I Sought Out the Tragedy's Scheming Mastermind

I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind – Chapter 5

Eliana shuddered and hid her hand behind her back.

Marquis Valkyrie rolled on the floor, moaning in pain.

‘Magic. I think I unconsciously activated my powers because I was too agitated.’

Eliana recoiled and began to back away.

“What’s going on?”

A servant who heard the marquis’ scream rushed into the room.

As soon as the door opened, Eliana pushed the servant and ran, just in time to see Count Mussieux barge in through the opposite door.

She was in a horrible situation.

She swished her arm at Count Mussieux, who was trying to catch her. He thought that she wouldn’t be able to do anything to escape.

“Don’t touch me!”

Sharp shards of ice rose from the ground.

Count Mussieux could not close the distance between them, so he watched her from afar.

“W-What is this?!”

Eliana ran off, leaving the count with a bewildered face.

She had no spirit to even laugh at him.

“What are you standing there for?! Capture her!” She heard the thunderous voice of Count Mussieux cry out, but the servants who watched her unleash her powers remained still.

Eliana reached the gate while they hesitated.

Was Heaven helping her?

Thankfully, she had just enough time to see Fin, who was walking in the distance. 

Eliana gritted her teeth and sprinted toward Fin.

When Fin’s head snapped in her direction, her eyes widened.

‘I don’t have time to explain.’

She grabbed Fin by the hand.

“Miss Eliana?”

“Run!”

As Eliana pulled on her hand, Fin started to run.

And so the two escaped the estate.

*** 

Once they left the estate, the two arrived at Fin’s house because Eliana needed to lie low. 

Fin did not hesitate to take Eliana to her home when she asked, even though she did not explain. 

Eliana stared at Fin, sitting at a simple but sturdy table.

Fin was calmly brewing her tea.

She had no idea what happened at the estate yet, so Fin automatically thought her master was going on a whim.

“Are you running away from the estate this time?” Fin asked, presenting a teacup.

Eliana was already exhausted from running and did not want a warm teacup.

She looked at Fin and complained. “Give me cold water. This is hot.”

“You’ve always preferred hot tea, this must be a big deal. Give me a minute.”

Finn brought her iced water a moment later.

After Eliana emptied the glass of water, she felt a bit more refreshed.

“Where are your parents?

“Most likely in the fields by now.”

“And your brother?

“My brother comes and goes as he pleases.”

Fin automatically answered Eliana’s questions gently.

It seemed she would have to wait to speak with Fon a little longer.

Eliana stopped as she reached for the teacup.

The tea set stood out to her. It looked too extravagant for a commoner’s use.

‘That’s how resourceful Fon is.’

It was understandable to serve under Hera.

Fin spoke to Eliana, who was staring at the teacup. “You can finish this, and then we can return.”

“I’m not going back. No, I can’t go back.”

How could someone wiggle their way back into their family after causing a scene like that?

Eliana stubbornly shook her head.

She couldn’t go back there. Not even with a carriage! 

It didn’t matter anyway because she was never going back to that place.

At Eliana’s firm words, Fin winced. It looked as though she wanted to say something.

But Eliana had already made her decision.

Although she unintentionally froze half of Marquis Valkyrie’s face, she was glad they couldn’t haul her to court.

And she couldn’t have just sat still while he tried to do something.

Her plan to escape the count’s estate and hide her powers has gone down the drain, but she was fortunate to have taken Fin along with her.

This body would face difficulties by the force of her powers, whether she wanted to, or not.

And in the novel, she was able to control her powers at her own will…

But the new Eliana couldn’t do the same.

Eliana had gained enough strength but never released it, so her body didn’t know how to use its abilities.

‘To start with, I need to find a way to control its force.’

Eliana glanced at her hand.

Her powers seemed to have stopped since she wasn’t producing that white smoke anymore.

Now that she thought about it, she could have almost put Fin in danger when she grabbed onto her arm.

Chills spread up and down her spine.

It was frightening to think that she may have hurt several people regardless of their will.

She made up her mind at that moment. She had to find a way to control her power’s force at all costs.

“Do you hate the thought of marriage that much?” Fin asked, standing in front of Eliana.

She frowned, but there was no animosity in her expression.

