Chapter 46
“Y-You…!”
Icel pushed Alicia aside and walked into the room. She casually sat on the sofa in the middle of the room, crossing her legs. With a confident smile, Icel gazed at Alicia, who seemed utterly stunned.
Alicia’s mind raced. Perhaps the mage had missed his chance and failed to kidnap Icel.
If that was the case, it was unfortunate, but there was no need to panic.
“Why are you here so early…?”
“Why? Is it so surprising that I came back perfectly fine?”
But that was clearly not what Alicia had hoped for. Icel’s expression turned cold, as though she knew everything.
In that moment, Alicia’s heart sank. But she swallowed her fear and tried to play it cool.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t?”
Icel’s magic began to slowly freeze the floor beneath her feet.
“W-What is this?!”
“What’s happening isn’t my doing, it’s yours, Alicia Le Blair.”
Icel stood up and slowly approached Alicia. In a panic, Alicia grabbed the door handle, attempting to escape.
But even the doorknob froze solid from Icel’s released magic, unable to move.
“Isn’t it strange? Every time I think of you and Catherine, my magic flows better.”
“What did I do for you to act like this…”
“This morning, the maid delivered this to me.”
Icel pulled out a piece of parchment from her sleeve, which was surrounded by a thin layer of mana.
“Do you know what this is?”
“I don’t want to know…”
“You will want to know.”
With an air of confidence, Icel interrupted Alicia and began reading aloud from the parchment.
“Alicia Le Blair…”
Alicia’s eyes widened. It was unmistakably the contract that the mage had asked her to sign.
“In exchange for killing Icel, the daughter of House Ernst…”
“Stop! Stop it!”
“Why? This is so fun.”
“T-this is forged! I couldn’t possibly pay that much…”
“How foolish.”
Icel smirked, flicking her fingers as she tapped the contract.
“I never said anything about the amount… How do you know how much it was?”
Alicia’s mouth fell open. Her eyes darted around, searching for a way out.
“The mage is more impressive than I thought. Even after the hut burned down, none of his contracts were destroyed.”
Icel traced her finger around the mana that surrounded the contract.
“He surrounded it with mana.”
She grinned at the trembling Alicia.
“It’s rare for magic to remain like this even after death.”
“This is useless…! The money’s gone, the mage is dead, and everything’s exposed. I can’t get the money back!”
But now, the biggest issue was the contract. If Icel took it to Diana, it would spell trouble.
Alicia’s body trembled. Icel shook her head, mocking her.
“But I’m not like you.”
Alicia stared at Icel in shock.
“I’m giving you one more chance.”
“A chance?”
“So, it’s better if you stay quiet for now.”
It wasn’t a real chance. Icel wasn’t going to kill her right away—she wanted to watch her suffer, to mentally break her down until she wished for death.
“You know, girls my age…”
Icel smiled confidently, tucking the contract back into her sleeve.
“…We can be very fickle.”
“Ugh…”
“Well, I’ll leave now.”
With a sweet laugh, Icel opened the door. Her laughter gradually faded as she walked away, leaving Alicia to collapse against the wall in despair.
“What the hell…!”
The door suddenly swung open again, this time with Catherine barging in.
“Catherine, what are you—?”
“You said she wouldn’t be back! But look at her! She’s back and flying around like nothing happened!”
Catherine had been eager to hear that Icel was taken care of. But now, everything had fallen apart.
“Your mother’s work never fails, does it? My diamonds went to waste again!”
“I’m sorry, but your mother…”
“Enough! I’ll handle this my way!”
With that, Catherine stormed out. Alone in the room, Alicia let out a defeated sigh. Her fate was now in Icel’s hands.
I should have known it would come to this…
“Finally, today is the day.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Today was the day that the low-ranking mage, who would teach magic to the children, would arrive at the Duke’s mansion. Icel wanted to grow stronger. She wanted to be able to escape on her own whenever Alicia tried to target her.
Moreover, her strength would be enough to crush Catherine, who had no magic to speak of.
“This should be fun. It’s quite a sight to see her throwing a tantrum like that.”
“Show your full abilities. My lovely daughter, Icel.”
Diana gazed at Icel, who wore a confident expression, lovingly. She gently brushed back Icel’s platinum hair.
