Return to Estia

Lia spent the three days following that eerie night beside her older brother before he finally had to leave. During that entire time, she never once spoke to William.

And while her brother was away training...

She secretly slipped into the library and searched for the meanings behind the names Lucifer and Maximus.

It may sound ridiculous to you.

But to Lia, it felt important enough to change everything.

And this was what she found:

Maximus meant “the greatest.”

Lucifer was another name used for the devil.

Their names were not even remotely similar, so...

Lucifer was not Maximus?

She still did not know.

She needed to investigate further...

And that was exactly what she intended to do.

Yet something deep inside her whispered that the truth would overturn her entire life.

...

Later, after Carlos finished his training—

“Brother, are you leaving without going to Estia?” Lia asked while watching him pack his belongings after being summoned by his master alongside his classmate, William. The two attended the same academy and were considered fellow disciples despite their age gap. Carlos was twenty years old, while William was twenty-eight.

“There’s no need for that... send my regards to everyone,” Carlos replied as he gathered the last of his things.

No gifts.

No explanation.

Only greetings?

Lia found his behavior strange. He had always deeply loved and respected his mother.

Could it be that he learned about...?

In the end, she simply answered softly:

“Alright.”

Carlos lowered himself onto one knee and placed a hand atop his little sister’s head—the very source of his happiness and perseverance. Even his biological sister had never received this kind of affection from him.

“What a good girl... Tell your brother what you want, and I’ll bring you anything you desire.”

Lia hesitated before speaking quietly:

“I want you to... take me to watch the Divine Duel next time... if you have time.”

Carlos was not surprised in the slightest.

His little sister had always loved the sword obsessively. She used to secretly practice the basics, but after their mother discovered it and punished her harshly, Lia stopped openly showing interest in swordsmanship.

At least in front of others.

And now...

Had her obsession returned once again?

“As you wish,” he said with a smile, agreeing immediately.

Her eyes sparkled with joy, though she restrained herself from jumping in excitement.

“Thank you... and don’t break your promise.”

Carlos laughed softly.

“Haha... I wouldn’t dare.”

After Carlos and William departed, Lia returned to Estia.

The moment she remembered what was waiting for her there, her heart tightened painfully.

Throughout the entire journey, her thoughts were consumed by the strange voice that had appeared in her room three nights ago...

The same voice Carlos had clearly heard as well.

...

Lia returned to the palace, her anxiety growing heavier with every step she took through the decorated hallways.

She already knew what awaited her.

Her “new mother.”

Her stepmother.

The rising queen who had turned her biological mother’s death into an opportunity to ascend to the highest position within the royal harem while exiling all the other concubines.

And for those who remembered the phrase:

“I’ll take care of you in a special way.”

—the one she said in the very first chapter to the former concubines of the king...

Well.

This was that “special way.”

Lia was treated horribly.

Even the servants looked down on her with disgust.

The moment she arrived, she was immediately summoned to the queen’s chambers.

And with no choice left...

She obeyed.

Lia entered the room to find the queen seated upon a small throne, dressed in extravagant royal clothing. A glass of champagne rested in her hand while a smile stretched across her lips—

A horrifying smile.

Cold.

Cruel.

Filled with malice.

“Ah, truly... good stepmothers are such a rare species.”

“Welcome back, Lia. Every time I look at you, I become more certain that you truly resemble your mother,” the queen said sweetly, though her tone dripped with poison disguised as elegance.

Lia clenched her hand tightly at her side.

A painful lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to hide it.

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Queen,” Lia said politely while bowing.

A flicker of annoyance crossed the queen’s face when she realized Lia had not reacted to the insult.

“Tch. Boring.”

She suddenly threw the champagne glass toward Lia.

Fortunately, it shattered at her feet.

Unfortunately, that did not stop the shards from cutting into her skin.

Then her younger sister entered confidently, carrying gifts while throwing Lia a smug, triumphant look.

Those gifts had originally been meant for Lia.

They had been sent because she was considered the future concubine of the Second Prince.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” the younger girl asked proudly, flaunting what Lia had never once received herself.

Lia did not even look at the gifts.

Her mind was entirely focused on one thing:

How to leave this room alive.

But that...

Was impossible.

“Hmph. Why aren’t you kneeling?” Malak asked arrogantly.

“Princess Second, as the First Princess of Estia and your older sister, shouldn’t you be the one offering greetings first? Isn’t that right, Queen Mother?” Lia replied coldly.

In other words:

By what right are you asking me to kneel when my status outranks yours?

“Mother, say something! She’s bullying me!” Malak cried fake tears while clinging to her mother dramatically.

“Oh dear Lia! Didn’t we tell you already? You’ve been demoted to the rank of Second Princess. Such a shame... It seems I forgot to inform you. Ah, my apologies...

Actually, no.

I’m not sorry at all.”

Hatred and contempt filled Celestia’s voice as satisfaction bloomed within her chest.

“You have no idea...

Perhaps in the future you’ll be lower than even the servants.”

Everyone in the room laughed.

Everyone except Lia.

The queen cast a subtle glance toward the servant standing closest to Lia.

The servant understood instantly.

Without hesitation, she kicked Lia’s legs out from beneath her.

Lia collapsed painfully onto her knees.

