Rachel quickly skimmed the first page, filled with monster reports, her green eyes moving rapidly.
I sat on the velvet chair next to the table, casually tidying my braided hair.
“The monsters are causing chaos. The Empire is in turmoil.”
“……”
“Do you know anything about these monsters?”
Rachel hesitated, her lips twitching, but she couldn’t speak easily.
I watched patiently, knowing that her fragile mental state meant she couldn’t answer all at once.
“…I’m sorry, Grand Duchess. I don’t know anything about these monsters.”
Tears welled in her gentle eyes as she apologized.
I crossed my arms, leaning back in the chair, blinking calmly.
I was trying to read her thoughts, but there was no way to know for sure.
‘If I had that ability, I would have already found whoever is behind these monsters.’
‘Ugh, I really don’t know.’
It was hard to tell if her crying was real or not.
‘Still, I have no choice but to trust her.’
She might be the only clue to uncover the mastermind controlling the monsters.
Of course, she could be lying, but this could also be the only chance to catch the mastermind.
That was why I had brought Rachel Donovan from the Donovan estate to the Grand Duchess’s residence.
I knew it was a little reckless.
Sometimes, reckless actions were the only way to uncover the truth.
“Even if I don’t know about the monsters, I’ll tell you everything else I know. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be under control over there.”
Rachel, sniffling, moved closer to me.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Thank you for saving me.”
Hearing her words, I turned my head, touched by a pang of sympathy.
I couldn’t forget what had happened in the Donovan estate’s drawing room.
“Run, Grand Duchess!”
The vision of Rachel, tied tightly with holy ropes, begging me to escape.
Her dark hair now a deep orange, her eyes wild as she grabbed my ankle—it was terrifying.
‘Rachel! What are you doing!’
‘Who told you? I said not to be discovered! Who told you?’
The Rachel holding my ankle seemed like a completely different person from the one who begged me to escape.
I couldn’t stand it, so I flicked my fingers, sending sharp holy power, and she fell back.
Immediately, I ran and opened the window in the drawing room.
Chirp was needed in case something unexpected happened.
Rachel looked like she was being controlled, her mind elsewhere.
The Donovan drawing room was filled with a strong, dark magical aura—like what I felt in the Northern territory of the Zains Marquisate.
Strangely, the magic only seemed to stir near Rachel.
‘When did she even have this kind of magic?’
Chirp flew in through the open window, looking shocked at Rachel, who was muttering and writhing on the floor.
[Oh no, her magic is vibrating! She’s completely under someone’s control!]
‘Control?!’
[This won’t do.]
Chirp cried, and golden holy power floated around Rachel, quickly absorbing into her.
Her focus returned, and she collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
‘Grand Duchess, you must escape. The monsters will attack soon. The Bennett Grand House must be careful. Their target is…’
She fell unconscious mid-sentence.
Now, I had kidnapped Lady Rachel Donovan.
Chirp’s frantic words about whether I was crazy I ignored lightly.
I wrapped her in a golden blanket of holy power, flicked my fingers, and the blanket floated around her.
I watched her leave the Donovan estate through the drawing room window, then quietly left the empty halls.
Back at the Grand Duchess’s residence, I only told Hyle and Daisy the full story.
Thanks to their complete trust, I had kept Rachel hidden for three months.
That was why Rachel was now in the guest room across from my own room.
“I will repay your kindness properly.”
“First, we’ll focus on healing. I can still feel the magic. Are you still having nightmares?”
“…Yes. My mother keeps appearing in them.”
“My mother?”
Hearing that, I straightened up in my chair, intrigued.
Rachel nodded and swallowed hard.
“Yes, the Countess Donovan.”
“My mother keeps whispering in my ear. If I don’t obey, she’ll make me live in hell forever.”
Rachel’s hands trembled as she spoke, describing pain so intense it felt like her head would split.
“Wait, young lady. I don’t understand what you mean.”
Rachel, speaking of the Countess Donovan rather than her own mother, looked terrified.
Her small fists were white from gripping so tightly, and she exhaled a tearful sigh.
“The Countess Donovan is not my real mother.”
