TWMP 89

Chapter 89

“Confession”

Heidi had been in an excellent mood recently.

The troublesome Rebellia Piace—the one who had always made her uneasy—was now dead. Heidi had seen it with her own eyes.

Her father, who had once secretly visited informants to ask about the woman’s whereabouts behind both her and her mother’s back, had not even stepped outside the house for days.

‘If the informant failed to find her, Father must have hired another one. But judging from how he’s been skipping meals and shutting himself away in his room… it must mean the Marquess really killed that woman.’

Heidi felt a small flicker of pity, but quickly brushed it aside. That woman was doomed to die anyway, so it didn’t matter.

Whether death came a day early or late didn’t change anything.

‘But our family will be different. I won’t be Heidi Elliana anymore—I’ll become Heidi Xeros. And the Elliana family will rise into a noble house no one can dare to look down on.’

Because of that, Heidi believed everything around her was perfect.

The warm sunlight, the breeze brushing her cheeks—everything.

She no longer needed to dye her hair that foolish violet. She no longer needed to tremble in fear that Delphian might discover her secret.

She would no longer have to be entangled with that snake, the Marquess of Piace.

And she would never again face the mysterious Tower Master, Lafer.

But as Heidi hummed a cheerful tune, Lafer’s furious face suddenly surfaced in her mind—his rage burning toward her.

Her lips, curved happily just a moment ago, stiffened.

‘Ah… no, that’s right. I still haven’t settled accounts with him.’

For a moment, Heidi remembered the debt she still owed Lafer. But she quickly shook her head.

‘He must already know. He knows that once I become Crown Princess, I’ll be able to pay him.’

It wasn’t pleasant to think about, but when she became Crown Princess, she’d receive the dowry funds. She would hand that over first and think later about the rest.

After all, he couldn’t possibly demand payment for money he had never given her in the first place.

‘Besides, even he said—if a mage is caught killing someone, they lose their qualification. So he won’t be able to speak recklessly about it.’

Apart from such minor annoyances, her days were peaceful.

She believed this peace would last.

The nightmare was finally over, and reality had returned.

A reality where everyone loved her and envied her.

Heidi stretched, gazing at the beautifully decorated courtyard. For a change of mood, she had come out of her room to enjoy tea time there, and it seemed like a wise choice.

With a satisfied smile, she lifted her teacup—only to hear hurried footsteps echoing through the courtyard.

Her smile flattened into annoyance.

“L-Lady!”

Heidi frowned deeply as she turned and saw Lani running toward her.

“What is it?”

Her sharp tone made Lani flinch and lower her head at once.

She had thought it was safe to approach, since Heidi seemed in such a good mood today. Clearly, it wasn’t.

After hesitating, Lani nervously held out an envelope.

“A-a letter has arrived for you, my lady.”

“A letter?”

Heidi took it without much interest. But the moment her eyes caught the familiar crest stamped in wax, her face went pale.

She shot up from her seat and glanced around quickly before glaring at Lani.

“How long do you plan to stand there?”

“Huh?”

“Get out!”

“Y-yes, my lady!”

Once Lani retreated, Heidi tore open the envelope in a rush.

Inside, there was only one line written:

[Today at 2 p.m., Café Estelle.]

The letter crumpled in Heidi’s hand.

“Do they really think I have a reason to go just because they call me?”

She scoffed, but her eyes were already trembling with unease.

“M-my father? N-no, why… why would you?”

His unexpected words left me flustered and stumbling.

“Rebellia?”

Calliere narrowed his brows and looked at me.

At once, I realized I had made a mistake.

I hurriedly lowered my gaze to the soup bowl and stammered:

“Ah, i-it’s just… a little sudden, that’s all.”

Even I could see my hand holding the spoon trembling.

Not wanting him to notice, I quickly hid my hand under the table—but I could already feel his eyes on me, as if he had seen everything.

‘How pathetic I am…’

Scrape—the chair legs slid across the floor, and soon he was walking toward me.

I bowed my head even lower, unable to face him. But then, beneath the table, his large hand reached down and gently covered my trembling one.

“…!”

“Forgive me.”

Kneeling on one knee before me, Calliere tilted his head slightly, studying my expression as he spoke.

“Perhaps I rushed you. I never meant to trouble you.”

“N-no, it’s not that. It’s just… really sudden, that’s all.”

My whole body was tense, the color draining from my face.

Fear rose inside me, because I didn’t understand why he was suddenly bringing this up.

‘Does he already know? Or… could he have seen that man I met in the forest?’

After hesitating, I finally asked carefully:

“Your Grace…”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask… why do you want to meet my father all of a sudden?”

I forced the words out.

He looked at me in silence for a moment, then his expression grew serious.

“I know the Marquess has never been a good father to you.”

“…”

“But I don’t want to take our relationship lightly.”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

“Marry me, Rebellia.”

“…”

“I want to be your man.”

The café Estelle, located in the central square of Adeli, the capital of Xeros, was one of the most private places where nobles came for secret meetings.

It operated strictly on reservations, and the identities of its visitors were always kept confidential.

Following the attendant who guided her to the private rooms, Heidi bit her lip hard.

‘…This really will be the last time.’

The attendant stopped in front of a large door, crafted from oak imported from the Kingdom of Hailon.

With a subtle gesture, he indicated the room, placed his right hand over his chest in a polite bow, and then withdrew.

Even though Heidi knew this was the innermost room of the café, her unease made her glance around nervously before knocking lightly.

There was no answer from inside. Without hesitation, Heidi opened the door.

She stepped in, finding Crocan savoring the aroma of tea. Biting her lip, she walked inside and slammed the door shut, breaking all etiquette she had once learned as a child.

Her face twisted in hostility, she turned to him and said:

“From what I know, our deal was already finished, Your Excellency.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Then stop calling me out like this. I only came to say that I won’t be coming again.”

She turned to leave, but Crocan’s calm voice froze her hand on the doorknob.

“But wasn’t our deal supposed to end only when you killed my daughter?”

He met her eyes directly.

“A proper account must always be settled.”

“…”

“Didn’t your father ever teach you that noble dealings are built on trust?”

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve already paid my part in full.”

“Are you certain of that?”

“Marquess of Piace!”

Heidi’s furious shout rang through the spacious room.

Crocan slowly rose to his feet, leaning on a staff adorned with a Remstone gem, and began walking toward her. Instinctively, Heidi flinched.

He stopped right in front of her, his gaze sweeping slowly across her face.

Heat of shame burned in her chest.

‘Th-that look…’

Crocan sneered.

“If all you planned was to marry a noble and flaunt yourself as a lady, then your pretty face would’ve been enough, and your foolishness wouldn’t matter.”

“Wh-what did you just say…!”

“But if you truly want to become Crown Princess of Xeros, you cannot afford to be so foolish, can you?”

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

“It means she’s alive.”

“…What?”

“My daughter is still alive in Hestonia.”

“…!”

The irritation twisted on Heidi’s face drained away, leaving it pale.

She had believed she was free from the long, torturous nightmare.

But perhaps the nightmare wasn’t a dream at all—
It was reality, one she could never wake from.