Eliya gazed at the mirror.
Her black hair looked as if it had been cut from a starless night.
Her red eyes resembled a chalice filled with blood.
The edges of her eyes sparkled like sunlight reflected in water.
There stood a girl, doll-like and undeniably beautiful, as per her own aesthetic sensibilities.
Eliya wasn’t one for excessive makeup.
Considering she was a direct descendant of the Bevel family, her attire was rather simple.
Even though she was a bastard child.
However, Eliya was different now.
She donned a red dress suitable for a banquet at the royal palace, adorning herself with jewels.
Though she typically didn’t carry herself like a noble, she had styled herself from head to toe like one.
To stand before Narcissi.
To confront those who were hostile to her.
To show to those who sided with Narcissi who she truly was, this dramatic display was necessary.
Ria, who was brushing Eliya’s hair, called out with worry.
“Miss….”
Eliya wore her usual indifferent expression, but her eyes held grim determination.
Ria couldn’t possibly miss that meaning.
Perhaps Eliya might kill someone today.
Not out of instinctive self-defense, but for the first time, a conscious act of murder.
Even if Eliya was prepared in her heart and had already become numb to such things, Ria couldn’t accept it lightly.
“You could have had a servant do this.”
As Eliya assessed, there were few who were genuinely loyal to her.
More than her calculations, but still.
That didn’t mean there wasn’t anyone who could kill in her stead.
Especially in a situation like this.
Ever since Eliya had become a full-fledged wizard, the dynamics of power had begun to shift subtly.
That change had accelerated since Narcissi’s exile.
“There’s no need for you to get your hands dirty, Miss….”
“Ria.”
Ria lifted her head.
She looked into the mirror at Eliya’s face.
A serene expression.
Like a mask made of wax.
Emotionless.
The red eyes didn’t meet Ria’s gaze.
“It’s my business.”
Eliya drew a line.
Since it was her business, she ordered Ria not to cross that line.
“……”
Ria struggled to respond; her throat felt tight.
It was as if a rock had dropped onto her heart.
Though she should have been used to it by now.
Even knowing she didn’t deserve it, Ria hesitated to answer.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
“…I’m sorry, Miss Eliya.”
“Yeah.”
Eliya’s curt reply led the way as she stepped out.
Ria gazed momentarily at her reflection in the mirror.
Red hair.
The roots were dark.
It was time to dye it.
*
Narcissi’s place of exile was by the seaside.
The luxurious mansion with a white sandy beach in front suited a vacation spot more than an exile.
A carriage came to a stop before the large villa.
Eliya descended without any assistance.
The last winter before spring.
The cold still kept people away from the beach.
And from around the villa.
That was a good thing.
She didn’t want innocent people getting caught up in this.
Eliya walked up to the mansion’s gate.
Two heavily armored knights guarded the entrance.
Eliya declared solemnly.
“Open up. I’ve come to see Duchess Narcissi.”
The two knights remained resolute.
“The Duchess is currently resting.”
“She has commanded that no one be admitted.”
“…I see.”
Even though power dynamics were changing, there were still those who supported Narcissi.
It was a complex reason.
Though Narcissi had lost her strength, her children remained strong.
Together, their power was not to be ignored.
If the remaining forces were connected to family ties, loyalty could not be easily disregarded.
Eliya humbly respected their loyalty.
“Such great loyalty.”
As those words escaped her, a golden fireball fell from the air.
The basic fire attribute attack magic, Fireball.
Its power wasn’t characteristic of something basic.
The fireball struck true against the front gate, exploding.
The two knights defending it vanished without a trace.
A half-dome barrier appeared in front of Eliya, protecting her from the blast’s aftermath.
That barrier was also made of flame.
Watching the spectacle of fire protecting fire, the knights following Eliya held their breath.
Eliya blandly gazed at the burning gate.
Once the vibration subsided, she withdrew the barrier.
Dust swirled around as fragments of the shattered floor and iron gate soared skyward before falling.
Eliya didn’t bat an eye.
Just because she was gifted with the power of fire didn’t mean she could control it.
Using the wind, she sent the smaller fragments flying, boldly stepping over the gates.
The knights trailed behind her.
Ria had no choice but to helplessly watch that small back.
There was nothing an ordinary person like her could do.
Following would only serve as a hindrance.
In the end, all she could do was remain behind and wait.
She was always powerless.
*
As soon as the gates burst open, the knights guarding the mansion charged out.
Still, many chose to follow Narcissi.
Their skill was not to be taken lightly.
The only flaw was that Eliya was their opponent.
“Stop the intruder!”
“Protect the Duchess!”
The spirited cries were consumed by flames.
