* * *

As the sun set, the sky visible through the attic ceiling began to glow crimson.

Not bad, I thought, lying in the cramped attic room.

It’s probably boiling in summer and freezing in winter, I added mentally—but even that couldn’t compare to life as a Trian at the Temple.

The door was locked from the outside, but there were no guards posted. I guess they didn’t think someone like me needed surveillance.

Fair enough. I wasn’t planning on leaving anyway.

This was the goal all along.

It had been about an hour since I lay down to rest when I suddenly heard water drip by the window.

Ah.

I sat up quickly.

It’s time.

That was Athena’s signal—meant to be used when Anais and Celia were left alone together.

“The head maid has been with Mother since she was a royal princess. She’s her most trusted servant, which is why no one dares to cross her.”

I had already read in Julian’s reports how close Anais and Celia were.

That’s why I designed this plan—to eavesdrop precisely when they’d be most likely to discuss something important.

I slipped off my ring and adjusted it slightly, then pressed my hand to the floor and carefully pushed divine power into it.

“Celia, what’s with that look on your face? What, did I do something unforgivable?”

“My lady... I’m just very concerned... Of all people, why the Lavendal Duchy...”

At the same time, quiet voices began to echo into the room.

Of course.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

The entire room’s lined with soundproofing magic stones.

I had deduced this based on two facts: Anais rarely left her room, and barely anything was known about her. The entire structure of her quarters was embedded with powerful soundproofing magic from the ground up.

It wasn’t unusual—plenty of nobles used soundproofing for privacy—but this place had been built with the intention of isolating her from the very start.

“My lady, I saw the Prince of Water with my own eyes. He came personally to ask for Heidi. I never imagined someone like him would make such a face... And Lady Linna is incredibly distressed as well.”

“Linna? Hah...”

As the divine power nullified the effect of the soundproofing stones, their voices came through as if they were right next to me.

Good.

I smiled to myself.

Let’s hear what you two really think.

* * *

Meanwhile, Linna was pacing in circles in her room, biting her nails with Cashie cradled in her arms.

“What do I do, Cashie?”

Her room, provided by the villa, was far from Anais’s.

Anais had been furious about Linna “siding with the maid” and announced that she wouldn’t be dining with her that evening.

“She’s really mad... At least she had dinner with me on the first night...”

Linna mumbled nervously with a sullen face.

To her, Anais had always seemed like an untouchable, elegant figure.

She’d heard that her mother once loved her deeply, but whenever they actually spoke, Anais was colder than ice.

When Linna first discovered that the Earth Divine Beast was hurting people, she’d gone to Anais crying her eyes out.

And Anais had struck her for it.

“You were born with noble blood—act like it, Linna. For my daughter to weep over commoners... I can hardly believe it.”

“B-But Mother...”

“You shame me. A sacrifice for the greater good is only natural. You don’t even understand the sacred will of the Temple...”

“...”

“Since you were born and ruined my life, the least you can do is pay that debt with your blood.”

“I... I’m sorry...”

“Don’t forget. I’ve spent my life begging priests for treatment because I gave birth to you.”

And it had gone on like that, over and over.

When Linna obeyed the Temple, Anais would coldly praise her as “worthy of being my daughter.”

But if she strayed even slightly, Anais would declare she had no right to be loved.

Linna thought she was pathetic, too. No matter how hard she tried to obey Anais, the guilt would eat her alive, and she’d fall apart again and again.

She couldn’t go a day without drinking, couldn’t endure without ruining herself in some way.

And yet... she still wanted Anais’s love.

She didn’t remember it now, but people had told her Anais once adored her as a child.

Even hearing that lifted her spirits. If she could feel that love again, maybe—just maybe—her life would finally feel steady.

“Act noble, Linna. If you behave like a peasant, I get so angry.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Don’t be lacking. You are Idra.”

Oddly enough, those words had become a strange sort of support for Linna.

Whenever she truly hated herself, she could tell herself, “Mother said this is what I must be. I’m the one who’s lacking.”

The more broken she became, the more she clung to that love.

Linna sighed deeply and hugged Cashie tighter.

“Heidi’s pregnant... But if I ask Mother to release her, she’ll only get angrier...”

Tears welled up in her golden eyes.

“I promised I’d protect her... and now it’s only been five minutes since we arrived...”

That’s when there was a knock at the door, and a maid entered.

“My lady, your dinner.”

Since Anais had refused to eat with Linna, her meal was being brought to her room.

“I’ll leave it he—Oh!”

Just then, Cashie squirmed out of Linna’s arms and leapt between the maid’s elbows.

“Cashie!”

Linna shouted, startled, and Cashie flicked his tail as if to say follow me, then bolted out of the room.

“Cashie! Where are you going?!”

Grabbing her skirt, Linna ran after him without thinking.

* * *

Back in the attic, I crouched in the far corner, careful not to accidentally disable any other magical artifacts.

I closed my eyes and adjusted the intensity of the divine energy with precision. If it leaked into other rooms and transmitted voices, it would be a disaster.

Just enough so it only carries inside this attic...

Anais and Celia’s conversation continued.

“My lady, I know your heart is troubled... but it’s best to let the girl go. If she’s truly carrying the Lavendal heir, she could be useful to the Temple.”

“I’m aware of that. But still...”

“Lady Linna won’t be able to endure it. She’ll come and beg for the girl’s release. If she does, just act reluctant and let her win. Linna’s already smitten with her.”

“That much is obvious. Which is exactly why I don’t want to let her go.”

Anais’s voice was as cold as a glacier.

“Did ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ you hear what Linna said? That she wants to be strong and live well with that girl. The way her eyes sparkled... utterly disgusting.”

I froze.

She found it disgusting that her daughter wanted to live a decent life?

Even I—someone who had zero expectations of what a “mother” should be—was stunned.

“Once she has emotional support, she becomes harder to control. Separate them. Do whatever it takes.”

Even while maintaining my focus, I frowned.

There were all kinds of terrible parents out there, like mine, but... this? This was another level.

My parents were garbage, but even I didn’t think monsters like this were real...

Their conversation continued.

“You’re right, madam. It would be wise to keep them apart. But... we can’t treat the girl harshly either. She carries Lavendal blood. Perhaps you should consider taking her in—”

“Celia!”

Anais snapped, her voice laced with fury.

“You know everything I’ve suffered. How could you even suggest I take that girl in?”

“My lady...”

“A lowborn who’s carrying noble blood? Ha! I’m sick to death of this. And now we’re supposed to recognize her as part of the ducal family? You want me to watch that happen again? Huh?”

“My lady, I understand your anger, but this is a separate issue—”

“Separate?! How is it separate?!”

A loud crash echoed out.

Judging by the string of sharp noises, Anais was now breaking everything in reach—teacups, vases, whatever she could grab.

Why is she losing her mind over me supposedly being pregnant with Ray’s child?

Just as I was trying to wrap my head around it—

“You want me to watch it all happen again? Wide awake? All over again?!”

So that’s it.