Chapter Two
_ What Happened That Night
When I woke up, I felt my body was weak and lacked strength. I justified it as a natural feeling after crying all night long; I knew I would get sick, but I could not neglect my work...
When I actually thought about getting up, I was truly shocked by a body that was not mine, but rather the body of an infant. I looked around; it was a nice and somewhat luxurious room, and there was a maid guarding my side...
' Have I reincarnated?! ...Wait.. but where..?!"
Perhaps being in the body of an infant affected my mind, as I could not think clearly. after a period of time, a man in his early thirties with dark indigo hair arrived and looked at me with warmth. No one in my life had ever looked at me with such a tender gaze...
He carried me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. I was truly intoxicated by that affection, and thus my life as _ Nyla Harvey _ began..
I was born again as _ Nyla Harvey _, the beloved and pampered child of her parents. I forgot the novel and even forgot that I was reincarnated, immersing myself in that happiness and loving that family. I felt a sense of belonging to them; a wonderful and affectionate mother and a father passionate about his family. Baron Logan Harvey was not very wealthy, but he was capable of giving his child much and much affection and love. Although I was saturated with happiness, I wanted to be a good child to this wonderful family..
I was an obedient and polite child, but I was living my deprived childhood in this body. I indulged myself a little and felt a great deal of happiness; I gave this body its due. My first shock was my mother's death when I was ten. Although I possessed the mind of an adult, I felt a great, great deal of pain and sadness. I did not cry intensely, but I was very grieved. However, my father tried hard to compensate for my mother's place, and that comforted me greatly..
I was studying hard, but my father did not look at my grades; instead, he looked at my effort and told me he was proud of me because I was passionate and diligent. I truly felt bliss for the owner of this body..
After a while, when I reached the age of sixteen, my father returned home in a deplorable state. I was truly very worried, and after some resistance, he relented and told me. He had been framed for embezzlement from the Walter treasury. I was shocked, for my father is a righteous man who would not do such a thing; furthermore, I was the one who took care of the accounts for my father's limited funds...
" Nyla, my little girl, you must escape to safety.."
" But Father, we can prove that you did nothing..."
" There is no use in proving it; they want something from me. They will not get it even over my dead body... but they know you are my weakness, and I fear they will exploit you.."
" Father?.."
" Yes, my little girl "
My father patted my cheek gently with a warm look. I was hesitant to ask him, but I emboldened myself..
" Father, please, tell me what is the matter. I might help in one way or another..."
Father laughed with genuine happiness and said in a proud tone:
" I was planning not to tell you, but I feel you have grown enough to deserve to know.. I am proud of you, Nyla..."
" Father..."
" It is the Walter secret. It is a secret passed down by our families from generation to generation for hundreds of years. There are three families that hold the secret; one of them saw its lineage end decades ago, and the last holder of the secret in the other died a few days ago. The one remaining is me, and after me, it is you...."
When my father told me the Walter secret, the events of the novel flooded into my head. I remembered that I had reincarnated into the body of Nyla the "Hound," who must kill the Walter heir. I now recognized events I had not understood in the novel..
After my father told me everything, he entrusted me with what remained of the money and jewelry in his possession and said:
" I am a dead man, Nyla. Even if I were right, no one would believe me.. even the Archduke will not be able to deny the charges against me. I accept my fate, but I do not want you to be harmed..."
A few days later, my father was dragged from the manor, accused of many charges, sentenced to death, and stripped of his title. My father kept repeating to me that it was okay if he died, but he was extremely worried about me..
Since I was still young, after my father's death, I was sent to an institute for girls. This institute specialized in graduating young women who work in manors as teachers, maids, nannies, and so on...
I was very sad after my father's death, and I used to hug a stuffed rabbit doll inside which my father had placed the remaining money and jewelry. The old doll belonged to me; he was worried they would confiscate the money from me. I did not care about the money or anything else; I missed my father and mother terribly and would contemplate the only picture of them I owned..
I did not speak to anyone and did not leave my room at the institute, remaining completely isolated. I hated my helplessness because I was reincarnated in the novel and could not save my father..
" Nyla.. you have a visitor.."
After a while, when I had no relatives, I heard news of a visit. I went quietly and steadily to meet the visitor, and I was surprised by him..
It was one of my father's friends, accompanied by a man I did not know, who appeared to be a nobleman..
" Nyla Harvey greets the gentlemen "
I greeted them with elegance, as I had learned from my parents, and stood after their signal.
" You may sit, Miss Harvey.."
