HWWRC Chapter 04

Chapter 4

For a moment, Charlotte hoped it might all be a dream. The shock made her feel like the ground had collapsed beneath her, sending a cold chill down her spine.

But no—it wasn’t a dream. That terrible, icy feeling in every part of her body was something she had felt far too many times before. She couldn’t pretend it wasn’t real.

Realizing that someone she had believed to be a true friend had betrayed her, Charlotte felt her mind go cold with shock. Forcing herself to move, she took a step forward into the prayer room.

The moment her heels echoed in the quiet space, Rieta turned around.

“Oh! Lady Charlotte.”

Rieta’s golden honey-colored eyes still looked sweet. Charlotte remembered how Rieta had always smiled at her like that, ever since they met.

And so, she hoped—just a little—that this was all a misunderstanding. Maybe her own past traumas had made her too sensitive…

She braced herself for what Rieta might say. Maybe she would look surprised and say, “I heard what happened.” Maybe she would try to explain things away, saying it was a mistake. But Rieta said none of those things.

“I didn’t know you had a Divine Stone.”

Her light, bird-like laugh rang out across the prayer room. Charlotte’s deep blue eyes shook, then turned cold. Rieta wasn’t even trying to hide it. For the first time, Charlotte saw how twisted that always-perfect smile really was.

“What a shame. If I’d known, I should’ve agreed to meet at the temple like you suggested.”

“…”

“You have to hand over all jewelry when entering the temple. Including accessories like that stone.”

Charlotte said nothing. Thinking that everything Rieta had shown her was fake made her sick. Every smile, every word—now it all felt like poison.

“So you approached me from the beginning just to frame me as a black magician?”

There was no need to speak in riddles. Charlotte already knew the truth.

“You were just too cautious, Lady Charlotte. I had no choice. Still, it’s really unfortunate. If the plan had worked, you’d be gone by now. Even the Marquis wouldn’t be able to protect you if you had harmed the Saintess.”

Charlotte’s chest tightened. She laughed bitterly. How foolish of her to still be hoping for another answer—one that could’ve spared even a little pain. Rieta had nearly destroyed not only Charlotte, but even her beloved grandfather.

“Why?” Charlotte asked.

“Hmm?”

“Why did you want to frame me as a black magician?”

Rieta blinked innocently, as if confused by the question.

“Because I’m the Saintess. It’s my duty to purify all things impure—especially black magic.”

She said this with a gentle smile, hands folded, and a soft glow seemed to surround her. She was the Saintess, proud and righteous.

So… to her, I was always just something to be removed.

“It’s fine. Now I know you’re softer and more naive than I thought. That means I can hurt you again anytime I want.”

Rieta stepped closer, closing the space between them until they were nearly touching.

“Did you really think I wanted to be your friend?”

“I did. I guess people really do repeat their mistakes.”

Charlotte spoke calmly, but her heart ached. She had opened her heart again, only to be betrayed. Her breath felt heavy with grief.

But she didn’t fall apart—because Rieta had tried to harm her grandfather, too.

If not for the Divine Stone, Charlotte would have been accused of being a black magician. In the Argent Empire, anyone related to a black magician would also be punished. The Blanche family would have been ruined. Her grandfather might have faced execution.

That thought filled Charlotte with rage. She couldn’t prove what Rieta did—but she had one weapon.

“Rieta Rosanac.”

Charlotte called her name, eyes sharp with fury.

“I don’t care what others say about me. But hearing those words from you? That’s almost laughable.”

“Laughable?”

“I’m not a black magician. But if you believe I am because I was born from a cursed mother… then aren’t you in the same situation?”

Rieta’s face stiffened. Her complexion turned pale. Charlotte smiled coldly.

“You were raised by black magicians, weren’t you? Until a holy knight found and rescued you during a monster subjugation.”

“!”

“Hardly anyone knows. Because of your title as Lady Rosanac, no one knows you’re adopted. Isn’t that thanks to the High Priest? If we’re talking about curses, you could be considered cursed too.”

Until now, Charlotte had never seen this as something to use against Rieta. She thought it was a secret worth protecting. She had even sympathized with Rieta, thinking she, of all people, would understand Charlotte’s pain.

But Rieta didn’t care. She had tried to ruin Charlotte’s life. There was no reason to protect her anymore.

“How… how do you know that…?”

“Does it matter how? Aren’t you worried about something else right now?”

Charlotte whispered as she turned away and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, she delivered a final warning:

“If you or anyone else harms me or my family again, I’ll make sure you face the same punishment I would have. Maybe worse. After all, you’re the Saintess. I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

***

As Charlotte’s anger faded, a wave of sadness came crashing in.

