Chapter 14: Backstab

Belle stood before Solene, looking soul-less in her ornate lover's attire. The servants cast looks of disdain at her, except for her few remaining friends. That morning, Shirley had carefully combed Belle’s hair, heart aching as she embraced the girl's thin, frail frame.

Sylvain’s brown hair was slightly tousled, carrying the languid air of a night spent in passion. Solene’s lips curved into a smile as she stepped forward, stroking Belle’s hair with feigned sympathy. "Poor Belle, you didn't sleep well last night, did you? Your eyes are so beautiful; the Goddess will surely protect you."

As the sunlight streamed through the window and reflected in Solene's golden eyes, Belle froze. Her expression remained vacant, but her fingertips unconsciously dug deep into her own flesh.

"Thank you, Countess Solene," she whispered, bowing her pale neck. Her face was numb, completely devoid of the radiance she had possessed only yesterday.

Sue walked out slowly, leaning on Dana’s arm. If one were to speak of the beauty of frailty, none could rival the Saintess of the Church. She looked delicate, her eyes a mix of fear and tenderness.

Solene smiled and asked with concern, "Is Sue feeling any better?"

Dana glanced at Sue, who gave a helpless smile and scanned the crowd with a gentle gaze. "Much better,

cough, cough...

" She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but blood splattered onto her pristine white lace gloves.

"What did the doctor say?" Solene asked, playing along with interest.

Sue looked tenderly at Dana, for the doctor had not shared the details with her, instead calling Dana aside privately. Dana remained silent.

Solene, already knowing the truth, walked up to Dana and said with emphasized gravity, "If Sue’s condition worsens, I absolutely will not accept it."

Out of Belle’s line of sight, she stared at Dana with a stern expression, a silent threat:

Dana, let’s see what you choose.

Dana nodded, saying firmly, "I will cooperate with the doctor to organize treatment as soon as possible. The Saintess saved my life; I will do everything in my power to rescue her." His gaze fell upon Belle, who stood just behind Solene.

Belle’s eyes widened in horror.

No... it can't be. It won't be like the dream. It can't! Was that a prophetic dream? Was the Goddess saving me?!

She refused to be slaughtered like livestock. She couldn't!

No!!

Her hands shook. Blood was already seeping from the palms where she clenched her fists behind her back. Shirley watched her trembling hands, filled with worry.

As Dana helped Sue back inside to rest, Solene began to tackle the mountain of official business. Andre brought over all the ledgers she needed to process.

As the others dispersed, Belle remained, pressing herself against the door to eavesdrop on the conversation between the doctor and Dana. It turned out that because the injury had accelerated her symptoms, the Saintess desperately needed the "heart-blood" of a maiden born on the same year, month, and day to create a potion. Only then could the lingering malady from her old curse be cured.

It was common knowledge that years ago, the Saintess had been struck by an unknown curse and lost her healing powers for a time. All of that had been Solene’s handiwork—a mere warning to the Church, the priests, and the Saintess.

Belle fled in a panic, deaf to Dana’s subsequent words.

"I do have a woman here born on the same day as the Saintess, but is the method of taking heart-blood truly safe?" Dana asked with a frown.

The doctor shook his head slightly and said with certainty, "Rest assured, there is absolutely no danger. It is merely a prick with a small needle."

The doctor turned, his eyebrow arching slightly. Simultaneously, Solene raised an eyebrow and beckoned to Sylvain. "Come here. A good show is about to start. Are you excited?"

Sylvain approached, and Solene draped herself over his shoulders. She stroked his hair and leaned in toward his lips. Sylvain closed his eyes, but she stopped just as they were about to touch, their lips mere millimeters apart.

Sylvain opened his eyes.

"This time, you kiss me," Solene said with a smile.

Sylvain closed his eyes and kissed her fiercely. Solene gave a light laugh and gently pushed him away, a silver thread of saliva stretching between them.

"I have work to do. Wait for me outside." She left a kiss on his cheek. Sylvain lingered for a moment before departing.

Solene sat in her chair, leaning back to look out the window. "It’s going to rain. Butterflies hate the rain."

On her way back, Belle’s sleeve was caught by Shirley. "Belle, everyone is worried about you. Why don't you come talk to us?"

"I don't need your hypocrisy! Let go of me!" Belle roared.

Shirley frowned. "You’re too tense. Just relax!"

"You don't understand, and you wouldn't believe me anyway! You’ve always looked down on commoners who sell themselves for status. Don't think I don't know how you all look at me now! Leave me alone! Go!"

Driven by a sudden surge of strength, Belle pushed Shirley aside and ran back to her room, slamming the door. Shirley stared at her retreating back, deeply confused.

Didn't Earl Dana specifically go to the kitchen to order the creamed mushrooms she likes today? Why is she so paranoid?

"Butterfly, butterfly, I want to see you!" Belle’s voice was urgent and angry, yet she kept it so low it was barely a whisper, as if she had exhausted all her energy.

The butterfly appeared, landing lightly on her fingertip. "You regret it. You don't want to come back here. I will give you a sword. As long as you drive it into Dana’s heart, you can turn back time—return to the moment you first decided to come here."

Every word felt like a blade piercing Belle’s heart, making it hard to breathe. She collapsed on the floor, tears dripping onto the ground.

