‘What on earth is this……’

What could be happening?

Everything was pitch black before my eyes.

This was both an idiomatic expression meaning confusion and bewilderment, as well as the literal meaning that it was so dark I couldn’t see anything.

I was blindfolded with my hands and feet restrained, placed inside a dark box like a coffin.

Clunk, clunk. Judging by how my body was shaking, it seemed I was being transported somewhere.

‘Let’s think this through slowly.’

Still, I tried my best to remain calm. There must be some way to get out of this situation.

Yes, first it would be best to recall what happened up until now.

So it happened in the very early morning. In the middle of May, when the night was unusually dark.

It was also about a month after I had finished my journey in Landgritz.

The records of the Chronos dynasty that filled the study were being smoothly translated, and Sergei, who was supervising the work, had removed his splint three days ago and was going about his daily life.

Kardiel had now turned sixteen.

In mid-April, on the child’s birthday, the whole family had gathered to throw a grand party.

Ah yes, around that time Kardiel had also received an acceptance letter from the Academy. As the top student, no less.

Moreover, surprisingly, even the imperial prince Raphael would be attending the Academy together with Kardiel.

Apparently he had sent a long, detailed letter to the emperor while I was away.

Chersion was being good as always.

When I was gone, he often went on picnics with Teacher Ernestine and Kongsam.

Recently he’s been learning the basics of magic theory and how to handle magic from Joseph.

Though I still don’t really understand what they’re talking about when I listen in.

And Euphemina……

‘I thought there was no problem.’

Yes, now we should return to that dawn.

That morning was a bit different from usual. Because Joseph was away.

The reason was none other than to prepare for Chersion’s awakening ceremony, which could only be done in a specific place.

And that day, I came to realize.

That we had been able to live peacefully without major injuries all this time was entirely thanks to Joseph.

Dawn.

As I was sleeping comfortably in my room, I was suddenly awakened by an overwhelming sensation. Indeed, breathing had become extremely difficult.

However, before I could properly register my senses, I was startled to see someone’s silhouette suddenly sitting beside my bed.

“How are you feeling, you Landgritz wench?”

The disheveled hair was buried in the surrounding darkness, making it impossible to distinguish its color.

But there was no mistaking those monstrous eyes gleaming with intense killing intent and madness.

‘Dorothea?’

In that moment, I bolted upright. Or rather, I tried to. But as if all the screws in my body had come loose, I couldn’t muster any strength in my arms or legs.

Above all, breathing was laborious. Even though no one was pressing down on my body.

“Puhaha. The sight of you barely squirming is hilarious. Let me tell you in advance, no matter how much you struggle, you won’t be able to move any more than that. Have you heard of muscle relaxants? It’s a drug that prevents muscle contraction. Think of it as a paralytic. I just injected you with the proper dose a moment ago. From now on, you won’t be able to speak or scream either.”

Only then did I understand why breathing had become so difficult.

If it prevents muscle contraction, of course it would be hard to use the muscles needed for breathing. Naturally, I couldn’t make a sound either.

I had literally become a living doll.

Only my mind and senses remained clear.

As proof, I could see the pool of blood seeping out from beyond the door, and Loretta’s splayed body collapsed on top of it. And then……

“We’ve taken care of all the servants in the castle, Mistress.”

I couldn’t ignore the report from the large thugs who barged in through the door.

“Is that so? There weren’t any that escaped?”

“As far as we can tell, no. We made sure to snuff out every last one of them. Ah, and as you instructed, we’ve just put the royalty to sleep.”

“Well done. It would be troublesome if we mishandled that one. What about the Daiern brats?”

“We’ve captured the older one, and already dealt with the younger one. The older one was quite a nuisance, but he dropped his sword when he heard his mother was being held hostage.”

Wait, just a moment.

‘What did you say?’

I couldn’t believe my ears. What did they do to Kardiel? And Chersion……?

And what happened to Euphemina?

“Kya-ha-ha. Very, very good. I didn’t expect that arrogant Joseph to be away, but that’s rather fortunate. We can torment him separately later.”

I wished I wasn’t conscious, I was so confused.

No, this had to be a dream. It must be a dream. This was something that couldn’t and shouldn’t happen.

“Now then, Landgritz wench. Since it seems you still haven’t grasped the situation, I’ll specially tell you what happened just now, and what we’re going to do next.”

A rough hand caressed my cheek so gently it made my skin crawl. I felt like I had become the witch’s lovely prey.

“I’m thinking of taking the one with the crippled eye as my lover. Originally I was going to cut him up and sell only the intact parts, but now that I look closely, somehow his eye has healed. So I changed my plans.”

She was talking about Sergei. The disgusting voice full of laughter continued.

“And as for your eldest son, I’m planning to use him as a sacrifice for our little flower. Lately my cute little flower seems to have developed a taste for hunting games, showing great interest in dissecting animals…… Oh my, where are my manners!”

Sacrifice? Hunting games? Dissection?

It was chilling just to hear it. But my tongue, paralyzed by the muscle relaxant, couldn’t make a sound.

Seeing my helpless state, she grinned widely and brought her face close to mine.

“Our little flower…… that is, my daughter, I actually just decided to adopt her a moment ago. So I’m wondering. Whether I should let her keep using her old name Euphemina.”

What……

……did she say?

“Or if I should give her a new name. Hee-hee-hee, did I mention this? I’m talking about your youngest son. It was our little flower who killed him.”

A stench as if dredged from hell wafted strongly. A demonic metallic voice violently whispered in my ear.

“But since he was just a child, we mercifully killed him quickly, so don’t worry.”

Ah……

I couldn’t believe it. My vision blurred and flickered in an instant.

It couldn’t be. That snake-like woman must be spouting nonsense. Even if it wasn’t, she must have tricked Euphemina!

I don’t doubt Euphemina.

But even so, it felt like a hole had been punched through my heart.

Please.

‘Someone please tell me this situation is a dream.’

I beg you, tell me all of this is a lie and a nightmare.

“Eeheeheehee, kyahahahahaha! So you and that Joseph bastard. You should never have dared to mess with me!”

The witch’s maniacal laughter reverberated through Daiern as if it would tear my nerves apart.

But contrary to my hopes, everything that had unfolded was reality.

That afternoon, Dorothea threw Chersion’s corpse in front of me for all to see.

After a day passed, she dragged Sergei in like a dog and violated him before my eyes.

And by the second day, she brought me Kardiel’s body, cold and cruelly disfigured.

“Don’t worry, pretty Landgritz. I won’t kill you. I promised our little flower that much.”

I was still struggling to breathe, unable to use my muscles.

“But that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to live unscathed. That’s why drugs are so frightening. Still, with my help, you should be able to keep your life intact. Our little flower begged so earnestly to save you, even if only like this. As a mother, how could I refuse my child’s plea?”

Dorothea’s reflection appeared in the mirror, cackling as she wrapped herself in my clothes and jewels.

She had somehow taken on the beautiful appearance of a woman in her 30s. It was exactly the face I had seen 20 years ago.

“And because of that, I made one more compromise with our little flower……”

Click, click. Feet wearing my shoes approached.

Then, adjusting my doll-like sitting posture, she smiled with narrowed eyes.

“After all, if I’m to take care of you for life, I’ll need a position of my own, won’t I? So I got our little flower’s consent to become your mother-in-law.”