SWMD 81

Chapter 81

“A Necklace and a Lie”

“Look at this, Mother!”

Aicel excitedly shook a small star-shaped necklace in front of Diana.
It was a token she received for becoming a beginner-level mage.

All mage tokens had the same design, but the size depended on their rank.

Though Aicel’s necklace was made of plain copper, to her, it was more valuable than gold.

It was the first thing she ever earned through her own efforts—not from books or status.

Diana, Calypso, and Marquis Pereshte looked at her proudly.

“I knew you’d do it,”
Marquis said with a gentle smile, pulling something out from his inner jacket pocket.

He took out a rolled-up stack of parchment, tied with a golden ribbon.

Calypso’s eyes sparkled even brighter than Aicel’s necklace.

“Here, take it.”

“Gasp—Grandfather!”

The marquis noticed the greedy glint in Calypso’s eyes but handed the parchment to Aicel anyway, pretending not to see.

Aicel hesitated to take it, feeling a little shy.

“Come on, take it. My arm’s going to fall off.”

The marquis sounded grumpy, but in truth, he was very proud of his young granddaughter becoming a mage.

“Thank you, Grandpa!”

Aicel beamed and untied the ribbon.

On top of the parchment, embossed in gold, were the words:

“Diamond Mine Operating Rights.”

Calypso tried to look uninterested, but his eyes kept darting toward the document.

His gaze looked as if he was already holding fistfuls of diamonds.

The marquis frowned at him, then leaned over to whisper something in Aicel’s ear.

Aicel smiled sweetly and replied:

“Okay, Grandpa.”

“I’ll be on my way then.”

“I’ll contact you soon, Father.”

“Take care, Grandpa!”

Calypso bowed politely. The marquis, clearly annoyed, boarded the carriage.

Once the carriage was out of sight, Aicel stared at the parchment, then calmly handed it to Calypso.

“Here you go, Father.”

His eyes widened—he hadn’t really expected her to give it to him.

“You’re really giving this to me?”

Trying to hide his excitement, he acted as if he didn’t care much.

What a hypocrite, Diana thought, watching him coldly.

But Calypso didn’t even notice—he was too focused on the document.

“If this can help the Erenst family rise again, then something like this… I can give it up gladly.”

Aicel batted her eyelashes, acting pitiful and noble at once.

“…Aicel…”

He looked truly moved and gently took the parchment from her.

“I used to think nothing was stronger than blood…”

“But I guess there is something stronger.”

He was someone who never trusted anyone—not even his blood family.

“You and I must be connected by heart.”

His eyes were warm as sunlight as he looked at her.

Aicel smiled serenely, but inside, she was cursing him.

If anyone else had said that, it might’ve sounded beautiful.
But this was Calypso—the man who once ordered arrows to pierce her body.

Her face turned pale. She wanted to vomit just looking at him.

If we were really connected by heart, you would’ve recognized me long ago.
We’re connected by blood—not feelings.

Her narrowed eyes glinted with quiet defiance, but Calypso didn’t notice. He was too overwhelmed.

He carefully tucked the document away and softly muttered:

“…I’m sorry.”

It seemed sincere. He felt ashamed that he had to rely on a child and guilty toward Aicel.

But Aicel just smiled.

“We’re family, aren’t we?”

Her expression glowed with saintly warmth. Calypso’s eyes teared up slightly.

No one had ever loved him unconditionally like this.

He silently vowed to make the business a success—for her sake.

“Thank you. Let’s get in the carriage. I’ll stop by the mine first.”

Thoughts of Catherine, sick and bedridden, were completely gone from his mind.

He helped Aicel into the carriage.

“See you at the mansion, Father.”

Once Calypso shut the door, Aicel’s smile vanished instantly.

“What’s the plan?”
Diana asked, rotating her tired shoulders.

Aicel leaned on her mother’s shoulder, and Diana stroked her hair gently.

No wonder she was tired. She had taken the mage test and flattered Calypso right after.

“I already planned everything with Grandpa.”

“Oh?”

Diana watched her daughter closely.

Aicel, struggling to stay awake, continued:

“As long as we don’t go to the mine ourselves… Calypso will receive fake diamonds instead of real ones…”

Diana’s eyes widened in surprise.

Calypso had no way to tell real diamonds from fake.

If he tried starting a business with fakes?

All the diamonds he uses will turn into debt.

It was brilliant.

If their plan worked, Calypso would lose his title, land, and inherit massive debt—plus, he’d be branded a fraud.

“What a wonderful idea…”

Diana turned to praise her.

But Aicel had already fallen asleep, breathing softly.

“Sweet dreams, my lovely daughter.”

She smiled tenderly at her sleeping child.

Two days later…

“Mmm…”

Catherine slowly opened her eyes.

She sat up and rubbed them.
She didn’t know how long she had slept.

She reached for the water on the table.

“You’re awake?”

“…Why are you here?”

Leaning against the doorframe was Aicel, smiling.

Of all people to see when I wake up, it had to be her.

Catherine frowned.

Then she noticed the necklace around Aicel’s neck.

“Wait…”

A star-shaped pendant. The mark of a beginner mage.

She walked up and grabbed it, flipping it over to inspect the back.

It was real. A token from the Tower.

But how?!

“Did you steal it or something? You disgusting—”

“Steal it? You think I stole this?”

Aicel laughed loudly, her voice echoing through the room.

“Do you think I broke into the Tower to take it?”

Only a fool would think a beginner-level mage could sneak into the Tower—let alone a non-mage.

“That’s so like you, Catherine.”

“Don’t mock me!”

Catherine glared like she could kill her.

“Don’t be so angry yet. You’ve got a lot more to be mad about.”

“What? What do you mean?!”

“The Mage Test? It’s already over.”

“…What?”

Catherine’s jaw dropped.

She had waited so long for it.
She even summoned a demon for power.

And now it was over?
Had she really been asleep that long?

“You’re lying!”

“Why would I lie? Poor, stupid Catherine. I just came to say—give up that dream. As your older sister.”

Aicel smiled slyly and grabbed the doorknob.

Then, she paused.

“Oh right—your medicine had sleeping pills mixed in.”

“Sleeping pills…?”

“Alicia must’ve wanted you to rest well. Anyway, see you!”

Aicel looked back one last time, satisfied by Catherine’s furious expression, then left.

Left alone, Catherine screamed in rage.

“Aaargh!”

She stormed toward Alicia’s room.

“C-Catherine?”

Alicia was sitting at her desk when Catherine burst in, slamming the door so hard it echoed.

“Did you put sleeping pills in my meds?”

“Please calm down! You’re still not—”

“DID YOU?!”

Catherine slammed both fists onto the desk.
Ink and tea spilled everywhere.

Alicia rushed to close the door and calm her down.

“You were in terrible shape! You needed rest or—”

“So you did put them in.”

“…Yes. I did! The mine can wait—your health mattered more to me!”

But Catherine’s eyes were red with rage.

“It’s over.”

“What?”

“I don’t need a mother who doesn’t know what her daughter really wants.”

“Catherine!”

Alicia cried out, but Catherine snapped back coldly:

“Don’t pretend to be my mother.”

She looked down at her like a servant and added:

“From now on, speak to me properly. You’re just a doctor—and I’m a lady of this house.”

Alicia stood frozen.
Her daughter had changed beyond recognition.

She couldn’t say a word in return.