Chapter 52
…Who’s there?
As I turned my head to locate the source of the sound, I heard faint voices coming from a hidden corner of the garden.
“We secretly planted the relic on the Carlo family’s ship. And just like that, both Carlo and Abiche walked right into the trap.”
…What?
What did I just hear?
“Everything our master ordered has succeeded… Now onto the next phase…”
The voices were distant, their words occasionally cutting off, but what I did hear was enough.
A spy had infiltrated the family.
I didn’t know who this “master” was, but that person had deliberately planted a relic on the Sunpania to frame the Abiche family.
They framed Abiche!
Luivi covered her mouth in shock.
I have to tell the young lady!
If this truth came to light, the family could escape from this crisis—and the young lady’s status would rise immensely.
And then… so would mine.
Luivi quickly pulled a pen and paper from her pocket—items she always carried for taking notes while serving Katrina.
[To Lady Katrina…]
“I need to go tell the master right now,” the spy said.
Oh no. I have to finish quickly and follow them!
Luivi hastily shoved the note into her pocket.
Please wait, my lady!
She was determined to make a name for herself.
That had been her dream ever since she joined House Abiche: to rise through the ranks and return home in glory.
To her poor family.
To her dearly missed mother and father.
And to her beloved little siblings.
Big sister will make sure you get to eat bread topped with rich, expensive cream.
With that hope in her heart, Luivi quietly followed the spy.
***
A murder had occurred in the mansion.
The victim was Katrina’s maid—Luivi.
“Aaaah!”
The scream of the maid who discovered the body was the beginning.
Katrina, who hadn’t been able to sleep all night due to her swirling thoughts, immediately rushed to the scene—
—only to be met with a horrific sight.
Luivi, lying dead in the first-floor hall.
***
Why do all the bad things always happen at once?
“Who did this?! Who dared commit such a heinous act in my mansion?!”
Duke Abiche burst into furious rage.
“Find the culprit this instant! I will not let this go unpunished!”
Already consumed with anxiety over family matters, the duke completely lost his composure when faced with a murder in his own home.
“Get that out of here! Right now! It’s disgusting!”
He called for the servants at the top of his lungs.
At this rate, Luivi’s body would be discarded like trash.
But Katrina couldn’t let that happen.
She had been her maid, after all.
“I’ll take care of it, Father.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed at her words.
“Fine. You take care of it—quickly!”
“…”
Katrina stared down at Luivi’s corpse, heart sinking with grief.
She had been a girl who gave her all, always doing her best for Katrina, no matter the motive.
Katrina’s chest tightened with sorrow.
She decided she would take care of the body herself and hold a proper funeral.
As her master, it was the least she could do.
***
Katrina arranged Luivi’s funeral.
“Thank you for taking care of her… sniff…”
“Luivi was such a kind girl. She worked so hard, trying to earn just a little more for our family…”
She also met Luivi’s family.
But Katrina had no words for them.
“Who would do such a thing to our sweet Luivi…?”
She had no idea what to say.
So she simply stayed quiet, listened, and handed over condolence money.
When Katrina gave them the envelope, Luivi’s mother burst into louder sobs, clutching the money like it was Luivi herself.
“I’ll help with the funeral preparations.”
“Thank you… thank you so much.”
Why did this happen to Luivi?
Katrina knew almost nothing about the girl. Their connection had been brief.
She didn’t know what had led to this, only that the girl who always smiled so brightly was now gone.
“Excuse me, my lady…”
A funeral worker cautiously approached Katrina.
“We found this while handling the body.”
He held out a bloodstained piece of paper.
“What is it?”
“I believe she meant to give it to you. I think… you should read it.”
Something for me?
Now that she thought about it, Luivi had often jotted down notes while working with her.
Katrina assumed this was one of those.
She unfolded the note.
[To Lady Katrina,
This is Luivi.
Please forgive how hastily I’m writing this.
My lady, there’s a spy in the family!
That spy framed House Abiche by tampering with the Sunpania incident!
And now… they’re planning to drive you out of the family!
I’m going to follow the spy right now.
Before that, I just had to tell you…]
The note ended there.
The handwriting was rushed and jagged, and the final sentence wasn’t even completed.
Ah.
Katrina felt her heart break.
The mystery behind Luivi’s death unraveled in an instant.
It was because of Katrina.
Luivi had chased after the spy to win Katrina’s favor…
…and died for it.
A hardworking maid.
Luivi had known—exposing the spy would clear House Abiche’s name.
She had probably even realized it could help them regain negotiation rights over the Soul Stones.
Katrina looked up at the funeral worker with difficulty.
“…You read it too, didn’t you?”
“I had no choice while handling the body…”
“Don’t tell anyone about this.”
The worker’s eyes widened.
“But, my lady… there’s a spy in the house—!”
He didn’t finish.
He was afraid.
Afraid of having learned something this dangerous.
He pitied the dead maid—but feared for his own future.
“Now isn’t the time.”
They didn’t know who the spy was.
“We have to wait.”
“…Understood.”
The worker left.
To Katrina, the only thing she could do for Luivi now was to hold the funeral and help her family survive.
But now, another heavy burden had landed on her shoulders.
Luivi… I swear I’ll find the one who did this to you and make them pay.
She clenched her jaw and stared at the letter again.
And then—she saw what she had missed the first time.
[And now… they’re planning to drive you out of the family!]
The spy who had hidden the relic on the Sunpania…
Their next target—
Was Katrina.
Why?
Why would they want me out?
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her as memories of those who hated her flashed through her mind.
The ones who wished for her downfall.
No way…
“…Hah.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
Don’t tell me—it’s you again?
The same wretched bond.
Did it really have to be this way? Was there no other path for us?
Damn you, my old friends.
If it really is you…
Katrina grit her teeth.
“I won’t let it go this time.”