She returned to the mansion, trying to keep herself together.

This has happened before. It’s okay. I’ll be fine… I have to be fine…

But the moment she closed the door and realized she was alone, tears welled up. She stumbled.

Then her eyes fell on a white rose bouquet—a gift from Rieta. She had placed them in a vase on her shelf just a few days ago.

Suddenly overwhelmed, Charlotte threw the vase to the floor.

It shattered with a loud crash, and a shard cut her hand.

“Ah…!”

Bright red blood stained her sleeve. She sank to the ground, clutching the wound. It burned, it stung—every kind of pain rose from her hand to her heart. But the betrayal from Rieta and Norman hurt even more.

Just then, the door burst open.

It was the Marquis Blanche, panting.

Charlotte looked up—then, before she could say anything, she fell into his arms and cried like a child.

“G-Grandfather…”

“Charlotte. Who did this to you? Who hurt you?”

Seeing his granddaughter sobbing, he gently stroked her back with his rough hands. Charlotte buried herself in his arms. She had planned to endure it all alone—to protect him. But she couldn’t.

She cried out everything—everything that had happened.

The marquis listened in silence, his face hardening with anger. He wanted to destroy everyone who had hurt her. But for now, comforting Charlotte came first.

“Even if she is the Saintess, how dare she come after my granddaughter and our family?”

“Do you… believe me?”

“Of course I do. Who else would I trust?”

Charlotte swallowed another sob.

“Father was a holy knight. I know people were against him raising me… but he still did it. He was strong. But me… why am I so weak?”

I promised myself I wouldn’t show this side again…

“Charlotte, do you know Nostri?”

“Yes, of course. That’s where Father met Mother. It’s in the cold North, but the snow is beautiful. They say the trees are white like snow…”

“Right. Ronan met your mother there while on a monster hunt. He fell in love instantly and demanded to marry her the moment he returned.”

Charlotte gave a soft smile, though tears still clung to her eyes.

The marquis held her tighter.

“You’ve always been strong, Charlotte. I see Ronan in you. Anyone else would’ve given up—but not you. That’s enough.”

“Grandfather…”

“It’s okay to rest. That’s not weakness. If you don’t rest, you’ll burn out.”

He gently cradled her as she cried.

“You’ll love it there. Just rest for a while. When you come back, everything will be taken care of.”

Charlotte hesitated, then nodded. She looked so worn out, so fragile, that it hurt to watch.

She didn’t have the strength to argue. She just… wanted to rest. Even if only for a little while.

***

That night, Marquis Blanche packed Charlotte’s things and loaded them onto a carriage headed for Nostri. He wanted to go with her—but he had unfinished business.

And so, the so-called “cursed villainess,” Charlotte, left, carrying only her pain.

***

The inside of the carriage shook quietly. The road to Nostri was long and rough, especially in the northern region. They would need to stop and rest along the way.

Exhausted, Charlotte dozed off—only to be woken by the cold.

Wind crept in through the thick cloak her grandfather had given her.

She looked out the window. When they left, the land had been green. Now, it was a winter wonderland.

Stunned, Charlotte widened her eyes.

Everything was white. Even the trees seemed to be carved from marble. It was beautiful.

Then a knock on the door:

“My lady, we’ve arrived.”

With the help of Anna, a maid sent by the marquis, Charlotte stepped out of the carriage.

The cold cut like knives, and Charlotte trembled as she took in the snowy scenery.

Anna quickly placed another coat over her shoulders.

Anna was thin like Charlotte and only wore a simple dress and a light jacket, but she didn’t seem cold at all.

“Aren’t you cold, Anna?”

“Oh no, my lady! I’m from Nostri. This is nothing! Actually, today’s weather is quite warm!”

When Charlotte spoke kindly to her, Anna’s face lit up. She eagerly offered her own coat too, and before Charlotte could refuse, Anna had already buttoned it around her.

Just then, Charlotte heard a faint noise.

“Waaaah…”

Was that… crying?

“A child?” she said.

“Pardon?”

“From the forest… I hear crying. A child might be lost. I have to check.”

“Oh, no, my lady! Wild animals come out this time of day! It’s too dangerous!”

“But I can’t just leave a child out there alone!”

“My lady—!”

Charlotte ran toward the sound. As she moved deeper into the snowy forest, the crying grew clearer.

She grabbed her dress and hurried toward the source of the sound.

Then—loud rustling in the bushes, followed by a child’s shriek.

“Waaaaaah!”

It wasn’t her imagination.

A small child with white hair was lying on the ground, crying.