“Have you heard the news? The execution date for Roxis Cassian has been set!”
“Of course I have. This could be the end of the Cassian family.”
“They say they even bought and sold slaves at the black market?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if my friend was sold there. I heard he worked for the Duke of Cassian, but suddenly they stopped hearing from him. His family is worried.”
“Well, shouldn’t we report this somewhere for a proper investigation… Oh!”
As he ranted, he bumped shoulders with a woman standing in the center of the street.
The woman in a robe exuded a mysterious aura, causing the man, who was about to get angry, to inhale sharply and bow his head apologetically.
“I, I’m sorry, you’re blocking the way, so…”
Timidly apologizing, the man hurriedly resumed walking.
As the voices of the departing men faded, the woman in the robe muttered under her breath.
‘Disgusting.’
With a gaze full of disdain, as if there was filth on the shoulder that collided with hers, the woman’s violet eyes glared coldly.
“How dare you speak on the subject, you lowly worms.”
Normally, they were someone who couldn’t be spoken to or touched with a single finger.
The violet eyes hidden beneath the robe carried a cold and lifeless glint.
A familiar face entered her gleaming eyes, as if ready to tear the men apart at any moment.
“Milady, I have secured a room for you.”
The woman calmed her emotions as she looked at her loyal servant.
“It won’t be as noisy as last time, will it?”
“Yes, it’s quite worn out, but don’t worry about the noise. We’ll be arriving in Nartavan soon, so please bear with it a little longer.”
“Sigh… Well, I guess there’s no choice.”
Just as she was about to turn to leave, a strong gust of wind blew her robes off.
The woman’s purple hair fluttered about, and after a moment of panic, the butler put the robe back on her.
“Be careful, milady.”
The woman, or Liliana, clutched her robe tightly again and bit her lower lip.
She had been hiding as a fugitive for quite some time now. She had hoped her father would resolve the situation, but things were only getting worse.
He even allowed Roxis to be executed.
It wouldn’t be as easy as rescuing Yeffa this time.
If he wanted to save Roxis somehow, he would have prevented it before the execution date was set.
Not doing so would mean abandoning him.
“Let’s go.”
Liliana paced quickly, trying to calm her mixed feelings.
‘Yes, it’s my father and not someone else. He must have a plan.’
To turn the tables on the odds.
It was Duke Casiyan, and it was her father.
Turning the tables in unfavorable situations was his specialty. He was Duke Cassian, after all.
“This is the place, milady.”
Soon, the butler stopped in front of a ramshackle inn.
Liliana was stunned to see the inn even more run-down than before, but she had no energy to be angry, so she stepped inside.
“Milady!”
Cheniel was alone in the dining room on the first floor, preparing a meal.
Well, preparing was an overstatement; in reality, she was just setting down a lukewarm soup next to the stale bread brought from the kitchen.
Puzzled, Liliana looked around, but there was no sign of the innkeeper, let alone a guest.
“Was the place empty?”
Somehow, she could see why the butler had said old instead of noisy.
She wasn’t sure whether to be glad it was quiet or not because it was old and dirty.
Liliana threw off her dusty robe and ran a hand through her hair. She hadn’t washed it in days, so her hair was stiff.
“Food can wait. I need to wash first.”
“Oh, but there’s no running water, milady.”
“……what?”
Liliana looked at Cheniel’s apologetic reply, her mind reeling.
An inn with no running water!
“You took me to this shitty place…… Ha. Never mind, I’m going to get some sleep. Bring the food up to my room later.”
“Yes, understood!”
Watching Liliana disappear into the room on the second floor, Cheniel slumped into a chair.
Her eyes fell on the butler, who stood like a pillar.
“You’re quite the butler, but how long do we have to endure such uncomfortable living conditions?”
“I don’t know. I suppose the master will take care of it. You, complaining but not quitting is quite something.”
“Well, I’m…….”
Cheniel closed her eyes as if then smirked.
“She said she’s going to pay me well. Surely, the Duke of Cassian won’t fail, so she’s going to keep her word about paying me tenfold!”
“……Yes.”
Looking at the butler’s nervous reply, Cheniel asked with a smirk.
“But you seem to be very loyal, Butler.”
“I owe my life to my master, so no matter what, I will follow her orders to the end.”
“Wow……!”
Cheniel’s eyes widened in surprise.
As she seemed about to ask more questions, the butler urged her to focus on work and left the inn.
It was to gather more information, if possible.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Sure enough, once they began studying Raviette’s blood, they made some progress in creating an antidote for the poisonous beetles.
After the explanation, Raviette was shocked to realize that she had been poisoned.
It seemed that Marquis Thetman had not told her the full story, fearing for her safety.
However, Raviette quickly calmed down and graciously offered her blood.
Watching Marquis Thetman struggle and comfort her, I could keenly feel why Marquis Thetman was rumored to be a compassionate man.
“Your Highness, I have the medical herbs you requested.”
I was in the middle of researching a formula when one of the court physicians walked in.
He was perplexed looking at a mountain of medicinal herbs and tools and didn’t know where to put them.
“Oh, just put them right there by the door.”
I gestured vaguely towards the herb storage cabinet and focused on the formulas, but this time, Zenid’s voice interrupted.
“Your Highness, a report came in. The Emperor has left the Tishrit Palace.”
This time, I couldn’t brush it off lightly. I raised my head and looked at Zenid.
“Already today?”
“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince also finished preparing.”
“Good…… That’s good.”
The Emperor’s recovery had been rapid in recent days, and he was now able to walk like a normal person.
It was the result of the Empress’s unwavering support and the Emperor’s own efforts combined.
However, apart from the closest aides and the Emperor’s shadow escorts, the news of his recovery was not shared with others.
It was to catch the treacherous shadow.
‘If we do it right, we’ll be able to catch the man behind it once and for all.’
I had discreetly embedded a specific substance in all the shadows.
Then, I strictly ordered that no one should leave the Tishrit Palace, ensuring that loyal shadows would stay within the palace premises.
‘But if there’s a traitor among them, they would have tried to leak news of the Emperor’s recovery to the outside world.’
The substance I used was similar to what Countess Rivolain had used: an easily transferable substance.
Furthermore, I gave the shadows different colors and prohibited any meetings between them to prevent the substance from being transferred among them.
In such a situation, if a noble with traces of the substance is found, there would be no need for further investigation; they would likely be the mastermind.
The Duke of Cassian would probably be the most likely candidate, but he’s not the type to confront the Shadows directly due to the risks involved.
Therefore, today, we will be able to grasp the link between the traitor, the Duke, and the shadows.
Even if the spying was done in writing or through other means rather than in person, the traces of the substance would reveal the truth.
‘May there be no mistake.’
I flicked a glance in the direction of the meeting room where Julion would be, then returned my attention to the medicinal herbs.
Julion was doing his part, and I was doing mine. That was the best course of action at the moment.
‘By the way, the test results for the medicine made by Cassian’s apothecary should be out by now.’
I had made a reagent to analyze the medicine.
It had been a few days since I’d put the medicine in it, and now it was time for the results.
I finished up and walked over to the shelf where I kept the reagents.
‘Looks like the decomposition is complete.’
There were various types of medicines: those aiding blood generation, relieving coughs, soothing muscle pain, preventing hair loss…
As I examined each result, a sense of familiarity crept over me for some reason.
“This is…”
I hastily checked the other medicines as well. And then another, and another.
Zenid gently asked me, as my behavior was a little strange.
“Your Highness, is there something wrong?”
I put down the reagents I was holding and looked into Zenid’s eyes.
There was concern in her eyes. I hesitantly opened my mouth to speak.
