Episode 112
“How did you know he was an imposter?”
Valerian, after dealing with the unconscious boy, asked curiously.
There were several reasons.
First, Lucius hadn’t revealed his ally’s name. He had anticipated someone impersonating Valerian.
Second, the brainwashing detection device had reacted.
Valerian hadn’t been brainwashed when they first met in the alley. But the device had reacted when they met again outside the alley.
And lastly, the imposter hadn’t known the code phrase. One could be brainwashed, but their memories wouldn’t disappear.
Valerian, after hearing Elonia’s explanation, was impressed.
“That’s amazing. You saved us from a potential disaster.”
“Well, it wasn’t just me. And he must have been desperate. The head of the Theology Department wouldn’t normally act so recklessly.”
“…!?”
Valerian’s head snapped towards the imposter. He quickly dispelled the Holy Power concealing the imposter’s true appearance. A faint light flickered, and then, a familiar figure with long brown hair was revealed.
“Professor Julietta…”
Elonia sighed, her suspicions confirmed. Lucius hadn’t mentioned Julietta for no reason.
She bound Julietta with a restraint spell and laid her on the bench.
Then, she turned to Valerian and asked,
“Why did you cooperate with Lucius? You weren’t brainwashed, so you must have known he was the one causing trouble in the Theology Department.”
“Well, it’s a bit complicated.”
“And I’m also curious about why you’re immune to the brainwashing.”
“I’ll answer your questions, just ask them one by one.”
Elonia, realizing she had been too hasty, waited patiently for his answer. Valerian hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully, then glanced at Julietta and sighed.
His next words were a bombshell.
“Professor Julietta is my older sister.”
“…What?”
Elonia was speechless. Who was whose sister?
They did have similar gentle features, but Elonia had never seen Julietta in her right mind, so she couldn’t imagine them as siblings.
Valerian, his expression understanding, asked,
“You know that professors at Lucid Academy have to abandon their family names, right?”
Elonia nodded. She had heard about it, but she hadn’t known their original family names.
“Professor Julietta’s real name is Julietta Pierre. She’s the eldest daughter of House Pierre. We’re siblings, but there’s a significant age gap between us, so not many students know, although the professors do.”
“…”
“I knew Lucius Allen was suspicious. So I told my sister about it. But she told me it would be resolved and gave me a prayer altar.”
“That prayer altar…”
“…Yes, the Calamity God altar.”
Valerian hadn’t known what it was at first, but he had accepted it since it was from his sister. But Julietta, seeing his reaction, had clicked her tongue and ignored him after that.
“Lucius Allen told me why I’m immune to the brainwashing. He said only those who have experienced despair can understand the value of hope, so those who don’t know despair can’t be brainwashed. I was ignorant back then, so I was spared.”
“You’re cooperating with Lucius to save your family? But he’s the one who brainwashed Julietta.”
Valerian, after a brief hesitation, nodded.
“Yes. I questioned him about it at first. But he regrets his actions. And he wasn’t acting on his own free will. In fact, it seemed like he was being monitored by my brainwashed sister.”
Valerian looked at Julietta, bound by the restraint spell, his expression filled with sadness.
“He’s trying to atone for his sins and rectify the situation. I don’t need to interfere. We should help each other during difficult times.”
“…”
Lucius had said that Julietta’s faith had wavered after Caroline’s words at the prayer meeting.
And Julietta, who had been confined to her office, had come to capture Elonia personally. That meant she already knew Elonia was a suitable sacrifice.
And yet, Elonia had been unharmed, probably because Lucius had protected her, just like he had confessed at the prayer meeting.
‘He’s a good kid.’
He still had a reckless disregard for his own life, though.
Julietta was desperate. She believed in what she was doing, so she was trying to eliminate any external factors that might shatter her faith.
Elonia was certain she could break Julietta’s brainwashing today.
But she needed to know what had given Julietta this false hope.
“Valerian, tell me everything you know about Julietta.”
Julietta had a close friend, Natalie, a beautiful woman with reddish-blond hair. She was Julietta’s most precious friend, no, her most beloved person.
It had been a secret, of course, a secret she had kept hidden from Natalie.
Natalie had wanted to be a professor, so Julietta had also become one. Before graduating from Gaia Academy, she had told her family about her decision.
House Pierre, of course, hadn’t approved.
“Julietta, how dare you abandon your family?”
Her father had been furious.
Valerian, being the second child, might have been allowed to pursue his own path, but the eldest daughter becoming a professor? It was unheard of.
But Julietta hadn’t given in.
“I want to be a professor. And I’m not abandoning you completely.”
“Over my dead body. If you become a professor, you’ll never set foot in this house again!”
Count Pierre had issued his final ultimatum, certain she would back down. But Julietta, unlike him, had chosen love over family.
She had been happy after becoming a professor.
Teaching suited her, and she enjoyed working with her friend.
Being surrounded by children, her beloved by her side, had been a dream come true.
