Part 2, Chapter 12
*”To the dear young lady,
The verdict for the young master has been delivered. His death sentence has ultimately been waived. In the end, everything turned out exactly as you intended. Congratulations, young lady!
Our master’s coffers must be completely drained after paying for the jurors’ hospitality, the lawyer’s fees, and the alimony from his divorce with the former countess.
Even the lower staff of the mansion are nearly all being dismissed. Truly, serves him right, doesn’t it?
With the budget in such a state, the count still seems to believe he can persuade the Purifier Charlotte. He’s sending Rolf to the Central Cathedral every day to meet her, buying expensive gifts that even the count’s budget can hardly cover. Utterly foolish, isn’t he?
He seems to think that adopting this newly arisen Purifier is the count family’s only hope—but what good are mere gifts? Who would want to entangle themselves with the count family now?”*
After that, the letter continued with concerns about the young lady’s wellbeing, whether she had been eating properly, and how much the writer missed her. There was also a brief complaint from Malea, who had been tiptoeing around Riese for two full years and was utterly frustrated.
Odette’s eyes shone brightly as she folded the parchment in half, taking in the final greetings from Riese.
Finally… everything had ripened enough.
So.
“It’s time to return.”
With a faint smile, she tossed the parchment into the fireplace. The flames under the tin kettle roared, consuming the paper with a crackling sound.
It had been two years since she had left the capital, disguised as a suicide.
Now officially considered dead, every attempt to influence the Albrecht family had required tedious procedures.
Since direct means were impossible, the only way to stir the family was to manipulate public opinion through the Brentano Newspaper.
Drawing attention with Fernand’s reprieve and riling up public sentiment—everything had been orchestrated by Odette and Karin together.
The count must have spent an astronomical amount of money to save Fernand: bribing noble jurors, hiring competent lawyers—it all required a fortune.
Yet, as a result, Fernand survived, which the Albrecht count would see as a fortunate outcome—for now.
They didn’t realize that Fernand’s survival was actually the beginning of their ruin.
“This will be the last of the tedious work.”
Odette was returning to the capital. Soon, she would be able to bring down the Albrecht family with her own hands, without relying on public opinion or Karin’s help.
“It’s a bit regrettable that the Albrecht fortune has leaked out, but some bleeding is necessary.”
Had Fernand truly been executed, he might have become an object of undeserved sympathy upon Odette’s return.
So, it worked in her favor that the fearful count emptied his coffers and spared no expense on lawyers. That had been her intention all along.
Moreover, the gains far outweighed the money lost.
Ultimately, her goal of stirring trouble for Fernand had succeeded. The count, preoccupied with protecting Fernand, had utterly failed the divorce trial with Sasha. All alimony and property division had been completely drained.
“Thanks to that, Shylock received a huge settlement from the count.”
Shylock, delighted, generously rewarded Gustav Quendel—i.e., Demian.
Odette split the reward between Demian and Goetz, as both had truly worked hard.
“You have to pay well to keep competent people on your side.”
It had been a significant sum, but Odette felt it was worth it and let out a faint smile.
Knock, knock.
Someone was at the cabin door downstairs.
It was obvious who it would be.
“The one who lent me this place.”
Smiling, Odette descended the stairs of the cabin and opened the wooden door on the first floor.
As expected, Karin stood at the entrance.
“Welcome, Ka—”
“Odette. Have you read the morning paper? I really can’t take it anymore! Charlotte, that awful liar!”
Karin’s agitation was completely unexpected.
In stark contrast, Odette remained calm.
“No, I’m ashamed to say I only just woke up, so I haven’t had time to see the paper.”
Karin quickly thrust the morning paper toward her.
“Here, here! Just start reading from this part.”
As soon as Odette took the paper, Karin immediately pointed to the page with her index finger. Though uncharacteristically flustered for a socialite, Karin’s actions did not surprise Odette.
She had seen this side of Karin many times before.
During the year Odette had spent at the cabin, the two had become close friends—formalities were unnecessary.
“Charlotte says, ‘I will honor Odette’s will and do my best.’”
Odette lowered her gaze to read the article Karin indicated.
It reported that Charlotte would officiate the upcoming Victory Day memorial ceremony.
Victory Day was the largest event hosted by the temple. Though only one day long and comparatively solemn versus the Foundation Festival, its scale rivaled that of the latter.
“Though the tradition is long-standing, this is the first time a Purifier other than Rosalyn has been entrusted with the ceremony.”
Considering the significance of Victory Day in the empire, Charlotte had been given a remarkably honorable position.
But what angered Karin was not that alone.
“Dare she mention Odette again?”
Charlotte—the pink-haired girl who appeared at the Central Cathedral on the day of Odette’s funeral Mass. The girl who awakened as a Purifier the day Odette fell off the cliff.
“The fact that her awakening coincides with Odette’s death already rubs me the wrong way.”
The timing of the dates was far from coincidental. Attention that had been on Odette’s death at the cathedral immediately shifted to Charlotte—easily, and seemingly naturally.
“Moreover, Charlotte always seems to exploit Odette’s death to shine herself.”
“I deeply regret Odette’s passing. I admired and loved her for so long,” Charlotte said.
“But I believe that my awakening as a Purifier simultaneously with Odette’s death has its meaning. Surely, the late Odette sent me.”
The pink-haired girl openly presented herself in society as “the Purifier sent by the deceased Odette,” despite having never met her and coming from the countryside.
She acted as if she fully understood Odette’s heart. As if she alone could perfectly fill the void left after Odette’s death.
