I raised my head cautiously, doubting my own eyes.
Meyer, with his usual calm expression, tilted the book slightly as if urging me to continue reading.
Reluctantly, I turned my gaze back to the book.
“…Are you in pain? If so, there’s no need to hesitate. The only way to be free from suffering is through revenge. Realize that, and as for the means…”
Wait. What the hell is this?
Wasn’t this supposed to be about “41 Ways to Overcome Pain”? And isn’t this the ‘Family Edition’?
But now it’s recommending revenge as a solution?
‘This is totally suspicious. Completely insane.’
Just as I was swallowing a short gasp in disbelief—
“Well then, let’s hear your thoughts on the means, shall we, my lady?”
At Meyer’s gentle voice, I froze on the spot.
“…You want me to…say what I think?”
He nodded. My heart began to beat faster with a bad feeling creeping in.
Everyone said this was supposed to be “education.” Even Meyer himself said it earlier—let’s start the “lesson.”
Normally, shouldn’t it be Meyer explaining something, while I just listened?
But now he was making me read this weird book and asking for my opinion?
‘What is this, some kind of self-directed learning?’
I stayed silent, grabbed the teacup, and moistened my parched throat.
Meyer added, as if urging me on,
“Please, feel free to speak. As always, I want to hear your honest thoughts. If you have any painful memories, do feel free to share them as well.”
‘Painful memories?’
My gaze slowly drifted over to Meyer beyond the teacup.
There was something oddly unsettling about his serene smile, and I furrowed my brow.
One single thought had been lingering in my mind for a while now: I had no idea what the true goal of this “education” was.
At first, I thought this might be some sort of counseling to help heal Selenia’s trauma, but considering the book’s content, that didn’t make sense.
‘Even if this were really some form of therapy, randomly poking at someone’s trauma without warning isn’t normal.’
My eyes narrowed instinctively.
Maybe…this wasn’t education or counseling at all…
I slowly put down the teacup, my mind beginning to clear.
“How many years has it been now?”
Meyer tilted his head, as if puzzled by my sudden question, but soon smiled and answered.
“Quite a while. At least three years, I’d say.”
At his words, I nodded slowly.
‘That’s around the same time Selenia started avoiding her father, the Duke.’
I could sense it instinctively. This wasn’t a coincidence.
‘And then there’s the matter with Estelline…’
Anyone who had read the novel would know: Selenia loathed Estelline.
In fact, the first thing I did after arriving in this body was to foil Selenia’s plan to poison Estelline.
But…
‘Wait…did the novel ever explain why Selenia hated Estelline so much?’
Up until now, I assumed it was jealousy.
But thinking about it more carefully…that didn’t make sense.
‘Selenia wasn’t from an insignificant family, nor was she talentless. Sure, she wasn’t a Manifested, but still…’
If it was just jealousy, shouldn’t she hate all Manifested people?
But Selenia had been uniquely hostile towards Estelline. Strangely so.
‘The signs are all there…’
Having organized my thoughts, I slowly raised my stiff face.
Meyer was staring at me with kind eyes, as if encouraging me.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“Revenge… huh…”
As I fiddled with the edge of the book, Meyer leaned toward me, as if urging me to speak.
“Of course, I think it’s necessary.”
“Oh? And towards whom, my lady?”
Meyer asked with a soft smile.
There were plenty of people I wanted revenge on.
My parents, who abandoned me at birth.
The director of the orphanage who secretly abused me until I entered middle school.
The classmates who bullied me all through high school, and the teachers who stood by and watched.
‘Ah, and let’s not forget the workplace harassment.’
Honestly, the list was long.
Meyer stared at me in silence, still waiting for an answer.
Breaking the silence, I finally spoke in a low voice.
“Why? Meyer, do you want me to take revenge on my father?”
His expression froze for a moment.
I clearly remembered what Anna told me yesterday.
‘Anna, besides me and Ansen, does anyone else use the library?’
‘Hmm, no. The master always uses his private study… Oh, except sometimes guests from outside use it.’
After observing for a few days, I confirmed that there weren’t many guests coming and going from this grim mansion.
At most, Meyer, a few retainers, Rosetin, and Martina.
Among them, the only person who wouldn’t look suspicious wandering around the library and who dared to touch Ansen’s belongings…
‘Only Meyer fits.’
I took a deep breath and spoke clearly toward Meyer.
“Or… do you want me to take revenge on Estelline?”
Then I slowly pulled out the small vial I had hidden in my pocket. The clear liquid inside shimmered.
“Tell me. Isn’t this why you stole it and gave it to me?”
Meyer’s pupils widened as he stared at the “Tears of God” in my hand.
Slowly raising one eyebrow, he let out a dry laugh.
