Chapter 42
“I’m so excited!”
As the carriage departed, Icel shouted cheerfully in an excited voice.
“This is my first time going out to play like this!”
She leaned out the window, letting the cool breeze flutter her platinum-blonde hair. The scent of the forest air filled her senses.
Belinda watched her fondly but with a hint of sorrow.
“Even at the orphanage, it was a poor area, so there were only alleys and empty sand fields outside.”
“Still, that was better than being trapped in Catherine’s room.”
Knowing Icel’s painful past—abandoned at birth despite living parents, locked in a narrow room—Belinda’s heart ached. Having been orphaned herself, she deeply understood Icel’s loneliness.
“I must protect her.” Belinda vowed to herself.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted.
“Huh?”
“Your Highness!”
The shaking worsened like an earthquake. Belinda grabbed Icel tightly.
Then—
CRASH — the carriage overturned.
Belinda shielded Icel with her body. A decorative chandelier crashed down, embedding crystal shards into her body.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
Though bleeding, Belinda checked Icel first.
“I’m fine. But you…!”
“This is nothing…”
Crystals pierced Belinda’s body. She couldn’t even stand from the pain, though she tried to act strong.
“Let’s get out first.”
Icel helped drag Belinda out. Despite the pain, Belinda endured in silence.
They saw the coachman collapsed, bleeding.
“We need to treat you and the coachman first.”
Icel’s mind flashed back to the past—Diana dying in a dried-up hut before regression.
“I don’t care about the Tower. I can’t lose anyone else.”
Belinda, touched by her heartfelt words, silently bowed her head.
“Let’s go to the nearest village. Mother gave me gold coins, so we can find help.”
Icel supported Belinda, sweating and struggling. A signpost soon appeared, guiding them toward a nearby village.
“We made it! Just a little more, Belinda!”
Belinda smiled faintly through her pale face and cold sweat. Icel spotted a clinic nearby.
“Found it!”
Inside, a doctor examined Belinda’s injuries.
“This will take time…”
“I don’t care about time or money. Just please don’t let it hurt…”
Icel handed him a gold coin—an enormous amount, showing her desperation.
“She’s not in critical danger. Don’t worry.”
Finally able to breathe, Icel stepped outside, thinking of the coachman. She needed to contact Diana.
“I need to send a letter…”
As she looked around—
“Young lady.”
A low voice called from behind.
“You dropped this.”
A robed man held up a gold coin. Icel approached.
“Thank you—huh?”
As she reached for it, a magic spell engulfed her.
“Hah…” — and she lost consciousness.
“Welcome back, Luery.”
Diana greeted Luery, her brother, though her eyes remained on the gate.
“You okay, sis?”
“Yes…”
Though happy to see Luery, Diana couldn’t shake her unease after Icel’s departure.
“Let’s get some training done today.”
“What kind?”
“Progress in our relationship?”
“…Ah.”
Diana’s reaction was muted—too distracted. Luery, disappointed, scratched his head.
“It was a joke, sis. You’re no fun today.”
“Sorry… What should we start with?”
“Still practicing your mana?”
“Yes, I can release it freely now.”
They began training, but Diana’s distracted responses concerned him.
“Sis, is something wrong?”
“Luery… You might know already…”
Diana finally turned from the gate to face him.
“Icel went to the Tower today.”
“The Tower? Why?”
“They’re holding an event to gather magical children…”
Luery’s expression turned serious.
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“That event was cancelled years ago. A kid got hurt by a prototype magic tool.”
Diana’s eyes widened.
“Then… who invited Icel?”
Her legs gave way, breath quickening, mind going blank with fear.
“Sis, stay with me!”
Luery’s blue eyes brought her back to her senses.
