<Chapter 42>
Selena.
The moment I heard that familiar voice calling my name, a chill ran down my spine.
As I turned around, I saw Siena. An odd glimmer flickered across her face as she looked at me.
It was malice—deep, dark malice blooming from the depths of her heart.
“Selena. What are you doing in a place like this?”
Hostility surged within me. If she remembered how we last parted, there’s no way she could speak to me so casually.
I ignored her words and tried to move toward my booth, but Siena grabbed my arm.
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
“Let go.”
Even as I spoke, Siena didn’t budge.
I twisted my arm to break free, but the more I struggled, the tighter she held on.
She looked around at the crowd gathered to buy my medicine, then raised her voice as if she wanted everyone to hear.
“Selena. Selling unauthorized drugs is illegal, you know.”
“Hah.”
I knew she’d play this card. I raised my voice in response, warning her.
“This medicine is already cleared by the administration. Don’t try to nitpick. It’s effective and safe, so stop spreading lies.”
She shouldn’t have had any reason to attend the expo—nobles rarely do. So why was she here?
“But… don’t look at me like that. I’m only worried about you.”
“This is your last warning. Let go of my arm.”
Siena slowly blinked, then let out a small snort of laughter. The corners of her lips curled upward. Her eyes rolled slyly before she said, loudly:
“Want to end up in the Inquisition again?”
“…What?”
A murmur rose among the crowd. Just the word “Inquisition” made my body tremble.
It was a place that made your heart lurch just from hearing its name.
It wasn’t something you mentioned lightly, not to threaten or corner someone like this.
“If painkillers are misused, you can be considered a heretic, right? You’ve been through the Inquisition, so you know what it’s like. I guess it wasn’t too hard for you?”
Unconsciously, I looked around.
I could feel the gazes turning cold. My shoulders curled inward.
“She said she was a heretic!”
“A heretic? No wonder the drugs she made are sketchy!”
“If we use her medicine, we’ll be branded heretics too!”
The situation was spiraling out of control.
“Ugh! A heretic!”
Someone spat in my direction.
People who had just been begging to buy my painkillers were now pointing fingers at me.
“She looks so normal, but she’s a heretic? Disgusting.”
Someone clucked their tongue and walked away with their group, claiming my drugs were tainted.
“If I were truly a heretic, I wouldn’t even be allowed here. The priests have already confirmed I’m not one.”
I answered in a trembling voice, but no one listened.
To them, I had already been labeled a heretic.
People dispersed in an instant.
I could only watch helplessly as they left, while Siena’s eyes sparkled with joy.
The sight of her enjoyment made my head feel hot.
I grabbed her arm and pushed her against a wall outside the expo hall.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I was only worried about you… Did I get in your way?”
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to rein in my emotions.
I couldn’t let Siena control me. Playing into her hand would only bring me harm.
“Was the title and gifts from House Estarion not enough for you?”
Siena didn’t answer. Instead, she asked abruptly,
“How have you been?”
Her tone was mocking.
“You look worn out. Better than the last time I saw you, but still.”
“…”
“I’ve been doing great, by the way. Oh, and your room? It’s been renovated into my dressing room now.”
“…”
When I didn’t respond, she seemed to grow irritated.
“What have you been doing since you left the Inquisition?”
The moment I saw that curious gleam in her face—so similar to mine—I caught a glimpse of the filth in her soul.
She wanted to see me fall. Wanted me groveling, broken, like she once was—nails cracked and soot on her face.
“I’ll never end up like you.”
“W-What?”
For the first time, Siena’s composure cracked.
It was almost amusing how something so small could shame her so deeply.
“Just like you could never do what I did in the count’s household, I could never do what you did.”
Even in a noble house, Siena remained a servant at heart. She could never truly become a noble lady.
And though I was no longer one either, my roots hadn’t changed—I would never stoop to being a maid again.
Siena’s face flushed red as she caught my meaning.
Seeing her face twist in rage made my lips curl in a crooked smile.
“Oh. So your grand plan was to become a scammer?”
“To someone like you, it may seem that way.”
Her hair caught my eye—glossy now, unlike the frizz it once was.
It was all cheap tricks in hindsight.
“You’ll regret this one day.”
