Someone was standing in front of the mirror. No, I slowly realized it. It was a vision, a past I'd seen before.
In the mirror, a blonde woman with green eyes was staring straight at me. That's when I knew I was once again in the maid's body.
The expression "entered the body" might not be accurate. Perhaps this is a complete reflection of the past.
I might be reliving my past life all over again.
In the mirror, I was wearing even more luxurious clothes than before. A brooch hung from my chest, marking me as the head maid of the Duchzan family. I recognized her because her appearance was exactly the same as before.
She had previously been a maid, but now, having gained her master's trust, she seemed to have become the head maid. I touched the brooch with great care, treating it with the utmost affection, as if it were a token of affection.
“Evelyn.”
It seemed like my name was Evelyn. Evelyn turned around hurriedly at the sound of her name being called. Standing there was Isaac Duchzan, a distant ancestor of Julian's who resembled him.
“Your Highness, do you have a headache?”
Isaac frowned and put his hand on his head.
“Somehow, every time I come to my bedroom, you’re there.”
“That’s because the greatest effort was put into Your Highness’s bedroom.”
Evelyn's heart pounded. She seemed overwhelmed with joy at even a shred of Isaac's attention.
But I don't think Isaac was interested in Evelyn. He seemed a bit perplexed by her constant visits to his bedroom.
“Shall I bring you some medicine?”
“It’s okay. It’s just a headache I’ve always had.”
"Your Highness..."
Evelyn muttered with regret.
“Your Highness, I am very sorry to have to tell you this, but I feel it must be done.”
As Evelyn opened her mouth, Isaac's face flushed with fatigue. But Evelyn continued to speak, seemingly unconcerned with Isaac's feelings.
"They say that the first symptom that comes when witches begin casting curses is a headache. But Your Highness, you've been getting headaches frequently lately."
"Stop."
"Ah..."
“I know that too.”
Evelyn, who had been disappointed that Isaac wouldn't listen to her, was secretly delighted. I could feel Evelyn's joy.
“Shall we go look for the Grand Duchess?”
“That’s enough. A woman like that...”
Isaac flatly rejected Evelyn's suggestion. Evelyn was even more delighted than before.
Isaac lay down on the bed, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation. Evelyn stayed a little longer, pretending to tidy up the bedroom.
I found Evelyn's attitude disgusting and disgusting. There was something unpleasant about her love.
Perhaps I feel this way because I feel ashamed of having to face the mistakes I made in my past life.
While I was pondering, a faint groan came from the bed. Evelyn pricked up her ears and walked over to the bed. Beyond the canopy, Isaac's voice muttered in his sleep.
“Come back, Belina...”
The moment she heard that whisper, darkness filled Evelyn's heart. She trembled.
Her eyes seemed to burn red with raw anger. Evelyn stood beyond the canopy for a moment, then slowly walked away.
So that Isaac wouldn't wake up. So that he wouldn't wake up during this dream and realize that he missed Belina.
Evelyn left the bedroom and headed quickly toward a certain room. She opened the door with a familiar expression and entered, searching through the drawers. It seemed to be her room.
She found a small bottle in the drawer. It contained a viscous, bluish liquid. I knew immediately what it was.
The bottle contained the demon's blood. There was only one reason to keep the demon's blood: to use it as poison.
My vision spun rapidly. I felt so dizzy I thought I'd vomit, but I couldn't even do that because I was in someone else's body.
The dizzying scenery continued on, seemingly forever, until it finally came to a halt. I stared at the scene before me, my mind still in a daze.
It was Isaac's bedroom again. Through the gap in the canopy, I saw Isaac's pale face. I felt like I was still inside Evelyn's body. Evelyn held Isaac's hand, tears streaming down her face.
“Your Highness, please find that witch and kill her. If you keep doing this, you’ll truly die from the curse.”
Isaac stared into space and closed his eyes.
"Your Highness!"
Evelyn leaned her tear-stained cheek against Isaac's hand, but Isaac pulled his hand away and turned away.
“...You have hated Belina for a long ago.”