From the sky, a fireball the size of a carriage crashed down and exploded.
Flames surged from beneath their feet, incinerating those who approached.
Explosions erupted from all sides.
The ground trembled, and flames danced.
A ring of fire formed around the villa, creating a barrier.
Cutting off any escape routes.
Eliya didn’t cast a glance anywhere else.
She simply moved forward, keeping her gaze straight ahead.
Walking the stone path that led from the gate to the mansion’s grand entrance.
A glowing mosaic appeared around her, ignited by her aura.
In the backdrop, flames poured down and erupted.
Under the blue sky, the scenic villa burned.
That little girl walked the stone path of that burning mansion.
Amidst the screams and the smell of burnt things, images could not capture.
Eliya was enough to clear the way.
She didn’t utilize the knights she brought along, nor would she.
They were brought to engrave her power into their minds.
No matter how strong, no one could confront the Bevel family alone.
Foundation and forces were necessary.
These knights would be her first allies.
Furthermore, if her strength became known today, she could secure more allies.
A bolt shot out from somewhere, but her barrier blocked it.
Reflected like a mirror, a fire arrow shot from Eliya, bursting the head of a knight armed with a crossbow.
Even in the midst of this chaos, Eliya did not waver her gaze.
She stared boldly and resolutely forward.
It was truly an overwhelming slaughter.
The knights trailing behind were already prepared to pledge their loyalty.
While they may not know every wizard, among the wizards they’ve encountered, no one was stronger than Eliya.
Considering Eliya was merely a rookie of less than six months, her prowess was nothing short of miraculous.
“Traitors!”
“Filthy bloodlines that have stained the Bevel family! Kill them!”
She was all too familiar with their piercing words.
No emotion entwined itself with the magic that killed them.
The leaves of frustration in her heart were ignored.
Eliya stopped before the front gate.
Red eyes.
Within them danced an orange flame.
In the center, like the sun, a yellow luminous body shone.
The maddened eyes of fire gazed at the mansion.
She did not move further.
Only rain fire from the heavens.
The wooden mansion ignited fiercely.
The blue sky was stained crimson.
The wait wasn’t long.
“Gah—! Hah…!”
With a burst, Narcissi came barreling out of the front doors.
Her thin nightgown swaying, bare feet.
Her hair a tangled mess.
She was a perfect example of someone who fled in desperation.
“Duchess.”
Eliya smiled softly.
“I’ve been wanting to see you.”
“E-Eli, Eliya…”
Narcissi’s eyes darted around.
Her jewel-like blue eyes were clouded today.
Her prideful golden hair, once the envy of the Bevel family’s lineage, was now disheveled.
“Y-You! How dare you…!”
Rolling down the stairs, she tried to strike Eliya.
It was an instinctive reaction.
Having become accustomed to the violence, Eliya didn’t allow it.
Flames shot up like a whip, ensnaring Narcissi’s ankle and bringing her down.
“Gah—!”
Her face slammed against the ground.
The pain she felt was new and unfamiliar.
Her nose crumbled, and blood gushed forth.
Narcissi clamped her nose shut, trembling in fear—not from terror, but from rage.
With a venomous glare, she shot daggers at Eliya.
“You… you…! Are you insane?! You truly…!”
“How interesting.”
Eliya interrupted her.
Indeed, the sight of Narcissi right before her was fascinating.
“When faced with a reality one cannot handle or control with their own abilities, a person usually chooses to deny and flee rather than overcome it. Duchess, your demeanor reflects this perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“……”
“It’s just as I learned from the Bevel family.”
“What… Why are you treating me like this?! I am still… the lady of the Bevel family!”
“Oh, don’t worry about the pretense. That will soon be confessed directly by you, Duchess.”
Eliya smiled brightly.
The connection between Ramek and Narcissi.
Only circumstantial evidence was available, but Eliya didn’t mind.
Wizards had various ways to unearth secrets.
Her smile was innocent.
A shiver ran down Narcissi’s spine.
Realizing the truth, her lips trembled.
“I-I’m sorry…! I made a mistake…!”
Finally, Narcissi clung to Eliya’s leg.
Looking up at her with a servile smile.
“I must have gone too far. Right? It wasn’t supposed to have come to this… I have done so many terrible things to you… I—I will repent this time….”
“Duchess.”
Eliya gently called out to her.
A small hand patted Narcissi’s head.
“No need for an apology. You don’t need to apologize.”
“Eh…?”
“Duchess, you have never wronged me. So there’s no reason for you to apologize.”
Her tone was kind, yet hard to take positively.
It felt as if she were sharpening a knife softly.
