Chapter 77
Katrina saw the snow-white man standing beneath the chandelier.
His pure white hair shimmered, reflecting the light like snow.
“You’ve been frowning this whole time.”
Katrina glared at Lucifel with disgust.
One of his spies had killed her maid.
Vile bastard.
She had always disliked Lucifel, but the revulsion she felt toward him now was incomparable to before.
“Katrina, don’t look at me with such frightening eyes.”
Katrina’s glare only sharpened.
“Or else my heart will flutter again.”
He surely knew what emotions she harbored toward him.
And yet, he looked utterly amused.
“Shameless doesn’t even begin to describe you.”
Katrina ground her teeth.
“You killed my maid, and you still dare show up here?”
“I was formally invited to Aviche. And Katrina…”
Lucifel looked at her as though genuinely puzzled.
“It wasn’t me who killed that maid. It was the spy planted inside Aviche.”
He pretended he had nothing to do with it, playing innocent.
“I wasn’t the one who killed her, was I?”
That smiling mouth—she wanted to rip it apart.
“As far as I know, that spy was placed there by the Archbishop. Though he’s been excommunicated now.”
Wasn’t it Lucifel’s scheming that had led to that?
And yet he spoke as if it were someone else’s affair.
“Lucifel Orléans.”
Katrina whispered his name.
“You won’t be able to keep smiling like that forever.”
At first, Katrina only wanted to obtain the wishing stone and return quietly.
But the day her maid was murdered, her thoughts changed.
What crime had she committed?
What sin had Luivy borne?
They had done nothing wrong.
“The ones guilty are you and your lot.”
His crimson eyes fixed only on her.
Looking back, it seemed Lucifel had always desired only her.
Ah, I see now.
She thought she finally understood how to make him regret.
“Lucifel, let me promise you just this one thing.”
A bright smile bloomed on Katrina’s face.
“You will regret it, someday.”
“Me? That’s impossible.”
“When that day comes, you won’t even be able to act smug anymore. So enjoy it while you can.”
The more she spoke to him, the clearer her new plan became.
“Smug? Regret?”
Lucifel bent closer, smiling as if amused, until his lips hovered just shy of her ear.
“I didn’t even feel that when I betrayed you.”
“……”
“Even though since that day, you’ve looked at me like I was lower than a worm…”
Straightening up, Lucifel flashed a grin.
“I liked it.”
“……”
Of course. He must have enjoyed it.
Raymond or Lucifel—men like them were all the same.
Now Katrina understood.
And because she understood, she could say it with certainty.
“I’m the one who’s curious—how long you can keep up that confidence.”
Lucifel studied her, fascinated by her defiance.
“Very well. Try it.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
With that, he left her side.
Hah.
He really shouldn’t get his hopes up.
If no one else, then at least him—
She would make him weep until he had nothing left.
The banquet was at its height.
Even standing still, Katrina felt her energy being drained.
“Ah, Katrina, enjoying the party?”
It was then that Belek approached her.
Having been mingling with his rowdy friends, he strode toward her in high spirits.
“Thanks to you.”
Finding him bothersome, Katrina replied curtly.
“Doesn’t sound like you’re having fun?”
But Belek ignored her tone.
“Don’t worry, Katrina. Things will get interesting soon.”
What did he mean by that?
Still, Katrina dismissed it—he had spouted nonsense more than once before.
I’ve stayed long enough.
She figured she had fulfilled her duty by attending, and thought about retiring to her room.
“Katrina.”
It was Damian who now approached her.
“Katrina, today at this banquet, I intend to make an announcement.”
An announcement?
“You keep interfering with my work, so I’ve decided on this.”
If it was about what she had interfered with recently…
It would be her attending the Sun Church’s mass.
That had prevented Damian from raiding them.
She had no choice.
Though Katrina and Damian both aimed for the Sun Church’s downfall, their methods were different.
Damian wished to crush the Sun Church in order to prove to the Temple that House Aviche was an ally.
Their detailed goals diverged.
Katrina’s goal lay in faith.
She wanted to strip the Sun Church of its followers’ faith.
And by handing that method to the Pope, secure a favorable alliance.
“Today, I plan to announce that I will be leading the negotiations for the wishing stone.”
“……Wait. Did Father approve this?”
“No. I haven’t discussed it with him, but…”
Damian smiled faintly.
“It’s only natural that I should go, isn’t it?”
“……”
He wasn’t wrong. The Duke of Aviche might be momentarily surprised by Damian’s unilateral move, but he would surely accept it.
There was no one else but Damian to send.
The Duke never even considered Katrina or the other children.
“You…”
Damian turned away.
“Wait…!”
Katrina hurriedly grabbed his arm.
His blue eyes glanced at her hand clutching him, his brow furrowing in displeasure.
“Let go, Katrina.”
“……”
“This isn’t something you can stop just by grabbing me.”
He spoke as though explaining something obvious to a child.
In the end, Katrina released him.
Damian strode toward the center of the hall.
What do I do?
Things had gone wrong.
Katrina bit her lip hard.
Perhaps she had provoked Damian unnecessarily.
She had to stop him, but she had no means left.
As one of the stars of the banquet, Damian instantly drew everyone’s eyes when he stood at the center.
“I have an important announcement for all the esteemed guests gathered here tonight.”
Katrina squeezed her eyes shut.
Damn him.
She never imagined he would try to resolve things like this.
But then something strange happened.
Damian’s voice abruptly halted.
Katrina opened her eyes.
For some reason, Damian stood frozen.
Cough.
He suddenly hacked into his hand.
When he pulled it away, his white glove was stained red with blood.
“L-Lord Damian! Are you all right?!”
The guests cried out in alarm.
Damian frowned, staring at his blood-soaked glove.
But that was only the beginning.
Cough, cough.
More and more blood poured from his mouth.
Katrina watched in stunned silence.
Thud!
His body collapsed onto the floor.
“Kyaaah! It’s a curse!”
“The Aviche heir has been cursed!”
“It’s the curse of the doll!”
