Chapter 86
“The Weight of a Life.”
The dense forest was so thick that even in broad daylight, sunlight barely reached the ground, creating a gloomy atmosphere. The cold wind brushed through the leaves, making eerie sounds.
“….”
The moment my eyes met the man’s gaze, my legs froze as if nailed to the ground. My clenched fists grew damp with cold sweat.
We were deep in the forest, far from where people usually came.
There was no way this was just some traveler I happened to meet. The aura around him was far too dangerous.
A long scar stretched across his right cheek, and his eyes held no emotion—no, there was something darker there, a murderous intent he couldn’t fully hide.
‘Who sent him? Why? Is he here to kill me?’
My lips trembled.
And the first face that came to mind… was Father’s.
After all, the only one who knew I had settled here was him.
“…Did my father send you?”
At my quiet question, the man wordlessly tossed a small black pouch at my feet.
Thud.
“…?”
His posture seemed to say, open it. Slowly, I bent down and picked it up.
Inside was a small vial of medicine—and a bloodstained handkerchief.
My face stiffened as I stared at the items. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the embroidery on the handkerchief’s edge.
‘Lavender embroidery…?’
My head shot up.
The man was now holding a vial identical to the one in my hand. His face showed no emotion, not even the slightest flicker.
“Inside the vial is Girnen poison. This amount is enough to kill five grown men with ease.”
A chill raced down my spine at his flat words.
I clenched the small vial tightly in one hand and asked, my voice low:
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“Pretending not to know even when you do—that’s the specialty of nobles, isn’t it?”
He shrugged, expressionless.
I narrowed my eyes at him. He only continued in that same indifferent tone:
“This was mentioned a week ago. You must remember. The Master said that once you secure the mining rights, there will come a time to use Girnen poison.”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“To put it simply—your father wishes for the Grand Duke to die.”
My heart dropped with a heavy thud, but I quickly forced my expression back into calmness.
‘I can’t look weak.’
I glared at him and asked:
“What if… what if I refuse to do it?”
For the first time, his lips curved into a strange smile. He shook the vial lightly.
“Then you’ll get to see this Girnen poison used on someone else.”
“You’re threatening me?”
“Threaten a noble? Oh no, of course not. I am merely passing along the message I was ordered to deliver.”
His tone was smooth, almost mocking.
My lips trembled as I bit them hard. He studied me, then as if remembering something, spoke again:
“Ah, one more thing—perhaps this will help you decide.”
“….”
“I think you’ve already realized who this poison will be used on if you don’t follow orders.”
“…What do you mean…?”
“That handkerchief—you know whose it is, don’t you?”
His sly words drew my eyes downward.
The bloodstained handkerchief in my hand.
He gave me a slight bow.
“Remember—your father’s patience is not so great.”
“….”
“I hope we won’t meet again.”
Just like when he appeared, the man vanished without a trace.
“Ha…”
Only then, left alone in the forest, did my legs give way and I collapsed onto the ground.
‘That handkerchief—you know whose it is, don’t you?’
The face of a woman with violet hair—so much like lavender—flashed in my mind.
My mother. And Calliere.
Both their lives had been thrown onto a scale by my father’s cruelty.
I shivered, my whole body trembling with rage.
“We’ve received word from the hound. He delivered the item to the young lady, along with Your Excellency’s orders.”
“Good. Then all we have to do now is wait for news.”
Crocan smiled in satisfaction. Watching him cautiously, Damon spoke carefully:
“Um… Your Excellency.”
“…?”
“I ask this only out of concern… but is it alright not to place a hound to watch the young lady?”
“What do you mean?”
At Crocan’s question, Damon hesitated, then continued cautiously:
“It’s just a possibility, but… what if she reveals the truth to the Grand Duke and asks for his help?”
“…Hm. You’re right, that would be troublesome. If she changes her mind and confides in the Grand Duke, it would create problems for us.”
Damon was briefly surprised that Crocan agreed with him, but quickly lowered his head.
