Chapter 51
“Just by enhancing weapons like swords or armor and selling them, you’d be sitting on a mountain of gold. The weapons crafted by Lord Ron Vita used to sell for around a thousand gold, but now that it’s known they’ve been ‘alchemized’, the price would easily skyrocket five or six times.”
At Laine’s explanation, Eluana tilted her head slightly.
“Does that mean the prices haven’t gone up?”
“Because there’s nothing on the market. The Spes family bought up everything. The only ones left are these—‘Brilliant Night of Mortality and Silence of the Black Sun.’ And I have absolutely no intention of selling this sword. The duke’s family keeps sending people to try and buy it, but I won’t budge. It’s already become my soul’s companion.”
Laine hugged the sheathed sword tightly, as if it were a treasure.
“I’ll let them know not to try reclaiming it since it’s found a worthy owner.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Eluana smiled sweetly. Kazhar, who had been quietly thinking beside her, spoke up.
“Try floating the iron orb again.”
Eluana promptly lifted Guseuli (the orb) lightly into the air. Kazhar pointed toward the guest room door with his finger.
“Can you shoot it as fast as you can and hit the doorknob?”
“The doorknob?”
“Yes. The round part of it.”
Eluana focused, narrowing her eyes at the doorknob.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
No sooner had she spoken than the orb shot out. As it flew fast and precisely toward the doorknob, Laine’s jaw dropped again. But at that very moment, the door opened.
Alex entered with a sword in hand, saw something flying toward him, and raised his hand. Surrounded by a blue glow of aura, he snatched the orb out of the air.
“Oh!”
Startled, Eluana’s face turned pale. Seeing her reaction, Alex realized a moment too late that he was holding an iron orb. As Eluana, Kazhar, and Laine all stared at him, he awkwardly said,
“My apologies. I thought it was an attack.”
“Sorry, we were just practicing.”
“No need to apologize. I’m just relieved you’re awake.”
Responding politely, Alex handed the orb back to Eluana. Just as she received Guseuli, Kazhar grabbed Alex’s wrist and lifted it.
“Not bad. The speed, accuracy, and impact.”
“It would be effective as a surprise attack.”
If he hadn’t used aura, the orb could’ve pierced his hand, but neither Kazhar nor Alex seemed particularly shaken.
Kazhar casually released his wrist, but Eluana, noticing the redness swelling in Alex’s palm, turned pale.
“Are you hurt?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Alex, looking unusually flustered, quickly hid his hand behind his back. Kazhar remarked indifferently,
“Go get it treated.”
“Yes, thank you for your concern.”
Alex placed his right hand over his chest and gave a small bow before exiting the room. A short silence followed after he left.
“What have I done…?”
Eluana mumbled blankly. Kazhar, looking satisfied, said,
“Now you can at least protect yourself.”
“Really?”
She was still worried about Alex being hurt, but the words were undeniably tempting.
“Yes. Keep practicing.”
“I will.”
Because she never wanted to be prey again.
Guseuli rolled up and perched on her shoulder. Looking down at her first friend, Eluana suddenly remembered her second friend.
“What about Serus?”
“If we decode the magic circle, we might figure out why Serus was sealed. At least we’ll get a clue.”
“Then… can I take Serus with me? I’m the only one who can communicate with him. And it’s sad—he was trapped in there for hundreds of years. I want to introduce him to the friend I saw in that dream.”
They had said leaving the magic circle wouldn’t break the seal. So even if Serus turned out to be dangerous, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Though Eluana asked carefully, Kazhar answered without hesitation.
“I was hoping you’d take him. I suspect he’s connected to the imperial family. If they realize we’ve found him, they might try to move him again.”
“You think the imperial family is looking for him?”
“If the one who took him was Duke Spes, then even the imperial family might not be able to intervene. They’ll try, but still.”
“I’ll talk to the duke.”
Kazhar nodded lightly and stood up.
“Since you’re awake, I’ll go meet Lord Aden. I’ve already sent a steward, but there’s been no reply.”
“Why meet with the lord?”
“Almost a hundred assassins infiltrated this small territory. Do you really think the lord didn’t know? And there were signs they tried to lure Louie under the guise of sponsorship. That means there may be more collaborators within the castle.”
“As a sponsor?”
“Sir Alex handled it well. Regardless, I need to speak with him.”
Eluana closed her mouth tightly. The words “the lord is a good person” didn’t come out. Because she knew—if an unfamiliar person appeared, there was only one person in the territory who could hide a hundred assassins.
“I’m coming with you.”
Just as she answered, the door creaked open and she turned her head—pink hair came into view.
“Noona!”
“Miss!”
Louie and Ring burst into tears as they saw Eluana sitting up. Ssing entered behind them, choking up before clamping his mouth shut and running out.
“I’m fine. Really. I’m not hurt.”
Eluana tried to explain, but her voice was drowned out by the two wailing boys. They didn’t stop until Kazhar eventually told them, “Eluana needs rest,” and shooed them away.
