Chapter 18
At the moment when the party was reaching its peak,
Celestine, watching the scene from afar, felt a surge of fury within her.
“Oh my. To think that a black cat that brings misfortune wherever it goes would sit in Ian’s palm—how absurd.”
“And all while being completely unaware of its own place. A mundane day’s party, no less.”
“Indeed. I’m worried Ian’s hand might be defiled.”
“Of course. The hand of Ian, the lover of all, is precious.”
“Isn’t that right, Lady Celestine?”
The young ladies gathered around Celestine giggled behind their ornate fans, covering their mouths as they whispered. Their eyes, filled with jealousy, envy, and disdain, stared at the cat. Their words were meant to belittle, but beneath them was a faint tinge of envy.
Why is such a worthless creature envied by the young ladies? Why is it sitting in Ian Cadellion’s palm?
No matter where they went, they believed they should be the best.
All the things I’ve done because of that creature…
A churning feeling welled up in Celestine’s chest. She swallowed her thoughts, forced a gentle smile, and spoke another line.
“Please, don’t look at it too harshly. That child surely didn’t choose to be born this way.”
Her long, silken white hair fell gracefully, and her pale green eyes shone softly.
Her elegant dress, subtly tinted with a luxurious blue, evoked the image of a saint.
“How can Lady Celestine be so kind-hearted?”
“Indeed. Her heart is as extraordinary as her beauty.”
The young ladies around her brightened, echoing the praise. They looked like diligent workers trying to please the queen bee.
“If angels truly existed, wouldn’t they be like Lady Celestine? With such selfless character, she is perfect.”
“Yes, if Aritea were to be reincarnated, it would be Lady Celestine!”
“Yes, exactly.”
Hearing this, Celestine smiled faintly.
“Aritea? That’s far too flattering.”
Yet despite her words, there was no hint of discomfort. If anything, she seemed quietly pleased rather than burdened by the praise.
After all, who would refuse to be compared to a saint?
Celestine maintained her elegant smile.
“You all look beautiful as well.”
“Especially that hairpin—it highlights your charm perfectly, Lady Celestine.”
“Oh my, I chose it myself…! Thank you.”
The young lady bowed deeply, her cheeks reddened like apples.
“So delicate… truly, could Lady Celestine be the reincarnation of Aritea?”
“I think so too, from the silver hair to the faint green eyes.”
The young ladies behind murmured excitedly.
Celestine, pretending not to listen, let her smile deepen.
Why do trivial things even briefly steal my attention?
But, in any case, she knew she would remain the protagonist of this world.
“Lady Celestine, could you tell us about your story with Lord Nox?”
One of the young ladies asked quietly, curious.
Even the other young ladies who had criticized Ariel looked on with pure curiosity, no trace of disdain. Their expressions were so innocent and earnest that they reminded Celestine of baby birds waiting for their mother.
“Of course.”
Celestine replied with a gentle, kind smile.
“Our first meeting was…”
She continued to recount her first encounter with Nox, wearing the mask of a gracious young lady and speaking softly. She looked like a saint who had fallen in love, or perhaps a pure girl swept up in the joy and hope of a beautiful love.
The dignified, almost noble aura she exuded made it impossible to believe that jealousy or disdain had ever filled her heart.
Meanwhile, in the east, the former head of the Hiart family, of the fox clan, nudged the head of the Simond family.
“Have you seen that black cat, head of Simond?”
The Hiart head gestured toward the black cat with his chin. His eyes questioned silently, Is that the one?
“Yes, I saw it.”
Indeed, that was the unlucky creature from the mansion, the one everyone avoided even looking at.
The Simond and Hiart families shared common interests, forming a strong and tight alliance.
“The destruction of your mansion was supposedly a simple accident, and that cat has gone to the tiger’s care, right?”
Of course, most noble families wouldn’t know the truth.
I thought it might at least be useful as a test subject, but it couldn’t even endure that. Tch.
Seeing the unlucky creature alive, which they had assumed dead in the hands of Cadellion, Simond clicked his tongue. He had deliberately left it behind to avoid dirtying his hands, only for things to go awry.
If Celestine hadn’t informed Ian Cadellion exactly when he would sweep through the mansion, they would already be dead.
