“Theresa…” “Ha, it’s about Theresis’ situation at school, isn’t it…
Very well.
Before I answer your question directly, answer a question of mine first.” Ecaros gazed at Theresa in her arms, feeling the girl’s figure, seemingly smaller and more helpless than ever before.
Though she couldn’t see Theresa’s face, couldn’t make out the girl’s expression…
Ecaros knew she would certainly not like the expression Theresa wore right now.
She could probably guess what Theresa was thinking at this moment, and she could understand it.
Ecaros had won.
But she didn’t like this version of Theresa.
And she would not accept such a nauseating victory.
After all, if she did, what difference would there be between her and those old bastards she had sent to the guillotine all those years ago?
Moreover, what Ecaros wanted from winning this game was, in the end, a kindred spirit—someone who understood her, a mirror that could help her find the lost image of her past self.
Not a slave who had given up everything in compromise.
Thus, she turned Theresa, who had been leaning back against her, to face her.
She looked at that face—predictably filled with dejection.
“What an unsightly look…” Ecaros’ beautiful face showed a hint of disgust, but her thumb gently wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of the girl’s eyes.
“I didn’t…
I washed my face.” Theresa quietly retorted, but she didn’t dare meet Ecaros’ pale golden eyes.
Her voice carried a trace of a sob.
Ecaros neither agreed nor disagreed.
Then, supporting Theresa by the hips, she managed to lift and carry her out, step by step, to the villa’s rooftop terrace.
Before their eyes spread the boundless, twinkling sea of stars.
“Theresa, do you know what House Manchester represents in Victoria?” Holding Theresa in her arms, Ecaros’ eyes reflected the infinite starry expanse.
She asked casually, as if mentioning something trivial—yet it practically encompassed the entire history of Victoria.
“…I don’t know.” In Ecaros’ arms, Theresa didn’t turn to look at the girl holding her.
She merely leaned against her, gazing at that same starry sky from beside her shoulder, amid her hair.
It was natural for Theresa not to know.
In truth, not many in all of Victoria remembered anymore.
But Ecaros remembered.
And Victoria’s history had not forgotten either.
“Then allow me to tell you.
What is called Manchester—is that which once divided the sky of Victoria with the Draco.” “The winged dragons held the fertile earth and the boundless sky; Manchester held the vast sea of stars.
This was the original covenant between us and this nation’s first rulers.
And from then on, the sky-favoring Draco and Manchester were inseparable.” “Until the lion drove out the dragon, taking the land.
Only then did we, alongside the dragon, gradually wane.” “But Manchester still governs the stars of Victoria’s night.
This is the oldest covenant, the first covenant of Victoria.” “Even though Manchester’s industries and lands were targeted, carved up, and torn apart, no one ever touched this covenant.
This is not because the stars hold no meaning—but because no one, not even the masters of this land, dares to break this ancient pact.” As she spoke, Ecaros shifted her hold on Theresa, forcing the girl to look at her.
Even though Theresa visibly resisted, it did not change the outcome.
Theresa had no choice but to look at Ecaros—the person she had been unwilling to face since being taken into her embrace.
And seeing those pale golden eyes reflecting the sea of stars, Theresa couldn’t help but lose herself for a brief moment.
In that fleeting moment, the tears welling in her eyes took the chance to slide down, falling onto Ecaros’ chest, darkening the deep blue of her waistcoat.
Though Theresa didn’t understand why Ecaros had told her all this, a sense of reassurance filled her—making her want to sink into this embrace, to feel this illusory yet genuine peace and warmth.
And this expression of Theresa’s was reflected in Ecaros’ eyes.
Those pale golden eyes, misted with tears, no longer held the hidden anger or the thought of killing her that they used to when looking at her.
Ecaros could see that Theresa was, in her unwillingness, begging her to declare the game over.
But the game should not end here.
She could see that Theresa’s reluctance to face her stemmed from the last vestiges of the girl’s pride—and also from an escape from her own powerlessness.
But escape could not solve the problem.
It would only make her final shred of pride look laughable.
“Theresa, everything I have said is merely to tell you this—even though House Manchester has declined, it remains a family that has endured since the very beginning of Victoria.” “Even though we are no longer as powerful as we once were, just as these stars will exist no matter how much time passes…” “So long as Manchester has not been utterly extinguished, we shall forever govern the stars of Victoria.
