Chapter 53

Thank you for your thoughts, bookmarks, and evaluations. I'm glad you read it. I'll post at around the same time tomorrow.

Noel stood with her head bowed, holding the testimony material in her hands.

Sirius, concerned for Noel, explained, "As a teacher, I can speculate on Zeraphi's changes. First, Zeraphi probably didn't fit into the life of a noble lady. She was surrounded by rivals who mocked her in areas she was not good at. Given her personality, it must have been tough. But she might not have wanted to admit it. If she didn't admit it, where could she have vented her frustrations? In fact, no one ever heard her complain. Moreover, the previous Zeraphi showed symptoms of overusing fire magic. To put it simply, it was as if she was constantly irritable due to the heat. After committing a crime and being caught, her fire attacks were sealed, and she was able to reflect on her actions in a different social environment."

"Was being caught not so bad for Zeraphi?" Noel whispered weakly.

"I didn't want her to do anything that would get her caught, but it seems she had some good encounters."

"Yes..."

Noel decided not to mention Zeraphi's lover. There were supposed to be no men, including guards, in the women's workhouse. She had heard that "physical contact in romantic relationships" was prohibited, but platonic love was allowed. However, many believed it was completely forbidden, so it was unclear what kind of relationship Zeraphi had. Her companions were reluctant to talk about it.

"Zeraphi's body enhancement magic was known to the guards. However, she was wearing the strongest magic control device, and anything stronger would have been inhumane. Zeraphi was well-regarded by the ordinary guards because she listened to them. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and there were no concerns about her escaping, so they just monitored her. During the accident, her enhanced hearing helped save lives, so that measure was correct."

"Zeraphi is really different from when she was in the Vionne family..."

"Yes. Every time I read Zeraphi's reports, I was surprised by how different she was from what I had imagined. Zeraphi... apparently became something like a warden in the mine not long after she arrived. The guards were impressed by her exceptional fighting skills and strong presence. She rose to the top among the other prisoners. The Basel family wasn't informed, but it was troubling that it wasn't clear if she was truly reflecting on her actions."

The Basel family was the home of Simone, whom Zeraphi had killed. Indeed, it would be difficult to inform them. It might upset her parents, given that Zeraphi had brutally murdered their daughter.

"Sorry..." Noel felt unbearable guilt thinking about the Basel family's parents.

"Noel, we sent Zeraphi to the harsh mine according to the law. She has already been punished. I don't intend to say she should be any more unfortunate. The Basel couple accepted that she was sent to the harsh mine. So, you don't need to feel bad, Noel."

"That's... right, you're right..." Noel pondered Sirius's words and agreed. However, she still felt something was off, though she knew she couldn't ask for more.

"The rest is about the feelings of the Basel couple. You're worried about that, right?"

"Yes," Noel nodded, thinking exactly that.

"Fortunately, the Basel family has never inquired about Zeraphi's condition in the mine. Not once. I don't know if they're uninterested or don't want to know. Noble ladies have entered the mine many times, and they usually die within a few years, sometimes within half a year to a year and a half. When the Basel family heard this information, they nodded and said, 'That's fine.' They must have accepted that Zeraphi would suffer and die in a harsh environment, which was their wish. Therefore, we don't inform them unless they ask."

Sirius knew that the Basel family had raised Simone as a political pawn and that the pressure to become a princess was severe. The background of Zeraphi's case might be more complex than it seemed. However, the fact that Zeraphi burned a noble lady to death remained unchanged. Sirius didn't feel guilty about the Basel couple, which made him more objective. He intended to take the side of Noel and Lucian in this matter.

"That's... good. I understand and agree with everything."

"Really?"

Sirius looked at Noel intently.

"Really. I just hope the Basel family never finds out."

Noel nodded, and her words were sincere.

"Me too. I'll do my best to ensure they don't find out. Also, Noel, while the records make it hard to tell if she's truly reflecting, isn't the important part her inner thoughts?"

"Of course, I think so."

