#3. The Petty Thief Who Covets Her Friend’s Husband
December 3, 2023
Knock knock—
With a gentle knock, Eshika’s door creaked open.
Reclining on the bed with a book in her hands, Eshika turned her cold gaze toward the visitor.
“Eshika.”
Wearing a neat sky-blue dress stood none other than Yuri.
She approached the bed slowly, staring at Eshika with a look of pity as though sorry for leaving her alone in a cold, sunless room.
“How are you feeling? The doctor said you seemed to have a head injury… do you recognize who I am?”
Eshika felt a flicker of irritation at Yuri’s pretentious smile but quickly calmed herself.
A pathetic little bird’s neck must be twisted slowly.
But first, destroy the cage that lets it fly.
“Yuri Anesis, my one and only friend.”
Eshika’s cold tone made a smile flicker across Yuri’s lips.
‘She must’ve lost her memory after hitting her head,’ Yuri was probably thinking.
Eshika continued. Letting her believe such a thing was… too clichéd for her taste.
“And… a petty thief with the audacity to covet her friend’s husband with that shameless face.”
Yuri’s brows twitched involuntarily.
She had called her a “petty thief” and not just “thief” because the man she stole wasn’t even worth much.
“A vulgar, uneducated, pathetic mistress.”
Yuri’s smile had completely vanished as she stared at Eshika, who continued speaking without even twitching an eyebrow.
It was Eshika who smiled first.
“What’s wrong? Want me to say more?”
Yuri was clearly flustered.
Eshika’s reaction was completely different from what she had anticipated.
She had thought Eshika would lunge at her and grab her hair.
In preparation for that scenario, Yuri had even brought a small dagger—just in case she could carve a scar into Eshika’s pretty face.
If the Duchess had suddenly gone mad and attacked with a knife, no one in the household would bother to investigate.
“Cinder-Yuri Anesis?”
But Eshika had no interest in physical scuffles, choosing instead to prick at Yuri’s nerves with words.
The nickname, reminiscent of the days when Yuri had been cowed by the Brigitte family’s influence, made Yuri’s brows rise in anger.
“Eshika!”
Yuri ground her teeth.
Eshika Klaus shouldn’t look this well.
Rumors said she hadn’t left her room in over ten days—maybe she had become a broken woman from the shock.
She should’ve been wasting away on moldy bread rationed out on the Grand Madam’s orders.
Yet Eshika looked even better than before the injury, her eyes shining with a sharp, malicious light.
As if she had become someone else.
“You!”
Yuri pointed a trembling finger at Eshika.
“You’d better not talk to me like that. The Grand Madam has recently appointed me as Head Lady-in-Waiting.”
A victorious gleam lit up Yuri’s red eyes.
In most noble households, the Head Lady-in-Waiting was nothing compared to the lady of the house.
But not in the Klaus ducal family, where all power lay in the hands of the Duke’s mother, Grand Madam Leona Klaus.
Her word controlled the budget, food, and all hosting rights.
Eshika, a Duchess only in name, had once had to bow her head even to the previous Head Lady-in-Waiting.
“Of course, we were once friends…”
Yuri smiled faintly and continued.
“But as the new Head Lady, I’ll do my utmost to serve the Grand Madam. It’s only right to be loyal to someone who recognizes my worth.”
What she really meant: she would go out of her way to torment Eshika.
“Besides, the Grand Madam will soon become my mother-in-law.”
A jab meant to provoke.
Yuri saw herself as the victor.
Eshika—who only had her family name and pretty face going for her—had everything Yuri had ever wanted.
Watching her fall apart inside the Klaus household was thoroughly entertaining.
Especially watching her despair over losing her husband’s affection—that was the reward for years of putting up with Eshika’s clueless complaints.
Yuri planned to watch even more eagerly from now on.
“Well then, rest well. His Grace should be back from the hunt soon. I need to prepare a fresh change of clothes.”
When Eshika didn’t respond, Yuri smiled and turned away, thinking:
‘I’ll leave the facial scars for another time.’
Just imagining how much more the Duke—who already loathed Eshika—would recoil from a disfigured face made her feel giddy.
Now that she was Head Lady-in-Waiting, she’d have plenty of chances.
“Yuri.”
Perhaps it was a desperate plea—Eshika’s voice came from behind.
Yuri stopped and turned, her usual aloof smile on display.
In the dimly lit room, Eshika’s blue eyes glowed sharply.
“My family—my brothers used to send me jewelry every month. But now that I think about it, I no longer need them. I’ve sent a letter asking them to stop.”
Yuri’s hand flinched.
“What… what do you mean?”
“You used to collect those jewels from the front gates, didn’t you? Well, that won’t be necessary anymore.”
Eshika looked calmly at Yuri, whose lips had started to tremble.
“Now that you’re Head Lady, you shouldn’t have to bother with such menial tasks.”
Yuri quickly tried to argue.
“S-Still, it’s help from your family. Shouldn’t you accept it?”
