The Black Clock Tower of Cassian was famous.
Although it was a building included in the capital’s townhouses, it was open to outsiders, and ordinary people could enter as long as they paid money.
I went inside the clock tower first.
Since I couldn’t prove my noble status, I paid to enter as a commoner, but the man guarding the entrance looked at me curiously.
‘It’s rare for a commoner to come here.’
Busy with their daily lives, commoners rarely paid to explore places like this.
To avoid unnecessary suspicion, I strolled leisurely into the clock tower.
While doing so, I subtly released a sleeping scent.
They would probably fall asleep within a few minutes.
‘I mustn’t leave even the slightest ember.’
Anyone connected to Cassian, whoever they are, must be rendered incapacitated.
That’s why I took the initiative to find him.
The first step toward that was this clock tower.
“Zenid, are you ready?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Zenid nodded with a determined expression.
Luckily, there weren’t many people in the clock tower.
Leaving Zenid on the first floor, I ascended alone, spraying a transparent substance on the stairs on each floor.
It bubbled for a moment, then began to vaporize and dissolve into the air.
And so to the fifth floor.
Sixth floor.
Seventh floor.
Eighth floor.
Ninth floor.
When I got to the tenth floor,
“Huh? What’s happening here?”
“Ummm, why am I suddenly so sleepy…….”
People inside the tower began to have blurry eyes and collapsed to the floor.
Those still conscious tried to leave in a panic, but it was short-lived as they too succumbed to sleep.
The inside of the tower quickly became so quiet that one could hear ants crawling around.
I immediately proceeded with the next step.
To the place with a ventilation duct connected to the main mansion.
“Surely this is where…… found it.”
The reason I chose the clock tower as my first step. It was precisely because of this ventilation duct.
I poured the substance I had sprinkled on the stairs into the ventilation duct this time.
I then took out a pill, placed it in front of the vent, and lit it with a match.
The acrid smoke curled and sucked into the vent.
‘I’ll have to be nice to Zenid.’
She had her own work to do.
I descended the stairs briskly and exited the clock tower.
Then, confidently, I walked to the front of the mansion’s main gate.
Sure enough, the gatekeeper stood guard and looked at me curiously.
“What are you doing here? This is the esteemed Duke Cassian’s mansion. If you have no business here, please leave.”
Looking at the gatekeeper obstructing my path, I removed the hood of my robe.
“Open the gate. I’ve come to see my father.”
“What…?”
The mansion’s guard furrowed his brow and stared at me intently.
Even if he hadn’t seen me in person, he would have memorized my face from portraits, but he didn’t recognize me.
‘I’ve changed my hair color and come without any attendants; it’s understandable that he didn’t recognize me.’
I extended my arm, revealing a bracelet I had concealed inside my sleeve.
It was a bracelet with a mark proving that I’m a direct descendant of Cassian.
As the guard reluctantly inspected the bracelet with a puzzled expression, it didn’t take long for recognition to dawn in his eyes.
He quickly bowed and exclaimed,
“I-I apologize for not recognizing you!”
“Don’t make a fuss and open it immediately.”
“Yes, Milady!”
To assert a Cassian-like demeanor, I spoke brusquely, and the gatekeeper swiftly moved to open the door.
I heard him swallow hard as I passed by.
Judging by his demeanor, he still couldn’t guess who I was.
Passing by his confused face and stepping inside, I was greeted by a manicured garden.
Then a man blocked my way.
“Miss.”
It was Bvel, the butler, who had served the Duke of Cassian faithfully for so long.
He bowed to me with an expressionless face, as if he had known I was coming.
“The master awaits you.”
Bvel’s composed greeting felt uncomfortable to me.
Understandably so, considering how he had previously regarded me with disdain, as if I were a mere insignificant creature.
How he had ignored me from behind, claiming that the blood of a doomed country flowed in me.
But now, here he was, coming out to greet me like this.
‘What is he up to?’
I concealed my confusion and resumed my steps.
I could feel Bvel following close behind me.