But as Diana looked down at Icel, there was a certain sadness in her eyes. She pressed her lips tightly together.
Perhaps, as a mother, she wasn’t good enough.
She had planted the seed of vengeance in her daughter’s heart, a dark seed she had cultivated in her own soul.
Diana knew that everything people do eventually comes back to them.
Just like how Alicia and Catherine’s actions were coming back to haunt them now.
Perhaps one day, the actions filled with vengeance would also come back to Diana and Icel.
But Icel had already suffered from her past wounds, and if possible, she wanted to carry all the evil deeds that might come their way.
“…Mother?”
“Yes, Icel.”
Seeing the troubled expression on Diana’s face, Icel raised her hand and gently caressed her mother’s cheek.
“Don’t worry.”
Icel spoke as if she had read Diana’s mind.
“I’m not that weak.”
“…Icel.”
“I won’t be hurt again. Not in the present, and not in the future. The pain I endured from Alicia and Catherine is enough for the past.”
Icel clenched her fists. She didn’t know what Catherine had in mind by attending magic lessons, but she would never let herself be manipulated by her.
How could she make Catherine realize her mistakes?
Icel smiled, her lips curling up. For today, Catherine couldn’t do anything. She didn’t have an ounce of magic to her name.
They held hands and went out to the garden. Catherine and Alicia were already waiting.
Icel’s gaze shifted leisurely toward Alicia. Alicia, covered in cold sweat, avoided Icel’s gaze.
“Well, Alicia. What brings you here?”
Diana asked, pretending to know nothing. But in her eyes, as she looked at Alicia, there was an unmistakable bloodlust. Alicia, trying hard to hide her nervousness, answered.
“Oh, the princess said she wanted to show a great performance. I came to watch.”
Even though she had been threatened by Icel, Alicia seemed concerned about Catherine.
“I see? That’s a good idea. My lovely daughter, Catherine, will surely show a marvelous performance.”
Diana deliberately glanced at Catherine. But strangely, Catherine wasn’t looking defeated at all.
Instead, she stood with her shoulders back and a smirk on her face.
What was going on? Diana and Icel exchanged a glance.
After all, Alicia and Catherine wouldn’t have come here without some sort of plan.
Diana gave a subtle warning glance. Icel, catching the look, nodded slightly without answering.
“I’m looking forward to it, Catherine. Finally, your magic, inherited from me, will shine.”
“I’m looking forward to it too, Mother. I want to pass the junior mage exam by working hard.”
Catherine acted as if she were an adorable daughter, mixing in a snort. Her behavior was ridiculous, but Diana smiled warmly without letting it show.
“Let’s do well, Catherine.”
Icel walked up to Catherine and extended her hand.
Catherine stared at her hand for a moment, then smiled sweetly.
“Sure, sister. Forget about my foolish behavior in the past. I’ve reflected enough during my period of confinement.”
Diana and Icel raised their eyebrows at Catherine’s reply. She now had a new sense of composure.
Until now, Catherine had been a wild animal, showing all her anger with no restraint. But now, she was acting like a human.
Diana smiled, almost amused.
“I guess you’ve reflected a lot, Catherine.”
“Yes, Mother. Now I’m going to get along with my sister.”
“Good idea. After all, Icel shares the same blood as you from House Perechete. You should recognize her as your sister.”
Diana emphasized the words “like you” on purpose. For a moment, Catherine’s lips twitched, but she quickly hid it.
Hmm, Icel thought, rubbing her chin in surprise.
She remembered reading a book in the Duke’s library about the evolution of monsters.
Is this what evolution looks like? Icel chuckled to herself, then noticed a man approaching from afar. This man was apparently the one who would start teaching her and Catherine from today.
“Welcome.”
The first to spot the man was Icel, who gracefully curtsied, holding her skirt with both hands.
The shabby-looking man walked toward them. With a grin, he greeted the gathered women.
“Hello, little ladies.”
He was a low-ranking mage who had come at the recommendation of Ruery. Diana tilted her head as she observed him. The man had brown hair and an unremarkable appearance.
But strangely, he seemed familiar, like Diana had seen him somewhere before.
“I’m Riel.”
Riel? As Diana was wondering about the familiar name, Riel winked at her.
Diana’s mouth slowly opened. It wasn’t a mage recommended by Ruery. It was Ruery himself.
