Chapter 44

“It was fortunate that it was an ancient artifact. If it hadn’t been, everyone really would’ve been brainwashed.”

Annemarie added that.

“An artifact…”

“Yes, an artifact. While you were locked up and all that, I talked to other people.”

Annemarie scrunched up her face.

“On the first day, Count Elbron gathered the servants. I was out of the estate then because of another errand.”

“And everyone who spoke with Count Elbron that day ended up on his side.”

Annemarie relayed the information she had pieced together in that short time.

Reina could only listen with a dazed expression.

That kind of detail never appeared in the novel. It had only described Estelle standing up against Count Elbron, who had everyone wrapped around his finger, and awakening as a true young lady of the duchy.

Faced with this unfamiliar information, Reina stared at Annemarie without even closing her mouth.

Bonita, unable to understand even half of the conversation, kept looking back and forth between them before sticking her finger into Reina’s mouth and pulling it out again.

“Since my lord ordered the knights to search, it’s certain. The idea of using a brainwashing artifact inside the ducal estate couldn’t have been Count Elbron’s alone.”

Annemarie frowned as she watched Reina nod along with a quiet “I see.”

“Anyway, eat first. You look like you’d snap if someone poked you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As Annemarie watched Reina tend to her daughter before herself, she fell into thought.

‘But if someone activates an artifact like that, wouldn’t they usually brainwash the most useful group first?’

She recalled those who had sided with Count Elbron. They were all people who were relatively close to Estelle or interacted with her often.

Since no artifact would work directly on a Finecke, it had been a vicious plan to brainwash Estelle by manipulating those around her instead.

The reason Annemarie had not been affected was simple. When Count Elbron arrived at the estate on the first day, she had been away on an errand.

‘If he used magic too often, it would draw suspicion, so he would’ve done it on the first day.’

But thinking it through like that made something feel off.

In that case…

‘Why was Reina Botn fine?’

Why had the artifact’s magic not worked on Reina Botn?

* * *

Just as Damian had suspected and Annemarie had told Reina, an artifact was found in the count’s residence.

Its magic had already been fully expended, and the magic stone embedded at its center had lost its light, turning into a murky, pitch black stone.

“After reviewing the records, it is indeed an artifact of brainwashing magic, Your Grace.”

Damian rolled the artifact across the floor with an impassive expression, then looked at Count Elbron, who had been dragged before him.

“You’ve grown old in an ugly way.”

“Y-Your Grace.”

“You claimed to be a loyal retainer who served the previous duke and duchess. To think you were a fox hiding its fangs.”

Damian stared at the murky black stone for a long moment before speaking.

“Who’s behind you?”

“I-I don’t know anything.”

“Are you going to claim you were brainwashed as well?”

“…”

Count Elbron’s eyes widened, and he nodded vigorously.

“It’s that woman’s trap. Doesn’t it seem strange? If I had used the artifact, I would’ve brainwashed everyone from the first day. Everyone is being deceived by that woman’s cunning tricks.”

“If that were the case, you wouldn’t know when I’d return, so there would’ve been no need for such theatrics.”

If Damian’s return date had been fixed, it might have been worth doubting. But he had come back far earlier than scheduled.

And according to other maids’ testimonies, Reina had been locked in the storage room for two days before Damian arrived.

“For whatever reason, the brainwashing magic didn’t work on Reina Botn, so you grew wary of her. And while I was away, you intimidated my daughter to seize control.”

“A truly deceitful act.”

Damian looked at Elbron without even a hint of emotion.

“You of all people should’ve known better. You know how I rose to this position after the previous duke and duchess passed away.”

Count Elbron trembled violently and lowered his head.

“I was foolish to believe you were one of the few on my side back then. I should’ve purged everything.”

“You will lose your life to your foolish greed. Of your count’s titles, everything that originally belonged to Duke Winternight will be confiscated. And your family will spend their lives paying for your sins. Consider yourself fortunate. They won’t pay with their lives.”

“…”

“I’ll ask once more. Who is behind you?”

“…There is no such person.”

Even as he trembled with his head lowered, Count Elbron gave that answer.

Damian narrowed his eyes.

