Chapter .32
Sevtina ultimately chose five different shades of green curtains—one for each season, just as she’d planned. The bedding remained white, but she selected sets with heavier embroidery; the stitched patterns would brighten rooms that might otherwise feel plain.
The carriage ride back to the castle was quiet. Staring out into the dusk, Klazen suddenly murmured:
“Perhaps that’s why I fell for July.”
The confession came out of nowhere.
“I like things—or people—that don’t change,” he went on. “July was the same.”
“…”
“I didn’t realize it until she was gone. I read other people quickly, but it’s surprisingly hard to read my own heart.”
A wry smile touched his lips.
“Maybe I should reconsider this idea of proving myself by talking about July. The more I speak, the more I feel… exposed. If I’d been a better man to begin with, things might be different.”
The carriage rolled to a halt.
“Shall we get out?” he asked, though he didn’t wait for her answer. Emotions he hadn’t planned to utter kept slipping out. Seeing July in Sevtina had stirred more than he’d expected.
Sevtina stepped down from the carriage.
“Until next time, then. I hope, by our next meeting, we’ll be that much closer to saving July.”
Klazen had no intention of lingering at the castle. With a brief bow, he climbed back into the carriage and set off—the entire day’s journey undertaken just to spend a few short hours with her.
Sevtina stood there, caught in a complicated feeling.
She had seen Klazen’s sincerity, yet it didn’t move her heart.
Past wounds don’t excuse everything; Klazen seemed to understand that too.
But she had learned something important:
Why Klazen was drawn to the Earth element.
The earth remains steadfast—accepting change, yet never moving from its place.
Listening to Klazen, Sevtina finally grasped what July had truly wanted from the three successors:
Someone whose attitude toward her never shifted.
Someone who would stay by her side in genuine devotion.
Someone unchanging.
That was what July longed for—and what Sevtina now desired as well.
The moment that realization struck, she felt the faintest pulse of earth’s power… then it slipped away.
The castle’s curtains had been replaced, and the bedding, too. Everywhere Sevtina walked, soothing shades of green greeted her.
How strange, she thought, to see a place transformed by my own choices.
Each morning, drawing back green curtains brought her calm. Opening a window, she basked in sunlight.
“What a beautiful day,” she whispered.
Frequent visits to the lake had attuned her to the wind. She finally understood what Dante meant: close your eyes, and you could feel every current. But unlike water, she knew little about the other elements. Knowledge of each power was shared only with its successor candidates.
Wind would be the most useful force for killing July, and Sevtina had to master it. She wrote a letter and, copying Dante’s method, sealed it in the envelope he’d given her.
“To Dante,” she told the breeze.
The wind carried the letter into the sky.
She still knew nothing of earth’s power—just the faint shimmer she’d sensed with Klazen—and fire was a mystery as well.
I can’t hide this forever, she thought. I need to learn—so I can be happy.
Repeating the words as a promise to herself, Sevtina stepped into the corridor—just as Adele came running.
“Lady Sevtina!”
“What is it?”
“Lady Yulia Reeve has arrived. She says she was touring a nearby estate and wished to pay her respects.”
Yulia’s appearance was unexpected. To have her most loathed person appear in her favorite place… Sevtina frowned.
No need to meet inside the castle, she decided.
She loved the castle—each corner was becoming hers—and she had no wish to let Yulia sully it.
And there’s no reason to give her much time.
Adele led her to a discreet restaurant in Artera’s center—private, quiet, perfect for keeping prying eyes away. Anna had recommended it.
Sevtina arrived first and watched Yulia walk in.
Her makeup and hair were unusually elaborate, but anxiety seeped through: bitten lip, restless eyes. Sevtina recognized every sign—once, she’d bent over backward to please Yulia.
Yulia forced a smile as she took her seat.
“It’s been too long, Lady Sevtina.”
“I was touring our neighboring lands,” she explained, “and since Artera is so close, I thought I’d… well, our last meeting ended poorly. I wanted to show you my sincerity.”
A transparent lie: the Reeve estate lay near Artera, yes, but there was no need to start her tour here.
“I see,” Sevtina replied.
“I’m grateful you would meet me.” Yulia bowed her head and produced gifts: a box of the capital’s finest macarons and a delicate floral teacup set—clearly expensive.
“I also brought something else…”
Feigning hesitation, she placed a small chest before Sevtina. Inside were dozens of letters.
Hm? Sevtina’s brow creased.
“These are the letters my sister and I exchanged. July preferred writing to talking…”
Letters in July’s handwriting— brimming with affection, always calling Yulia “dear sister.” Yulia’s replies were no less syrupy.
She must have paid a handwriting expert, Sevtina thought. And spent a fortune. Just the pressure she’d intended to apply.
Yet seeing it in front of her, she felt no satisfaction—only a dull, unpleasant twist.
“Do you see now?” Yulia asked softly.
Sevtina turned away. “Could we have the menu, please?”
“…Ah—of course.” Yulia hurried to comply, eager to drag out every second.
Why isn’t she reacting? Yulia fretted, gnawing her nail.
Knock, knock. Someone rapped on the door.
The waiter’s here—no… he’s already inside.
“Come in,” Sevtina called.
A man entered, wiping sweat from his brow. He glanced between the two women, then addressed Yulia.
“Excuse me—are you Lady Yulia Reeve?”
“I am. What is it?”
“There’s a fire at our shop. It’s spreading quickly… Could we borrow your power?”
“…My power?”
Yulia inhaled sharply. Her hand trembled beneath the table.
But this was also a golden chance to impress Sevtina. Steeling herself, Yulia rose.
“Excuse me, Lady Sevtina.”
Sevtina nodded—though Yulia’s only thought was earn her favor.
The fire was worse than she’d expected—flames engulfed the building, licking toward the neighboring shops. Bystanders tossed water frantically, but the blaze only grew.
Yulia reached for the ambient water mana. Sevtina felt it too.
Water spiraled from Yulia’s palms, coiling like a vortex before splashing over the flames. A hiss filled the street, the fire shrinking a little.
“Wow…”
“That’s the Water successor…”
But Sevtina, comparing the size of the fire with Yulia’s power, drew a different conclusion.
…It won’t be enough.
Sure enough, the flames surged anew, leaping to the next building. Panic rippled through the crowd.
“More water! Fetch more people!”
Faces blanched, shopkeepers wrung their hands. Sevtina glanced at Yulia.
She was pale with fear—paralyzed.
