~Chapter 89~
From the priest’s hand, a white light streamed into Alicia’s eyes, drawing out a red glow. Darkness soon filled her pupils.
Diana smirked as she saw the light vanish from Alicia’s eyes. Alicia blinked, now enveloped in complete darkness.
The red light from Alicia’s eyes floated in the air and gently entered Catherine’s eyes.
“How is it? Can you see, Catherine?”
Diana asked, voice tight with worry. Catherine slowly opened her eyes and blinked rapidly.
Her expression confirmed everything. Alicia’s sight had successfully transferred to her.
“I can see, Mother!”
Catherine jumped up, grabbing Diana’s hand, not caring one bit that Alicia had gone blind in the process.
“That’s wonderful.”
While mother and daughter rejoiced, Alicia let out a breath of relief. Catherine had regained her vision—what more could she want?
But part of her felt hollow. No one seemed to care that she was now blind.
“I’m glad… Your Highness, and Princess.”
Kneeling, Alicia finally spoke softly. Only then did Catherine glance toward her now-blind mother—but her face showed no sympathy. Only disdain.
It was almost a relief not to see Catherine’s expression.
Catherine stared at her like one might a bug. She didn’t feel pity—after all, Alicia had brought this on herself.
She didn’t even want to see her. She considered revealing Alicia’s affair right then and there.
“Mother.”
“Hm?”
“I need to tell you something.”
Catherine’s eyes gleamed. Though she had once planned to expose Alicia and her father in the act, she now realized her father already distrusted Alicia.
To completely drive Alicia out and become Diana’s “true” daughter, she would have to tell Diana everything herself.
She whispered for Diana to come closer and tugged on her dress.
Outside the temple, Catherine took a deep breath.
“Mother.”
“Yes, Catherine? What did you want to tell me?”
Diana pretended not to know, though she had a good guess.
Suddenly, tears poured from Catherine’s eyes.
Disgusting, Diana thought. A daughter trying to devour her own mother.
It reminded her of a story she’d read: about salmon babies eating their mother’s flesh until nothing but bones remained.
Alicia was just like that—giving everything for her daughter, only to be thrown away.
Diana gazed silently at sobbing Catherine.
“Why are you crying, Catherine?”
“I’m sorry, Mother…”
“For what? I’m just glad your eyes are okay.”
How naive, Catherine thought, amused. She feigned guilt, lowering her eyebrows dramatically and squeezing Diana’s hand.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“To me?”
Diana narrowed her eyes. So you’re going to kill your mother with your own mouth.
“I saw something… something I shouldn’t have.”
“What do you mean?”
“The doctor… She tried to seduce Father.”
Diana gasped, feigning shock. She stared blankly at Catherine before speaking.
“What? Seduce?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. In his office.”
“You must’ve misunderstood. Alicia’s my best friend. She’d never…”
“No, Mother. Alicia had taken off her dress. Father was pushing her away!”
Catherine added more lies. She didn’t want her parents to divorce, but she did want Alicia gone.
“This can’t be true…”
“Why would I lie? It’s all true. I’m grateful she gave me her sight, but…”
She gently cupped Diana’s face.
“You must drive her out. No matter what.”
Her eyes flashed like a starving beast.
“She betrayed you and tried to seduce your husband. She’s vile!”
You betrayed me too, Diana thought bitterly.
Diana stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Catherine, could you go to the carriage for a moment?”
“Huh?”
Catherine looked confused. She expected Diana—kind, saintly Diana—to be furious.
But Diana remained eerily calm.
“I need to speak with Alicia. Just the two of us.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
As Diana turned away, Catherine called out:
“Please… Don’t go easy on her, Mother.”
Diana paused mid-step.
Don’t worry. I won’t go easy on you either.
She turned back, smiled sweetly.
“Don’t worry.”
Then she walked into the temple, her heels echoing through the quiet.
The middle-ranking priest was gone. Alicia sat alone at the altar.
Diana slowly approached her.
“You must have truly been desperate.”
Alicia turned her head toward the voice.
Something in Diana’s tone felt off. Almost mocking.
Still, Alicia tried to ignore it.
“Of course! I care so much about the princess—”
“Yes. Of course, you care about Catherine. You have to.”
Alicia froze.
“What…?”
Diana sat in front of her and gently stroked her hair.
She leaned in close to whisper.
“Because she’s your daughter.”
Alicia’s clouded eyes widened.
Her whole body trembled. Diana didn’t just know about her affair—she knew the truth about Catherine.
Alicia tried to deny it.
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
Diana stood.
“You thought I wouldn’t find out?”
“Your Highness, please…”
“How unlucky I am.”
Diana sneered.
“My best friend had an affair with my husband… and even swapped daughters.”
Alicia blinked, stunned.
“Catherine wasn’t blind—but you still stole my sight.”
“H-How…?”
“You even tried to kill me. Once Catherine got control of the mine, right?”
Diana knew everything.
Alicia was frozen, goosebumps rising across her body.
Everything had been meticulously planned. From making her a joke at the party, to blinding her with Catherine’s help.
Heh…
“Y-Your Highness…”
“Isn’t this funny? You called me stupid once.”
Diana repeated Alicia’s own insult back to her.
“I knew it all. I planned it all. For today.”
She twirled a lock of Alicia’s orange hair.
“I’ve never once lacked dedication in preparing things… especially for you.”
Then she smiled sweetly, like an angel.
“Do you like it, Alicia?”
Alicia collapsed.
“Oh, and your daughter…”
Diana’s voice was honeyed with cruelty.
“She told me everything. That you seduced Calypso.”
Catherine had betrayed her.
More tears streamed from Alicia’s face. That hurt more than Diana’s revenge.
She had given her daughter her sight—and was now being discarded.
“Diana!”
Alicia lunged toward the voice—but Diana easily stepped aside.
“Even your daughter abandoned you. How pitiful.”
“Stupid Alicia.”
Stupid Diana.
That had been Alicia’s insult, once. Now, it echoed back.
“Catherine’s no different.”
“What…?”
“That cruel girl will suffer the same fate as you.”
Those words jolted Alicia.
She had to warn Catherine that Diana knew everything.
“Cathe—!”
From the carriage, Catherine turned her head.
But the words never reached her.
A cold aura spread around Diana—and Alicia’s tongue froze mid-sound.
She choked, unable to speak.
Diana, smiling so sweetly, watched her struggle.
So cruel, and yet… so beautiful.
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