Chapter 08
For a moment, I doubted my own ears.
“How… how is this possible?”
Ravina’s gaze felt as if it could pierce through everything, leaving me almost breathless.
Ah! Ravina’s blessing ability!
In my joy at meeting her, I had momentarily forgotten about her blessing ability.
I couldn’t respond at all.
After all, I couldn’t tell her that this world was from a book or that I was a soul from another world.
“Death… is what scares you the most, isn’t it?”
Ravina broke the silence and spoke.
“I’ve actually wanted to ask you this since the first time we met. Do you know that I am a blessed one?”
I slowly nodded.
“My ability is called ‘Intuition.’ It allows me to perceive the weaknesses and fears of others very well.”
I stared at her in shock.
“I know… but…”
Blessed ones rarely speak of their abilities, except to partners, family, or in special circumstances.
“Is it alright if you tell me about your blessing ability?”
I asked her with a worried expression.
Ravina smiled faintly and replied to me.
“To be honest, I don’t really like my blessing ability. But through countless wars with monsters, I’ve saved innocent people and received overwhelming help thanks to it. Isn’t it contradictory?”
She spoke calmly, her voice steady.
“Since my ability has already become known through numerous battlefields, don’t worry too much.”
With that, she ended the conversation as if it were nothing. Having read the original story, I knew just how much she despised this ability.
She had said that seeing others’ weaknesses was a petty act.
She had even closed her eyes and practiced swordsmanship to the point of wishing the ability didn’t exist.
Ravina’s ‘Intuition’ wasn’t particularly remarkable among the blessed.
Blessed ones who could read emotions were relatively common in this world.
However, she was one of only three Swordmasters on the continent.
A Swordmaster capable of identifying the enemy’s weaknesses? It was like giving wings to a tiger.
In the original story, Ravina had slaughtered dark wizards and monsters who used the very ability she hated to commit atrocities.
“So she probably saw what I fear even if she didn’t want to.”
Death.
Thinking of the word pierced my heart with sharp pain.
“You used to fear being alone, which is why I understood your actions. It was the sorrow of a child who had lost her mother.”
“…”
Seeing me unable to speak, Ravina asked quietly, gently.
“Did the accident on the stairs shock you badly?”
“Huh? Y-yes!”
I frantically nodded, unable to think of another excuse.
“You’re still so young. It hurts to think that such a deep wound has formed.”
Ravina’s expression was dark, but I deliberately spoke cheerfully.
“But I’ve gotten much better. Father has been by my side constantly, and I realized that there are more people who care for me than I expected.”
Seeing my embarrassed face, Ravina gave me a warm smile.
“And as for the young master… I’ve done so many wrongs to the Duchess that it’s natural for her to dislike me. So I want to apologize and become close to her until she understands my true feelings.”
I made up my mind, my eyes sparkling.
Since Layla’s mischief had possessed this body, it was my responsibility to endure and take responsibility for it. Thinking that way actually cleared my mind.
“This is no time to be dazed.”
The original story was already progressing steadily, and I had to follow its flow.
But if it was to protect my life, I wouldn’t hesitate to twist the original story.
“Rara is already changing, isn’t she? That’s what’s important. Even if Calix seems cold, he’s actually soft-hearted and will soon understand your feelings. So don’t push yourself too hard.”
As she comforted and encouraged me, her profile looked so beautiful.
“So amazing!”
I couldn’t help but admire her.
Ravina was far cooler and more incredible than I had imagined. Once again, I found myself falling for my favorite person.
My eyes even turned into heart shapes.
“Um… Duchess.”
At my words, Ravina frowned as if something bothered her.
I felt nervous, wondering what mistake I had made this time.
“Just call me by my name.”
Ah, it was about the title. She wasn’t angry. Thank goodness.
But she wanted me to call her by name. So, what should I say?
Sister? Goddess? Ravina?
“Th-then, Ra-Ravina…?”
“Huh?”
Fortunately, it seemed that this address didn’t upset her, as she smiled faintly.
I reached my fingers toward her hand.
