Tears welled up in Jane’s eyes again.
“Sob. Thank you. I really don’t know how to repay this kindness…”
“It’s fine. You can help by living quietly without attracting Countess Rachel’s attention. Why would she want to keep seeing the face of the mistress who had an affair with her ex-husband?”
“Is, is that so…”
“I still don’t understand. Why did the Countess not only treat your hand and provide you a place to stay but also tell you a way to get back at Theodore?”
Katie pouted.
“If it were me, I would never have done it. The Countess is too kind. Anyway, this will be the last time. I’ll change your bandages and be on my way. Where’s the medicine box?”
“Oh, I put it over here. Just a moment.”
Katie pushed aside the fumbling Jane and took out the medicine box. Though she was reluctant to treat the hand of the cheating woman, she didn’t want to neglect a task from Rachel.
Usually, the doctor who stayed in the forest took care of Jane’s hand. However, upon hearing that Theodore was coming to see Jane soon, Rachel sent Katie here directly.
‘She must mean for me to finish up everything here and leave.’
The cabin was silent as Katie re-bandaged Jane’s hand. Disliking Jane, Katie didn’t want to say anything to her, and Jane was wary of Katie’s gaze.
Nervously looking around, Jane found something in the medicine box and her face brightened. As soon as Katie finished bandaging, Jane quickly held out what she found in the medicine box.
“Uh, Katie. Please take this.”
“And what’s this?”
It was a pouch that made a clear, tinkling sound.
“It’s something Theodore was sending to the Fram estate. I took a few because I heard they were expensive, but I didn’t know what they were, so I just stuffed them in the medicine box and forgot about them.”
“Hmm.”
Katie accepted the pouch. Its contents were lighter than expected.
“I’ll take it for now.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“No need to thank me.”
As soon as it was confirmed to be nothing important, she would throw it into the fireplace and burn it.
Katie added coldly with her eyes instead of words and left Jane’s cabin without looking back.
* * *
Cian, wearing a cloak and mask, entered the guild. Moving smoothly through the bustling first floor, he climbed the narrow, steep stairs in the corner.
Reaching the top, he opened the office door and went inside. The modest guild master’s chair was empty.
“Unwavering loyalty to His Highness the Archduke.”
Cian turned his head towards the voice.
A man with long white hair neatly tied up knelt on one knee by the door, showing his respect.
“Hyzius.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to come.”
“I guess I’m not too late.”
“It is never too late for His Highness the Archduke to come.”
When Cian put down the documents and seal he’d brought with him on the desk, only then did Hyzius stand up. His white pupils focused on Cian.
“I’m glad you came.”
“You sent the guild’s seal, so of course, I had to come. Didn’t you send this so I’d come?”
“You’re right. I’m just thankful that you’re always fooled by my poor plans.”
As Cian laughed lightly, Hyzius spoke behind him.
“I’ve heard about the court meeting.”
“You’re quick.”
“Are you finally going to rebel against Sigar?”
“I find the term ‘rebel’ uncomfortable. I just don’t intend to lie down as I did before.”
“I’ve waited seven years. I can’t forgive the man who did that to your father. If you command it, I’ll cut off his head at any time.”
“Thank you, Hyzius. I’m sorry for making you worry so much when it’s none of your business.”
“It’s Your Highness’s matter. How could I not care?”
Blinding white hair, white eyes, and pale skin. Suffering from severe albinism, Hyzius was abandoned by his parents as a child due to his sinister appearance and lived a life worse than that of a slave.
The guild was a lifeline for Hyzius. Cian, who hid his eyes and hair like himself, easily accepted Hyzius.
Hyzius was deeply moved by the guild and Cian, who accepted him, and swore loyalty. He expressed his devotion with the fervor and tenacity of a beast.
Cian groomed the untamed Hyzius and placed him in the position of guild master. Hyzius willingly submitted, becoming Cian’s hands and feet.
“I’ve prepared something for when this day came.”
“What is it?”
Hyzius opened a secret safe in the wall and took out a pouch the size of a fist. The contents made a clear, tinkling sound as they moved inside.
Cian examined the contents taken from the pouch. It was a strange object resembling a thin glass rod.
“…What is this? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“These are the roots of the glass tree.”
“Glass tree?”
“It’s a very rare tree that might be found only once every hundred years. As you can see, it’s delicate and usually dies before fully growing, trampled by wild animals. I searched the entire empire to gather just that much.”
“Is that so.”
“If you steep the glass tree in warm water and drink it, it makes you feel good and helps you sleep. Herbalists call it the ‘Angel’s Lullaby.’”
Befitting its nickname, Angel’s Lullaby, the glass tree gave off a fragrant and cozy scent. When the sunlight illuminated it, a very beautiful rainbow was seen.