Given Cadellion’s nature, he would have eradicated them without even glancing their way.
So Ian took it with him…
All their previous efforts to monitor the creature were now useless.
We should have killed it when it first failed.
Their reluctance to soil their hands had caused this problem. Now, staying in Cadellion’s mansion, killing it would be even harder. If Cadellion discovered what the Simonds had done, it would not end with the family’s extinction—it could unleash a bloodbath across the continent.
Their own complacent desire for comfort had worsened the situation.
“Tch. Seems it survived Cadellion’s grasp.”
The Hiart head clicked his tongue in shared sentiment, displeased. His eyes remained fixed on the creature perched atop Cadellion’s hand. After a moment, he averted his gaze in frustration.
“I’ll go greet the heir.”
With that, he handed his wine to a servant and strode away.
From afar, a man with pale ochre hair approached Ian quickly.
Upon recognizing him, Ian clicked his tongue lightly.
“Greetings to the new head of the Cadellion family.”
“And to the head of the Hiart family.”
Despite his earlier displeasure, the Hiart head smiled skillfully, as if he had never been upset.
“Even though you’ve just assumed leadership, hosting a party—Cadellion family style. Impressive.”
This rookie is hosting a party without the skills to match. Typical of the Cadellion family… or perhaps someone else organized it.
Though his words were polite, their hidden meaning was far from gentle.
Ian hid his annoyance behind a smile, replying calmly:
“Your presence makes this occasion shine brighter than before, Head of Hiart.”
Attending suits you more than hosting a mundane party.
The leadership position was far too high for the Hiart head. It was natural that those unfit would step down, as Ian understood perfectly.
“Didn’t you say Hiart would live by its own way?”
If being ousted was Hiart’s way, then so be it. Leadership is taken by force, influence is decided by merit, and they were ousted because of their own incompetence. Nothing more.
Ian repeated the words he had once spoken when the Hiart head had been in the east. He wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble as long as Ariel was present—she had once attempted a dramatic escape after getting tipsy.
A subtle battle of wits continued between Ian and the Hiart head for some time.
Ah… why are my legs shaking?
Ariel, having observed Ian and the Hiart head, noticed her legs trembling violently. Even her short legs shook enough to be noticeable.
Though she tried to stop them, the trembling continued.
I don’t remember that face… what is this? Why am I like this?
It was an instinctive fear etched into her mind. She searched her memory for a similar voice.
“How did it go this time?”
“We’ll see. Tch.”
“When will it finally succeed? Just finish it quickly; I don’t care what happens to that child. Delay and the tail could be caught.”
“Over half succeeded…”
She remembered it clearly—the voices, the warnings, the promise of pain greater than death.
Why… why is that person here…?
Knowing who he was, Ariel couldn’t control her trembling legs. Her heart pounded as if she had run a 500-meter dash, her vision flickering in and out.
It was as if she existed in a void; nothing could be seen.
Calm down, Ariel. That person cannot hurt you now.
Why not? What if he does? If she is dragged back there, unnoticed among the crowd, it wouldn’t be difficult. The beastmen wouldn’t care if she vanished. In fact, they might welcome it. Would she then be consumed by a pain worse than death?
Her mind was devoured by countless anxious thoughts.
Even though Ian’s presence made it impossible for anyone to take her, Ariel could not think rationally.
Fear raged through her like a storm, whitening her mind.
She could neither hear nor see anything.
Soon, the calm around her felt like standing alone in the eye of a typhoon.
No one was there.
The snow-covered plain lay silent, untouched even by wind. She stood alone on the frozen expanse.
I have to get out.
She walked and walked. Each step sank into the gray snow, making every advance exhausting.
Despite struggling, nothing changed.
The terrifying silence seemed to quietly devour her.
Being alone was maddeningly frightening.
Ian… where are you…
Instinctively, she sought him.
I’m not trying to run… so where are you…
Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall.
She was terrified.
Alone.
Unable to return to the peaceful life she had just regained.
Pulled back into the horrific memories of the past.
Beep—
A ringing pierced her ears like someone had struck her head.
And at that moment,
the terrifying, snow-filled landscape shattered like glass.
