When the second wife became pregnant, Baron Brix made Lila an offer.
If she abandoned Zark and married the man he chose, he would write a will naming Lila as his heir.
In other words, if she married Zark, Lila would get nothing.
“Why should I break up with the man I love because of the child that woman is having?”
The woman who had betrayed her mother and driven her to her death. That woman had stolen her mother’s place, and now her child was trying to steal what belonged to Lila.
“I can’t just sit back and let this happen, can I?”
So this time, Lila decided to strike first. She planned to take away the replacement heir from her father and the beloved child from her stepmother.
“There’s a medium named Ceres who is famous for this sort of thing.”
Even mediums had professional ethics they were supposed to uphold. For example, they were not to sell items laced with poisons or deadly curses.
Curses that caused minor inconveniences, like indigestion or losing small change, were acceptable, but anything beyond that was strictly prohibited.
Selling poisons or curses designed to kill or cause similar harm was punishable by death if discovered. However, where there was demand, there was always supply.
These mediums operated in secrecy, with no fixed residence. They moved across the empire, and only a select few knew where and when they would appear.
“At first, I wanted to buy a potion. But the medium recommended this ring instead. They said it could easily be disguised as a miscarriage.”
However, the ring’s appearance was far from suitable for a gift, and hiding it in the baroness’s room risked it being discovered by the maids during cleaning.
That’s when Lila suddenly thought of Judith’s candles. She could hide the ring inside a candle and present it as a congratulatory gift for the pregnancy, making it seem natural.
“I had Mr. Zark handle it because I was worried you’d suspect me if I ordered a cursed ring to be included in the gift myself. Even though it looks a bit cheap for a gift, saying it’s a sentimental keepsake makes it believable, doesn’t it?”
Indeed, it was convincing. If not for the sobbing sounds, Judith might have been completely fooled.
“I hate to say this, young lady, but I think you’ve been scammed.”
Judith desperately tried to stall for time. Once this conversation ended, only one outcome awaited her.
“What did you say?”
“The ring. Why do you think I tried to uncover the truth about it in the first place?”
Judith’s unexpected statement made Lila hesitate for a moment.
“Because it was suspicious?”
“Do you really think that’s all? I couldn’t sleep because of the constant crying from the spirit attached to the ring every night.”
Judith briefly explained the story behind the crying sounds. While Lila might want to handle the matter quietly, using the ring would make discretion impossible.
The spirit would wander around sobbing as it sought out a pregnant woman. If a miscarriage occurred after the sobbing sounds were heard, everyone would suspect the crying.
“I also brought in a medium. Do you think the baroness would just sit by and do nothing?”
The baroness would certainly try to uncover the source of the crying. While it might be difficult to find among all the items entering the estate daily, it wouldn’t be impossible.
If they found the ring inside the candle, they would call Judith, and of course, she wouldn’t hesitate for even a second to name Zark.
“If it weren’t for me, wouldn’t you be in quite the predicament yourself, young lady?”
So, let me go. Judith clasped her hands together, wearing her most pitiful expression.
“Hah, it seems this wasn’t worth the price.”
Lila furrowed her elegant brow deeply. It seemed the ring had cost her quite a hefty sum.
“Thanks for the information. But now that you know about my plan, Miss Harrington, I have no choice but to—ugh!”
“Lila!”
“Ahh!”
Just as Lila was calmly making her death threat, the carriage suddenly veered to the side, tilting dangerously as if it were about to overturn.
While Zark managed to catch Lila and keep her safe from hitting the carriage wall, Judith wasn’t as lucky and bumped her head and shoulder.
Though she wasn’t seriously injured, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment.
“Are you alright, Lila?”
Even though Zark had absorbed the full impact himself while protecting Lila, his first concern was her well-being.
“I’m fine. What about you?”
“This is nothing.”
Relieved, Zark and Lila embraced each other tightly.
“….….”
Hello, there’s another person here. Even if you’re planning to kill me, couldn’t you at least ask if I’m okay?
As Judith sulked silently, Zark picked up the sword lying at his feet and swung open the carriage door.
“What on earth is going on? What would’ve happened if the young lady had been hurt?”
Zark turned toward the coachman, shouting angrily, but then froze.
Through the open carriage door, standing in the middle of the desolate area, was a masked figure.
“Sir Erne!”
So, he really is a capable knight—how did he manage to track them all the way here?
Judith couldn’t remember a time when she was happier to see someone. She tried to get out of the carriage, but Zark stopped her.
But she wasn’t scared. Nor was she anxious. Zark, who hadn’t even been knighted, was no match for Erne.
But how had Erne managed to follow the carriage? Did he run all the way here? Through the gap between Zark’s arm blocking the carriage door, Judith caught a glimpse of a smirking horse. Where had he gotten that horse?
“And who are you?”
“The kid peeking out behind you’s….”
Husband? Roommate?
Erne hesitated, unsure of how to introduce himself. The truth was, after seeing Judith enter the Baron’s estate, he hadn’t been able to focus on anything else.
It felt like something was bound to happen. Whenever he had that feeling during missions or on the battlefield, it never failed—something always went wrong.
He had told himself that whatever happened to Judith wasn’t his concern. When she had been falsely accused of attempting to murder Cliff, he had only helped her because it was partly his fault.
But this time, it was a situation Judith had walked into on her own. If she decided to take the risk, then she should also bear the consequences.
Still, he couldn’t make himself leave. He had paced back and forth like an idiot until he saw Judith exit the Baron’s estate.
He was briefly relieved that nothing seemed wrong—until Zark led her into a carriage. From that moment on, he hadn’t hesitated. No, he hadn’t even had time to hesitate. His body had moved on its own.
“I asked who you are.”
The sound of Zark drawing his sword made Erne furrow his brows. Why is this guy always asking such pointless questions?
“Does it matter?”
It didn’t seem very important.
“Isn’t it obvious I’m here to rescue her? How are you a swordsman if you can’t even grasp the situation?”
Though Zark’s gleaming sword was pointed directly at Erne, he didn’t even bother to draw his own. It was a blatant sign of disrespect, as if to say, ‘I don’t need my sword to deal with you.’
“Zark, calm down.”
It was Lila who regained her composure first.
“Sir Erne… Are you that Sir Erne? I heard the entire Rainland family perished due to a curse.”
Though the lower half of Erne’s face was covered with black cloth, Lila recognized him without difficulty.
“So, the rumors were false. You’re clearly alive and well.”
“You know me?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t?”
Judith nodded. While Erne might have a terrible personality and later became embroiled in treason, he had once been a hero—the man who won a war everyone thought unwinnable.
Even if people didn’t know his face, they all knew his name.
“We met once at a royal banquet.”
“That’s all it took for you to recognize me?”
Lila responded with an exasperated tone.
“Blonde hair, green eyes, tall stature, standing firm even when faced with a sword—and most importantly, someone referred to as Sir Erne. Who else could it be but Erne Rainland?”
Ah. Both Judith and Erne silently acknowledged the clarity of her explanation. Erne briefly considered covering his hair in the future.
After a moment of hesitation, Zark sheathed his sword and looked at Lila. When Lila nodded, he stepped aside, clearing the way for Judith to leave the carriage.
“I’m no match for him.”
Judith stopped just as she was about to step out.
While Lila might be letting her go for now out of concern for Zark’s safety, would she really allow someone who knew her secret to walk away?
In that moment, an idea struck Judith.
tysm for the translations!