William's face quickly changed color and turned yellow.
“When I visited His Excellency three days ago, his condition was improving... Okay. I will get ready and go immediately.”
“The carriage is waiting for you. Please get ready and get off immediately.”
After he finished speaking, the assistant hurriedly left the room.
It was so sudden, that I remained standing there in an uncomfortable position, watching what was happening.
William, with a serious face, looked at Valeria.
“I must go to the palace immediately. What will you do, Lady Valeria? If you wish to return to the monastery, I will prepare a carriage for you.”
Valeria's gaze moved slowly to settle on me.
That was the first time I'd seen a friendly look from her since I'd met her.
Of course, she must have been faking it in front of William.
The corner of her expressionless mouth rose into a slight arch.
“I would like to talk more with the club manager, as she is one of the rare and special people in Ruberia.”
William nodded at her decision, then asked me to take care of things after him.
He did not hesitate for a moment, as if he completely trusted the guard witch.
“Then, if you'll excuse me, I ask you to make sure that Lady Valeria does not feel any distress. I will also tell Lady Marian about this before I leave.”
“Ah, Director. Actually, I…”
“Do you have something you want to say to me?”
I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head no, and forced myself to smile as calmly as possible.
“No, nothing important. Have a safe trip.”
"Okay. I'm looking forward to hearing about the book club's progress after I get back from the palace. I'm very excited about it too."
When I met his gentle brown eyes full of trust in me, I felt guilty for doubting him, mixed with anxiety that didn't go away, making my mind a mess.
***
After William left, there was a heavy silence and complete silence in the office.
Valeria stared at me without even moving.
I sat there stiffly, with a smile on my face to the point that it almost made the corner of my mouth twitch.
I became tense in my senses, like an animal that sensed a trap.
My focus and all my nerves were instinctively directed towards the door.
I have a bad feeling.
If anything happens, run away immediately.
But will I be able to run fast?
As I rolled my eyes anxiously, I noticed that Valeria's tea cup was empty.
I quickly got up carrying the teapot.
“Oh my God! It seems we have run out of tea leaves. Hosting a distinguished person like you cannot be taken lightly.”
She said that artificially.
“I apologize, please wait a moment. I will bring new tea right away.”
Good, that was very normal.
The plan is to pretend I'm going to get tea, then run out.
But my naive plan ended after just a few seconds.
Valeria also rose to follow me.
She was about ten centimeters taller than me, looked at me from above and laughed sarcastically.
I didn't like that smile, so I felt a sudden anger filling me.
“Why are you making fun of me?”
Instead of answering, she reached out and grabbed my chin, then stared at me intently, as if she wanted to pierce my eyes and reach my soul.
When I saw her cold, glaring black eyes, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
“Really… your soul is similar to Verna’s. You have black eyes and black hair. You have features similar to hers.”
At that moment, my breath stopped and my heart froze.
She knows my true form!
Her hand that was holding my chin moved down to my neck as if touching it, then squeezed it gently.
I tried to wriggle out of her grip, but I couldn't move.
She wrapped her hand around my neck.
I felt my body stiffening and my strength failing.
As Valeria's grip tightened, the fear began to subside, to be replaced by boiling anger.
I screamed hoarsely as I tried to breathe, but I still stared at her and let my anger clench through my teeth.
“You...do you think...you're allowed to...do this here?”
With all my strength, I grabbed her wrist.
The forces became equal between the hands of me, the one who held her wrist, and her.
She gave me a sharp look, and growled in a low growl.
“I don’t know why William volunteered to be your guardian. If it weren’t for him protecting you, I would have gotten rid of you right away. He is ignorant, and doesn’t know what you really are.”
She spoke, frowning and twisting her lips in displeasure.
But I felt such relief that my legs almost gave way.
I realized two truths from Valeria's words.
The first: William does not know my true nature, and that he became my guardian out of pure intention.
But I quickly had one question.
Why didn't Valeria tell William the truth about me? Maybe she was hiding it from him.
My truth, which they hide even from William, the library director in charge of magical books.
Why are you hiding it, Valeria? What's the point?
With all my strength, I grabbed her wrist and lowered it.
The area of my neck she was holding felt numb and burning.
Her fingers will definitely leave marks.
It's a good thing that the librarian's uniform covers the neck, otherwise it would be difficult to hide the effects of strangulation.
Valeria was still staring at me as if she wanted to kill me, so I responded with a calm look.
We stood a step apart, silent, staring at each other.
It was her sarcasm that broke the silence first.
“Amazing! You have become a librarian at the Royal Library, have gained the favor of the Crown Prince, and above all, the support of the Queen.”
A cold, sarcastic smile rose on her face.
“War Lady! And now the people of Ruberia love you. Your magical talent for deceiving people is amazing, Erica.”
Even you say this.
Suddenly, I felt kind of cool.
“This is nonsense. If you are as great and powerful a witch as you claim, then you know that I do not have any magical powers.”
