Chapter 164

Scheuer rubbed her eyes in disbelief and checked again. In the Waker Empire, it was common for couples to share handkerchiefs or ribbons made from the same fabric as a token of their affection. When she first arrived in the capital, Lady Annabelle had once shared her romantic stories with Duke Litton while admiring the ribbon on a bouquet given by Silcaro. There was no way she didn’t know the meaning behind it.

‘Is Erina just watching all this without saying anything?’

Or was she completely unaware?

‘They were such a close couple.’ 

Scheuer wouldn’t have even imagined it if it hadn’t been for Duke Litton’s hint. She reflected on the conversation she had with Lady Annabelle while in the central area.

She recalled the conversations she had with Lady Annabelle during their time in the capital.

‘Since when? ’

From the beginning, Lady Annabelle had been somewhat displeased with Erina. However, this attitude wasn’t particularly different from Solle and Betty’s. After all, it was expected that families aligned with the Northern faction wouldn’t view the Netri family favorably. But the imperial family was a different matter. Despite Erina’s engagement, the imperial family didn’t seem overly wary of her.

In the first place, Erina didn’t possess the same conspicuous power or influence as houses like Blen or Netri, so there wasn’t much to be concerned about. Thinking back, Scheuer realized that Lady Annabelle had never harbored any ill feelings toward Silcaro.

“She really didn’t seem to have much of an issue with the imperial family.”

Scheuer recalled Lady Annabelle boasting about a new cameo she had bought and crafted. At the time, she had brushed it off lightly, but now it seemed strange.

Especially one phrase stuck in her mind. 

“This is an item that’s trending among the nobility in the central area these days. They carry each other’s engravings.”

‘So did Lady Annabelle engrave her husband’s face?’ ‘Of course. Ah, though there are shameless people who engrave the faces of their secret lovers too.’

Scheuer belatedly realized that the small ornament engraved with a face resembled Silcaro.

It suddenly dawned on Scheuer that the face engraved on the small piece of jewelry resembled Silcaro.

‘This can’t be real…’

She was stunned. But it wasn’t the shock of the affair that struck her the hardest—it was something else entirely.

In the original story, Lady Annabelle and Duke Litton were minor characters, so they weren’t detailed much, but they lived happily together from the beginning to the end. Although Duke Litton took a step back from the Northern faction as Raygrain’s position weakened.

‘This changed because the original story was altered.’

She didn’t know exactly how the cause and effect worked, but this was something that didn’t happen in the original. Even so, it wasn’t as if Scheuer had done anything wrong directly. However, it was true that her involvement had altered the future of a certain family. A faint sense of guilt lingered.

‘I’m sorry, Duke Litton.’

She silently apologized, watching Duke Litton follow Lady Annabelle with his eyes from a distance. Scheuer took a deep breath. She felt sorry, but there was something more important to her now.

She soon began to murmur an unfamiliar name in her mind.

‘Silcaro Waker’

When she thought about it, Erina had also met him at the royal library expansion party, and everything had suddenly changed. Sevi had mentioned that books made from the hide of magical beasts couldn’t be borrowed unless one was part of the royal lineage. It was Silcaro who had also taken down the article that had been attacked by the magical beast. When Erina had come to order pins at the boutique, she had presented a royal introduction letter.

‘Everything is related to His Highness Silcaro.’ 

Scheuer continued to gaze through the terrace window at Silcaro, who was smiling and kindly raising a wine glass toward Erina.

“When can I expect the herbs I requested, Your Grace? ”

“By tomorrow at dawn. I’ve ordered them to be gathered at least by morning,” Raygrain answered calmly.

None of these things directly harmed anyone. However, the ripple effects of Silcaro’s involvement inevitably reached Scheuer and Raygrain. And if the imperial family was involved in events that threatened Raygrain, things would be different. What could his goal be now that he, who had once claimed neutrality, was making moves?

Recalling the gossip she heard at the boutique earlier in the day, Scheuer gripped Raygrain’s sleeve tightly.

***

After her family’s honor had bloomed through her skill with the sword, Erina had been forced to wear a dress that she hadn’t worn for a long time—something she had grown tired of recently. But today was different.

Duke Netri glanced at her with a cold, cutting gaze and clicked his tongue in disapproval. Despite knowing his disdain, Erina donned her knight’s captain’s uniform.

“I haven’t been stripped of my title yet.”

There was debate in the capital about whether Erina, who had lost her power, should continue to hold the position of Second Knight Commander. It was evident from the awkward greetings of some knights who had previously sworn loyalty to her.

‘Where was all that loyalty when they were pretending to be so devoted?’