I gripped the vial tightly, swallowing hard.
Meyer spoke.
“My, my…”
Then, stiffening his expression, he added coldly,
“Hand it over.”
I shook my head, but cold sweat was already trickling down my back.
“I said… hand it over.”
Meyer’s voice rang out again in the parlor.
I answered firmly,
“No.”
A flash of anger flickered in his eyes that had seemed so gentle moments ago.
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
I stood up calmly.
“How did you do it?”
Meyer flinched.
“Your psychic ability… mind control. What you did to me.”
Meyer’s eyelids twitched, clearly caught off guard. I took a step back, keeping my eyes locked on him.
Thanks to scouring the library for books on psychic abilities, I figured it out.
[There are many types of awakened abilities… including mental domination powers like ‘brainwashing’ and ‘taming.’]
‘Mind-control types do exist.’
And besides…
The Grand Temple of Prater… it was a unique place.
In the Empire, it was the second largest building after the Imperial Palace.
Home to the Pope and Cardinals, the Grand Temple wasn’t like any ordinary shrine.
Civilians were strictly forbidden from entering, and even among priests, only high-ranking clergy were allowed in.
And Meyer… was a priest from that “Grand Temple.”
‘Why didn’t I realize it sooner?’
I stared hard at Meyer. This wasn’t something that could be brushed off.
‘At minimum, Meyer is a high-ranking priest. Possibly even higher.’
And to rise that fast at such a young age… it could only be because of that extremely rare, prized mind-control ability.
That’s when—
“I should be the one asking.”
Meyer murmured in a low, amused voice. His smile was chilling as he stared straight at me.
“How did you do it?”
“…”
“How did you break my ability?”
He looked at me with curiosity, as if genuinely fascinated. His penetrating gaze made my face stiffen.
I glanced around silently. The door out of the parlor was behind Meyer.
Meaning… I’d have to get past him to escape.
“I was foolish. I trusted you too much. Thought you were following my education perfectly.”
“…”
“I should’ve been more thorough… This little lapse of mine led to a mistake.”
Meyer muttered as he stood from his seat. I unconsciously took another step back, hiding the vial behind me.
“But it’s fine.”
He spoke lowly, his eyes flashing.
“I’ll just do it again.”
I shook my head. Then, steadying my strained voice, I said,
“No. You can’t. Not anymore.”
Meyer tilted his head. I swallowed hard and forced a smile.
“I know now. To activate mental domination abilities, you need a trigger.”
Meyer’s eyes widened in surprise. I continued.
“You can only activate your power when I recall painful memories.”
“…”
“That’s why you made me read that weird book, isn’t it?”
But then… Meyer’s lips curled upward.
“Ha… Hahaha!”
Seeing him burst out in low laughter, my face stiffened. Wiping the corners of his eyes as if finding this all too amusing, he said,
“No wonder! That’s why you were acting so boldly?”
“…What?”
“I see… You really thought I wouldn’t be able to use my ability again!”
Meyer’s gaze sharpened.
And in the next moment, it felt like invisible hands suddenly clutched my throat, cutting off my breath.
I grabbed my neck with one hand, gasping soundlessly.
‘No way… this shouldn’t happen!’
I had read the books. High-level mind control abilities required a clear trigger.
After seeing that strange book and Meyer’s questions earlier, I was sure.
The trigger for Meyer’s mind control was Selenia’s painful memories.
“H-How…?”
Forcing the words through my constricted throat, I gasped.
An invisible chain seemed to wrap around my entire body.
‘But I didn’t say anything!’
My eyes widened as I desperately searched for an escape, but Meyer, now composed, whispered calmly.
“This is exactly why I kept telling you to behave.”
“…”
“The more you resist… the more awful things I end up doing to you.”
The world spun around his darkening gaze.
“Relax… Lady Selenia.”
Before I knew it, he was right in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. My strength drained away.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stay conscious. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
But my body grew heavier and heavier.
“This time… I’ll help you more thoroughly. So you won’t have to go through this again.”
With that chilling voice buzzing in my ears, I felt something prying open my clenched fingers wrapped around the vial.
Meyer was peeling each of my stiff fingers apart.
“Ugh… ngh…”
Cold sweat trickled down my furrowed brow at the terrifying sensation.
That’s when—
“Get your hands off.”
A familiar voice cut through the air.
Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I caught blurry glimpses of familiar faces.
Anna, covering her mouth with both hands, pale and frozen in shock.
Walter, blocking the parlor door with armed knights.
And next to him…
‘…Father?’
“Before I kill the filthy god you serve.”
Duke Tigeris stood upright, glaring straight at me and me alone.
With that as the last thing I saw… the world went black.
