Chapter 26

Chapter 26

‘What’s wrong with him?’

The way he kept looking at me made me embarrassed, so I turned my gaze away. Soon, Ulysse mumbled again.

“….Gosh. Do you think that was cool?”

‘Why does he have so many complaints?”

Ulysse, who rambled so much to the point it couldn’t be heard by anyone, picked up the tweezer again.

“Ah.”

This time, my mouth opened easily.

Either because I saw Signus ate the medicine, or because of his unfaltering gaze.

After feeding the medicine, Ulysse treated the wounds on my face and said.

“Well, at least you did well by feeding the antidote quickly. Good job.”

My heart throbbed when he acted like he was generous enough to compliment Signus.

Does Ulysse have two lives or something? Does he want to go to the afterlife so bad?

What are you scheming right now?

At that time, a voice filled with laughter rang in the room.

“How fun.”

Ulysse lifted his gaze at his words.

“Ask me anything. How cute of you to act up in my presence like this. But.”

Signus tilted his head.

“You have to be skilled enough to challenge me.”

It might be just my imagination, but I saw a crackle between Signus and Ulysse who were staring at each other.

‘It’ll turn into a big problem at this rate.’

I seriously wondered why it suddenly turned into a staring contest.

My stomach felt awful, my wounds hurt, and my body ached.

I was about to die from exhaustion, but the two men were busy making a scene, so it drove me crazy.

Ulysse’s eyes were burned with determination, while Signus responded with a cold smirk.

I couldn’t care less about them, and just wanted to kick them out, but the confrontation already broke.

Ulysse smiled small.

Since it wasn’t a spiteful smile, the tight air quickly loosened.

Ulysse moved his hand again. Even when Ulysse moved on so casually, Signus did not bother to rebuke him for it.

“I’m boiling herbs that are good for paralysis. I want to feed it to her, but does Navian have an empty stomach?”

“That’s right.”

“I suppose she couldn’t eat yet.”

“That’s right. So tell me.”

Signus motioned his chin toward me.

“How could that child keep throwing up when she didn’t eat anything in the first place?”

Hearing him muttered displeasedly, Ulysse calmly answered.

“It’s because her digestive system is weak. It’s not too long ago that she ate meat.”

Signus frowned at him.

“Are you saying she ate meat for the first time not too long ago?”

“Yes.”

“Then what did she eat to live?”

“Vegetarian food.”

“Why?”

His golden eyes scoured the medical office for a moment.

“Is it because you don’t have money?”

….Excuse me? Aren’t you being too harsh right now?

“Come to think of it, you sent a bill to me not too long ago.”

My lips trembled in response to Signus’ words.

That’s because I’m angry and I want to screw you up…

Signus turned to the marquis this time. His gaze demanded an answer, so the marquis opened his mouth.

“It’s not that we’re short of money. Because Navian has a weak constitution.”

“Weak constitution?”

“Yes. She’s allergic to various foods except for vegetables.”

A cool gaze came back to me.

“Is that true?”

When I nodded, Signus clicked his tongue.

“It could’ve been a big trouble if I fed you anything.”

I expected to hear a snarky remark from him, but the gaze that touched me was genuine.

“You should’ve told me about it sooner.”

I lowered my gaze at his reproachful words.

Did you even allow me to talk?

“Tell me exactly what she can’t eat.”

“The most dangerous thing is fresh fruit. But she has been eating other foods little by little starting a month ago.”

“A month ago…”

Signus chuckled small. With a face that seemed to know something, he asked.

“How about alcohol?”

“Alcohol? I don’t know because I’ve never given it to her.”

Signus glanced at me.

“It must be frustrating for you.”

I raised my head at once.

In fact, I was a crazy drinker.

For a royal family’s dog who took on all kinds of chores like me, drinking while looking up at the night sky was the only motivation of my life.

‘How did he know that?’

Perhaps he also felt it was strange, the marquis asked.

“Did my daughter say she wanted to drink?”

Signus paused for a moment. His face looked like he just made a mistake, so I stared intently at him. A moment later I heard an answer.

“…You look like you enjoy drinking.”

Do I look like an alcoholic?

While I was pondering about what this face looked like, Signus grabbed my shoulders.

“Well, I already know that there is a flaw in this child’s body.”

He just changed the subject.

Completely disregarding my doubtful gaze, Signus continued to talk.

“I need to find out more.”

“Find out more…”

Even before the marquis finished talking, Signus’s eyes scoured all the people in the medical office, and then he said.

“Call all the people who work in this family.”

His golden eyes bent into a half-moon.

“We’ll have a one-on-one interview.”

The mansion was crowded.

Guards, gardeners, stableboys, and servants were all on standby for the interview.

When I saw the captain leaving for an interview, I opened my mouth.

“What the hell did he ask?”

“I don’t know about the others, but he is asking about personal information.”