Ria feared that she might grab her hair at any moment.
“I was born a bastard child. Moreover, I happened to be gifted with the talent of a wizard. You couldn’t accept this fact and made your own futile struggles. It is natural. From your perspective, I’m the impurity of a world where I should not have been born.”
“Th-That’s not true, dear…”
“So, my treatment towards you is likewise a perfectly natural transaction.”
“…….”
“You’ve done nothing wrong, so there’s no need to apologize. Similarly, it’s not sin, so there’s no question of forgiveness.”
That meant accepting reality outright.
Narcissi had neither the power nor ability to alter this background.
As defeat began to wash over her, Eliya pushed her away as if swatting away a bug.
Taking a few steps back, her eyes were ablaze with a golden hue.
“And this is.”
From around Narcissi, golden flames surged violently.
“It’s a magic I have long envisioned for you, Duchess. I hope you’ll be pleased with it.”
Eternal Everflame.
A curse that Eliya had researched and created solely for Narcissi.
Whoever was afflicted must suffer in searing agony for their entire lifetime, unable to wash it away.
“No wizard, priest, doctor, or apothecary can erase that pain.”
The cascading flames that surged backward now dove towards Narcissi.
“Ahhh—!”
The flames didn’t burn Narcissi.
Rather, they swirled around her.
In a spiral, leaving trails, the flames slowly began to absorb into Narcissi’s body.
While Narcissi screamed in horror, Eliya pronounced her decree.
“Only death, apart from myself, can free you. But you won’t even be able to end your life. I will ensure that.”
The flames, rotating increasingly faster, appeared like a flower from a distance.
Flames in full bloom.
Once the full bloom of flames engulfed Narcissi completely.
Blackened soot erupted all over her body, marking the success of the Eternal Everflame.
“Uh…! Ugh, Aahhhh—!”
Narcissi rolled across the ground, wailing.
It felt like being submerged in lava.
At the same time, it felt like her blood was transforming into lava.
Seering pain circulated throughout her body, trapping her within her own blood vessels.
In mere seconds, it felt as if she would either melt away in the lava or be burned into nothingness.
She wished for such an outcome, to simply die.
Yet her body remained intact.
No matter how much time passed, she wouldn’t die, nor could she ever become accustomed to the agony.
Every moment felt intensely vivid.
In that hour akin to a single second, she struggled futilely.
Eliya observed Narcissi with indifference.
The reason she didn’t kill her was purely pragmatic.
Narcissi, being the only one who might know the internal affairs of the Bevel family, would need to be suitably conditioned to obey through gradual suffering, extracting information from her.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
If she killed her here, it would be far too anticlimactic.
Eliya had no desires to provide Narcissi rest.
A fiery rage churned within her.
Her impulse to unleash unnecessary violence shook her reason.
But Eliya lightly shook it off.
‘Judas.’
Recalling her sole source of color calmed her spirit.
Not as direct as touch, but.
She closed her eyes, taking a breath before looking back at the mansion being reduced to ashes.
This whole area was engulfed in flames.
The work she had achieved on her own.
Though it wasn’t a scale comparable to that of an unawakened wizard for less than six months, she made it look easy.
Turning around, she saw the knights who had followed her standing ready.
Eliya spoke softly.
“This is my power.”
Her voice was small, yet clear to all ears.
“I will grant you whatever you desire. Be it power, wealth, illustrious reputation, or even a fearsome notoriety. I will kill the entire Bevel family and establish a new house in my name, becoming the new head.”
The grand mansion erupted in flames.
Duchess Narcissi writhed like a burning mouse, screaming.
Sparks soared skyward, and the smell of burning filled the air.
Before the hellish scenery, the little girl spoke.
“There is but one thing I desire. Kill for me, and die for me.”
Responses didn’t come back.
In unison, everyone knelt on one knee.
The clattering of armor resonated as it met the ground.
Dozens of knights bowed their heads before Eliya.
She scanned them once before nodding.
“Have someone quick inform the family. The Duchess has faced great misfortune.”
Her subdued gaze bore down upon Narcissi.
“And I shall take the Duchess with me. Let no one lay a hand on her; carry her down to the mansion’s underground with respect, as befits her nobility.”
*
Outside the main gate, Ria stood waiting.
Just like when Eliya had entered.
Ria gazed at Eliya with sorrowful eyes.
Eliya’s atmosphere had chilled to a cold, ashen reminder of burnt remnants.
It felt the same yet strangely different.
There were countless things she wanted to say, but she kept her mouth shut.
Eliya spoke nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.
“I want to go home.”
“…Yes, Miss.”
The carriage started moving swiftly.