I sat in the seat across from them and looked at them calmly. The man began to speak:
" I am sorry for what happened to your father. My condolences to you "
" Thank you "
The man kept talking here and there about my father, but I replied calmly to him. Despite his display of regret, I could not believe him until he reached the important point:
" I know who caused all this.."
" Who is it?!"
Something inside me shook, and it seemed they wanted to exploit that, so the man said:
" Count Collins. He is a subordinate of Archduke Walter.. They framed your father "
" Why would the Grand Duke frame my father?! What is his interest in that?! "
" The Walter secret..."
It was something I had heard from my father, but I did not show my reaction; instead, I showed confusion:
" The Walter secret?! What is this?! What a foolish secret for which my father dies.."
" The Walter secret has a number of holders, and your father was one of them. Count Aldrick was killed before your father in a mysterious way—he was one of the secret holders—and after that, they accused the Baron of false charges for killing him... Isn't it obvious?.."
I felt intense resentment. They were wrapping facts in lies. If my father hadn't told me everything, I would have been a victim of their lies. Perhaps the previous Nyla fell victim to those lies, but not me. I will take revenge on the real killers...
I looked at the man in front of me:
" What do you want from me?! "
"..."
" No one gives anyone information of this value for free... I am ready for anything. I want to take revenge on those who took my family from me..."
The man was happy with my response and told me what I had to do...
Finish your studies successfully, enter the Archduke's palace, sow chaos in it, and steal the first child born there...
I knew that if I didn't do it, someone else would, so I agreed while planning to topple my enemies by leading them into the evil of their own deeds..
Indeed, I finished the institute's curriculum—scheduled for three years—in just two years, and the teachers were impressed by me. Then, through the mediation of the teachers and hidden interference, I indeed entered the main Walter palace in the Walter province. As mentioned, the Archduke had married, and the Archduchess was pregnant when I arrived. The calamity was that a handsome commoner had been placed in her path. The Archduchess, who found no love in her relationship with her husband, turned away from him to the love of that young man who had entered as a painting teacher. They were the ones who sent him in advance to pave the way for the great attack. I was truly frustrated; I wanted to change the events so the Archduchess would not abandon her child, but she was lonely and sad and finally found love. As a female who lived similar experiences, I could not blame her; for the Archduchess had done nothing shameful so far except express her love for that commoner artist..
When the Duchess finally gave birth, information reached me to attempt to kidnap him, but I conveyed that haste was not good. Unlike the previous Nyla, who could barely reach my rank because she was certainly prone to complaining, I had now reached the position of assistant to the head maid with my skills...
I never approached the Duchess directly because I knew it would be a problem later..
So before she fled, I went secretly to Robin, the man Fiona—or the Archduchess—loves, and met with him. He was a little hesitant, but I told him we work for the same person, so he calmed down a bit, and then I asked him:
" Robin, are you ready to kidnap the Archduchess?!"
" Isn't it too early?!"
I knew it was earlier than the original story's time, but I needed to gain time in my favor..
" It is not early... Are you worried?! Or have you fallen in love with Fiona?!"
Lies, truth, and other feelings are things that appear on a normal person—their face, eyes, voice, and gestures; things they cannot easily hide. My previous life, full of hypocrites, made me realize the type of person in front of me and also made me able to control their weaknesses..
" Robin! What promise did the Master make to you?!"
He was flustered, and his eyes wavered. Before he could speak, I said:
" That you become a famous painter, live in bliss, and that he keeps you away from the Archduke's grasp... correct?! And regarding Fiona"
" I don't know, he told me to hand her over to him and he would secure her life"
I laughed intensely indeed and barely stopped:
" Robin, we are hounds... and you know what happens to dangerous hounds after the operation..."
Robin became flustered, opened his eyes in terror, and said:
" But Fiona, we are the ones who dragged her into this game..."
As I expected, this man truly loved the Archduchess. I sighed and then said:
" I have an idea for both of you, but no one must know about it... Will you do everything I tell you?"
" I swear it.."
" Do you love Fiona and want to spend your life with her, and are you ready to endure hardships?!"
Perhaps he did not expect my question, but his face lit up with emotion and seriousness...
Perhaps if I had found a man in my previous life who loved me, I would have thrown this world behind me and followed him...
" I desire that.."
" Then get ready.."
* * *
After that, I started everything. I paved the way for the Archduchess's escape half a day before the scheduled time I had conveyed to them. I gave them some of my own money that I had to help them get away, and I told the Archduchess to leave divorce papers so she would not be a disgrace to her child...
The Archduchess did not hate her child, but she was desperate for her life. The Duchess fled quietly, and indeed they could not reach them because I hid them completely.
