"Please believe me, absolutely do not drink too quickly."
Seeing Miss Galina take the glass of water, Shade kindly reminded her, having learned his lesson before. The Duchess gave him a puzzled look, then held the cup and took two small sips. As she swallowed, her throat moved slightly beneath her fair neck.
Following Shade's advice, she took only three sips before closing her eyes. A full half-minute later, she placed the cup on the tea table:
"There is some effect."
She offered no further comment. It seemed effective, though not particularly so.
Shade did not bring up helping with her treatment again. After taking out the jewelry box containing the necklace, he began discussing what had happened in the ruins last night.
He omitted crucial information about the fight and spoke only of the final outcome, but he still mentioned how the Ancient Witch's Golden Necklace had suddenly lit up when the vampire had grabbed him by the neck and lifted him.
"Two things are wrong. First, I was indeed in direct contact with him at the time, but I did not have a severe allergic reaction. Second, why did the necklace glow? Does this necklace have that kind of ability?"
The Black-Haired Maid took the necklace from the jewelry box and put it around Miss Galina's neck. The Duchess was not surprised by this at all:
"This necklace grants its wearer an amplified version of the negative traits of the Witch Curse. It does nothing to Witches themselves. Otherwise, wouldn't it be ridiculous for a necklace meant to protect Witches to worsen our curse instead?"
"It does nothing to Witches themselves, then I..."
Shade was so surprised that he could only think to himself:
You still say you aren't one.
Keep listening.
"You definitely are not a Witch.