SWMD 84

Chapter 84

“Everything Falls Apart”

Calypso stormed toward Alicia’s room. Diana and Aicel didn’t bother following him—they just smirked. His patience had already reached its limit.

“Alicia!”

The door burst open as Calypso roared.

Alicia was calmly reading newly delivered medical books. She noticed his angry face and stood up.

“What’s going on?”

Calypso threw a scroll at her.

It fluttered to the floor. Alicia picked it up, confused. It was a map of the estate, with a red X marked.

“What is this?”

“It’s proof that you stole my mine rights and diamonds, Alicia.”

Her eyes widened. She knew she’d be caught eventually, but not this soon.

“What are you talking about? What mine rights?”

She pretended not to know anything.

That made Calypso even angrier. There was clear evidence, and she was still lying?

He took a deep breath to calm himself. He didn’t want to just destroy the room or lash out physically—he wanted her to confess.

“If you return it now, I’ll show mercy.”

Alicia’s hands trembled behind her back. She tried to keep a calm face.

“Why are you accusing me? I said I don’t know anything.”

She turned her head away, and Calypso slammed a stool next to her. Alicia flinched.

He walked up and snatched the scroll from her hand.

“Do you know what this is?”

She laughed mockingly.

“It’s probably a fake map someone made as a joke.”

“Ha!”

“Fake?”

Calypso’s lips curled with scorn.

“That’s a magical map enchanted by the Marquis of Pereshte himself!”

“W-what?”

“You really thought that meticulous old man would give away mine rights without precautions?”

Alicia’s face turned pale.

She knew the Marquis well—rich, clever, always cautious. Of course he’d place a magical trace on something so valuable.

“He told Aicel the spell to find it if it ever went missing.”

If she had known, she would never have taken it.

Alicia’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat. Her mind raced for a way out.

She had only one thing left: Catherine.

Even if Calypso no longer loved her, they still had a child together.

Alicia tried to calm her shaking body. Then she walked over to the herb cabinet.

She pushed it aside, revealing a hidden wall compartment with a small safe.

“You hid it there…?”

Calypso’s voice was filled with fury. Alicia silently opened the safe.

Inside was the glittering gold-lettered mine license—and a worn leather pouch.

She shakily placed them on the table. The pouch clattered—it was full of diamonds.

Calypso opened the pouch and inspected the gems. They were brilliant and flawless. He was impressed.

But that didn’t mean Alicia was off the hook.

He turned to her with cold eyes.

Alicia lowered her head, then spoke softly.

“Calypso…”

“Enough. I won’t hear any excuses.”

He had no intention of listening. He planned to deal with the situation and then decide her punishment.

He turned to leave.

Alicia desperately grabbed his jacket.

“Please! Just hear me out!”

“I said be quiet—”

“Diana knows about us!”

Calypso froze.

“What?”

He slowly turned around, locking eyes with Alicia.

Alicia grabbed his arms.

“I overheard the maids talking. They’re close to Diana!”

“The maids?”

“If the maids know, of course Diana does too! Think about it—it makes sense!”

He stayed silent. Alicia took that as a sign to keep going.

“She’s acting strangely with me, favoring Aicel, ignoring Catherine—it’s all connected!”

“And what about Diana seems off to you?”

“W-well… the whole thing with the Duke of Iverke and Catherine… it was all her doing!”

“Diana caused that?”

“Yes! You didn’t believe me, but she tricked me into giving Catherine that scented oil—”

Alicia was sure she finally had his attention.

But then—

“Stop lying, Alicia!”

His shout cut through her like a blade.

“I’m not lying!”

“Diana made you give Catherine a scent that attracts monsters? That’s absurd. What, was she hypnotizing you? Pulling strings like a puppet?”

His sarcasm was brutal.

“She found out about our affair, and yet she gave me her father’s project and begged for money?”

“Maybe… maybe it’s part of her revenge—”

“Enough.”

His voice was ice-cold.

Once, they had shared love—even if it was only physical. But now, it was all crumbling.

Alicia’s tears fell.

“Please believe me, Calypso. I’m doing this for you!”

“For me?”

“You don’t mean for me, Alicia. You mean for yourself.”

He looked at her with piercing eyes.

“You never loved me. You loved the man who would become Diana’s husband.”

That truth stabbed her heart.

At first, it was true. But after giving birth to Catherine—after time had passed—she had truly fallen for him.

She wanted to be happy.

She wanted to be Duchess.

She wanted to be loved—by Catherine, and by Calypso.

Alicia shook her head.

“I loved you. I still love you!”

She clutched his clothes, but he pulled away coldly.

“I’m sick of this.”

He turned his back on her.

“We have Catherine between us! Even if you reject me, you can’t deny that!”

But he had already left the room.

Alicia collapsed to the floor. Her nails scratched the floor in frustration.

“It’s all Diana’s fault…”

“She ruined everything—my child, my lover, my life!”

Her eyes turned red, matching her iris. She no longer looked human. She was consumed by vengeance.

She stood up and began rummaging through the herb cabinet.

From a deep corner, she pulled out a hidden plant—pink leaves, tiny red berries. It was dusty from being hidden so long.

She filled a small pot with water and started brewing.

She added shimmering powder, star fragments, and even a tiny, creepy skull.

Pink smoke slowly rose from the pot.

“There’s no other choice.”

She never wanted to use this method. But Calypso not believing her—that was the final blow.

Wearing thick gloves, she poured the potion into a crystal bottle.

The pink liquid sparkled like candy.

Alicia stared at it with a wicked smile.

She chuckled—short, broken, and mad.

She didn’t even know what she truly wanted anymore.

Her eyes, once full of life, were now hollow and lost.