SWMD 88

~Chapter 88~

Belinda gathered all the herbs and potions from Alicia’s herb cabinet into a bag and brought it to Diana in Catherine’s room.

Diana picked up the nearly empty potion bottle that Catherine had taken.

“Belinda, take this bag and the bottle to the herbologist for inspection.”

“Understood.”

Catherine, trembling, turned to Diana.

“Are you saying the doctor caused this… my eyes?”

“There’s no other explanation. Alicia, do you admit it?”

Alicia couldn’t answer. She just bit her lip.

“I… I didn’t mean to…”

She sobbed helplessly.

Catherine collapsed onto the bed, overwhelmed by darkness. She felt like a helpless loser.

“I’d rather die than live like this!”

She screamed, and Diana embraced her gently.

“Oh, my child… there must be a way.”

Alicia looked at them, horrified, repeating in her mind that it couldn’t be her fault. The herbs were the best quality—Diana herself had supplied them.

Soon, Belinda returned with a certification from the herbologist. Diana and Alicia both stood.

“What did they say?”

Belinda handed the document to Diana, who read it and slowly frowned.

“Your Highness…?”

Alicia’s eyes begged for validation—that it wasn’t her fault.

But Diana’s gaze turned ice cold.

Alicia realized what that meant.

“Alicia, did you mix ‘cyan herb’ with mermaid’s tears?”

Alicia’s eyes widened.

Both ingredients were commonly used. Mermaid’s tears were rare, expensive, but safe.

“Yes… I thought it would be fine.”

“Did you not know they cause side effects when combined?”

Alicia looked stunned.

“No one ever told me that…”

“Recent studies say mixing those in excess can cause blindness.”

Diana threw the parchment at her.

Alicia picked it up with trembling hands—it was true.

“No way…”

She had stopped meeting other doctors lately, worried Diana had caught onto her affair with Calypso. She had relied only on her books.

“I swear I read it in a new medical book! Wait, let me find it!”

Alicia ran to her room and searched the desk—but the book was gone.

“Where is it?!”

She returned empty-handed.

The book had been removed—by Shane, on Diana’s orders.

The book had been fake from the start. Diana had set her up with expensive ingredients and planted rumors among the maids.

“Liar again.”

“Why, Alicia? Why do this to me and Catherine?”

“No! It was really in the book…”

As Alicia tried to plead her case, Catherine suddenly lunged at her.

“Because of you! I lost my sight because of you! You’ve never helped me!”

Though blind, she found Alicia by voice and shook her by the collar.

Alicia didn’t fight back. Her mind kept repeating one thing—how to fix Catherine’s eyes.

That was her precious daughter. She couldn’t let her live like this.

“What should I do…? Please believe me…”

Diana watched silently, then finally spoke.

“Then let’s do this.”

“Anything!”

“Give your eyesight to Catherine.”

“What…?”

Alicia was stunned.

It was technically possible. All it took was genuine desire.

But Alicia was confused. Diana was always self-sacrificing—but she had never demanded that from others.

“But… Your Highness, as her real mother, don’t you have the stronger desire?”

“Alicia.”

Diana’s icy gaze pierced her.

“You want me to take responsibility for the eyesight your mistake took?”

“Do you not have even that much desperation?”

Her words were like blades.

Alicia swallowed hard. If giving up her sight meant she could fix Catherine’s and be forgiven, she’d do it.

“…All right.”

Diana waited. Alicia spoke firmly.

“I’ll do it. I’m more desperate than anyone else.”

“Belinda.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Prepare the carriage.”

Diana turned away coldly. Alicia reminded her of herself in the past—but now Diana was the one in control.

“Stupid Alicia. Finally, you’ll feel the same despair I did.”

“Catherine, take my hand.”

“Yes.”

Diana helped her blind daughter into the carriage. Alicia followed like a sinner.

Inside the carriage, no one spoke.

Alicia bowed her head, Catherine clenched her fists in fury.

“If I get my sight back, I’ll never forgive her!”

Diana, unlike the others, sat upright and proud.

The irony of the scene amused her.

Catherine, who faked blindness, was now truly blind.
Alicia, who stole Diana’s daughter, was about to lose her sight for real.

“How could I not laugh?”

She turned to the window and smirked.

Eventually, the carriage arrived at a small temple within the duchy.

Inside, a middle-aged priest was praying in front of a goddess statue. He stopped and looked at them curiously.

“How can I help you?”

Diana gently held Catherine.

“My daughter has gone blind…”

He examined Catherine’s eyes—they were indeed sightless.

“I heard eyesight can be transferred using holy power.”

Diana left the rest unsaid, her eyes downcast.

The priest’s eyes widened.

“You mean… to give your sight?”

“Yes. Alicia.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Alicia stepped forward, trembling.

Diana felt no pity.

“This proves my vengeance is alive.”

“Transfer her eyesight to my daughter.”

“There are conditions.”

“I know. A desperate heart. She’ll succeed.”

The priest looked between them—Diana, Alicia, Catherine. It was odd, but he didn’t question it further.

“Understood. Kneel.”

Alicia knelt before him. Diana sat Catherine beside her.

The priest summoned his divine power. A soft white light formed in his hand.

The glowing energy floated toward Alicia’s eyes.

She closed her eyes tightly.