When Ring finally left carrying the exhausted Louie, a maid came in to deliver a message.
“The lord requests your presence in the drawing room.”
The drawing room of Aden Castle was modest. Compared to the extravagant reception rooms of the duke’s residence, it seemed almost shabby. While Eluana glanced around, Kazhar sat casually on the sofa. Maybe it was just her imagination, but her ears felt muffled.
“They’ve got strong lungs, those two.”
Kazhar shook his head, exasperated. Louie and Ring’s crying still echoed in his ears. Sitting beside him, Eluana voiced her concern.
“Louie must’ve been really scared. I’m worried he’ll remember Aden as a bad place.”
“As long as you’re okay, he’ll be fine.”
He wasn’t just saying that—Kazhar truly believed it. It seemed to him that Louie’s entire world revolved around Eluana.
At first, he had doubts. But now he was sure.
“When did Ron Vita die?”
The question wasn’t a guess—Eluana flinched before her face went slack with resignation. There was no point hiding anything now that her identity as Cantio was exposed.
“He passed away in an accident a year ago.”
“So from then on, you’ve been both mom and dad.”
“I tried to be, but I think I fell short.”
No matter how hard she tried, there was no way she could fully make up for Stella and Ron’s roles.
“It’s not that you’re lacking. If anything, you’re too much. You were already his big sister. That’s more than enough.”
“But…”
“What kind of father was Ron Vita?”
Ron…
“He was the best dad.”
“And the Ron Vita you say was the best—did he never make mistakes?”
“That’s not it, but…”
“Exactly. So to Louie, you’re probably the best sister. That’s enough. You don’t have to overdo it trying to be a parent. Louie’s smart. He probably already knows you’re pushing yourself.”
Eluana stared at Kazhar.
“You know this is super awkward, right?”
“I know… I had a younger sibling too.”
“The Fifth Prince?”
“No. He wasn’t even acknowledged as a prince.”
Only then did Eluana realize that “had” meant the sibling was gone. Turning someone into a past tense—that was unbearably sad. Her heart ached already.
“I couldn’t protect him. That’s probably why I care so much about you and Louie.”
Kazhar had carried Eluana back unconscious, lost in thought the whole time—trying to understand why he was going so far.
There were many reasonable explanations. A debt owed to Cantio, gratitude for helping him escape the prison tower…
But none were enough to justify risking his life. Then he saw Louie cry—and remembered.
The child he couldn’t save. One just like that.
“Kazhar?”
Eluana called his name worriedly. His eyes had gone vacant again. Every time she saw that emptiness, her heart clenched.
What had Kazhar lost—and how much?
“How old are you?”
Surprised by the random question, Kazhar still answered honestly.
“Me? Fifteen.”
“Same here.”
When Kazhar gave her a puzzled look as if asking, “So what?”, Eluana beamed.
“Let’s be friends.”
A feeling like a feather tickled his chest. Kazhar averted his eyes slightly. But Eluana was satisfied—because the void in his blue eyes had vanished. Despite being just fifteen herself, he wore the weight of the world on his shoulders.
As Eluana smiled at him, Kazhar also glanced around the drawing room. Portraits of Aden lords lined one wall.
His gaze slowly moved across them—until it stopped.
“Something’s weird.”
“What is?”
“They don’t resemble each other at all.”
Sure, not all parents and children look alike, but this was too consistent. Every one of them looked entirely different. Eluana explained the mystery.
“Because they were adopted.”
“Huh?”
“The current Lord Aden was adopted.”
“Since when?”
“Always?”
Kazhar was stunned. In the strictly hereditary noble society, a line of adopted lords was unthinkable. Even in a remote, tiny domain like this, succession should’ve been hereditary.
“That’s just… really strange.”
“They don’t marry, so they don’t have heirs.”
“You’re saying every Lord Aden never married?”
“Yeah. So the imperial family sends a suitable heir. After a formal adoption process, they inherit the title.”
Eluana didn’t seem to realize how bizarre that was. Just as Kazhar was about to explain, voices came from outside—Alex and Laine.
“The lord must be here.”
Eluana moved to stand, but Kazhar held out a hand to stop her.
“Stay seated.”
“Huh? But isn’t his status higher than mine?”
“You’re with me.”
“Oh… okay.”
She didn’t know proper etiquette, so it was better to just do what Kazhar said. Eluana quietly sat back down as the lord entered through the arched doorway.
“I heard you were looking for me, Your Highness.”
The lord, with a kind face, bowed respectfully to Kazhar and then looked relieved upon seeing Eluana. His demeanor was natural—not exaggerated—and somehow made things more suspicious.
Kazhar wiped away all expression from his face and radiated pressure. The lord flinched.
“Lady Spes and I were attacked here in Aden.”
“Yes? Ah, yes. I heard. I’m relieved you’re unharmed.”
The lord bowed his head as he spoke.
“Are you truly relieved?”
“…Pardon?”
To ask a question like that in this situation…
Kazhar’s lips curled in a sharp, twisted smile.
