Before the Villains’ Ending

There were three extraordinary powers referred to as miracles in the empire: Supernatural Abilities, Swordsmanship, and Magic.

Florencia clenched her hand and then opened it, attempting to ‘move’ something. It didn’t work well. Perhaps it was to be expected. Supernatural Ability was the name given when someone had an innate ability to handle a specific magical power much better than others. Unlike the mages who used overall magic, Supernatural Ability received much attention as a far more valuable power because it didn’t require calculations of any energy sources, also known as mana.

Florencia lazily smiled, satisfied with the fact that no one in the empire knew she possessed such abilities. Innate Supernatural Ability itself was considered a blessing. Except for a slight restriction of being bound to the nation, they could lead a prosperous life. However, there was a reason why Florencia Eilish was excluded from the nation’s allegiance.

She completely closed her blue eyes.

‘I’ll give you a gift.’

There was a vague dream, long ago, where it was unclear whether it was a dream or reality. It was too vivid to be called a dream, yet the imagery seemed fragmented, like memories disconnected from reality. Considering that it became a turning point in her life, it was strange that Florencia couldn’t remember the face of the other person.

“I didn’t spend much.”

She muttered while waving her finger. Still, there was no change. Florencia compared her abilities to those of Calix Hamel. Looking back, Hamel’s destructive Supernatural Ability was transcendental to the point where its range and limits were unclear, but she had never witnessed him using that power. Not even during the escape.

“It’s a tear-jerking romance, more than Reload.”

She clicked her tongue. It was good that she managed to facilitate the mass escape of prisoners without using her abilities to involve Mel, but that was as far as it went. Even at the point of the assassin’s escape, it seemed almost impossible for Mel to intervene. Fortunately, no evidence related to Mel had emerged, so they couldn’t pin the charges of the escape on Margaret. That was something, at least.

Florencia had no confidence that her younger sister could withstand the torture-like interrogation, so she felt a slight sense of relief at that fact.

“Anyway, they don’t know how to reconcile.”

Florencia taunted the three men who were like idiots and clicked her tongue. It seemed that the prince and Beatrice had decided to close off the entire Sinalore. Florencia scoffed as she pushed the chilly and stifling air into her lungs. There were only a few things she couldn’t do.

The execution time was approaching little by little, but she didn’t particularly feel fear. Florencia muttered absentmindedly.

“I gave it to you, but I don’t know if you’ll use it well…”

* * *

Florencia recalled the man who had reached out to her when she was young. She couldn’t recall the exact details, but she could at least speculate that he was a man, a magician, and wore a black robe.

‘I’ll give you a gift.’

She didn’t remember when or where they met. The faint image of herself was from a considerably young age. Probably when she was around fifteen, long before she fell in love with the prince.

It was in the summer, long before the engagement ceremony. Yes, it was summer. Florencia bowed her head. She had forgotten everything except for the background of that encounter with the mysterious magician, and she wasn’t interested in the forgotten facts. She didn’t even care if the outsider had passed the knight order’s entrance screening.

The little girl with a mischievous appearance just asked, ‘Why?’

‘Why?’

‘Because you have work to do.’

She received that sentence from him. Florencia tilted her head, showing curiosity about the unfamiliar object, and the man explained in a friendly tone.

‘There are two types of Supernatural Abilities. Innate or bestowed by someone else.’

‘I see.’

‘That seemed likely. But in the case of the latter, there is no detailed information available. Right?’

‘….’

‘Try to move something.’

‘How?’

‘Just like that. You can reach out your hand.’

Florencia obediently reached out her hand. An emblem with a moon symbol engraved with grotesque vines emitted a faint light. Florencia stared at that light with an emotionless face and maintained silence.

The man laughed cheerfully. He seemed satisfied with the fact that she didn’t react to such a mystery.

Florencia let him laugh, to his heart’s content. After a while, the man stopped laughing and assumed a gentle tone.

‘I highly value your talent. If you become a vessel capable of accepting Supernatural abilities, you will be well-endowed. Of course, how you use it will depend on your abilities.’

He added that there are consequences of using Ability as he detached a leaf attached to his robe.

‘There aren’t many cases of bestowing abilities. You have to engrave magic on your soul without side effects. Those with such skills are rare even among humans living in the Mage tower.’

