Chapter 43
There were still some unresolved questions, but it was time to leave Asius.
It was just as her conversation with the man ended.
“Katrina.”
Lucifer called out to her.
“I’ll be heading back now.”
“……”
Katrina didn’t care whether Lucifer returned or not.
In fact, she was more curious why he hadn’t left already.
Niel France already left, after all.
Truthfully, there was something she wanted to say to him.
The relic has been fully purified?
Because of that ridiculous excuse, Katrina had been stuck in solitary confinement for three days—and now he was just leaving like that?
The fact that Katrina had stolen the flute had been brushed aside thanks to Gilbert. Since his crimes were exposed, everyone’s attention shifted toward him.
It seemed Hildegard’s people were planning to pin the flute theft on Gilbert while they were at it.
“That’s a shame. We were so close,”
he muttered, sounding genuinely disappointed.
This bastard.
Katrina frowned.
He truly looked as though he regretted how things turned out.
“Your plan was never going to succeed in the first place, Lucifer.”
When he tried to frame Katrina, she had already sent a letter to Hildegard—detailing Gilbert’s actions in vivid detail.
“All you did was make things unnecessarily complicated.”
Lucifer widened his eyes as if feigning surprise.
“Oh? I didn’t know that.”
He answered nonchalantly.
“I’ll be more careful next time. Thanks for the advice.”
He still hadn’t come to his senses…
“We’ll meet again.”
Lucifer walked away with an enraptured smile.
Katrina spent quite some time comparing two books on the way back in the carriage.
They’re the same.
Before coming to Asius, she had brought with her a book left behind by Arabella—one that she received from Damian.
The handwriting in Arabella’s research notes and the documents she’d received from Gilbert were strikingly similar.
…Arabella’s handwriting.
…Could that be why Hildegard sent me here?
No, that couldn’t be.
Hildegard couldn’t have known that.
Katrina’s mind grew increasingly tangled.
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived.”
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Aviche estate.
Finally…
She was finally home.
For the first time, she felt a sense of longing for the Aviche estate.
Asius had been filled with far too many incidents and far too much cold. It had been exhausting for Katrina.
She stepped down from the carriage.
Indeed, the capital was warm.
“I’m glad to see you back safely.”
The butler greeted her as she returned to the estate.
The eyes of the other servants who looked at her had also changed.
Katrina was sure of it.
Hildegard had kept her promise quickly.
There must have been unspoken pressure placed on the family.
It was a good thing for Katrina.
“What—what the heck?! Why are you here?!”
As she climbed the stairs, Katrina ran into Selena.
Selena was startled at the sight of her.
“I just got back.”
“Already?”
Already? She had been in Asius for nearly a month.
“You actually solved that case?!”
Selena looked stunned.
As if she hadn’t expected Katrina to succeed.
Katrina raised one brow.
She couldn’t blame Selena entirely—she hadn’t expected to solve it herself either.
“I’m tired. I’d like to rest. Could you move?”
“……”
Katrina brushed past Selena and climbed the stairs.
What happened in Asius left her with a lot to think about.
…That the relic had been Arabella’s flute.
And what on earth had Silas come there for?
Her mind was a mess.
But she was too tired to think about it for long.
She was back—but there was still much to be done.
Above all, she needed to figure out how to obtain the Wishing Stone.
Ever since her return from Asius, Katrina hadn’t left her room for days.
Perhaps the arduous journey had finally caught up with her, and fatigue had overwhelmed her completely.
Her days consisted of eating, resting a little, and sleeping again.
“Young Lady Katrina seems to be sleeping again today,”
came a report in the morning.
So she managed to pull it off and come back…
No one had expected Katrina to succeed in Asius.
Damian included.
“Keep watching her.”
Damian instructed the maid.
Every servant in this house was his eyes and ears.
By afternoon…
“Master Damian, Lady Katrina is awake.”
“I see.”
Damian didn’t show much reaction.
He was reviewing an official letter from the temple.
Soon, the temple would be inviting noble families to protect the Wishing Stone.
Initially, the plan was to choose between the two of the four great houses—the France marquisate and the Aviche duchy.
But due to a mistake by another of the four great houses, Rockenheim, the opportunity had opened to others.
The temple would soon announce the negotiation dates. Negotiations would be conducted one house at a time, in a set order.
So the key now was—which family would earn the first negotiation rights?
“By the way… Lady Katrina asked me to tell you she would like the key to Lady Arabella’s room.”
The papers in Damian’s hand stilled.
His blue eyes turned cold.
Arabella’s room.
It was the space where Arabella’s belongings had been left untouched after her death.
Some of the things Arabella had left behind had been given to Katrina. But those she hadn’t chosen to part with were preserved carefully by Damian.
If the flute found in Asius really belonged to Arabella…
Then there might be more relics left behind by her.
But how had she obtained such a thing in the first place?
To Katrina’s knowledge, Arabella had led a rather normal life, wholly devoted to her research.
Could Damian know something?
I didn’t want to make this kind of request…
Katrina felt awkward bringing up Arabella to Damian.
And with good reason…
“Pretty little daughter of mine, Katrina.”
A gentle voice, the hand that used to stroke her hair—
That warmth still lingered vividly in her memory.
However—
Mother…
The cold gaze Arabella had directed at Damian was equally unforgettable.
“Damian, what is it?”
“…Today is your birthday, Mother. I’ve prepared a gift.”
“Alright. Leave it and go.”
Her ever-cold tone toward Damian—
Katrina remembered it all.
Arabella had adored Katrina but had never shown the same affection toward her own son, Damian.
It was always strange.
No one knew why.
She’d always been curious, but Katrina never had the courage to ask Arabella directly.
“It’s been a while, Katrina.”
Just then, Damian emerged slowly from behind her.
“I’m glad you returned safely.”
“…Yeah. Thanks.”
Normally, she wouldn’t have added that last part.
But maybe it was because she felt uneasy asking for a favor—Katrina found herself watching Damian’s expression.
“You want the key?”
“…Yes. I’d like to enter her room for a moment.”
“Alright.”
So easily?
Katrina was relieved. She had worried that her request might upset him.
“However—I’ll be accompanying you.”