As Eliya attempted to embrace the red blanket and the black cat doll on the seat, she hesitated.
An intense scent of burnt flesh emanated from her body.
She might be repelled by the embrace.
Because it was a power of fire, she had burned all her enemies.
But she loathed the smell of burning.
She could never like it.
Her mother had died that way.
Burned to ashes.
There was a time when she thrust her face into the empty coffin, crying her heart out.
That was the last weeping Eliya could recall.
There had been a few incidents with Judas, but she diligently turned away from the weakened memories of that time.
They were too embarrassing to acknowledge.
Even if she disliked the horrible smell of burning, she had to kill them all.
She displayed her power boldly.
Believing her mother’s death was her responsibility, she bore with it.
In the end, she clung neither to the doll nor the blanket.
She withdrew her hands.
‘I’m tired….’
Leaning against the seat, thoughts of Judas surfaced.
That refreshing feeling would calm her heart if embraced.
But now, she had to endure.
Her life had always been a series of trials.
Today was no different.
Once she returned, there would be much to do, and she had to handle that first.
She couldn’t afford to confuse her priorities.
‘I can’t depend on anyone…. I can’t weaken….’
Narcissi was merely the start.
With today as a starting point, many more challenges awaited.
She knew all too well the implications of her actions.
To survive, she’d have to kill others—a simple truth she often reminded herself.
Who would be next?
The eldest son, Cain, who had been favored by both Narcissi and Balak?
The second son, Levi, who was skilled in schemes and intrigue?
The third, Jezebel, who once looked down on her as a bug and treated her like a slave?
The fourth, Aghan, who relentlessly bullied her and took out his frustrations on her?
The fifth, Sara, who had monopolized Narcissi’s love, but received no human affection in return?
Whoever it might be, Eliya would welcome them.
Her siblings had ridiculed her since childhood.
They fed her spoiled food, soiled her clothes, ripped them apart, and locked her in dark places, often throwing corpses of rats or insects into her when she slept.
They came looking for her, isolated in their family’s grounds, tormenting her endlessly.
She would repay all of it.
Starting with the beginning—Narcissi, who had dragged her out of hiding and killed her mother.
She would return it all, everyone from the Bevel family who bore their title.
They had struck first.
They had killed her mother and abused her.
She wouldn’t stay passive any longer. Not anymore.
She possessed power.
With that power, she’d secured an army that could be called allies as well.
The time had come.
The rhythmically shaking carriage felt like a cradle.
‘I should study…’
Learning two types of magic on the night when Ramek attacked, and Judas was injured.
A notification spell that could be maintained even while sleeping.
And a spell for healing external wounds.
While the former was learned, the latter remained unmastered.
She needed to find time even while in the carriage to study, but her body was too weary.
The acrid scent of bundled ash clung to her, enveloping her entire body.
As Eliya gradually slipped into sleep amid the unpleasant feeling.
“Mother….”
Ria, who had been sitting across from her, gently moved to Eliya’s side.
Ria carefully pulled Eliya’s head onto her shoulder.
With that, Eliya fell into a deep sleep.
“I will win… Mother… I’m sorry I couldn’t be by your side that time….”
“…….”
*
Eliya checked the underground prison.
Narcissi was locked behind bars, screaming.
Her throat was torn and bleeding, yet it wouldn’t stop.
With every struggle, the chains restraining her clinked.
Had she not been secured, she might have harmed herself.
Eliya observed her dispassionately.
For the time being, she would remain in that state.
From the top of her head down to her toes.
The burning sensation would continuously wash over her, from her skin surface to her internal organs.
But that pain was mere illusion.
Narcissi’s physique remained physically intact.
The soot was merely a symbol of the Eternal Everflame’s operation—it did not mean she was actually burned.
Thus, Narcissi had to flounder within that phantom pain for a considerable time.
For the time being, she had to be left as is.
To train her, it was necessary for her to realize how dire her position was.
After confirming Narcissi, Eliya’s body needed a wash.
To cleanse away the persistent scent of burning.
Yet the odor would not dissipate.
Perhaps it had seeped into her soul and memories instead of her body.
“Ria. Wash the doll and blanket.”
The doll and blanket she had shared the carriage with seemed to reek of smoke.
She couldn’t hold them in that condition.
“…Handle them carefully.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Eliya made her way up to her office.
Though fatigued, she could not rest.
Rather, having captured Narcissi, there was even more impetus to remain vigilant.
Now, the true beginning commenced.
Fortunately, news from the family had not yet arrived.
They would likely be dumbfounded, scrambling their minds over the sudden misfortunes.
Meanwhile, Eliya pondered how to confront them.
Now that she had secured an available army.
