I Became the Villain’s Lost Daughter Chapter 77

 

“…Black magic.”

 

Callian sighed deeply and muttered at Fern’s conclusion.

 

Black magic was a forbidden practice three hundred years ago.

 

The fact that the needle that had nearly stuck in my head had something to do with black magic meant that my headache, for crying out loud, might also have something to do with it.

 

“Lord Fern.”

 

“Yes, my Lord Callian.”

 

“Are you sure about that method?”

 

Callian asked Fern, his eyes sunken low.

 

He knew the man before him surpassed the Imperial Wizard in magic, but what he was hearing now was not easy to accept.

 

“We don’t know exactly what caused your Highness’s headache, but we do know that this needle was connected to black magic.”

 

Fern’s expression in response was not pleasant, but his tone of conviction was firm.

 

Although the answer to the source of this headache had yet to be found, this was a big step forward.

 

“…The Empress of the Empire was involved with black magic, I can’t believe it.”

 

Callian said, anger and disbelief evident in his voice.

 

“It was always easier for those who sit in high places to fall prey to the whispers of greed.”

 

Aslan mildly agreed with him.

 

Aslan, who must have been the first to hear of this from Fern, looked surprisingly somber. He was not a man of many facial expressions, but he showed no sign of distress.

 

“Did you expect, Master, that the Empress would dabble in black magic?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Aslan closed his eyes for a moment at Callian’s question, then gave a muffled affirmation.

 

The short answer surprised Callian.

 

“…It’s only been a few months that you’ve been thinking about the possibility of a connection to the black magic. How on earth did you expect that?”

 

And if he did, why didn’t he tell me?

 

Callian looked at Aslan with confusion in his eyes, waiting for his answer.

 

A few seconds of red-rimmed eyes, waiting for an answer.

 

With a sigh, Aslan gave him the answer he was looking for.

 

“I’m not the first to find out about it, and I’m not the only one who suspected the Empress’ connection to the black magic before you.”

 

“Tell me more…”

 

Callian pressed for more details, and he couldn’t help but feel the same stunned emotion as Aslan had earlier at the words that followed.

 

💫

 

After thanking Aslan, Callian left the greenhouse.

 

The quiet, seasoned butler had brought a large black horse to meet him just in time for his exit.

 

“Please take a look, Your Highness.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

After a brief salute, Callian mounted his steed and patted it on the back.

 

The shrewd black steed immediately began to gallop toward the entrance he’d come through earlier.

 

It was nearing midnight, so there were few people on the main road.

 

The cool night breeze brushed his cheeks pleasantly, but Callian’s expression remained stern.

 

“…Crap.”

 

The expletives scattered on the wind, reflecting his less-than-pleasant mood.

 

After a few disorienting turns through the alleyways, he came within sight of the main entrance to the palace.

 

“…!”

 

He grabbed the reins urgently, and the galloping horse slowed to a halt.

 

“Lexie, wait.”

 

Callian soothed the whimpering stallion as if to ask what was wrong, then stared intently into the distance.

 

“…I guess we’re going back now.”

 

His gaze landed on the main gate of the palace, which was quite a distance away. More precisely, the carriage that was now exiting.

 

A carriage with two swords wrapped in vines.

 

It was a pattern that symbolized the Grand Duchy of Krovachatz, where he had just been.

 

The carriage, which ran at a modest speed, as if taking care of the people inside, was soon hidden behind the building.

 

The words he had heard earlier from the Grand Duke, whom he considered his mentor, still echoed in his mind.

 

— Who on earth knows more about black magic than Lord Fern?

 

— …Callian.

 

It had been a long time since he had heard his master’s words.

 

— Yes, Master.

 

— If it wasn’t for that child, I would have broken my oath with you and was willing to give up even my revenge.

 

The words Aslan uttered with a sunken face were not light.

 

— If it wasn’t for that child.

 

The one who could make Aslan break his vow.

 

And the one he affectionately referred to as the child. There was only one such person in the world.

 

— Erita Krovachatz… His daughter.

 

The name his master had painstakingly come up with was the one that came to Callian’s mind at that moment.

 

His gaze remained there for a long time after the carriage disappeared from view.

 

The emotion in his gaze was indefinable.

 

“…Erita.”

 

His call, unreachable, echoed quietly under the bright night sky.

 

💫

 

Due to the late-night nature of the masquerade ball, unlike other banquets, I slept well until noon.

 

“Bring me some ice!”

 

It was only when her eyes were puffy from too much sleep that the maids freaked out.

