WPVMVA Chapter 49

As promised to Mela, Daniella focused solely on sorting through the piled-up documents.

Mela, clearly anxious about Daniella’s determination to stay up all night, kept pacing nervously. When midnight had passed and the bathwater had gone cold, she finally couldn’t take it anymore and began scolding her, insisting she shouldn’t overexert herself in her weakened state and should get some rest first.

Reluctantly, Daniella nodded in response to Mela’s earnest request. After taking the bath Mela suggested and resting for a while, Daniella immediately returned to the task of reviewing the documents.

So focused was she that she barely groomed herself, skipped meals, and even received Gray’s report while staying in her bedroom. While Mela had gone to the kitchen to fetch some food, Gray sat on the floor of the bedroom, gazing at Daniella poring over papers, and spoke in a casual tone.

“You should at least sit on a chair while going through all that.”

“…Mm.”

Daniella replied absentmindedly, her eyes still fixed on the documents.

Letting out a brief sigh, Gray placed the report he had brought beside her, then crouched down next to her and asked,

“What exactly are you looking so hard for? You’ve been like this for days.”

“The Duke of Enchanto… No, my father… left behind clues…”

“Clues? What kind of clues?”

Gray tilted his head in curiosity, but Daniella said nothing more, fully absorbed in her papers.

When she had finally gotten through about half the pile, she discovered an envelope. The parchment had yellowed and turned a light brown, and the wax seal had been half-torn.

Carefully cutting away the remaining wax with a paper knife, she found a small card inside:

> “Buried in a land untouched by human hands, lying dormant.

1. A black queen surrounded by white soldiers.

2. A sip of water, barely enough to quench a giant’s thirst.”

Daniella immediately recognized it as another clue left by the Duke of Enchanto, indicating the location of hidden letters—just like when she had discovered the phrase “the Fire Goddess’s treasure.”

‘A land untouched by human hands likely refers to a wasteland—probably the Aesland territory. These two things must be hidden there.’

Her heart pounded. She wanted to go there immediately and retrieve the evidence. Clutching the note tightly, she stood up.

Just then, a gentle knock came at the door, and Mela entered with the maids, pushing a tray.

On the tray were steaming soup, a thick sandwich with meat, and a white envelope placed neatly below them.

Mela gave a slight curtsy to Daniella and said,

“My lady, we’ve brought your meal. And just now, Lady Swaven sent an invitation—”

“Mela, prepare the carriage. I have somewhere urgent to go.”

Daniella cut her off mid-sentence. Mela’s eyes widened in shock as she asked,

“Go where all of a sudden, my lady?”

“I have urgent business in Aesland territory. Can we leave today?”

“No, my lady! Even if it’s nearby, Aesland is still outside the capital walls! It’s too far for a regular carriage. If you insist, at least take a group of knights to escort you!”

“Then what if we leave early tomorrow morning?”

“That’s still too tight! And if you want knights, we have to report it to His Highness as well!”

Daniella paused at Mela’s words.

Ashid was still furious with her. Asking him for permission to leave the capital—on top of requesting a guard—was not something she wanted to do.

So, she glanced at Mela and said,

“I don’t think it’s that dangerous… What if just you, me, and the maids go?”

“Absolutely not!”

Just as Mela firmly rejected the idea, Gray, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

“Then I’ll escort her.”

“Really?”

“…Baroness Gray! What are you saying?!”

Daniella brightened immediately, while Mela exclaimed in horror. Gray, as calm as ever, continued,

“I happen to have a carriage enchanted with acceleration magic. Using it, we can return to the capital before sunset, even if we leave today.”

“Then what about the issue of guarding the lady? How will you handle that?”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan for that.”

He gave a faint, meaningful smile. Mela stared at him with sharp eyes, clearly not trusting him, but said nothing more.

Daniella smiled brightly and said to Gray,

“Alright. Then I’ll count on you. Mela, could you prepare my travel clothes?”

With a reluctant nod and a sharp glare at Gray, Mela said,

“If anything happens to my lady, I’ll hold you responsible, Baroness Gray.”

Gray only smiled in return.

—

Meanwhile, while Head Maid Mela was busy preparing the Archduchess’s travel clothes…

Maid May slipped out of the room, using a vague excuse.

Quickly passing through the main building, she exited the estate and slipped into a quiet alley near the Alberic Grand Duke’s residence. There, a plain black carriage waited without any insignia.

May knocked on the door and spoke softly.

“It’s me, Count.”

The carriage window opened, and Cyril appeared, his face mostly hidden under a deep hooded robe.

“Did you deliver the invitation?”

“Well… The Archduchess didn’t even read it.”

“What?”

“Instead, she suddenly declared she would leave for Aesland right away. The head maid protested, but she insisted she had to go.”

Cyril looked ready to explode at the news of his forged invitation being ignored—but as May continued, he fell silent and listened closely.

Then, a twisted smile spread across his face. Before he even set his trap, the Archduchess had jumped in on her own. It was a perfect opportunity.

“Well done. Return to the Archduchess now.”

“Yes, Count.”

“As the Duke of Rodion surely reminded you—until this is all over, do not let your identity be discovered. No suspicious behavior, understood?”

“Of course. You needn’t worry.”

May responded calmly and confidently. After giving a respectful bow, she left the alley.

Cyril shut the carriage window, chuckling darkly. He then pulled out a prepared letter from his coat and tied it to the leg of a hawk waiting in a cage beside him.

“Alright, it’s your turn now—Rael.”

Opening the window again, he released the hawk, which flew into the sky with the letter.

Cyril’s carriage began to roll out of the alley and disappeared down the main road.

—

Last night.

After his argument with Daniella, Ashid had stormed out of her room and headed straight to the training grounds within the mansion.

He spent the entire night swinging his cherished sword, Villadwell, again and again. He was trying to shake off the storm of pain, confusion, and torment swirling inside him.

> [“So, are you going to kill anyone who gets in your way now? In that case, why don’t you strike me down right here?”]

‘Damn it!’

> [“Can’t you, just once, look for another solution before picking up your sword? This is why people like Adrian—!”]

‘Shit! Curse it all!’

Her words, her harsh and accusing gaze, wouldn’t leave his head.

No one had ever spoken to him that way before. And no one who dared speak to him like that had ever walked away unharmed.

Had it been anyone else, he would’ve reacted violently—or at least threatened them enough that they wouldn’t dare again.

But with Daniella, he hadn’t done anything. He couldn’t do anything.

All he could do was replay her words in his mind, stabbing at the wounds in his heart.

He hated that.

Why couldn’t he react? Why couldn’t he control this?

‘What is wrong with you, Ashid Carlisle Alberic? Have you grown soft from living in peace too long?’

He kept swinging his sword, again and again, trying to sort through his thoughts. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure out what this strange emotion toward Daniella truly was.

To him, she was like uncharted land—or a mirage. The feeling she stirred in him was unlike anything

he had ever felt before. The more he tried to define it, the deeper he fell into confusion.