The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 11

As soon as the question left her mouth, several female customers in the shop snickered. Merlyn Dessey's cold gaze swept over them, and they fell silent immediately. Looking at her confused daughter, she felt a twinge of regret for the first time—she shouldn't have kept little Elara trapped in the West Sea Forest all this time.

Elara Dessey also realized she had made a fool of herself. She looked up at her mother and aunt.

Thea Dessey pulled her into her side, her voice loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear: "This Blood Rose glazed card isn't valuable—it's the identity it represents that matters. But we don't need it." Dessey Witches were powerful enough to fear no Andros.

Her beautiful blue eyes glanced at the women who had mocked Elara, frost forming in their depths. Thea curved her blood-red lips and said softly: "You have no right to laugh at her."

As soon as she finished speaking, the shop suddenly turned icy cold. White frost formed around the mocking women, making them tremble violently, but they clenched their teeth and dared not make a sound.

The white-bearded shopkeeper hadn't had time to celebrate receiving the Blood Rose glazed card before he hastily apologized: "Noble ladies, I'm so sorry for the disrespect you've endured." Please forgive them. As an apology, the three of you may each choose any piece of jewelry you like."

Elara gently tugged at her aunt's skirt, signaling her to stop. She had indeed been foolish just now, but it was also a learning experience. For the first time, she clearly realized this was a world completely different from her past life.

"Hmph," Thea snorted. With a wave of her right hand, the ring chain bracelet she had been looking at flew into her palm. "I'll take this, but I'll still pay for it."

The mocking women finally wised up. Before Thea could speak, they quickly volunteered: "W-we'll pay!" Their voices trembled as the frost on their bodies thickened instead of melting.

The white-bearded shopkeeper bowed: "As you wish." He stepped aside and gestured for them to browse. "Noble ladies, please feel free to look around." He had done all he could—blame the foolish Rozin women for forgetting their place.

Elara hesitated, unable to get past her scruples.

But Merlyn didn't give her time to linger. She pulled her forward, crossing that mental barrier, and stopped in front of a glass cabinet. "Darling, take whatever you like." Her eyes wandered over the novel gemstone jewelry inside, thinking every piece suited her little treasure.

"How about this gold bracelet inlaid with onyx?"

The white-bearded shopkeeper didn't hesitate. He immediately reached to open the cabinet.

Elara quickly stopped him: "I'm still too young—this bracelet is too big. When I grow up, wearing it will only get in the way."

The gold bracelet was beautiful, but overly ornate. The three-centimeter-wide band was inlaid with four pure green onyx stones. Could she even walk properly wearing something like this?

"What about this sapphire forehead ornament?"

Forehead ornament? She had thought it was a necklace. "I already have a tiara." This ornament can't hold my hair back—it would just be a burden." The black pearls strung together were each as big as her little fingernail. Wearing it would definitely make her head feel heavy.

"What about this bracelet?"

"No, thank you." Elara pointed to an inconspicuous, rusty silver ring in the far corner of the cabinet. "I want this one." After looking around, this ring was the cheapest and most understated.

Merlyn frowned: "Are you sure? Why would this ring be in this cabinet?" She warned gently. "Mother has to tell you—miss this chance, and you'll have to buy your own jewelry from now on."

Was it really okay to be this straightforward? Elara pouted: "I'll take this one."

This was a world full of magic. Although she didn't have a spiritual connection with this… looking at the black, unrecognizable ring, she supposed it was "ancient." But what if she got lucky by chance?

The white-bearded shopkeeper looked embarrassed. He stared at the ring, his brows furrowed. "I'm sorry, noble lady. Please believe me—this ring is… well…" Sweat dripped down his forehead. "It's… new."

Just then, an elegantly dressed woman wearing a black top hat adorned with flowers walked into the shop, holding the hand of a delicate little girl around Elara's age.

Elara didn't pay much attention to them. "Grandpa, please take out this ring." They had wasted too much time here—it was time to leave.

Merlyn glanced at the ring again, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. She said nothing, just nodded at the white-bearded shopkeeper. "Give it to her." She scanned the cabinet but didn't see anything she liked, so she turned her attention to the newly arrived Rozin pair.

The elegantly dressed woman didn't approach the cabinet immediately. Instead, she held the little girl's hand and stood respectfully to the side, keeping a proper distance from Elara and the others.

When she felt Merlyn's gaze, she quickly let go of the little girl's hand, lifted her wide skirt slightly, and curtsied to Merlyn. "Haina Mullin greets Lady Merlyn."

"It's you." Merlyn remembered who she was. She looked down at the little girl standing beside her. "Is this your daughter?"

"Yes." Haina's eyes softened. She knelt down and whispered to the girl. "Roxane, greet Lady Merlyn." Ten years had passed, and Lady Merlyn was still as beautiful as ever—only her eyes were darker. She had also fulfilled her wish of giving birth to a "Moon Goddess Child." Now that she was bringing her Moon Goddess Child out of the West Sea Forest, some people were in for a bad time.

The little girl took a step forward, lifted her skirt, and curtsied slightly. "Roxane Mullin greets Lady Merlyn."

