Chapter 71
“Her Choice”
“Miss, then have a good night!”
“Mm, good night, May.”
Click. The bedroom door closed.
I lowered the hand I had been awkwardly waving toward May.
“Thinking this is the last time makes me feel a bit strange.”
I leaned against the headboard and quietly looked out the open window.
Normally the black night sky was filled with hundreds of sparkling stars, but tonight thick clouds hid them all.
“If I think that a night without a single star is my last night in Esperos… isn’t that too sad?”
Shaking off the restless feeling, I stood up.
From what Lafer said, if someone came through a teleport stone, they wouldn’t be entering through the window anyway.
“This teleport stone was placed here by Lafer, so it doesn’t matter…”
Just as I glanced at the teleport stone in the corner, the whole room filled with blinding light.
I instinctively covered my eyes.
Even through my eyelids, the brilliance burned clear, but slowly it faded. Darkness returned. Carefully, I opened my eyes.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Heidi?”
At last, the real Heidi Eliana appeared in the Esperos Grand Duke’s castle, in northern Hestonia.
“Did you enjoy your day?”
Zember’s question made Calliere turn his gaze from the papers to him.
The old man with a faint smile winked.
“You look like the one who enjoyed it, not me.”
“For an old servant, his master’s joy is his own.”
At Zember’s smooth answer, Calliere let out a faint sigh like air escaping.
Seeing his master’s softened face, Zember carefully asked:
“Your Highness, forgive me, but may I ask one thing?”
“That means you’ll ask regardless.”
“Shouldn’t Lady Heidi be returned to Zeros now?”
A strange silence fell in the office.
Zember continued gently:
“Revenge only gives birth to more revenge. And Lady Heidi was never truly the one we should avenge against.”
He had heard from the knights what happened in the gorge while Calliere lay near death from Fenrir’s wound. Behind the anger at reckless villagers, they were no different themselves.
“And above all, I know Your Highness’s heart is no longer the same as it was. We have no reason to continue this meaningless abduction.”
“You said you’d ask, but in the end it’s just nagging, Zember.”
“Growing old means more worrying.”
At his sharp reply, Calliere chuckled faintly, then his face darkened.
“Do you think it’s fine if Heidi returns to Zeros?”
“…I don’t understand. Zeros is her home. Is there some reason I don’t know?”
“I’ve sent many letters to Delphian, telling him I kidnapped Heidi. But not once has he replied.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“There are only two possibilities. One, there’s a spy near Delphian intercepting all letters to the Crown Prince.”
“What?”
“Two, he knows she’s kidnapped, but cares so little he ignores it.”
Zember was struck silent, unable to believe.
“And in Zeros’s capital, Adelie, rumors spread of the Crown Prince’s affair.”
“An… affair?”
“With someone you know, Zember.”
“…Someone I know?”
“Rebellia Piace, Crocan Piace’s daughter.”
“What?”
“They say she’s his new lover.”
“…Ha.”
Zember groaned in disbelief. If true, it meant Crocan Piace may have joined their plan from the start with ulterior motives.
“Then he’s darker than I thought.”
“He wouldn’t have risen so high for nothing.”
Zember finally understood why Heidi hadn’t yet been returned. Whether it was intercepted letters or simply Delphian’s indifference, the conclusion was the same:
Delphian’s heart toward Heidi was no longer the same.
Zember closed his eyes in guilt, recalling the abandoned young lady.
“To Lady Heidi, we are sinners.”
“Not quite.”
“…?”
“If her love could fade from such obstacles, then it would have been better not to begin in the first place.”
Zember lowered his head, agreeing.
“Indeed. A bond without feeling is just an empty shell.”
“…Yes. I only hope she won’t be scarred from all this.”
“As do I, Zember.”
Calliere’s voice sank. Zember prayed once more that the woman beloved in Esperos would find happiness.
Later
Heidi stared at the collapsed woman before her, hands trembling.
She had killed.
She really killed someone.
Rebellia Piace, kidnapped here in her place.
“I… I had no choice if I wanted to live. I had no choice.”
Nervously, she bit her nails until blood welled up again.
Her eyes returned to Rebellia’s fallen body. Pale face, lips and tongue turned blue from poison.
Rebellia’s final gaze before death seared into Heidi’s mind.
Thump, thump. Her heart pounded wildly as she bent down, placing a hand near Rebellia’s face.
No breath.
“She… she really is dead, right?”
Even remembering the blood and her last gasp, unease gnawed at her.
‘Are you sure Rebellia Piace is really dead?’
It was as if Heidi Eliana’s sharp, cruel face whispered inside her head.
“Do it properly. If she lives again, you’re finished, Heidi Eliana.”
“C-certainly.”
She swallowed dryly, eyes darting around the barren room.
Her hand found a paper knife on the desk.
As if possessed, Heidi stepped toward Rebellia.
Strangely, the closer she drew, the lighter she felt. As if true freedom awaited.
If only she finished this.
“So… die for me.”
Gripping the paper knife, she aimed at Rebellia’s throat—without hesitation.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
A voice cut in. An intruder had arrived.