Crocan’s expression, however, was not one of concern.
“But in the end, the Grand Duke is still a Hestonian. To bring Anna out of Xeros, there are many gates she must pass through.”
“….”
“Still, to be safe, we should move Anna into Bluche, the Marquess’s territory. And add a barrier around her so magic cannot be used there.”
“Does Your Excellency suspect the young lady may seek the Tower Master’s help?”
“For some reason, Rebellia seems to be close with the Tower Master. Remember—when she first swapped with Heidi, and later when she escaped Esperos to hide in Babylon Forest. She couldn’t have done all that alone.”
“….”
“Not possible.”
Damon bowed his head quickly.
“I’ll make arrangements immediately.”
“Do that.”
As Damon hurried out, Crocan turned to the window, lips curling upward. Everything was falling into place smoothly.
“Be happy, Lea. All I want is for you to be happy.”
When I was too young to even remember clearly, my mother had said that to me.
She said she wished only for my happiness.
“If I’m happy, will you be happy too, Mother?”
“Of course, my dear. Always.”
As a naïve child, I believed those words. I swore I would live happily—for her sake, because that was all she wished for.
But did Mother ever know?
That her happiness was the source of mine.
That was why, when I thought she had abandoned me in Piace, I both prayed for her happiness and resented her deeply.
I thought at least that much rebellion was allowed against a mother who left her child behind.
But now…
‘To think it wasn’t that she ran away… but that she had been kidnapped and imprisoned by Father all this time.’
The taste of blood spread in my mouth—I hadn’t realized I was biting my lip so hard.
Hunching over, I buried my face deeper between my knees as the weight of what just happened replayed in my mind.
To save my mother, I would have to kill Calliere.
Kill Calliere Esperos.
“But when Fenrir’s claws came for me, the first thought that crossed my mind wasn’t peace at finally joining Sion, nor rage at leaving my revenge against Delphian Xeros unfinished. It was… that I wanted to see your face just one more time.”
“It was only then… that this foolish me realized the truth.”
And maybe… maybe I only realized once more, when I was forced to face the fact that his life was in my hands.
When I pushed open the door, Calliere was lying asleep, as if mocking how desperately I had searched for him.
With a sigh, I sat down on the edge of the bed and shook him gently.
“Wake up, Your Grace. You promised to return to the Grand Duchy today.”
“….”
“I know you’re not really asleep. Just how long do you plan to stay here…!”
As I complained, his hand suddenly caught my wrist.
Wh-what?
Startled, I froze as he slowly blinked open his eyes.
“…Did something happen?”
His hand was hot against my wrist, and my lips trembled before I finally answered:
“…No. Nothing happened.”
He studied me quietly, as though trying to read my thoughts.
Flustered, I frowned and snapped:
“You said you’d return to the Grand Duchy today.”
“Ah.”
“….”
“Must I really go?”
“…What?”
“I think… I might actually enjoy this kind of life.”
I was struck speechless. My lips parted, then I frowned.
“…Please don’t say strange things. Leave when it’s time to leave.”
“But I don’t need to leave if you won’t send me away.”
His serious gaze startled me. I quickly looked away.
“What if… what if I change my mind and ask you to stay? What then?”
I tried to pull my hand free, but his grip tightened. His eyes clung to me, unwavering.
Pain pressed against my wrist, making me wince. Then he asked in a calm voice:
“Will you hold on to me?”
“…What?”
“Will you stop me from leaving?”
At those words, the emotions I had forced down bubbled up violently, threatening to spill over.
I glared at him, my eyes sharp.
“Your Grace.”
He didn’t know.
He didn’t know what I had to sacrifice just to think about sending him away. He didn’t know the war raging in my head even now.
“Don’t… don’t make it harder. Just go when it’s time—!”
But before I could finish, my world flipped.
Calliere had pinned me beneath him, his eyes locking onto mine.
“Hold me, Rebellia.”
“….”
“If you hold on, I’ll stay as long as you want.”
