I was possessed by the villain’s daughter.

EPISODE 14

Somehow, it seemed like there was a reason.

It was not polite to pry into something they didn’t want to talk about, I thought, so I held my tongue. Eventually, Serene looked up and smiled.

“Laila.”

“Yes, Serene?”

“I enjoyed our time today, but I think we’ll have to wait for another time.”

I blinked.

“Already? Without taking me to lunch or something.”

“Because if we’re too late, my mother and father will worry.”

Crossing her fingers, Serene added another word for me.

“Look, I was wondering if Laila would like to visit my mansion some other time if you don’t mind? I mean, if she’s busy, of course.”

I nodded vigorously at the pleading look in serene’s eyes.

“Of course! I wouldn’t say no, just….”

“Just?”

“I’m going to be busy until next week, I’ve got a place I’m going to visit with my family.”

Serene looked at me curiously. I gave him a gentle smile and said nothing.

***]

“I have an uncle?”

My eyes widened. Emma, who was stuffing dresses and jewelry into suitcases beside me, smiled and nodded.

“Yes, he’s the next Count of Forte, and there’s quite a difference in age between him and Evela, so he’s still young.”

“Heh. Does he have an aunt then?”

“No, I don’t believe he’s married yet.”

I was a little taken aback. Nobles usually marry quickly, even in their 20s and 30s, so it was a bit surprising to hear that my maternal uncle, who was the next earl, was still unmarried.

“I see….”

What kind of person is he?

I was a little curious but also scared.

I grew up in a family of aunts and uncles, so I know that you don’t get unconditional love just because you’re related. Some relationships are worse than others, even among family members.

Besides, I’ve lost my memory, so I wonder if they’ll feel awkward with me now.

Thinking about it made me feel a little less motivated to pack my things, and when I stopped, Emma looked at me curiously.

“Laila?”

“Uh, huh?”

“Are you okay?”

I looked up with a start.

“Oh, sure. I just had to think for a minute….”

“By the way, if you leave today, I won’t see you for a week.”

Emma sighed wistfully. Luna, who was organizing her dressing table next to me, interrupted.

“But you’re so amazing, the Duke… decades and decades and only one person to look at…! Now, it’s so romantic!”

“Luna, I’m dropping the mirror. Look straight ahead!”

I just laughed at the noisy maids’ reactions. The maids and servants were busy with my birthday. Maybe when we leave, they’ll at least have a week to breathe, right?

Leaving, where are we going?

To my family home.

Certain special days have been celebrated at Rosha Hill for decades.

The first is my family’s birthday, and the second is a week after my birthday.

On these days, my family all travels to my in-laws, the Counts of Forte. No matter how busy we are, the whole family is always there on this day to honor the memory of my mother, Erbella.

This tradition had been going on for decades, not just a day or two, so I can imagine how much my father loved her.

The luggage was packed away. When I was done, I turned to Luna.

“Where is your father?”

“He said he’ll be in the cloister until lunch.”

I nodded. When he had time, my father often visited the cloister. Perhaps it was because my mother’s portrait hung there. Not wanting to disturb him unnecessarily, I asked something else.

“And your brothers?”

“I believe both Edwin and Wright are in the glasshouse in the garden.”

“A glass greenhouse?”

I scratched my head.

“What time did you say they were leaving?”

“Right after lunch, Laila.”

“Okay, then I’m off to my brothers.”

“I’ll follow.”

With Emma behind me, I walked to the glasshouse at a shuffling pace.

The air had cooled considerably since we stepped outside the mansion. The garden trees were already turning colorful leaves.

It was fall.

I couldn’t help but be captivated by the scarlet leaves.

Whenever I felt time passing, I would think of Ye Eun-yi. If she knew I was happy, she would be more than happy.

Is she doing well?

I could only hope so.

“Laila!”

“Ah, big brother Yit.”

He spotted me from a distance and waved wildly. He ruffles my hair and strokes it as we walk. Next to him was Brother Eddie. Eddie said.

“So, are you all ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

“This must be Laila’s first time going outside.”

