Chapter 147
After finishing the meal that day, I fell asleep again and dreamed that I was attending the academy.
I instinctively felt that this was truly Idel’s first-life memory.
Ever since receiving the divine beast’s power in the mine and recalling Idel’s memories, I realized that receiving another power seemed to trigger more of her memories.
In the dream, I—no, Idel—studied like the other students, made friends, and worried about my future.
It wasn’t entirely without difficulties, but overall, the memories were painted in warm, comforting colors.
I found myself wondering once more: where had she disappeared to?
The next morning, I woke up feeling unusually energized, moving my body around.
Receiving Terence’s power certainly seemed to have filled me with vitality.
Of course, Lucy had said that receiving too much at once could be dangerous.
“All right, let’s get moving for real now.”
It was time to wake those who had been blessed—or trapped—by Liena’s power.
I skimmed the list I had prepared earlier, the names of everyone I needed to awaken.
Among them were distant relatives of Cassius, the Duchess Luciano, and several others, but one name caught my attention.
This person would benefit the most if I lifted the blessing as soon as possible—but the problem was, they weren’t ready yet.
“Idel, you’re awake!”
At that moment, Laura entered my room, her face alight with excitement, waving something in her hand.
“There was another note in my pocket today!”
I checked the contents of the note Laura handed me, and a satisfied smile spread across my face.
With that, all preparations were complete.
Meanwhile, the person Liena had been waiting for so impatiently—Isaac—did not appear until nearly noon.
“Liena, are you doing well?”
Hearing his voice from outside, Liena, who had been collapsed on the bed, darted toward the door.
“Uncle! Why are you only here now?!”
Their last conversation had been yesterday at lunch—over 24 hours ago.
In other words, Liena had gone without three full meals.
“After starving someone for a whole day, you have the nerve to ask if they’re well?!”
Isaac answered nonchalantly.
“You’re the one who said you’d fast.”
“That doesn’t mean you can actually withhold food! This is violence! Torture!”
“Were you really that hungry?”
“Is that even a question? Of course I was!”
“I didn’t know. I heard you’d fasted before, so I thought a single day wouldn’t be a problem.”
“My father and brother never let me skip more than two meals.”
In fact, since being adopted by Cassius, Liena had never gone hungry for a single meal.
Even during her hunger strikes, worried maids had secretly brought her food so that her delicate body wouldn’t suffer.
Of course, the Duke of Cassius and his two sons had no idea.
Thus, going without three meals was extremely difficult for her.
In her previous life, she had been accustomed to hunger due to poverty, but in this life, she had enjoyed one of the wealthiest lives in the empire for over a decade.
Naturally, suddenly going a day without food was intolerable.
“Uncle, that’s too much! I was so hungry I thought my stomach would stick to my back…”
Liena, overwhelmed by sudden real suffering, began to whimper.
“My little bunny, I’m sorry.”
Isaac tried to soothe her.
“I didn’t realize. I brought the foods you like, so cheer up.”
The words that sprang to my throat—“If I let her out, I wouldn’t have to bring her food myself”—were barely restrained.
Too hungry to argue with him, Liena had no energy left to wrestle over the matter.
“All right, give it to me already.”
She spoke brusquely but looked toward the food slot with hopeful eyes.
However, when she saw the tray Isaac pushed through, her expression froze.
“W-what is this?”
“Why?”
“This is a carrot! A raw carrot!”
“Yes, a carrot.”
“Uncle, don’t you know I hate carrots?!”
“Oh, really? Why would a bunny dislike carrots?”
“I hate them so much I won’t even take a bite!”
“Really? Huh, that’s unexpected. I assumed you liked them because you’re a little bunny.”
Liena was dumbfounded by Isaac’s naive logic.
“What kind of reasoning is that? Just because my nickname is ‘bunny’ doesn’t mean I have to like carrots!”
“Well, you’re a little bunny.”
“…Fine. Forget it. Just bring me the bread and salad from yesterday.”
“They’re gone. I threw them away because you wouldn’t eat them.”
