Episode 17

""So that was the queen's plan; I would have loved to see her face when you turned her down,"Sigrid laughed."

""By the gods, this is serious; I don’t understand why the queen would request such a thing, but surely you’ll have more trouble with her,"Valentina expressed with concern."

Charlotte sat beside her, holding her grandmother's hands to calm her.

""Do not worry, she cannot go any further; if she acts against me, the Magical Council will not remain silent. After all, she has managed to earn their trust,"she reassured."

""Madam, I will take care of your granddaughter, so have no fear,"added Sigrid with a kind smile."

Charlotte looked at him irritably; like her, Sigrid was very good at pretending to be a kind young man with an angelic smile, but it was only his façade to hide his true self. Valentina was more at ease, as she trusted Sigrid, who had always seemed protective of Charlotte.

At the palace, the queen put forth to the king the idea of betrothing Charlotte, showing evidence of the lack of upbringing in Rogelia. There were even statements from young ladies who had been harassed by Rogelia using her authority as the future second prince's fiancee.

""My queen, it was you who decided this engagement; if you think it is incorrect, you should rectify it,"he spoke disinterestedly."

""Of course I will, but Your Majesty, I need your support to request a betrothal to Lady Charlotte. She is now the leader of the magical tower; we need her influence to crown Hugo.

""That is far too risky; one cannot force a betrothal, especially not with the leader of the magical tower.

""But we can appeal to the Magical Council, they can validate her opinion.

""I forbid you from doing that; if you cause trouble, I will let you fall alone, do you understand?"he asked, annoyed."

The queen fell silent but was agitated for not receiving the king's support. Still, she could not surrender; she needed Charlotte to place her son on the throne.

At the Leroux mansion, Rogelia wept after being admonished by the queen for her poor performance in recent tests since beginning her lessons at the palace. She had not improved one bit and was even scolded for her arrogant behavior toward other ladies.

""She told me she could break off the engagement if I’m not ready...that’s not fair, mother,"she complained, pacing back and forth."

""We cannot lose this opportunity, so you must improve. From now on, you will spend eight hours a day in lessons,"Nidia demanded."

""What? That’s not fair; what about the tea parties? If I am absent, I will lose my reputation.

""You will lose the engagement if you do not improve, so just do as you're told.

Nidia could not allow her daughter to lose this engagement; it would be the mockery of society. Meanwhile, Flabio had left the Leroux mansion and arrived at the baroness’s mansion, requesting the guards let him pass because he had come to see his sister Charlotte.

""I am sorry, young man, but Lady Charlotte does not live in this house, and we are not permitted to disclose her whereabouts,"the guard informed him."

""How dare you? A wretched lackey cannot deny me anything,"he shouted."

""That lackey has better manners, it seems, not just the mother is vulgar.

Valentina was just leaving when she heard the commotion.

""Grandmother, I just want to see Charlotte.

""Watch your filthy mouth; I am not your grandmother and my granddaughter is under no obligation to see you. Get away from here,"she yelled."

""She's my sister; I have a right to see her.

""You will not, especially knowing the kind of degenerate you are. But mark my words, my granddaughter has someone to protect her, so stay away from her,"she warned."

With that, she ordered the guards not to let him in, and with Flabio in front of her, she commanded them not to disclose Charlotte's whereabouts. Flabio stormed off the property, furious.

Of course, Charlotte watched everything from the window, seeing the carriage drive away, knowing who would be the next target in that family. She had planned on going after Rogelia, but first, Flabio had to be dealt with.

"Tonight I am going out, so do not enter my room," she warned Sigrid, who sat in that room.

"The queen witch will be getting up to mischief tonight," he said.

"Of course, that's why I returned to this kingdom."

And she would never let her targets escape; once she had them in her sights, they were destined to perish. As night fell, Charlotte donned a cloak and mask and slipped out of the mansion as nimbly as mist, disappearing and reappearing until she reached the Leroux mansion. There, Flabio was in his room with a girl who, though weak and dizzy from being drugged with wine, refused his advances. Charlotte watched as he struck the girl and tore her dress. At that moment, rotten claws gripped his face, and the girl looked like a decaying old woman.

"Kiss me, darling," she cackled.

Flabio pushed her away, but as he stumbled backward, spectral women came at him, crowding and clawing. A child’s voice spoke, and turning, he saw a young Charlotte smiling from the window.

"Brother, I've come to play."

Flabio, in terror, denied his depraved thoughts, but whispers of judgment echoed around him. Charlotte extended her hand, tricking him into stepping onto the balcony rail.

"Goodbye, brother. I’m here for one reason—to rid the world of vermin."

Charlotte's misty avatars pushed Flabio over the edge, and his body was discovered by the guards. The Leroux household erupted into chaos; Nidia screamed upon seeing her son's lifeless form.

The next day, rumors spread about Flabio's death—some said it was an accident, others a suicide. At the funeral, Nidia lashed out as Charlotte placed flowers on the coffin, but public sympathy turned toward Charlotte, and the Marquess and Nidia were scorned.

Charlotte wiped away false tears as she left, indulging in her own performance. Back in the carriage, she reveled in her actions—Flabio was gone, and the Leroux’s reputation tarnished.

"You play your part well, though you don't know of compassion," Sigrid mocked.

Charlotte only smiled—her revenge was just beginning.

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