We huddled together on a nearby bench. A cool breeze was blowing and the leaves in the garden were falling gently. It was a peaceful noon. The sun was moderately warm for fall.

“Aren’t you tired? Yesterday was the banquet.”

“No, I’m fine, though I was surprised by the number of people who came.”

I smiled at Eddie’s comment.

Truth be told, I was a bit exhausted.

After the banquet, I searched the room for the letter the First Emperor had mentioned. But no luck. Where did he hide it that I couldn’t find it?

I shook my head to myself. I shook my head, realizing that I was going to be out of town for a week anyway, so I had to take it easy.

Instead, I decided to ask the question I had been wondering earlier.

“Eddie, Yit. You said I have an uncle?”

Eddie raised his eyebrows.

“You mean Uncle Laska, right?”

“Is his name Lask?

“That’s right. Mr. Laska Forte, to be exact.”

“What is he like?”

Eddie and Yit turned to face each other at my question.

“Well….”

“You’ll know her when you see her.”

“…?”

I scratched my head as the two brothers shrugged.

“Is there something wrong, like you guys aren’t getting along or something?”

“Not.”

Yit shook his head nervously and flatly denied it.

“It’s just… I’m sorry to say this, but you’re a bit of a geek.”

“Geeky…?”

I asked, growing increasingly confused.

From everything I’ve heard so far, my great-uncle was the next Earl, single, and eccentric. What kind of person was he?

“You’ll know when you see him.”

“Okay, Laila. Come on, let’s go.”

They both grabbed my hand, saying it was time for lunch.

***]

After eating, my family and I boarded the carriage. For safety reasons, we all traveled in separate carriages, and I was the second to last. As we rode, the Duchess of Roshahill slowly drew away.

Count Forte was about four hours away, using a magical portal.

The Ulysses Empire was vast, with mountains to the east and the sea to the west. Originally, the road to Count Forte was lined by a large mountain range, so it was either turn around and travel for more than three days or cross a difficult mountain pass.

However, the magical portal was said to be able to cross from mountain to mountain, reducing the time by leaps and bounds. It was the development of this magic portal that allowed Ulysses to effectively control a large empire.

And we were traveling through one right now.

A long wall stretched out against the backdrop of a large mountain range in the distance.

In the middle, where a gate would have been, there was a large blue magic circle instead. I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight. The circle rotated slightly, reflecting light in geometric patterns.

In front of it stood a man in a white robe.

“…? Who is that?”

I asked the handmaiden beside me. She looked down the window with me and answered with an ahhh.

“It’s the rower.”

“A rower?”

She explained slowly to me.

“A tuner,” she explained to me slowly, “is a person who helps with the fine controls, maintains, and repairs that keep the magic circle running smoothly. I looked at him curiously, for this was only the second time since Thea that I had met a real wizard. He must have sensed my gaze because he smiled and bowed to me.

The carriage passed over the magic circle as if through a tunnel.

Then, much to my surprise, in the blink of an eye, we were somewhere else.

The air was a little colder than before through the slightly open windows. Count Forte is located northeast of the imperial capital.

It was suddenly clear that we had crossed a magical portal. As proof, the trunks of the mountain range I had seen earlier were now visible behind us.

“Wow…!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim. Wizards are truly amazing, I thought to myself.

The carriage continued for another thirty minutes or so after passing through the portal.

From what I’d heard, this carriage was enchanted as well. The ride was comfortable and protected from outside attacks, and I felt so at home on this long journey that I thought I might fall asleep. It was time to drift in and out of sleep.

The procession had stopped. I could hear the murmur of voices.

I lifted my head and peeked out the window.

People’s clothes were longer and thicker, perhaps because it was colder.

“Laila, you can go downstairs now.”

The handmaiden spoke from the side. Under the open carriage door stood Yit. Escorted by him, I slowly made my way down the carriage.

“So this is what it looks like.

I looked around.

The next moment, I froze.

Before I could marvel at the beauty of the noble mansion, I recognized the figure before me.

Silver hair, dark green eyes. It was a portrait, and it was as if it had come to life.

I barely managed to open my frozen mouth to speak.

“…Mom?”