She knew they were the Dessey Witches who lived in seclusion in the West Sea Forest. It was thanks to the Dessey Witches that she and her mother were treated well by the Mullin family.

"Rise." Merlyn brushed her hand over Elara's hair, smiling as she watched the little one slip the ring onto her left thumb. "Let's go."

"Okay." Elara felt confused—the ring had looked too big, but when she tried it on, it fit perfectly. Staring at her thumb with the black ring, she grew worried. But this wasn't the time to talk. She turned and left with her mother.

Seeing them about to leave, the white-bearded shopkeeper hurried out from behind the counter to see them off.

Elara picked at the black ring on her thumb. After stepping out of the shop, she glanced back—and unexpectedly met a pair of amber eyes. The other person didn't have time to hide the longing on their face and quickly looked away. Elara's brows furrowed deeper. She glanced down at the ring—had the little girl also taken a fancy to it?

"Noble lady, do you need anything else?" The white-bearded shopkeeper acted extremely cautiously. He was also confused—clearly, the ring he had just acquired that morning had been a clean silver color, so why had it rusted by night?

Elara shook her head: "No." I just wanted to ask—if I get another Blood Rose glazed card, can I bring it here?"

She wasn't greedy—she just thought it would be more worthwhile to bring it here than to go to Moslin Bank.

The white-bearded shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied: "Of course! You can bring it anytime. I'll give you a price that will satisfy you."

"Great, it's a deal." Under everyone's surprised gaze, Elara followed her helpless mother and aunt toward their carriage.

Inside the jewelry shop, little Roxane bit her lip as she watched Elara and the others board the carriage. Her mother curtsied to the departing carriage, then gently placed her slender hand on Roxane's shoulder. "Roxane, what's wrong?"

"Mother, what's her name?" Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, but she knew Anastas City was celebrating—she couldn't cry.

But she was really sad. This feeling was more painful than when Inder killed her pet, Peter Rabbit. But she was just a lowly Rozin person. Even though she desperately wanted the ring in her heart, she couldn't go up and fight a powerful Witch for it.

Haina lowered her eyes, covered the little girl's eyes, and pulled her into her arms. "I'm sorry, Roxane."

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Elara was also feeling troubled. "Mother, I can't get it off!" She carefully sensed her body and felt as if something was slipping away. She suddenly felt weak, scaring Merlyn into quickly grabbing her little hand and channeling a wisp of pure Witch Power into her body to check.

Elara collapsed weakly in her aunt's arms. Watching her mother's brows furrow deeper and deeper, she felt her chest tighten and couldn't catch her breath—she truly thought her end had come.

After a long while, Merlyn finally let go of Elara's hand and asked in confusion: "What on earth is wrong with you?" She had examined the little one from head to toe. Her meridians were unobstructed, her Witch Power was pure and abundant, and she was full of vitality—there was nothing wrong with her at all.

"Nothing's wrong?" Elara couldn't believe it. She checked her own meridians and found they were indeed strong.

Thea let out a sigh of relief. She took Elara's left hand, which wore the ring, and examined it closely. After a moment, she suddenly said: "Little Elara, try channeling Witch Power into this ring."

"Okay." Elara was about to mobilize her Witch Power when her mother spoke up. "No need." This must be the Life Spirit Ring that the West Sea Witch Ancestor lost."

"It's back." Thea's smile widened as her fingers gently brushed the ring. "It finally came back."

Elara felt anxious: "Can you guys consider my feelings?"

"Keep it on." Thea clasped Elara's small hand in hers. "The Life Spirit Ring was forged by the West Sea Witch Ancestor using Earth Core Silver Ore. It will help you communicate with living creatures and better wield natural power." According to legend, the highest realm of Witch cultivation was to merge with nature, summoning natural power freely without needing to gather Witch Power.

Merlyn gently pinched her daughter's soft cheek: "Never underestimate it." Clan records say it accompanied the West Sea Witch Ancestor for 1,200 years and has long since gained consciousness." That's why she couldn't take it off.

Gulp…

Elara swallowed hard. She had only chosen this cheap-looking ring because her conscience bothered her. "What happens if an ordinary person wears it?" She hadn't forgotten the little girl's eyes.

"I don't know." Merlyn frowned thoughtfully. "But it would probably make them more sensitive, give them some insight into nature, and help them understand living creatures. Why do you ask?"

Elara shook her head: "Nothing." If she got the chance, she'd try dripping a drop of blood on the ring. Although she hadn't had time to read novels in her past life, she knew about blood recognition to bind owner.

"We're going to the Lord's Mansion now." Merlyn noticed the time. "We'll eat something there and then rest for a while."

At the mention of the Lord's Mansion, Elara perked up immediately. She sat straight, lifted her hand to touch her tall ruffled collar, rolled her eyes, and began tucking the collar in to expose her pink, delicate neck.

"What are you doing?" Thea looked confused. After Elara finished adjusting her collar to fully expose her neck, she turned and asked: "Do I look tempting now… oops… I mean, tempting to Andros?"