Chapter 48
Lizbeth watched Ariel’s retreating figure and wondered.
Would it be all right not to tell her about Eden’s condition?
Of course, as long as Roa was stuck to Ariel’s side like glue, there was no way she could bring it up anyway.
Whatever the case, the answer had already been decided.
Lizbeth swallowed dryly.
It had already been a week since Elysia and Ariel stopped coming to the annex.
For the first three days, things were fine—at least Eden ate his meals.
But after those three days, Eden stopped eating. He spent all day lying by the door, sleeping on the floor.
Sometimes, if the door so much as creaked open, he would spring up as if possessed—even from a deep sleep.
And when he realized it was Lizbeth who had opened the door, his hollow eyes would flicker before he collapsed back down, falling into an uneasy slumber.
As the days went by, Lizbeth wrestled with the thought of reporting all this to Elysia.
But there were far too many eyes within the manor, and each time, she ended up shaking her head and pushing the thought aside.
Her steps felt heavier with every passing day.
Whenever she opened the door to bring food inside, her eyes would inevitably meet Eden’s.
Those eyes were devoid of life—like the eyes of the dead.
It was a look no child should ever have worn.
And worse, his neck bore red marks, as if someone had strangled him.
Ever since Lizbeth noticed those marks, she’d begun checking in on Eden more often.
Every time she did, Eden would bolt upright from his sleep, confirm who had come in, and then collapse again like a puppet with cut strings.
What if he dies like this?
Over the past week, Lizbeth had come to a painful realization:
Eden had been able to stay sane only because Elysia had been visiting him.
“When are they planning to come back…?”
Her voice was a whisper, heavy with dread, as her feet dragged across the floor.
Lizbeth feared two things—the thought of Eden dying, and the uncertainty of what might follow. Yet there was so little she could do.
Bon and the Viscountess of Aste climbed into the carriage. At least Bon still remembered his manners—he guided the Viscountess inside first, with practiced grace.
Elysia, who had been glaring at the two as if the sight disgusted her, finally spoke when the Viscountess was out of view.
“Bon. How many times do I have to tell you to fix that filthy habit of yours?”
“I said I was sorry. How long are you going to keep harping on it?”
A week had passed since Bon, in a fit of temper, had raised his hand against Ariel.
The two of them had rushed to prepare for departure as soon as they heard the news—before Elysia—that the Duke of Partin was returning soon.
Apparently, they didn’t want him finding out they had been pushing forward with Elysia’s marriage behind his back.
“Apologies mean nothing if you don’t change.”
“Tch.”
Bon clicked his tongue in open annoyance at her scolding.
Elysia was only a year younger than him, but she always acted like she was the adult in the room—and that grated on him more than anything.
“Maybe you should think about what Mother said.”
“There’s nothing to think about. Stop spouting nonsense and get going.”
Elysia jerked her chin toward the carriage. Her lofty attitude made Bon click his tongue again as he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
From inside came the Viscountess’s voice—probably chastising Bon for his temper.
The carriage rolled away.
Elysia stretched out her stiff body, her expression bright, like someone who had just cleared a troublesome task from her plate.
The farther the carriage went, the clearer Eden’s image became in her mind—Eden, wearing her clothes.
Maybe she should go check on him now.
Come to think of it, teaching him the game Bon had brought over didn’t sound like a bad idea either.
A smile tugged at Elysia’s lips.
Why hadn’t she thought of this sooner?
Of course—she usually tried to erase any memory connected to Bon, so it was only natural.
Thud—!
“?”
Just as she was about to set off for Eden, a deafening crash echoed from behind her.
The sound was loud enough to split her eardrums.
Startled, Elysia turned toward the source.
Far beyond, smoke rose between the dense trees, and birds scattered frantically into the sky—some, caught by fierce winds, plummeted helplessly to the ground.
Elysia narrowed her eyes.
That’s… where Eden’s annex is.
As she tried to process the situation, the shouts of knights reached her ears.
“Explosion!”
It seemed like there was only one blast; the area quickly fell silent again.
But Elysia’s heart was pounding like it would burst.
A sense of dread washed over her—no, not a sense. She knew. Something had happened to Eden.
The thunder of armored boots drowned out the sound of her racing heartbeat as knights sprinted past her.