Rather, she looked worried for Eliana.

Eliana felt moved by Fin’s sincerity.

She was not the original Eliana, but Fin didn’t know that. She felt sorry for her.

But now, Fin was the only person she could lean on.

Eliana glanced up at Fin and lightly said, “Have a seat. I need to talk to you.”

“No. No matter what you say, you can’t!” Fin shouted, frightened by Eliana’s words.

Then she nervously looked around as if someone could see them.

“…What do you think I’m going to say?”

Even though the windows and curtains were shut, Fin still gnawed on her finger, worried.

“You know there’s no way to break your engagement, no matter what you do. We can say you went out with me today. Because if you run and get caught, you’ll face worse consequences than yesterday.”

It seemed she thought that Eliana was going to run away.

It was somehow touching that Fin was worried Eliana would face a worse situation than the day before.

Fin has been with Eliana since she was a child, so she knew the ways of Count Mussieux very well.

She had a reason to be anxious.

But Fin only said that because she had no idea what happened today.

If she’d known what they did to Eliana, she wouldn’t have urged her to return.

Rather, she would have asked her to run away instead.

Eliana was going to run away.

And she had to prepare to run.

She couldn’t run without planning and preparation.

The people of Owen may be familiar with the original Eliana, but they did not know the new Eliana.

Friendly Fin was the most reassuring.

Eliana said in a calm tone, “Yes, you’re right. But, Fin, I can’t go back to the estate anymore.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean you can’t go back?”

“I escaped an attack.”

“Pardon?!” Fin’s voice rose in a panic. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.

Eliana beckoned for her to sit again.

Finally, Fin sighed heavily and took a seat.

Her face said she wanted all the details of the situation.

It was a natural reaction. Fin was the only person in Mussieux’s estate who truly cared for Eliana.

She was willing to listen to her words, even if she was forced.

‘That’s why the ill-tempered Eliana relied on Fin.’

Eliana looked at Fin with a soft expression, but Fin had a certain determination in her eyes when she said, “What do you mean, an ‘attack’? Tell me the rest!”

“I am a mage.”

Fin’s mouth slackened when Eliana—who hated long stories—spoke from the beginning.

Eliana cringed when she said the word “mage.”

Her hands and feet wanted to curl up into themselves, but she tried to ignore the discomfort and put on a smile.

Mages were very precious in this world.

Unlike Eliana, naturally born mages were in the higher rank of nobles.

So this was a privilege, in a sort of way.

A person’s natural response had to be joy, not distress.

The only naturally born mage in the empire was Kallius Harpons, the male lead of the novel: [ The Princess Who’s Blind to the Emperor ].

He was a man named “The Imperial Sword” because he was a duke who excelled in using magical abilities.

Kallius became the head of his family at the young age of twenty due to the sudden accident that lead to his parents’ deaths.

If Eliana were twenty years old now, he would be twenty-five.

He’s already gained enough experience as a duke.

Fin narrowed her eyes at Eliana’s words. “Lying is no fun, Miss Eliana.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then show me. I’ll believe you when I see it for myself!” said Fin, tapping lightly on the table. Eliana’s words were hard to believe without proof.

Eliana stood, not at all pressed by Fin’s words. She was confident. 

“All right! I’ll show you, but don’t be surprised. I’m very powerful!”

Since she’d already used her powers once, she was convinced she could do it again.

She just had to repeat what she did before.

‘…I don’t know exactly how to do this, but if I focus hard enough, shouldn’t it work?’

As Eliana stood in front of Fin gallantly, she tensed up, on alert.

Commoners could not witness magic whenever they pleased.

Maybe that’s why Fin seemed very nervous, too.

It was unmistakable that her master really was a mage.

Eliana stared at the teacup.

But nothing happened.

She focused so hard that her face turned a shade of red, but the water in the teacup did not freeze.

Getting impatient, Eliana spoke inside her mind, “Freeze, yap!” and recited a ridiculous spell.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it. It would be embarrassing if it didn’t work.

At that moment, the teacup weakly jolted as if responding to her.

Eliana looked at the tea with hope.

But then the teacup stilled once again as if it never shook in the first place.

The tea did not freeze, and no miracle happened.

T / N: “Fon” is a name, for those that are confused.