Chapter 20
“Miss! You need to return to the palace immediately!”
It was Riel’s urgent voice. For Riel to come to me himself meant…
‘Something really happened at the palace.’
And it was surely a critical situation.
I quickly handed the carriage log to the manager and ran toward Riel. As I got closer, I could clearly see his expression. His face was pale, meaning he had rushed to me in a hurry.
“Riel! What’s happening?”
“Miss, there’s no time for that now.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The family head is threatening the young master.”
“What?”
I doubted my ears. My father threatening Cain? The father I knew couldn’t do that. Didn’t I think he was only intimidating Priscilla to a moderate degree?
‘No, this is impossible. This is one of my father’s tricks.’
Otherwise, he wouldn’t act like this at this time, with the regular meeting moved up.
I bit my lips. What I heard from Riel wasn’t enough to understand why my father was acting this way.
I had to go to the palace. As fast as possible.
* * *
The incident began about an hour ago.
Priscilla, anxious about the sudden increase in guards, was biting her neatly manicured nails.
‘Why all this worry?’
Why did she feel so unsettled? She had spoken with Erica and formed an alliance. But Laslo was too calm. Although he deliberately provoked her by leaking information about the regular meeting, he showed no movement.
Tap.
Tap.
As her white nails nearly disappeared, Priscilla rang a bell on the table. Shortly after, three maids appeared before her.
“Is anything unusual?”
“The miss is inspecting the carriages now, and the family head is still in his office.”
“He hasn’t moved yet?”
“Is the guard still sloppy?”
“Some skilled ones have been mixed in.”
Priscilla bit until she saw blood. She took a deep breath, pulled out a handkerchief, and wrapped it around her finger.
“No matter what happens, protect Cain.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The three maids answered in unison, as if trained.
Priscilla looked at the maids, who wore identical uniforms, as if they were copies of each other. A small mark under their eyes, their behaviors—nothing differed. They never bothered her because they didn’t act independently.
They were convenient tools.
‘They’ll suffice.’
Priscilla muttered with a faint smile.
‘How hard it was to bring them here.’
Secretly bringing in these maids, deceiving Laslo, the family head, training them, and silencing them was exhausting.
Yes, they were assassins. Deadly owls prowling in the dark.
By day, they were ordinary, making mistakes and sleeping a lot, so no one in the palace suspected them. But they transformed at night, making them reliable.
‘Still, I should go myself.’
Despite their presence, Priscilla felt anxious. Her hands and feet were cold from her fear of Laslo.
It was because of words that dominated her mind.
– …Why do I hate the Alpha, you ask?
– Because you say if I don’t bear an Alpha, you’ll stay by my side.
– A fair question. I hate and fear the Alpha because I’m an Alpha.
– What?
– I rose above my siblings because I was an Alpha. It didn’t matter how strong or smart they were. I became the family head only because I was an Alpha.
– Isn’t that natural since you’re an Alpha?
– Yes, it’s natural. And I know well how unjust it is.
Laslo’s words were hard to understand. That an Alpha got everything just for being an Alpha—why would he fear and worry?
As Priscilla looked at him without responding, Laslo laughed a little and continued.
– The position of family head is too precious to me. No one can take it from me! They took Liseli from me! Isn’t the family head position all I have left?
It was the fall of a wolf who lost his mate. His grief turned into an obsession with the family head position.
Laslo’s obsession with that position was astounding.
– I won’t step down from this position until I die. If an Alpha is born, I’ll have to step down before I die… I can’t bear to see that with my eyes open.
– …
– So, Priscilla, don’t bear an Alpha. Don’t make me stain my hands with my child’s blood.
Priscilla embraced the enraged Alpha. Laslo, feverish, was so hot she feared burns. In that moment, Priscilla resolved.
The price for not protecting that lady and taking revenge on Laslo began with bearing an Alpha.
Recalling that memory, Priscilla stood despite having trusted retainers. Instead of staying in the room anxiously, she decided to go herself.
“I need to go to Cain.”
With a gentle smile, her hands were clenched so tightly her veins bulged.
She didn’t notice her hands trembling. Priscilla left the main wing for Cain’s room.
And there she faced…
An old wolf blinded by power, or rather, who had lost his mind.
Priscilla doubted her eyes. Was this really Laslo in that room? It hadn’t been five minutes since the deadly owls told her he was in his office.
When she realized her eyes weren’t mistaken, Priscilla froze, watching the scene.
“Ki… Ki…”
Cain, looking scared, tucked his tail and lowered his ears, while Laslo’s eyes, gazing at him, were devoid of any emotion.
Just a cold stare. Even when looking at his son.
Or perhaps a fierce glare, like one directed at a wolf threatening his position.
“Truly, an Alpha is an Alpha.”
With the appearance of a three-year-old and an Alpha aura radiating uncontrollably, it was obvious.
The maid caring for Cain finally spoke, looking at Laslo with fierce eyes, as she was responsible for him.
“Master… If you look at him like that, the young master won’t be able to bear it.”
Her trembling voice was pitiful, but Laslo’s expression didn’t change. Instead, his cold gaze shifted to her.
“Hic!”
“You dare comment on my actions?”
“I… I’m sorry…”
“If he can’t bear this, how can he be called an Alpha?”
If he couldn’t endure, death was the only fate.
Death. A strange word to use for a child not yet a month old. But from Laslo’s mouth, it sounded familiar.
As if it would soon become reality.
The maid instinctively realized this and couldn’t suppress her fear despite her trembling body. Perhaps only Erica in this family could confront Laslo.
“Ki… Ki…”
Thus, the young Alpha trembled before the mature Alpha, even if the latter was aging.
“Truly, pathetic.”
But Erica, whom he crafted, seemed better.
Laslo muttered and reached out to grab the young Alpha’s neck. Soft skin and fragile bones. If Laslo applied force, the neck would break easily.
“Oh…”
The young Alpha was terrified, his eyes brimming with tears, unable to resist, overwhelmed by Laslo’s aura.
Laslo’s eyes hardened further, but he didn’t act. He kept his hand as it was. Killing Cain would cause him trouble.
Of course, Laslo didn’t intend to kill him. He only wanted to keep the possibility open, to warn Priscilla and the elders who coveted power without fear.
In truth, Laslo didn’t plan to act himself. He thought the sloppy guard would make them lower their heads.
But the atmosphere changed after Erica’s return.
‘I don’t know what Priscilla conspired with Erica, but scaring them like this will stop Priscilla from acting. And then, Erica will return to me.’
Scaring them well would keep them quiet at the regular meeting. That way, Laslo would remain the family head longer.
So Laslo acted this way, despite sensing Priscilla behind him.
Suddenly…
“Laslo!”
Priscilla’s scream rang out.
Yes, be more afraid. And don’t covet my position again. Laslo smiled steadily.
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