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Chapter 8
As soon as he was finished, Ian sighed heavily. April, for the first time, noticed that his eyes were shaking and that his face was red due to embarrassment, which made him drop his head down. Now that he had revealed his disgrace, it was only natural for him to react that way.
On the contrary, it was surprising that he replied gently. He must have been desperate for the cure because he had already shown it once.
“I’m sorry. I must’ve made you uncomfortable.”
“Is it not laughable for you to hear this?”
“How can I think that way about someone’s illness? No matter how much I am crazy about money, I chose to be a pharmacist solely for the purpose of helping people. I don’t take any kind of illness lightly.”
“…..Fine, Klaus will lead you the way.”
He said as he got up from his seat, ending the conversation. It was clearly visible that he wasn’t comfortable with this type of conversation.
April glanced up at him as she followed him. His face, which was away from the setting sunlight, seemed lonely.
***
She didn’t know how a week passed so quickly. April entered the pharmacy, still brooding over her conversation with Ian. As usual, the closets were full of medicinal herbs and books.
“Rill, you’ve got a reply from the court.”
“Yes, I came here as soon as I could!”
“You know, I had to receive it when I went to the post office today. You should write your address properly next time, girl.”
Dalia handed over the mail to April. Upon opening the envelope bearing the mark of the Court of Carleva, a handwritten letter from the Chief of the court appeared. Grasping the paper with her trembling hands, she fixed her eyes on its contents.
《The deadline is less than half a year away. You’ll be having twice as much as you have now, but we cannot permit you to get the Witzer Mansion back. As long as your family has committed a felony, you will not be able to restore your title.
So, I hope you will not risk your life for useless things.》
The letter contained contempt for the murderer’s child, but April, who was used to being cursed, did not care.
However, the last sentence scratched her mind. It tore her mind to pieces, confirming what she knew, that it made her furious again.
“Dalia, I need a break.”
She thought she needed a good sleep as she was tired and became restless from all these things.
She threw the letter on the desk before crouching down on the sofa and closing her eyelids.
‘Is it really useless? Does it have no meaning?’
While repeating the same question, again and again, she was slowly pushed into a deep slumber. As if her body was slowly sinking into the deep, dark ocean.
As the black mist that had blocked her sight lifted, blazing flames covered her vision everywhere she set her eyes upon. On a night when the fire was burning brightly, people gathered in droves.
“Kill the witch!”
At someone’s clamor, April cast her eyes towards the center of the flames. There she saw her mother, Elise, bound to a pillar and buried inside the flames.
“Mother!”
The flames gradually emerged, swallowing Elise, and soon found their way to April as if they were dancing with the flow. The moment they were about to touch her body, April floundered out of the flames.
“Gasp!”
When she opened her eyes, the familiar image of her lab came into view. The room was deafeningly quiet. The drugs that were brought in today were all piled up on the workbench. April curled up, her face buried in her lap, catching up on her breath.
A short nightmare that reminded her of the real nightmare that happened 10 years ago.
***
It was the day after Elise was murdered. The day 3 years after the death of the Witzer family.
“My mother wasn’t that kind of person…”
Fourteen-year-old April muttered in front of the verdict.
It was true that her mother, Elise Witzer, was originally the only distant descendant of a witch who had settled in the northern region of Carleva.
But of course, the word ‘witch’ always had a different meaning to the people.
The special ability of a witch could be used as a double-edged sword, in making medicines and in making poisons.
Elise had to take over the duty of taking care of her family after the departure of her husband. Elise tried to blend in with the society, but it didn’t work. In the north, where the male aristocrats were more influential and neglected other provinces, it was difficult for Elise to live as the only head of her house.
“A double-edged sword…..”
As April unfolded her fingers, a speck of white light hovered like dust. It was the evidence that proves she inherited the power that was only restricted to a few girls.
‘What is this ability for? Saving or hurting people?’
‘Yes, if it is used correctly, it will brighten up my life.’
April looked down at the red leather notebook on the floor. It was what her mother had always treasured.