Now, it was time to bring up Olga’s matter.
Would Ravina believe me?
With a slightly nervous heart, I spoke.
“The ring you’re wearing right now…”
Ravina touched the silver ring with a white gemstone.
“I saw it in my mother’s diary. Does it hold a memory?”
I blinked and looked up at her.
She paused, murmuring with eyes full of longing.
“It was a ring I bought by saving money to celebrate becoming friends with Sierra. I was always alone, so I was overjoyed to have a friend.”
Her voice was weak, as if recalling her mother while looking at me.
Ravina gently pushed my golden hair behind my ear.
“White gemstones have the power to ward off evil, so I wanted to give it to Sierra.”
As she spoke, Ravina looked very sad.
I knew well how much she treasured the ring.
She had always feared that dark wizards might target the people close to her.
It hurt to feel like I had touched her memory.
“This is the white gemstone, right? Are there other colors? I want to give one to a friend when I have one too.”
I asked brightly.
Perhaps noticing my words, Ravina erased her sadness and gave a faint smile.
“There are many colors. There’s amethyst like a violet, and pale rose-colored gemstones like your cheeks, Rara.”
“So the one I saw was gray.”
As I continued, I noticed Ravina stiff, deep in thought.
“Not black?”
“No! I saw a large gray gemstone with a white lily-shaped bell engraved on a necklace.”
I exaggerated the gesture and made an innocent expression.
Ravina seemed deep in thought.
‘Ugh, frustrating.’
I wished I could just tell her straightforwardly.
If she found out that I knew about the dark wizards’ necklace—something only a few people including Ravina knew—she might become suspicious.
‘Please understand.’
I couldn’t say I saw it in the novel, so I was anxious.
“Where… where did you see it?”
Ravina asked hesitantly.
Seeing her confused eyes, I was certain.
“She noticed.”
I quickly replied, as if waiting for this moment.
“I don’t think I should say…”
Ravina’s gaze had grown heavy.
When I didn’t answer, she continued.
“Rara, I know you don’t trust me and that you don’t like me. But can you trust me just this once and tell me?”
I nodded.
“My personal maid, Olga, had it.”
“Your personal maid… Olga?”
Ravina recalled, thinking deeply.
“When Olga showed me the necklace, it was easier to remember.”
At my words, Ravina’s face turned pale.
“Wh-when? Where is she now?”
“She’s on vacation and said she’ll return tomorrow.”
Ravina grabbed my hand tightly.
“Rara, you’re in danger right now.”
I smiled inwardly at her words.
‘Then, it’s time to plan how to punish the villains.’
“Rara has changed a lot.”
On the carriage ride back to the Tracia Ducal Mansion, Garen started the conversation.
“Indeed.”
Ravina thought of Rara, who looked just like Sierra. Her mind was in turmoil.
The image of the lovely child looking up at her with sparkling eyes kept pricking her heart.
Could the maid named Olga really be a dark wizard?
What had the dark wizards done to the young Rara?
The uncertainty made Ravina’s hands feel prickly with nervous tension.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing Ravina like that, Garen asked with concern and lightly held her trembling shoulder.
“It’s nothing.”
Ravina slowly closed her eyes and leaned into Garen’s embrace. His arms were solid yet warm.
Garen was surprised by her sudden action but gave her a warm smile.
“If you’re tired, take a nap.”
“Thank you… darling.”
Ravina gave him a soft smile and closed her eyes.
“…”
Calix, ignoring his own presence, turned toward the window, watching his parents show affection.
The dark night sky seemed to swallow everything.
“You brat.”
Calix was uneasy.
The image of Rara bowing in apology at the pavilion lingered in his mind like a residual reflection.
He didn’t know what mischief she might plan next, but in that moment, her apology seemed genuine.
Unable to accept it, Calix scowled.
“She’s using honorifics with me. Acting like someone else entirely.”
He didn’t think Rara had truly regained her senses.
But seeing her like that, it didn’t seem like a lie, leaving Calix confused.
“Could it be, like Father said… she really has changed?”
