Chapter 70
“Ahhh!”
I let out a scream as I scrambled frantically.
The reason I was rushing so desperately was—once again—I had overslept.
And all of it was my own fault, since I’d stayed up half the night lost in random thoughts.
Normally, sleeping in wouldn’t be a problem, but today wasn’t just any day.
Today was the day Jayus was returning to the North.
He’d said he’d be leaving around ten in the morning, so I’d planned to wake up early, take my time getting ready, and see him off properly…
‘But waking up just thirty minutes ago?!’
And the worst part—
I hadn’t even woken up by myself.
Rita had come to fetch me, thinking I was already ready to go, and ended up waking me instead.
Lately, Rita had been so busy that she hadn’t been able to look after me properly, but since I usually got up on my own every morning, I guess she didn’t worry about it.
‘I thought my body’s routine would wake me up on time like usual…’
Anyway, I somehow managed to get ready in just thirty minutes and rushed out of my room.
I sprinted down the stairs and burst out the front doors of the mansion. Everyone else was already gathered to see Jayus off. Thankfully, since he hadn’t mounted his horse yet, I wasn’t too late.
“You’re late.”
I had no one to blame but myself, so I gave an awkward smile and stood beside Father.
Then, I looked at Jayus.
He had been watching me from the moment I appeared—it was obvious from the way our gazes met immediately, his crimson eyes locking onto mine.
“Travel safely,” I said.
Since this wasn’t a moment for private words between just the two of us, that was all I could say.
If we hadn’t stayed up talking about all sorts of little things last night, I might’ve regretted not saying more for a long time.
I reached out my hand to shake his. Jayus looked down at it for a moment, then clasped it firmly in his own.
“Let me know once you arrive,” I said.
“I will.”
“And be careful not to catch a cold.”
“I’ll be fine.”
It was a silly thing to say to someone who’d lived in the snowy North all his life, when I’d never even been there once—but as a friend, I could at least worry about his health, right?
I started to pull my hand back, but Jayus didn’t let go.
His grip was firm—too firm—and for a moment, it almost felt like there was something more behind it.
When I’d offered the handshake, it had been a purely friendly gesture, just to thank him for his time here. But now…
“Ahem!”
Father cleared his throat loudly.
It was a subtle warning aimed at Jayus, telling him to let go of my hand.
The sight was kind of funny. Normally, Father would’ve said something outright, but the way he was acting now—almost like he had a weakness to hide—made me want to laugh.
Eventually, realizing he couldn’t delay any longer, Jayus released my hand and mounted his horse.
“Thank you for your hospitality during my stay. May everlasting glory rest upon the Evienne family.”
After his farewell, Jayus departed with Eve and a few knights.
Eve had said she would escort him only as far as the border that connected to the North—since letting a guest be attacked or injured within the Evienne territory would be unthinkable.
Once Jayus disappeared from sight, everyone began to drift away one by one.
I was about to head back inside when Joshua approached me, sticking close like he had something to say.
“What is it you want to say?” I asked.
“You noticed right away, huh?”
“Of course. It’s written all over your face, Shushu.”
I subtly changed direction, turning a corner of the corridor where no one was around, and stopped.
Joshua followed me like a puppy, fidgeting with his hands the whole time. I tilted my chin slightly, urging him to speak.
But he just kept hesitating.
“Shushu, did you cause trouble again?”
“Huh? N–no! Nothing like that!”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s just that…”
After more hesitation, Joshua finally shut his eyes tight and blurted it out.
“Miss, the North… it snows there almost all year round, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Well then… that snow globe you bought him as a gift—it also snows inside, doesn’t it—”
“What?!”
It hit me all at once.
I hadn’t thought of that at all!
Sure, I’d given it to him because I’d never seen real snow and thought it was pretty—but Jayus? He’d probably seen more snow than he could ever want!
I’d actually given him a snow globe?!
No wonder he liked it so much… not because of the snow, but because I gave it to him.
Honestly, he was the kind of person who would be happy even if I handed him a handful of grass, just because it came from me.
‘Still… I did also give him that framed photo from my room.’
Even so, I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. The gift just didn’t seem right anymore.
“And you’re telling me this after he’s already left?”
“Ah, Miss—ow! Ow, that hurts!”
I punched Joshua’s arm repeatedly in frustration.
To be fair, it wasn’t really his fault. He’d only mentioned the snow globe—he hadn’t told me to buy it as a gift.
