Chapter 52
Even if he was the lord of a small, unremarkable territory, Kazhar hadn’t expected him to be this ignorant of proper etiquette. His posture and gait were awkward and slightly hunched.
Kazhar lowered his voice further.
“Nearly a hundred assassins infiltrated the castle. Some even disguised themselves as maids. Are you saying you didn’t notice any of it?”
“I apologize for not responding adequately. However, I have simply been fulfilling my contract with the Imperial family, Your Highness.”
At the mention of the contract with the Imperial family, Kazhar’s lips curled up. His gaze shifted to the portraits hanging behind the lord’s shoulders. Just how long had the Imperial family extended their reach into this tiny domain?
Kazhar made a casual guess.
“You mean the price of adoption.”
“Of course, Your Highness. I have never forgotten the grace of the Imperial family who chose me when I had nowhere else to go.”
“I’m starting to doubt how well you remember it.”
“That’s not true. It’s not even hard. What’s so difficult about living with eyes closed and ears shut? I’ve lived like I’m dead, not caring about anything that happens.”
So that was the condition of his adoption. Kazhar shifted the topic.
“What was your life like before adoption?”
“I lived in an orphanage in the capital. My original name was Moss.”
No surname. That meant he was a commoner orphan. Now his awkward posture and gait made sense.
“After the attack, I started to have some doubts.”
“Would I dare do such a thing? I believed it was best to pretend I knew nothing no matter what happened. I didn’t know Your Highness would be attacked. I assumed Lady Spes or her family was the target.”
Concern and guilt tinged the lord’s face. A hint of inner conflict, too.
“Good. I’ll explain everything to His Majesty.”
“Thank you. I will do my best not to cause the Emperor any distress.”
Realizing this was a deal with the Emperor made it even more interesting for Kazhar. Did this man even realize how many clues he had just let slip?
“You may go.”
The lord bowed slightly, then looked hesitantly at Eluana.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I still feel bad about not being able to help you during Prince Regis’s incident either.”
Having lightened his conscience with those words, the lord exited the drawing room with a much more relaxed expression. Eluana’s face twisted as he left.
“I didn’t know he was that kind of person.”
“Told you not to trust people too easily. Let’s head back.”
Kazhar left the drawing room first. Eluana glanced around the room once and then stepped out. Waiting outside, Lain and Alex immediately followed.
Mindful of potential eavesdropping, Eluana said nothing until they reached the guest room, where she sat down on the sofa. Contrary to her expectations, Kazhar didn’t sit. He remained standing.
“I’ll get going. Gotta escape before the Duke of Spes arrives.”
“The Duke is coming?”
Kazhar had heard that the Duke was rushing over as soon as he arrived at Aden Castle. Running into him here would be unwise.
“He’ll probably be here by tomorrow. Say something nice to him for me. If he has anything to say, tell him to come to the capital. Surely he wouldn’t kill a prince in the Imperial City, right?”
“You saved me, though.”
The statement puzzled Eluana.
“The Duke might not see it that way. Besides, just knowing your secret might make him want to get rid of me.”
“That won’t happen. I promise.”
Eluana said firmly. Instead of arguing, Kazhar simply said goodbye.
“Alright. I’m trusting you. Take care of yourself. Next time, let’s meet somewhere a little more normal.”
“Thanks for saving me.”
“Forget it. You should take responsibility for your own life. Practice using that iron marble more.”
“I will.”
Eluana nodded with determination, and Kazhar chuckled before exiting the room. He exchanged a few words with Alex, who was waiting outside, and then the hallway quieted again.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Eluana stared blankly at the ceiling. Only now, alone, did it truly sink in that she had survived. She had been dangerously close to death this time. Who knew how many more times she’d have to endure moments like that? On top of that, Kazhar had nearly died because of her. Just thinking about that moment made her fingertips tingle.
As if reacting to her turbulent emotions, the iron marble rolled across her shoulder.
“Yeah. Let’s practice.”
Just then, there was a knock, and the door opened. Ring entered, dragging a tray, her eyes swollen from crying.
“Where’s Louie?”
Eluana had assumed he’d come too, but there was no sign of him.
“He fell asleep. I’ll bring him food later when he wakes up. You should eat first.”
Just in time—Eluana was starving. She sat at the table and found a plain tomato stew sitting there. No bread, no meat.
“Start with the stew, or you might get an upset stomach.”
“I can eat more than that.”
“You haven’t eaten all day. The kitchen used nutritious ingredients and made it with care. If you feel okay after the stew, I’ll ask them to grill a steak.”