After she was gone, there were only two of her belongings that were left with April. That notebook and a bracelet that she was wearing at that particular moment.
However, the bracelet was meant to be kept away from her. It, with a thin black band adorned with blue jewels, was far from being flashy. A light like that of cloudy moonlight appeared on the jewels before completely fading away.
“You’re lying. It isn’t true!”
A sharp voice resonated through the deserted mansion. April curled up her fingers into a fist.
The Court of Carleva, who said 30 women were killed, was apparently at peace before the trial. No screams were heard and there were no hideous rumors.
But it was a noble meeting.
“What’s not true, daughter of Witzer?”
Suddenly, a low thick voice rang from behind. Realizing that she was not alone in the mansion, April turned her head tinglingly.
“Count Gridler!”
On the large corridor, stood a bulky, middle-aged man. He was Orville Gridler, one of the men who was beholden to the Witzer family.
He seemed to have casually entered this house when all of its members were absent. April quickly hid her wrist, which had the bracelet, behind her other hand.
“You don’t mind my presence, do you? This mansion will now be handed over to the court anyway.”
He grinned as he had done when Elise was sentenced to death. Now, he seemed more relaxed and also had a condescending smile on his face.
“How dare you talk like that about my mother?! Even after she’s lent all the money you’ve asked for!”
“Isn’t that the problem? She was too lenient.”
Elise, who took over all the power of her deceased husband, always kept a close eye on not on her family, but also on society. She also lent a large sum of money to those who were suffering from the lack of wealth in the aristocracy.
But the nobles of Carleva were not at all pleased with a young widow with wealth, power, and even a special ability.
“The witch’s property will be handed over to the court by the time you turn 20, and you will never get it back unless you collect money for the next five years. You know what I mean, don’t you?”
“….I don’t understand.”
“I am assigned as your guardian! And in this way, I can even get a part of that property.”
To save the Witzer mansion and its great wealth from getting passed over to the court, April as its heir, had to prove Elise’s innocence or pay an enormous amount of compensation. As far as she knew, Count Gridler’s strength wasn’t enough.
“How could you not have that amount of money…..”
“When did I ever tell you?! Now, please sign it.”
Gridler pulled a white envelope out of his coat, with a pleased smile on his face. It belonged to Count Liszt, who was close to him.
“It’s a marriage contract. Your fiance is Sir Carl Liszt, the only son of Count Liszt.”
April frowned, which clearly showed that she was confused by the sudden contract. She had no reason to get married to Carl Liszt, who had been recently following her around.
“Why should I?”
“I don’t think you have a choice.”
Gridler strode up towards April. His eyes were cold, along with one of his eyebrows twitching convulsively.
“Wouldn’t it be unfair to let the child of a murderer live freely?”
“My mother was not a murderer!”
“Now, now, why didn’t you say that to the court!”
He snorted. Scorn shone in his eyes as he mocked April in a rude tone. April froze at where she was standing.
“Who knows what might happen to those without an identity?”
“What are you…!”
“They’re no different from you now, except for the fact that you are allowed to get your property back.”
Now the tangled tar has come undone. Gridler had joined hands with the Liszt family.
If April got married to Carl, Count Liszt could easily take over the estate of Marquis of Witzer. That would be a natural benefit for Gridler, too.
Gridler was threatening to throw April into the abyss.
“Do you want to live a normal life?”
Reaching out his hand, he grabbed April’s wrist tightly. With that strength of his, he could crush a thin little wrist like hers. She pondered.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to sign it.”
“Argh!”
A sharp scream escaped her throat. She felt like she could collapse at any moment.
She reached out her left hand and tried to shake off his hand off of hers. However, the strength of a girl, who usually spent most of her time in front of her desk, was not enough.
“You don’t have to struggle anymore, April.”
As if to force her to sign her name, he took out an ink bottle and waved it in front of her.
‘Why did I have to be so weak physically?’
April did not swallow the surging resentment.
“N-No!”
At that moment, she felt a sudden chill in her spine. Her eyes blackened, feeling a strong will to kill. Her fingertips then began to tremble.
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