“You two, hold her down and don’t let her escape. And you—go fetch my wooden rod,” Celestia ordered while still smiling.

The moment Lia heard the words “wooden rod,” terror gripped her heart.

That rod had followed her since childhood.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted to cry and beg.

But she already knew it was useless.

It had never worked before.

So she simply sat there obediently, waiting for her fate.

If not for the mask covering her face, they would have certainly slapped her across the cheeks as well.

The king himself had forbidden anyone from removing that mask.

You may wonder:

Hadn’t they been warned to take care of her?

What Lia did not know was that after the previous incident, the memories of those involved had been erased. Only one command remained deeply engraved within their minds alongside traces of overwhelming power:

“No one is allowed to take her life...

And no one is allowed to remove her mask under any circumstances.”

But they never expected her to be treated like this inside her own kingdom...

Aside from Carlos, Lia had two younger siblings—a boy and a girl. The boy was only two months younger than her.

Out of all of them...

Only her older brother treated her kindly.

The others?

Well.

You already saw the answer.

It seemed Celestia no longer cared about the warning.

In fact, her curiosity to see the face hidden beneath the mask had grown stronger after the imperial decree arrived, declaring Lia di Estia the future concubine of the Second Prince along with numerous luxurious gifts.

“Remove her mask. Let’s see just how ugly the creature behind it really is,” the queen ordered.

The servant hesitated briefly.

But still bowed.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

He approached Lia and reached toward her mask.

“No... please... don’t...” Lia begged after a long silence.

The servant ignored her completely.

His hand moved closer—

“STOP RIGHT THERE!!”

A furious roar exploded throughout the room.

The king growled in rage.

But he was already too late.

The servant had touched the mask.

BOOM.

The servant and the two maids restraining Lia exploded into a grotesque shower of flesh and blood.

The king grabbed his head with both hands in horror.

“We’re finished...

We’ve angered them.”

...

Note: Dear readers, a bad word will appear in this chapter—the word “whore.” I just wanted to warn you beforehand. Enjoy the chapter, my swans.

Lia remained kneeling on the floor, her heart pounding violently while her vision blurred.

The mask never used to possess defensive powers.

Did...

Did he add them after tampering with it?

Gathering what little courage she had left, Lia slowly stood up while trembling in relief.

She could not fight.

She could not defend herself.

Not yet.

It was still too early for that.

Although Edward had defended her...

It was only because he feared the wrath of those “unknown people” who warned him five years ago never to remove the child’s mask.

Celestia, who believed everything was under her control, suddenly found the situation spiraling against her.

She never intended to kill anyone.

She only wanted to punish Lia.

For the first time since entering the room, genuine fear appeared on her face.

The king, who had been watching from afar, felt anger and terror mix together violently within him.

“Celestia! What have you done?! Do you want us to join our ancestors in the grave?!” he roared.

Fear was unmistakable in his voice.

Celestia trembled.

She realized she had gone too far.

Completely beyond control.

She stepped backward while the rod in her hand shook violently.

“M-My dear, please let me explain—”

SLAP.

The sound echoed sharply.

In the entire hundred years she had spent beside him...

This was the first time he had ever struck her.

And for whom?

For that whore’s daughter?

At that exact moment...

Celestia declared war on Lia.

Lia seized the opportunity.

With small but careful steps, she slipped away while everyone remained frozen in shock and terror after witnessing the servants explode before their eyes.

She did not scream.

She did not resist.

She simply escaped.

Silently.

Until she disappeared into the corridors leading toward her miserable attic room.

Meanwhile, Celestia burned with rage.

But she could not say a single word.

The king’s eyes remained filled with both fear and fury as his voice thundered once more:

“I tolerated every cruel punishment you inflicted upon her, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching. I warned you clearly!

That cursed mask covering her face—

Didn’t I warn you about it?!

ANSWER ME!”

Celestia finally broke down.

Her eyes met the king’s while panic consumed her entirely.

She glanced toward her daughter, who had already fled outside alongside the servants after seeing her father’s terrifying reaction.

Tears suddenly flooded Celestia’s beautiful eyes while her features twisted from the pain of the slap.

“My lord... please forgive my mistake... anger consumed me... sob... Edward, she insulted me... She claimed I was the one who convinced you to kill her mother... sob... and she also said... and...”

And thus—

The performance began.

Edward’s heart softened immediately.

“I understand your anger. But the mask is a red line. I’m sorry... I lashed out at you unconsciously. I swear I’ll make this right, my dear. Please don’t cry... it hurts me to see you crying.”

Edward embraced his weeping wife.

A victorious smile appeared across Celestia’s lips.

Inside her heart, she swore to treat Lia worse than a dog from this day onward.

“Just wait, Lia.

I’ll make sure you experience a hell even worse than before.”

“Oh really?

Let’s see how you plan to do that.”

A strange voice suddenly echoed in response to her words.

Inside the attic, Lia sat on the floor of her ruined room, breathing heavily while confusion and fear overwhelmed her.

But she knew one thing:

Running away had been the right decision.

A small step.

A tiny opportunity to survive.

At least until she figured out what to do next.

“We’ve started all over again...” Lia sighed helplessly.

Patience...

Patience was the only thing needed to unravel the mysteries of this complicated story.

And by the way, dear reader...

Make sure your doors and windows are locked.

You may not be alone.