Chapter 84……………………………….
: Arthur’s Secret Chamber
The underground prison of the imperial palace, where not a single ray of light entered.
The flames of the torches hanging on the wall flickered across Illeon’s face.
“By now, the entire Avalon must know that I’ve been imprisoned.”
Inside the iron bars, Illeon spoke in a languid voice with his eyes closed.
Anderson, who had been standing outside the cell watching him the whole time, widened his eyes.
“Let’s say that’s true. Even so, it won’t change your situation. The true emperor of Avalon is none other than His Grace, Duke Calypso.”
At Anderson’s words, Illeon leaned his head back and laughed.
“Didn’t I tell you already? That bastard only intends to destroy Avalon.”
Anderson didn’t believe a single word Illeon said.
How long had he known Dietrich?
From the time he was just a stable boy tending old, sick horses, to now as the Commander of the Imperial Knights who held the palace in his grasp.
Anderson had watched Dietrich grow from the very beginning until now.
Though sometimes—no, often—it was hard to know what Dietrich was thinking, not once had he ever said anything about destroying Avalon, let alone hinted at such a thing.
“Do you know of the Principality of Inata, that was destroyed by Avalon ten years ago? It was an ally of the Kingdom of Shan.”
At Illeon’s words, Anderson’s eyes narrowed faintly.
“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”
“…You truly know nothing.”
Illeon clicked his tongue. Twisting one corner of his mouth, he spoke.
“Do you know that the lord you serve is a prince of the Inata Principality?”
“You’re trying to deceive me again with snake-like words, but I will never fall for your lies.”
“It’s a pity—you can’t recognize the truth even when it’s told to you.”
Illeon slowly opened the eyes he had closed.
Behind his lids, blue eyes were revealed.
“The woman you call ‘my lady’ is a princess of Shan, and the master you serve is a prince of Inata. And yet, you mean to say you’ve been serving as an aide without knowing a thing?”
To Anderson, Illeon’s words made no sense at all.
“You’ve been deceived by Dietrich all this time. From the start, he only intended to use you. That’s why he never told you anything.”
The moment he heard the knight’s words, Dietrich hurried toward the mansion.
—The maid’s name is Elli. I heard that she originally served His Grace, Duke Calypso, but when she had nowhere else to go, His Majesty took her in…
Walking with his hand linked to Dietrich’s, Celia slowly blinked her eyes.
Ellie was the maid Dietrich had assigned to her when she first arrived at his estate.
—What is your relationship with my master? Are you… his lover?
She couldn’t see, but she remembered the maid’s strong wariness toward her—the maid who had drawn her bath.
No matter how she looked at it, that maid seemed to like Dietrich.
And now she had turned against him?
What on earth is going on?
As if reading her thoughts, Dietrich spoke.
“Ellie has been Illeon’s subordinate from the start.”
Celia’s eyes widened at his words.
“From the start?”
“Yes. She was on Illeon’s side from the moment she entered my estate. I didn’t consider her a threat, so I let her be. I thought it might be useful to see how she was reporting information about me back to Illeon.”
“…”
Celia looked at him.
Her unspoken gaze asked why, knowing she was Illeon’s subordinate, he had assigned the maid to her. Dietrich lowered his eyes as if ashamed.
“…Back then, I never thought we’d end up like this.”
Celia understood.
At the time Ellie was placed with her, her relationship with Dietrich had been vague at best.
Neither allies nor enemies—something undefined.
Even she hadn’t expected to become his lover.
Much less that they would one day bring down Avalon together.
Suddenly, Arthur came to her mind.
—In the most beautiful state… I’ll preserve you alive in my cage, together with your parrot.
Arthur, who had tried to assault her, had mentioned his parrot in a voice thick as a swamp.
Celia couldn’t simply leave behind Popo, the only parrot her late father had gifted her—the one Dietrich had found for her.
“Popo… that pervert must have it in Arthur’s palace.”
At her words, Dietrich nodded.
“Let’s go get it.”
Celia headed for Arthur’s secret chamber.
Her steps were heavy.
Walking alongside Dietrich, she paused at the entrance to catch her breath.
