ACMAR 03

Chapter: 03

If a variable arose, the future I desired might never come to pass.

That was why I had failed to notice anything while living amid their betrayal and deceit. I had never doubted their sincerity or kindness toward me.

“Things are different now. From now on, I will think only about my own future.”

I had no power to ruin anyone myself right now, so I would simply have to make use of someone with powerful authority.

Ironically, I had learned this method from the Duke as well.

The future I wanted? Now, there was only one.

“I’m going to ruin them all.”

Antony, Selena, and Jaema, who had ignored my kindness and returned it with malice. And even the King, who had taken my mother and then coldly turned his back on her.

If I wanted to completely bring down people of such high status and honor—

“I suppose I’ll need help from an outsider.”

There was no one here I could call my ally. I had nothing but a collection of disgraceful labels: the witch’s illegitimate daughter, the barren woman, and now a divorced woman…

I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape once more and began drawing the future I desired through the spotless mirror.

According to my mother, ordinary magic required both a strong belief in transcendent beings—primarily gods—and talent.

The being from whom I borrowed power was a spirit living in a foreign land across the sea, which my mother called her homeland.

While my mother lay bedridden, she had told me countless stories. Thanks to that, imagining that spirit was not difficult for me.

“Apparently, the special mages of the temple can also use foresight?”

My eyes gleamed as I stared intently into the mirror.

That vaunted prophecy? I’ll give you one too.

Perhaps the words people had carelessly spread around—that “Mother’s power itself was a curse”—were not entirely wrong.

After foolishly insisting on inserting other people into the future I wanted, I had ultimately ended up in this mess.

So much so that even I felt cursed.

“Atilenta. What comes next is more important. Let’s steel ourselves.”

A woman who had sold out her own homeland. I was willing to make use of even such a disgraceful reputation.

“Antony, you called me threatening, didn’t you? I’ll make you realize what a true threat is.”

At that moment, a small light appeared within the mirror. Just as my mother had described, a green glow spread through the mirror like rippling waves.

The mirror revealed the figure of a man. His mysterious violet eyes stood out—eyes that no one from this country could possibly possess.

I knew that man. He was the second prince of Bwendovska, a kingdom in the north.

“…His name was Henrik, wasn’t it? How could he help my future?”

I remembered a newspaper I had once seen. It had said that he was known as the Black Dragon of the North, a man who had made such an extraordinary name for himself on the battlefield that he was compared to a legendary being.

A thought flashed through my mind.

“I can use him like a weapon.”

If it was the battlefield, that was something I was familiar with, too. Finding someone from outside this country so quickly was certainly a stroke of good fortune.

Through the mirror, I began drawing a future meant only for me.

If they had intended to confine me to the role of a powerless princess—

“Then they should have simply left me alone.”

Instead of thinking they could use me like livestock.

I could not suppress the faint laughter that escaped me.

‘Atilenta. Are you ready to return their malice?’

That was because I finally understood the true meaning behind the smile my mother had left me like a final testament.

“Princess. You have a visitor. Please come downstairs.”

Despite the unfriendly maid’s words, I immediately knew who had come.

I dragged my still-aching legs as I left the room.

As though even the slightest bit of support was a luxury I did not deserve, the servants were politely attending only to the guest in the reception room.

It was Selena.

“Atilenta! Have you been well? Oh my, you’ve gotten even thinner.”

I barely managed to suppress the hollow laugh that threatened to escape. Would food even go down your throat if you were in my position?

“I’ll tell the head maid to make sure you eat better.”

Selena stroked my shoulder. Her eyes, which were renowned for resembling those of a beautiful deer, held nothing but tenderness.

I knew exactly why Selena had come. She had heard that the tutor had beaten me and had come to brainwash me by saying, “I’m still on your side.” She wanted to make me obey them according to their wishes.

“Is your bed uncomfortable, too? You look rather pale…”

I wanted to glare at Selena, but I had to make an enormous effort not to.

Selena had known about my ability to “read the future” since we were children.

I would have preferred to keep even that secret from the beginning. But that had never been easy, since rumors already claimed that my mother was a witch.

When I was young, Selena would cling to me and pester me every day, asking, “What kind of power do you have?” I could never bring myself to lie to her.

“Selena.”

With the sole determination to take revenge, I had already decided how I would treat Selena today.

I had to act meek and weak, intimidated after being beaten like a lowly maid.

“Selena. Why did you come only now?”

This was the version of me Selena wanted to see. I knew that much for certain without even having to ask the mirror my mother had left behind.

“I’m sorry I came so late, Atilenta. I’ve been busy lately… Um, you were busy too, so couldn’t you understand me this time?”

Long ago, when you came to my wedding, you asked why I had been so busy lately.

“I heard I’m going to marry the Duke soon… I told you before, but it was something the King ordered, so there was nothing I could do. I think my parents tried to make it happen, too. Even though I told them not to… Anyway, it’s okay for me to say this, right, Atilenta? We’re close like that.”

I moved my mouth and tongue as though I were performing in a puppet show.

“You didn’t say anything like that at the banquet. It seemed like it was exactly what you wanted.”

“Mm, well, since everyone was watching, I couldn’t help but be careful. Even if I had rebelled there, it wouldn’t have done any good.”

“…I wish you had told me beforehand. Since it was for the sake of the ducal family, I would have understood, Selena.”

There was no way I could do anything but play along with Selena as she spouted such absurd excuses.

“I’m sorry, Atilenta. I wanted to come right away after that day because I was worried about you, but I kept getting invited to one event after another… It was something I couldn’t help, too, so I hope you can understand. Okay?”

How despicable.

How could you be so shameless?

My determination to take revenge would never waver. Yet seeing Selena pretend to be sorry made my resentment flare up like a flame all over again.

Come to think of it, Selena had always been like this. In public, she built her reputation with impeccable manners, while in private, she treated me kindly and forced me to understand her.

In the end, I asked her.

“I was a burden to you, wasn’t I, Selena? There must have been a better way than locking me away. Right?”

Even though I knew I should not do this if I intended to strike Selena with a truly devastating blow.

I immediately lowered my head, but she must have understood the meaning behind my words.

If you were worried that my power might become a threat, you should have simply killed me, Selena.

“Oh my.”

Even if I hid my expression, the words had already spilled out. I hurriedly added more, trying somehow to smooth things over.

“Selena, you hate me, don’t you? Right? That’s it, isn’t it?”

Like a child who had mistakenly thought someone was being heartless, I whined as though asking for affection once more.

“I like you, Atilenta. If I made you feel that way, then I suppose it was my fault. I’m really sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on. The King wants you to stay healthy and well above all else. And so do I.”

Ah, so you intend to use me until the very end?

Even after you had already destroyed my heart and my life.

“You’re still, and will always be, our kingdom’s princess. And my friend, right? Atilenta.”

I understand exactly what you mean, Selena.

I’ll make thorough use of this damned status of mine, too.

Suppressing my anger, I somehow managed to force a smile onto my face.

I wanted that beautiful, deer-like Selena to come crashing down.

Just like me.

“Okay. Selena. I wanted to hear you say that you like me.”

With a bright smile, Selena clasped my hand and gently stroked it. I clasped her hand in return.

“I’m glad we cleared up the misunderstanding, Atilenta.”

I engraved the innocent-looking Selena deeply into my memory.