Erka has been extremely busy lately.
Firstly, because of the secret orders from the Crown Prince, and secondly, because she was searching everywhere for Crown Princess Rohiriel.
“So, the bottom line is that sister is busy because of the Crown Princess.”
Harkiel said softly, drawing a gentle curve with his lips.
Erka, with slightly more transparent pink eyes than Harkiel’s, smiled involuntarily despite feeling exhausted.
It was a far cry from the empty, dying eyes of the past.
Erka couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Harkiel, even though her body was exhausted.
“But I don’t feel any resentment. After all, they saved you like this.”
“Despite saying that, you seem to be sighing deeply.”
“Well, you know…”
Erka put down the documents she was reading and glanced out the window.
Outside, in the pitch-black darkness, trees swayed in various directions.
“I’m worried about Her Highness’s health.”
It was only after Rohiriel disappeared that Erka realized that her health was as fragile as a candle in the wind.
She wondered why the crown prince was so restless, but it was because she was not in good health.
“Moreover, Her Highness’s condition is worsening by the day.”
It felt like a relief not to participate in the icy noble meetings anymore.
It had been a week since she’d left their mansion in the capital and stayed at the villa in Nartavan.
She had come down immediately upon receiving the news that Liliana had arrived at Nartavan.
And today, she was waiting after receiving a message that Liliana had started taking action in earnest.
Liliana is completely caught in the trap.
“How is it that her highness knows everything and has ordered you to do this?”
Harkiel set down his teacup and smiled.
Erka nodded in agreement.
How could she have known there were such large Ned ores in the Nartavan springs?
Furthermore, how did she discover, identify, and take action against those Liliana had bribed?
Even hearing about the identity of the person who was planted next to Liliana, one had to marvel at their thoroughness.
The whole thing was a surprise.
It happened while the two siblings were engaging in a conversation.
“Countess, there’s a message for you.”
With a knock, the maid’s soft voice came.
Erka set down the pen he was holding and stood up slowly.
“Let’s go, Hark. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees you healthy.”
How surprised would she be if she saw the person she had destroyed in good health?
A cold smile tugged at the corners of Erka’s mouth.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Erka, along with Harkiel, led the knights they had prepared in advance towards the hot springs.
The Liliana Cassian they faced was much more disheveled than they remembered.
“You seem quite surprised. Have you been well all this time?”
Erka’s casual question made Liliana scowl.
Erka was on the verge of bursting out laughing at the sight of Liliana’s usually haughty chin trembling.
“Oh, you must not have been well. I asked such thoughtless questions.”
Erka gathered her eyebrows as if truly sorry, and then let out a small sigh.
“But, Liliana, this place is filled with toxins that cause terrible skin diseases. How could you go in and come out unharmed?”
“……Ratman. Explain immediately.”
Despite Erka’s sarcastic tone, Liliana only clenched her lips and didn’t respond; instead, she urged Ratman, standing beside her with a venomous expression, to explain.
Under the scrutiny, Ratman looked at Lilliana expressionlessly before moving.
“Give me an order.”
Ratman stopped in front of Erka.
He kneeled one knee on the ground and bowed deeply.
Watching this, Liliana gasped as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“How dare you betray me?”
Since when?
Unable to bear the overwhelming anger at the betrayal of her closest servant, Liliana couldn’t contain herself.
But Ratman, looking at her with cold eyes, scoffed.
“Don’t delude yourself. You were never my master from the beginning. I was merely following orders to serve you.”
“Are you saying you were a spy for Rivolain?”
It was shocking. She had thought that a powerless young woman becoming a lady posed no threat at all.
‘When? When did this happen? Me, fooled by someone like Erka?’
Ratman shook his head at Liliana’s confusion.
“No, I will serve House Rivolain from this moment on. It’s Milady’s command.”
Baffled, Liliana blinked her eyes at Ratman’s words, unable to fully comprehend.
So Ratman wasn’t even her servant or part of the Rivolain family from the start.
Who is his true master, whom he refers to as “milady”?
Liliana gritted her teeth at the thought.
“Rohiriel, you’re not going to get away with this……!”
It had been many years since Ratman had come to her side.
Because he had been such a faithful servant for so long, Liliana never even imagined it.
‘Was I played by Rohiriel from the beginning?’