“Alright.”
Eluana agreed, licking her lips. She was hungry, but it was probably wise to follow Ring’s advice. If she ended up with an upset stomach now, Louie and Ring might cling to each other sobbing again.
Just as she placed the marble down and picked up the spoon, the iron ball rolled across the table and plopped right into the stew. Drops of tomato stew splashed onto the blanket, leaving red stains.
‘Ugh. I’m hungry…’
Even this plain stew had looked like a blessing, so Eluana felt a bit disheartened. She narrowed her eyes at the mischievous marble.
“Marble. Get out.”
It ignored her and kept rolling around in the stew bowl. Eluana had planned to just fish it out and eat the stew anyway, but now she looked like she might cry.
“I’m hungry…”
Focusing her thoughts, she levitated the marble out of the bowl. More stew splashed out, leaving even more red stains on the blanket.
‘Huh?’
Eluana blinked in disbelief.
The marble, which had entered the stew as usual, had turned black. Completely pitch-black. It dropped onto the table and rolled lifelessly.
“Marble!!!”
She shouted, but the ball returned to its usual color and spun in place, as if saying it was fine. Eluana froze.
A single hypothesis flashed in her mind.
“Was there poison in the stew?”
At her question, the marble rolled in a small circle. While Eluana watched it, stunned, Ring suddenly screamed with all her strength.
“Sir Knight! Sir Kniiiiight!!!”
Startled, Alex burst through the door.
“What happened?!”
“This! This, this right here!”
Unable to explain, Ring just pointed furiously at the stew. Eluana clarified.
“Can you check this stew? See if it’s poisoned.”
“Poison? What symptoms are you experiencing?”
Alex asked calmly.
“I haven’t eaten it yet. Just a suspicion.”
Relieved to hear that, Alex replied,
“All food served to you from outside is tested before consumption.”
“How?”
“We use a needle that reacts to 35 major poisons. If something still concerns you, we can retest it for rare toxins. It’ll take some time.”
“Okay.”
With Eluana’s permission, Alex carried the stew away. He returned shortly, said he’d handed it off to Singh, and stood by the door.
Meanwhile, Ring changed the soiled bedding and asked,
“Shall I make something else? It might not taste good, but—wait, the ingredients might be contaminated too. I’ll make something and taste it myself first.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just lie quietly until the results come back.”
She was still hungry, but her appetite had vanished. Besides, there really might have been poison in it—it was safer to wait.
‘Mom used to say you’ll be cursed if you mess with food…’
With her stew taken away, Eluana lay down again. Ring carefully tucked the blanket around her and wiped off the stew from the marble with great care.
Three hours later, Singh came in and said the stew had indeed been poisoned—then vanished again.
The search for the culprit was swift and quiet. From the chef who made the stew to the maid who brought the tray, everyone was questioned. The perpetrator was found anticlimactically: a kitchen assistant discovered dead in the storage room.
“From now on, I’ll taste everything first before you eat.”
Ring declared through her tears, while Alex came in from outside and stood guard inside the room. Other knights of the Spes Order stationed themselves in the corridor, ready for anything.
Everyone was on edge, except for Eluana, who simply lay in bed—hungry and bored, clutching the iron marble.
‘I almost died again.’
If not for the marble, she would’ve been poisoned. It spun gently in her hand.
‘Was it them again?’
She thought of Marquis Pegimul, whose face she had never seen. Then the Empress, another stranger. And finally, Regis—his face came to mind clearly. All three pillars of the Empire, all hoping for Eluana’s death.
‘Why? What did I even do?’
It was absurd. But the real issue was that something this absurd could easily happen again.
Eluana fidgeted on the bed, thinking about what to do next. She couldn’t just keep being on the receiving end. This time, she had been saved thanks to Kazhar and the marble. But luck wouldn’t last forever.
‘Mom… Dad…’
Looking up at the ceiling, she imagined the faces of Stella and Ron. What if they were here?
If Ron knew she had been attacked, he would have hugged her tightly, tears brimming in his eyes. Not with words like “you did well” or “thank goodness,” but with a gentle, comforting embrace.
And her mother, Stella, would have given her firm advice in a decisive tone.
“Of course. I knew it, Mom.”
I’m going to get rid of them all. Because I’m precious.
Eluana glanced toward Alex standing outside her door. His bloodshot eyes and messy hair were unlike his usual self, likely due to accumulated fatigue. And yet, his posture remained straight and firm.
Even with just a brief glance, Alex turned to look at her.
“Do you need anything, my lady?”
