Chapter 56
Shavia looked down at the golden beast trapped in the cage. She had been worried the monster-grade drug wouldn’t work—but this beast had understood her from the beginning.
‘So it really is a divine beast.’
The Golden Wolf, a creature of legend that appeared in the founding myths.
Now thought to be extinct, this divine beast falling into her hands felt like a sign from the heavens.
If she could tame and parade around with a Golden Wolf—famously raised by the first Duke of Spes—it would make the Spes ducal household impossible to ignore. The vassals would no doubt raise their voices, insisting the empty duchess’s seat be filled.
After all, they wouldn’t just sit by and let her enter another family with such a prized creature. Shavia gazed at the golden beast with the affection of someone staring at her own ticket to power.
“Administer the drug.”
At her curt command, the mage moved swiftly. As he activated the device installed at the front of the cage, the Golden Wolf began to howl. The sound of winding gears clanked, and when it stopped, a torrent of liquid poured down from above, soaking the beast.
The creature twisted in agony, letting out inhuman shrieks.
Its flesh burned. Bones shattered. Its very soul felt like it was being torn apart. What made it worse was that nothing actually melted—it meant this torture would happen again and again.
Despite the deafening howls, Shavia’s expression remained serene, as if listening to a soft piano melody. She waited until the beast’s frantic thrashing subsided before speaking sweetly.
“Administer another dose.”
At her ruthless order, the man activated the device again.
Just as the pain began to fade, it surged anew. The Golden Wolf thrashed violently, its bright yellow eyes glaring straight at Shavia.
“You shouldn’t look at your owner like that. Be good now.”
She offered her carrot with a soothing tone.
“Good beasts get rewards.”
Just then, as the Golden Wolf roared again, a robed woman approached and whispered something to the mage before walking away. The mage immediately relayed the message to Shavia.
“There’s been a report from Cindy. Eluana Vita Spes is heading to the capital.”
Assassination had failed. Poisoning had failed. That left only one thing—proximity.
“Then I should pay a visit. Could you send word to Brother Regis? He should know Eluana Vita Spes is in the capital.”
Smiling with narrowed eyes, Shavia rose from her seat.
***
“Why do I keep getting swept up by you?”
Kazar leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. He couldn’t understand it himself. While he did want the support of House Spes, it was still ridiculous to accept such a crazy plan.
Eluana, seated across from him, fluttered her lashes playfully.
“Because I’m pretty?”
“At least you’re aware you’re shameless.”
“Anyway, we’re going through with the plan. Got it?”
She drove the point home.
“Yeah, yeah.”
In truth, this only worked to Kazar’s benefit. He wasn’t in a position to turn it down, so going along with her was the wiser choice.
If things went according to plan, it would stir the entire social scene. Many nobles would withdraw or become cautious, and the Empress’s faction would naturally lose influence. While opposition to Kazar would likely intensify, that was his burden to bear.
With a resigned sigh, he asked,
“What’s your favorite flower?”
“Lavender? Honestly, that’s the only one I know.”
Kazar’s expression shifted slightly at the word lavender, but he said nothing.
“What about gemstones?”
“I saw them for the first time a few days ago. I had no idea what was what. My eyes almost rolled back—everything was so sparkly, so pretty, and so expensive.”
“Surely one must’ve caught your eye.”
“Dave helped me. I don’t even know the names of the ones I bought. I guess I’ll have to memorize them later, right?”
“Dave?”
Now who was that? Kazar’s mood began to sour, but Eluana quickly explained.
“Oh, Dave is the butler at the ducal estate. He knows a lot about gemstones. He told me not to speak formally to him. Thanks to him, picking was easier. Otherwise, I probably would’ve gotten ripped off again. That happened all the time back in Arden.”
Ah, the butler.
“I’ll handle the gemstones, then.”
Feeling oddly relieved, Kazar continued,
“By the way, about Serus’s sealing magic circle.”
“Yeah?”
Eluana leaned forward, clearly more interested in that than gems.
“I commissioned Mage Ceyron. It’s a mana-related sealing circle, but it’ll take some time to fully analyze.”
“When Serus arrives, I’ll ask if he knows anything useful.”
Serus was currently being transported by wagon to the Spes duchy. Since no one knew how the seal would react to teleportation—and the royal family couldn’t know—only Eluana’s group had returned via teleport gate.
