The Great Madam Vallidus came from a modest noble family. Like most small rural estates, she was raised in a rather conservative household. In such a family, the fate of a pretty young girl was unfortunately predictable. That’s how she became Countess Vallidus. Ironically, despite having no affection in her marriage, she liked her husband a lot. It wasn’t because of love.
Count Vallidus wasn’t a good man by any means. He drank excessively and, to put it crudely, enjoyed fooling around with women. However, he didn’t interfere with her affairs. Had she still been in her childhood home, she would’ve been criticized for wasting time studying as a girl, but the nobles from the capital said no such thing. For that alone, the countess was content.
Eventually, she had a child, and though her husband showed little interest in her, he paid attention to the child in his own way. Countess Vallidus hoped her life would continue like this. It was her first modest dream.
But a dream is just that, a dream. The day she had her first real conversation with her young daughter, she was slapped by her husband for the first time.
* * *
“The madam was secretly practicing leaving her room. This child came to help her with that.”
“…”
“Today, she managed to open the door herself.”
That’s why she gathered the courage to step outside the room. Bia’s younger sibling had been around because the great madam’s condition had visibly improved while she was with the children. Turning the doorknob was part of that progress. However, as soon as she left the room, she suffered a severe breakdown.
“…”
Seraphie stood over the bed, gazing at the countess, who was now asleep. She was indeed a beautiful woman. Her face, though still youthful, bore the marks of a difficult life. It was heartbreaking. If only she had escaped from this hell earlier, she wouldn’t be suffering like this.
Perhaps your daughter wished for the same.
Seraphie adjusted the blanket, hoping the small act would bring her some comfort. She wished the peaceful expression on the great madam’s face was not an illusion.
Feeling sympathy was natural, but it was more than that. It was a deep, desperate emotion. During her time as ‘Seraphie’ in this household, she had been calling her ‘mother’ so often that it seemed to have awakened something resembling filial duty.
Knock, knock. At the cautious sound, Seraphie slowly stood up.
“Is she alright?” Lunie asked about the great madam’s well-being.
“Thanks to you, she’s resting peacefully now.”
“What did I even do?” Lunie smiled bitterly, but her face soon became serious again. “…I know it’s rude to think this way, but…” She shared her thoughts. “I feel like I’ve been so thoughtless.”
“Lu.”
“It’s not about comparing who has it worse.”
Of course, it might not even be comparable. At least she had never experienced the kind of suffering the great madam had. She had grown up in an environment so privileged that it seemed embarrassing to call it hardship.
“Even the great madam is putting in so much effort…” Lunie reflected with a solemn expression. “I need to steel my resolve again.”
Seraphie frowned. Surely she didn’t want to reconcile with her family after all that, did she? If that was Lunie’s intention, Seraphie was ready to kick her out immediately.
“To destroy my family!”
Thankfully, Lunie’s words soothed the burning sensation in Seraphie’s chest like a remedy for indigestion. She felt her insides calming down, much like her now-blue hair.
“But are you sure you’ll be okay?” Seraphie was still a little concerned, even though she felt relieved. “What about your engagement to Sir Iris?”
“Well, I’m a little worried,” Lunie replied, but her face showed no sign of concern. “If something like this ends everything, then the Iris family and Carl are only worth that much, aren’t they?”
Lunie was confident that their love and engagement wouldn’t change just because she had left her family and vowed to destroy them.
Seraphie was secretly glad that Lunie had someone so firmly on her side. Huh. Seraphie was surprised at herself for thinking that.
“Of course, I’m also planning to increase my value.” Her voice rang out with such confidence that it could have pierced the ceiling. “And that plan includes you, Sera.”
“I don’t want to get involved in another family’s issues.”
“It’s a good thing, so don’t worry.”
“No, really…” As Seraphie tried to refuse, she suddenly tilted her head. “Why are you here anyway?”
It didn’t seem like Lunie had come just to check on the great madam.
“Oh, right. I almost forgot.” Lunie rummaged through her pocket and pulled something out.
Seraphie’s legs nearly gave way when she saw what Lunie was holding. She could hardly believe it.
“At the tea party, this was stuck to Sera’s back.”
“…”
“I thought the feather was pretty, so I secretly took it and made a quill out of it. But even though I caused a ruckus at my house, it was still at the edge of the room…”
“…”
“Sera?”
Lunie cautiously called out to the pale and frozen Seraphie, but Seraphie couldn’t respond. Instead, she forced himself to her office, where she shakily opened a locked desk drawer. The feather, still as white as ever, gleamed even in the darkness. There were two of them.
