Chapter 26
“I don’t recall saying that. It must just be your personal impression, Tower Master.”
“It could’ve been a good opportunity to leave a favorable impression on Count Hirne and his wife.”
“Excuse me?”
“Mary will probably speak well of me to the Count and his wife, won’t she?”
There were three things wrong with that. First, the Count and his wife weren’t my real family. Second, there was no way Count Hirne would ever ask Mary about me. And third, even if they were my real family, Eon had no reason to win their favor.
“You don’t have to try so hard. Count Hirne would like you just fine even if you merely crossed paths.”
I brushed past the inconsistencies with a vague answer. I just wanted to go back to my room. Karina’s letter was calling to me from my left hand. But Eon didn’t seem inclined to let me go so easily.
“As a Marquis and Tower Master, I have no need to impress Count Hirne. But as a man who intends to stay by your side, it’s a different matter.”
“A man who’ll stay by my side?”
“Yes.”
I barely stopped myself from laughing aloud.
Was this a confession? Did he think I’d be pleased? I remembered how he’d acted at the boutique too.
Trying to keep my expression neutral, I replied,
“Tower Master, that sounded a lot like a confession. It’s easy to misunderstand.”
“It’s not a misunderstanding. It’s the truth.”
“The truth?”
“Yes.”
“…Are you confessing to me, then?”
“I am.”
The smile on his face and the confident tilt of his chin made him look like someone who had already won. Not like a man confessing his feelings, but a contestant certain of victory.
I stared at him. As expected, my gaze didn’t faze him. His calm expression after just confessing was unbelievable. I couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“Ha… a confession, huh.”
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“I didn’t expect you to say something so sudden.”
“Sudden…?”
Eon crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, polished shoes tapping idly.
“I didn’t realize you were so oblivious, Miss Selenia.”
“That makes it sound like you’ve been sending me signals all this time.”
“I have. Any woman with sense would’ve picked up on them.”
The only signals he’d given me were threats like “Do you want to die?” and “I’ll make you into one of them.” The ones through his maids were even more blatant.
“What signals are you referring to?”
“Bringing you here from the Count’s estate—that should’ve been proof enough.”
“You mean binding me with a subjugation contract?”
“Isn’t being unable to leave the other’s side the beginning of love and affection?”
“That’s not love or affection—that’s control and oppression.”
“I constantly watch over your thoughts and actions—”
“That’s obsession.”
Eon’s brow furrowed. My blunt responses were clearly irritating him.
“If you keep twisting my intentions, I’ll have to mention something childish. That room you’re staying in? I decorated it to your taste. I even gifted you clothes you’d like.”
I had no idea what made him think that room was to my taste, or that I’d like that outfit. Until a few years ago, I didn’t even have a concept of taste. At the Count’s estate, I never lived like a noble. His assumptions lacked any consideration.
‘If only he could actually read my mind—it’d make things easier.’
Objectively, Eon was a man with a marquis title and control of the Tower. Externally, he was incredibly handsome by Baynan’s standards. It was no wonder he believed someone like me should be thrilled by his attention.
‘Then he shouldn’t have taken me to the exhibit room.’
If he really wanted a normal relationship, he should’ve kept those horrific displays to himself. That’s common sense.
Which meant this so-called confession… was all lies.
“That’s unfortunate. The only signals I’ve received were the maid who tried to kill me, the one who got killed, and that awful exhibition of Sellys. You said you didn’t mean to, but you still called me ‘Selly’—wasn’t that your way of saying you’d add me to that room?”
A faint red light flickered in Eon’s eyes. I knew that was his anger.
“It was all for you, Miss Selenia.”
“For me?”
“Those weren’t signals. They were things I did for your sake.”
He sounded like a child refusing to lose an argument.
Continuing the conversation was pointless.
I stood up. As I did, Karina’s letter slipped from my grasp and fell to the floor. By the time I reached for it, Eon’s gaze had already fallen on it.
“Karina de Lemont.”
He read the name aloud. Hearing it from his lips felt like hearing a death sentence. I was too late. I crumpled the letter in my hand, hiding it away.
“A young lady recently knighted.”
Since it was rare for a woman to receive knighthood, Karina’s name had made waves in Baynan. It wasn’t strange that Eon remembered the Lemont family. But having her name etched in his memory like this felt dangerous.
“I’ll be going now. Since you so generously approved of the social gathering, I have much to prepare.”
I turned coolly, but my heart was pounding harder than ever.
Back in my room, I checked the lock several times. I pulled the curtains shut and glanced around, even though I knew I was alone. Only after confirming the room was mine and mine alone did I pull out Karina’s letter.
I’d gripped it so tightly that it was crumpled and even damp. I smoothed it carefully with both hands like ironing it, then opened it with a paper knife.
“Whew.”
Inside was a single folded sheet of white paper. I unfolded it and exhaled again, then—completely contradicting my earlier caution—read it all in one breath.
[To the Lady of House Hirne,
I am Captain Karina of the Military Police.
Forgive the abruptness—I’ll skip the pleasantries.
I’ve heard the details about Tara from her family.
Just as you surely have many questions, so do I.
If you receive this letter, please come to the Lemont estate.
I won’t specify a date, as I don’t know your circumstances.
I’ll be resting from duty for the next two weeks and staying at home. I’ll wait.
If you cannot come, leave a letter at the tavern in the shopping district.
Give it to the innkeeper—it’ll reach me.
Please stay safe.]
Only after reading the last period did I breathe properly again. Then I returned to the first line and read it once more.
Concise and dry. The handwriting was fast, unembellished. Nothing personal beyond instructions.
It had to be from Karina.
‘She suspects the Tower!’
In the original story, Karina had already begun investigating disappearances alone. But back then, she had no clues—and no idea Eon was involved.
‘Eitan must have explained things well.’
What a wretched person I was. Despite Tara’s death, I still felt hopeful after hearing from Karina.
Hope that I could escape Eon. That I might live.
Even with guilt weighing me down, I couldn’t suppress the fire that hope ignited in me.
The timing was perfect. I had confirmed Eon couldn’t read my thoughts. That meant I could move more freely.
And this time, the one making the plan was Karina—not a contracted extra like me, but the protagonist of this novel.
It felt like divine intervention.
‘I can’t act recklessly this time.’
I fought the urge to rush to the Lemont estate. I couldn’t ruin Karina’s plan.
I had to move as secretly and precisely as I possibly could.