Hyzius’ expression hardened.
“It was also a gift from Sigar to the former Emperor Zeus.”
“…What?”
There was anger in Cian’s voice. He glared at the brightly shining object in front of him as if he were going to crush it at any moment.
Hyzius continued calmly.
“It’s not widely known, but the glass tree is actually a poison that leads to eternal sleep if taken over a long period of time. Because it’s rare, not many people have taken it in large quantities on a consistent basis.”
“How did you know that?”
“Those who have lived in the shadows like me know more about poison than herbalists who live in the sun. No poison can kill someone more quietly than this.”
“…”
“I’ve gathered every remaining piece, so it will be impossible to find this plant for the next hundred years.”
“Well done.”
“And.”
Hyzius opened another pouch from the safe. Inside was a pitch-black stick, as dark as an abyss.
“It’s the residue left over from the glass tree after brewing poison. Please know that the presence of this black glass tree means that the glass tree has been used as poison. I’ll keep this for you in case it arouses unnecessary suspicion.”
Cian nodded, collected the glass tree, and closed the pouch. His voice, boiling with anger toward Sigar, was colder than ever.
“Hyzius.”
Hyzius knelt on the floor, feeling a thrill from Cian’s voice full of murderous intent. He’d waited seven years for this day to come.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…”
Cian called but didn’t speak for a while, searching for the right words.
Besides his anger towards Sigar, he was also infuriated by Hyzius, who’d risked his life to gather so much of the glass tree.
It wouldn’t have been easy to gather. Sigar, wanting to ensure Zeus’ end, must have bought it all.
Most of the people Hyzius contacted must have also been in contact with Sigar. It was only a matter of time before Sigar noticed Hyzius’ existence.
“You could have died. Do you know that?”
Surprisingly, Hyzius laughed.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that much? I’m called the guild master, even if I am only your substitute.”
“I don’t want you to die.”
“You have no idea how ecstatic those words make me.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
Cian sighed briefly. He knew better than anyone how meaningless it was to tell Hyzius to stop.
While he was lying low, obedient to Sigar, those who followed him risked their lives to do what he should have done. It was frustrating and made him feel pathetic.
‘I should have decided sooner.’
After a short bout of regret, he collected himself. Regret was not an emotion that helped move forward.
“I’m sorry. My late decision made you do this.”
“I’d like to hear something else.”
Hyzius’ white eyes twinkled with laughter as if he was amused.
Cian smiled and answered.
“Thank you, Hyzius.”
“It’s thrilling. I’ve been waiting to hear those words.”
Now, the only thing left was to find evidence that Sigar had given this to Zeus.
* * *
Rachel sat in the parlor, staring intently at the item Katie brought. It was a thin, transparent glass rod.
‘I helped Jane because of my promise to Carl, but I never expected to get something like this. What is this? The man who seized the Fram estate’s assets the moment Count Fram died sent a valuable gift to the Fram Mansion?’
She couldn’t be sure if it was truly valuable.
Thinking it might be a piece of jewelry or an ornament, she took it to several large jewelry and ornament shops in the capital. However, no one knew what it was.
‘It’s really amazing. It smells sweet and makes me feel good just looking at it. Should I ask the guild to find out what it is?’
Thinking so, she deeply inhaled the sweet, languid scent from the object.
Just then, there was a knock, and Cian entered the parlor.
Rachel quickly put the item back into the pouch and stood up.
“Your Highness, you’re back already. It looks like practice is already over. Is Graham still practicing swordsmanship?”
Cian just stood there with a stern expression, holding the doorknob, and didn’t say anything.
Rachel tilted her head.
“Your Highness?”
“Don’t look at it. Don’t even smell it.”
“What?”
Thinking he must be referring to what was inside the pouch, Rachel lowered her gaze, but Cian, who had somehow approached without her noticing, snatched the pouch away from her.
“Where on earth did you get this?”
” Ah… I got it from Jane. She said it was an item that Theodore sent as a gift to the Fram Mansion, he told her it was valuable, so she secretly kept some away.”
Cian gritted his teeth as he opened the pouch and examined the items inside.
“These are the roots of the glass tree. It is a poison that, if you brew it consistently and drink it, will increase your sleep and eventually lead to death.”
“Po-poison?”
Good heavens.
So, that’s what Theodore sent as a valuable gift to his wife’s parents?
She was furious at what Theodore had done.
‘You scoundrel. You should be struck by lightning! No matter how much you didn’t love your wife. How, how can you do this…?’
She didn’t think her anger would go away until she buried the man in the mud. Her eyes felt hot, and her legs felt weak.
“Countess Rachel!”
Cian, startled, rushed over and caught the staggering Rachel by the waist.