“There is no one.”

He flicked his hand, ordering the guards to take him away.

Count Elbron was dragged out without resistance, quite different from his recent desperate thrashing.

Left alone with his aide Peter, Damian spoke.

“There’s no way Count Elbron could’ve obtained an artifact like this on his own. Even if it’s so worn down it could only be used once.”

“And he’s a cautious man. The fact that his true nature never surfaced for years proves that.”

“So you believe he acted like this because he trusted something?”

“Yes. There must be someone behind him.”

Damian casually tossed the artifact onto his desk and continued.

“Someone with power comparable to mine, and far more ruthless.”

Damian had spared Count Elbron’s heart. He might live a life where death would’ve been kinder.

If Elbron had believed his backer to be less dangerous than Damian, he might’ve tried to bargain.

But the fact that he insisted there was no one behind him meant only one thing.

He could not bear the aftermath.

Not knowing what harm that unknown backer might inflict on his family, he chose to take everything upon himself.

“Even if we investigate the black market, we probably won’t find who bought it. It must’ve passed through many hands by now.”

“Shall we still look into it?”

“Yes.”

Damian pressed his tired eyes.

“Announce Reina Botn’s innocence as soon as possible. And then…”

Ah.

He stopped mid sentence.

“I should give a gift as well.”

“Ah.”

Peter recalled how Damian had bought various things for the children the moment they arrived in the Holy Kingdom.

“Shall we have the servants deliver it?”

“I’ll deliver it myself. Estelle and the Botn mother and daughter must be shaken and exhausted. It’s better if I go.”

Hearing that everything was fine directly from the highest authority in the estate would be far more reassuring than hearing it secondhand.

“This position truly grows tiresome.”

He did not know whom he could entrust Estelle’s education to.

“I’ll look into it again.”

“This time, I should see them myself before choosing.”

It seemed mistakes happened because he chose without seeing firsthand.

Muttering that, Damian stood up.

“Your Grace’s burdens will only increase.”

“It’s better than causing my child another wound.”

He wanted to be a good parent, yet since bringing her to this estate, he felt he had only inflicted more hurt.

Damian ran a hand through his hair with a bitter expression.

“…I don’t want to be forgiven by my daughter either.”

* * *

Estelle stayed shut inside her room, with no intention of leaving her bed.

No, it was more accurate to say she could not.

“Reina must’ve been hurt.”

And now she must hate me.

Of course she would. I didn’t help Reina.

Reina always tried to help me, but I couldn’t do anything.

If Dad hadn’t come back in time, Reina might really have died.

Death.

Just attaching that word to Reina made Estelle’s heart drop. If that had happened, what would’ve become of Bonita?

Because of my cowardice, I almost lost two precious people forever.

Tears began to pool again in the child’s large pink eyes.

Then there was a knock.

“Estelle.”

It was Damian.

Not a particularly gentle voice, but a familiar and dependable one.

“May I come in?”

“…”

“If now isn’t a good time, I’ll wait until it is.”

Estelle shifted under the blankets, then finally peeked her head out toward the door.

“It’s okay.”

She answered so softly that she worried it hadn’t been heard, but Damian did not miss it.

Saying he would come in, he opened the door carefully.

“Estelle, are you alright?”

“…”

Estelle wiped away the tears threatening to fall and nodded, forcing herself to endure.

Damian looked at his daughter.

“May I come closer?”

Estelle nodded again.

Damian approached and sat beside her.

“May I pat your head?”

This time his voice trembled slightly. The great duke sounded afraid.

“…Yes.”

As Estelle answered softly and nodded, Damian gently reached out and stroked her hair.

Then he spoke.

“I was wrong.”

At that apology, Estelle’s eyes widened.

She had apologized to adults many times, but had rarely been apologized to.

“Wrong?”

“Yes.”

“What did you do wrong?”

“Leaving you alone in this estate.”

Their eyes met. Estelle saw sorrow and exhaustion in her father’s gaze.

“Assigning you a teacher who wasn’t properly vetted. Failing to make sure you had allies. Carelessly believing you would be safe.”

“…”

“All of it. Everything that made you suffer like this is my fault.”