Chapter 11
While unconscious, Gremory dreamed of a dark time from her past.
Inside a grand castle, witches were indulging in extravagant desserts. The treats looked no different from those in the human world.
Most witches had been exposed to human food since childhood, so eating desserts posed no issue. Though such food couldn’t fill a witch’s stomach, the taste was enjoyable enough.
But Gremory had always been fed only raw, dripping meat. Her mother, who always shared meals with her, did the same.
Her mother’s expression then was hard to read—somewhere between crying and laughing.
Even after hearing such cruel words, Gremory felt nothing. She had never learned or experienced emotions to begin with.
But that changed after meeting her human friend, Renia.
Renia cried. Gremory couldn’t understand her tears.
Renia pulled Gremory into an embrace, stroking her hair. Gremory simply stayed silent in her arms, wondering about the strange, warm feeling bubbling up in her chest.
Renia showed her around the village she lived in. The green fields, clear streams, and blue sky brought an unfamiliar peace to a corner of Gremory’s heart.
Then night fell. The two lay in the field, gazing at the constellations.
Gremory let out a faint laugh. It felt as if emotions long buried deep within her were sprouting, one by one.
But Renia died before she could keep that promise. While Gremory was briefly away in the demon realm, a witch possessed by a demon beast devoured Renia’s soul—all to isolate Gremory and bind her completely to the demon realm.
While Gremory remained unconscious, chaos erupted in Edel Grand Duke’s residence. Isollen, who had personally brewed the tea, collapsed in guilt-ridden sobs.
Cheshion examined all the tea leaves Isollen had used. But everything was clean—no trace of poison that could make someone vomit blood upon drinking.
In Gremory’s bedroom, Cheshion questioned Anna, who had been present at the scene.
After Anna left, Cheshion turned to the healer.
Once the healer was dismissed, Cheshion placed a warmth-infused magic orb in Gremory’s hand.
Frowning deeply, he crossed his arms.
It was also strange how peaceful the mansion had become after feeding her the black goat. Black goats were widely known as sacrifices favored by witches and demons. Had offering one to Mori led her to maintain the mansion’s peace?
But just in case—just in case—what if brewing tea from flowers that strengthen witches could neutralize the effects of the Lilkene tea?
He needed black tea leaves—the leaves of the Ophun flower, said to empower witches.
Cheshion hurried to the maids’ lounge, where detox specialists were inspecting Isollen’s tea leaves. Slipping past them, he grabbed a handful of black leaves.
Soon after, Anna entered Gremory’s room with Ophun tea brewed under Cheshion’s orders.
Anna quickly stepped aside after passing the tray. Cheshion set it down, scooped a spoonful of the black liquid, and poured it into Gremory’s mouth.
Then—
Gremory, who had been motionless until now, began writhing in pain.
Cheshion propped Gremory up while Anna fed her the black tea. Gremory gulped it down like a parched madwoman. Anna quickly refilled the cup. After three cups, Gremory finally returned to normal.
Cheshion’s expression was deadly serious as he studied her face.
Cheshion sighed in relief—but also in inexplicable anguish.
What was he supposed to do now? Was she truly a witch? Or was she just a human with an extreme adverse reaction to Lilkene tea, as Anna said?
Countless conjectures swirled in Cheshion’s mind, but his final conclusion was simple: he was overthinking mere coincidence.
Witches didn’t exist in this world.
Meanwhile, Gremory was relieved to have woken from her nightmare. She had been scared—terrified that the nightmare was reality, that her brief time at Edel Grand Duke’s residence was just a pleasant dream.
She was glad to still be here, in this mansion. Well, technically, the nightmare was reality too, but the present mattered more.
And the fact that someone was this worried about her made her chest tingle. She recognized this feeling—she had felt it once before with Renia.
The warmth when someone cares for you.
Gremory looked at Cheshion’s stiff face and smirked.
Gremory glanced at Cheshion’s ear for no reason. His earhole was definitely wide open.
