Chapter 16………………………………..
“A house pet with its teeth pulled out…?
Perenike mulled over the words Cardia had just uttered. Had that child really just said that?
In truth, Perenike hadn’t expected much when he summoned Cardia here. The Cardia he knew was worse than a worm.
Always stuttering, more ignorant than a five-year-old, a fool who grinned vacantly without a shred of dignity. Whenever that half-wit—his own granddaughter—was brought before him, anger would surge within him.
A pitiful thing, unworthy of even claiming to carry the bloodline of Wincedius. If he had known she would turn out like this, it would have been better if she had never been born.
So what if such a person had barely come to her senses? At best, she might stutter a little less.
Even so, he had called Cardia here because he wanted to cling to even the smallest hope. If she could at least hold a conversation, he wanted to teach her somehow and place the name of Wincedius in her hands.
No matter how ignorant his granddaughter was, it was still better than letting that vulgar bloodline take over Wincedius. That was the extent of his feelings.
But what was that look in her eyes?
Those eyes that seemed ready to devour everything—even her own grandfather!
“So the rumor… you were the one who spread it.”
Perenike felt his heart pounding violently. Cardia let out a faint smirk.
“You already know. Why ask?”
At the bold and arrogant reply, Perenike felt as if he might cry.
“My son was worthless, but my granddaughter… she’s something.”
He let out an exclamation.
Deep down, Perenike had always thought his son pathetic.
His son was weak by nature—shedding tears over trivial matters and whining at the slightest hardship. His achievements fell far short of Perenike’s expectations, and the only thing he had done right was marrying well.
Even that meant little, considering he had taken in a commoner woman immediately after his wife’s death.
“If only I had known, I would have devoted all my strength to raising you.”
Perenike clasped Cardia’s hands tightly.
His son was a disappointment, but this granddaughter who had come to her senses was different.
Her bold decisiveness, her confident attitude, the overwhelming pressure she exuded—she lacked nothing. She was a perfect vessel for a ‘Wincedius.’
To think he had failed to recognize such a child and let her live as a fool. Had he known, he would have sought out every priest long ago to awaken her mind.
“Grandfather, you dislike Iglea, don’t you?”
“Dislike? I despise her! That vulgar woman should never have been allowed into our family in the first place.”
Perenike’s voice rose noticeably. At their exchange, Callisto—who had been standing by—widened his eyes. He hadn’t expected such a conversation to take place in his presence.
Elexena glanced sideways at Callisto. At her silent cue, he lowered his gaze again.
Tap, tap. Lightly tapping the table, Elexena smiled faintly.
“I feel the same way.”
At her words, Perenike’s eyes curved with delight, deepening the wrinkles around them.
“What do you want from me?”
His wrinkled hand gently stroked hers. The contempt and disdain he had shown earlier had completely vanished.
“Help me take my revenge.”
The old man’s eyes widened—then quickly filled with joy. He was genuinely pleased by his granddaughter’s words.
“How do you wish to take revenge that you seek my help? The rumors say you even command Panake—what use could an old man like me be?”
Perenike burst into hearty laughter.
“I intend to repay everyone who humiliated this ‘Cardia Wincedius’ hundreds of times over for what I suffered. And for that, I need more than just power.”
True revenge.
When Cardia offered up her body, Elexena had promised her revenge—on those who had humiliated her, in the most dreadful and painful way possible.
She had thought about it constantly.
Listening to the servants, observing how the household functioned—what would hurt them most? How could she return everything Cardia had endured?
“And so, I intend to inherit the Duchy of Wincedius.”
That was her conclusion.
Of course, taking the duchy was only a means, not the end of her revenge—merely the first goal.
“Hahaha! And why do you think that’s revenge?”
Perenike smiled broadly, as if watching a child’s antics. He seemed genuinely happy that his granddaughter harbored ambition for Wincedius, though his gleaming eyes were as cunning as a serpent.
‘What a nasty old man.’
Elexena clicked her tongue inwardly.
“All of Iglea’s power comes from her position as the lady of the ducal house. So I plan to cut off her hands and feet—laying the foundation for my revenge.”
From everything she had heard, there was no better conclusion.
“But you’re engaged to the Crown Prince, aren’t you?” Perenike countered. “If you simply remain as you are, you’ll become part of the imperial family—and then the duchy would be beneath your feet.”
She had expected that question.
Surprisingly, Cardia was indeed engaged to the Crown Prince—though the man hadn’t even visited her once while she was bedridden.
Elexena had looked into this as well.
In her time, there had been no emperor.
Back then, heroes of divine blood roamed like flocks of sheep—defeating monsters, accomplishing great feats, and spreading their names across the continent. They built nations and established bloodlines.
Countless kingdoms. Endless wars.
Though Elexena had been among the strongest heroes, even she could not defeat all others at once. And what was impossible for her was impossible for the rest.
Thus, most ruled as kings—they could not call themselves emperors.
But now, an emperor? Someone who had unified all heroes?
It intrigued her—until it didn’t.
She sighed.
“The current imperial family is nothing more than a puppet. It has a name, but no power—pitiful, really. On the other hand, if I join the imperial family while Iglea still controls Wincedius, she gains the power of being an in-law to the throne. A win-win for her. So I cannot become part of the imperial family.”
“Exactly!”
Perenike grinned in satisfaction.
The first emperor had been powerful—but his descendants were not. Their glory had faded, and the imperial family had fallen into decline.
As she said, they were now mere puppets of the nobility.
“You’ve learned well, considering your circumstances.”
“Then now, it’s my turn to make a request.”
Elexena stood up abruptly. It was time to introduce her companion.
She flung open the window and placed her fingers in her mouth.
Fweeeet—Fweeeet—Fweeeet—
A single flap of Panake’s wings created a violent gust. Papers scattered, teacups crashed to the floor, and the once-quiet room descended into chaos.
The old man staggered, gripping the table—but his face shone with exhilaration.
Soon, Panake descended beside Elexena.
“You kept me waiting.”
“Sorry, my grandfather is rather strict.”
Elexena stroked Panake’s beak.
“So the rumors were true… Incredible. Truly…”
Perenike was overwhelmed with emotion.
Originally, she had brought Panake in case persuasion failed—but things had gone smoothly.
“Grandfather, I’m going to annul my engagement with the Crown Prince immediately.”
As the daughter of the god of death, Panake could traverse the paths of death, allowing instant travel across great distances.
“And so, please create a reason—any reason—for the engagement to be broken.”
“I understand. Leave it to me.”
Perenike patted her shoulder.
Marriage and annulment were normally decided by parents. To escape such matters, there were two methods:
One was to run away—a time-honored choice that often led to misfortune.
The other was to create an unavoidable reason—such as a divine oracle. If the gods forbade it, humans could not proceed.
And bribing priests was easy. With Panake, making it seem like divine will would be even easier.
“I’ll contact you again later.”
Even after the annulment, Perenike would have much to do—until she secured the duchy.
After that… he would no longer be needed.
“Let’s go to the imperial palace, Panake.”
Elexena climbed onto Panake’s back.
‘Ah… right.’
A sly smile spread across her face.
“Callisto, you’re coming too. You shouldn’t stray from my side.”
Now, it was time to get rid of that insolent knight as well.
