Chapter 44
With a sharp, crisp sound, a branch of the World Tree pierced the white back of the maid. She couldn’t even scream and curled up, trembling uncontrollably. Regis had threatened her to hold back her screams.
Thwack, thwack.
The maid clenched her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth. Again, burning pain flared as drops of blood splattered.
“Mother was angry again today.”
The attendant standing stiffly nearby quickly said.
“It’s because she loves His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I know that too. She was eagerly waiting for the day I would become Crown Prince, but it got canceled. She must have been upset.”
Regis swung his arm again with all his might. The tip of the branch sliced through flesh. The maid trembled violently once more.
“I’ll be Crown Prince eventually anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it’s delayed, but the gossiping makes me feel dirty.”
“They’re all just people who’ll kneel at Your Highness’ feet anyway. You don’t need to worry about them.”
“That’s true, but…”
Regis swung his arm again.
Thwack.
“Kyah!”
The maid couldn’t hold it anymore and screamed, twisting her body. Her already disheveled hair tangled wildly.
“Hmph, I really don’t like this.”
Regis pressed his foot down on the maid’s back with mad eyes.
“What’s so hard about holding back your screams? Stop making noise.”
She held it well.
“Please… please save me.”
“You won’t die from this much hitting. She took seventeen lashes and didn’t die.”
“Please…”
“I wonder if she would have died if I hit eighteen times that day. I don’t know.”
Curious.
He quietly looked down at the moaning maid writhing at his feet. Her chestnut hair looked like a broom, which made him less eager to hit.
Swinging his arm with all his might again, the World Tree branch pierced the maid’s back once more. Watching the body sobbing and wriggling at his feet, he withdrew his foot.
Still no fun.
Regis handed the World Tree branch to the attendant. The blindfolded attendant quickly caught it and wiped the blood off the tip.
“Get rid of this one. Boring.”
“Shall I bring another one?”
“If possible, bring a blonde.”
“Yes.”
The attendant roughly grabbed the maid’s struggling arm and dragged her out. Left alone, Regis leaned back on the sofa.
“She was arrogant, but hitting her was satisfying.”
He recalled Eluana, who had acted stiffly and defiantly at the Duke’s mansion.
‘It’s today. She must be dead by now.’
Since Shabia had moved, she would be dead. Regis had never seen his cousin fail before.
“I suppose it’s okay if it fails.”
If this raid fails, openly raiding will be difficult for a while. Then the Empress would seriously push for that child to become Regis’s Crown Princess.
Once she’s his, he could do whatever he wanted.
Just thinking about that small body writhing at his feet, the pretty face grimacing in pain, and those provocative green eyes made his body heat up.
I’ll treat her gently, just enough so she doesn’t die. If she looks like she might, I’ll have a priest heal her. It won’t be difficult. Then I’ll have fun for a long time.
Regis licked his lips.
“Take it easy, big brother.”
At the sweet voice, he turned and saw Shabia. She had just come in without permission and sat down on the sofa.
“What’s going on?”
He asked sourly. Shabia took a small pouch from her bosom and shook it gently.
“This.”
Regis’s gloomy face instantly brightened.
“You really brought it?”
“Of course. I’m the only one who thinks about you, big brother.”
Smiling with narrowed eyes, Shabia handed over the pouch. Regis opened it and brightened further.
“Thank you.”
It was almost impossible for Regis to get something without the Empress knowing. That’s why he often relied on Shabia’s help.
“It’s a secret. If Her Majesty the Empress finds out, it will be a big problem. You know that, right?”
“Of course. I know.”
Despite usually finding Shabia annoying, he trusted her enough to ask for things “behind the Empress’s back.” Compared to his real sister who stayed locked up in the outer residence, Shabia was closer like a true sibling.
Shabia twisted her light purple hair around her finger and said,
“Don’t use too much at once.”
“I’ll only use it when my head is too cluttered. Don’t worry.”
“Your body is precious. You’re going to be the highest.”
Shabia’s sweet words gently eased Regis’s mood.
“Yeah. Eventually, that will happen.”
“Of course. Naturally. Big brother, then I’ll go back to the main residence.”
Smiling softly, Shabia stood and left the first outer residence where Regis stayed.
Unlike the royal family who couldn’t have rooms in the main residence unless they became Crown Prince, Shabia already had a room assigned. The Empress had given her one of her own quarters. It showed how much the Empress favored Shabia.
Shabia headed to her room in the main residence. Walking gracefully, she stopped before the second-floor entrance to the Empress’s quarters and told a waiting maid,
“Tell the Empress that I passed on what my brother said.”
