CHAPTER 641: CHAPTER 641

[ Theressa, were you wearing that ring before? ]

"Oh... this one? It is Lady Karina’s."

’??? What??’ — [ How come you have it, Theressa? ]

"... ?! Sister, I have not done any wrongdoing! I swear to Izeneya!"

"!???" — ’I didn’t say that!’

"I did not steal it nor accept it as a gift. When she was leaving to fix her dress, it fell from her hand, and she requested that I keep it in the meantime. I decided to wear it for I have nowhere else to safely keep it... please do not think otherwise..."

The overmuch concern in explaining herself bewildered Marianne’s being. It was clear in her eyes that perhaps the mention of the accessory pertaining to Karina had made her cautious, as the woman was still suspicious; yet her concerns had been conveyed to her sister during the days at the Noverrne’s household.

Theressa’s nature, after many days of being observed and sharing the most of them under her presence and demands had shown changes Marianne had trouble accepting yet recently came to understand.

Marianne’s reticence to believe in Theressa’s innocence had partially melted and shaped itself again with cautious care after realising the essence of the little sister was transforming into what was probably her true self without the evilness induced by a witch... Theressa’s eyes, golden as they were, so similar to those of their brother, had adopted a glint that permitted the chosen not to recall the lunacy Paul dedicated from the darkness of his foul, stained soul.

A purity resembling the memory of the little child she held onto for many years hoping she was still within the sibling harming her spirit, had appeared again in Theressa’s essence now.

Hence... this reaction, so fearful of being misunderstood caused the image of a perturbed Theressa to come back to the ninth’s mind.

’Even if she is supposedly completely cleansed... Some memories will not leave her... as well as feelings...’

Theressa’s guilt was palpable whenever her actions could implicate treason in front of her sister... who truthfully... had always been dear to her heart which in the weakness of youth was easily damaged and deluded; played with cruelly and stealing a pure life from its real desires, beliefs... and lucidity.

"Sister please believe me... I am no longer unaware of my actions... I swear I have behaved properly..."

*******

The tremble of her hands was strengthening the more words left her weakly. The tears she was holding back again to the grief of proving herself came to pain myself as well, for it has become a detonating point for her panic to rise.

Theressa’s sanity was barely saved in time to not lose itself in the abysmal spell the witch had placed her and Paul under.

In Paul’s case, Estelle had told me that the force was different to the one applied to Theressa, which could explain she was not completely lost to the schemes, although I was also told another reason...

— She fought the spell even while surrounded by it. The small girl’s soul was not as weak as the brother’s. —

These reasons had been stuck in my head and became more nosy the more I could see Theressa trying her best to do as instructed. Being overly detail-oriented whenever she came to inform me of the nights and the conversations with whoever she was sent to and showing a moderate interest in getting to know and please myself with an inherent sinlessness spirit.

I... I was not trusting her blindly like my foolish heart wished... yet I was not eager to make her suffer more than the trauma and the unexplainable wounds she gained under the darkness of another. For she was not yet knowledgeable of the depth behind the voids in her memories... for I was not inclined to let her know more hurtful matters when her spirit was not as near as healed as it needed to endure it.

[ I believe you. I was only curious so please calm down. ]

"... I-if you wish I may take it off... I know you are not comfortable about her..."

’No... It’s alright.’ — I shook my head, knowing it was not something to make a fuss about. A simple ring it was... If it were Karina’s later I would have the fairies check on Theressa so nothing unbecoming may have stuck to her while wearing it.

I ended up placing my hand over hers while deciding such. I drank some more wine while feeling funny again as there was a certain someone’s stare following me... Provoking my stomach to tighten. Knowing that sooner than later he would abandon the conversation he was not truly paying attention to, to come and remind me that there was somewhere else we should meet.

’Fuhh... I am nervous over nothing... It bothers myself not to know why he did not do anything for us to exchange at least a greeting through letters... yet his actions tonight only make myself believe a good motive is behind it...’ — While contemplating about the reasons that ultimately had my spirits drop to the ground as they held onto the thin thread keeping me attached to the existence of some objective causes I was ignorant of, my eyes inadvertently met his. Escaping it quickly, embarrassingly so... that the taste of the wine was swallowed without even enjoying it.

"Urm... sister. Why don’t you try one of these dishes? Having only wine will make it difficult for you..."

’Urgh... y-you are right... I want to try that- ah!!? Huh?? I-I felt a prick just now...’

— Die. —

’Huh?’

"?! Sister?! SISTER!!"

— The place you stand in now. It was never yours to have. —

While my sight became turbulent and foggy, the echoes of a hateful voice resounded within my head painfully... I looked at my arm where the prick came and an excruciating pain that I thought was within me was actually tearing apart my limb.

Blood... as if it could not be contained in my body, blood was coming out forcefully as it broke my skin and escaped through my nails. My insides felt crushing... and as it numbed my senses I managed to feel blood flowing out of every cavity in my head...

— Let’s see if the aid of those useless gods can save you now. —

"MARIANNE!!"

"SISTER!! WH-WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHY!? B-BLOOD!!"

"... ring... ff..." — Looking with the little consciousness I could gather, I warned Theressa whom I could no longer see.

There was a dark red making it difficult to breathe while my insides suffered.

... A very cruel... and very macabre way this was to get rid of me...