Chapter 5 Part 12

There was indeed a memory of not responding to the letters that had been piling up these past few days. However, the latter part needed to be corrected.

“Violet, let’s be clear. It wasn’t a request from the Empress, it was a favor you asked of me.”

At Elia’s words, Violet’s lips barely moved. Yet, it only took a moment for her voice to rise, as if she still had more to say.

“It’s all the same! You still refused! How could you do this to me? After everything I’ve done for you. Don’t you remember?”

Violet’s beautiful face was glistening with tears. It seemed she planned to use tears as her next tactic since nothing else worked. Elia chuckled as she brushed back Violet’s hair.

“Yes, Violet. You’ve been very good to me.”

“…Sister? Why do you look like that?”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Violet rolled her eyes nervously. Elia pushed Violet’s shoulder away, making her collide with the wall, prompting an immediate reaction of irritation from Violet.

“That hurt! What are you doing?”

“Really? I was hurt too. Why is it okay for you to do it, but not for me?”

Violet was at a loss for words. She had only suspected that something about her sister had changed. But now, Violet was seeing Elia’s true self.

“Because that’s my role?”

Elia’s words pierced through Violet, confirming what she probably already thought.

“Even when you poured tea over my head, claiming to be bathing me, or when you locked me in a wardrobe for two days during hide and seek, I laughed it off, worried that you might hate me.”

Elia’s childhood was both glamorous and miserable. She endured everything with a smile. But no longer could she, nor should she.

“But what to do now? I no longer need to be loved.”

Elia’s violet eyes deepened. Her purple irises appeared redder than Violet’s.

“Sister…”

“I’m tired of hearing you call me sister. You never treated me like family even once.”

Elia passed by Violet.

“Take care of your own matters from now on. Stop spying on others unnecessarily.”

A dazed gaze followed Elia. At that moment, Violet grabbed Elia’s wrist.

“…It was you, wasn’t it?”

“What?”

“If it wasn’t you, you couldn’t treat me like this. You did it to get revenge on me, didn’t you?”

Violet murmured as if entranced.

“…Yes, now I understand. You’re the only one who would frame me.”

Elia couldn’t hold back her laughter. It was fascinating how Violet could shift the blame like this. There was no sign of guilt on Violet’s face. It was astounding how self-centered she was. Elia found her half-sister newly fascinating.

“Well, your enemies are probably more numerous than you think. And as for framing, there’s just too much evidence.”

Unfortunately.

The amount of people Violet had ruined with her status as a princess was countless. No matter how much she pressured Elia, it was useless. There were countless pieces of evidence against Violet, but none against Elia.

Violet gritted her teeth. The pitiful younger sister was gone. Only the venom of revenge remained.

“Just wait and see.”

“That’s what I wanted.”

Elia laughed calmly as Violet passed by. Only someone concerned solely with their own safety wouldn’t see the gaping darkness ahead.

* * *

Ten days later, a letter arrived at the second house. Elia scanned the contents and smiled with satisfaction.

“That was fast.”

The sender was Popetcherian, and the letter contained the news that the sapphian processing was successful. Elia had given him only two weeks. In fact, she had anticipated it might take longer and was willing to give more time. But Popetcherian had brought results faster than expected.

“He really is a genius.”

Though his internal magic was minimal, no one could match him in its application.

“I should go see.”

The words inviting her to see the result were particularly clear. A single tear drop had blurred the ink above, a sign of his joy at success. She needed to meet Popetcherian quickly.

Just as Elia was about to step outside, a low voice stopped her.

“Elia?”

After their earlier exchange, Aksion had fallen asleep. Seeing him sleep, she had slipped out, but he seemed to have woken up quickly, being a light sleeper.

“You’re going out.”

His eyes, still not fully awake, looked at her. They were clouded like mist, stirring something within her.

‘He used to be so anxious when left alone.’

In any case, he was a man with a delicate beauty. Elia hesitated for a moment before extending her hand.

“Want to come with me?”

“Yes.”

Aksion nodded eagerly. It was worrying how much he trusted her without even asking where they were going. Elia got into the carriage with Aksion. The old carriage, used for disguise, headed toward the commoners’ district.

Unlike before, the back alley was empty.

‘Those fools must have given up their gold coins by now.’

If they didn’t have a kind heart, they would suffer forever. Elia clicked her tongue inwardly as she entered the workshop.

Ding.

The familiar sound of the bell announced their arrival.

“You’re here!”

Popetcherian rushed out like a dog greeting its owner. He hesitated when he saw Aksion. With a stern expression, Aksion could look quite intimidating.

In reality, he was as soft as tofu inside.

‘At least it’s good he looks unapproachable on the outside.’

Previously, Elia had found it unfortunate that people avoided him, but now she thought it was a blessing. Otherwise, he might have been greatly deceived somewhere. As Elia reassured herself, Aksion’s gaze turned to Popetcherian.

“Wh-what is it?”

Popetcherian couldn’t speak under Aksion’s cold and intimidating stare. Unaware of this, Elia introduced Aksion nonchalantly.

“This is my husband.”

“Oh, ha ha. So, you’re married! You make a wonderful couple!”

Popetcherian clapped his hands suddenly. 

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Elia tilted her head at his exaggerated reaction. Behind her, Aksion’s eyes cooled slightly. Popetcherian hurriedly pulled out an item from the counter.

“This is the processed sapphian.”

Sapphian was originally a transparent gem. But once successfully processed with magic, it would take on the color of the wizard’s magic.

“It’s blue.”

The sapphian, imbued with Popetcherian’s magic, shone like a blue diamond.

“I went through about eleven sapphians to get this…”

“Only that many? It doesn’t matter. Once you succeed once, the chance of failure drops significantly, doesn’t it?”

At Elia’s words, Popetcherian’s eyes sparkled.

“You really know your stuff! Sapphian is quite tricky…”

His voice trailed off, as if he had encountered a predator.

‘This guy’s mood swings a lot.’

He was excited one moment, and then timid the next. Elia guessed he was a wizard with some emotional fluctuations. While she pondered this, Popetcherian gathered his courage.

“With all due respect, who are you, my lady? You seemed to know I would succeed.”

It was a reasonable question. Elia decided to give him a straightforward answer.

“Elia Mahart. Does that answer your question?”

By now, there was no one in the capital who didn’t know Elia’s reputation.

“Oh my, such an esteemed person…”

Popetcherian was about to smile brightly when his expression suddenly turned pale.

“Wait, then this man is…”

The cursed young lord.

Gulp.

Popetcherian swallowed dryly. As Elia had predicted, he was extremely tense.

‘Aksion’s reputation hasn’t fully recovered yet.’

From an unimaginable monster to just a dangerous person, perhaps.

Elia diverted attention from them for a moment.

“I’ll keep it a secret that I knew about you, Popetcherian. What’s important is that you have the ability I want.”

“Absolutely correct.”

Popetcherian nodded so vigorously it seemed his head might disappear. He had always been polite, but now he seemed doubly so. Elia handed him a business plan.

“This is…”

“Read it. As my future business partner.”