FVN Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Count Bluewood was left utterly speechless by the sudden reversal of his fate. He stood frozen, his mind blank, until the shock belatedly turned into frantic desperation.
"Do you have any idea what that place is?! Absolutely not! My life's treasures—!"
"Stay still."
But he couldn't move a muscle. Edmund's blade was pressed against his throat, leaving him utterly helpless.
A boy who had been silently standing guard like a knight finally opened his mouth.
"If you keep being a nuisance, I'll have to treat you like the knights. I'm already being polite to you just because you're a count."
Edmund spoke as if merely refraining from knocking him out immediately was an act of great patience.
The count was furious, but with a razor-sharp blade pressed against his neck, he couldn't even muster a proper breath.
The outcome was inevitable.
***
The treasure vault of the Bluewood estate was sealed with impenetrable security. The door was massive and made of solid steel.
To enter, one had to turn the handle in a specific sequence, requiring considerable strength.
Even knowing the sequence, a harvest mouse beastfolk could never muster enough power to open it.
And beyond that, the vault was always under the watchful guard of knights.
Finally, I'm getting a look inside.
Nestled in Sera’s arms, Elodie quietly surveyed the vault's interior.
But as expected—
There was nothing particularly dazzling.
She immediately lost interest.
After all the excessive precautions taken to guard this place, she had expected something extraordinary.
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
For ten years, she had lived in the most opulent world this kingdom had to offer. How could this mediocre collection possibly satisfy her?
Her standards had become unnecessarily high.
With such thoughts, she idly observed Sera gathering her late mother’s belongings.
And then—
Oh?
Elodie’s gaze landed on something in the corner of the vault—a rather exquisite bracelet.
At its center, a round-cut crimson gemstone shimmered as if it held a flickering flame within.
It was an incredibly simple design. No elaborate engravings, no ostentatious insignias—just a plain but elegant bracelet.
Yet, its lack of embellishments only served to highlight the beauty of the gemstone.
Aside from Sera’s mother’s keepsakes, this seems to be the most valuable item here.
Even the fact that it was encased in a perfectly square glass display case spoke volumes.
It wasn't quite on the level of a Wiltshire family heirloom, but if placed in an auction, it would fetch an astronomical price.
But then—
"...!"
A sharp pain pierced through Elodie’s mind as if needles were stabbing into her skull.
A faint groan escaped her lips as her vision blurred.
"Elodie?"
She felt Sera clutch her tightly, shouting something.
But the ringing in her ears drowned out all sound.
But Elodie knew.
She knew exactly who it had belonged to.
Nyx Basilisk.
That was the name he had introduced himself with.
The man who had abducted her and placed the curse upon her.
The one who, with overwhelming certainty, had cursed the entire Ratson family.
And his bracelet—
Had been found inside the Bluewood treasure vault?
Elodie had first awoken in this very estate, in the Bluewood household.
This couldn't be a coincidence.
Gritting her teeth, she demanded, "Did you trade with my abductor and receive that as payment?"
At her words, Edmund’s expression darkened instantly. He unsheathed his sword and aimed it at the trembling countess.
"Answer me."
Forced to her knees by the blade’s pressure, the countess stammered through her fear.
"T-That... That never happened! You know this, don’t you? We didn’t even know the young lady of the Ratson family was in this estate!"
"You can’t be certain of that."
Edmund’s voice was sharp, but Elodie knew.
That part, at least, was the truth.
The Bluewood family had truly been oblivious to the fact that a noble-born Ratson beastfolk had been living under their roof.
She had seen too much—both in her past and present life—to believe otherwise.
The way they had treated her all this time was proof enough.
The countess, sensing the need for self-preservation, hastily added, "That bracelet was given to us two years ago by a man wearing a mask. He said it was a gift."
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"I-I swear! He told me to make sure that all the rats in the estate were eradicated. And then... he just laughed and left."
If he had truly wanted all the rats gone, he would have waited to confirm their extermination before handing over the bracelet.
No, this was nothing more than mockery.
An insult to the very end.
Elodie inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
So that's how it is.
"If the gods are watching over you, they will extend their hand to save you." That’s what he had said.
I don’t know why seeing that bracelet restored part of my memory...
But the very person who had abducted her had left behind a crucial piece of evidence.
And, most importantly—
He had given her the one thing she needed most.
You let your guard down, and because of that... I’ve been saved.
She had returned with memories of the future.
Fifteen whole years.
More than enough time to complete my revenge.
So if divine punishment was meant to be delivered—
Then she would be the one to bring it down.