Chapter 54
After leaving the prison, Nadia explained her ability to Heinrich.
“So you’re saying you can sense other people’s emotions through mana?”
“Yes. But I realized something this time. The more closely I look, the more I seem to resonate with that person’s emotions.”
“…It would be best not to use it if you can help it.”
Heinrich advised, and Nadia nodded.
“But… it feels so futile. Everyone I pursue ends up dead.”
At Nadia’s sigh-like words, this time Heinrich was the one to nod.
“Still, at least one thing has become clear. A certain organization is centered around black magic, and what rules them is fear. Of course, at first they must have enticed people with money or honor.”
“What you asked the Baronet Varden’s son—is that true? About how traitors in their organization are revived and forced to repeat death over and over again?”
“I can’t say for sure if such a thing actually happens. But Aaron seemed to think it was possible.”
“I see.”
Heinrich fell silent, lost in thought. Nadia too was in no mood for conversation, still unsettled by the strange circumstances of Aaron’s death.
Aaron had felt such terror at hearing his own name that he’d killed himself instantly.
But it was hard to believe that Nadia, daughter of Baron Hess, could have that much authority over him.
That left only one possibility—Aaron must have known about the connection between Rivenya Baldwin and Nadia Hess.
So I really was brought back by black magic. Most likely revived by Aaron’s master. But why? If it were just to kill or use me, they should have appeared long ago…
Nadia furrowed her brows deeply, sinking into thought.
At that moment, someone burst into the room where Heinrich and Nadia were resting.
“Young Lady!”
Vivian shouted so loudly the walls might collapse, forgetting completely that Nadia wasn’t alone.
Nadia cast a quick glance at Heinrich and scolded Vivian.
“Vivian, His Grace is here. Show restraint, now more than ever.”
Vivian hastily bowed, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.
“So what is it?”
“Miss, you must come quickly! Just now, from the territory—a messenger arrived! My Lady has collapsed again!”
Nadia shot to her feet before Vivian even finished speaking.
There should have been enough medicine—why!
She swallowed the scream rising in her chest and looked to Heinrich.
No matter how urgent, she at least owed him thanks.
But Heinrich was already standing, ready to leave.
“I’ll go with you.”
“What? But Your Grace—”
“Rather than waste time picking some random carriage from Crimson territory, Baldwin’s carriage will be much faster.”
It wasn’t really an answer to her concern.
But it was the only reply that could silence her doubts.
“…I’ll be in your debt. Thank you, Your Grace.”
Nadia accepted and hurried her steps.
They explained their sudden departure to the Count Crimson’s attendants, and just as Nadia was about to climb into Baldwin’s carriage—
“Nadia!”
A desperate voice caught her from behind.
She turned and saw Arcis running toward her so fast he nearly crashed into the carriage.
Biting her lip, Nadia apologized.
“Arcis, I’m so sorry to leave like this. Please tell Yuria I’m sorry too.”
“Don’t worry. We both understand. That’s not what I came to say.”
Arcis spoke quickly, as if he understood her heart completely.
“I’ll be returning to the capital soon. If you ever need my help, come find me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Hearing that, Nadia’s heart trembled. She clenched her lips tight and nodded vigorously.
Arcis, not wanting to delay her further, closed the carriage door himself and told the coachman to depart.
Inside the swiftly departing carriage, Nadia clasped her hands tightly together.
Watching her, Heinrich asked quietly:
“…He’s a friend of yours?”
Nadia, half dazed, nodded.
“Yes. Truly, I’m so lucky… they chose to be friends with someone as dull as me. Really… Ha… I just pray Mother will be safe…”
Her soul already seemed halfway to the Hess estate.
There was no point asking more. Heinrich kept his silence and gazed out the window.
The carriage carried many tangled emotions as it sped forward.
The carriage barely stopped along the way—only long enough to change horses and coachmen.
Meals and sleep all had to be taken within the rattling carriage, yet Nadia showed not a hint of fatigue, staring endlessly out the window.
At last, when the carriage reached the Baron’s manor gate, Nadia leapt out before it fully halted.
Heinrich froze at her sudden dash, while Vivian, glancing anxiously between them, rushed after Nadia.
“Oh no… I still haven’t told her yet…”
Her mutter was strange, but Heinrich couldn’t understand it.
He dismounted a step later and was met by a somewhat inexperienced-looking butler, who received him respectfully.
“My deepest apologies for the disarray in the house.”
“What matters most is the Lady of the house being well. Don’t mind me.”
Heinrich answered evenly as he entered the Baron’s manor.
But inside the hall, an unexpected scene awaited.
Nadia, who had rushed in before him, stood frozen halfway up the stairs, staring upward.
Her hand gripped her dress hem so tightly her veins bulged, yet her face was unnaturally blank.
Following her gaze, Heinrich looked up.
There stood a woman he knew well.
“Oh my, Baroness Hess’s daughter, isn’t it? No need for introductions now—please, go inside quickly.”
The woman beckoned briskly to Nadia.
Snapping out of it, Nadia gave a brief nod and hurried to her mother’s chamber.
The woman shook her head as though pitying her, though her false benevolence reeked of insincerity.
As she descended the stairs, she spotted Heinrich and started in surprise.
“Heavens, isn’t this His Grace Duke Baldwin? I never imagined I’d meet my brother-in-law here.”
“The same for me, Lady Priscilline.”
Heinrich’s voice was stiff.
“Oh, come now. You can just call me Becca.”
Becca Priscilline acted unaffected, even cheeky, before Heinrich.
Becca was the daughter of Count Priscilline’s second wife—making her Rivenya’s half-sister.
Which meant she had no blood relation to Nadia at all.
“Why are you here, Lady?”
“Well, I was on my way to visit you at Baldwin estate, but my carriage broke down! Luckily, a kind gentleman passing by let me stay here while it was repaired.”
Becca tilted her pretty brows pitifully, as though she had been helpless.
“I told you, whatever your business, you needn’t come to my lands directly.”
With a sigh, Heinrich looked at the butler, signaling him to lead him elsewhere.
Becca hurriedly rushed down the stairs.
“Your Grace! Brother-in-law! Please wait! Since we’ve met here, I must beg a favor—”
But Heinrich ignored her completely and turned away.
Naturally, the butler followed Heinrich’s will and led him to a guest room.
Left in the hall, Becca fumed and then spun on her heel.
“As if I wanted to come to this stinking countryside!”
The maids glanced sidelong at her reckless behavior, but Becca didn’t care. The only person she minded her image with had already disappeared.
The Baroness’s chamber was thick with the smell of medicine.
Thanks to Nadia and the estate’s people, rare medicines had been procured in abundance.
But no medicine could instantly restore a patient to health.
“…So the Madam must avoid prolonged stress or great shocks. Her stability is the most important.”
The resident physician said the obvious, and Nadia clutched her mother’s hand tightly.
Thankfully, the Baroness had regained consciousness shortly before Nadia arrived.
Despite her pale face, the Baroness smiled warmly.
“Even in my sleep, I must have known you were coming.”
But Nadia could not smile back.
She pressed her mother’s hand to her cheek.
“…I was so scared, Mother.”
“Oh my, I never thought I’d see you act spoiled like this.”
The Baroness chuckled lightly, patting Nadia’s cheek, then carefully asked:
“Is it because you’ve started a romance?”