Personal information? For example?

Ulysse, who was stirring herbs next to me, elaborated further.

“For example, my age and when I become a doctor. Also, the name of my maternal family.”

I froze at once. It was fine until the age part, but the name of my maternal family?

There’s no way I know that.

“And he asked about your habits. Your usual behavior and the way you talk.”

“So what happened?”

“I told him the truth. I almost forgot your voice because you rarely talked back then. But you suddenly started talking and making bets all the time.”

“……”

“I’m not wrong, am I? You’re always making a bet out of everything.”

I couldn’t refute it since it is undoubtedly my habit.

“I guess he wanted to take a census. Okay, it’s all done.”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and put the bowl close to my mouth.

“This herb is good for blood circulation. Be careful, it’s a little hot.”

The warmth filled my whole body as soon as the brown liquid entered my mouth.

“…Listen while you’re eating. I’m just going to ask you.”

I glanced at him, chugging down the liquid.

“Did you see His Highness at the place where you were kidnapped?”

I think I knew why he asked that question.

He suspected Signus to be the one behind my kidnapping.

“It’s a little strange that he found you faster than our knights. And he even knew the ingredients for detoxification.”

I shook my head quickly.

“…Really? That’s great then.”

Ulysse mumbled with an iffy face.

“I know that we shouldn’t be suspicious of him, but you can’t believe him too easily either. You don’t know what’s inside his heart.”

I agreed with him. I had a lot of doubts, too.

He was incredibly observant that he completely figured out what I wanted to say.

If Signus knew who I was, he would figure it out immediately, but he didn’t.

If he had the slightest idea, he would’ve asked if I was Lerine.

Ha. A small laugh escaped my lips.

‘How strange. I even suspected Signus to be the one behind my kidnapping.’

Why is it so upsetting that he didn’t recognize me?

“So.”

Inside the room of the first prince Damian.

When Elon asked, the swarm of grey shadows desperately explained the situation.

“The guards of that family were stricter than expected, but it was easy to kidnap her because those disguised as workers were professionals. But…”

The grey shadow stuttered.

“I-I didn’t know that His Highness would come….”

Elon’s sky blue eyes gleamed coldly.

“So you failed.”

“…I have no excuse to say.”

The grey shadow bowed its head.

Count Mori was watching the situation on the side, and asked.

“What kind of girl was she?’

“She’s very weak, and except for her good looks, she is just a normal girl.”

“What’s her personality like?”

“I’m not sure since I didn’t really interact with her.”

Elon uttered coldly.

“Why do you ask such useless things?”

“Aren’t you curious? The crown prince, who slaughters people as a hobby, rushed after a woman like a madman.”

Mori cupped his chin.

“He’s totally crazy. We trained people to imitate that woman, and all of them ended up dead on his hand.”

Tuk, tuk. His fingers tapped on the table.

“I’m curious. He’s doing so well on keeping his head together all this time, but what’s gotten into him now?”

“No.”

Mori glanced at Elon.

“That guy is crazy.”

His sky blue eyes were freezing.

“And so do I.”

Elon closed his eyes. The imperial palace reminded him of the blonde hair tied up high.

Her familiar back view was ingrained deep in his mind.

Her confident back and flowing blond hair were more familiar than her face.

Since Lerine always looked forward.

During their apprenticeship, they often quarrelled a lot due to their equal skill.

Because of her stubborn personality, she didn’t want to lose to anyone, even in a quarrel.

But she would never upset anyone.

She was that kind of person.

Even an unruly subordinate became calm when he was with Lerine. That’s how much Lerine could blend with anyone.

The Knight General recognized her talent, and Lerine became the first among the apprentices who entered the Order.

He thought it was just a childhood zest.

He thought it was just friendship, jealousy, and admiration. But it wasn’t.

Even though he knew that Lerine only smiled sincerely when she was next to Signus.

His heart toward Lerine, he was unable to stop it.

He wanted to protect her. He wanted to put his back against hers.

Even if they didn’t get along well and fought every day, he wanted to stick close to her.

That didn’t change until a year ago.

‘Until she died for Signus!’

Elon’s face was distorted.

He wasn’t even aware that he poured out his hatred on the wrong man. And he had no intention of stopping his seething anger toward Signus.

Because, Signus failed to protect her.

He should be able to stop it. He could have done that much. Signus was an excellent man with incredible strength and skills.

There was no excuse for him.

He must stop her from using that power. He was right next to her, so he should have protected her at all costs.

But he let her die.

Elon recalled Signus’ golden eyes.

An arrogant person who got everything handed to him. A heartless man with noble blood.

Elon had lived his life only looking at Lerine, but even that was taken away from him.

The flames soared in Elon’s eyes.

[Do you need power?]

The snake sign engraved on his hand turned red.

Elen looked up, ignoring the ridicule of the demon who tried to swallow him up.