Lydia curled up in Adrian’s arms, shooting me a smug look while pretending to play peacemaker.
“Adrian, please, let it go. Cecilia must already know she was wrong…”
Adrian heaved a sigh, raised his whip, and took position behind me.
I fought to hold back the stinging tears welling in my eyes and spoke softly.
“Adrian, do you still remember when I took the lashings at 16? You climbed over the wall to sneak ointment to me.”
The figure behind me froze mid-movement.
A smile tugged at my lips, yet tears spilled down my cheeks.
“You swore then that anyone who hurt me would answer to you.
“But you are the one hurting me now.”
He fell quiet for a long moment.
What answered me was only the whip whistling through the air.
A searing burst of pain crashed over my skin.
I clamped my jaw firm.
“I’ve done nothing wrong.”
The second strike landed far harder, forcing me to my knees.
Lydia stood a short distance away, one hand pressed over her mouth to hide the sneer curling her lips.
Julian mistook her amusement for fear and patted her back in comfort.
When the 10 lashes ended, my lip was torn and raw from my own biting.
A hand suddenly stretched out before me.
I lifted my head and met Adrian’s conflicted gaze.
“Cecilia, harming Lydia will only hinder our search for a way to reverse the swap. I’m doing this for your sake…”
I could no longer bear listening to his hollow lies and swatted his hand away.
The sharp movement pulled at my wounds, blood trickling slowly down my back.
Fewer than two days remained before the body-swap ritual became permanent.
I bolted the bedroom door and finally let my sobs break free.
Not long after, footsteps echoed outside.
Julian’s voice filtered through the wooden panel.
“Cecilia, the first-aid kit is left by the door. Handle it yourself.”
A faint spark of hope flickered in my chest.
Maybe some part of Julian still cared for me.
Yet his low, stern instruction followed straight after.
“Lydia is badly shaken and needs rest. Stay inside your room these next two days. Do not show yourself before her again.”
The footsteps faded away.
I stared blankly at the thin light seeping beneath the doorframe.
That faint glow could never brighten this gloomy room.
Just like their love, which could never reach the real me.
The pain coursing through my body kept reminding me.
Maybe leaving was actually a good thing for me.
Late that night, the bedroom door was suddenly shoved open.
Adrian stood in the doorway, his face livid.
“Lydia’s suddenly collapsed.”
I leaned listlessly against the headboard, my tone numb.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Julian sighed heavily.
“The witch says she needs your blood.”
I stared at them in utter disbelief.
“I just took 10 lashes. I’m still bleeding.
“Drawing more blood will break this body completely.”
Julian frowned, growing impatient.
“The witch says it won’t kill you.
“Cecilia, that’s still your body she’s using. Do you still want to switch back or not?”
They dragged me forcibly to the witch’s residence.
Lydia lay pale and limp in the center of a magic formation.
When she saw me being dragged in, a look of triumph flashed quickly across her eyes.
The witch sliced open my wrist, letting my blood flow into a rune-carved vessel.
Across the glowing formation, Lydia locked eyes with me.
“Do you know why we need your blood specifically?
“Because this damned body of yours started rejecting my soul.”
My entire body went rigid.
As my blood merged into her body, her smile widened maliciously.
“But now, with your blood, my soul will fully adapt to this body soon.”
Her gaze swept over my current frail form, filled with pure malice.
“In one more day, I’ll own your body completely.
“And you will never, ever switch back for the rest of your life.”
A metallic taste surged up my throat.
I couldn’t hold it back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Lydia watched me, her grin growing more triumphant.
“I have your dear brother and your fiancé to thank for all of this.
“Once the witchcraft stabilizes completely, I’ll marry Adrian wearing your face.”
My vision blurred at the edges.
I was too weak to lift even a single finger.
I didn’t know how much time passed before I was thrown into an empty room in the witch’s house.
The door locked from the outside.
I lay powerless on the cold bed, my consciousness fading into darkness.