Chapter 89
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Violet's First Words - Episode 89
First, I would send Violet to the Camelaine Family and have her marry Bludin.
For two or three years, I would keep her name registered with the Knight Order in name only, and let Bludin do with her as he pleased during that time.
'She'll probably go mad and leave by then. By that point, the Camelaine Family will have produced the heir they desire.'
After that, I would pressure the Camelaine Family into releasing Violet back to me.
Then I planned to use her as a puppet for the Night Shadow Cult.
'A knight who was popular, beautiful, and strong. She would become an infinitely useful tool for our Religious Sect.'
From the beginning, Bella had two intentions in confining Violet.
The first was to genuinely make Violet stronger.
The second was to perfect the hypnosis.
Once the hypnosis was complete, Violet would live as a puppet for the rest of her life—the stronger and more beautiful she was, the better.
* * *
The next day, Violet lay in deep sleep upon the bed in the center of the Black Room.
Bella opened the door and entered, her gaze sweeping over Violet as she smiled.
"Well then, though it's a bit early, shall we attempt the first command?"
The air in the room was thick with fragrant incense.
Bella approached Violet and touched her cheek with extraordinary gentleness.
"Move. Wake up, Violet."
Bella spoke.
Violet's eyes fluttered open slowly.
"Can you hear me now?"
"I'm so drowsy. I have no memory since entering here... But... I can hear you."
It was an excellent state.
Bella nodded.
"When you were ten years old, our sisters told you something. Try to remember it."
"I can't quite remember. That day, my Stepmother gave me delicious food for some reason. And... I don't understand why I had forgotten it... Women in dark clothes entered my room. And they stood around my bed."
"That's how it was. Our sisters placed you under hypnosis and erased your memory."
"Hypnosis...?"
"Lift your head. Do you see that statue? Our god has watched over you since the moment you entered here."
When Violet first entered this room, the Religious Sect's altar and statue had been covered with cloth.
But after several days passed and Violet became so disoriented she could no longer distinguish day from night, the cloth was removed entirely.
A statue half the height of a person stood upon a high pedestal, looking down upon them.
It was a goddess statue with a fierce, weeping expression.
Her tongue extended long, and in one hand she held a blade.
The evil deity they served—the Goddess of Shadows.
"But that's an evil god. I was taught that serving an evil god is truly a terrible thing."
Violet spoke as though briefly grasping at reason.
"That's all prejudice. Look at me—I'm beautiful and kind, aren't I?"
"...So people say."
"Would someone like me believe in an evil god? Now then, concentrate. I'm going to speak a single word to you."
Hypnotic suggestion had to be implanted before the age of ten.
In the old days, it was common to kidnap children from rival families, place them under hypnotic suggestion, and send them back.
Activating the suggestion was simple: when the target opened their heart and trusted the one casting it, the 'trigger word' would be spoken.
Literally a starting word that activated the hypnotic suggestion. That was called the trigger word.
The trigger word differed from person to person. It had already been decided when the curse was placed before the age of ten.
"Sapphire butterfly of the night."
Bella whispered.
Violet's eyes widened. Her blue eyes soon lost their final glimmer and glazed over.
Violet gazed at Bella with perfectly obedient eyes.
"Good. From now on, you'll follow my every word. Do you understand? Nod if you do."
Violet nodded.
"Kneel."
Bella commanded. Violet immediately knelt.
"I know your type well. Despised and cursed from childhood on all sides. So you spend your whole life searching for someone who will mistreat and exploit you. That's why you fall under hypnotic suggestion so easily."
Bella lifted Violet's chin and turned her face this way and that.
Violet didn't pull away.
"Until I speak that same word again, you'll obey my every command absolutely. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain."
Violet answered with doll-like docility.
"Then I'll give you orders. From now on, you'll wear the clothes I give you and go to the places I tell you."
"Yes."
"The Camelaine Family is in quite a hurry. You'll meet Bludin tonight and marry him tomorrow morning."
Bludin was so eager that he was demanding Violet be sent as quickly as possible.
'I heard he used to treat her like garbage, so why is he suddenly so desperate about her?'
It was absurd, but Bella didn't care.
After all, sending Violet was merely a transaction with the Camelaine Family.
"You'll do exactly as I command, won't you?"
"Yes."
Violet answered lifelessly, like a puppet.
"Ufufu, the power of our Religious Sect is truly remarkable! By implanting a curse before age ten, we can turn a person into a living doll!"
Bella was overjoyed. She pulled a pocket watch from her bosom and checked the time.