I replied sarcastically, as did I.
After she almost suffocated me, I was no longer afraid of her and I no longer cared about anything.
A fierce murder sparkled in Valeria's piercing eyes.
"You have awakened yet, but not completely. Be thankful that your powers have not yet fully awakened. The moment you reveal your powers to the world, your life will end as well."
“Why do you want to kill me? I didn’t do you any harm.”
“You still don't understand?”
Hate sparkled in Valeria's eyes as she gritted her teeth.
I couldn't understand why she hated me so much.
“Your very existence, in this world, is a disaster.”
I was about to tell her to stop this madness, when we heard a quiet knock on the door.
She and I stopped as if we had agreed on this.
“Erica, are you in there?”
With her pure, clear voice, the door opened cautiously.
Through the opening of the door, her shiny platinum hair swayed and flapped as if dancing.
“Oh my God, Freesia! Here you are.”
I received her with joy and happiness.
I forgot my appointment with Freesia, because I was hosting this mentally ill witch who threatens my life.
Even Valeria took a step back and hid her fierce hostile intentions.
The office regained its tense calm after Freesia entered, after it had been filled with intense tension and ferocity.
Thank you, my heroine. You saved me again.
“Oh, you have a guest. Am I here too early?”
Freesia asked with a puzzled face, and glanced at Valeria who was behind me.
Her violet pupils widened slightly, and she slowly blinked her long eyelashes.
“Ah... who is this?”
Tears gathered in Freesia's big eyes, and feelings of nostalgia and joy passed through them.
I asked her cautiously.
“Do you know Lady Valeria?”
Since Valeria and Freesia exchanged glances, Freesia was also stunned and did not move.
It was a new face that I had never seen before on this cruel and evil woman.
Freesia's beautiful face opened with a smile as bright as a flower. She ran to Valeria and jumped up to hug her.
“Aunt Valeria...!”
What? What did I just shave with? Who do you call aunt?
I felt as if I had been hit hard on the head.
I wasn't the only one who was shocked, Valeria also stopped there as if she had frozen.
After long moments, she whispered hoarsely.
“F… Freesia?”
Freesia raised her head, still in Valeria's arms, her eyes shining like stars from tears.
“نعم. إنها أنا، فريزيا. خالتي، اشتقتُ إليكِ كثيراً.”
As she spoke with a voice full of tears, Freesia was smiling sweetly.
Valeria wrapped her trembling arms around Freesia's shoulders. It was a careful gesture, as if she was afraid it would break if she touched it, because it was so precious.
“Oh, my dear Verna child... you have grown and become beautiful.”
Valeria whispered in a low voice, nuzzling her face into Freesia's hair.
Frisia is the daughter of someone named Verna?
You said Verna had black hair and black eyes.
But Freesia has platinum hair and violet eyes.
Oh, she said she looked like her father, Count Rubel.
Who the hell is Verna?
Freesia and Valeria sat next to each other on the sofa, holding hands.
They looked like a mother and daughter who met after a long separation since childhood.
I was looking at them furtively while I lit the fire under the teapot and prepared the tea leaves.
Until I served tea, the two of them stared at each other tirelessly, exchanging feelings of the touching meeting.
Freesia wiped the tears from her eyes and began to apologize.
“You have gone beyond my limits. I never expected to see you here, Aunt Valeria. You were so happy and made such a shameful appearance.”
“Never. On the contrary, it is wonderful to meet someone dear to your heart.”
I have a bad feeling that my office might become a meeting place in Ruberia.
I took a sip of tea, then asked Freesia a natural question.
“This is amazing! I didn’t know you knew the Guardian Witch!”
Freesia looked at Valeria for a moment with eyes full of love.
“Yes. Aunt Balia was my mother’s best friend. She used to visit the count’s house often, and when I was young, she and I used to go to visit the convent where my aunt lived. She spoiled me a lot.”
Freesia gently placed her beautiful hands on top of Valeria's brunette hand.
“Do you remember, Aunt Valeria? You were always carrying me on your back and showing me so many amazing magics. I still remember the fireworks magic you showed me on my seventh birthday like it was yesterday.”
Valeria looked at Freesia, who was smiling innocently like a little girl, as if she wanted to drown in her eyes.
“Yes... and I have not forgotten you for a moment either.”
Valeria gently patted Freesia's peachy cheeks.
I was so surprised that I almost dropped the teacup from my hand because of that soft and affectionate look.
Is this the same person who was suffocating me a while ago and threatening to kill me so ferociously?
Not only did Freesia hide her joy, but she also showed her hurt feelings and complained a little.
“Why didn’t you reply to my messages even once? You could have.”
“After Verna left in that way...many things changed.”
Valeria avoided Freesia's gaze and whispered in a low voice.
Her features showed traces of guilt and pain.
A dark shadow fell on Freesia's beautiful face as well.
“That's why...”
Loving translation