Chapter 70
“What are you doing?”
“You, that…”
The short-haired child started to say something but closed their mouth.
“What good is it for the two of you, both in pitiful circumstances, to fight each other?”
The long-haired child turned their head to look at the short-haired one.
At that moment, the child’s face—until now unseen—was revealed.
The child’s eyes were blue.
A piercing, chilling blue.
“Huff—.”
In the quiet stillness, Velia opened her eyes.
The surroundings were bright. Velia hastily turned to her side.
Only after confirming that Carlton was still sound asleep did Velia draw a deep breath.
She had closed her eyes when the sky was still dusky blue, and now dawn had already broken.
As Velia pressed into him, Carlton patted her in his sleep.
Even with his steady, reassuring touch, Velia could not calm down.
The dream—so vivid it felt real—still lingered sharply in her mind.
With trembling hands, Velia traced the corners of her eyes.
Blue was the color of awakening.
Though many were born throughout the Empire with eyes of various colors, blue eyes belonged solely to the Arphedi Marquisate.
It was a color that only the direct bloodline could inherit—and it had appeared in the child’s eyes within her dream.
The child’s young face, tangled with black hair that reached down to the waist, was unmistakable.
No matter how much she tried to deny it, it looked just like herself.
Just like the portrait hanging in the Marquisate’s chambers of her own childhood.
“This makes no sense.”
At such a young age, it should have been impossible for it to manifest.
“The weather’s been so nice these days, hasn’t it?”
Barun gave a silent nod, making Lady Freslo roll her eyes.
Lately, he had been acting as if he had little interest in her.
They still spent their scheduled time together, but his demeanor was no longer the same, leaving Freslo anxious.
When she chose to break off her engagement with her former fiancé, she never thought she would one day feel this sense of unease.
Back then, she was young and certain she would meet someone better.
More than anything, she pitied herself for having to spend her life with such a perverse man.
But once the engagement ended, those who had clung to her quickly drifted away.
They coveted her family’s wealth, yet they wanted nothing to do with the disgrace of her broken betrothal.
When she, once hailed as a “saint” of the social circles, became relegated to the sidelines, the only man who reached out to her was Barun Arphedi.
“…So, have you been busy lately?”
Dressed in a gown that revealed half her pale chest, Lady Freslo leaned forward on the table, overtly flaunting herself.
But even then, Barun’s lukewarm reaction made her bite her lip.
He had once been attentive and meticulous—surely, he had been captivated by her.
She thought their engagement would come quickly.
That was why she had secretly convinced her family’s steward to divert entrusted funds to Barun in advance.
No… it can’t be.
Suppressing her ominous premonition, Lady Freslo stood up.
“You’ve seemed tired lately. You haven’t really talked to me much.”
She placed her hands on his shoulders, massaging them lightly.
Barun laid his hand over hers.
“Just had things to think about.”
“Yes…”
The warmth of his hand reassured her.
“But, my lord, we….”
Lady Freslo hesitated.
She had been dropping hints about their engagement for a while, but his responses had been lackluster.
His attitude made it clear that an engagement would happen eventually—but when, exactly, remained vague.
“We…?”
Startled by the sharp gleam in his blue eyes, Lady Freslo clamped her mouth shut.
She didn’t know why she felt nervous under his gaze, but she couldn’t help it.
“Never mind. You seem tired. Let’s talk another time.”
She smiled sweetly.
Barun reached out to stroke her hair.
“Ah.”
“I’ve just been busy lately…”
“It’s fine.”
She blushed, smiling shyly.
All her misgivings vanished at the simple touch of his hand.
As he looked elsewhere while stroking her hair, Lady Freslo quickly searched for something to brighten his mood.
She decided to reveal something her father had warned her to keep secret.
“Oh—by the way, congratulations!”
Barun turned toward her at the sudden words.
“You’ve made ties with the Imperial Family, haven’t you? The Arphedi Marquisate will soon be a firm ally of the throne. Isn’t this the first time someone from your house is set to join the Imperial line?”
“…Family?”
Barun’s face darkened with confusion.
“There’s no need to hide it from me. I know it’s top secret, but…”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“You know my father is one of His Majesty’s confidants. And my maternal family all serve in the Imperial court…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come now. They say there’s to be an engagement at the Princess’s birthday celebration—between the Crown Prince and Lady Arphedi!”
“What?”
Barun’s face twisted.
His sharp eyes glared at her in disbelief.
“You… didn’t know?”
Though the engagement was confidential, she assumed he would know since it concerned his younger sister.
Wasn’t he the heir to the Arphedi Marquisate?
“Well… isn’t this a great honor for your family?”
Her words carried the unspoken thought: How could you not know?
But Barun kept silent.
Convinced that he must know about his house’s joy, Lady Freslo blinked in surprise.
Thud!
Hurried footsteps approached, and the door burst open.
It was Tov.
Lady Freslo had seen him a few times before and gave a polite nod.
Knowing she was present, Tov bowed deeply.
“My apologies. There’s an urgent matter…”
Lady Freslo straightened from where she leaned against the table.
Barun rose and walked over to him.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Casting a glance at Lady Freslo, Tov whispered to Barun.
“The carriage has overturned.”
Barun’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Lady Freslo tilted her head, puzzled by the tension.
“You mean before it arrived?”
“Yes. And now the situation is complicated. The Imperial court is sending inspectors.”
Barun’s face grew grim.
“…Understood.”
As he turned, Lady Freslo quickly prepared to excuse herself.
“You seem busy. I’ll take my leave. See you next time.”
“Yes, next time.”
She gave a smile.
Barun and Tov left in haste, leaving her behind.
It wasn’t the first time she had been dismissed without an escort, so she pushed down her disappointment and stood.
“Oh, right.”
She recalled the steward’s reminder before she came here.
“I should’ve brought up the funding…”
She glanced around the empty room and shrugged.
“It’ll be fine. He’s the heir, after all… And once we’re engaged, even if Imperial funds are involved, it won’t be an issue.”
She brushed it off lightly and left.
“Why is it so quiet today…?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Velia spoke up.
She had tried to keep silent, afraid her words might invite misfortune, but the unnatural silence gnawed at her.
“It feels strange.”
Carlton gave a silent nod.
Unlike yesterday, when they had been running constantly, today they hadn’t encountered a single beast.
The thickening fog and oppressive atmosphere made it seem like something could jump out at any moment, but the forest remained eerily still.
No howls, no sounds—this impossible peace felt like it could shatter at any moment. Velia clung tightly to Carlton’s side.
“Even the flow of mana feels off.”
Carlton lifted his fingers, drawing out a bit of his mana.
The gathered energy was instantly swallowed up by the ambient mana, dissipating into the air.
The restriction remained, but the flow seemed oddly twisted compared to what he had seen yesterday.
Staring intently at the air, he then lifted his gaze deeper into the forest.
“What is it?”
“This way.”
He led Velia along the current of mana.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s something I need to confirm.”
“Confirm what?”
Stepping between the trees, Carlton drew out his mana again.
“We’re almost there.”
“Almost where?”
He looked up in a particular direction.
“The forest’s center.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Watching his mana quickly absorbed and aligned with the dark mana, Carlton was certain.
It matched the research he had done before entering the forest.
“Is that why there are no beasts nearby?”
“Possibly. Beasts are sensitive to mana’s flow. But… high-grade beasts are different.”
“You mean there might be one like the one we saw yesterday?”
Carlton nodded.