Evelyn stopped crying and stared at the back of Isaac's dark head. Love still existed within Evelyn. But a greater hatred entangled it.
Evelyn pleaded in a voice so frail it was almost pathetic.
“That’s because that witch is trying to deceive, betray, and harm Your Highness. Even now, look at her...”
"Yeah. I know. Belina's trying to kill me."
Isaac spoke with a sigh. His voice was neither cold nor arrogant like before. A deep regret was eating away at him.
"I couldn't trust her. If that appeases her anger, that wouldn't be a bad thing."
It was again. Once again, a pitch-black emotion flooded Evelyn's entire body. Evelyn opened her eyes, tears still streaming down her face. Then she dropped a drop of the demon's blood into Isaac's potion.
"I won't call a doctor since you won't be receiving treatment. But please take this medicine anyway. Ues? At least out of consideration for my goodwill."
As Evelyn continued to urge him, Isaac finally took the potion. He then waved his hand, indicating that he had finished the potion and was ready to leave. Evelyn smiled and tidied up the canopy in front of Isaac.
Evelyn was looking at the man lying beyond the canopy.
Her thoughts flowed into me, too.
'The more painful it gets, the more horrible that witch becomes, right?'
It wasn't the curse that tormented Isaac. It was 'love', something more terrible than the curse.
I felt even more nauseated now than when my vision had been spinning earlier. This was no longer love. It was obsession, selfishness.
I didn't want to be here any longer. I wanted to run away. I screamed inside. I screamed, "Get me out of here!" I cried out, "I don't want to see this horrible sight anymore."
And at this very moment, the person I desperately want to see came to mind.
Julian.
Julian.
I repeated the name over and over again, and then I felt someone grip my hand tightly.
I held his hand and desperately prayed for him to lead me through the darkness. Then, finally, I could breathe, and a pitiful voice came to my ear.
“Layla!”
I hugged the owner of the voice tightly, like someone rescued from drowning. The scent of the person I loved brought me relief.
“Layla, are you awake? Do you recognize me?”
“Julian, Julian...”
"Yes, it's me. Calm down. Take a breath..."
I followed Julian's instructions and took slow, steady breaths. Then, the scenery began to become clearer.
It was an unfamiliar sight. It definitely wasn't the building Count Merlin had given us. I slowly rolled my eyes, as if lost in a trance.
Julian was wearing a black mask instead of his usual white one. Adam was visible over Julian's shoulder as he held me.
My face flushed as I realized I was hugging Julian in front of my younger brother. I slowly pushed Julian's shoulder away.
“It’s okay now.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been unconscious for too long.”
“How much is it?”
Adam shouted at my calm question.
“You’ve been lying down for a week!”
I was startled. My whole body felt weak, and my throat felt parched. Adam must have noticed this, as he quickly poured me some water. I took a sip and exhaled deeply. The next thing I said was "apology."
“Julian, I’m sorry. You even deliberately blocked my magic.”
Julian didn't say anything, neither yes nor no. He just held my hand, his trembling hand tightly. That's how I could tell how surprised he was.
“I’m so sorry.”
I spoke again, trying to force myself. But my voice was so raspy and weak that it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Julian let me go and carefully laid me down on the bed. Even after carefully covering me with the blanket up to my neck, he couldn't take his eyes off me.
“...It’s okay since you’re up.”
It didn't seem to be working out at all... I felt bad for worrying him. Adam seemed worried, too, as he seemed at a loss.
I fiddled with the edge of the blanket and then cautiously asked Adam.
“What about Father and Ruin? Are they worried about me a lot?”
"Of course. Whenever they have time, they come here and check if my sister is awake. Even though they're busy..."
Adam stopped talking and shut his mouth. Judging by his wide eyes, he must have said something he shouldn't have. Even Julian looked at Adam with a sharp gaze.
It was clear something had happened. I sat up a little.
“Are you busy? What’s the matter?”
“Oh, that’s...”
“Young Master Winsley.”
"Hmm..."
Julian, unresponsive, pressured Adam and covered his mouth. Adam, too, was clearly rolling his head, not opening his mouth, as if to say, "Let it be."