Her red eyes were beginning to waver.
Eshika had a strong suspicion why Yuri had suddenly been promoted to Head Lady.
And why the Grand Madam had started calling for her more often.
Every month, Eshika’s family—the Brigitte barony—sent her high-quality gems.
Yuri had likely been stealing the best ones…
“No. I’m tired of jewels.”
“…”
“The letter should’ve reached the family by now.”
Yuri gripped her skirt tightly.
The jewels she had pilfered had surely been passed to the Grand Madam as bribes.
And the Grand Madam had no use for people who couldn’t offer something in return.
What she wanted from Yuri were regular offerings of exquisite jewels.
“Anyway, good luck with your new job.”
Eshika smiled sweetly, and Yuri’s brows twitched furiously.
Seeing her pale face made Eshika want to laugh.
In the original story, Yuri Anesis had only been able to marry Duke Klaus because, a year from now, she was pregnant with his child.
Until then, she had buttered up the Grand Madam using jewels meant for Eshika.
But now that the jewels were gone, the Grand Madam had no reason to favor her.
“…”
Yuri turned on her heel and stormed out, her earlier confidence completely gone.
‘That foolish girl will try to find a way to keep the jewels flowing.’
Not knowing she was digging her own grave.
Later that night…
With Yuri gone and the darkness deepening, Eshika sat on the floor cross-legged.
It was important to put those arrogant fools in their place—but what demanded her true focus now was building her inner energy.
The spiritual energy here was denser than in Murim (the martial world), but this body—Eshika’s—had never been trained. That made it harder.
She practiced breathing techniques through the dantian, trying to circulate and clear the paths for her inner energy.
Just reaching the first step had already taken her a week.
‘It’s not easy.’
She could follow the Demonic Cult’s method for faster results, but in such a frail body, she risked energy deviation—or going insane.
So, uncharacteristically, she resolved to follow the proper orthodox techniques, building power slowly.
Thanks to the food Celra had been supplying under threat, she was nourished and could train steadily.
Once the inner energy channels opened, her pace would increase.
Once a path is carved, it’s easy to retrace it.
‘Start with the first peak of the Ten-Thousand-Great-Mountains…’
She focused her mind on the dantian and began to circulate energy.
Like cutting a path through thick undergrowth, it was a grueling process—but Eshika remained unwavering.
Sweat poured, and impurities began to leave her body.
“….”
After what felt like hours of intense meditation, her expression softened.
She had succeeded in opening the first meridian in this fragile body—no small feat.
A while later, bathed in moonlight from the window, she opened her eyes.
Her clothes were damp, but her skin looked clearer and softer.
Stretching, she muttered to herself,
“I need a bath.”
Elsewhere…
Having escorted an unexpected guest out, Kalian said,
“I shall accompany you to the palace.”
But Lesvan raised his left hand and declined.
“Appreciated, but unnecessary.”
Lesvan Deon Lucain—the Crown Prince of the Turesian Empire.
A striking man with dark hair, golden eyes, and a build like Kalian’s—tall and powerful.
At 29, he remained unmarried.
Rumors abounded, but the most believable was that he hadn’t yet met a woman more captivating than war.
Since the conquest of Ewnibus, he had been called the War Demon.
Today, he had come to the Duke’s estate on imperial orders—to inspect their contributions to Sorbé.
The Grand Madam’s plan to dilute the grain supply with husks had been foiled.
“Only the aid supplies require strict inspection.”
His cool voice made Kalian’s brow twitch.
It was a warning: manage it strictly so no further issues would arise.
Lesvan mounted his white horse with graceful ease despite his size, his blue cloak billowing.
Kalian bowed stiffly as he watched him go.
“Safe travels, Little Sun of Turesia.”
Lesvan gave a slight nod before galloping off.
His dark hair whipped in the wind as the scenery flew by.
The Duke’s estate roads were well maintained.
They hadn’t been before the marriage—but since then, it seemed they had gained considerable wealth.
‘Wasn’t the Duchess from House Brigitte?’
Strengthening a household through marriage was nothing unusual.
As he rode, Lesvan suddenly pulled on the reins hard.
“….”
He had sensed a presence nearby.
Dismounting silently, he crept forward.
Though still within the Klaus estate, he felt compelled to check.
Venturing into a thick forest, he emerged by a lake bathed in moonlight and stars.
In the center of the lake—someone stood.
“….”
Silver hair fluttered in the breeze, droplets falling from her soaked white clothes sparkled like jewels.
Sensing his gaze, she slowly turned.
A perfectly straight nose, a delicately shadowed jawline, brows like painted art—and eyes like blue stars.
Though he saw only her side profile, Lesvan froze, staring.
Then, with a sudden splash, her body disappeared into the lake.
“…!”
He rushed to the water’s edge.
But the lake was calm, as if she had never been there.
No trace of her remained.
With golden eyes hidden behind his cold gaze, Lesvan stood still, staring at the tranquil lake for a long time.