‘It’s something that has to be granted.’

‘Well, I’ve already ‘imprinted’ it on you.’

‘Ah…!’

At that moment, Florencia had to narrow her eyebrows and let out a scream. As the light of the moon symbol gathered, it formed a needle shape and pierced her wrist. Tears welled up in her blue eyes due to the unfamiliar pain.

‘Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.’

‘I don’t mean to charge you much for this.’ The man explained as kindly as the pain felt on her wrist.

‘It’s not a gift that I give you because you asked for it. Well, I don’t give it to most idiots because they ask for it, but…’

‘I don’t know exactly what you want.’

‘Usually, Supernatural Abilities are bestowed by a magician with a certain purpose. The price is also deeply related to that purpose. In your case, it’s the same. We’ll talk about the price later… Yeah. I would like you to kill someone.’

Crazy. Florencia spat out the word that she always disparaged when the servants used it, cursing through her gritted teeth.

Murder? A girl with an eerily intelligent mind. An emotionless expression that never changes. A young flower who didn’t show any change. A monster-like girl.

An unpleasant lady.

People called her that, as she cried unemotionally after her younger sister fell ill. The behavior of using her cold attitude and position to oppress and crush others in social circles, yes, was indeed excessive for a fifteen-year-old girl. But she had never killed anyone.

She had grown to the point where she could distinguish between good and evil, and she knew to some extent what the incomprehensible words uttered by the man were intended for.

The man murmured softly as if understanding her confusion.

‘It won’t be difficult. You’re a noble.’

Florencia lowered her head, looking at the moon-shaped seal in her hand. The sentence that had been a purely blue color had now changed to violet. Florencia bit her lip and murmured. Just because she was a noble didn’t mean she had to throw herself into deadly fights…

‘Well, of course. Unless you’re being sold off in an arranged marriage.’

‘…’

‘It’s not that difficult, right? You saw it for yourself.’

‘If you achieve your goal, you won’t need the mediating emblem. If those with mixed blood like yours can inherit that ability, it might be more advantageous. After all, where else can you find a deal better than not being labeled as a witch and facing execution?’

Florencia clenched her fist. It felt like time had stopped, and everything around her moved slowly.

‘No.’

I will never fulfill your purpose.

The man laughed, concealing himself in the air. If it’s something scary, it’ll be fine as long as you don’t get caught. That’s it.

‘And you will do as I say. You will strive to kill someone.’

* * *

Since then, Florencia truly gained the ability. It was called telekinesis, the most basic form of magic, and it became Florencia’s ability. She quickly became accustomed to using this power. Until Florencia officially debuted in high society at the age of eighteen, the man would often send letters and notes with various explanations. He expressed that the emblem he gave her was alive and advised her to carry it as a stamp or pendant. The explanation that a mediating item was necessary because it was a temporary ability was an extra detail.

Florencia modified her emblem to serve as her signature, as the man claimed it could also fulfill that role. She prepared a ring with the emblem and a stamped frame in advance and inserted the emblem into it when needed.

‘As you wish, as you desire, you can use it.’

As the magician promised. There were no apparent problems with the simple rules. The man didn’t mention the side effects that would occur if the purpose was not achieved, but he assured her that she wouldn’t suffer any losses. Whether that was something to be happy about, she wasn’t sure. Anyway, because of these reasons, Florencia was cautious about her abilities, despite having a frightening level of proficiency. She suspected that every misfortune happening to her was a result of her ability.

It was the same when she was fifteen. Especially when Margaret was at risk of dying, Florencia felt even more anxious. It went without saying that she didn’t use her ability during that time. She kept her abilities completely hidden. It was needless to say that she never showed the emblem to anyone. Florencia occasionally experimented with her ability during her debut in high society at the age of eighteen, acting as if she had completely forgotten about it. Even the crown prince, whom she loved so much, didn’t know about her abilities.

Florencia was certain of one thing. At that time, she was just a minor noble lady who almost lost her beloved younger sister, nothing more, nothing less. And her confidence started to change from the moment Florencia Eilish, at the age of twenty, was confirmed as a candidate for the crown prince’s wife in high society. No, perhaps it was even later when Beatrice Rosen appeared.

Florencia recalled a summer when she was twenty-four. The day the prince laid his hands, on her body for Beatrice Rose.