32. Lady Ygret’s Secret (2)

‘Why did Lady Ygret flee with the grand duchy’s  wealth in the original story?’

I pondered this as I headed to Lady Ygret’s room as she requested.

‘Lady Ygret entered as a head maid a few years before the previous grand duke of Inkheart passed away, and Darius was touring the borderlands at that time.’

Around the time my father-in-law, the previous grand duke of Inkheart died, the situation was truly chaotic and difficult in many ways, so the young duke Inkheart was personally touring several northern territories to appease the people.

The sickly grand duke Inkheart couldn’t govern the northern territories, and the young duke who should have taken his place was away from the estate. This meant it was a perfect situation for Lady Ygret to have free reign.

To extend this advantageous situation, Lady Ygret tried persistently to drive a wedge between Anette and Darius.

Though she failed. Darius and I get along very well as good friends.

‘Until now, I thought Lady Ygret had escaped at an opportune time since she couldn’t embezzle forever.’

People are disappearing, and Lady Ygret deliberately prevented Darius from receiving this news.

Why did Lady Ygret need money in the first place? She has no children to leave her wealth to, and as the wife of a relative of the Inkheart family, she already receives sufficient respect.

What did she need to gain through embezzlement?

Could Lady Ygret have something more that wasn’t mentioned in the original story?

“Apple.”

Before the maid could announce my arrival to Lady Ygret, I instructed Apple.

“If I don’t leave Lady Ygret’s room after 30 minutes, come in with any excuse you can think of. And take this to His Highness right now.”

I placed one half of the mirror I had taken from the vault, wrapped in a handkerchief, into Apple’s hand. My trusted maid nodded with a grave expression.

“I’ll do that, Madam.”

* * *

I had been thinking all along that I needed to deal with Lady Ygret, the hidden villain of Castle Inkheart.

Coincidentally, Lady Ygret seemed to share the thought that now was the time to leave.

Lady Ygret’s room had become starkly sparse. As if she was ready to depart at any moment.

‘That won’t do.’

There’s no way she’s leaving before spitting out all the spoils she’s been gorging on.

We smiled at each other with utmost sweetness while harboring mutual hatred.

“I’m sorry for breaking our appointment. I trust Lady Ygret will understand that urgent matters take priority. You’re a broad-minded person, aren’t you?”

“What can I do? It’s not like I can turn back time. Well, I did wait quite a long time that day, not knowing your circumstances.”

“Were you perhaps inconvenienced?”

“I’m not one to waste time carelessly.”

“But what can you do? As you said, isn’t my will the priority in all matters?”

Lady Ygret returned my incredulous smile. The corners of her mouth trembled as she smiled with all her patience.

I’ve felt this before, but I truly seem to have the temperament for romance fantasy novels. The role of the annoying superior fits me perfectly.

“Here are the documents you requested. I revised everything after hearing your instructions, Madam.”

Lady Ygret pushed a pile of documents across the table toward me.

The last time I met with her, I had questioned her about why the castle’s financial situation was in such a state.

“This looks good. Very neat.”

“I couldn’t trouble you twice, my lady.”

“But how could accounts that didn’t match suddenly become so neatly aligned?”

Lady Ygret’s face, which had been wearing a gentle smile, looked as if it might shatter with a clang.

“What do you mean?”

“Last time there were so many problems, but this time there are no numerical errors. In such a short time. Either you’re a very capable accountant or……”

You manipulated the ledger.

“Last time you embarrassed me for having incorrect numbers, and now you’re criticizing me for having correct ones?”

“Of course not. I’m just curious why someone capable of doing this did what they did last time. As you know, the discrepancy between the two sets of data is quite large.”

While pretending to look at the documents, I placed the mirror on the table.

The mirror wasn’t reflecting my face like an ordinary mirror. Instead, it showed someone else’s face. I secretly waved to him as he stared back with wide, bewildered eyes.

Lady Ygret abruptly stood up and closed the door. Her back trembled as she breathed heavily.

“Lady Ygret?”

“The wind is cold. I think it’s better to talk with the door closed.”

I remained vigilant, not taking my eyes off Lady Ygret’s back as she turned away. Something was suspicious.