Erina had confidence in her skills with the sword. Though her power had once solidified her position, it was by no means the reason she was skilled. She hadn’t neglected her training enough to be surpassed by such insignificant people.

As tension weighed on her mind, Silcaro’s soft voice cut through her thoughts.

“Erina, don’t worry. My father still believes in you.”

“Once again, I owe you, Your Highness.”

“Not at all. As you know, Erina, you’ve achieved great things thus far.”

After a brief pause, Silcaro whispered more tenderly, lowering his voice.

“And there are also the rumors about the recently uncovered tablet.”

“…”

Erina clenched her gloved hand tightly, hidden from view. Glancing at Duke Nettri, he pointed at her while conversing with others and said, 

“Haha, Erina has a straightforward side to her.”

Even though Duke Nettri’s words were not amusing at all, those around him burst into laughter.

“It seems you have a solid relationship with His Highness Silcaro. How do you match so well? ”

“Like a painting comes to life,” another chimed in, their words sweet but insincere.

Among the crowd offering flattery stood a particularly glamorous figure who merely smiled—Lady Annabelle. With her fan, adorned with feathers and gemstones, covering most of her upper body, she watched Erina with a strange gaze.

‘Is she glaring at me?’

At first glance, it seemed like she was smiling, but it was that same ambiguous look Erina had noticed during the family gathering at the Netri estate. Just as suddenly, Lady Annabelle changed the topic with a smile.

“By the way, what will we do if monsters come all the way down to the capital? The rumors surrounding the tablet make me quite uneasy.”

Erina barely suppressed a derisive laugh. Did she think no one knew who started those rumors? The moment news of the tablet’s discovery spread, Lady Annabelle was the one stirring up gossip among the nobles.

As wide-reaching as her connections were, Annabelle’s words carried significant weight. Especially when they spread fear, such rumors traveled even faster. Duke Netri cleared his throat briefly, evidently uncomfortable with the question.

“Ahem. Well, we have Erina, Prince Silcaro, and the royal knights, do we not?” 

He continued as if it were nothing. 

“It’s not as if monsters can only be killed with powers. Erina herself has already confirmed that. The capital has nothing to fear.”

“Exactly. What use are flowers in killing monsters?” 

Lady Annabelle laughed softly, and it was obvious that Duke Netri was gritting his teeth at her comment.

Silcaro stretched out his arm and lightly draped it over Erina’s shoulder, seemingly trying to console her. However, Erina wasn’t particularly bothered, since Netri’s powers weren’t truly meant for slaying monsters in the first place.

Erina subtly asked Silcaro, who was tilting his wine glass beside her, 

“Your Highness, may I ask something? Wasn’t the previous tablet a forgery? ”

“Ah, yes, it was.”

“Could this tablet also be…?” ”

She still believed that this tablet was a forgery and that Duke Nettri was the mastermind behind it. There was no way such astonishing timing could occur unless it was unfavorable to the north. However, Silcaro’s grip on her shoulder tightened.

He too was someone who wielded a sword, and that strength was not to be underestimated. 

“Your Highness? ”

“Erina, the envoy hasn’t returned yet. Is there a need to rush? ”

“But Your Highness, I have never personally dealt with the magical beasts as described in the book you lent me.”

“You picked up a magical beast’s foot in the border region, didn’t you? The one that Duke Nettri has.”

“Even so, I haven’t seen the process of handling it, and I can’t fully trust that it’s truly a magical beast’s foot.”

Silcaro lightly shook his wine glass. The red wine swirled aimlessly within. After a brief pause, he took a sip and placed the glass on a passing servant’s tray, whispering in her ear, 

“Erina, you know that the powers of the north leave no traces of magical beasts. So how do you explain the foot being left behind?”

“…That’s true. You’re right.”

Silcaro’s gentle and beautiful face formed a lovely smile. If angels existed, this might be what they looked like—someone with an almost statue-like otherness. He continued in a comforting manner. 

“So don’t worry. Even if magical beasts come down, we will handle it well, powers or no powers.”

He pulled her closer, lightly embracing her, and reassured her. 

“You’ll be fine, even without your power.”

Silcaro picked up another glass of wine from the unattended tray beside them. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. A woman, visibly shaken, darted her eyes around before rushing up to Scheuer.

“Y-Your Grace!”

“Yes. What is it?” Scheuer responded calmly.

It was Tiola, a maid who had evidently been roped into the event due to a shortage of staff. Pale and trembling, she hesitated before speaking.

“I just overheard something unbelievable.”

“Tell me atlas. What is heavier: the world or its people’s hearts” – Darshan Suresh