'What is this situation?'
In the mirror, a blonde woman with green eyes was staring straight at me. That's when I knew I was once again in the maid's body.
The expression "entered the body" might not be accurate. Perhaps this is a complete reflection of the past.
I might be reliving my past life all over again.
In the mirror, I was wearing even more luxurious clothes than before. A brooch hung from my chest, marking me as the head maid of the Duchzan family. I recognized her because her appearance was exactly the same as before.
She had previously been a maid, but now, having gained her master's trust, she seemed to have become the head maid. I touched the brooch with great care, treating it with the utmost affection, as if it were a token of affection.
“Evelyn.”
It seemed like my name was Evelyn. Evelyn turned around hurriedly at the sound of her name being called. Standing there was Isaac Duchzan, a distant ancestor of Julian's who resembled him.
“Your Highness, do you have a headache?”
Isaac frowned and put his hand on his head.
“Somehow, every time I come to my bedroom, you’re there.”
“That’s because the greatest effort was put into Your Highness’s bedroom.”
Evelyn's heart pounded. She seemed overwhelmed with joy at even a shred of Isaac's attention.
But I don't think Isaac was interested in Evelyn. He seemed a bit perplexed by her constant visits to his bedroom.
“Shall I bring you some medicine?”
“It’s okay. It’s just a headache I’ve always had.”
"Your Highness..."
Evelyn muttered with regret.
“Your Highness, I am very sorry to have to tell you this, but I feel it must be done.”
As Evelyn opened her mouth, Isaac's face flushed with fatigue. But Evelyn continued to speak, seemingly unconcerned with Isaac's feelings.
"They say that the first symptom that comes when witches begin casting curses is a headache. But Your Highness, you've been getting headaches frequently lately."
"Stop."
"Ah..."
“I know that too.”
Evelyn, who had been disappointed that Isaac wouldn't listen to her, was secretly delighted. I could feel Evelyn's joy.
“Shall we go look for the Grand Duchess?”
“That’s enough. A woman like that...”
Isaac flatly rejected Evelyn's suggestion. Evelyn was even more delighted than before.
Isaac lay down on the bed, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation. Evelyn stayed a little longer, pretending to tidy up the bedroom.
I found Evelyn's attitude disgusting and disgusting. There was something unpleasant about her love.
Perhaps I feel this way because I feel ashamed of having to face the mistakes I made in my past life.
While I was pondering, a faint groan came from the bed. Evelyn pricked up her ears and walked over to the bed. Beyond the canopy, Isaac's voice muttered in his sleep.
“Come back, Belina...”
The moment she heard that whisper, darkness filled Evelyn's heart. She trembled.
Her eyes seemed to burn red with raw anger. Evelyn stood beyond the canopy for a moment, then slowly walked away.
So that Isaac wouldn't wake up. So that he wouldn't wake up during this dream and realize that he missed Belina.
Evelyn left the bedroom and headed quickly toward a certain room. She opened the door with a familiar expression and entered, searching through the drawers. It seemed to be her room.
She found a small bottle in the drawer. It contained a viscous, bluish liquid. I knew immediately what it was.
The bottle contained the demon's blood. There was only one reason to keep the demon's blood: to use it as poison.
My vision spun rapidly. I felt so dizzy I thought I'd vomit, but I couldn't even do that because I was in someone else's body.
The dizzying scenery continued on, seemingly forever, until it finally came to a halt. I stared at the scene before me, my mind still in a daze.
It was Isaac's bedroom again. Through the gap in the canopy, I saw Isaac's pale face. I felt like I was still inside Evelyn's body. Evelyn held Isaac's hand, tears streaming down her face.
“Your Highness, please find that witch and kill her. If you keep doing this, you’ll truly die from the curse.”
Isaac stared into space and closed his eyes.
"Your Highness!"
Evelyn leaned her tear-stained cheek against Isaac's hand, but Isaac pulled his hand away and turned away.
“...You have hated Belina for a long ago.”
Evelyn stopped crying and stared at the back of Isaac's dark head. Love still existed within Evelyn. But a greater hatred entangled it.
