Chapter Fourteen

Process

Nova

I paced furiously in my bedchamber. Bailey slammed her fists against my locked door, repeatedly calling my name. But a needed a moment. Just a moment.

What the hell just happened down there?

Was Calian’s family really the clan of witches that did this to me?

“My lady!”

When did Bailey figure it out?

“My lady!!”

Why didn’t she tell me?

“Lady Nova!!!”

Why would Calian stick around if he knew all about me from the beginning?

“Lady Nova, please allow me to explain!”

Is this why he wasn’t afraid? Could he really be from another world?

“Lady Nova!!”

And what the hell does he mean I’m just a story!?

“Lad—”

“STOP CALLING ME!” I screamed, huffing as I banged my fist against the door.

I waited for a moment. A beat. Nothing happened.

Finally, I thought. Some peace and quiet.

I went over to the bed, falling on the sheets face first. I let the covers muffle my scream. Surely, I would die of frustration at this rate. When I had finally had enough suffocation, I placed my face atop my arms. My gaze landing on the vase of dried flowers.

Swiftly, I sat upright and inched my way over. My fingers delicately caressed the petals, and my heart swelled.

I’d never received such a gift before. I was touched beyond compare. If I was honest with myself, almost everything Cal did warmed me in some way. Even when I did try to venture out, no one ever showed me the same consideration. Outside this home, no one dared to approach me, but he did. No one ever smiled at me with such geniality. So how could this same kind, albeit strange, man be a witch?

Although… now that I think about it… there was always something a bit off about him. His strange attire when we met. That time he jumped into a lake. The fact that he didn’t know the name of our currency.

Maybe, he is from another realm? I have read books that theorized their existence through the use of certain magical tools, but they were so exceptionally rare, they were considered fairytales.

I chuckled darkly. “He thinks I’m a fairytale…”

I didn’t dare spiral into that line of thinking. One existential crisis was enough for me at the moment.

Suddenly, a tiny knock was at the door. I was about to shriek at Bailey to leave me alone when a quiet voice said, “Lady Nova? It’s me, Jenna. I’ve brought you some tea.”

I pouted mildly before releasing a sigh that physically made my shoulders droop. Truth be told, I didn’t want to be disturbed, but hearing the lack of enthusiasm in Jenna’s tone concerned me. Could there be something else wrong in the manner I needed to worry about?

And frankly, she made an excellent cup of tea. It was apparent that I needed some clarity, so I made my way to the door, cracking it open. The young maid smiled, rocking the little serving cart back-and-forth, as if to tempt me. Farther down the hall, Bailey eyed me with apprehension. I glowered at the old woman, turning away from her to let Jenna in. Then, I made a show of slamming and locking the door behind her.

I huffed my way over to the bed once more, sitting on the edge as Jenna clinked her way over with the tea. Atop the cart was a floral teapot and matching cup and saucer. Next to that was a slice of cake.

“Bazil sent up a vanilla bean cake with honey buttercream frosting.” Jenna started slowly as she poured a fragrant cup of tea. “He said it pairs well with chamomile.” She stepped to the side as she let me eat off the cart. I thought she would walk away immediately, but instead, she just stood there silently.

Honestly, I didn’t really care if she stood there or left, so I just ignored her. I took a sip of the piping hot drink but didn’t even wince as it scalded my tongue. Instead, I stared back at the dried bouquet. My mind still awhirl.

“E-excuse me, Lady Nova.” Jenna called tentatively after a few minutes. “May I be so bold as to ask about what is the matter?”

I leered at the maid wordlessly.

She practically crawled out of her skin in response, but to Jenna’s credit, she didn’t back down. “Everyone can tell something is off. It’s rare for you and Ms. Bailey to argue like this. J-just know that whatever the issue, all of us here will support you no matter what!” When I continued to say nothing, she hurriedly added, “So, please, tell us what you want to do.”

“And what if I want to stay incensed?” I scowled. “What if I want to destroy the whole world, starting with this manor?” my fingers tightened on the fork as I stabbed the dessert. The tines of the utensil scrapped loudly against the porcelain plate.

