Chapter 06

The capital of the Fernies Empire, Meltante.

After returning from the Imperial Palace, Iris’s face was swollen from crying.

“Sob… hic…”

Who published that article about Karkin Pavil?

‘Her Majesty the Empress scolded me!’

By other people’s standards, she had not really been scolded at all.

The Empress had always been very lenient with Iris.

“Iris, be more careful with your conduct for a while. Many people will be jealous of the one who is destined to marry my son.”

But to Iris, who had been raised like a precious jewel, it was unbearably upsetting.

I’m an S-rank Controller, and I have to go through something like this!

Kuern, who was riding in the carriage with her, gently patted her shoulder.

“Don’t cry, Iris, okay?”

“Sniff… but… G-Grandfather was angry too because of the embezzlement…”

“Oh, come on. There’s no way he was truly angry with you. You know how quick-tempered he is.”

Kuern comforted her kindly.

“You grow by learning. Don’t worry too much. Grandfather and I have already taken care of it.”

He meant that Iris’s nanny and maids had all been killed.

“Thank you… Brother, you’re really the best.”

“By the way, Iris.”

“Yes, Brother?”

“How is the report on the Control Stone business coming along?”

“…”

“It seems a little delayed. Ah! I’m not trying to rush you. I was just wondering if there was something giving you trouble.”

“Oh, no way! It’s only because there’s so much work. You don’t have to worry!”

“Well, you’re always perfect, Iris. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Iris smiled brightly.

But when Kuern wasn’t looking…

‘Lillian…!’

She bit down hard on her lower lip.

She was careful not to smudge her makeup with her teeth.

‘Even if she was going to the North, she should’ve finished her work first!’

The Tillard family had two main businesses.

The first was supplying Controllers.

The second was the artifact business using Control Stones.

As an S-rank Controller, Iris naturally held authority over the second business.

However, Iris had no natural talent for it.

“Brother, shouldn’t we bring Sister back quickly?”

“I know you’re concerned about Lillian, but she needs to stay there a little longer.”

“Oh, but still—”

No, you’re the one who doesn’t understand anything, you idiot…!

Inside, Iris ground her teeth at Kuern.

Kuern had absolutely no idea that Lillian had been handling all the groundwork for the business.

‘Even if he knew, he’d still take my side anyway.’

How was she supposed to persuade this foolish cousin into bringing Lillian back?

Before long, the carriage arrived at the front gate of the Tillard estate.

At that moment, the butler who had served the Tillard family the longest came running over in a panic.

“Young Duke!”

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

“It’s an urgent message from Young Master Ramio. It just came through the communication stone.”

The butler hurriedly handed him a green communication brooch.

Kuern frowned.

“Ramio. What’s going on? Didn’t you and Lillian just arrive at the northern villa?”

“No!”

Ramio shouted angrily.

“Do you know what Lillian did!? She drugged us!”

“What?”

“She gave thirty knights sleeping pills, anesthetics—”

“…What?”

“Emetics, stomach acid suppressants—and then disappeared!”

Did that mean she had killed someone?

The color drained from both Kuern’s and Iris’s faces.

Lillian was still someone the family needed—for entirely different reasons.

“Ramio, find Lillian immediately. I’ll explain the situation to the Imperial Knights.”

“Fine… but!”

Just before ending the call, Ramio shouted.

“That piece of trash, Lillian. Don’t expect her to come back in one piece!”

Traveling with a woman whose mind had become unstable because of her fiancé.

Day five.

Evren folded his arms and quietly observed Lillian.

He had expected her to collapse halfway up the harsh mountain trail, insisting she couldn’t go any farther.

Instead…

Strangely enough, he couldn’t find a single fault with her.

“…And she’s still suspicious, Your Highness.”

Elias sighed in disbelief.

“She keeps staring blankly over the mountain, muttering, ‘It’s almost here…’…”

“…”

“…And she keeps… giving things… to the knights.”

“When do ordinary people usually behave like that?”

“…When they’re putting their lives in order…”

Still smiling, Evren frowned.

Hadn’t she tried to hand him the brooch without any resistance?

‘I’m going to live within my means.’

‘I only brought her along because I thought she might be somewhat useful.’

Partly because he wanted to spite the Second Empress’s family and the Tillards.

But that wasn’t the only thing bothering him.

Why won’t she come any closer?

His ability was becoming increasingly agitated.

It kept insisting that Lillian, who wasn’t even a Controller, had a scent.

Whenever he came back to his senses, his eyes were already following her from behind.

At the center of that night’s campsite, a campfire crackled.

Evren stopped at a distance.

People with abilities had highly developed senses, so he could easily hear conversations from far away.

Jeanne awkwardly held out a bowl.

She was the Shadow whose artifact Lillian had repaired on the first day.

“Lady Tillard? W-would you like some soup… no, would you care for some? Please.”

The people of Baltazar basically hated the Tillards.

They monopolized all the high-ranking Controllers, cutting off support that should have gone to Baltazar.

Yet…

“Thank you. But while it’s still hot, should I add this too?”

“But… isn’t that… pepper?”

“Yes. I borrowed it from the main house… I mean, I brought some with me.”

Without hesitation, Lillian poured a generous amount of pepper into the camping pot.

The Shadows all turned pale.

Pepper was an expensive luxury imported from beyond the Kingdom of Tenevrin.

“S-something this valuable… Are you sure it’s alright to use it like this?”

“Hm? It’s fine. There’s no point saving it now.”

There was no strength in Lillian’s voice.

She wasn’t trying to win anyone’s favor.

She simply sounded as though she wanted to get rid of one more troublesome piece of baggage.

Evren found her increasingly strange behavior impossible to ignore.

And then…

Surely she’s not planning to destroy herself first…?

For the first time, the voice of his power—which usually only urged destruction—became frantic.

No. She can’t break. She mustn’t break. I haven’t even had her yet.

She isn’t a Controller.

‘This is driving me insane.’

His own condition was driving him insane.

Lillian Tillard, who kept occupying his thoughts, was driving him insane.

But it was already too late for regrets.

After she finished her soup and cleaned up, he called to her.

Compared to only a few days ago, she looked noticeably more exhausted.

“Lady Tillard. We’ll arrive in Aeterna tomorrow.”

Then this journey would be over.

What would become of this woman afterward?

But then Lillian spoke.

“Oh, right. I’ll tell you the materials needed to process Control Stones.”

“Hm?”

“First, the tail of a Fire Mouse, the root of a Starflower harvested on the night of a full moon, and ginseng…”

“Wait, Tillard.”

Evren interrupted her.

“You know the processing method too?”

“Hm? Yes.”

“Why would you…?”

That should have been the Tillard family’s secret technique.

Evren had intended to obtain that secret himself.

But he had never imagined she would reveal it so freely before he even threatened her.

Lillian blinked slowly.

Her once brilliant eyes were now clouded and dull.

“There’s no reason not to tell you anymore… and this is the last time.”

The last time?

Evren studied her face.

His expression disappeared.

He felt deeply irritated.

“Enough nonsense. Go back, Tillard.”

He coldly cut her off and turned away.

She had said she’d failed in love once.

Would a normal person really give up on life like this?

‘Surely she’s not really thinking of…’

No!

His mind erupted into complete chaos.

Evren spun around.

The scent of lilies that had drifted into his tent now spread strongly from outside once more.

At first he walked.

Then faster.

Until he was running.

Outside the tent.

In the darkness, crouched beneath a tree where the snow had not fully melted…

Lillian Tillard was eating poisonous herbs.