Chapter 86
“I’m not going.”
“It’s cold.”
“Go by yourself, you witch!”
All of these complaints came from a single person—Josef. But regardless of his protests, the preparations for the journey were moving forward smoothly.
“I told you, I can’t leave the capital estate for that long. You dump all the work on me, and now this? Why are you doing this to me?”
“The Great Archmage said he’d let us use the Mage Tower’s portal!”
Maili laughed cheerfully as she said this.
Josef, utterly defeated, buried his face in his hands, looking miserable.
“Why is no one on my side? Why… I like staying home…”
“You’re the heir! How can you keep avoiding the very land you’re supposed to govern?”
Maili clapped Josef on the back, clearly in a good mood. Josef, on the other hand, winced and let out a loud cry of pain.
“Ugh, do you really hate going that much?”
It was a suggestion made entirely for his benefit. Maili shook her head in exasperation.
Then, suddenly, Josef’s eyes widened as if he had realized something.
“The Great Archmage’s travel arrangements…”
Now that he thought about it, there was no way the Great Archmage would do something like this just for them.
Could it be—?
Josef’s suspicions turned into certainty at that moment.
“Maili, is this good enough? It’s a bit hot…”
Roina appeared, dressed in thick fur clothing in preparation for the sudden cold they might face after the teleportation.
It had been a while since Josef had seen her. His face burned up at the unexpected encounter.
“Ah, Roina, Josef isn’t going—”
“Sister, didn’t I tell you to always bring emergency medicine when visiting the territory? I’ve packed everything, so let me know if you need anything.”
As always, Josef’s attitude flipped in an instant. Maili burst into laughter, nearly choking on her amusement. Roina, not knowing what was so funny, simply laughed along.
Maili sure laughs a lot.
That was all she thought.
***
—“Hic… Hic, huuh.”
For the first time since Veronica had changed, she wept bitterly. Her master had never come for her in the end. She had provoked and prodded so much, but it still wasn’t enough. It hadn’t reached her master.
What was she lacking? What did she have to do for her master to finally look at her?
She had stolen and imitated Roina’s memories of the modern world, but it was useless. She had acted exactly as she believed Roina would if she had entered Veronica’s body, and yet—it felt incomplete somehow. The meaning of her existence was slowly fading. All she wanted was to see her master once more. Of course, her desire to devour her was genuine as well.
After all, she was a mirror capable of swallowing anything. Her true body, lying in solitude beneath the Imperial Palace, was now treated as a cursed object. No one came near, and there was nothing left to reflect. A mirror that only reflected the same things over and over—it was boring. So she had left that place and blended into the palace.
Whenever ghost stories circulated among the maids, the protagonist was always her. She had spent her days playing meaningless tricks, until one day, something sent ripples through her stagnant existence. Roina—her master—had appeared. At first, she had failed to recognize her, buried beneath an overwhelming aura of deception. But it was her. The master who had once granted her breath and commanded her to guard this place. Veronica had been overjoyed. Without hesitation, she imitated Roina.
She wanted to mimic everything about her. Even the deathly aura that lay dormant within her. And so, Veronica allowed herself to be consumed by the very energy she had once rejected and avoided. When she did, the world suddenly became much more entertaining. She carefully chose a suitable host and slipped inside.
Maybe, by doing this, she could become human instead of a mere imitator.
Just like her beloved master.
‘Look at me. Love me.’
I’m human now, just like you. I have fingers and toes too. Oh, is that not enough? Then I’ll bring the same memories as you. Humans like those who share the same past, don’t they? Praise me, Master. Why are you leaving me behind…?
As Veronica sobbed for what felt like an eternity, a maid finally took pity on her and approached, handing her a letter. It was an invitation to the New Year’s banquet at the Imperial Palace.
‘Ah, right. The Imperial Crown Prince. That’s it—if Master ends up in his grasp again, then I can see her as much as I want!’
Her master had reacted so intensely to the Imperial Crown Prince. Veronica adored it all—joy and sorrow, pleasure and rage, love and hatred. She did not distinguish between them. Every one of Roina’s reactions was precious. She felt as if she had found the answer. A bright smile spread across her face.
Seeing Veronica’s smile, the maids around her also smiled faintly. They all knew that at the New Year’s banquet, His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince was going to announce his engagement to their master.
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