The Red Witch - Chapter 6
But sometimes, the small moments of happiness were not enough to bear the weight of the misfortunes life throws at you. At least, this was the case for Kiara.
“It seems like the bathwater’s ready, so you should wash up.”
The noblewoman who had led Kiara to the northern tower, where Kiara had once lived, gave her one last piece of advice before leaving.
After she was left alone, Kiara sat for a long time in a daze, and only when the sun had begun to set, and the darkness crept in, did she snap out of it.
‘…It hurts…’
Her whole body ached, no doubt from the tension. She wondered if soaking in warm water would help. Realizing the bathwater was still there, she made her way toward the corner of the room.
Though she hadn’t removed her blindfold yet, she was familiar with the room, and just by feeling around, she was able to find the tub. The room wasn’t that big to begin with.
Dipping her hand into the bathwater, Kiara let out a small sigh.
‘Thank goodness. It’s been a while, but the water hasn’t completely cooled off yet.’
However, when she tried to undress, memories of the earlier struggle with the dress came rushing back, making her pause in awkward hesitation. The corset had been so tight that she realized it would be easier to remove it if she took off her blindfold first.
‘…I’m alone, so it should be fine.’
Carefully, she loosened the blindfold. But as her eyes looked down to unbutton her dress, she froze in the same position, unable to move.
‘Th-the dress…’
Kiara’s lips trembled as she barely managed to suppress the words. The beautiful gown she had seen this morning was no longer in sight. To be precise, the shape of the dress remained the same. It was still as stiff as it had been, without a single crease, looking brand new.
But there was a problem.
‘…Blood…’
A crimson dress.
The wedding gown that had once been pure white was now stained a deep red. It seemed she had finally understood the source of the bloodstained scent that had filled the chapel.
Tears began to well up without her realizing it, and a few drops fell, soaking into the red fabric.
Whose blood was it? If the dress was soaked this thoroughly, how many people had died? What had happened?
‘And all the while, I didn’t know a thing…’
She imagined herself standing motionless like a statue amid the brutal slaughter of innocent people. Her white gown slowly turned red from the blood of the slain, and she hadn’t even realized it.
“Ugh…”
Kiara pressed her hand to her mouth as the nausea overwhelmed her. She heaved with all her might, but nothing came out.. It seemed that whatever Madam Raelin had fed her earlier came out to nothing.
‘…Raelin!’
In an instant, Kiara’s mind was filled with Raelin’s last words.
I’ll wait for you here, Lady Kiara.
Kiara’s senses snapped back to reality as she frantically looked around. Yet, there was no trace of Raelin anywhere in the small, desolate northern tower room. Just as she was about to cry again, she recalled the words of the lady who had led her here.
Tomorrow, you’ll be able to meet the head maid.
‘Ah…’
Raelin must be fine, then. Kiara’s body relaxed, and the tension drained away from her limbs. Just as she felt herself losing strength and about to collapse onto the floor, someone’s arms wrapped around her waist.
“The water’s gotten too cold.”
Kiara barely managed to avoid falling completely to the ground, but the voice that suddenly spoke made her head feel like it was spinning.
It was the Captain again.
“Bathing is fine, but if you sit in such cold water, you’ll catch a cold… Hey.”
As Kiara’s consciousness began to fade, the Captain lightly tapped her cheek. Yet, no matter what he did or said, it was no longer enough to hold her attention.
The only thing left in her fading mind was the image of red — her dress stained with the same red, the color of blood.
Her vision darkened further, and all she could see were those crimson eyes.
