‘If I could figure out who this is, everything might start to make sense.’
But with no name or address to go on, there was no way to find any clues.
“The letters stopped, meaning either Eloise sent some sort of signal, or the other person already knew what had happened….”
No matter how much I thought about it, no one came to mind who could fit the description.
“…Ugh, my head hurts.”
Thinking so hard had left me feeling nauseous.
Oddly enough, the first thing that came to mind after piecing all this together wasn’t going back home, Diana, or even Eloise—it was Ian’s face.
If I were to suddenly return to my original world, just as abruptly as I had been brought into Eloise’s body….
‘I’d never see Ian again.’
The thought alone was enough to make my throat tighten, as if someone had poured water down it.
Caught in shallow contemplation, I shook my head.
“No, there’s no point in worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet. Besides, I still have so much to do here.”
Despite my words, the tangled threads in my mind showed no signs of unraveling.
Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath.
“Pull yourself together. Start by reading through every single one of these letters.”
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day, I left the ducal estate under the pretext of wanting some fresh air, with Vivi in tow.
After locking myself in my study and poring over the letters all day yesterday, I had managed to glean a few key details:
The so-called “friend” mentioned in the letters had discussed a way for Eloise to vanish without a trace. Additionally, Eloise had regularly visited the gypsy quarters to gather information about “magic.”
“Madam, are you sure this is the right way?”
Panting as she hurried after me, Vivi asked nervously.
“Yes, it is. Keep up.”
“But it’s so gloomy here….”
Of course it is. It’s the gypsy district, after all.
“That’s precisely why we’re here.”
I answered firmly, scanning my surroundings.
To be honest, I wasn’t entirely confident either.
The letters only mentioned a vague location, and I was relying on Eloise’s lingering instincts to guide me as I walked aimlessly.
It had to be somewhere around here.
Frustrated, I rubbed my forehead, only to freeze mid-motion.
A particular alleyway had caught my eye.
‘…Hmm?’
Frowning slightly, I fixed my gaze on it.
I couldn’t explain why, but I felt an overwhelming urge to ditch Vivi and head into that alley.
Given my past experiences, this was undoubtedly Eloise’s body reacting on instinct.
“…Vivi?”
“Yes, Madam!”
Vivi came running at my call, her head tilted in curiosity.
Still focused on the alley, I spoke.
“I’m feeling a bit thirsty. Could you fetch me some water?”
“Water?”
“Yes, I’ll wait here.”
Vivi blinked a few times, her expression uncertain.
“But… will you be alright? It’s so deserted here, and we didn’t bring any guards today….”
“It’s broad daylight.”
I gave her a look that said, You should know better by now.
Finally catching on, Vivi straightened her posture.
“Oh, um, alright then. I’ll go quickly! But you have to stay here, okay?”
“Of course.”
Even after agreeing, Vivi hesitated, glancing back at me several times before reluctantly leaving.
Once she was completely out of sight, I turned and walked toward the alley.
Despite it being my first time here, my feet moved as if I had walked this path countless times before.
I crossed through the shadowy alley, the dim light making it feel darker than it should have been, until I found myself standing in front of an old, decrepit building.
There was no sign or indicator of what this place might be—just a gloomy wooden door that seemed almost unwelcoming.
‘…Isn’t this a bit too shady for a duchess to visit?’
But while my mind hesitated, my body insisted this was the right place.
After a brief moment of indecision, I cautiously pushed the wooden door open.
The air inside was heavy with an overwhelming scent that hit me like a wave.
“Ugh.”
I wrinkled my nose, waving a hand to dispel the smell.
As the smoke cleared, a dimly lit interior came into view.
I took a slow step inside when—
Clunk.
The door shut behind me without warning, and a rough, phlegm-filled voice echoed from the shadows.
“Well, well. A familiar face has come to visit.”
“……”
“Or… is it not?”
Through the hazy air, a hunched old woman emerged.
She wore a dark robe pulled low over her face, yet she seemed to recognize me perfectly.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Heh heh, of course I do.”
Clicking her tongue, the old woman chuckled before pausing to add,
“Or perhaps I don’t.”
Her ambiguous words felt like she was teasing me.
“Regardless, welcome. I always thought you—or rather, she—would come here eventually.”
A faint smile curled beneath the shadow of her hood.
“By the looks of it, she… found a way, didn’t she? How curious it is to witness it in person.”
Though her eyes were hidden, I felt as though she was staring straight through me.
I froze.
“…What?”
“Heh heh heh.”
The eerie sound of her laughter filled the space between us.
I slowly stepped forward, standing before the old woman who sat comfortably.
“What exactly do you mean by that…?”
Could it be? Did she know everything, even that I wasn’t Eloise?
Frowning, I asked,
“Who exactly is this ‘she’ you keep referring to?”
“You already know better than anyone, don’t you? She is no longer here. You’re the one who has taken her place, after all.”
Shrugging, the old woman spoke in her raspy, phlegm-filled voice.
By now, it was clear even to a fool.
‘She’ referred to the real Eloise, not me.
A hollow laugh escaped my lips.
“So there was someone who knew all along?”
At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth Eloise had been thinking.
‘Did she really use magic or something?’
As if reading my expression, the old woman snorted and propped her chin on both hands.
“Sometimes, desperation can create miracles. Humans are quite capable of extraordinary feats, you know.”
“…Miracles?”
“There’s no better word for it. Sitting before me now, you—the ‘outsider’—are proof of that, aren’t you?”
My body flinched involuntarily.
The word outsider struck a familiar chord within me.
“…Speak plainly.”
Though my tone had turned sharp, the old woman remained unfazed, exuding an air of unbothered composure.
She gently traced the red velvet tablecloth with her wrinkled fingertips.
“Ah, forgive me, but there’s not much I can tell you. I told her the same—I’m merely an old woman offering assistance where I can.”
“So, you mean to say you helped Elo—”
“Shh.”
She raised a finger to her lips, the pitch-black nail glinting faintly in the candlelight.
“Sharing too much isn’t wise. The time isn’t right yet.”
“…What?”
“But I can offer you one thing.”
The old woman let out a raspy chuckle.
“Desperation may have birthed a miracle, but it’s far from perfect. Things are unstable… precarious.”
Speaking in a tone that seemed genuinely regretful, she beckoned me closer.
“Why don’t you come here instead of talking from over there?”
When I hesitated, frowning, she chuckled as if she’d expected my reaction.
Then, she reached for something and placed it on the table with a clatter.
It was a crude-looking bracelet.
“You must be feeling confused, seeing things you shouldn’t. This will serve as a temporary fix.”
“What…?”
“Don’t be so wary. I’m merely an old woman who enjoys interesting things.”
She spoke as if she understood everything, her voice gentle yet unnervingly confident.
Before I could stop her, the bracelet disappeared from the table and reappeared on my left wrist.
“What?”
Before I could even react, the bracelet seemed to dissolve into thin air, vanishing entirely.
“What did you just do to me?”
“A small bit of help, that’s all.”
Beneath her hood, her wrinkled lips curled into a sinister smile.
Then, tilting her head, she let out a soft exclamation.
“My, you should be going now. Your little maid is drawing near.”
Before I could protest, a sudden gust of wind swept through, pushing me out of the room with such force that I could barely stay upright.
“Ugh!”
Instinctively, I raised my arm to shield myself from the wind.
Amidst the howling gusts, a faint voice—half wind, half whisper—lingered in my ears.
—And beware of your ‘friend.’
• • •
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