~CMWDD 11~

Chapter 11

“What? Who came?”

Count Odor froze in surprise when his butler delivered the news. Until now, he had welcomed Grand Duke Dimidius without a single mistake, but the butler’s hesitant approach had already made him uneasy. And now, this was truly a serious matter.

Of all people, it was his innocent, adorable young niece who had arrived without any notice.

Under normal circumstances, even if she showed up unannounced, he would have welcomed her with open arms. But now, it was impossible. Count Odor’s attention was entirely focused on Dimidius, who had come for a negotiation.

Sipping tea together, Dimidius noticed Count Odor’s suddenly darkened expression and asked with a curious tone:

“Is something the matter?”

Those few words sent a flurry of thoughts racing through Count Odor’s mind.

‘Should I just be honest and ask for understanding?’

‘No… Even if my niece is disappointed, it’s better to send her elsewhere.’

‘There are plenty of beautiful villas around.’

Ultimately, having decided to endure his niece’s complaints, Count Odor calmed himself and spoke with the same composed expression he had when first welcoming her.

“It’s nothing, Your Grace. By the way, do you enjoy the jasmine tea?”

He smoothly changed the topic. Though his body trembled slightly when facing Dimidius, he made every effort to conceal it.

Dimidius carefully watched the butler, who had quickly delivered something to Count Odor and left the garden.

Count Odor claimed it was nothing, but Dimidius had a good idea of the news the butler had brought.

He had instructed Killen to monitor the woman with strong divine power, and the butler had conveniently reported her whereabouts.

‘She has arrived at Count Odor’s residence.’

Amused by the unfolding situation, Dimidius smiled.

White flowers swayed gently like calm waves across the vast jasmine field.

Olentia shook her head enough to make her hair flutter and entered the villa. This small, pretty retreat had been built for her uncle, Jack Odor, to take brief rests when inspecting the herb fields. The villa sat right in front of the jasmine garden.

All walls of the living room, except for one, were made of glass, and a velvet-trimmed leather sofa occupied the sunlit center.

A triangular crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, though during the day, sunlight streaming through the windows made it unnecessary to turn it on.

As soon as she entered, Olentia lay straight across the enormous sofa and exhaled. Being alone with Bobby allowed her to relax comfortably.

Some time later, as the sun slowly sank toward the western horizon, Count Odor arrived at the villa.

His thick hair fluttered heavily, and his large, round eyes looked downward.

Upon seeing Olentia, Count Odor clasped his hands together in apology.

“Olentia! My niece! I’m truly sorry.”

Olentia and Jack Odor shared a relationship more like friends than family.

She sat up and crossed her arms firmly, adding a coy expression for effect.

“I’m disappointed in you, Uncle! Leaving me at a villa far from the main house when I’ve come all this way after so long!”

“That’s… also your fault, isn’t it? How could you come without contacting me?”

Olentia quickly softened her expression, not wanting her uncle to get upset. She had only been teasing him.

“Of course, it’s my fault. If it weren’t for the arrival of Grand Duke Belial, you would have welcomed me anytime.”

Only then did Jack Odor open his mouth in astonishment.

“That’s right! My niece! You understand my heart!”

“Enough of the flattery. I’m curious about something, Uncle!”

“I have many questions as well. What on earth happened to bring you here? Three years after your debutante year, are you now managing the inheritance yourself?”

She hadn’t expected the topic of inheritance to come up so quickly.

Though she had many questions about Archbishop Werbu’s whereabouts and about Dimidius, it seemed Count Odor also had a lot he wanted to ask.

Olentia hesitated briefly, then answered honestly.

“Um… Socor doesn’t seem willing to return my inheritance easily. I came here because I was forced into a marriage situation.”

The more she spoke, the grimmer Count Odor’s face became.

Only after explaining everything in detail could she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“…Anyway, that’s why I’m here. It’s exhausting. Being interrogated must feel like this.”

“Interrogation? My Armeniaca Counts right now—”

Jack Odor stood up excitedly, but Olentia grabbed the hem of his frock coat.

“If you interfere, things will only get more complicated. This is a matter of the Armeniaca family; there’s nothing you can do to help.”

“You might not be able to help, but you can find a good match for a husband. You promised that if I married, my dowry and inheritance would be returned. Even a verbal contract has legal effect, niece.”

