CHAPTER 11……………………………………….
– Cardia
“Elexena, that mischievous girl. Acting all serious when she wasn’t even planning to punish anyone.”
Panake snorted. Elexena had never once asked him to kill anyone, and Panake had never eaten a human in front of her. What they had just said was nothing more than a joke meant to scare the humans.
Elexena disliked insolent people. So she often crushed their spirit a little. That was all she was doing now.
The servant whose hair had been grabbed gasped for breath, barely able to breathe.
“I—I’m sorry…! I wasn’t ignoring the young lady’s words…!”
He panted and clung to Elexena’s pant leg. It seemed he decided begging a human was better than facing the terrifying monster bird.
“Oh? Then speak. What were you doing out here at this hour?”
“We—we were looking for you, my lady.”
“For me?”
“Yes, yes! The madam ordered us to find you quickly because you had disappeared.”
Elexena scanned him. A frightened, groveling face—but even then, his eyes were clearly darting around.
He’s pretending to be obedient, but he’s more afraid of Panake. Not even sure who his master is. Fool.
Elexena casually let go of his hair. The servant fell backward and crawled away on his elbows.
Should I escalate this further… or go meet Mother?
Elexena had brought Panake here on purpose.
First: to show off to Iglea.
As soon as Cardia’s body had awakened, Iglea had begun sending gifts and maids, planting her influence into every corner of her room. It was a threat—an intrusion into even her most private space.
But Elexena did not tolerate being ignored. Anyone who did so needed to be crushed.
So she brought Panake out in full view, to make it clear: Iglea’s intimidation meant nothing.
But now her mother wasn’t even here.
She was still thinking when hurried footsteps approached.
“Ah—my daughter! Where have you been?”
Iglea rushed in and embraced Elexena as if collapsing onto her. “Oh, my child… my dear daughter…” Her voice was tender and tearful. Her wet cheeks pressed against Elexena’s shoulder as she stroked her head gently.
“Ah—Mother.”
Elexena smiled faintly.
This won’t erase the smell of blood coming off you.
“Step away from Cardia.”
Panake spoke sharply, as if ready to attack. Iglea flinched, tightening her protective hold on Elexena and glaring at him.
“Y-you… who are you?”
“You don’t recognize me?”
Panake didn’t bother explaining.
His tusks showed faintly whenever he spoke. That alone proved what he was.
Iglea’s grip on Elexena tightened. Her body trembled violently.
Fear? No. Anger.
She was furious that her troublesome daughter had brought an uncontrollable ally into her domain.
As expected, Elexena smiled.
Showing Panake had been the second purpose: provocation.
“Mother, Panake is a friend I met by chance during a night walk.”
Elexena casually ran her fingers through Iglea’s hair, just as Iglea often did to her. From afar, it almost looked like a gentle daughter comforting her mother.
A night walk? A ridiculous lie.
Who comes back from a walk with torn clothes and injuries severe enough to keep a normal person in bed for a month? No one would believe it.
But no one dared refute her.
Because the legendary monster bird Panake stood behind her, eyes burning red.
“We talked and got along quite well, so we decided to stay together for a while. That’s fine, isn’t it?”
The more intelligent one was, the less they trusted what they saw. They assumed there must always be hidden pieces.
But what if the “piece” shown from the beginning was already beyond imagination?
She must be uneasy. Confused. Unable to predict what I’ve hidden.
Uncertainty eats at reason like a parasite.
Iglea slowly stepped back from Elexena’s embrace. Her tearful eyes turned cold.
“Do you know how worried I was when I heard you disappeared? And now you say… a friend?”
She slumped dramatically, as if she might faint.
Elexena clicked her tongue internally.
“You’re right. I should have informed you.”
She leaned in close, almost nose-to-nose.
“But where is Yutino? And why do I smell blood on you, Mother?”
It was a sharp, certain accusation.
Panake sniffed around Iglea.
Knights arrived late, drawing their swords, but none dared move.
“There is blood downstairs that matches her scent.”
Panake confirmed it.
Iglea bit her lip in defeat.
“Bring him.”
Her voice was cold.
Soon, Yutino was dragged up from the basement and dropped onto the floor.
He couldn’t even stand. His legs were covered in bruises and wounds.
So she really didn’t tell her anything.
Iglea said coldly:
“That girl refused to speak even though you disappeared. So I punished her.”
Elexena gently lifted Yutino’s head.
“Please calm yourself. I told her not to tell anyone.”
“Very well. But guards will watch you for a while.”
Iglea smiled thinly.
“I can’t afford to lose you again now that you’ve finally regained your sanity.”
“Of course.”
Elexena narrowed her eyes.
So this is a truce.
She lifted Yutino over her shoulder like a sack and headed back.
Inside the room, Elexena placed Yutino on the bed.
“Don’t move,” she ordered.
Yutino obediently lay still.
“Why didn’t you tell Mother? This wouldn’t have happened.”
Yutino hesitated.
“I… I am your maid, my lady. I would never betray you.”
Elexena was briefly speechless.
Should I call this foolish or pure?
Yutino belonged to Cardia—but was assigned by Iglea. Yet she was now loyal to Elexena.
“Stubborn fool.”
Tsk.
Elexena searched through the room.
There was an ointment Mother gave me somewhere…
She found it: a golden container filled with pale green salve. It smelled of bitter herbs.
Knock knock.
Panake tapped the window with his beak. Elexena opened it immediately.
He slipped inside. She handed him the ointment.
“Panake, I need your tears.”
“No need to apologize.”
He cried without hesitation.
Elexena closed the container and tossed it to Yutino.
“Mother gave this to me. With Panake’s tears, it will heal anything. Use it.”
Yutino smiled brightly, as if she had been given the world.
What an idiot.
Elexena turned her head away.
