Episode 75

The first time Lian thought about breaking the pact was because of Melbrid.

[Brother, I like the Crown Princess so much.]

It was a confession his younger brother had made one day, blushing as he held Lian’s hand while they left the palace.

Melbrid had been the first person to make Lian experience the emotion of laughter. Unlike the other base feelings that had clouded Lian’s life, Melbrid’s innocent smile had brought him comfort.

He had always tried to fulfill his little brother’s desires, so when Melbrid expressed his feelings—his first and only desire—for Crown Princess Lothania, it became Lian’s greatest mission.

Melbrid didn’t outright demand anything; he merely confessed his innocent affection. But to Lian, from that moment on, ensuring Melbrid’s happiness became his top priority.

However, if Lothania became the next ruler and Melbrid the next serpent, it would be impossible to grant his brother’s wish.

And so, Lian began to contemplate how to break free from the shackles of the pact.

Every time he considered killing his master, murderous thoughts turned inward. The eagle and the dog’s suspicious glares were unrelenting.

When Lian sought someone who could kill the emperor for him, his eyes fell upon Bonita, who had always looked at Henry with a sense of longing.

Because Emperor Nerian often had his daughter, Melbrid, and Henry play together, Lian and Bonita crossed paths frequently.

Bonita detested him, and Lian had no particular interest in her. But one day, Lian caught a glimpse of the twisted motherly affection Bonita harbored for her son, who carried the blood of Luminal yet had to be content with the title of marquis.

Though Bonita loved her niece, Lothania, as a mother, she still yearned to provide something better for her own child. It was a small, weak feeling, one that would likely fade, leaving only a trace of envy, but Lian latched onto it.

He placed a subtle yet powerful curse upon her.

Slowly, the curse consumed Bonita, and by the following year, she was overwhelmed by an insatiable desire for what she and her son had been denied.

That desire passed to her husband, and together, they murdered the emperor.

If Lian had known Sione would come to Belpator, he would have done things differently.

If he had known what kind of person she was, or what his own feelings would become, he would have made a different plan.

Lian let out a bitter laugh as he mocked himself.

Would he really have done it differently?

It had been the most perfect way for the snake to kill its master.

But still, he regretted how he had dealt with Bonita. He should have handled that differently.

As Sione’s gaze kept wandering elsewhere, Lian felt a growing sense of urgency. He didn’t know how to deal with someone immune to threats, bribes, or lies.

He recalled how Sione had once berated him for letting a child go hungry, and even now, the memory brought a small, bitter smile to his face.

She was such a strange woman.

How could she have so much sympathy for others?

Lian couldn’t understand why she was so determined to protect Lothania with her life or why she grew so angry on behalf of Amy. He knew he would never understand it, even to the day he died.

What an odd woman.

Here he was, dying, yet she felt no sympathy for him.

He had done nothing to hurt Sione or her beloved Lothania, and yet she was constantly angry at him.

“Ugh…”

Lian rose from the sofa, rubbing his temples. As he reached into his pockets, he recalled handing Sione a painkiller earlier and walked to the drawer.

Inside were dozens of small bottles filled with yellow liquid.

He downed one of the bottles and tilted his head.

Had he miscalculated something? Or had the late duke somehow endured this state for nearly four years?

He really should have dealt with Bonita differently.

As he swallowed the bitter medicine, Lian felt something new—a feeling he had never truly experienced before: regret.

* * *

Even the sight of lush green trees could become tiring after a day or two.

I felt like I was losing my mind from staring at nothing but the forest.

Leaving the room meant dealing with Lian or his subordinates, which I loathed. Staying inside the room alone was driving me mad with boredom.

In the end, I summoned Amy, the girl Lian had placed as my hostage and maid.

She and Lian were the only ones I could talk to in this place, so I didn’t have many options.

Amy was still as timid as ever, though slightly better than on the first day. She appeared before me with her head bowed low.

“You called for me, my lady?”

“Amy, come sit down.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Without hesitation, she sat on the floor.

I quickly waved my hand and said, “Not on the floor. Sit here.”

Her eyes flickered with uncertainty as she glanced at the chair I indicated. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided it would be best to obey and cautiously sat across from me.

“Amy, how old are you?”

“I’m fifteen, my lady.”

I thought she was a bit younger because of her small frame.

At fifteen, she was old enough to have some understanding of the situation, which brought me a small sense of relief.

“Amy, do you know where we are? The name of the estate or town, perhaps?”

“I’m not sure, my lady. I came here by carriage from my village.”

“I see. What’s the name of your village?”

“My village is called Sisen, my lady.”

“Sisen village… Do you know who the lord of your village is?”

Amy shook her head with a worried expression.

It wasn’t surprising that someone from such a small village wouldn’t know. In the end, the only useful information I learned was that we were about an hour away from Sisen village.

“Amy, the day I arrived here, do you remember what time it was?”

“It was a little after three in the afternoon, my lady.”

I had been kidnapped from the palace around eleven, and we had arrived here by three. That meant this place wasn’t far from Brincia.

I hadn’t memorized all of Belpator’s geography yet, but a four-hour distance from the capital meant we had to be near a major city.

Despite the view of endless green forests outside the window, there were likely people not too far away.

“Amy, are you allowed to go outside?”

“No, my lady. There are dangerous men outside, riding in big carriages. And they said…”

Amy shuddered and whispered, “They said they’d kill me if I tried to escape.”

Evil bastards. They have no shame, even with a child.

I grasped Amy’s hand and spoke softly.

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen. If anyone bothers you, come tell me, alright?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Amy sniffled as she nodded, clearly still shaken. I couldn’t involve her in anything dangerous, and with the guards on high alert right now, it was too risky to act rashly.

But it seemed like there was regular movement to and from the outside. The mention of large carriages suggested they were likely bringing in supplies.

Could I somehow get close to the carriage? Maybe hide and escape?

My head was swirling with possibilities when Lian’s voice broke my thoughts.

“Oh dear, it seems I arrived a little too late, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, you’re in the way. Leave.”

Amy froze, caught between sitting and standing, trembling in fear, but I didn’t bother looking at Lian as I spoke.

He chuckled softly and replied, “If you agree to join me for dinner tonight, I’ll leave quietly, my lady.”

“Fine, now leave. I want to spend time with Amy.”

Lian smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

Just as he turned to go, an idea crossed my mind.

“Lian, do you have colored pencils? And paper?”

“Colored pencils and paper? Whatever for?”

“I told you, I’m spending time with Amy.”

It was a flimsy excuse, but I acted as if I wasn’t interested in his response, keeping my gaze elsewhere while sneaking glances at him.

I was hoping to send a note or letter outside if I couldn’t leave myself, but judging by the look in Lian’s eyes, he seemed to have caught on to my plan.

Expecting a refusal, I prepared to sigh, but to my surprise, he answered smoothly.

“I’ll bring them to you.”

Startled, I turned to look at him, and he flashed a smug smile.

“But I doubt you’ll be able to accomplish what you’re hoping for,” he added with a smirk.

Annoying bastard.

I clicked my tongue and turned my head away, making him laugh as he left the room.

Soon enough, one of his subordinates entered with a bundle of colored pencils and pristine sheets of paper.

It was the first time one of Lian’s subordinates had come to me directly. After he left, Amy, still trembling, told me that this man was one of the “scary ones.”

If he was one of those who went in and out of the estate, then he must be someone Lian trusted deeply. Sending him in must have been Lian’s way of warning me that he knew exactly what I was trying to do with Amy.

What an infuriating man.

Fine. I’ll just fold a paper airplane and send it flying out if I have to.