~Chapter 119~
After dinner with Raphaella, Leah was resting when Isabella came to visit.
“Leah, were you resting?”
Her voice trembled slightly as she walked in.
“Yes… Did you hear everything from Johann?”
Leah welcomed her, guessing why she came.
“Yes, ahem. I did.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Mother.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You don’t need to apologize.”
Isabella gently held Leah’s hands.
Her hands were shaking slightly — Leah could feel it.
“I… I’m just so thankful that you’re alive.”
That kind of word — “I’m glad you’re alive” always made her throat tighten, no matter who said it.
“Can I hug you?”
“Of course.”
Leah nodded without hesitation.
“…Ah, Alicia.”
Isabella pulled her into a trembling embrace.
“It must’ve been so hard for you, right?”
“…It was, a little.”
Leah whispered with her face buried in Isabella’s shoulder.
“Thank you for growing up so well.”
She stroked the back of Leah’s head gently.
“…Thank you.”
“If Frieda could see how beautifully you’ve grown… she’d be so proud.”
“Were you very close with my mother?”
Leah vaguely remembered seeing Isabella with her mom when she was little, but her memory was fuzzy.
“…Frieda and I were very close. Best friends, actually.”
They sat down on the sofa, Isabella still holding her hand.
“We first met at our debutante ball. We came from totally different backgrounds, but we hit it off right away.”
Her voice softened with the warmth of old memories.
“We were each other’s bridesmaids, and we even joked about marrying off our future kids to each other so we could become a real family…”
She bit her lip for a moment, trying not to cry.
Leah gently squeezed her hand.
“…Who would’ve thought that promise would come true one day? I like to think Frieda’s watching from above and smiling.”
smiled softly.
“I had no idea you two were that close.”
“We made that promise when you two were still babies.”
Isabella held her hands out, showing how small they’d been.
“Alicia… no, Ria.”
“Yes?”
“It breaks my heart that I can’t call you by your real name openly until we bring the Empress down. But I understand.”
She looked at Leah carefully.
“Looking at you up close like this… you really do look like Frieda.”
“Do I really resemble my mother?”
“Yes. Your eyes are from your father — that emerald color. But your features? They’re just like Frieda’s.”
She smiled warmly.
“She had big, round eyes just like you.”
She gently tapped Leah’s nose playfully with her finger.
“Your nose too — so cute and petite. And you both loved making potions.”
Leah thought back.
‘Yeah… Even though Dad came from a magic potion family, Mom was way more obsessed with it.’
Her grandparents used to say Mom felt more like their real child than their actual son.
Talking to Isabella brought back all kinds of memories of her parents.
“Leah, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“I’m your godmother.”
“What? I didn’t know!”
“There was a ceremony at the temple. But you were just a baby, so of course you wouldn’t remember.”
“…You were my godmother?”
Leah’s eyes widened — it was such a surprise.
“Leah, since I’m your godmother, you can lean on me from now on. Don’t be afraid to depend on me.”
It felt like her mom had left her a precious gift after passing away.
“…Okay.”
Leah nodded, teary-eyed.
“I’ve made this beautiful girl cry, haven’t I?”
“…No, you haven’t.”
The two of them smiled at each other through their tears and talked for hours — about the past, about life.
The day had been full of chaos, and who knew what would happen next…
But strangely, Leah felt a rare sense of peace.
—
The Next Morning
Leah got up early and had a light breakfast before heading to the annex.
She was exhausted after barely sleeping, but there was no time to waste.
They needed to strengthen their anti-dark magic potion ASAP.
With hot coffee to keep her awake, Leah immersed herself in research.
Then, someone knocked.
“Lady Leah, it’s Paula.”
‘Huh? It’s not lunchtime yet… What’s up?’
“Come in!”
Leah paused her work.
“What is it, Paula?”
“You should come to the main house. Right now.”
“The main house?”
“Yes! A ton of gifts have just arrived for you!”
“Gifts?”
That was… unexpected.
“The Duchess said it’s because you came in first place yesterday — people are sending you gifts to congratulate and thank you.”
“What…?”
Gifts for winning the hunting festival? That seemed a bit much.
“Come quickly!”
“Okay.”
Leah stood up.
“Leah, can I come see too?”
Dorothea looked super curious.
“Sure, let’s go together.”
Leah nodded, still looking confused.
When they arrived at the main house, her jaw dropped.
So many gifts were being unloaded and carried upstairs!
“Whoa… That’s a lot,”
Dorothea couldn’t stop staring.
The gifts came in all shapes and sizes — from huge boxes that needed two people to carry them, to tiny fancy ones.
“…Oh my gosh.”
Leah hadn’t expected this many.
“Leah, you’re here.”
Isabella greeted her from her room.
“Mom! Look at all these gifts!”
“Right? It’s incredible.”
Leah looked around at all the boxes filling up the sitting room.
“Wondering why you got so many, huh?”
“Yeah… Is it normal to get this much just for winning the hunting festival?”
“You didn’t just win. You were the first woman to take down a bear — and you saved people too.”
Isabella gently led her toward the mountain of gifts.
“At the after-party last night, word spread that you saved the Crown Princess and her group.”
She looked proud.
“They say people are starting to see you differently now. Even the young noble ladies are calling you a hero.”
“H-Hero…?”
If they knew the full truth, they wouldn’t call her that.
“Ria, whatever the Empress’s intentions were, the fact is you saved them.”
Isabella took Leah’s hands.
“You deserve every single one of these gifts. Don’t doubt that.”
“…Okay.”
“Alright, let’s start with the letter from the Crown Princess.”
It thanked Leah for saving her, said she wanted to talk more, and promised an invitation to the palace soon.
The others in the group also sent letters and gifts to express their deep gratitude.
The presents were incredibly diverse:
Rare salts from foreign lands, delicately crafted jewels, high-quality furs, a limited-edition tea set, rare and expensive fabrics — and more.
“These are all genuine gifts, from people’s hearts,” Isabella said.
Leah could feel the sincerity behind the letters and gifts.
And it filled her with warmth.
“Now, let’s write some thank-you letters and get this all sorted out.”
The staff, following Isabella’s orders, began organizing the gifts.
Meanwhile, Leah sat down in the study and started writing thank-you notes — first to the Crown Princess and her companions.
—
Around the Same Time
Johann was discussing the Empress with Samuel.
“Anything on the Empress’s maid?”
“Yes. Carmen Brandis is the fourth daughter of the Brandis family. That family has been loyal vassals of the Empress’s house for generations.”
Samuel leaned in.
“She’s always been quiet and kind of creepy. Didn’t get along with her family at all.”
“And?”
“Strangely, she and the Empress were close since childhood.”
That info came from former servants of the Elsnor house — the Empress’s family.
“When they were teens, they once snuck out late at night and came back covered in bloodstains on their clothes. They got in big trouble for it.”
Samuel frowned.
“The next day, most of the house staff were fired.”
He added calmly,
“They said it was for ‘neglecting their duties.’”
“They were probably out experimenting with dark magic,” Johann said.
“Do you think the Elsnor family knew?”
“Maybe not the full truth, but they must’ve suspected something. That’s probably why they fired the staff.”
“Right. So… did your spies find anything at Elsnor or Brandis estates?”
“We searched all the old rooms and storage areas, but… nothing.”
“Still, good work. And?”
“I did manage to find a lead on the Mage Tower Master’s location.”
“Really? Where?”
“Somewhere in the Elsnor estate lands—”
Just then, someone knocked frantically.
“Excuse me, it’s Gerda, sir!”
The Empress’s spy.