She trembled with anger, her eyelids quivering.
Even so, in her desperation to find a way to escape, Liliana searched everywhere for a means of escape.
‘I’m completely trapped…!’
The surroundings were filled with Rivolain knights.
A sense of despair crept up on her.
Seeing Liliana’s face becoming increasingly anxious, Erka spoke.
“Arrest her. Send her to the palace.”
“Wait!”
Liliana cried out urgently at Erka’s order.
Though the atmosphere seemed like the knights would forcefully drag her away at any moment, Erka raised her hand to stop them.
“This is your last chance. Now, say what you want to say.”
Liliana moistened her parched lips and spoke.
“Your brother. I’ll save him.”
“……Harkiel?”
“Yeah, he’s still not well. It seems Rohiriel provided some assistance, but since he couldn’t show up at official events, it seems he’s not fully recovered. Right?”
Erka barely restrained herself from bursting into laughter.
Rohiriel had told her to keep Harkiel’s return to full health as secret as possible.
She’d wondered why since Liliana was now a fugitive, but now she knew for sure.
Erka tried to look as troubled as possible as she retorted,
“How could you possibly save him? The physician said it’s not an ordinary illness.”
“I see, he’s not yet cured. Let me help you, Erka. I know the poison very well, and I know how to cure it, so let me go.”
“You know it well? How?”
Liliana had vehemently denied any connection between herself and Harkiel’s illness.
As a result, Erka, who blamed her, was isolated from the social circle.
Even though Harkiel was cured and Liliana was captured, Erka felt a sense of injustice.
‘But I never thought that her highness would resolve even this injustice.’
She had thought she would have to carry it to her grave.
Thanks to Rohiriel, she might be able to extract Liliana’s confession.
Erka gave a wry laugh, as if exasperated, at Liliana’s silence.
“You’re lying, aren’t you? How can you tell a lie every time you open your mouth?”
“… It’s true. I know it well. There’s no one who knows better than me.”
“So, what exactly do you claim to know? Even the physicians couldn’t figure out the treatment.”
As Erka raised her voice, Liliana clenched her wet clothes.
She didn’t think she would easily believe her.
However, seeing Erka’s interest, she felt that if she could convince her that she knew the treatment method for sure, there might be a way out.
‘Furthermore, there are only Rivolain knights here, so their effectiveness as witnesses is weak.’
If she later claimed that she never said such a thing, she could say that the Rivolain’s are scheming against her.
In the end, after much deliberation, Liliana spoke up.
“I… It’s a poison I developed with my personal apothecary.”
Finally.
Erka felt an indescribable joy inwardly.
Liliana may have been planning to change her story later, but there weren’t only Rivolain knights here.
‘Did her highness foresee even this, commanding to take some of the royal knights with us…’
Could it be that she had anticipated even this and made such a statement?
If she were here now, Erka would have wanted to ask her right away.
Gripping her fist tighter, Erka coldly stared at Liliana.
“Explain clearly. You made the poison? So, did you deliberately cause Harkiel’s skin disease?”
“I just… I just wanted to play a little prank. I never expected such dire consequences. I’m sorry, Erka.”
“And you call that an excuse…!”
“But we were friends, weren’t we? We were close friends. Right?”
“Making your friend’s brother sick and acting so shamelessly…”
“…So, you’ll accept my proposal, won’t you? You’ll say yes to my offer to save him. Then it’s settled, right?”
Despite Erka’s sharp reaction, Liliana raised her head defiantly.
After all, Erka was someone who couldn’t refuse a request from her brother.
Surely, even if she were angry, she would still take a hand to save Harkiel.
Or so she thought.
“No, I don’t need your help. It’s filthy and disgusting.”
Erka firmly shook her head.
Liliana’s eyes filled with doubt.
“I said I could treat him. I made the poison. I can cure him.”
“I said I don’t need it.”
“You’re just asserting your pride, aren’t you? Is your pride more important than your brother’s life? I never thought of you that way, Erka. You’re truly selfish.”
Despite Liliana’s sarcasm, Erka remained steadfast and unmoved.
As her heart sank with increasing unease, Erka spoke.
“Harkiel has been healthy for a long time.”
“……what?”
“Say hello, Harkiel. She’s the culprit who made you sick.”