“Regret? If anything, you’re the one who’ll regret it. From what I can tell, you look like you’re begging to be sent back to the Inquisition.”
“Try it. If you do, I’ll sue you for defamation. You do know witch hunts like that are punished severely under the law, don’t you?”
“…”
As she bit her lip, I warned her:
“Go back to House Estarion and dance for them like a good little doll. That’s the best you can do.”
I turned away, leaving her fuming in humiliation.
I had no desire to speak further. I needed to focus on my work.
“Stop right there!”
Siena shouted after me, but I ignored her.
With this many people around, she wouldn’t dare cause a scene.
‘That felt good.’
Finally saying what I wanted made me feel lighter.
Why hadn’t I done this sooner?
Back at the booth, a neatly dressed man was waiting for me.
A familiar face—one of the expo’s event staff.
“You must be Selena Rayon, the booth owner?”
“Yes, I am. What is this about?”
“Please vacate your booth by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Wait, what? Why? Why do I have to pack up all of a sudden?”
The staff scratched his head and sighed.
“You can’t sell items related to heresy. If things go south, we get caught in it too.”
“These aren’t heretical goods. They’re approved medicines! Look, I have the paperwork from the administration—”
“Paperwork or not, a report’s been filed. They’re saying your booth’s selling heretical goods.”
“Please! Just hear me out—!”
I chased after him, but he cut me off irritably.
“If you don’t clear out by tomorrow afternoon, you’ll be forcibly removed. Got it?”
“Ah…”
He—and the event organizers—clearly had no intention of listening further.
This had been decided from the top.
Siena’s sabotage had worked with shocking ease.
Fury boiled in my stomach.
“…Siena…”
I muttered her name like a curse.
I should’ve said worse.
Seeing my booth so empty brought tears to my eyes. I never thought the Inquisition would haunt me like this.
“It’s okay.”
I’ll make it okay. I just need to fix it.
So I shouldn’t cry over something like this.
I rubbed my eyes and began to pack.
* * *
“Miss?”
“Sir Aiden?”
As I returned with my luggage, the first person I saw was Sir Aiden.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he rushed over.
“I thought you were coming late tonight. Why are you back already?”
“It… just happened.”
Sir Aiden helped unload the boxes from the carriage.
Soon the servants gathered to carry the wooden crates.
“Are you alright?”
He must’ve guessed something had happened, seeing I came back with all the same boxes I’d packed this morning.
I wanted to say I was fine, but it would’ve been a blatant lie.
As we walked back toward the mansion with my things, the sadness I’d suppressed cracked the moment our eyes met.
“Ah…”
Even though I didn’t want to cry, the tears slipped out anyway. I turned away and wiped them, trying to pull myself together.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart like this…”
I didn’t want to think this way, but a vague resentment welled up—why me?
I’d never done anything wrong. So why did this keep happening to me?
Sir Aiden, flustered, rushed over and clumsily patted my back.
His hand was too strong, and every pat made me stagger a bit. His awkwardness made me laugh through the tears.
“Sir Aiden… your hand…”
Crying and laughing at once—it was kind of funny.
When I looked up, he was standing there, completely panicked.
“Whatever it is… if you want, I’ll ruin that jerk—no, I’ll crush them. Just give me a name.”
“I’m okay. It’s not that serious.”
“What on earth happened to make you cry like this?”
He looked more upset than I was.
The fact that someone was angry for me—it comforted me more than I expected.
It felt like I finally had someone on my side.
“Then… just for a moment. Just for a little moment.”
“What? What’s just for a moment—”
Hugging him was an impulsive decision.
He froze mid-sentence, arms half-raised, palms open in the air.
I felt his body stiffen.
But I just wanted to feel his warmth.
This wasn’t about anything more than that.
It was just… in this wide, lonely world, I’d felt so abandoned and alone.
I wanted to know that someone was on my side. Whether he was a friend or a student didn’t matter.
I just needed a little warmth.
As I forced the words out, my voice came out wet with tears.
“Thank you. Truly… thank you.”
Even if you approached me with an agenda, I don’t care.
Because you didn’t leave me alone when I was truly alone.
The warmth from you was the first time I felt… not alone since Siena returned.
