Chapter 13
Even recalling it now sent chills down my spine—
The day Igard was purged by Callista.
His corpse, so mangled it was unrecognizable, had been strung up on the castle wall and picked apart by birds.
That image still lingered vividly in my mind.
That was also when Callista began moving in earnest to have me assassinated—
as if she had resolved to remove anyone the Council might see as her replacement.
If only Vittori had lived… maybe she could’ve stopped Callista.
That—was why I was searching for her.
If kind-hearted Vittori had survived, maybe I wouldn’t have lived so long under the threat of assassination.
Well, even if I would’ve had to flee eventually, she could’ve at least bought me some time.
“Milady? Did you hear me?”
Theon’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts.
“I heard you.”
My mind was racing at full speed.
I had found Vittori. I’d even spoken to her. Now there was only one thing left to do.
I had to save her. No matter what—
“Theon.”
I spoke carefully.
“Yes, milady?”
“How much Hwangnokcho root do we have left?”
“…I originally bought thirty roots, but ten of them are no longer usable.”
He tilted his head slightly at the unexpected question.
“Just give me three of them.”
My tone was firm.
“…If you wish, I can give you all ten.”
“No, just three for now. That’s enough to study with.”
I jumped down from the bed and landed in front of Theon with a light hop.
“And tell me how to get to the Academy.”
“…It’s not difficult.”
He looked like he wanted to ask why, but chose not to press further.
My mind, sluggish from sleep, was working furiously now.
There was someone I needed to visit soon.
To Vittori Müller—my future savior.
With a precious gift in hand.
And what better gift for a scholar than a new discovery?
Vittori would begin researching it the moment she saw it.
And she’d be grateful to me.
The perfect gift. And the best gifts, after all, are worth reusing.
What I gave Theon—why not give it again to Vittori?
“Theon, I won’t be going to the library tomorrow.”
After a brief pause, Theon nodded silently.
Vittori, I was too late in a past life—but this time, I’ll protect you.
So that one day, you’ll protect me in return.
✦✦✦
“It’s cold today. Wear this rabbit hat—it matches the socks.”
“Thanks, Theon.”
Classic Theon—always thinking ahead.
Now dressed in my day clothes, I leaned down so Theon could snug the fuzzy hat over my head.
As soon as the hat settled, I thought I saw his lips twitch like he was suppressing a laugh, but maybe it was my imagination.
He didn’t hesitate when I explained I wanted to show the healing effects of Hwangnokcho to Vittori.
He handed me the three roots he’d purchased without complaint.
Not only that, he even wrote a short note describing the herb’s effects and tucked it into my pocket with the roots.
Clutching the bundled Hwangnokcho wrapped in a handkerchief, I stepped out of the room.
The floppy bunny ears drooped on either side of my head, swinging as I walked.
Tap, tap, tap—
Almost skipping down the stairs, I exited the central manor and followed the path behind it toward the Academy.
Creak—
When I opened the white door, a pristine hallway lined with dozens of rooms stretched before me.
Behind each door, I imagined rooms for painters, architects, writers—spaces for all kinds of scholarly pursuits.
This building was commissioned by a former Duke of Luferen to cultivate talent from within the duchy.
Now… where’s the medical lab?
The estate was vast, and my memory of it was vague.
Well, honestly, this was my first time here.
“…Is it this one?”
I stopped in front of the largest room on the first floor.
Luferen had always valued medicine highly, and had produced many great physicians.
Surely the biggest room would be for medical research.
If I was wrong, I’d just say I got lost. I’m a kid, after all.
Knock knock—click.
There was no response, so I pushed the door open and stepped in.
As a Luferen resident, I had the right to access Academy labs freely.
“Whoa…”
Instead of the expected smell of medicine, I was met with neat white bookshelves packed tightly with books and a large, immaculate desk.
The floor was covered with a rich blue carpet that stood out against the white décor.
Smaller than the central library, yes—but far cleaner.
This was clearly someone’s private study.
Immaculate. Probably owned by a perfectionist. High rank, highly intelligent…
“What are you doing in my study?”
Just as I was about to turn and leave, a voice echoed from behind a bookshelf.
Familiar. Chilling. Sharp enough to raise the hair on my neck.
“You’ve got guts, barging in without permission.”
I slowly turned around.
Two tall figures I hadn’t seen earlier were standing near the shelves.
Silver hair cascading down like silk, deep, piercing blue eyes fixed on me.
Callista.
Instinctively, I averted my eyes and looked at the person beside her.
