CHAPTER 323: UNLUCKY ENCOUNTER

"I thought you trusted me?" Uva snapped, her voice sharp, her brows furrowed into a deep, wounded scowl. Her cheeks flushed with frustration, a deep red tinge rising across her face.

The sting of Violet’s hesitation hit her harder than she’d expected. It wasn’t just annoyance anymore—it was hurt. Her posture stiffened, and her lips trembled just slightly, betraying how offended she truly was.

"I do! You know I do, but—" Violet began, her voice laced with guilt, but Uva cut her off before she could finish.

"But what?" Uva bit back, her tone rising. Her arms crossed over her chest defensively, though her fingers trembled where they clutched her sleeves.

"This woman is someone I know! She’s a good person! I would never willingly harm you." Her voice cracked near the end, and her hands dropped to her sides in frustration. "Cain would have my head!"

She said it, even though she knew Violet would never tell him. And yet, the fear was real. Tangible. It clung to her like smoke.’I just want to live a peaceful life. I have no intentions of dying in place of anyone!’ Uva thought bitterly, eyes darting toward the door as if expecting Lady June to materialize right there and end her on the spot.

"She’s a good witch. Just like me," Uva added, quieter this time, a trace of sorrow in her voice, her eyes dimming with it. Her shoulders slumped as she stepped back, distancing herself from Violet physically and emotionally. Her next words were dismissive, a verbal wall being erected. "But if you don’t want to, then there’s clearly no way I can force you."

She meant it as a surrender, but it tasted bitter in her mouth the moment she saw the way Violet exhaled—relieved.

That did it.

Uva’s heart hardened like cooling stone. Her eyes narrowed. If she’d expected Violet to chase after her, to beg her not to go, she’d been sorely mistaken. The sting of betrayal curdled into something sharper—resentment.

"...there’s no big deal," she said flatly, turning her face away, voice thick with sarcasm. "Nothing bad would happen apart from Cain slowly going mad and dying!"

She didn’t even know if that was true. But she knew enough. Enough to let her voice drip with fatal consequences. Enough to strike panic where her pleading had failed.

Violet’s eyes shot open, horror spreading across her features like spilled ink. Uva didn’t even glance back at her—she simply turned, staring at the door, preparing to walk away.

"I’ll leave, of course," she added coldly. "There’s no reason to be here since I’m practically useless."

’Yeah, cause I’ll be dead once Lady June is done with me,’ Uva thought darkly, bracing herself to add more fuel to the fire.

But then—she froze.

She heard the words she’d been waiting for. The words she hadn’t dared hope for anymore.

"Fine! I’ll come with you. As long as you promise to keep me—"

Uva’s whole body jerked like she’d been struck by lightning. She spun around, clasping Violet’s hands before she could finish speaking. Her grip was tight, desperate, but her smile was bright and radiant. The exhaustion that had been shadowing her features vanished like mist under sunlight. Her eyes gleamed with purpose.

"I can assure you," she said quickly, earnestly, "that not a hair on your head would be harmed."

It was a lie. A bold-faced, shameless lie. But one she delivered with such conviction that even Violet nodded, trusting her.

Uva released her hands only long enough to grab her coat and throw it over her shoulders. The swiftness of her movements caught Violet off guard. Her mouth opened in confusion as Uva turned toward the door.

"We need to leave now," Uva said, fastening her buttons quickly. "She’s strong, and many people want to meet with her, so we’ll be very lucky if she can even spare some time for us!"

"Now? Right now?" Violet asked, hesitation creeping back into her voice. Her hands tightened at her sides. She hadn’t even told Cain she was leaving.

"Relax!" Uva replied without missing a beat. "It’ll be at a restaurant. We’ll simply have lunch. We’ll be back in about thirty minutes with the solution."

Violet’s lips parted again to protest, but Uva didn’t give her the chance. She grabbed her wrist and pulled her out the door with an urgency that couldn’t be ignored.

As they stepped outside, Uva addressed the guards stationed nearby. "We’re just heading out for a drink," she said with an easy smile. "We’ll be back soon."

The guards said nothing, their expressions unreadable. None of them questioned her, even when she added that they’d go alone. After all, it was no secret that Uva was a powerful witch. They looked at her with cold disdain, but none dared challenge her authority.

Violet wasn’t used to being rushed like this. Her mind raced to keep up, but the thought of meeting someone who might actually cure Cain—who might erase the strange symptoms he’d been experiencing—was enough to calm her nerves, even quicken her steps.

Hope bloomed, shy but eager, in her chest. All she had to do was meet this person.

"Do you know what she wants with me?" Violet asked curiously, brushing her hair back as they walked down the long, flower-lined walkway that led out to the street. She glanced at Uva with a mix of suspicion and excitement.

Uva smiled faintly, avoiding her gaze. "No. I didn’t ask. But it probably has to do with awakening your magic."

Violet’s eyes widened slightly, her steps faltering. "Is that rare?"

"For a witch? Extremely," Uva said without hesitation. "It’s already amazing that none of the high coven members have reached out to you."

The idea of awakening her magic—being able to use spells the way Uva could—sent a strange thrill through her. It was something she wanted badly, even if she didn’t want to admit it aloud.

’As long as she can do it here in the city,’ Violet thought, eyes narrowing thoughtfully, ’I see no reason why I should refuse. If her price is good, that is.’ She wasn’t naïve enough to think it would be free.

Soon, they arrived at the restaurant.

It was sleek and modern, with clean glass walls and warm wooden accents. The atmosphere was hushed, elegant. Soft music played in the background as patrons dined quietly in plush booths and candle-lit tables. Uva led the way inside, and a host quickly ushered them to a table without delay.

Violet, now wearing a glamor spell, bore the face of a youthful woman with warm brown eyes and a calm expression—completely unlike her own.

Uva, for her part, was pale and drawn. She had used almost every drop of magic she had to maintain her composure, and it showed. She looked her age beneath the glamor for the first time in decades.

They had just settled in their seats when Violet began glancing around, searching every corner of the room with quiet anticipation. The woman Uva had spoken so highly of had yet to appear.

But if Violet had looked just a little closer—if she’d let her gaze wander to the far side of the restaurant, where the waitstaff bustled in and out of the kitchen—she might have noticed a familiar figure.

Sarah,her sister among the staff unaware of her presence. Yet.