These people had staked their hopes on the abilities she had proven.
She could use them without restraint.
‘The quickest to face an assault would be… Sara, or perhaps Jezebel. Followed closely, maybe Aghan….’
The biggest variable, however, was Balak.
If one were to name the strongest wizard on the continent, he always topped the list.
Should Balak decide to charge at them, victory could not be guaranteed.
Realistically, that probability remained low.
Eliya had not killed Narcissi, nor did she seem to have sustained any visible injuries.
More importantly, Narcissi had provided grounds for her own justification.
Thus, regarding justification, Eliya was far more favorable now.
While it couldn’t be relied upon, the situation was believable enough.
‘Having completed the alert spell that holds during sleep, I shouldn’t have to worry about ambushes.’
Power was never too much.
If she could draw forth more, she should.
‘That wizard I locked in the underground… Bolse, was it? He’s lightweight but has clear goals. Money. That’s the most intuitive basis for loyalty. Perhaps I’ll make him a job offer… since I’ve gleaned all needful information from Gaston, I’d discard him. His grounds for loyalty are too flimsy.’
Power would steadily grow going forward.
Narcissi had effectively fallen.
Those who had followed her would fracture.
They would either come to her side or remain glued to the direct line of the Bevel family.
‘For now, I’ll keep an eye on the developments… to see how the direct blood succumbs. The most probable outcome would be a family trial.’
A principle within the family dictates that problems arising internally must be resolved amongst the family members.
Ensuring that no external powers or authorities could interfere.
‘The first trial will likely end in loss. Since matters are presided over by the elder council, I’ll need to curry favor with them, continuously appealing until the verdict is overturned. This could take a while.’
Knock, knock—someone rapped at the door to Eliya’s office.
While moving the quill, Eliya spoke.
“Come in.”
The visitor was Hermis.
As Hermis laid eyes upon Eliya, she inadvertently stiffened.
A wave of intense exhaustion washed over her face.
Beneath it lingered relentless malice.
Though she typically bore a cold demeanor whenever she was around, today her aura felt markedly different.
News of having captured Narcissi likely influenced her.
“What’s the matter?”
Eliya glanced up briefly.
Hermis.
A person who ought to be close to Judas.
It was a blunder on Eliya’s part.
Putting a potential threat near her property was akin to assigning a rabbit to guard a lion.
“Recently, I visited a refugee village near the front lines with Judas.”
Hermis was bound to report the events she encountered while protecting Judas to Eliya.
Thus, it was natural to inform her about the encounter with the pilgrim.
However, she belonged to the information guild.
She would conceal aspects of that experience that could reveal her true identity.
Those were things that neither needed to be known nor ought to be known.
Eliya was far sharper than anything she had expected.
It was proven in her earlier blunder when she had revealed details by not being careful.
This time, Hermis took her time to ensure she covered things meticulously.
Eliya was preoccupied with Ramek and Narcissi, making the timing just right.
The justification for venturing near the front lines was purportedly for Judas’s sensitivity and experience.
As Eliya dreads the image of Hermis alone with Judas, she hastily interrupted.
“Wait a moment. You met a pilgrim from the Sun Church?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Eliya inquired with deep interest for more details.
Their speech, approach, attire, and the atmosphere back then.
What she had was merely hearsay, and Eliya organized it all in her mind.
‘It’s not unusual for a pilgrim to offer service as a combat priest.’
Petty suspicions intertwining.
‘But… it’s odd. It’s uncommon to request alms from someone just arriving. Generally, it’s customary to share benefits first with someone who is staying.’
A trivial spark of doubt hovering.
Followers of the Sun Church were numerous.
Among religions apart from the Sun Church, they represented one of the largest groups.
It would be nothing strange if Judas unexpectedly crossed paths with one of those pilgrims.
It was merely based on gut instinct.
Her senses pricked and prepared to weigh options.
‘There was that bishop, Angra, who fled at the onset of the pilgrimage… and now a pilgrim from the Sun Church whom Judas met.’
Eliya asked Hermis.
“What village was it?”
Hermis accurately pointed out the location on the map.
“It’s here.”
“Got it.”
Eliya made a quick decision.
‘I’ll need to send a few people there.’
And then, make an inquiry with Judas directly.
There was no time to spare.
Now that she had decided to turn against Bevel, it would be best to directly confront the concerns surrounding the unsettling Sun Church and Judas’s background.
Ria announced at that moment.
“Miss, it’s time to care for the Moon Deer.”
Eliya’s weary face immediately brightened with an innocence reminiscent of a child.
Unbeknownst to her, her heart had grown lighter.
“Let’s go.”
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