Chapter 37
The moment all her memories came rushing back, the color drained from Katrina’s face.
My love.
The man, smiling as though gazing down at the most precious thing in the world…
Take it.
He had handed her the flute.
Then, he’d guided her hand to bring it to her lips.
Katrina had been too shocked to speak. And Lucifer, too, simply watched her without saying a word.
In the silence, the only sound was the whistling wind stirring up the snow outside.
“…You really…”
She had always known. But still, he hadn’t changed.
Why did he remain so constant?
“Let’s go, Katrina.”
Once again, he cloaked himself in false kindness.
“I’m worried you might be cold.”
The very man who’d framed her was now pretending to be concerned about her being cold.
This contradiction of a man stood before Katrina.
As soon as they returned to the castle, the Lord summoned Niel.
Even then, Katrina believed the misunderstanding would soon be cleared.
But Niel looked at her with an uncomfortable expression.
“…I didn’t make a mistake.”
What?
Katrina was stunned. Why was he lying?
“Tell the truth, Niel France.”
It’s a lie.
That flute—its purification wasn’t complete.
Niel’s eyes wavered under her stare.
In that moment, Katrina understood.
…Of course. You’ve always been this way. Since childhood. You never once learned to take responsibility.
He was afraid of being blamed for failing to purify the flute properly.
So instead of admitting his own fault—
“…The purification was successful.”
He turned on Katrina.
Once again, the castle was thrown into chaos.
And Katrina was thrown into solitary confinement.
Damn Lucifer. Damn Niel France.
Katrina sat in the solitary cell.
Ugh.
Her head throbbed again. As if it couldn’t take another headache. At this rate, she thought she might develop chronic migraines.
It’s going to be fine.
Katrina knew. She wouldn’t be here long.
She had already taken care of everything important outside the castle.
All she had to do was endure this place for a little while.
“Katrina, I brought you a blanket!”
Just then, Lucifer’s cheerful face appeared at the cell door, sliding a thick blanket inside.
“I made sure it’s a heavy one, so you can sleep warm.”
“…”
“Good job, right?”
True to his word, the blanket was thick and warm.
The cell had no stove, and the existing blanket was far too thin—it had been freezing.
But the same man who had framed her was now smiling so innocently.
“You’ve been acting strange for a while,” Katrina said, eyeing him.
“You were suspiciously cooperative.”
There had been two clear moments.
The day she followed the flute—and didn’t reveal anything.
And when the Lord questioned her—yet Lucifer hadn’t spoken the truth then, either.
“This was the reason, wasn’t it?”
He had been waiting for this very moment.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
“Yeah. This suits you better.”
“…”
“Better than pretending to help me.”
Lucifer looked down at her, unreadable.
“I think so too,” he said.
Those crimson eyes—so chilling to Katrina—now looked upon her with something close to ecstasy.
“I like being this way.”
“…”
“Better than pretending to help you in that pathetic way.”
Lucifer admitted it without hesitation. And it was cruel.
“I like watching you suffer.”
He hadn’t changed at all from three years ago. Still ruthless, still unrepentant.
She was certain of it now—he would live his whole life like this. The very definition of an unchanging man.
“But don’t worry too much, Katrina,” he said, oddly trying to comfort her.
She knew what was coming next.
“I’ll make sure the temple receives you according to proper procedures.”
“What?”
“Well, it’s only right, isn’t it? Who else would take care of someone like you?”
“…”
His intentions were so transparent it wasn’t even surprising anymore.
You really are determined to mock me to the very end.
And now Katrina finally understood why.
“Is this fun for you?”
That had to be it.
“This whole situation—do you find it funny?”
Raymond and you… you really are exactly the same.
“You did it like this before, too.”
You were always like this.
No matter how much I try to forget—when I’m cornered like this, the past always comes back.
That day, when I was falsely accused—
I never put poison in Niel’s tea, and yet every one of you betrayed and mocked me.
“For your amusement, you framed me.”
“…”
“You ruined someone’s life because it was fun, didn’t you?”
She could still see Raymond’s smirking face from the day of the Harmony Banquet.
She had wondered for years—why?
And now, the reason was so pathetic it made her feel hollow.
“So it really was just for fun…”
“It wasn’t fun,” Lucifer said suddenly.
“I never enjoyed it, Katrina.”
What?
“Raymond probably did.”
His smile curled bitterly at the corners.
He truly didn’t seem to have enjoyed it at all.
So there was another reason?
“Then why?”
Katrina found herself asking again.
If it wasn’t for fun, then why…
“Because I hated you,” Lucifer said, his crimson eyes darkening.
“But I also loved you. Still do, in fact.”
“…”
“That’s why.”
Katrina couldn’t understand.
I never did anything to you.
I should be the one who hates, who resents, who despises you.
Step, step.
Katrina trudged along as if being dragged.
Ahead of her walked a golden-haired boy.
“Come on. I’ll introduce you to my friends,” he said.
Katrina had no intention of leaving the shade of the tree.
“No, thanks.”
Raymond’s friends?
They were likely his age—meaning just kids, from her perspective.
“No need.”
She stayed lying under the tree and didn’t move.
Raymond tilted his head, clearly dissatisfied.
“Why not?”
“I’ll just accept the thought.”
Raymond didn’t seem satisfied with that answer.
Eventually, Katrina got up.
His eyes sparkled.
But she turned her back on him with a sharp motion.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere you’re not.”
“Why?”
“Is why your favorite word or something, Raymond?”
“…”
“You’re annoying. That’s why I avoid you.”
Katrina tried to disappear to a place without Raymond.
But—
“The Duke’s looking for you.”
“…Father?”
“Want me to tell him you were lying under this tree?”
“…Hey, wait.”
Was he seriously blackmailing her?
Katrina stared at him in disbelief.
Raymond only smiled sweetly.
“You’ll come with me, right?”
…Isn’t he just a little bastard?
And so, Katrina was dragged along by Raymond.
After walking for a while, he spoke again.
“You really were hiding in a complicated place.”
“Well, I had to. I couldn’t afford to be found.”
Katrina had been lying hidden in Aviche’s maze garden.
No one ever came inside.
“And what about you? Why’d you come into this mess?”
“…”
Raymond didn’t answer.
All those questions he asked, and now he stays silent? So selfish.
But she didn’t push for an answer. She hadn’t really wanted one anyway.
Instead, she asked something else.
“Raymond, do you have a lot of friends?”
“Maybe.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“Unexpected?”
Raymond stopped walking and turned around.
