Chapter 30
Zart signaled to the man in the coachman’s seat to start the carriage again.
He glanced at his lord’s gaunt face as he walked by his side, holding his arm, and then at his lord, who was freezing beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. If he tried to intervene, he’d have to ruin his training later.
***
Selene leaned on Barath’s arm and was the first to remove her uncomfortable shoes. It had been a long time since she’d worn heels, but still, she hadn’t expected to trip and sprain her ankle on a flat, empty floor.
– Selene stepped barefoot, and soon her shoes were visible through her dress.
She reached for the shoe, leaning on the strong arm she was holding, but the strong arm was jerked upward, followed by a low voice.
“Will you excuse me for a moment?”
Not understanding what he meant, she looked up to meet his eyes. He took her gaze as permission, slowly nodding and carefully removing his arm.
Then he bent down to pick up her shoes with one hand and moved his other arm around her waist and behind her knees.
From the moment Barath had pulled her close, Selene’s upset feelings had already started to melt away. Being in his arms, those feelings completely disappeared.
Feeling tense, she found the stability and strength in his arms quite attractive. The subtle woody scent he exuded made her feel warm, almost like being intoxicated.
Thoughts about the original Selene’s soul and the southwestern region faded away.
No matter how much she thought about it now, it would only cause more worry. She decided to sleep on it and think about it tomorrow.
Or maybe, was there really a need to think about it?
Couldn’t she just shamelessly live like this beside him?
She wanted to ignore the guilt that oddly rose in her for occupying this body by chance. Was it too bad to just live pretending to know nothing?
She had never tried to live virtuously. Could she just live wickedly?
They say one can understand the depths of water, but not the depths of a person’s heart. She didn’t even understand her own heart.
Selene decided to stop thinking, yet her mind kept wandering, making her shake her head slightly.
Barath, unaware that Selene had heard about Nephthys from Anna, was excited about having her sleep in his bed tonight.
This way, he could see her face all night and smell the sugary scent left in the morning.
The small witch in his arms, who kept thinking and shaking her head, seemed quite emotionally volatile and sometimes sensitive.
Sometimes she looked at the stars with eyes that seemed to understand the ways of the world, and other times she met his gaze with innocent, newborn-like eyes.
Today, she sent him seductive glances like a mature woman but soon ignored him as if indifferent.
Cold and indifferent at times, then softly starting conversations and grabbing his arm.
Overall, she was an unpredictable witch. It was amusing to watch her, yet it felt like his chest was tightening.
Soon, he heard another carriage approaching from behind.
Barath checked if Selene looked uncomfortable in his arms. He lowered his head to see her face, just as she looked up, meeting his gaze.
She blinked a few times and slowly looked away but didn’t turn her head.
Her white, smooth neck visibly swallowed, making his heart pound louder as his eyes focused on her lips.
Just then, the approaching carriage stopped loudly beside him.
The brief tension vanished instantly as both he and Selene took deep breaths, their chests rising and falling together.
Methyle stepped out of the carriage with elegant grace.
“Hello. May I serve you?”
Barath was about to tell her to leave, but Selene answered first.
“Thank you.”
Looking up at him, what could he say?
In the carriage back to the castle, Selene was the first to speak.
“Fortunately, I met you when my ankle was uncomfortable. Isn’t it quite late?”
Methyle smiled gently.
“The sun set early, but it isn’t that late. I was heading to the castle for an errand with Zart, and I’m lucky to have the honor of helping Her Highness.”
Selene smiled awkwardly at her words.
How could she speak so sweetly? Selene had never heard such flattering, endearing words, making her feel both embarrassed and pleased.
Barath disliked Methyle, who was smiling and chatting with Selene.
Just look at this. Because of her, he was pushed to the background in an instant.
How did she always show up at the right moment to ruin the atmosphere?
Her obliviousness was bothersome and annoying.
Methyle, seemingly very affectionate towards Selene, offered to help with her bath and bedtime.
“Then, since your ankle is uncomfortable, I will help you with your bath and prepare your bed.”
Barath, annoyed by the smiling maid, turned his gaze out the window.
He genuinely disliked the idea of Methyle Augustus becoming Selene’s maid in the castle.
***
Back at the inner castle, Barath opened all the windows and waited.
How long would it take Selene to bathe? When would the maid leave? She would surely want to come to his room because of her fear, but with her ankle, should he go fetch her?
While considering various scenarios, Zart arrived.
Upon entering, Zart immediately closed the windows, making Barath adjust his posture.
After securely closing the last window, Zart turned to face Barath directly.
“The Empress has placed spies in the north. She knew we acquired the Soul Circle and that we were chasing a witch.”
Listening to Zart’s words, Barath lay back down.
Frustrated, Zart clutched his chest and said.
“It’s only a matter of time before the Grand Duchess is revealed as a witch. Give the order. If you permit, I will go to the capital and kidnap the Crown Prince, whom the Empress dotes on.”
Barath smirked at Zart’s outrageous suggestion.
“Calm down. Didn’t you think the Empress wouldn’t place her only weakness next to her? With an appropriate excuse, the Crown Prince will arrive within ten days.”
Two days ago, upon hearing his sister talk about witches in the north, Barath sent a communication to the palace.
It read that the Empress, curious about her brother’s wife, visited Belias but caught a severe cold in the harsh northern weather and was on the verge of death.
Even while sick, she kept calling for her son, urging the Crown Prince to come and see his mother before it was too late.
The message was filled with lies from start to finish, pressuring the fourteen-year-old Crown Prince to rush to his mother’s side, implying he would be a terrible son otherwise.
What could he do? There was no proper excuse to summon the Crown Prince. The Emperor would likely come too, but there was no other choice.
Barath knew his sister’s true nature well and believed it would never change.
She was a relentless witch who had to get what she wanted, even if it meant cutting off the limbs of her opponent.
He had to prepare before she reached out to Selene.
He had to keep her only weakness within his reach.
That way, even if she learned Selene was a witch, she wouldn’t act rashly.
“It would be good to find that bandaged witch quickly, but secrecy is more important than speed. Make sure no more information reaches my sister.”
If Zart knew the contents of the message sent to the palace, he would have been shocked, but he had no way of knowing without being told.
He nodded visibly relieved. As he turned to leave, Barath stopped him.
“By the way, about Methyle. Your sister.”
Zart turned back to Barath, eyes wide.
“Didn’t she say she was sick? Is she fully recovered?”
Zart thought his lord couldn’t possibly be worried about his sister, but he nodded anyway.
Barath clicked his tongue lightly.
“Does she need more rest?”
Zart felt strange hearing these words.
Why was his lord saying such heartwarming things?
His precious little sister.
To Barath, like Selene. To the Emperor, like Chyntia. To the Empress, like the Crown Prince.
Methyle was Zart’s clear weakness.
She had recently recovered from a severe illness, and he was already concerned about her entering the castle too soon. His lord’s apparent concern touched her.
Had Barath, now in love, become more considerate?
He felt a warm smile forming.
He smiled and bowed to Barath before leaving the room.
“Thanks to your concern, she says she feels great. She says she enjoys her time with Her Highness and doesn’t need more rest. Sleep well.”
As soon as Zart closed the door quietly, Barath frowned. Why did he suddenly smile like that?
Anyway, wasn’t there a way to get rid of Methyle?
If only she hadn’t fully recovered, he could have used her illness as an excuse to send her away.
Tsk.