In any case, she had relayed all her plans, and Kazar had agreed. Having completed her visit, Eluana pushed back her chair and stood.
“I should get going. If I’m late, Father will worry.”
“You call him Father now?”
“It was hard at first, but once I started, it just slipped out. If I called him ‘Duke’ again, I think he might cry.”
“I’d love to see that.”
Kazar stood as well and held out his hand. Realizing he meant to escort her, Eluana happily placed her hand in his.
His hand, brushing her fingertips, was warm. As they walked, Eluana whispered,
“Why do people walk holding hands like this? I was told it’s proper etiquette, but no one ever explained why.”
“Escort etiquette?”
“Yeah.”
Kazar had never thought about it either. It was just tradition. After a moment, he offered a guess.
“Maybe because the dress is heavy and hard to walk in?”
“But it’s not that heavy.”
Eluana tilted her head.
Sure, it was heavier than her casual clothes, but not enough to require help. A blacksmith’s hammer was ten times heavier.
Realizing he hadn’t explained well, Kazar added,
“Most noble ladies do find it heavy. All those layers of fabric…”
“I think I could run in it—though it’d be annoying. Noble ladies are really weak, huh?”
“You’re a noble lady too.”
“Right. I am.”
Eluana murmured like she’d just made a great discovery. Then she glanced up and saw Kazar smiling with his face turned away.
“Don’t laugh. I’m just not used to it yet. But Lady Renée is working hard. I’ll be shockingly graceful soon enough!”
“Who’s Lady Renée?”
“She teaches etiquette to me and Louis.”
That gentle greeting and perfect posture at the palace—it must’ve been her work. Kazar’s smile deepened.
“She must have her hands full.”
“Yeah, but I have top-tier potential!”
Eluana beamed.
“That compliment wasn’t meant to be used everywhere.”
“Well, if I don’t boost my self-esteem somehow, I’ll crash. I have no talent for etiquette.”
Grumbling, she stepped out of the parlor. Alex and the Spes knights followed silently.
Once outside, Eluana kept quiet, mindful of others watching. It became a quiet stroll. Just as they were about to exit the outer palace grounds—
“What’s this painting here?”
A voice she didn’t want to hear intruded.
“Brother. It’s been a while. A month, perhaps?”
Kazar greeted first, and Eluana dipped in a perfect curtsy. Lady Renée’s training shone again.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
She had expected to see Regis. If he knew she was in the capital, he’d come.
And as expected, here he was.
“You two look awfully cozy.”
Even as Regis mocked her, Eluana wasn’t afraid. Disgusted, yes—but not scared.
“I was attacked by assassins hired by some lunatics, you see. Prince Kazar saved me in that moment of crisis. We’ve bonded deeply ever since.”
“Lunatics?”
Regis repeated, dumbfounded. He likely suspected who was behind the attack, but her casual use of “lunatic” threw him off.
“Yes. Trash. Filthy waste. Should be buried in a pit or burned on a sunny day. Unfortunately, like cockroaches, they slipped away.”
Eluana smiled sweetly.
Her words, aimed at his mother and cousin, made Regis’s face flush with rage. But to lash out would be to admit guilt.
“I see.”
“Yes. I think it’s my role to dispose of that trash.”
“You’re right. Trash needs cleaning.”
Regis gave a perfunctory response, but couldn’t fully mask his irritation. Seeing it made him look almost pathetic.
Eluana turned to Kazar, ignoring Regis.
“Now that Prince Regis is here, I’ll take my leave. Please enjoy your time together.”
With a graceful bow, she passed Regis to Kazar and walked off. Alex and the knights followed, shielding her from Regis’s glare.
Good. That was natural.
Eluana walked with composure, but her heart was racing. She had dismissed him as pathetic, yet her body had still tensed up in his presence.
Still afraid of trash like him?
She was angry at herself. Trying not to show it, she walked in silence toward the waiting carriage. If Xing were here, she’d be getting an earful by now—but Alex remained silent.
Unable to bear the quiet, Eluana spoke first.
“When will Xing arrive?”
“At the pace of the supply wagon, it should take another week.”
Xing was in charge of transporting Serus. It had only been a few days, but she already missed them.
“Guess I got attached.”
Alex hesitated, as if to say something, then simply walked on.