A week later, I entered Damian's room. I felt pangs of guilt for what I would do to Mrs. Amanda, but I was forced to do it...
The laundry maid, Betty, had paved the way for me. She brought out the laundry, and between the sheets, I had hidden Damian and my belongings needed for the escape. Before descending from the third floor, I found the Archduke. I was only worried that Damian would make any sound. I set the basket down and bowed to the Duke. Before I left, something inside me wanted to speak; the person I had only met today despite my long stay here—I felt it was a sign...
" Your Grace "
"..."
Despite his rigid features, I felt his confusion. Before he could speak, I looked at the nearby balcony and the cloudy night sky and said calmly:
" Everything around you may portend ill, but things might be good. Believe in your heart.."
" Are you a fortune teller?!"
He spoke sarcastically, but I completed my words; I wanted to convey my message to him and hoped he would understand it:
" The truth is not what evidence shows and what we see with the eye; rather, truths are what the eyes of our hearts perceive...
Ah, the loyal old-timers will remain loyal, and among the newcomers are those who harbor malicious intentions for you, and vice versa... Do not believe everything that appears; rather, search for the truths behind the manifested images..."
He raised an eyebrow, but I smiled playfully... He is the Archduke, but I am accustomed to always manipulating my opponents. The Archduke is somewhat tired, but he is before me—the one who no longer has anything to lose...
" Are you drunk?! "
" No, but Betty, Max, and some others I don't know might want to celebrate tomorrow.."
I laughed and bowed, leaving. I had guided him to the thread, and he knows best—either to listen to my hints or get lost in the search..
* * *
After I spoke with the Archduke, I moved quietly toward the laundry room. From a secret entrance I discovered without anyone's knowledge, I threw the laundry basket and placed the items in a bag that was prepared there. I took out a silver necklace containing a dull blue sapphire the size of a fingernail. I placed the necklace around Damian's neck; the glow around him was decreasing, and it receded, and his eye color changed. Fortunately for me, the color was similar to my eye color..
I changed the child's clothes for clean and warm ones; I looked for clothes of good quality and comfort but simple, resembling what commoners wear. I changed my clothes too and went out quietly until I reached a large field behind the palace. I moved at a steady pace despite the darkness of the night until I reached a tavern located in that village. I rented a room and then laid the child down to finish his sleep...
I went out to meet the person who was going to help me at the tavern. After searching for him among the tables, I finally found him. His body was small for a man. I sat in front of him, and before I could speak, he said:
" I have prepared what you requested.."
He placed a seal, some identity papers, and a list of names before me. I placed the money before him and said:
" Good, but is that guild guaranteed?!"
" It is equipped for all evil deeds.."
" Good.. everything must be done harshly"
I left the man and went up to the room. I must not stay here any longer. I tried to sleep next to Damian, but I couldn't. I contemplated the little child and felt warmth in my heart. How could this world hurt you?!
I kissed the little one on his cheek and slept for a while. When the sun rose, I opened my eyes automatically. Surely, the news of the heir's disappearance has spread. I sighed, took the little one along with a small bag, and moved quietly out of the tavern. I intentionally showed my hair and some of my features as I was leaving. I moved quietly toward the forest and entered it peacefully, finding a cabin I had prepared in advance for the mission. Although the child woke up, he was quiet and did not cry; instead, he ate his food quietly and looked curiously at his surroundings..
I settled in the cabin for about three days. After I fed him and played with him until he went back to sleep, I ensured the safety of the cabin once more. I placed a magical tool that was among my father's possessions—a protection tool—on the cabin door and left the place.
* * *
I reached the desired guild. It was a filthy and suspicious place. When I reached the door, the boy guarding the door spoke with a gloomy face:
" How may I serve you?!"
I gave him the paper. The boy frowned and said:
" Are you the one who requested this filthy request...?! "
This boy is resentful, but I ignored him and answered yes. The boy sighed and handed me a bag containing an empty child without organs or a soul. I felt disgusted and looked at the boy:
" When did the child die?! "
" Yesterday. A lady gave the child to me. I thought they would sell him or enslave him as they usually do, but they killed him and took his organs.."
I thought with a deep sense of guilt:
' What do they do with people's organs in this era?! There are no organ transplants here '
" What do they do with the stolen organs?!"
" They are used in black magic. They are evil... A child was killed at your request.."
I felt a pang of conscience. I didn't imagine things would reach this result. I don't know what stupid idea possessed me to take a child's corpse. I felt filthy..
" I am wrong, but I want to fix my mistake.."
" Really... what will you do?!"
...... To be continued ......