“…”
“You alright?”
Dietrich asked as if sensing her hesitation.
“Phew… it’s nothing. I’m just worried something happened to Popo.”
“Then I’ll go in first.”
Creeeak—
Dietrich pushed the door open.
A stale air pricked their noses.
At the very center of the chamber, inside a silver cage, was Popo.
“Popo!”
Celia cried out.
Flap!
The parrot, who had been preening its feathers, spread its wings and flapped frantically when it saw her.
“Celia! Celia!”
Recognizing its master, Popo greeted her joyfully.
Celia stepped closer to the cage, sighing in relief.
“Popo! You were here! Thank goodness you’re safe…”
The thought had haunted her—what if Arthur had done something cruel to Popo?
Arthur was the sort of man who would.
But fortunately, Popo was unharmed. Too unharmed, in fact—it was almost suspicious.
“Celia!”
Popo pecked insistently at the cage door.
Seeing how restless he seemed, Celia opened it.
Creeeak—
Flap!
The moment the door opened, Popo flew straight to her left shoulder.
“Celia!”
“Yes, it’s me, Popo.”
“Celiaaa!”
Overjoyed at seeing his master again, Popo kept calling her name.
“How have you been?”
Celia blinked.
“Oh dear, what am I saying. How could you be well in a place like this?”
Yet unexpectedly, Popo seemed in good condition—Arthur must have cared for him properly.
Celia stroked the parrot perched on her shoulder.
“You’ve kept your feathers so neat, Popo. I’m just glad you’re alive… You must’ve been so scared while I was gone, weren’t you?”
The parrot cooed contentedly, a low, rumbling sound.
Such a clever bird, kidnapped by that madman Arthur… He must’ve been terrified, especially since he was always timid.
Celia felt guilty as his owner.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Popo.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Popo soothed her. Celia raised her brows in surprise.
“When did you learn that?”
“Secret, secret, secret.”
“You’ve learned so many words… in such a short time.”
Startled, she soon smiled warmly and stroked his chin.
Again, Popo chirped happily.
“You’re a genius, Popo.”
“Genius, genius.”
Liking the word, Popo repeated it.
Celia chuckled softly, touching his beak.
“Good. Since nothing seems wrong, we should leave.”
Dietrich, scanning the chamber, spoke.
Arthur’s secret room was lined with framed butterflies collected from all over the world.
Not only that—there were tiny fairy-like creatures displayed on the walls, as if taxidermied. Each one, no bigger than a fingertip joint, was frozen in a different pose.
Arms raised, legs spread, backs turned but looking over their shoulders… Not a single one in the same position.
“….”
Dietrich frowned in disgust.
On another wall were luminescent flowers that glowed even as they wilted. Their stems had been removed, and their heads arranged to spell out Arthur.
“That bastard’s truly insane.”
At his curse, Popo, who was preening on Celia’s shoulder, shuddered.
“Insane bastard.”
“?”
“Insane bastard. Insane bastard.”
Repeating Dietrich’s words, Popo mimicked him.
“Insane bastard. Insane bastard.”
Startled, Celia tapped his beak.
“You mustn’t learn things like that, Popo.”
But Popo rebelled, shouting louder.
“Insane bastard! Insane bastard! Insane bastard!”
His head was pointed toward Dietrich.
“…Almost sounds like he’s talking to me.”
Dietrich narrowed his eyes at him.
Then Popo calmed down again, preening his feathers like a docile bird.
“Mm…”
Celia could sense how much stress Popo had endured in this strange place.
He had never been rebellious before.
“Celia. Celia.”
“?”
“I love you. I love you.”
Popo tapped her cheek with his beak.
The cold, hard beak pressed against her skin.
“I love you. I love you.”
Rubbing his beak against her cheek, Popo clung tightly.
For a moment, Celia wondered if this was his mating season.
Crimson-winged parrots were known to go through a mating cycle similar to humans.
And having been kidnapped during such a sensitive time… she felt even more guilty.
“…Let’s get out of here.”
She felt they needed to leave this chamber quickly.
If they stayed too long, even she might lose her sanity.
