Chapter 22
I set down the leather file I had tucked under my arm on the opposite side of Abel.
“Planning to jump in?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. Just got that feeling.”
Well, his back did look unusually lonely, but… he’s not the type to die in a place like this.
“If that’s your plan, wait till later. The water’s still cold.”
“…”
So much for that joke—didn’t even get a chuckle.
I could feel Abel’s eyes fixed on me from the side.
“Deer sometimes come here to drink,” I said, ignoring his earlier question and continuing.
Abel said nothing, simply listening to what I had to say.
“Whenever the deer saw me, it would stare for a long time, like it was trying to speak with its eyes. I always thought it looked like something straight out of a myth.”
“…”
“If a body ever floated on this lake, I think it would ruin everything.”
“You’re more concerned about deer than a person’s life?”
I laughed at Abel’s dry comment.
“Do I look like some kind of witch to you?”
Maybe Abel was the only one in this household who truly saw Irene for who she was.
Or maybe… he just didn’t carry the same prejudice.
“I didn’t think anyone else knew about this place.”
Even though I wasn’t alone today, it was nice to see the lake again after such a long time.
The scent in the air, the dampness, the silence—everything felt just as it used to.
“This place means a lot to me.”
“Well, I guess I can’t claim ownership over a lake like this.”
So Abel knew about this place, too.
It was strange that we’d never run into each other before.
“My mother mentioned your engagement.”
“I guess everyone in the Mergen estate knows by now.”
No doubt, Chloe would try to use this situation to her advantage.
The farther the rumors spread, the more leverage she’d have.
“Are you going through with it?”
His tone was flat—no expectation, no curiosity, no emotion.
But my answer had long been decided.
“Do you usually propose marriage before heading off to war?”
That should be enough for him to understand where I stood.
“You talk like your lives on the line. I thought you weren’t interested in the succession.”
“Well, the situation changed.”
“Then I suppose… we’re finally enemies.”
“‘Enemies,’ huh. Sounds like you’ve made up your mind too. Seems your situation has changed as well.”
It was what I expected.
Whether Abel wanted it or not, he would be pushed toward a high place—possibly for reasons even he didn’t understand.
Just like I had been.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“…”
“Abel, don’t try so hard.”
Maybe it was because we met in this place of all places, but I wanted to say it—to tell him.
“You won’t find anything here worth holding onto.”
I didn’t want Abel to waste himself. That desire came from pure pity.
Was there really anything he could gain here?
At best, he’d only end up as a sacrifice—used to fulfill his mother’s ambitions.
“From now on, everything’s going to start moving very quickly.”
I stood up, brushing the dirt from my skirt.
Abel remained where he was, still staring at the lake.
He didn’t respond to anything I said.
He didn’t even look at me. It seemed he had no intention of replying.
“Well then, I’ll go ahead.”
With those words, I turned and began walking back the way I came.
My footsteps echoed softly through the quiet woods.
And then, all of a sudden, an old memory flickered through my mind.
A vague, blurry memory—without clear form.
The lake… and a young Abel.
Had I seen him here before?
No… probably not.
Even after Irene had gone, Abel’s gaze stayed fixed on the lake.
Then slowly, his eyes shifted to the space beside him.
There were faint marks on the ground—evidence that someone had been sitting next to him.
It felt strange. Unsettling.
He hadn’t had any real conversations with Irene until after Deborah died.
“She really does resemble her…”
Why did she remind him so much of Deborah?
Unable to make sense of the discomfort growing inside him, Abel turned his eyes back to the lake.
And then he saw it.
A deer.
Its light brown fur, large glossy black eyes.
The deer stood with its head raised, staring right at him—as if it were something more than just an animal. As if it carried some sort of sacred energy.
“A deer…”
“Sometimes deer come here to drink.”
Irene’s words—words he’d dismissed as nonsense—had been true.
And along with that truth, a long-forgotten memory suddenly resurfaced.
“Are you going to die here?”
It was too similar to be coincidence.
Hair brighter than the sun. Eyes filled with icy calm. A cool scent in the air.
In a single moment, the memory buried deep in the mud of his mind came alive again.
His heart trembled, just like it had the first time he stood before this lake.
“Should I pull it tighter?”
“Yes. Make the corners of my eyes lift more.”
“What’s gotten into you today? This style isn’t even in fashion. People these days prefer soft waves and volume…”
“Just tie it up. As high as you can.”
Today, Karlin was pouring all her energy into my hair.
“Why are you being so intense about this?” she asked.
“It’s not intensity. It’s all about the image.”
“The image?”
“People are more influenced by what they see than they realize.”
I ran my fingers over my tightly pinned-up hair and gave a satisfied nod.
“Villains don’t wear masks because they want to hide their faces. They wear them because they want their names remembered.”
“Then why even wear one?”
“To show that they’re different. That they’re not like everyone else.”
“That’s too deep. I guess being a villain’s not for me.”
Karlin let out a soft laugh, and I smiled along with her.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by it opening.
“I’ve brought the documents you asked for.”
“Perfect timing.”
Elliot walked in and handed me the papers.
They contained a detailed report on Uncle Milles, whom I had recently met at the mine.
“What about the list of nobles he’s been contacting?”
“It’s on the third page—all of them, official and unofficial.”
“Uncle Milles is a very straightforward man. When he focuses on something, he gives it his full attention. Just by looking at the list, you can tell—he never strays. He digs one well and keeps digging.”
He must be trying to find the mine’s next owner.
And position himself to benefit as much as he can.
“But it seems Baron doesn’t fully understand the value of the mine. The fact that he’s trying to win over people of such low status says as much.”
“What would you like us to do?”
“What can we do?”
“We could interfere, at least—”
“No. In fact, we should be encouraging him. But since he’s already stirred things up quite a bit for us, we may as well take advantage of it.”
“Take advantage… how, exactly?”
Karlin, who had been putting the finishing touches on my hairpiece, paused with her hands mid-air.
Seeing the completed accessory in the mirror, I rose from my chair.
“We’ve got kindling. Now it’s time to start the fire properly.”
“…”
Elliot exhaled heavily, his face showing clear confusion.
“You’ve never been one to explain things in detail… but it’s even harder to read your thoughts when you look like that.”
It seemed Elliot now saw me completely as Deborah.
There was no more hesitation in how he spoke to me.
“It’s time I reclaimed what’s mine.”
“You mean…”
“Yes. It’s time to show those rabid dogs who can’t even understand their place exactly who the next head of Mergen will be.”
At my words, Karlin hiccupped.
Elliot stared at me in stunned silence.
“You’ll help me, won’t you?”
I looked between Karlin and Elliot.
For a moment, Elliot clenched his fist tightly.
“From the moment I set foot in Mergen, I’ve belonged to you, my lady. I’ll follow you without question.”
As Elliot finished, Karlin looked nervously between us before blurting out,
“M-me too! I’m on your side! I’ve always been, ever since that day!”
“Shh. You don’t have to shout—we can hear you just fine.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction.
“I just… didn’t want you to misunderstand my feelings…”
Karlin’s heart was never hard to read.
She wore her emotions so openly that I could already sense she’d eventually be caught by her stepmother.
That’s why I had to tell her.
“I’ll make sure you never have to be afraid of anything you do for me.”
If you stand for me, I’ll stand for you too.
“At the very least… I take responsibility for revenge.”
Karlin flinched with a startled squeak.
“Why are you saying something like that? What dangerous thing are you planning?”
“A declaration of war.”
“A… declaration of war?”
“Let’s go. You’ll understand once we get to the assembly hall.”
I gave a small smile.
Karlin looked even more anxious now.
Her reactions were just too entertaining.
