Chapter 3
Damian and Katrina never got along.
The moment Katrina entered the mansion holding Arabela’s hand—Damian’s mother—their relationship had been set in stone.
“Is your throat better now?”
“…”
“You were so quiet last time, I thought you’d gone mute.”
Damian mocked her with a smile that looked like it had been painted on.
‘Still the same.’
Three years ago or now—nothing had changed.
“…So Damian, are you saying I need your permission just to leave the house?”
“You understood perfectly.”
Unbelievable.
She wanted to argue why she needed anyone’s permission to go outside, but there was no point—it wouldn’t get through to him anyway.
‘Let it go.’
Fighting him wouldn’t help her.
“Then give me permission.”
“Where are you going?”
She had to report even that?
“I’m going to the bank. Got a problem with that?”
Damian smiled.
“None at all.”
“Then…”
“Have a safe trip.”
He gave permission far too easily.
What the…?
Wasn’t this whole permission thing meant to stop her from going out in the first place?
“Prepare Katrina’s carriage, just as she asked.”
“Yes, young master.”
…Well, at least things were going her way for once.
Even if it felt slightly off.
“Have a pleasant trip, Katrina.”
…It definitely felt off.
In this world, there existed ancient relics.
Mysterious objects from a bygone age, imbued with power.
The most coveted among them was the Wishing Stone.
Legend said it could grant any wish.
It had been discovered just before Katrina returned to this world.
‘They say I can go home using the Wishing Stone.’
The stone was under an agreement—rotated and guarded by the royal family and the Four Great Houses every ten years.
At the moment, it was in the custody of the Duke of Rockfenheim.
It had still been there just before Katrina returned, and since the rotation wasn’t up yet, it should still be there now.
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
Katrina bit her lower lip.
The current Duke of Rockfenheim was Sylas.
Which meant if she wanted to access the Wishing Stone, she had no choice but to face him.
Four years ago, Sylas had been imprisoned in one of the worst prisons on the continent.
And it had been Katrina who put him there.
‘It was because of a quest…’
Still, it hadn’t been hard. Sylas was one of the wildest, most reckless people she knew.
‘He should be out by now.’
His sentence was three years.
‘He absolutely hates me.’
Their last encounter had been especially brutal.
“You should experience what I went through.”
She still remembered it.
Those words, spoken with venom.
Back then, she was sure they’d never meet again.
She thought that would be the end of their story.
But now…
‘I have to get the Wishing Stone if I want to go home.’
That was the only option left to her.
But…
‘Why does everything look so… different?’
The Rockfenheim estate used to be a solemn, old stone mansion.
Thanks to the family’s notoriously frugal ways, they only maintained the property—not beautified it.
At least, that was how Katrina remembered it.
But now, standing before her…
‘Why is it so extravagant?’
It looked almost gaudy.
Lights were blaring from the windows as if some grand party were underway.
In broad daylight?
That wasn’t like Sylas at all.
Something felt wrong.
“Who goes there?”
The guard at the gate was a face she didn’t recognize.
Of course. It had been three years.
“Katrina Abiche. I’m here to see the Duke of Rockfenheim.”
“K-Katrina Abiche…?”
The guard stared in disbelief—until he saw the Abiche family crest on her carriage. Then he fell silent.
It was an impudent display, but Katrina let it slide.
She wasn’t here to make a scene.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to leave.”
“…What?”
She hadn’t expected rejection.
Katrina stood dumbfounded at the gate, her mind flashing back through the past.
Given how things ended with Sylas, it wasn’t strange that he wouldn’t want to see her.
But not letting her in at all?
She lifted her chin and asked firmly:
“Why not?”
“…His Grace is busy.”
“Busy? Looks more like he’s throwing a party.”
“That’s…”
…What is this?
Everything felt off.
The opulent house, the outright rejection, this vague excuse about a party—
None of it matched the Sylas she knew.
“Step aside.”
