Episode 58
It turned out that waiting for Rosalind to visit me again was quicker than using Liam to sneak out and meet Kenneth.
Rosalind crossed the threshold of the Duke’s estate under the pretense of delivering the goods I had ordered.
When the maid informed me that the items had arrived, a strange sense of anticipation washed over me, similar to the nerves one might feel before an important exam.
Effort never betrays, and in the end, I succeeded in igniting the flame.
The flame I had conjured didn’t burn me or the book; instead, it flickered in the air, as if staring back at me before it quietly died out.
A peculiar sensation enveloped me, like sand slipping through my fingers.
I stared at the space where the flame had been for a while.
So, this is what magic feels like.
KNOCK KNOCK
“The merchant wishes to see you, my lady.”
“Alright, let her in.”
As the maid opened the door, Rosalind stepped inside.
She bowed, then slowly straightened up, her eyes cast down, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“Come in. Thank you for coming all this way.”
“It’s my honor to be summoned,” she replied.
“You’re here to settle the remaining payment, right? Please, have a seat.”
I gestured for Rosalind to sit across from me, then instructed the maid to ensure no one else entered while we handled the transaction.
The servants quietly left the room, likely assuming we were discussing money matters and wanted privacy.
“Did you succeed?” Rosalind asked.
Instead of answering, I drew the magic circle on a piece of paper.
After a brief incantation, flames sprang to life on the table.
“Impressive. You have a talent for this,” Rosalind remarked.
As the flames died down, I noticed her expression had turned serious. I had thought she was merely being polite, but perhaps she meant it.
“If you had been born with magical power, you could have become a grand sorceress.”
“…Really?” I asked, my tone skeptical.
Rosalind raised an eyebrow.
“Have you ever known me to make empty compliments?”
She shook her head slightly, as if to emphasize her sincerity.
It was surprising to hear her praise, and I felt a bit of excitement.
But Rosalind, ever the enigma, added with a hint of irony, “But since you weren’t born with magical power, it’s all rather moot, isn’t it?”
“This magic can only be performed once by a single person.”
With those words, Rosalind began to explain further.
She told me that the magic involved using a person’s soul, and even those born with magical power could only use it once to create a new body.
“So, if you’re unhappy with the new fate you’ve chosen, you can’t just use the magic to switch bodies again.”
Rosalind then picked up a pen, offering to write down the ingredients I would need for the magic.
As I watched her jot down the list of items, I decided to ask what had been on my mind.
“I have a question.”
Rosalind glanced up at me, her eyes curious.
Taking a deep breath, I continued, “Can you tell me specifically what you meant by ‘something precious’ that must be given up?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I mean, I can’t say for sure. Accepting a new fate means that the side effects, or what you must give up, are unknown until the magic is activated.”
I hadn’t expected a clear answer, but I was surprised that even Rosalind couldn’t provide one.
After a moment of contemplation, I asked.
“What did you give up, Rosalind?”
Instead of replying, Rosalind lifted the hem of her skirt.
I watched in silence as she lifted her skirt, revealing her bare legs.
Both of her legs were covered in red welts.
“This is nothing,”
She said, almost dismissively, as she let her skirt fall back into place.
“I…”
Rosalind paused for a moment, closing her eyes before reopening them. Her emerald eyes seemed to waver as if caught in a gust of wind.
“In trying to escape my fate, I encountered even greater despair.”
Whether it was due to the law of causality or something deeper within her, Rosalind avoided giving specific details.
With no way to ask further, I remained silent, lost in thought.
“Of course, not everyone ends up like me. Some people find new happiness in their new bodies,” she said, turning her head away with a bitter smile.
“This magic… You may escape death by transferring your soul to a new body, but it’s possible that an even greater suffering could await you.”
Rosalind’s voice was barely a whisper.
Though I thought I was prepared, something inside me crumbled at her words.
“My previous fate was to kill the person I loved with my own hands, and now… my fate is to watch the one closest to me die.”
“That’s why you couldn’t keep Artheus close,”
I said, understanding dawning on me.
She had to let go of Artheus because of her changed fate.
“That’s right.”
Rosalind acknowledged with a smile, praising my insight.
“But what if the fate you change to requires you to kill the person you love?” she asked, her lips curling into a beautiful, dangerous smile—a reminder of the witch she truly was.
“If you avoid the fate of death, it will create problems for those connected to you in some way.”
“I…”
My head drooped, feeling the weight of her words.
The silence around us sharpened my senses, bringing the warmth of the afternoon sun, the comforting air in the room, and the soft lavender scent that filled the estate into focus.
Yes, lavender.
I lifted my head again, though my vision was blurry.
“If that’s the case, I would give up.”
“Oh, dear,” Rosalind tilted her head slightly.
For someone usually so composed and cold, she seemed almost pitying as she looked at me. I tried to smile at her—or at least, I thought I did.
Rosalind pointed out my mistake.
“You’re crying.”