“I never sent word that I was coming.”
“With all the commotion near the clock tower, how could one not know?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Ignoring my retort, Bvel merely nodded slightly without a change in expression.
“If that’s what you say, then it must be so, Miss.”
“Bvel, you used the wrong title. Shouldn’t you address me as Your Highness, the Crown Princess?”
“Umm… I’m just doing what my master tells me to do.”
What does that mean?
The Duke doesn’t know the contract between me and Julion.
So, he wouldn’t know that I’d concluded the contract and left.
Yet, he instructed Bvel to address me as “Miss.”
‘He truly plans to reveal everything soon.’
If I were to move against the Emperor’s position, it would be considered treason.
Whether the rebellion succeeds or fails, I won’t remain the Crown Princess any longer.
The Duke’s eyes are already anticipating that moment.
Lost in these thoughts, I found myself at the entrance to the mansion, passing through the garden.
As I attempted to enter, Bvel spoke.
“The master is in the back garden.”
“Back garden?”
“He is having a cup of tea with the guest who arrived first.”
Inviting me, then having refreshments with a guest?
With a wry smile, I redirected my steps towards the back garden.
But I couldn’t help the slight tremor in my step.
I braced myself to keep the tremor from showing, and I arrived at the back garden.
“Rohiriel, long time, no see.”
The Duke of Cassian’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through me.
Beside him sat a slender woman covered in a robe.
“What brings you here suddenly? What do you want?”
The tone contained an unparalleled sense of authority.
I found it so deeply disturbing that I couldn’t help but frown.
“You are the one…”
Struggling to answer calmly, I glanced briefly at the woman in the robe.
My heart continued to pound uncomfortably.
Turning my gaze back to the Duke, who was smiling faintly, I spoke.
“You sent an invitation to me, and yet you act so nonchalant.”
For a moment, it felt like flames were flickering in the air.
Perhaps it was because the Duke’s silver eyes burned with such intensity.
Instead of answering right away, he stared at me.
Then his smile deepened, and he spoke.
“It seems you’ve lost your manners, Rohiriel.”
“There are no manners for a murderer.”
“Well, fine. She is my daughter, so greet her. I’ve recently hired a very skilled apothecary, and I thought you two might get along well.”
The Duke’s gaze shifted from me to the woman sitting beside him.
I, too, took another look at her.
The water-blue strands of hair flowing outside the robe continually caught my attention.
Feeling my heartbeat irregularly pounding again, I slowly took a breath.
The scent of Seremone, blossoming fully in the garden, danced around my nostrils, permeating deep into my lungs.
Exhaling again, I lightly licked my dry lips.
“A skilled apothecary… you say.”
“That’s right. Greet her, Teveroka. This is my daughter, Rohiriel.”
Following the Duke’s words, the woman who had been sitting stood up.
She bowed with an awkward motion, as if she were not used to it.
“Teveroka, from the nomadic people of South…… Tangblaham, Milady, I’m…pleased to meet you.”
The moment I heard her soft voice, my heart, which had been beating ominously, surged violently.
A voice I longed to hear, even in my dreams.
A nostalgic voice I could never forget.
Just hearing it brought tears to my eyes…….
Then the wind blew.
A bitter winter wind from the north swept through the garden, rustling the leaves as it passed by.
The robe of the woman who called herself Teveroka was torn off, and her long hair whipped around her.
It was a hair with the same color as water, so vivid in her memory.
Even the pure white face peeking through it was too familiar.
Her aquamarine eyes, like gems set in blue, were so dearly missed.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I stared blankly at the woman before me, unable to find the right words.
“Mother…”
As my softly murmured voice reached her ears, the woman’s blue gaze locked onto me.
Her gaze, mirroring the image from my memories, showed no emotion.
I had already guessed it to some extent.
Still, I couldn’t help but be shocked. I bit my lower lip to steady myself.
Only then did the Duke, wearing a satisfied smile, speak lazily.
Thank you so much for translating❤️🥰