Episode 6
I want to kill her.
The moment I looked into those wide, feigned-innocent eyes, the urge surged violently within me. If I tightened my grip just a little more—no, even if I simply untied the ribbon and met her gaze—Amelia would die.
I had wanted to kill her all along. Every moment I wandered as a ghost.
As Amelia’s strength gradually ebbed away, a thrill of exhilaration spread through me.
“My lady! You mustn’t!”
The voice that stopped me came from behind—Fabio.
“Please, stop.”
A large, warm hand settled on my shoulder. I glanced between that hand and Amelia, then at last loosened my grip.
It would be a waste to kill her now.
If Amelia died like this, it would feel hollow. I wanted to see it just a little longer—those trembling eyes, filled with the terror of being hunted.
Besides, if I killed her now, I would lose the opportunity I had only just gained. I couldn’t die before sending both Amelia—and Dario—into ruin.
As I slowly watched Regina, Agatha, and Amelia flee like madwomen, the storm raging within me faded, as though the earth had swallowed it whole. A heavy languor seeped into my body, and my vision gradually darkened.
As I drew in a deep breath, the rich aroma of tea filled my senses. It was fresh yet bitter—the scent of the leaves my grandmother, Thalia, had always favored.
I opened my eyes atop a massive bed in a room paneled with dark wood.
Turning my head, I saw a maid steeping tea—and Thalia seated beside the bed.
“Do you remember what happened?”
Instead of asking if I was alright, she went straight to the point.
“Yes.”
I answered simply, then immediately regretted the question that rose to my lips.
“…What about Fabio?”
“Fabio? Who is that?”
Thalia’s brow lifted.
“The stable boy.”
“Ah, that child. He’ll receive the punishment he deserves.”
The punishment he deserves…
I swallowed a bitter laugh.
To me, he was a benefactor. But to the Anguist family, he was nothing more than a disobedient dog who had defied his master’s command.
“Why? Are you concerned about him?”
If she discovered my concern, it would bring no good to either Fabio or myself.
“…Of course not.”
I shook my head, forcing a faint sneer to mask my feelings.
“I was only curious how a mere stable boy managed to enter the garden.”
Whether she believed me or not, Thalia let it pass.
“Then let me ask you something. Is it true you attacked Regina?”
“Yes.”
As I nodded, her brow arched once more.
“Why?”
“Because Regina attacked me first.”
It was only natural. I had no reason to fear being scolded.
“But you’ve always avoided conflict. What was different today?”
“I simply thought it was time to show them… that they shouldn’t touch me.”
“Regina says you nearly tried to kill her. Were you truly intending to?”
I couldn’t quite grasp why Thalia was asking these questions. Was she planning to reprimand me for siblings fighting to the death?
As if. Not that woman.
She was the only one in the family who treated me with a semblance of warmth. Sometimes she would summon me to her study, offer tea and sweets, or speak a kind word.
But that was the extent of her kindness.
Though she knew I was ostracized by my mother and siblings, she had never once intervened. Nor did she seem particularly fond of Regina.
Thalia was the sort of person who would throw her grandchildren into a lion’s den—and expect them to survive on their own.
“I have no intention of throwing my life away over someone like Regina.”
That was the truth. I had far too much to do.
Thalia studied me for a long moment before speaking.
“Today, you awakened your ability. It is an ancient power passed down through the Anguist family. Do you understand what that means?”
“If you teach me, I will learn.”
I assumed she would offer some vague warning, as she had in my previous life.
But her words were different this time.
“It means that, if you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss.”
Her calm, quiet voice held neither concern nor sympathy—only the implication that my fate was mine alone.
“Most who possess the power of Medusa are executed as monsters or witches. Even if they survive, they are imprisoned in towers…”
I already knew the grim fate of those with Medusa’s power.
I know. I’ve already died once.
Was I among those executed as a monster?
The corner of my lips twisted again, but I suppressed it and nodded obediently.
“The power of Medusa is extraordinarily strong—but equally dangerous. Above all, it cannot be controlled.”