But I still felt so cheated somehow.
“I’m innocent too! I just realized it myself!” he cried, dodging away from my blows and escaping back into the mansion.
“Ugh… what’s done is done, I guess. It’ll work out somehow.”
Then I suddenly remembered something—Grandmother’s “gift.”
The handcuffs.
The ones she’d told me to use on someone I liked.
I turned my gaze toward the direction Jayus had gone, eyes glinting faintly.
‘Hmm… I haven’t exactly accepted his confession yet anyway.’
Maybe I could save them for later—for when everything between us was finally settled, and it was my turn to confess.
A week passed since Jayus’s departure.
Around that time, Senika finally completed her adult transformation.
With that, all the heirs of the Four Dragon Houses had reached adulthood.
Each family had its own way of appointing a new head. Some passed the title directly, while others named a “young lord” to serve during a transition period.
For the White Dragon House, this generational change was an unavoidable storm.
And yet—oddly enough—even after the news of Senika’s transformation spread, the elders remained silent for days.
As if they were merely waiting for the storm to break.
A thin, frail body was thrown onto an uncomfortably hard bed.
With pale skin and barely any movement, the person could easily have been mistaken for a corpse—
except for the faint rise and fall of their chest.
“Hh…!”
A stifled moan escaped between bloodied lips that had been bitten too hard.
Dry silver hair, dull green eyes, and lifeless skin…
Unbelievable as it was, this man was Roel Hartfilia—the very one Senika had been desperately searching for.
Despite his exhaustion, Roel forced himself to sit up and lean weakly against the wall, letting out a shaky breath.
‘This one was… especially brutal.’
He didn’t know how many days had passed.
This latest experiment had been longer—and crueler—than any before.
His father—or rather, the man who wasn’t truly his father, the Emperor—was growing more depraved with each passing day.
‘Disgusting. I just want to run away.’
He could, easily. His abilities would make escape simple.
But he didn’t—because if he did, someone else would be forced to take his place.
And he already knew who that “replacement” would be.
He couldn’t allow her—his sister, in a way that defied the usual meaning of the word—to be dragged into this same hell.
“Ugh!”
He tried to step down from the bed but collapsed immediately as pain shot up from the soles of his feet.
Still, Roel refused to give up. He dragged himself toward the window.
Of course, it was locked tight from the outside—as always.
Pointless precautions, considering his pheromone powers.
Click.
Using his ability, he unlocked the window and, without hesitation, leapt out.
Normally, a fall from that height wouldn’t harm him—but his body was already beyond its limits.
“Ahh…”
He landed awkwardly, twisting his right ankle. If not for his abilities, it could’ve been much worse.
“…There’s not much time left.”
Even half-dead, he forced his way to the outer wall of the imperial palace.
Luckily, a cloud drifted over the moon at that moment, plunging everything into darkness, and Roel managed to climb over without being seen.
He didn’t stop, didn’t rest.
Limping heavily, he disappeared into the night—away from the palace.
For the past few days, Hael’s face had been permanently creased with frustration.
He stomped around the mansion looking openly irritable, so everyone—whether they knew the reason or not—kept their distance.
“Haaap!”
Today was no exception.
Hael was glaring at Senika, who was practicing swordsmanship in the training yard.
Even as a child, Senika had been beautiful—but now, as an adult, she was breathtaking.
Tall and slender, with long platinum hair that gleamed even when wavy, and bright blue eyes like a deer’s.
That was exactly why Hael looked so miserable these days.
He should’ve been proud that his daughter had grown up so splendidly… but instead, unease gnawed at him.
‘Just thinking about all the men who’ll start eyeing my daughter—!’
He clenched his fists and glared daggers at Johann, who was sparring with Senika.
Sensing that murderous aura from the side, Johann darted his eyes toward Hael—
then quickly looked away again when he saw the man’s burning expression.
His movements became noticeably stiffer under Hael’s gaze, until finally, Senika snapped at him. Only then did Hael reluctantly look away.
He wanted to stay a little longer by his daughter’s side, but Theo suddenly came running, calling out in a panic.
“Lord Hael! There’s an emergency!”
“More serious than the fact that our Senika’s gotten even prettier?”
“Haah…”
Theo shut his eyes for a moment, exasperated beyond belief—but couldn’t bring himself to scold the man outright.
He understood, to some extent. He’d watched Senika grow up too. He got it.
But right now, there was something far more urgent.
“The elders have called an emergency meeting.”