 

“Lady, do you think your braids will do?”

 

Upon hearing Marilyn’s call, I opened my closed eyes and cautiously examined my reflection in the mirror.

 

“Um, okay, it’s fine.”

 

Unlike the last two banquets, where I’d worn my hair long and flowing, today I wore it in a loose braid and swept up.

Although I would be wearing the hair color-changing artifact, I would have to take it all off at midnight, so it would be better to tie it up.

 

“Thanks, Marilyn.”

 

“You’re welcome. I got the smallest artifact I could, just like you said.”

 

After touching my hair one last time, Marilyn held out a small brooch.

 

Taking it, I slipped it on over my light pink dress.

 

“Yes, thank you. You know the color, don’t you?”

 

“Nope. They say no one knows until it’s time.”

 

The brooch, engraved with the magic to change hair color, had a tiny amber gem in it.

 

It represented the color gold, the symbol of the Imperial family.

 

In addition, the brooch was designed to respond only to the magic of the Imperial Wizard, so it could not be invoked.

 

“But surely the masquerade balls hosted by the Imperial Palace are of an extraordinary level, requiring special coloring artifacts…”

 

“I mean, it’s even more extraordinary than the novel.”

 

Mary, who was arranging her clothes, said in disbelief, and Marilyn chimed in.

 

‘Well, that surprised me too.’

 

I chuckled and agreed with them.

 

We should have found out about the banquet before we tried to figure out how to approach the Empress.

 

‘If that were the case, it would have been resolved sooner.’

 

The Debutante Banquet was held once every three to five years, and lasts for a week.

 

The Masquerade Ball was held in the middle of that week.

 

The Emperor and Empress were the only guests, and nobles and semi-nobles below the rank of baron were not allowed to attend.

 

Finishing my preparations, I sighed as I picked up my last moderately colorful butterfly mask.

 

‘…Who would have thought a masquerade ball was a scavenger hunt for the Emperor, though I did eavesdrop.’

 

At masquerade balls hosted by the Imperial court, it was mandatory to wear a hair color-changing artifact.

 

The reason for this was to make it impossible to recognize who was who.

 

Or so the imperial decree of a nightlife-loving Emperor hundreds of years ago said.

 

“Miss.”

 

While I was deep in thought about what was to come a little later, Mary called out to me.

 

“Yes?”

 

“By the way, was anyone looking for the Emperor in the middle of the party?”

 

“Oh, yes. In the novels I’ve read, the nobles purposely pretend not to notice.”

 

When I didn’t understand the question and was about to ask back, Marilyn, an avid reader of romance novels, explained.

 

Mary’s question, she said, was something I thought was pretty silly.

 

“If that’s the case, they don’t look for it on purpose. Just enjoy it like a real masquerade for an hour from 11 o’clock, and the artifact must be released at midnight.”

 

And that’s when the Emperor emerges from among the nobles.

 

The hair color change was just for show.

 

It didn’t make much sense to me, but I knew it was a good opportunity to approach the Empress.

 

Because my black hair, my biggest worry, has been resolved.

 

Mary nodded and glanced over at me, then spoke up.

 

“I see… By the way, lady, are you sure you don’t mind going around alone? The Master and the Young Master seemed very, um, very worried.”

 

We were just talking about the party, why would she suddenly mention traveling alone.

 

“What do you mean, Mary, all of a sudden?”

 

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that you said you’d be walking around alone at the masquerade ball…”

 

At my questioning tone, Mary replied in a small voice and fidgeted.

 

I could tell by the little stutter in the middle and the way she looked at me for a moment…

 

“…Mary, did my father tell you to say that?”

 

“Oh, no, he didn’t!”

 

Mary shook her head in disbelief, her eyes narrowing.

 

I told her I’d be on my own at the party tonight until midnight, and that must have been a silent warning to my disgruntled father.

 

“It’s not like that. It’s obvious if you don’t see it, but what my father did! I kept telling him not to burden Mary!”

 

I scrambled to my feet, frowning.

 

There was still time before we left, and I had to get to my father.

 

“Oh, my lady! Where are you going?”

 

Mary stomped her feet, looking at me with anxious eyes. I felt a little weak when I saw Mary’s tearful face, but I strode toward the door.

 

“Don’t worry, Mary. I’ll go and talk to him properly, just trust me!”

 

“Lady!”

 

As I ran out of the room, I heard her call after me.

 

“I’ll be back!”

 

Of course, I did not turn my steps toward my father’s office.