“I know that, but I don’t want to marry someone I don’t like.”

“I, your uncle, will find someone suitable for you! I may not find the perfect match for my pretty niece, but I’ll try!”

“Unc—!”

Feeling the warmth of family after so long, Olentia felt her heart lighten.

Still seated, she leaned into Count Odor’s arms.

“But… I don’t want anyone introduced by my uncle.”

At her words, Count Odor flinched slightly.

“Why?”

“Being introduced by family is uncomfortable in so many ways.”

She didn’t want a marriage based solely on conditions. Romantic love still held a place in her heart.

That night, the moon shone brightly.

“I ended up talking about myself the whole time… I still haven’t figured out why Archbishop Werbu came to the Odor territory.”

Olentia muttered as she walked through the fragrant jasmine field. She had cleared the lavish dinner her uncle had prepared and now felt stiff, prompting a stroll.

Through her conversation with her uncle, she discovered that the archbishop was currently at the Odor main church. Being an archbishop, it was natural he would stay at the main church.

‘What could have happened at the Odor main church? Did something serious happen for the archbishop to come down here…?’

When she subtly asked her uncle, he evaded the question.

“Niece, you don’t need to know. Tomorrow, come with me to the Odor main church. I can handle the introduction to the archbishop for you.”

Grateful for the offer, Olentia eagerly accepted it.

“Thank you, Uncle!” she said, giving a thumbs-up.

Afterward, Count Odor left to attend the evening dinner.

Olentia twirled around in her pure white dress. The lightweight dress, with few ruffles, made her feel refreshed.

At that moment, she saw a flickering white light in the forest near the jasmine field, like a mirage rising from the ground.

“Oh my! What’s that?”

At first, she thought it was moonlight reflecting, but it was different. The white light wasn’t coming from above—it emanated from within the forest.

‘Is this even possible?’

Drawn naturally toward the light, she stepped from the fragrant jasmine field into a patch of fresh greenery.

Alone, her footsteps were steady. Strangely, she didn’t feel afraid; even the dogwood trees seemed like friends.

Following the light, she stopped when she found it concentrated in one spot.

There, unfamiliar sunflower-like flowers swayed, holding clusters of light within them, almost as if dancing on their own.

Enchanted, Olentia gasped.

“Wow! These are new flowers! Were there flowers that glow?”

It was possible—the world of flowers was endless. She was simply amazed at seeing them for the first time.

At that moment, her Pieta bracelet shimmered white and vibrated slightly side to side.

[Find your true power.]

A strange voice followed.

Startled, Olentia looked around.

“W-what?”

The voice came not to her ears but into her heart. It was the same uncanny sensation she had felt long ago at age twelve, when she nearly fell down the stairs and heard a divine message. Goosebumps ran across her body; her fingers tingled as if electricity passed through them, and her eyes snapped open.

“This can’t be… Did I just hear the divine word? Pieta!”

She stared at the bracelet. The white glow was now gone, but the earlier phenomenon had been real.

‘What happened? Is Pieta finally working?’

She was now 23, having last felt the bracelet’s power three times at age 12—almost 11 years ago.

As Olentia stood momentarily dazed, a low, murmuring voice addressed her:

“…Lady.”

‘What is that?’

Olentia spun around in surprise.

“Ah!”

Standing before her, for reasons unknown, was Grand Duke Dimidius Belial—the same destination as her own.

“G-Grand Duke?”

Olentia’s eyes widened. Her heart fluttered wildly, like an irritable little deer trapped inside her chest. Already excited by the Pieta bracelet, she now worried that Dimidius might have seen her reaction.

After taking a long, steadying breath, Olentia looked at Dimidius curiously.

‘Why on earth is His Grace here?’

He wore a long black cloak and leaf-shaped leather boots. As usual, he donned the intimidating Bauta mask, which seemed eerier than ever.

Perhaps it was because they met deep in the forest.

‘No… Something’s strange. This is a restricted area… He must have come here secretly.’

Unlike Olentia, Dimidius had been formally invited by the Count. Normally, if a guest left the Count’s estate, at least Count Odor or the estate’s knights would accompany him.

Since none were present, Dimidius must have come clandestinely. The reason, however, was unknown.