Episode 44

Some elders were staying in the annex, keeping an eye on the situation in the main fortress. Among them was Balzac.

Balzac looked at Ivan, who was standing in front of him. His son, who hadn’t contacted him in a while, seemed even more frivolous than before. Naturally, Balzac frowned, and Ivan complained with a sullen face.

“How long are you going to stay here? Because of you, Zerakiel’s harassment has become even worse than before!”

“If you kept your mouth shut, half of that harassment would disappear.”

“You might as well tell me to die.”

It was clear that Ivan had no intention of stopping his constant chatter. Balzac sighed deeply.

“At this old age, what was I thinking having a child so late in life.”

“Asking me won’t give you an answer.”

“I thought this time it would be a daughter…!”

“I can be a son like a daughter, if you’d like? Daddy?”

Ivan said with a creepy tone, trying to act cute. Balzac shuddered with goosebumps and shouted angrily.

“Stop saying such disgusting things!”

Ivan grumbled, then swept his hair behind his ears with a pouty expression. Balzac watched this bizarre scene and sighed heavily.

“So, what do you think of that girl, Cersia?”

“What about her?”

“Isn’t it absurd to take someone of unknown origin as the mistress?”

“So, you’re saying you’ve already investigated her background.”

“Do you think I would sit idly by?”

Balzac scoffed. As soon as he received a letter from the main fortress, he traced Cersia’s origins. But he found nothing.

“It’s as if she just appeared out of nowhere, completely clean.”

“That means she was abandoned without even a birth registration. Fortunately, this gives us plenty of reasons to dispute any future claims of ownership.”

“You’re worrying about nothing. There’s no reason to bring that girl here, even if it means opposing Jabisi.”

He spoke, thinking that there must have been something special about Cersia for her to be abandoned. But that was before he knew much about her. Ivan muttered coldly.

“Well, we’ll see. Time will tell.”

Ivan already knew that Cersia had two types of pheromones, both of which were unusual. So, he thought it was wise to prepare for any future claims of ownership.

“Time will tell? Are you saying she has some hidden power?”

“She’s quite extraordinary.”

“…What is it?”

When Balzac asked quietly, Ivan glanced around and motioned for him to come closer. As Balzac leaned forward, Ivan whispered.

“I’m telling you this because you’re my father.”

Gulp.

Balzac involuntarily swallowed his saliva as Ivan whispered in his ear.

“Actually, Zerakiel is desperately clinging to Cersia.”

“What?”

“Last night, he sneaked into her room late because he was unhappy about sleeping separately, but got kicked out. How could he not wait even a short while?”

“…”

“So, you should align yourself well, father.”

Ivan even winked, making Balzac’s face twist in disgust. His troublesome son was becoming stranger by sticking close to that troublesome direct descendant.

“If you’re going to spout nonsense, just disappear.”

“Are you telling me to leave because you have no more questions? How heartless, daddy?”

“Get out!”

Balzac was pushing Ivan out of the room with a weary expression when it happened.

“Oh dear.”

A clear voice interrupted from behind Ivan. As Ivan stepped aside, familiar silver hair caught Balzac’s attention.

“Hello?”

Cersia peeked out from behind Ivan and greeted him. Her hesitant demeanor seemed suspicious. Why had she come to the annex?

Balzac, too flustered to say anything, noticed Ayla standing behind Cersia with her hand on the hilt of her sword. A deadly aura seemed to emanate from her. Recognizing her belatedly, Balzac asked sharply.

“Why are you here?”

She was one of the elite warriors among Jabisi’s forces. Normally, she would be on the front lines of territorial disputes by now.

Yet, she was here, serving as a maid for a mere weasel?

There was only one reason for Ayla, who enjoyed fighting, to remain in this tedious castle.

It seemed Zerakiel had forcibly kept her here. As a respected elder of the Lion Clan, Balzac opened his mouth to resolve this chaotic situation.

“Wasting a warrior like this, I’ll speak to Zerakiel right away…”

But that was only Balzac’s thought.

“There’s no need for that.”

Ayla abruptly cut off Balzac’s words, but he didn’t understand and continued to speak.

“No, I will immediately…”

Unable to hold back any longer, Ayla shouted angrily.

“Stop it! I was chosen fairly by drawing lots!”

“What, you…”

Balzac, taken aback by her unexpected reaction, hesitated, and Ayla, her eyes blazing, spoke again.

“Are you, by any chance, coveting my position, Balzac?”

“No, I just…”

“In that case, even if you are Balzac, I won’t show any mercy!”

Ayla began to draw her sword halfway out of its sheath, appearing genuinely serious.

‘When did I ever say I wanted your position?’ Balzac felt wronged. He was merely trying to help Ayla, thinking she was being unfairly treated as a warrior. Instead, she made him out to be someone trying to steal her position! Moreover, he couldn’t understand why she was so protective of her spot next to that weasel.

Then, Ivan chimed in.

“Actually, I applied too, but I was rejected spectacularly.”

“You’re Zerakiel’s personal aide, aren’t you? Why would you give up such a good position for…”

“Father, you don’t understand. The best position in Jabisi Castle is right next to Lady Cersia.”

“?”

“Every time I see Zerakiel suffering, the thrill is incredible. It’s exhilarating, always refreshing!”

“…”

“And in a castle full of lions, Lady Cersia is truly the light and salt. Right, Ayla?”

“Absolutely!”

Ayla clenched her fist in agreement. Ivan grinned and winked at Balzac, who was left speechless.

He had initially thought that the white weasel was being threatened by the black lion, but now he completely abandoned that idea. It was clearly the opposite. Jabisi Castle seemed to be entirely captivated by this weasel.

Balzac had no idea what had happened in the main fortress while he was away.

At that moment, Cersia, who had been quiet, offered something to Balzac.

“This is…”

“I picked this flower because it bloomed so beautifully.”

“?”

“It’s a gift.”

“…”

“It smells really nice.”

Cersia, with a harmless smile, extended the flower closer. So, her earlier hesitation was about this.

As Balzac stood frozen, unable to respond to the unexpected situation, Ayla glared at him from behind.

‘Hurry up and take it! Are you ignoring Lady Chichi’s sincerity?’

If Ayla’s eyes had a mouth, they would have surely said that.

“Huh…”

Balzac sighed deeply. In all his time at Jabisi Castle, he had never received such a gift. Having only sons and no daughters, this kind of situation felt unfamiliar. He realized this was probably the first time he had ever received a flower from anyone.

“Thank you…”

Balzac took the flower with a dazed expression and sniffed it. Just as Cersia said, it had a fragrant scent reminiscent of spring sunlight.

“You’re welcome.”

Cersia beamed with happiness, clearly pleased that her gift was accepted.

Then Ivan spoke to Cersia.

“Don’t I get one too?”