Chapter 84
Bait (1)
As Aster’s expression grew increasingly distorted and grotesque, Lewis felt a chill run down his spine.
“This has to stop here.”
It was clear that if he failed to calm Aster’s emotions, which seemed on the verge of exploding, she would slaughter everything and everyone within reach.
Fortunately, he was a capable steward and had already prepared for such situations.
Taking a steady breath, Lewis spoke calmly.
“Your responsibility for the downfall of the Wires family lies with them. Could there be a better wedding gift than this?”
“A wedding… gift?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Above all, if Your Highness takes the lead in resolving this, you could make up for the first prince’s mistake.”
Lewis answered calmly, looking Aster squarely in the eyes, signaling that the decision was now hers.
Her boiling anger cooled into a cold calm.
If it was true that Genoyer was involved in this matter, the Sestein family could not escape responsibility either. If she realized that the Sesteins had a stake in the Wires family’s downfall, what would she do? Aster felt a sense of dread just thinking about it.
Yet Lewis was instead saying to capture them and offer them to her.
“Certainly… that justification is solid.”
Though it concerned the Sestein family, it was an incident from before he even became the head. While outsiders might lump them together, someone as sentimental as her would differentiate between the family and the crime.
Although the long detour was inconvenient, it was meaningless to take a shortcut if this issue remained unresolved.
Briefly resigning himself, Aster made up her mind and replied:
“Do as you say, sir. But I won’t wait long.”
“I will do my utmost to identify all involved.”
“And—let’s observe my brother’s situation a little longer before acting.”
Lewis’ pupils widened slightly. He had expected an order to investigate immediately, but now he was to merely observe.
“Now that I think about it, strange rumors about the Sestein family have started circulating a few days ago.”
Some servants, indifferent to external affairs, had been frequenting social circles and building connections. The rumors mainly spread among young nobles, so he hadn’t paid much attention…
Lewis then smiled gently, as if looking at a well-raised child.
“Do you already have a plan in mind?”
Aster scoffed, clearly amused.
“You must have underestimated me, sir. The time will soon be ripe. Until then, quietly observe.”
“Understood. I shall.”
Lewis smiled warmly.
“Let’s hope your brother bites the bait well.”
Aster’s grin, however, twisted eerily, in stark contrast to her words.
Inside an elite social club for high-ranking nobles,
A man bared his red-tinged golden eyes, muttering curses.
“Damn it. How dare that insignificant worm—”
How dare he! Trying to frame someone!
For the past three days, sinister rumors had been circulating in the capital:
That the former Duke of Sestein, who had gone to his villa for recuperation, was attacked while returning to his main residence and was now in critical condition.
Though people kept it quiet, many assumed that Genoyer, displaced from the heir position, had committed this malicious act.
“Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!”
Bang.
He slammed a drink with a light brown hue onto the table, veins bulging across the back of his hand.
“Shh—why are you so agitated?”
“…He’s here.”
“Ha ha, long time no see. Glad to see you, but what if your little sister catches you making this scene, Genoyer?”
“Shut up.”
Camilla, her red hair twisted up elegantly, sat across him with a captivating smile.
“Two years, right? Your face has changed a lot since I last saw you. The neighboring country didn’t treat you too well, did it?”
“That’s none of your business. Mind your own.”
“Ha ha. True, it isn’t. But—seems like you might need my help now, don’t you?”
Genoyer, in a black robe pulled tightly around him, sneered lightly.
“Why? Feeling sudden sympathy?”
“Perhaps. Maybe? Now that our positions have switched.”
Calming his excitement, Genoyer leaned back against the chair, smirking.
“Switched positions, huh? I don’t quite feel that way.”
“Well, if you want to act so relaxed, go ahead. I’m in no hurry.”
Their eyes, smiling yet sharp, seemed to pierce each other’s inner thoughts.
Camilla spoke first.
“You seem quite anxious? Ran here in a rush just because I called.”
Genoyer, expressionless, replied:
“I am anxious, yes. But I came because I could not refuse my only friend’s earnest request. You, however… really don’t understand my heart, Camilla.”
“Ha ha, creepy. What kind of ridiculous joke is that?”
“Why? You’re not excited?”
“Hmph. Maybe. Thinking about what you’ll do makes me a little so.”
A subtle crease appeared on Camilla’s delicate brow. But it was more reminiscent of nostalgia than displeasure.
Fourteen years ago.
To celebrate Genoyer’s 10th birthday, the Sestein household invited many nobles with children his age.
True to their avoidance of social parties, the venue was adorned with magic, befitting a renowned magical family.
It was so dazzling and mysterious that one could lose themselves just by looking.
The ceiling glittered with various magical flames, the walls wrapped in auroras, and the floor shimmered like waves of golden dust.
In the center of the hall, a red wine waterfall fell from the air, droplets floating as violet beads around it.
The hall itself was a work of art.
It felt like a world apart from the outside.
He didn’t care about his petty inferiority, stuck in his lair researching poisons.
Here, he was the heir of the prestigious Sestein family.
Meeting the children of the noble families for the first time, Genoyer was probably even more excited.
Especially the girl who spoke to him first.
“Hi.”
“…Hi.”
The chubby-cheeked girl smiled warmly, folding her big eyes into crescents.
Genoyer was momentarily captivated by her pure smile, as no one had ever smiled at him so openly.
“You’re Genoyer?”
“Yes. I… am Genoyer.”
“Wow. You’re really handsome.”
“Uh, th-thank you.”
Blushing, Genoyer nodded shyly. The girl wanted to talk with him, and he happily obliged, sitting side by side at the table.
Talking with her was delightful. Her laughter tickled his heart like birdsong.
Everything was perfect.
If not for the sudden intruder.
“Sorry. I have to go now.”
“Where… are you going?”
“Hehe. My friend wants to show me something, so I have to go.”
“…Friend?”
The girl left, hand in hand with the intruder. It happened so quickly that he couldn’t react.
At that moment—
Something inside Genoyer shattered, like a glass ornament breaking before he could even grasp it tightly.
Camilla had been observing the boy amidst the crowd of followers. She did not miss the moment his eyes, previously dazed, turned sharp and eerie.
“…Heh?”
As if discovering something amusing, Camilla followed the boy’s movements. He soon reunited with the girl and grabbed her wrist, disappearing somewhere with her.
“Wait a second.”
Shaking off her followers, Camilla slowly moved toward where the boy had gone.
She felt as if she were walking on feathers, her heart fluttering.
Something unexpected seemed to be happening back there.
“Quickly. Quickly.”
Arriving at the garden, her face lit with excitement, Camilla followed the path until she found the boy and girl in the most secluded corner.
The pretty girl seemed dazed, almost lifeless, like a puppet.
Camilla naturally approached Genoyer, curious.
“What are you doing?”
Startled, Genoyer answered:
“How did you get here?”
“Following you.”
“….”
“But what were you doing with her? Why is she standing still like that?”
Genoyer frowned and sighed. The girl, held by her wrist, swayed weakly like a delicate petal.
The sight seemed to amuse Camilla, and she smiled broadly.
“Tell me. I’ll keep your secret.”
Whispered like a devil’s whisper, Genoyer replied, resigned:
“I’m dreaming.”
“Huh? Dreaming?”
Camilla tilted her head in confusion, then shook it.
“Strange. If it’s a dream, why are your eyes open?”
“That’s because… I’m not truly asleep.”
Camilla frowned, glancing to the side. Confused, Genoyer met her gaze.
In that moment, their lifeless eyes met.
Without a word, they understood each other.