And I shall forever be the Grand Duchess of Manchester.” “Distinctions exist between people.
Prejudice exists between races.” “But remember—you are mine.
You are the slave of this last Grand Duchess of Manchester.” “Therefore, before the stars perish, before House Manchester is destroyed, you and your brother—even as slaves—are not something any petty small fry can compare to.” “Only I can decide your fate and Theresis’.” The stars seemed to shimmer in response to Ecaros’ words.
Her tone was calm, as if merely stating facts.
Then her gaze gradually deepened, and her voice lowered—like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, like a heart-seducing demon.
She continued: “Remember—no other nobles may interfere with you.
Not even the great dukes may.
Even if the Aslan royal family themselves came, I would not let them touch you before I gave my consent.” “Likewise, before the game ends—until you submit to me from your very heart and soul, or until you kill me—you must give everything to try and kill me.
And before that…” “—You are my slave.
Do you understand, Theresa?” Ecaros looked at Theresa, her tone brooking no contradiction.
The meaning hidden beneath these words was already quite obvious.
Although Ecaros hadn’t stated it explicitly, it was practically spelled out.
To be honest, Ecaros shouldn’t have said so much.
But if Theresa, because of these matters, became unable to focus on the game in the future, that would also trouble her.
She didn’t like this version of Theresa.
She didn’t want her game to end so casually.
And so, she had spoken these words.
“…” Theresa looked at Ecaros like this, listened to such words from the girl, and gazed into those pale golden eyes that seemed to hold the world in disdain.
Instinctively, she tried to evade that gaze.
She turned her face to the side, looking elsewhere.
And this time, Ecaros did not stop her.
Theresa gazed somewhat dazedly at the starry sky beside her in the night.
All around was quiet, but in her ears, Ecaros’ final words echoed.
Theresa felt something strange in her heart.
The original sense of powerlessness seemed to have unknowingly vanished.
Suddenly, she no longer wanted to discard the things in her heart.
But at the same time…
now that she didn’t have to discard them, Theresa suddenly felt that Ecaros didn’t seem as difficult to get along with, nor as detestable, as she had appeared on the surface.
On the contrary, inexplicably…
there was even a tiny bit of coolness and reliability about her…
Even though she still called her a slave in the end…
she somehow found that she didn’t hate it anymore, and couldn’t even get angry.
Had she become strange?
Detestable.
Truly a detestable person.
You clearly want me to kill you, yet you still do things like this—willing to give up a victory that was yours for the taking.
Detestable person…
Detestable person…
How am I supposed to really kill you now?
But beating you to the point of serious injury…
seems…
not bad either.
And then that Ecaros wouldn’t be able to move anymore…
Inexplicably, an image of Ecaros beaten to the ground surfaced in her mind.
Theresa stared blankly at the starry sky, and who knows what she thought of—a faint blush crept onto her young face.
Don’t misunderstand.
Theresa was considering how she could then draw little turtles on Ecaros’ face.
But the blush had just appeared when Ecaros’ voice brought her back to her senses, and it vanished.
“…Don’t come disturbing me over matters like this in the future.” “Theresis’ situation was already resolved by me today.
You came too late.
Take better note next time, Theresa.” Blowing in the cold wind, Ecaros gradually regained her usual indifferent demeanor.
She had said far too much.
But since the words were already spoken, Ecaros wouldn’t regret them.
After all, who could blame her when Theresa always managed to remind her of the lonely self of her past?
Consider it giving Theresa some hints—an early notice that she could use the power of House Manchester to find ways to kill her…
“Oh…” So it was already resolved…
Then what was all that just now…
In Ecaros’ arms, Theresa heard her words.
The blush that had colored her face gradually faded, and her whole expression slowly went blank.
The sudden truth made her thoughts sluggish.
So, in the midst of her inner tempest—having agonized all day and finally done something like this—Theresa didn’t even notice that her slender tail had, of its own accord, coiled around Ecaros’ slim arm.
It even twitched from time to time, the tail tip quivering in pleasure at the exquisite touch.
Finally, after a cold glance from Ecaros, it meekly stilled.
And then, along with its owner, it was carried back into the villa by Ecaros.
The night passed without another word.