Jenna winced at the sound, her jaw dropping in disbelief to my query. Then, after a quiet moment, she replied, “Would you like to start with the dishware or the vases?”

I chuckled somberly, my hands covering my face before I turned my attention back to the flowers. A part of me hated that I couldn’t just throw them away. Or rather, that I didn’t want to. I took a couple bites of the sweet cake and downed the rest of tea, resolving myself.

“Send in Bailey.” I commanded.

Jenna nodded, opening the door and taking the cart with her. There was a moment of hushed conversation and then my head maid appeared. She didn’t speak. She only looked down at my feet. Waiting.

“Bailey,” I started, shoving down any fury that dared to rise. “What do you know about how I was cursed?”

The older woman hesitated to answer. She gazed over at me, her eyes glossy with regret. “The curse was not for you, my lady.”

“What?” I stood, tilting my head, puzzled. “What do you—”

“The curse was meant for your mother.” She continued, swallowing a lump in her throat. “She was…” Bailey glowered at the ground, struggling to find the right words. Or perhaps, she was struggling to find respectable words.

“Spit it out, Bailey.” I demanded. “I won’t have you sugarcoat things now. I don’t want to hear anymore lies. Even if you think it’s to aid me.”

Bailey closed her eyes hard, forcing her oval lens to smush against the bridge of her nose. As if to build up courage. Finally, when she peered at me, something had changed. Bailey was no longer reluctant.

“Your mother was cruel, my lady.” She began. “She harassed many a people in her time. It’s rumored that your mother acquired the ire of a person unknown, and they tried to curse her through drink. At the time though, she was pregnant with you, and rather than your mother getting this blight, it transferred to her babe.”

I was aghast. My brows were pulled so tightly that I felt a headache coming.

“Person unknown?” I questioned. “Did you not say it was a Verity witch who cursed me?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “And no. It was later discovered that the curse originated from a Verity witch, but she was not its caster. Merely its supplier.”

“So…” my brain struggled to process these overwhelmingly new details.

Why was I not ever told this before??

“…in theory, if I were to find said Verity witch, I could break this curse?”

“Yes,” Bailey nodded. “Lady Nova, your parents did try, shortly after you were born, to find this caster, but to no avail.” She paused, watching as I gritted my teeth in frustration. “I’m sorry for withholding this from you. I was forced to…”

“Forced to?” I raised an brow.

“Once Sir and Madam decided to leave for the Capital, there was no one who wanted to take care of you. You were still so young. So uncertain. So, I—” she swallowed hard, tears glittering behind her glasses. “I demanded to be put in charge of your care. Sir and Madam made conditions for your living arrangements here. One of which was to make sure you were relatively complacent. That you would stay here, and that meant—”

“Not revealing the origins of my curse.” I started laughing. I’m sure I looked mad. I bit my bottom lip before daring to ask, “So when I asked my father to look into the curse for me? Those inspectors…?”

“I can’t be certain, but if I had to guess, they were fakes, my lady.”

I chuckled again, running my hands through my hair roughly. “Unbelievable.”

I knew my parents were ashamed of me, but to go to this extent just to exile me…

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to scream.

But instead, I took one last glance at the vase of flowers beside my bed.

Hurriedly, I ran out into the hall, down several corridors until I made it to the guest room Calian was staying in. His door was open, and he sat at the desk, looking over some papers. When he heard me slam against his doorframe, he jumped. His emerald eyes peered over at me from behind his gold lenses.

“Nova?” he called, standing to approach me, but I beat him to it.

I swiftly stood in front of him. My heart skipped a few beats as I dared to get so close. Despite our earlier dispute, there was no malice or resentment in his gaze. In fact, he didn’t even flinch at our proximity. If anything, he looked relieved to see me.

I decided to process that later.

“I…” I took a breath before saying, “I want to be happy. I want to live. Can you help me, Cal?”

His arms raised, stiffened, then fell back to his side. “Of course!” he exclaimed before he revealed a shy smile. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Heat spread throughout my body. I placed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Well,” I cleared my throat. “Any ideas on where to start?”

Calian looked down at his papers and smiled.