Mystic - EN version

Chapter 24 : Betrayal

Once back at the mansion, Clave set about finding Griselda and Noah, but before doing so, she quickly introduced the kitten to the mansion. Clave thought of a name for the kitten, but couldn't think of one.

They passed several drawing rooms, the kitchen where a maid was preparing the meal, two enormous bookcases where Clave would have loved to spend the rest of her life if she hadn't had a more important mission on her hands, and an infinite number of unused rooms. It was then that Clave realised that she had no idea where Noah's room was, or even Griselda's, despite her many explorations of the mansion.

On the other hand, she had already seen the maids' dormitory. It was located in the north-west area of the mansion, which was U-shaped with the points facing south-east.

After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Clave decided to go out onto the terrace to let the kitten enjoy the view. She placed the kitten on the shiny wooden floor, taking care not to leave any marks on it. As soon as he was on the floor, the kitten began to playfully frolic about the corridors, sniffing every nook and cranny. Clave had to stop him several times from doing his business on the walls.

Then they went back down the stairs. Then, just as he had been following her obediently all along, the little cat stopped in front of a half-open door. He began to stare at the young girl, as if waiting for her or wanting to show her something.

She joined him in front of what appeared to be some sort of storeroom or broom wardrobe. At first Clave wondered what the kitten wanted, then she moved closer and heard a voice behind the door, which she didn't immediately recognise.

– Duke Arthur, it's me, Catherine Blackseed. I'm here to report to you. Clave... For the last few days, the Princess has been able to fire projectiles using her magic.

On hearing her friend's name, Clave froze, speechless.

Griselda was right. Catherine was indeed spying on them for Arthur. She had betrayed her.

Unaware of her presence, Catherine continued her report.

– She will soon be ready to leave, according to your sister.

Clave held her breath, glued to the wall, the kitten sitting quietly beside her.

– That's all I had to say. I couldn't find any information about the Crown of Radiance. I'll get back to you if I find out more.

She cut the line. Clave didn't have time to react as the maid was already coming out of the storage room.

Their eyes met.

In Catherine's hazel eyes, Clave read sadness and, obviously, surprise. The ginger maid was sorry. Clave, however, was not sorry at all. She was disappointed and angry. She had been right to doubt her friend, and for that, Clave was terribly angry.

Catherine held out her hand in a last-ditch attempt to restrain her, whispering her name, almost begging. Clave glanced at her maid's collar. She was probably using it to spy on Noah, Griselda and her.

Then the young girl looked away, turned her back on her friend and walked off down the corridor, the red and white kitten at her heels.

Clave slammed the door to her room, not caring if anyone heard. She just wanted to let off steam. She wanted to smash all the objects in her room on the floor, like the butterfly vase or the mirror with its golden edges, but she didn't, because Griselda would be angry with her if she did.

When the young girl met her flickering gaze in the mirror, she froze. Tears began to roll down her face, reddened by anger.

She didn't understand. She couldn't understand why Catherine would do this when they were friends. Clave felt betrayed, helpless.

She clung to the sides of her pale purple dress to keep from collapsing, but her knees gave out. She fell to the floor in a frenzy of disorderly fabric. Her shoulders slumped. She curled up on the floor and looked at her reflection in the mirror. And all she could see in the mirror was a weak little girl, amnesiac and lost.

Nothing had changed, after all.