After saying that, Shabia entered the inner quarters.
Regis had no idea, but everything Shabia secretly obtained for him was actually approved. The medicine she brought today was the same. Although it caused emotional and impulsive side effects, it was the best medicine for relieving anxiety, worry, and suspicion.
Opening the door assigned to Shabia, a strong lavender scent lingered. It was the highest grade lavender perfume distributed by the Spes Duke family. The demand exceeded supply, so there was a long wait to get it.
Shabia had waited a whole season to get it. But that wait was the last; once she became a duchess, she could stockpile it.
Shabia was nineteen years old. Though slightly late compared to the usual marriage age of eighteen to twenty, it didn’t matter.
Since debuting in society, she had steadily prepared to become a duchess. After earning the nickname Lavender Lady at the Flos Festival, she took for granted becoming the mistress of the Spes Duke family.
There was no alternative to the Spes Duke but her. Other young ladies who could be candidates had long been engaged to suitable partners.
She was the only one worthy of that position—wasn’t it fate?
Shabia gazed out the window. The sky was clear with not a cloud in sight. It was about time for the messenger bird to bring good news.
She tucked her violet hair behind her ear.
“Why is there no news yet?”
On the table lay the letter brought by the messenger bird an hour ago.
“Lured all Spes knights at Stage 2. Sent all to Aden Castle for Louis Vita Spes. Immediately deployed one second-generation specimen.”
Since then, no messenger birds had come. She had expected good news upon Regis’s return.
“Isn’t it past the time news should come?”
A maid approached and whispered.
“Maybe it’s their last desperate act. They seem tough to kill.”
“They really were tough.”
“Exactly. Usually, if Prince Regis catches you, it’s hard to survive.”
“Yeah. That child was lucky.”
It was sheer luck to be discovered by the Spes Duke. Even after falling into Regis’s hands, she hadn’t survived unscathed.
“But really, isn’t that child stupid? She planned up to Stage 5 to separate the Spes knights, but it all became useless.”
Aura users aren’t affected by Laplanfia, so Shabia had set a multi-step plan to separate them and Eluana.
Eluana sent all the knights to her brother, so the plan was all in vain.
What Cindy said about him loving his brother so much was true.
“Looks like she wanted to die quickly. How admirable.”
Just as Shabia was about to lift her teacup again, she saw the messenger bird flying in from the far western sky.
The maid exclaimed happily,
“The bird is back! It’s bringing a letter!”
“No, I’ll go.”
Shabia gracefully stood and went to the birdcage. The bird flew in quickly and pecked at the water. It looked exhausted from the long flight, pitifully so.
“Bring more feed. Looks like it’s hungry, poor thing.”
Shabia instructed the maid and reached into the cage. The large bird flapped its wings but didn’t shy away. It was a bird raised since childhood and loyal to Shabia.
Shabia untied the note tied to its ankle and smiled sweetly. But the moment she opened the letter, her fingertips trembled.
“One second-generation specimen dead. Prince Kazar involved. Pursuing. Target carries a stealth artifact.”
“What’s going on?”
Why is Prince Kazar involved here?
Shabia’s eyes sharpened. Killing that girl would be a loss after all. The second-generation specimen was carefully trained. The investment was astronomical.
“Maybe it makes sense if Prince Kazar dies too.”
The maid bringing the feed sensed something was wrong and stopped for a moment. Shabia calmly crumpled the letter and said,
“That child really has a tough life line.”
The maid swallowed nervously and cautiously asked,
“Is there a problem?”
“Prince Kazar intervened and handled Laplanfia.”
The maid shivered and asked worriedly,
“Wasn’t the 4th Prince supposed to be dead?”
“Exactly. He’s alive. And apparently fine. How did he detoxify Redfire?”
Surviving this long was impressive in a way. These days, the Empress seemed to care more about the 5th Prince favored by the Emperor, but Shabia wasn’t like that. She felt Prince Kazar would become the biggest obstacle over time.
Better to get rid of both at once.
“Bring me some stationery.”
As soon as she ordered, the maid promptly brought the paper. Satisfied by the swift response, Shabia wrote the letter without hesitation.
“Permit night deployment.”
After entrusting the letter to the maid, Shabia stood up.
“I think I’m getting a headache from worrying. Prepare a massage with perfume oil.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Watching the maid fold the letter for a moment, Shabia added,
“Handle that one. It brought bad news, so it deserves a punishment.”
Pointing at the bird, Shabia left the room, stepping lightly like a butterfly.