“I found it on the day Countess came to the house…”
The white feathers were said to be the symbol of an angel, a messenger of God. Bia had given it to her the day after she moved into the mansion.
“Why’d you walk away without a word?” Lunie followed behind, grumbling.
In Seraphie’s hand were two identical feathers.
“…”
There was only one conclusion Seraphie could come to. These cursed feathers were multiplying.
* * *
The next day, Seraphie sent a letter to Count Mars, suggesting they meet the following day to discuss the contract again. The servant returned with a reply.
“That greedy scoundrel must be in a hurry.”
Lunie opened the letter and read it on Seraphie’s behalf. Seraphie was more shocked by how harshly Lunie insulted Count Mars than by the fact that she was reading her letter.
Well, I guess it makes sense. After all, Lunie had figured out that Count Mars was the one who ordered the arson at her store. Her busy brothers didn’t have time to deal with the youngest’s business. It was clearly her powerful father who had given the orders. Lunie had every reason to feel betrayed.
Once they turn their back, there’s no going back.
People like her were the scariest.
“…What does it say?” Seraphie asked.
“Formal greetings.”
“And?”
“Do you want the summary?”
“What’s the summary?”
“That greedy, filthy, ungrateful bastard of my father—”
“Give it to me.”
Before she could insult him further, Seraphie snatched the letter. Lunie, though still fuming, continued her ledger work.
[Countess Vallidus, I apologize for the rudeness of my son the other day…]
A formal greeting and an apology. It was a classic damage control.
[I understand your feelings, Countess. But Mars Trading Company is the largest distribution network in the empire…]
A veiled threat boasting of their power.
[I sincerely hope we can rebuild trust between us.]
There was also a subtle attempt to share the blame.
Seraphie was baffled. It was a thinly veiled threat disguised as an apology letter.
“…Lu,” Seraphie then asked. “Are you really going to go through with this?”
“Of course.” Lunie’s expression had been stony ever since she read the letter. “If there had been even one word asking after my well-being…” She admitted she might have hesitated. “But you saw it, didn’t you?”
There wasn’t a single mention of her.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it later?”
“I’ll regret it if I don’t do that.”
Sighing deeply, Seraphie nodded. “Alright, then.”
Relief washed over Lunie’s face. “I’ll be counting on you!”
“And I’ll be counting on you.”
They exchanged smiles.
“Though it’s only temporary for now.”
“That’s so petty.” Lunie pouted.
“Master.” Marine entered to announce the arrival of some guests. “Lady and Lord Felicia have arrived.”
“Did you show them to the garden like I asked?”
“Yes, but…” Marine hesitated before sharing unexpected news. “There’s someone else with them.”
* * *
Summer had arrived at the Vallidus estate. The once barren garden had finally regained its lush greenery, making the air feel fresh and clean, while the bright sunlight enhanced the mansion’s vibrant surroundings.
“Is this the feather you mentioned?”
“I don’t sense any strange magic…”
The Felicia siblings inspected the feathers laid out on the table. Before dealing with Count Mars, Seraphie decided to address the most pressing issue first: the feathers. They gathered in the new garden pavilion to discuss Seraphie’s dilemma.
“When did you first find them?” Orkis asked, sounding concerned.
Peonia, meanwhile, pretended to gag in disgust as she examined the feathers.
“The first one appeared in the art gallery.” Seraphie recounted how the first feather had come into his possession.
“…You didn’t mention anything like that back then.”
“Sera, I’m a bit disappointed in you.”
“Was my friend really so gullible? I’m shocked!”
Instead of worrying about the feathers, they were upset with Seraphie for sponsoring the rude Aidal. Naturally, Seraphie just let their complaints wash over her.
“The next feather was at Bia’s house. Then at Lady Felicia’s tea party, and finally…”
“At Lu’s house.” Peonia squinted her eyes after inspecting all four feathers. “There’s nothing strange about them.”
There was no ominous magic nor murderous curses.
“They’re just feathers.”
The only notable thing about them was that they were of such high quality they could be made into luxurious quills.
Despite Peonia’s assurance, Seraphie couldn’t shake her unease. No matter how many times she burned or buried them, the feathers always reappeared in front of her.
“Can I burn one?”
“Please do.”
Seraphie gladly handed the feather to Peonia. With a snap of her fingers, she summoned a small flame. The feather floated in the air and quickly turned to ash. The pile of ash fell gently onto the table.
“Eeh, what the heck.”
Woof! Woof woof! From the corner of the garden, Eks, having just returned from playing with Rara, looked at the ashes on the table and remarked playfully.
“It burned up, didn’t it?”
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