#79

It seemed Zakari’s sharp instincts had dulled over time as he prepared for death, allowing this fox to meddle with his family.

Unforgiving toward himself, Zakari muttered with irritation, “I’ll find out exactly what he was planning. Not just with Rachel, but why he approached Zerakiel and Cersia as well.”

Once Zakari made up his mind, Erhardin’s fate was as good as sealed. The fox, who had lost the lifetime-cultivated fox bead in mere moments, would soon lose his life as well.

For Kiera, this was oddly convenient. It saved her the trouble of handling the situation herself. Concealing her relief, she replied in a detached tone, “Understood.”

“Oh, and once I’ve extracted the truth, I’ll send him back to Rachel. After all, she’s the one most harmed by this. She should be the one to finish him.”

“Pardon?”

Kiera’s voice trembled involuntarily. Just when she thought her workload had decreased, Zakari’s decision turned the tables.

“That’s unnecessary—”

“No, it’s necessary. If Rachel finds out I took him, she’ll make a scene. I can’t deal with both this and her wrath.”

Zakari flashed a casual smile, but Kiera immediately understood his true intentions weren’t limited to interrogation. Her lips twitched as she suppressed her growing frustration.

When Rachel woke, she would inevitably demand Erhardin be brought to her. She’d march straight to Jabis Castle, and chaos would ensue all over again.

The thought of this recurring madness made Kiera mentally groan.

‘I’d love to resign. Violently.’

Just as she was internally lamenting her misfortune, Zerakiel appeared, his boot crushing Erhardin’s head as he snarled.

“I’ll be the one to kill him.”

“Hey, wait your turn. I’m itching to do it myself,” Zakari retorted sternly, stepping between Zerakiel and Erhardin. Despite the warning, Zerakiel’s murderous aura didn’t waver as he crouched, ready to pounce again.

“This bastard tried to kidnap Chichi. Does that mean nothing to you?”

“What?” Zakari’s expression darkened.

“It’s obvious. Who in Jabis is the weakest yet the strongest right now?”

Zerakiel’s eyes gleamed with madness, his fury palpable as he seethed over Erhardin daring to touch what was his. Watching his son’s volatile reaction, Zakari sighed deeply and rubbed his temples.

The behavior was familiar—he had been in the same state before Kiera arrived.

Understanding Zerakiel’s mindset, Zakari patted his son’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Calm down. That’s exactly why I kept him alive—to get to the bottom of this.”

“…”

“If you’re that upset, you can handle the interrogation. Just don’t kill him under the guise of an accident.”

“Tch.”

Zerakiel clicked his tongue, clearly caught in his plans, and growled lowly. Zakari, noticing how much his usually stoic son was shaken, felt a strange mix of emotions.

As Zerakiel had said, Cersia was the weakest in Jabis in terms of combat ability but paradoxically the strongest due to her mysterious powers.

In a way, she was Jabis’s greatest vulnerability—still unstable and unaware of the full extent of her own abilities.

According to Melina, her personal physician, Cersia emitted two distinct types of pheromones—an anomaly even by beastkin standards.

Zakari recalled summoning Melina for a private meeting in their secret garden after first realizing something unusual about Cersia. The memory of that conversation now weighed heavily on his mind.

* * *‘She could have lost her life. The Guardian’s sudden appearance seemed to be aimed at containing Lady Cersia’s power,’ Melina had said solemnly.

‘Is she safe now?’ Zakari had asked.

‘For the time being, it seems so… but I must admit, I’ve never encountered a case of dual pheromones before. If the pheromone that saved you is used again, it could be fatal. Her body likely wouldn’t survive another attempt.’

The weight of Melina’s words hit Zakari hard. He felt a deep sense of guilt, as if he had stolen a precious opportunity that should have belonged to his son.

‘It might resolve naturally when she matures, but if it doesn’t…’ Melina had trailed off, bowing her head. The implication was clear: if Cersia’s condition didn’t stabilize by adulthood, it could claim her life.

It was already remarkable that such a small body could house such immense power. And yet, she had used that power to save him, likely hastening her demise.

Zakari couldn’t ignore the reality. Cersia had risked her life for him, and he was determined to ensure she survived this. He needed to see his son and daughter-in-law free from the curse of Jabis.

A new task had been added to his list.

Zakari had questioned Melina extensively about Cersia’s condition before giving her a clear command.

‘Keep this from Zerakiel for now.’

‘What? But—’

‘If he finds out, he’ll try to distance himself from her.’

Zakari spoke from experience. Just as he had pushed Rachel away, Zerakiel would undoubtedly do the same if he believed he was a danger to Cersia.

‘I’m officially making you a part of Jabis. Whatever resources you need, you’ll have them. Find a way to save Cersia.’

‘I understand.’

‘This conversation stays between us.’

‘Of course. I also wish for Lady Cersia to live a long life.’

Melina’s loyal eyes reflected her sincerity as she departed.

Zakari rarely allowed outsiders into Jabis, but Cersia seemed to have taken a liking to Melina, and keeping the circle of those aware of her condition small was imperative. After all, even someone like Erhardin had made his move without fully understanding the extent of her power.

‘If the other clans find out, they’ll be salivating at the chance to exploit her,’ Zakari thought grimly.

Since narrowly escaping death, Zakari felt as though he had much more to protect. It didn’t feel burdensome, but rather, like he was finally living a meaningful life.

“We’re setting an example,” Zakari said abruptly.

Zerakiel looked at him, waiting for an explanation. Zakari’s gaze turned sharp as he added, “Jabis has no weaknesses.”

“Of course. Let them learn who they’re dealing with,” Zerakiel replied confidently.

Zakari glanced at his son, raising an eyebrow. “That small frame of hers is the only issue. When we return, we’re starting a bulk-up regimen.”

“Cersia is perfect as she is,” Zerakiel retorted without missing a beat.

“…” Zakari stared at him incredulously. “Are you serious?”

“Do you disagree?”

Zakari shook his head, a faint smile of disbelief tugging at his lips. The tension between the two black lions seemed to ease slightly, but their oppressive presence lingered in the air.

Kiera, caught between their simmering auras, rubbed her arms to ward off the chill. *Why do they always do this here? If they want to fight, they should take it outside,* she thought, suppressing the urge to flee.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she spotted Cersia and Ivan approaching from a distance.

Cersia gasped, covering her mouth with her hands when she saw the battered Erhardin on the ground. His condition was so dire that he looked as though he’d already departed for the afterlife. Turning to Ivan, she whispered, “Do you think he’s dead?”

“You shouldn’t look at such things, my lady. Avert your eyes, please.” Ivan dramatically covered Cersia’s eyes before clasping his hands together and reciting a prayer.

“Dear God, we humbly ask that this disgraceful fox be swiftly delivered to hell to suffer eternal torment…”

His prayer was a not-so-subtle plea for Erhardin’s soul to be condemned. What was surprising, however, was that Cersia didn’t stop him. Instead, she clasped her hands together and earnestly listened, nodding in agreement.

“Amen, amen.”

With fervent enthusiasm.

The two of them seemed to be perfectly in sync as they prayed for Erhardin’s eternal damnation.

 

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