At the same moment, Dana felt a sudden tightening in his chest as he reviewed the safer alternatives the doctor had listed.

Belle reached out, and a short blade appeared in her palm.

A few days later, a celebration for the new mineral development was held, attended by all the relevant nobility. Solene smiled, sipping the red wine Sylvain had just brought her. Strong spirits were stacked high, and champagne bottles stood in orderly rows.

"To our mutual success!" Dana raised his glass, and Solene followed suit, raising hers in response.

As they smiled at each other, a figure suddenly darted across their vision. A cold light flashed as Belle, holding the short blade, plunged it accurately into Dana’s heart.

Dana’s eyes widened. He had expected Belle might come to cause a scene, and the guards also wore expressions of disbelief—hadn't their master told them not to worry about Miss Belle?

"Dana, I regret it! I shouldn't have come back for you!" Belle’s cries were heart-wrenching, yet time did not flow backward as she had hoped.

Shirley’s eyes widened, but as she tried to step forward, Sylvain raised a hand to stop her. No one understood why Belle had done this; only Sylvain stared at Solene with burning eyes, already sensing the truth.

It must be her! Why! Why this time too!

Feeling Sylvain’s furious gaze, Solene smiled. She raised her hand and wiggled her fingers—on the surface, it looked like a greeting, but it carried a deeper meaning: she was claiming her masterpiece! Sylvain looked at her with a face full of conflict.

Belle was forcibly dragged away, and the scene descended into chaos. Earl Dana died on the spot. After his death, his entire estate was nationalized.

Everything happened so abruptly. Belle was thrown into the dungeon, rambling madly, but no one could understand her incoherent words. No one cared to.

On the execution block, the sight of red was striking. The Lauren family vanished, and the associated Viscounts and Barons went bankrupt along with them. The merchant-based nobility chose to surrender; the Vaisman family took over all the businesses, leaving only one last house struggling to hold on.

Sylvain vanished quietly. Solene had long anticipated this; she stared into the empty room with an air of calm, as if everything was under her control.

Nobility... it seems they are nothing more than this.

Sue knelt at Solene’s feet, clutching her chest as tears flowed like a fountain. She wept and pleaded, "Please, stop using magic. My heart... it hurts so much."

Solene tilted Sue’s chin up, her gaze icy. "Sue, don't think I don't know about the little schemes you’ve been running in secret. This is just a small lesson."

A flash of fierce resentment crossed Sue’s face before she could hide it. As they say, even a docile turtle will bite when pushed.

If that’s the case, I’ll have to take more decisive measures.

Solene slowly produced a brilliant white gemstone and moved it toward Sue’s trembling forehead. Sue was terrified to the limit, her eyes brimming with tears as she struggled desperately to escape her impending fate.

"No, no, no! I’ll be obedient from now on! Please, don't use magic on me!"

However, with a flash of mana, the Saintess vanished instantly, leaving only an empty silence. Solene clenched her fists, her face full of fury. "Ian! You truly are disobedient! I really should lock you away for good!"

A new assistant was added to Andre’s side. His name was Hyde, with striking blue hair and equally deep blue eyes. The name was ordinary; the person, at first glance, seemed unremarkable.

Solene was irritably handling the mountain of paperwork. The Saintess had been missing for an entire month without a trace. She closed her eyes helplessly, lost in thought. Andre suggested softly, "Perhaps you should go somewhere to clear your head and rest."

Solene opened her eyes and nodded. "Fine. I’ll leave the arrangements to you." After all, nothing was particularly urgent at the moment.

Hyde had a voice as clear as a youth's. Though shy, he was a diligent worker, appearing to be an honest and dutiful boy. Under Andre’s arrangement, Solene went to the Relief Palace—the old Emperor’s former summer retreat. The scenery was picturesque and the air refreshing; more importantly, it was exceptionally quiet, far from the world's distractions.

Hyde seemed well-prepared, skillfully leading Solene through every sight as if he knew them by heart. They arrived at the final building, said to be a ruin of the gods.

"There is a structure here regarding truth and lies," Hyde’s voice was steady and clear. "If you place your hand inside and tell a lie, you will be pierced by a needle; if it is the truth, there will be no reaction." A faint, imperceptible tremor entered his voice as he finished.

Solene curiously placed her hand inside but found it somewhat dull. She looked into Hyde’s eyes and teased, "Why don't you ask me something?"

She expected Hyde to refuse in a panic, but he spoke without hesitation:

"Countess Solene, do you think love is important?"

"No." Followed by the sound of a water droplet falling.

"Is power important?"

"Yes." Another droplet fell.

"Is the Emperor important?"

...The sound of successive droplets echoed in the empty building.

...Another droplet fell.

...Finally, the silence was broken by one last drop.

"No." This time, Solene’s answer was accompanied by a sharp sting—a needle had pierced her hand.

Ian, who else but you would ask such seemingly foolish yet profound questions? But I must admit, your disguises are getting better and better.

"Did you think I was a fool, Ian? You won't find it so easy to run this time."

"Then... is Ian important?" Hyde looked into her eyes, his hair and features beginning to shift back to their original colors.

"No, because I don't care about you at all." Solene smiled, and her palm was pierced once again.

With her other hand, she quickly gestured to activate a massive magic array. Ian allowed her to seize him.