Chapter 7
“Walter!”
Walter, walking in the courtyard, stopped at the sound of my voice. In the distance, he saw someone running toward us.
The noble girl…?
He narrowed his eyes. Even upon a closer look, it was definitely Selenia.
“Good to see you again, Miss.”
He tucked the documents he was holding under his arm and bowed respectfully.
“What brings you here?”
“Oh, I was just wandering around the mansion and felt a bit restless…”
Walter nodded and studied Selenia carefully.
While catching her breath, she looked around at the flowers and trees planted in the garden.
She’s not someone who usually enjoys walks.
Then Selenia spoke.
“Nothing much. I called you because I have a question.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“When is the next education session?”
“Education session?”
Walter tilted his head. After a moment of thought, he said, “Ah,” and looked at Selenia.
“Do you mean the day the priest is scheduled to visit?”
Selenia hesitated for a moment, then her eyes lit up.
“Yes!”
“I was just about to tell you. Priest Meyer has scheduled it for three days from now.”
“Three days from now?”
“Yes. Do you have any other plans that day?”
“Oh, no. I was just curious.”
Walter nodded. Then, looking at her, he added,
“You’ve always followed Priest Meyer very well, haven’t you, Miss?”
“…Did I?”
The noble girl muttered, furrowing her brows slightly. Walter looked at her curiously.
But she said no more. She simply turned and ran off down the path she came from after saying, “Alright, got it. See you later!”
Walter tilted his head again.
He didn’t know why, but she seemed to be in a very good mood.
She used to throw a fit if the schedule was even slightly delayed…
Walter stared blankly at Selenia’s retreating back in the empty garden.
Whenever he had come to deliver messages from the Duke or the education schedule, she would glare at him as if he were an insect.
“Get out of my room! I said I’m not going to eat! Didn’t you hear me? Go away!”
Throwing things and shouting at him with those fierce eyes were normal for her. But now…
How could someone suddenly change like this?
Earlier today, she had come to the dining table obediently.
After two whole years.
And just a moment ago…
She had waved goodbye cheerfully and said to see him again.
Walter narrowed his eyes, staring at the now-empty garden.
Was it really such a sudden wound that could heal this quickly?
It had been the day when rain poured from the sky.
In the dark room, Selenia had been sitting by the wide-open window, screaming.
Her white nightgown soaked in rain, gradually stained with blood of unknown origin.
The curtains whipped violently in the wind, and a thunderstorm raged outside, accompanied by crashing thunder.
Tears streaming down her face, Selenia shone like a lightning flash.
That had been eight years ago.
“Alright, this section is dresses. These are the indoor clothes the tailor recently adjusted, and these are the going-out clothes…”
I sat on the bed, looking at the colorful clothes Anna was showing me.
I knew it! How many outfits are there?
I couldn’t help wiggling in excitement.
“These are hats, gloves, and shoes… oh my.”
Anna hesitated, then looked at me.
“Speaking of shoes, Miss, are your heels okay? Last time they were worn out.”
Anna came closer, checking my feet. I pulled them back, embarrassed.
“Oh? It’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”
“But the blisters are bigger than I thought. Maybe we should call a doctor…”
“Ah, come on. It’s just my heels. If you want, buy something nice for yourself instead.”
Anna stopped talking and stared at me.
“Miss…”
Her green eyes seemed touched. Flustered, I muttered,
“I mean… it’ll heal soon anyway…”
Anna nodded slowly, understanding. Then, with a proud look, she said,
“You know, you’ve been changing lately, Miss.”
“Me? Really?”
“Yes! You seem gentler, less angry. Even today, you agreed to eat with the master—I was so grateful.”
I recalled the stern face of Duke Tigerys in the dining room and nodded.
After two years, it’s natural for Anna to react like that.
“Yes, Anna must have had a hard time because of me. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, not at all! I’m just thankful that you’ve finally opened your heart!”
Opened my heart?
Anna wiped her eyes with her sleeve, smiling. I tilted my head but understood soon enough.
Of course. I’ve been unusually calm compared to my usual mischief—Anna must be bewildered.
Looking at Anna, a thought suddenly struck me, and I got up from the bed.
“Right. I should go check the study.”
“The study? You mean the library?”
“Hmm? Yes, the library! There’s a book I want to see.”
“Oh, then let’s go together. I need to stop by the laundry anyway. It’s about time to bring out the winter clothes.”
I nodded quickly.
Besides the cryptic conversation I overheard when I got lost, there was something I wanted to find out as soon as possible.
Thankfully, this mansion has a library.
Wow.
I stared wide-eyed at the towering bookshelves, at least three meters tall.
The rows of books seemed endless.
It’s massive.
The Tigerys mansion’s library was even larger than I imagined.
Considering how huge the mansion itself was, it wasn’t surprising—but my excitement wouldn’t calm down.
“I’ll bring some snacks later. You’ll still be here in the library, right?”
I nodded amidst the chaos, and Anna said, “See you later,” before leaving.
I approached the nearest bookshelf first.
My eyes quickly scanned the spines, then stopped at one.
History of the Ervia Empire
The bold letters caught my attention.
Though it was a language I hadn’t seen before, I understood it as if I already knew it.
So I can read the script of this world.
Relieved, I pulled a book from the shelf. It had a brown leather cover.
All About Manifestation Powers
I traced the gold-embossed title with my finger.
This should do.
I needed to find out why I, someone without manifestation powers, collapsed after drinking the God’s Tears, and the cause of the unpleasant pain I felt then.
Manifestation means awakening a divine ability in humans.
Historically, it began with the “first humans” and continued through the royal bloodlines.
Manifested powers vary widely—from elemental abilities used for attack to mental control powers like brainwashing or taming.
Ancient records even mention powers to control nature, such as calling rain or summoning wind.
Manifestation usually occurs between ages ten and fifteen…
I snapped the book shut. My stiff neck cracked as I turned it.
So many useless details.
I tossed the book onto a pile of other books, blinking my tired eyes.
I had gone through several books, but none mentioned God’s Tears or its side effects.
“Why isn’t it here?”
I clearly saw it in the novel. Selenia had somehow obtained God’s Tears and used it to drive Eria to death.
She wasn’t even a genius, so she probably got help from an assistant.
But how could a substance with such terrifying effects have zero mention?
I had searched through all these books.
I sighed, rubbing my tired eyes. Then a ridiculous thought crossed my mind.
It’s as if nobody even knows this drug exists.
I paused.
…Wait, that’s it.
I slapped my knee and jumped up.
They don’t know about the drug yet!
If none of the authors of all these books knew about God’s Tears, the answer was clear.
God’s Tears must be a drug never revealed in this world. But that raised another question.
Then where did Selenia get it from?
Anna had said it was “the medicine Miss gave her.”
So Selenia must have gotten it from somewhere and given it to Anna.
Who gave it to her?
A strange sense of unease crept over me. I remembered the conversation in the secluded corridor earlier.
There’s something in the story that wasn’t in the novel.
Something surrounding Selenia.
I swallowed hard. There were more than one or two oddities.
Even as a villain, Selenia was only seventeen.
And yet she was planning to kill someone she disliked? With a drug?
I took a deep breath and shook my head.
No way. Being a brat is one thing, but killing someone is entirely different.
Rubbing my palms together, I muttered, There’s something here… there’s something…
“Who’s there?”
The sudden voice startled me. I stepped back and stumbled, almost tripping over my skirt.