"Zeraphi was obedient to ordinary guards and didn't rebel. However, she was different with problematic guards who violated discipline... She never tried to escape or shirk work, even though she could use body enhancement. She was diligently paying for her crimes. Her other behaviors were quite unconventional... or relaxed, for a prisoner. She was better than those who claimed to be reflecting but skipped work or reoffended."

"You're right, Sirius."

Noel regained her composure and picked up the next report, which seemed to be another prisoner's testimony.

"Zeraphi was always a bit off. She was a countess's daughter, right? She laughed and said, 'I've forgotten all about manners.' With that beautiful face.

Zeraphi was an incredible fighter. She knocked out the previous warden and was put in solitary confinement. When she came out with a calm face, I thought she was a monster. No one dared to defy her after that.

She said, 'Being a noble lady is like living in a battlefield of vanity and pride' and 'The weapons of the fight are just power and a loud voice, but it's the same.' She said, 'Living well here isn't much different from living in noble society. It's like being suffocated by a corset or in a mine tunnel, both are similar.' I was amazed, thinking, 'Is this person serious?' Her head was really off. I'd choose the corset over the mine.

Zeraphi seemed to have a lover here, but it was just a feeling. It became a bit of a rumor, but I don't know the details.

When did it start? It was quite a while later.

When it came to her lover, she blushed and said, 'It doesn't matter! I'll hit you!' I thought she was serious. Zeraphi blushing? Unbelievable. If Zeraphi could blush, a fire dragon could blush. It was a bit cute, though.

Zeraphi had a fiancé before, right? She said, 'He was just a pretty face.' 'He was so kind, like a mix of sugar, honey, and condensed milk.' She looked like she had bitten a block of sugar.

She also said, 'He didn't like me at all. It was a pure political marriage, no mixing.' I thought, 'Being a noble is tough.'

Zeraphi had a baby, right? She boasted, 'I'll have the best baby.'

But after giving birth, she became very quiet, and everyone was talking about it.

'She must have had a baby that looked like an affair.'

I was too scared to ask. Even the previous warden was too scared to ask. But later, Zeraphi told me a bit.

'Do babies' faces change as they grow?'

Of course, they do. No baby's face stays the same. A newborn's face is just starting to grow, so it will definitely change.

When I answered, she nodded. 'Of course.'

Then she said the baby's nose was very cute and the lines around the eyes were beautiful. I couldn't help but say, 'They'll be beautiful.' She was very proud. 'Well, it's my baby,' she said.

She's simple, but if the eyes and nose are beautiful, they'll be beautiful, right? Usually, that's the case."

"Regarding the solitary confinement, Zeraphi was pregnant, so she wasn't put in a harsh cell. They were strict to make her reflect, but the main reason was to protect her from a big fight. The facility made sure her work was suitable for a pregnant woman until she gave birth. It was the first time a pregnant woman was in the Sixth Prison, so the palace regularly sent people to check on her and ensure she could receive medical examinations. The baby is not a criminal."

Noel thought, "Was she worried that the newborn didn't look like her or Count Sariel?"

---But she rejected it because it had brown hair.

Sariel, of course, and everyone who heard the story would never forget that. Noel had no intention of telling Lucian, but it was etched in her heart.

Probably, she changed her mind later. It wouldn't be surprising for Zeraphi.

Perhaps, the change was brought about by meeting people and having a lover, which would make love great.

She might have also been bothered by not being loved like a lover by Prince Sariel. It was pitiful to think so. Zeraphi would probably be furious if Noel felt sorry for her. The kind Sariel must have cherished Zeraphi as a fiancée, but it wasn't enough.

It's unclear what Zeraphi thought of Sariel, but the situation at the time couldn't be entirely blamed on her, nor was it an unrelated result.

The saving grace is that Lucian is loved by Sariel, Heine, and Jace, and lives happily. He is a very lively and adorable child, and any parent would find him lovable.

Still, Zeraphi never tried to send a letter to Lucian or inquire about him. Sariel never looked back on Zeraphi, and Lucian never asked about his mother.

It seemed as if they had never acknowledged each other's existence.