The moment she said it, I felt a tear drop onto the back of my hand.
* * *
Not knowing what consequences might arise, I decided to reconsider performing the body-switching magic.
I expected to feel much more conflicted, but apart from a slight weariness, I was surprisingly calm.
It was a quiet night.
I rose from my bed and opened the terrace door.
A rush of cool air swept into the room, carrying with it the whispers of the night.
The moonlight glistened on the terrace’s marble floor.
The hem of my nightgown brushed against my legs as I walked barefoot onto the terrace.
The stone felt cool beneath my feet, making a soft slapping sound as I stepped.
Just as I reached out to place my hand on the terrace railing, something dark and large swooped down over me.
Startled, I stumbled back, too shocked to even scream, and shut my eyes tight.
When I opened them again, I saw Igon descending from the railing.
I suddenly remembered that his new room was directly above mine.
“Did I scare you? Sorry. I heard the window open and couldn’t resist.”
“Igon…”
I placed a hand over my pounding heart, calling his name in a low, reprimanding voice.
Standing in the moonlight, he smiled at me, his grin sparkling like the stars. He pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on my shoulder.
His sparkling presence left me speechless, my mouth hanging open slightly in awe.
In his embrace, the scent of lavender mingled with the night breeze, filling my senses.
“What were you doing?” he asked.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Is that so?”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me slightly, allowing me to rest my head against his shoulder as the moonlight bathed us.
His hand, which had been resting on my shoulder, began to move slowly, massaging my shoulders and back with gentle but firm pressure.
A deep, quiet sigh escaped me, almost like a breath of relief.
I nuzzled my forehead against his shoulder.
“Eve.”
He called my name.
But this time, it wasn’t the casual, meaningless way he usually did—it was a call that demanded a response.
“Yes?”
“Can you sing that lullaby you used to sing for me?”
I was surprised by his request. Wasn’t he the one trying to put me to sleep?
Even though it was an odd request, I recalled the lyrics of the lullaby I had sung for him before. At first, I was the one who sang it, but eventually, Igon had memorized it and would sing it to me instead.
It had been a while since I last sang, and my voice was far from perfect.
I wasn’t talented in singing any more than I was in dancing.
But as I sang, Igon looked at me as if he was enchanted, smiling softly as though the melody was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.
Seeing him like that made me smile too, filled with a warm happiness.
Yes, Igon truly was everything to me.
* * *
Kenneth sent me another secret letter.
It said to meet him at midnight tomorrow at the location he had mentioned before.
Even though I had decided to reconsider switching bodies, I couldn’t resist the urge to meet Kenneth.
Perhaps, I foolishly thought, he might know something that could change my fate without having to resort to that magic.
I wasn’t sure if Kenneth had picked the time deliberately, but it just so happened that Igon was attending a noble’s assembly at the palace that night.
Whenever one of these meetings was held, he would stay at the palace for three days.
With Igon away from the estate, the surveillance on me would be less strict, making tomorrow night the perfect opportunity.
That meant I needed to persuade Liam quickly.
Knowing he was usually at the training grounds, I headed there.
When I arrived, my prediction was correct.
Liam was there, practicing with his sword.
The moment I spotted his familiar figure, I asked a nearby attendant to call him over.
It wasn’t common for me to seek him out, but since Liam often served as my personal guard, the servants didn’t find my request too surprising and promptly called for him.
I could feel the gazes of several people in the training grounds turning towards me.
Liam heard the attendant’s call and turned his head.
His eyes met mine, and he gave me a small nod before walking towards me, wiping the sweat from his brow with a towel.
“My lady,” he said as he approached, bowing respectfully.
I acknowledged his greeting with a nod.
“Liam.”
“What brings you here?” he asked.
The attention of everyone in the training grounds was now focused on us.
Liam stepped in front of me, subtly blocking their view.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Unsure if it was safe to speak here, I glanced around before Liam led me to a small room in the corner of the training grounds.
“Please, go ahead,” he said.
I took a deep breath.
Lying wasn’t easy for me.
A small but persistent sense of guilt weighed on my chest.
“I’ve found the whereabouts of my family. I want to sneak out to meet them. Can you help me?”
I kept my voice low, wary of any eavesdroppers.
Liam’s eyes widened in surprise, and he looked down, his gaze averted. He didn’t respond immediately, and an uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
‘Is he going to refuse?’
From the moment I decided to use Liam, I had anticipated this possibility.
He was a loyal knight to the Duke’s estate, so it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had said no.
At the very least, I hoped he would keep my request a secret from Igon.
Just as I was about to let out a sigh and speak again, he responded.
“…I will help you.”
I looked up at him, unsure if I had heard correctly.
“I will help you,” he repeated, his tone resolute, as if he was convincing himself.
It must have been a significant decision for him.
As a trusted knight of the Duke, he was now going against the Duke’s wishes.
His loyalty and willingness to help, despite the risk, brought a smile to my face.