“I thought it might be an assassin… but it’s just a little lady.”
Crimson hair like Vittori’s. Black eyes. A long sword at his hip, hand resting on the hilt.
Only one person at the Academy was allowed to carry a weapon.
Aramis Müller.
“Just because she’s small doesn’t mean she’s not an assassin.”
Callista stepped forward, studying me from head to toe before pointing at the handkerchief in my hand—
specifically the petals poking out.
“Carrying poison? Planning an assassination?”
“N-no! I was going to give it to Vittori—!”
I waved my hands frantically, but Callista frowned deeper.
“So you planned to assassinate your future physician first. Quite strategic.”
“Then you’re in the wrong room.”
Aramis didn’t lower his guard, his gaze cold as he looked down at me beside Callista.
“If you want to kill Vittori, go to the second floor, Lady Harper. This is our lady’s private study.”
…Excuse me?
He seemed perfectly fine selling out his twin if it meant dragging me away from Callista.
“Hwangnokcho, isn’t it? A little causes coughing, a lot causes death.”
Callista casually plucked the herb from my hand, inspecting it with interest.
“It’s not poisonous.”
“Really?”
She smirked, then reached out with her left hand and pinched both my cheeks, prying my mouth open.
“We’ll know if we feed it to you.”
The yellow petals, so pretty and dangerous, came closer to my lips.
I squirmed, trying to pull away, but my body wouldn’t budge.
Just as the petal brushed my lip, Callista tilted her head and lowered her arm.
“…Fascinating.”
“Eh?”
“Last break, you were frail and locked in your room…
But now…”
She let go, then pinched my right cheek again—this time with her thumb and forefinger.
“You’ve gotten so soft and squishy.”
She set the herb down and crouched, pulling at both cheeks with her hands.
Maybe it was all the desserts I’d eaten lately, but my cheeks had definitely plumped up.
What is this? Some new form of Callista torture?
“Aa… aaheyoo.”
“Quiet.”
Ignoring me, Callista continued tugging at my cheeks with great interest.
“Your blue eyes resemble the sea, but there’s a hint of sky in them… like Grandfather’s.”
“Haaah?”
“Yes. He had pale blue eyes just like yours.”
I never met Grandfather. All I knew was that he was far more competent than Father—
Successful in everything except raising his children.
So… is this a curse? That I’ll fail at parenting too?
“A would-be assassin carrying poison in plain sight… not quite as cunning as Grandfather.”
“Ahm naw ann athaathin.”
“And that rabbit hat stands out far too much. No successful assassin would wear that.”
“Ahm naw eeming ta keeel anywan…”
“Then shall we test it on you?”
“Ah naw!”
“Then confess. Maybe I’ll—”
Click—
While Callista was still playing with my cheeks, the study door opened again.
A girl around her age stepped inside.
“Young lady, I was looking for you—huh?”
Dark eyes and red hair just like Aramis.
Softer features, a smaller frame, and a kind smile.
Vittori.
She froze when she saw Callista pinching my cheeks.
I felt warmth spread in my chest.
“You’re here, Vittori.”
“What are you doing to that child?!”
She blinked rapidly before shouting, having taken in the scene.
So kind. Standing up for me. I was touched all over again.
Callista released me and stood, her calm expression unchanged.
“I’m interrogating a would-be assassin in a rabbit hat. She said you’re her target.”
Aramis answered for her with a shrug.
“Then you should’ve told her the second floor! Why are you pinching her cheeks?!”
“I did. I pinched her cheeks because they’re squishy.”
Vittori gently took my hand and pulled me away from Callista.
No one else could have done that.
She smiled warmly and said,
“Little miss, my lab is on the second floor. If you want to assassinate me, please come there next time.”
She said it so casually—just like Aramis.
“I wasn’t trying to kill you…”
How common is assassination here, really?
I knew many were eyeing the Luferen Duchy while its leader was weak,
but this was absurd.
I used to think I was the only one living dangerously in my past life.
Now I remembered—many had died even earlier than me.
I bent down, picked up the Hwangnokcho, and held it out to Vittori.
“This is a gift.”
Well? You like it, don’t you? It’s amazing, you know.
Pushing aside the shame of being cheek-pinched, I gave a proud smile.
“This is…”
“You got your hands on a rare toxic herb.
But it’s useless for assassinations—the petals don’t contain enough poison.
For poison, you’d want a viper or a redcrest bird—”
“It’s not poison! It’s medicine!”
At my shout, all three turned to look at me.
“Medicine…?”