Elysia started moving toward the annex at a measured pace.
But she didn’t get far before her small frame collided with a knight’s broad chest, sending her sprawling to the ground.
“My lady—Lady Elysia! There’s an intruder! Please, you must return to safety!”
The knight hastily lifted her up, alarm clear in his voice.
Elysia shook her head.
This wasn’t the work of an intruder.
Covered in dust, Elysia bit her lip hard. The sweltering heat offered her no mercy.
Sweat trickled down her jaw and splattered against the ground.
“Can you stand?”
Unlike the others who had rushed off, this knight stayed behind to protect her.
Meanwhile, some knights were evacuating the servants instead of heading toward the blast site.
Gradually, the surrounding clamor died down.
And then—another violent boom ripped through the air.
Elysia exhaled sharply, tasting grit between her teeth.
Branches and clods of earth flew in all directions. The knights who had charged ahead were flung aside like rag dolls, crashing to the ground.
Elysia stared, unblinking, at the chaos.
The knight before her stood firm, shielding her with his body.
Any other day, she might have scoffed at such theatrics—but right now, her status meant nothing to her.
“Eden…”
The choked whisper was softer than the wind.
Through the trees emerged a boy with dead eyes—Eden.
Elysia scrambled to rise.
“You can’t get close, my lady!”
The knight’s overzealous protection only restrained her.
His deep voice carried straight to Eden’s ears, making the boy turn his head toward the sound.
“Elysia.”
Ah.
The moment her name slipped from his lips, life flickered back into his eyes.
Hearing his voice made Elysia let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
But Eden’s condition… it was a miracle she didn’t scream.
“How… how did you get out—”
“My lady!”
“I’m fine, just let me—!”
The shackle that had bound Eden’s slender ankle was snapped, and where the choker should have been, his skin was raw and bleeding.
The choker itself was gone.
With trembling eyes, Elysia scanned his ruined state and arrived at a single, chilling thought.
He awakened…?
There was no other explanation.
Unseen to Elysia, mana shimmered faintly in the light, warping the air with chaotic energy.
But awakening… this early?
It was far too soon.
Panic etched across her face as she peered over the knight’s shoulder and locked eyes with Eden.
He didn’t even seem to notice the grotesque wound on his neck—only smiled brightly as he walked toward her.
Elysia shook her head violently.
Don’t come.
She mouthed the words to him.
But Eden tilted his head, uncomprehending.
That hideous neck wound stood out even more.
A cold dread spread through Elysia’s veins.
“There he is! Seize him!!!”
The knights, battered but not broken, lunged at Eden with murderous intent.
Elysia cried out desperately:
“Don’t hurt him! He’s just a child!”
“My lady! Please, listen to us!”
The knight lifted Elysia off the ground as she struggled to break free.
Meanwhile, Eden didn’t spare the approaching knights a single glance.
He only stretched his hand toward Elysia.
And then—warm droplets splattered across her face.
Blood.
The knight shielding her collapsed in a heap, and Elysia tumbled to the earth alongside him.
When she opened her eyes, it was night.
The world was still and shrouded in darkness.
Elysia lay in her own bedchamber.
Turning her head with effort, she saw Rachel slumped forward, fast asleep at her bedside.
Elysia stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to shake off the heavy fog in her mind.
The black expanse above felt like a mirror of her heart.
“My lady.”
Rachel’s voice snapped her back. The maid had sensed her waking and sat upright instantly.
Her gloomy expression only deepened Elysia’s unease.
“How long was I out?”
Elysia broke the silence first, her voice hoarse.
At that, Rachel shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
“You weren’t asleep, my lady.”
You fainted.
When the knight fell and Elysia struck her head against the ground, she’d blacked out cold.
Hearing the report of the carnage that followed, Rachel had felt the same despair she’d felt upon learning of Isabella’s illness.
“Do you have any idea how frightened I was…?”
Tears streamed freely down Rachel’s cheeks now, leaving Elysia looking stricken and helpless.
“What was that thing? The one that suddenly appeared and attacked you?!”
Rachel clutched at the sheets, her voice trembling.
Elysia immediately knew who she meant—and her face hardened.
“How is he? What happened to Eden?”
Her voice brimmed with raw worry, leaving Rachel momentarily speechless.
