Chapter 116
In the urgency of the situation, she had completely forgotten about the Grand Duke.
The Winter Estate must be in absolute chaos by now.
After all, his granddaughter—whom he had entrusted to a physician—had vanished without a trace.
She needed to explain the situation to the Grand Duke as soon as possible. Only then would the commotion at the estate settle down.
With that thought, she sprang to her feet—but Lucas stopped her, letting out a sigh.
“It’s far too late.”
The demonic beasts had crossed the barrier at midnight, and they had only just managed to contain the aftermath. It was already deep into the early morning.
Normally, this would have been a quiet hour when everyone was asleep, but because of the string of incidents, the estate was as noisy as daytime.
“I’ll send word to the Winter Estate first,” Lucas continued. “Once it’s morning, we’ll go see His Grace.”
“Ah… is that really okay?” she asked hesitantly.
In response, Cishe also sighed and shook his head.
“It’s not a matter of whether it’s okay. I think we have to do it that way.”
“…?”
“You don’t look like you’re in good condition either.”
Cishe stared intently at her face, then grabbed her arm as she awkwardly stood there and pulled her along.
“We’ll handle cleaning up the situation. Don’t think about anything else—just get some sleep first.”
Do I really look that bad?
She certainly was tired. More than physical exhaustion, her mind felt worn down from one crisis after another.
Does that really show on my face?
As Cishe dragged her along, she glanced back at Lucas. He gave her a small smile and waved lightly.
It seemed Lucas had noticed her exhaustion too.
That’s strange. How can they tell?
Still dazed, she let Cishe lead her all the way to her room.
There was no one inside.
With the sudden return of the Crown Prince’s party throwing the estate into turmoil, Marina and the other maids were likely helping out over there.
I don’t even have the energy to wash up or change clothes.
Instead of calling for anyone, she chose to dive straight into bed.
The moment she lay down on the soft mattress, the fatigue she’d been holding back crashed over her all at once.
“At least stay lying down until morning,” Cishe said, pulling the blanket up to her chin and firmly reminding her.
At those words—so strangely familiar—she let out an involuntary chuckle.
That’s exactly what Grandfather says.
“You need more rest. Stay in bed for at least a day.”
“But I’m perfectly fine, and the barrier issue is urgent—”
“That’s why. Just one day. Stay in bed today, Danae.”
If she resembled the Grand Duke in appearance, then Cishe resembled him in temperament.
How can they be so alike when they’re not even related by blood?
Hugging the blanket, she looked up at Cishe with curiosity. He frowned slightly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just find it fascinating.”
“What is?”
“You and Grandfather. You’re similar in a lot of subtle ways, even though you’re not blood-related.”
Cishe didn’t seem particularly surprised. He’d probably heard that comparison many times before.
“Families tend to grow alike.”
“Really?”
“You spend time together, share the same experiences. Of course you end up resembling each other.”
If experiences shaped a person’s words and actions, then families—who shared those experiences—were bound to become alike.
Family…
She rolled the word around in her mouth a few times, then nodded.
“I suppose so. Lucas is a workaholic just like Grandfather too.”
“Well… that one might be innate,” Cishe replied.
As if recalling the two men who didn’t know the meaning of rest, he shrugged with a weary expression and let out a deep sigh.
“You’re reckless like Theon.”
“What? I’m reckless enough to be compared to Theon?”
“Sometimes it feels like you charge in without fear even more than he does.”
It was true that she’d been running around shouting ‘I’ll bring Asinov to ruin!’ and throwing herself into things.
To those who didn’t know her true objective, she must have looked utterly reckless.
“…Hmm. That actually makes me reflect a little.”
“Good. Reflect.”
It was a stern, firm tone that didn’t quite suit Cishe.
And yet, it felt oddly familiar…
“That just now—was that an impression of Lucas?”
When she burst out laughing, Cishe tapped her forehead lightly with a sulky look.
“Go to sleep.”
* * *
The rumor that the young Grand Duke of Asinov had awakened the soul of the legendary archmage Pamel—the founding ancestor of his house—and gained his power spread rapidly.
Lucas had ordered strict secrecy, but he couldn’t seal the mouths of outsiders like Prince Roaz and his entourage.
They immediately sent carrier pigeons to the capital with the astonishing, mysterious news. In just one day, the capital was buzzing with the story.
The revival of a legend who had slept for five hundred years.
Ever since the Empire unified the continent, it had been a long time since such a dramatic and captivating tale emerged. The public’s excitement was only natural.
But if one had to name the most uproarious place on the continent, it was undoubtedly the source of the rumor itself—the Winter Estate.
The servants, thrilled by the fact that they stood at the center of such an incredible legend, couldn’t gather in groups of more than two without chattering about the young Grand Duke and the archmage.
That excited atmosphere naturally reached even the quiet annex.
“They say the young Grand Duke has awakened the soul of Archmage Pamel.”
“Pamel… that man’s soul has awakened?”
“Yes. They say the audacious young Grand Duke is boasting that he’ll rebuild the unstable barrier with that power and block the demonic beasts’ invasion.”
Kana, who had been sitting at her vanity painting her lips red, set down her lipstick at the maid’s words.
“Is that certain?”
“So many people witnessed the light of the archmage rising over Devon that it’s impossible to count them all.”
“Oh?”
“And on top of that, the demonic beasts at the eastern gate were completely annihilated by some unknown magic…”
“All of them wiped out without even crossing the gate… Then the story must have leaked midway.”
“Could that also be the archmage’s doing?”
“Who else could it be? What a flamboyant way to announce his return.”
Though this was far from an ordinary conversation between a noble lady and her maid, none of the servants standing guard nearby questioned it.
They stood there with empty eyes, like toy soldiers.
“What should we do? If the archmage rebuilds the barrier, our forces won’t be able to cross the mountain range. Then our plan—”
“Yes, I know. To capture that mad king who abandoned his land and his people, we absolutely need an army. He’s insane, but strong.”
“If you wish…”
Despite the maid’s concern, Kana remained relaxed.
“My retainer, what is there to worry about? The vessel holding the archmage is but a fragile human.”
Kana glanced at the cup resting on her vanity, then casually swept it off with her hand.
“If you shatter a fragile vessel…”
The cup hit the floor with a loud crash, breaking apart as tea seeped through the scattered shards.
“The water inside spills out as well, doesn’t it?”
“You mean…”
“We should kill that child before the archmage rebuilds the barrier. Dealing with a single fragile human is nothing.”
The moment Kana said that, her left eye turned crimson.
“Oh? You like this plan too?”
Covering her left eye with her hand, Kana stared at her reflection in the mirror—as though looking at someone else.
“What nonsense. I’ve always kept your condition in mind. Demons are a race that honors its word. Unlike you humans, we don’t break promises so easily.”
Kana—no, Labellice, the demon who had tempted a greedy human and now wore her skin—lowered her hand from her eye and smiled languidly.
“If I can’t have it, I’d rather destroy everything. That was your condition, wasn’t it?”
As if responding, the crimson glow in her left eye deepened.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get to twist that child’s neck with your own hands. Our needs align perfectly right now.”
At Labellice’s assurance, the red light in her left eye faded instantly, returning to its original color.
The maid, who had silently watched her converse with the being inside her, cautiously stepped forward.
“My master. Do you have a plan?”
“A plan…”
At the question, Labellice lowered her gaze.
“Yes. I do.”
As she pictured the black-haired girl in her mind, Labellice soon smiled sweetly.
“I’ve just thought of a very entertaining plan.”
