SWMD 19

Chapter 19

At the moment Diana supposedly gave sight back to Catherine, Catherine’s vision was already fine.

The priest Diana had bribed told Allie the sight he took from Diana would drift away into the void.

Allie’s heart sank in fear. If Diana truly gained her sight back? Their plan to kill her could end in disaster.

“Your Grace, this feels like a fraud!” Allie hurried toward Diana, desperation in her face—even stronger than when sight was given to Catherine.

“Here is the priest’s insignia, Your Grace.” Belinda interrupted coolly at Diana’s side.

Allie ground her teeth. Whether this priest’s claim was truth or lie, she had to stop him. Sweating, she stepped in front of him.

“Your Grace, seals can be falsified! Sight drifting in empty air—I’ve never heard such a thing.”

“Hmm…” Diana stroked her chin as if pondering. Allie, suspicious, leaned close and whispered in Diana’s ear:

“The priest must have heard rumors and come for money. He’s surely a con artist.”

“That’s not true.” The old priest’s sharp eyes glowed from beneath white brows, and Allie recoiled.

“I want nothing from money,” he replied. “I only wish to restore the Grand Duchess’s sight.”

Diana gave Belinda a subtle nod. Quick to react, Belinda stepped aside, moving Allie out of the way.

“Did my sight really wander in empty air?” Diana asked the priest, tilting her head ironically.

“Yes.”

“And I gave that sight to my daughter? Curious indeed.”

Allie’s body trembled. Guilt washed her shoulders down. As if she couldn’t live with her crime. How pathetic.

Diana clicked her tongue inwardly and waited. The priest spoke again.

“I can’t fully explain it, but during meditation I discovered a mysterious power.”

“Meditation?” Diana echoed.

“Yes. Seeking the source, I traced it back to the House of Ernest—*

“How!?” Allie blurted, covering her mouth in shock.

“I heard rumors you restored sight to the Lady Catherine, so I sought you here.”

The priest calmly concluded. Allie stared, alarmed.

“Could such a thing actually happen?” Diana asked innocently.

“It’s nearly impossible—like a miracle—that I discovered wandering power during meditation.”

“A miracle…” Diana smiled. Everyone loves that word. But Allie looked horrified, afraid Diana might actually regain sight.

“What is this power?” Diana gently prodded.

“I used my holy power to gather it into this.” The priest dug into his robe and produced a fist-sized crystal orb shimmering with verdant green, like midsummer foliage.

“No, Your Grace!” Allie implored again. “Please don’t trust it. What if it’s dark magic?”

Diana chuckled softly. Dark magic? A fear only someone as ignorant of real magic as Allie could conceive.

“Allie…” Diana’s tone was icy now.

“Yes?” Allie answered with a tremor.

“You seem to want me to remain blind.”

“I—No, of course not!” Allie shrieked defensively.

“You wouldn’t know the darkness I’ve felt,” Diana said, her voice low and intense.

“I—I don’t understand…” Allie stammered.

“When you’re blind, you cling to anything—a tiny thread of hope. That’s what darkness does.”

Calming her tone, Diana continued—with a hint of reproach.

“But you said you worry for me as a friend, Allie?”

Allie gripped her fists, feigning concern.

“If you truly cared, wouldn’t you support me?”

Diana’s words stung. She paused before speaking again.

“And don’t forget—I’m studying magic now. I feel it clearly: the sacred power in this orb.”

She turned to the priest.

“So…my sight returned is truly in here?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Touch it, and your sight will return.”

“Please, Belinda.” Diana looked to her lady-in-waiting.

“Yes, Your Grace.” Belinda lifted Diana’s hand and placed it over the orb.

With a crackling hum, the orb began to fracture. Emerald light shimmered through the cracks like fireflies.

Allie swallowed hard, praying silently, Please don’t let this work. But the light intensified, swirling around Diana.

Then it streamed into her eyes.

“It’s done, Your Grace.”

Diana trembled as she removed her blindfold, revealing lush golden lashes and emerald-green irises.

She blinked twice, shedding a single tear in the process.

At the same moment, Allie’s heart plummeted. Her expression spoke volumes—the sight was back.

“I…can see. So well…” Diana looked around in wonder. She knelt before Allie, clasping her trembling hands.

“It’s so clear, Allie!”

“My…congratulations, Your Grace…” Allie stuttered.

“It’s a miracle! Heaven was moved by the Grand Duchess’s kindness!” a maid exclaimed—and soon, the entire staff gathered.

They looked upon Diana’s vibrant emerald eyes and erupted in applause. Allie couldn’t force a smile amid her internal collapse.

The News Spreads

Calypso, hearing the commotion, left the office.

“She can see?! The Grand Duchess’s eyes have opened!” appealed a servant.

“The heavens have not abandoned her!” another declared.

“Really?” Calypso’s head snapped toward Diana. Their eyes met.

“Truly…?” he asked.

“Yes, darling!” Allie echoed his astonishment—with the same stunned expression.

“A miracle like this…!”

Diana dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Calypso and Allie exchanged uneasy glances.

“My deepest congratulations, Your Grace.”

Calypso’s tone was stiff, devoid of real warmth.

Then Catherine, fully prepared, descended the stairs—eager to attend the tea party.

Diana ran to embrace her.

“My precious daughter, Catherine!”

“…Mother?”

Surprised, Catherine frowned and looked at Allie with suspicion.

“My sight has returned, dear Catherine!”

“Yes?” Catherine asked.

“To be able to gaze upon you again…in my own eyes…unbelievable.”

Diana’s voice quivered with emotion. The priest watched silently. Then Diana’s gaze met his. The priest winked—with a knowing glance.

It was Ruehli, using magic to disguise himself as the priest.

Diana bowed slightly in gratitude. Then Ruehli slipped away before anyone could react.

“What…happened?” Catherine looked at her family—faces filled with shock confirmed it was real.

Diana released Catherine and mused softly,

“How odd…my sight was drifting there in that void—even after I gave it to you.”

“That can’t be.” Catherine trembled, beads of sweat forming across her brow. She’d barely debuted; such a revelation unnerved her.

“That it’s called a ‘miracle’—I suppose I must believe. After all, you wouldn’t give me my sight if you weren’t ill yourself.” Diana teased sharply.

Catherine trembled even more.

“You seem unwell—are you feeling unwell?” Diana asked, placing a hand on her forehead. As expected, Catherine had no fever.

“But… I believe this calls for rest. Sit this one out, Catherine. You shouldn’t attend today.”

“Yes?” Catherine squeaked.

“But I need you to send Allie a letter cancelling her attendance. She can’t be trusted in this state.”

She’d intended to go herself, holding Catherine by her side—but now Catherine was “sick,” and a mother couldn’t send her child alone.

“Allie… but preparations are already made.”

“How can I send someone sweating like this to a tea party?” Diana said calmly, eyeing Allie as well, whose hands trembled as much as Catherine.

Then Diana paused, looking directly at Allie.

“Besides… you’re a stranger to the Duchess’s guests. It would be rude, don’t you think? My vision is restored—I will accompany Catherine myself.”

Allie’s hopeful smile, the one she believed would endure, crumbled completely—and Catherine’s expression mirrored that collapse.

How does heaven’s bliss taste when one is plunged into hell? Diana offered them both a calm smile and soft eyes—though her lips hinted at victory.