“Then bring me something else!”
“Sorry, the estate only has raw carrots right now.”
“What?”
“Really sorry. Just deal with it for now. You’re a bunny; maybe you’ll find them tasty if you try.”
“Uncle, are you kidding me?”
“You’re a little bunny…”
Liena’s patience snapped.
“Stop it! I’m human, not a rabbit! Give me a proper meal and get me out of here… ugh.”
She staggered, weakened from hunger and dizzy from shouting.
“Oh, really?”
Even seeing her in such distress, Isaac remained unmoved.
Liena could only recall the possibility she had buried deep inside.
“Uncle… have you met Idel?”
“Idel? Who’s that?”
“Don’t play dumb. You wouldn’t be acting like this for no reason.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know what Idel said, but you’re being deceived! Wake up! I’m the Liena you adore so much!”
“…Shameless.”
Her heart sank at his low growl, but Isaac quickly returned to his cheerful voice.
“Oh! It’s already time for the appointment. Liena, see you at dinner.”
“What? Wait! You should at least bring more food!”
Her shout faded as Isaac’s presence disappeared beyond the door.
From Isaac’s earlier reactions, it was clear something had gone wrong with the blessing affecting Liena.
Then the culprit was certainly Idel. In other words, all this humiliating and inhuman treatment Liena endured was orchestrated by Idel.
“How dare you starve me like this?”
Clutching her empty stomach, Liena ground her teeth.
“But if you think I’ll take this lying down, you’re dead wrong.”
Who was she?
Liena Cassius: once a powerless orphan, now a noblewoman of the Cassius family who had turned a failing guild into a first-class enterprise, soon to be engaged to the legitimate crown prince.
Naturally, she always carried some means to protect herself.
She untied the hair ribbons in her pigtails, gripping them tightly.
Though they appeared ordinary, these were unique artifacts made by Kys for her.
One formed a defensive barrier to protect her body from attacks.
Since Isaac hadn’t physically harmed her, the other artifact would be the one to act.
Liena held the red ribbon and tried to gauge the time.
“Wasn’t he supposed to return to the capital this afternoon?”
Soon, the person capable of receiving the ribbon’s signal—Matis, a man among her subordinates with innate sword talent—would enter range.
Matis carried the artifact linked to the ribbon and could detect Liena’s location at any time.
As her dedicated guard, it was a privilege he alone held.
Tsk. Thinking about him being absent at such a critical moment, Liena clicked her tongue.
“I should’ve sent this to Mihail instead.”
Matis had set out to persuade Mihail, who had capriciously postponed the engagement.
Among her acquaintances, Matis was the closest to Mihail, so she had no choice but to ask.
The two had always been somewhat jealous of each other: one spent the most time beside Liena, the other was Liena’s lover.
After a few sparring matches, they came to recognize each other and maintained a reasonably amicable relationship.
Unfortunately, Matis had failed to persuade Mihail, but today was the day he had promised in a letter that he would return to the capital.
Liena rubbed the gem on the hair ribbon—but there was no response. Matis had not yet entered the city.
After waiting about thirty minutes, she tried again. Still no reaction.
“Well, he could be a little delayed.”
Reluctantly, she decided to fill her stomach with raw carrot while waiting, suppressing her gag reflex as she nibbled and rubbed the gem.
“Just wait… I’ll make you pay for this once I’m free.”
After being rescued by Matis, she would plot her revenge against both Idel and Isaac.
Meanwhile, at roughly the same time, I was meeting a man in the palace reception room, arranged by Tara.
“Thank you so much!”
He bowed deeply.
“I’ve misunderstood Viscount Lucibius all this time. I feel as if I’ve just awakened from a long sleep.”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“No, you’ve not only reminded me of a long-forgotten dream but even told me where the vanished Sword Saint is!”
Matis exclaimed, clearly moved.
“Thanks to you, I’ve decided to leave the empire to pursue the Sword Saint’s teachings I’ve dreamed of since childhood.”
“Good luck!”
I wholeheartedly supported Matis’s dream.