From there, the conversation followed much the same course as before. Rising from the bedside, Thalia went to the bookshelf and retrieved an old volume, handing it to me.
A familiar cover.
In my previous life, I had read this book until it was worn thin. It contained ancient methods of crafting potions—including one that could suppress ability rampages.
“Some of the formulas are forbidden. Be careful.”
With that warning, I left the head of the household’s chambers. I intended to head straight for the stables, but—curse it—I was assigned an escort.
Escort? More like a watcher…
It was clear Thalia still suspected something between Fabio and me.
Under these circumstances, going to the stables would be unwise. Instead, I tried to recall the location of the room I had used before marrying Dario.
“Ah.”
Not here?
I opened a door—only to shut it again the moment I saw who was inside.
“What is it?”
“My room… this is it, right?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, I thought I had mistaken the room. Tilting my head, I searched my memory again—this was definitely the place.
Then why was Amelia here?
A wave of fatigue washed over me.
“Amira!”
As I hesitated at the door, the handle turned, and an unwelcome guest emerged—her large eyes brimming with tears.
“Are you alright? Come in.”
Amelia grabbed my wrist as though she owned the room.
The touch disgusted me. Unable to endure it, I shook her off.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well… Amira, I think you misunderstood. You see, I only did what Lady Regina told me to. I was really worried about you…”
“Not Amira. Lady Amira.”
“…Huh?”
“Whatever it is, I’m tired. Leave. And don’t come back.”
I didn’t want to deal with her any further, so I immediately called for a knight. After a brief hesitation, he dragged Amelia out of the room.
Unable to resist his strength, she was pulled away, her face filled with disbelief—tears still glistening in her clear eyes.
Once, I had fallen completely for those words—misunderstanding, I had no choice.
Silence returned.
I walked to the desk. Small glass vials of various kinds were arranged across its surface, and beside them lay scattered papers detailing potion formulas I had been researching.
Setting down the book Thalia had given me, I pulled out a chair and sat.
Something slithered closer.
It was the silver snake Agatha had given me as a gift.
Now that I thought about it, other gifts had been piled carelessly in one corner of the room. It seemed the servants had simply placed the snake among them.
“Pretty.”
Though I had no fondness for the person who gave it.
Should I get rid of it?
“No… I’ll call you Argen. Come here, Argen.”
At the soft hiss I made with two fingers, the silver snake approached and coiled itself around my lap. I stroked its head slowly as I gazed out the window.
Watching the dawn rise over the hills, I sank into thought.
Why did I return?
Did some god grant me another chance?
As if.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
If such a being truly pitied me, I would never have been given such a cruel fate in the first place.
A creature as insignificant as me could never hope to understand the will of something so vast.
Then what do I want?
If I stayed like this, I would only repeat the same life as before.
Then what? Avoid danger and try to live well?
No.
My soul was far too exhausted for that.
“Amelia.”
I looked down at my hand.
In that moment when her life had rested within my grasp—I had felt exhilaration.
Yes.
Right now, I could think of nothing but revenge.
I had to see Amelia and Dario—and all those who had despised me without reason—fall into ruin.
The problem was, I had nothing but this cursed power.
I need strength.
At that moment, my gaze fell upon the book Thalia had given me.
I quickly opened it and scanned the table of contents.
Ability Rampage Suppressant.
The only way to restrain Medusa’s uncontrollable power—but its side effects were severe.
Since emotional agitation triggered the rampage, the suppressant was essentially a sedative. Taking it meant spending the entire day in a daze.
A drug that turns people into fools.
But that wasn’t what I was interested in.
“…A love potion.”
It was the very formula that had once entangled me in a vile scandal.
With the Mundus faith established as the state religion, such potions had been strictly forbidden and condemned.
And for good reason—they were evil concoctions capable of bending another person’s will.
In my previous life, I would never have even imagined such a thing.
I can obtain Michele Ether.
If I lacked power, then I would simply borrow the strength of the strongest being in the world.
And yet, guilt crept in unbidden. My fist clenched without my noticing.
Guilt…? When have I ever had the luxury for that?
With his power, I could take revenge on Amelia, Dario—and everyone who had cursed me.