“Where were we?”

“Where did you divert the castle’s budget? You were in charge of the castle’s housekeeping.”

I asked again in succession.

“And I heard that maids are disappearing and you’re suppressing those rumors. Why are you doing that?”

“Oh my goodness, Madam. You young people are so naive. In a quiet, snow-covered village, one person disappearing isn’t uncommon. Young people sometimes run away from their parents, seeking vibrant city life. I simply didn’t want to trouble Castle Inkheart with such matters.”

“Even if that’s the case, the lord should know what’s happening. That’s not for you to decide. It’s a clear overstepping of authority, Lady Ygret.”

“So are you going to punish me?”

“If necessary. I’ll report this to His Highness. There will be disciplinary action.”

Lady Ygret, who was blocking the door, turned to look at me. Her eyes gleamed strangely.

“Lady Ygret.”

I was about to ask if she was feeling unwell.

Lady Ygret exhaled a sigh. At the same time, her demeanor changed.

“How annoying. I should have done this from the beginning instead of enduring all this time.”

Click. The sound of Lady Ygret locking the door was distinctly audible.

“Lady Ygret?”

I stood up. Something was wrong.

“Running around causing trouble everywhere, do you really think you’re something? This is my territory.”

‘The mirror, grab the mirror.’

Just as I picked up the mirror, Lady Ygret flipped over the table. This woman must be crazy!

“If I had killed everyone before leaving, it would have been easier.”

With the table cleared away, a large pattern on the floor was revealed. It looked unmistakably like a magic circle.

Lady Ygret, or rather, the being whose identity I now doubted, muttered something toward the magic circle. The characters drawn in the magic circle began to glow and sparkle.

‘A pattern has appeared on Lady Ygret’s hand too!’

Like my spirit master mark, it seemed to appear and become visible only when certain conditions were met. Just as Lady Ygret was now openly showing her killing intent toward me.

I gathered my wits and quickly threw myself at the door.

‘It won’t open!’

“My maid is waiting outside! Do you think she’ll just stand by if she doesn’t hear any sound from inside?”

“Sound? Don’t worry.”

Lady Ygret, having regained her composure, smiled benevolently. Judging by her face alone, this woman truly looked kind.

“What you should worry about from now on is much more than that. No sound will be heard. Not even when you shed your last drop of blood and die!”

Good heavens. I thought there might be some secret, but I never thought she was a witch.

“Apple! Darius! Is anyone there?”

Bang, bang. I desperately pounded on the door that wouldn’t open.

“Oh dear, anger isn’t good for the skin. I should control myself.”

Knowing I had no means of defense, Lady Ygret was relaxed. She walked toward me slowly, as if gradually tightening a noose.

“Beauty is pain. Just maintaining it requires a great price. But if I can be this beautiful at my age, it’s worth it.”

Lady Ygret tore her cumbersome skirt. Underneath, she was wearing pants for easier movement.

“Being of the demon realm who has contracted with me. According to our contract, I offer you a sacrifice, so grant me more powerful charm!”

With a hissing sound, black smoke emerged and a monster was summoned from the magic circle. It was a monster resembling a slimy mud ball.

In my urgency, I threw the vase in front of me at the monster. The vase shattered with a loud crash, but true to its monstrous nature, it didn’t seem to take much damage.

‘Apple, I told you to come in by any means necessary after 30 minutes!’

“Do you know who I hate the most?”

“How would I know the thoughts of an embezzler and a madwoman!”

“Pretty and young things like you. Those who have soft, beautiful skin without any effort. Looking at you makes me too aware of my age. It’s sickening.”

Ordinary physical force won’t work against that monster.

There’s no one to save me, and inside the room are a crazy woman who hates aging and her monster baring their teeth at me. How should I handle this situation? I frantically searched through my pockets.

“Ah!”

“So I brought young maidens and fed them to the monster. Those children gave me power.”

Ygret suddenly grabbed my neck.

“I was getting tired of eating ordinary country girls. But a noble lady like you who grew up so delicately……”

I threw the round object I had grabbed, pouch and all, at Ygret.