Julietta smiled.
Ah, it was a dream.
Because Natalie was away on a short trip. But she was happy to see her again.
Just then, Natalie started moaning.
“J-Julietta, I’m scared.”
“Natalie?”
Julietta, concerned, placed a hand on Natalie’s shoulder.
“Natalie, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Julietta, my memories of the past four years…”
“…!”
Natalie was bleeding from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, just like that day.
But it felt different.
She hadn’t felt anything when Natalie died. So why now?
Julietta, just like that day, frantically tore a piece of her cape and wiped away the blood. She tried to heal Natalie with her Holy Power.
She wasn’t just pretending this time. She genuinely wanted to save her.
“N-Natalie! Stay with me!”
“J-Julietta…”
But Natalie’s life was slipping away.
Her vessel was broken, beyond repair.
Natalie, her eyes fixed on Julietta, her expression filled with a silent accusation, died in Julietta’s arms.
Tears streamed down Julietta’s face.
And then Caroline appeared.
“Professor Julietta.”
“Professor Caroline…! Save her, please, Natalie, Natalie…!”
Caroline shook her head, then knelt beside Julietta, a gentle smile on her face.
“Natalie is dead. Is this what you truly wanted?”
“Professor…?”
“Julietta, the dead don’t return. And you killed her with your own hands because you didn’t trust her.”
“…”
“Let me tell you something, Julietta. Natalie loved you. She knew how you felt. Who would follow you to Gaia Academy just for friendship? Right?”
Julietta, her body trembling, slowly turned to Natalie. Natalie’s lifeless eyes were fixed on her.
Julietta finally realized what she had done.
“Gasp…!”
Julietta woke up, her breathing ragged as she tried to remember.
‘Why am I here? Right, I followed Valerian, to sacrifice the princess and save Natalie…’
Where was the princess? And Valerian?
Julietta frantically looked around.
“You’re awake?”
The voices she was searching for came from above.
The two of them were looking down at her, their arms crossed.
Seeing Valerian, she remembered what had happened. Her eyes turned bloodshot, her voice rising in anger.
“Valerian! How dare you interfere?!”
“Sister.”
Valerian’s calm and composed demeanor only fueled her anger.
“Why?! Why do you always interfere?! I could have saved Natalie, but you ruined everything!”
Julietta struggled against the restraint spell, but it was unbreakable.
Elonia, unable to bear her outburst any longer, flicked her on the forehead.
“Ow!”
Julietta cried out.
It was a sharp pain, slightly weaker than the flicks she usually gave Ricardo.
“Don’t blame your brother, Julietta.”
Elonia frowned, looking down at her coldly.
Julietta’s gaze, filled with resentment, turned towards Elonia.
“It’s all your fault! Natalie died because of you! Because of what you did that day…!”
“Yes, I know. It wasn’t Valerian’s fault.”
“…!”
Julietta flinched. Elonia, seizing the opportunity, continued, her words like daggers piercing through Julietta’s wavering faith.
“Professor Julietta, it wasn’t Valerian who killed her. Natalie died because of you and me. It was over that day.”
“No, it’s my fault… it’s not my fault…”
Julietta’s body trembled as she muttered to herself.
Elonia walked around the bench and stood in front of her.
“Professor Julietta, do you want Valerian to die like Natalie?”
Julietta froze at her question.
Valerian? After Natalie?
She wasn’t particularly close to Valerian. He had been just a five-year-old child when she left home.
Did she want him to die?
“Of course not…”
The answer escaped her lips before she could stop herself. How could she wish death upon a child?
Julietta was startled by her own response. Elonia, her hands gripping Julietta’s face, forced her to meet her gaze.
“Then snap out of it. Natalie is dead. She’s not coming back. So protect what you have left. Don’t rely on that so-called God of Resurrection.”
“But, but…!”
Julietta’s body trembled again.
Elonia was the one who had killed Natalie.
No, Julietta knew the truth.
‘It’s my fault.’
If she hadn’t been brainwashed, if she hadn’t involved Natalie, if she had confessed her feelings to Natalie, Natalie would still be alive.
She had made excuses, afraid of burdening Natalie with her feelings, afraid of the societal repercussions.
And in her weakness, she had been consumed by the prayer altar, dragging Natalie down with her.
It was all her fault. The realization hit her like a bucket of cold water.
“Natalie… because of me…”
Julietta’s voice changed.
It was no longer the harsh, strained voice from before. Elonia quickly checked the ring on her finger. The brainwashing signal was gone.
‘She’s back.’
Julietta, the most unlikely candidate, had returned.
“Sob… because of me, Natalie…”
Julietta slumped against the bench, tears streaming down her face, her eyes squeezed shut.
Elonia asked quietly,
“Are you alright now?”
Julietta, her body wracked with sobs, nodded. Then, she opened her eyes, her brown irises clear and bright as she looked up at Elonia.
“Yes. But I don’t know what to do now. Please, Your Highness, guide me.”