"Get up and change your clothes. A new bride must wear a beautiful dress."
Since arriving here, Violet had continued wearing the same Knight Order uniform except when she changed into sleepwear at night.
One corner of the room held cosmetics and a new dress that Bella had prepared—everything arranged in advance for this evening.
Violet undressed from her Knight Order uniform and donned the new gown as instructed.
"Really, Bludin Camelaine had the audacity to specify clothing and send it ahead. He wants you to wear the same blue dress you wore at the Winter Queen Ball. The man's shamelessness knows no bounds."
In the blue dress, Violet appeared slightly gaunt, yet undeniably beautiful.
Bella observed her silhouette and spoke.
"Oh, I should say this first. Congratulations on your marriage, Violet. From now on, dedicate your body and soul entirely to our Religious Sect. Hehehehe!"
Violet remained motionless, her gaze fixed upon the wall.
* * *
"Violet is truly coming to see me tonight?"
Bludin felt as though he were dreaming.
"How many times must I repeat myself? I've had people arrange everything."
Marlon nodded.
"Then, where will we meet? Is Violet coming to our residence?"
"You fool. If word spreads that Violet is with you, she'll become more compliant. Of course you must meet outside."
"Ah, yes, of course. If everyone sees us walking out of the Hotel together tomorrow morning, by Imperial Nobility custom, we'll have no choice but to marry!"
"So prepare yourself. Tomorrow morning, we'll hold a simple family ceremony at the residence. I won't be there as I must attend the Grand Temple event, but you can manage that much on your own."
Bludin was beside himself with joy.
"Didn't you despise Violet before? Now your feelings have changed?"
Marlon spoke with exasperation upon witnessing this transformation.
Yet Bludin scarcely heard him.
"Violet is popular and famous now, after all."
"And?"
"If I marry such a woman, everyone will attribute it to my excellence. A bride befitting our Family's status, one might say?"
"Tch. Unbelievable."
Marlon shook his head in disbelief, yet he did not contradict Bludin's words.
* * *
Bella's side informed me that preparations were complete, providing the hotel address and room number where Violet was being held.
It was a hotel in a sparsely populated area on the outskirts of the Capital, but it was reasonably decent.
Unlike the surrounding area, the hotel itself had a steady stream of guests, making it perfect for spreading rumors if they were spotted.
'Violet is in this room.'
Bludin couldn't hide his anticipation standing before the hotel room door.
'Now we're going back to how things were, Violet!'
Bludin yanked the door open.
The room was the largest suite available.
A red carpet covered the floor, and a massive bed dominated the center of the room.
It was obscured by a canopy, making it difficult to see inside the bed.
But there was definitely someone in there!
"Violet!"
Bludin shouted triumphantly and swept the curtain aside.
However, the person revealed was nothing like what Bludin had expected.
"You... you are..."
Bludin's eyes widened. Lounging casually inside the bed was Ash, dressed in an ornate military uniform.
A sword hung at his waist.
"Hello, idiot."
Ash grinned widely and raised his hand.
Bludin felt his barely-healed nose throb painfully again.
The moment Bludin screamed and tried to stumble backward—
Thwack!
Ash's fist drove into Bludin's face once more.
"Ugh, not my nose again!"
"Fortunately, I only got one shot in last time, so I've been wanting to beat you more."
Thwack!
Bludin's face snapped to the side.
"And you've given me the perfect excuse. Last time I didn't have enough time to make sure I broke something."
Ash unleashed a barrage of kicks at Bludin.
As Bludin tried to crawl away, Ash stomped on his neck, pinning him down.
Ash drew the sword at his waist and pressed it against Bludin's throat.
"Where should I start? Your nose? Or your arms, legs, throat?"
"No, please!"
"What do you mean no? It was fine to ruin an innocent woman's life?"
"Ugh, gah, ugh!"
Bludin's face turned ashen. Blood vessels burst in the whites of his eyes as he gasped for breath.
Ash's boot-clad foot pressed down with increasing force.
"What did you expect to find here, huh?"
Thwack!
Ash kicked Bludin again.
Bludin rolled across the floor, his face drained of all color.
"I'm calling for help, c-cough. This is one-sided assault, you madman!"
"Ah, don't worry. I've cleared out this entire hotel today. Everyone you saw on your way in belongs to my organization."
"What on earth is this...."
Bludin crawled away, muttering desperately.
"How did this happen? You've simply...."
....
"Fallen into a trap investigation."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org