Katrina gave a command—to someone else’s guard.
“Excuse me?”
The flustered guard protested, but Katrina shoved past him and forced her way in.
“Y-You can’t do that!”
He reached out to stop her—but couldn’t quite bring himself to lay hands on a noblewoman.
And really, was there anyone in this land who didn’t know Katrina Abiche by name?
With his life possibly on the line, the guard could only shout after her.
“You can’t go in, my lady!”
Katrina ignored him and strode boldly into the mansion.
And then—
“Drink! Drink!”
“Even when you’re drunk, you’re gorgeous.”
“Aha! Your Grace, do I really look that pretty?”
…What on earth?
The place was a den of pleasure and indulgence.
“What the—Katrina Abiche?”
That wasn’t Sylas.
And that man…
It was Patrick, Sylas’s uncle.
But why was he here?
The man who practically lived in gambling dens?
“Your Grace! I’m sorry!”
The guard rushed in, bowing and apologizing—to Patrick.
Wait a minute.
…Patrick is the Duke?
Wasn’t Sylas the Duke of Rockfenheim?
“Ahem. Katrina, long time no see. I think I saw you when you were a child…”
“Why are you here?”
“Why? Can’t I do as I please in my own mansion?”
Patrick’s face twisted as he spoke.
My mansion?
This was Sylas’s house.
“…Where’s Sylas?”
Katrina asked, clearly rattled.
“Oh, Sylas?”
Patrick slurred, grinning.
“That brat caused quite the mess, you know.”
He chuckled.
“…Mess? What mess?”
“He tried to escape prison and use the Wishing Stone!”
“…What?”
Sylas tried to use the Wishing Stone?
Him?
That made no sense. That wasn’t the Sylas she knew.
“Foolish little bastard! The Cardinal was furious. He personally pushed for Sylas to be stripped of his title.”
“The Cardinal… you mean…”
“Lucifer Orléans.”
Katrina fell silent.
“The Cardinal wants Sylas dead. He said he’s going to execute him!”
In this world, the temple’s influence was immense.
If Lucifer had intervened, then Sylas losing his title was inevitable.
“That brat won’t last long, Katrina.”
Patrick grinned at her stunned expression.
“Waking up after so long must be quite a shock, huh?”
This man didn’t deserve the title of Duke.
Katrina knew firsthand that he blew all his money in gambling dens.
And he was now the Duke of Rockfenheim?
“Don’t come barging in like this again.”
“…”
“I’m the Duke now.”
Katrina could hardly believe her ears.
Patrick had declared himself the new Duke of Rockfenheim.
“Now off you go. And don’t come back.”
Execute Sylas?
Using the Wishing Stone was a grave crime.
The royal family and the Four Great Houses had agreed never to use it for good reason.
The Wishing Stone granted wishes—but at a cost.
It cursed the user, corrupting their body and mind with demonic influence.
It was a relic that should never be touched.
Except by Katrina—because she wasn’t originally from this world.
‘Ha…’
She hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.
She felt empty.
There was nothing she could do for now, so she turned back to her carriage.
If Sylas really had tried to use the Wishing Stone and caused a scandal, then it was probably no longer in Rockfenheim’s hands.
It must have been transferred elsewhere.
‘I need to find out where.’
Just as she reached the family carriage, lost in thought—
“Lady Abiche.”
Someone called her.
“The one I serve asked me to give you this.”
A servant-looking man held out a folded note.
“What is it?”
“Please read it.”
Katrina took the paper and opened it.
It read:
[A gift for you.]
A gift?
What kind?
‘Wait… this handwriting…’
It looked familiar. Katrina tried to recall whose it was.
…Lucifer Orléans.
No way.
She glanced back at the Rockfenheim estate.
“…Ha.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
There’s no way that lunatic… or was there?
He better not be behind this.
“I need to have a word with that bastard.”
Lucifer Orléans—that damn bastard.