Evelyn pleaded in a voice so frail it was almost pathetic.
“That’s because that witch is trying to deceive, betray, and harm Your Highness. Even now, look at her...”
"Yeah. I know. Belina's trying to kill me."
Isaac spoke with a sigh. His voice was neither cold nor arrogant like before. A deep regret was eating away at him.
"I couldn't trust her. If that appeases her anger, that wouldn't be a bad thing."
It was again. Once again, a pitch-black emotion flooded Evelyn's entire body. Evelyn opened her eyes, tears still streaming down her face. Then she dropped a drop of the demon's blood into Isaac's potion.
"I won't call a doctor since you won't be receiving treatment. But please take this medicine anyway. Ues? At least out of consideration for my goodwill."
As Evelyn continued to urge him, Isaac finally took the potion. He then waved his hand, indicating that he had finished the potion and was ready to leave. Evelyn smiled and tidied up the canopy in front of Isaac.
Evelyn was looking at the man lying beyond the canopy.
Her thoughts flowed into me, too.
'The more painful it gets, the more horrible that witch becomes, right?'
It wasn't the curse that tormented Isaac. It was 'love', something more terrible than the curse.
I felt even more nauseated now than when my vision had been spinning earlier. This was no longer love. It was obsession, selfishness.
I didn't want to be here any longer. I wanted to run away. I screamed inside. I screamed, "Get me out of here!" I cried out, "I don't want to see this horrible sight anymore."
And at this very moment, the person I desperately want to see came to mind.
Julian.
Julian.
I repeated the name over and over again, and then I felt someone grip my hand tightly.
I held his hand and desperately prayed for him to lead me through the darkness. Then, finally, I could breathe, and a pitiful voice came to my ear.
“Layla!”
I hugged the owner of the voice tightly, like someone rescued from drowning. The scent of the person I loved brought me relief.
“Layla, are you awake? Do you recognize me?”
“Julian, Julian...”
"Yes, it's me. Calm down. Take a breath..."
I followed Julian's instructions and took slow, steady breaths. Then, the scenery began to become clearer.
It was an unfamiliar sight. It definitely wasn't the building Count Merlin had given us. I slowly rolled my eyes, as if lost in a trance.
Julian was wearing a black mask instead of his usual white one. Adam was visible over Julian's shoulder as he held me.
My face flushed as I realized I was hugging Julian in front of my younger brother. I slowly pushed Julian's shoulder away.
“It’s okay now.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been unconscious for too long.”
“How much is it?”
Adam shouted at my calm question.
“You’ve been lying down for a week!”
I was startled. My whole body felt weak, and my throat felt parched. Adam must have noticed this, as he quickly poured me some water. I took a sip and exhaled deeply. The next thing I said was "apology."
“Julian, I’m sorry. You even deliberately blocked my magic.”
Julian didn't say anything, neither yes nor no. He just held my hand, his trembling hand tightly. That's how I could tell how surprised he was.
“I’m so sorry.”
I spoke again, trying to force myself. But my voice was so raspy and weak that it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Julian let me go and carefully laid me down on the bed. Even after carefully covering me with the blanket up to my neck, he couldn't take his eyes off me.
“...It’s okay since you’re up.”
It didn't seem to be working out at all... I felt bad for worrying him. Adam seemed worried, too, as he seemed at a loss.
I fiddled with the edge of the blanket and then cautiously asked Adam.
“What about Father and Ruin? Are they worried about me a lot?”
"Of course. Whenever they have time, they come here and check if my sister is awake. Even though they're busy..."
Adam stopped talking and shut his mouth. Judging by his wide eyes, he must have said something he shouldn't have. Even Julian looked at Adam with a sharp gaze.
It was clear something had happened. I sat up a little.
“Are you busy? What’s the matter?”
“Oh, that’s...”
“Young Master Winsley.”
"Hmm..."
Julian, unresponsive, pressured Adam and covered his mouth. Adam, too, was clearly rolling his head, not opening his mouth, as if to say, "Let it be."
'What is this situation?'
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