Chapter 23
‘This makes no sense. When did they even discover the Holy Grail?’
Ashlyn was still reeling from shock. Derion’s voice continued rapidly.
“So what now?”
“Are you going to crawl through warfields, find the Grail, and offer it to the First Prince?”
“To then leave the continent with that maid?”
Ashlyn’s mind was short-circuiting. Her overwhelmed brain refused to process any more information.
‘What… what are they even talking about?’
Finding the Grail was already enough. But offering it to the First Prince? And then… leaving the continent?
“Ridiculous. You’re delusional,” Tevet said, voice low and chilling.
Derion, however, believed it was Tevet who was dreaming. Dreaming of ordinary love despite being a Laperion.
“So that’s why…”
His voice cracked with bitter disdain.
“…You handed him the poisoned cup?”
For the first time, Derion’s usually calm voice trembled with emotion.
“You’re a selfish man who thinks only of himself.”
Ashlyn’s lips trembled as she listened.
“In the end, everything you do is just to fulfill your own desires. You don’t care who becomes Emperor. Not even your family matters to you.”
“Ugh. Disgusting.”
Derion returned to his usual biting tone.
“If I were her, I’d have run from your obsession a long time ago.”
“Shut up.”
Ashlyn flinched at Tevet’s dangerously low tone.
“Is that really love?”
“I told you to shut up.”
“It’s far too selfish and twisted to be called love.”
Crash! A thunderous sound echoed through the hallway.
Ashlyn stepped back in fright.
A sliver of blue magical light leaked from the door crack. Derion had cast a spell.
“Stop. I don’t think I can win against you, but I can still destroy this mansion.”
“You’re especially chatty today, magician,” Tevet muttered.
“Stick to your only useful trait—magic. The only reason I tolerate you is because of your memory spell. Otherwise…”
“I would’ve killed you already.”
The tension was unbearable. The light faded as Derion withdrew the spell.
“You don’t need to threaten me. I’ll do my job. But the deadline is still one week. If there’s no progress by then, I’ll need more research.”
His tone was resolute.
He forced a grin to mask his thoughts.
“Now, Your Grace, why don’t you relieve your stress by hacking up some monsters.”
“And do try not to die.”
What Tevet replied next, Ashlyn couldn’t hear—because she finally turned away, her legs shaking.
Her mind was too chaotic to notice anything else.
Back in her room:
“Ashlyn? Where were you?” asked a sleepy Sepia.
Ashlyn said nothing and climbed into bed.
‘The Grail has resurfaced.’
She recalled the Imperial seal: two crossed swords and a goblet—the symbol of the Emperor.
If the First Prince gets the Grail…
‘He’ll become the next Emperor.’
A powerful one, at that.
She tightly closed her eyes.
‘The Duke is offering the Grail…’
A shiver ran down her spine.
‘Everything makes sense now.’
Why Laperion, once neutral, had backed the First Prince.
‘He wanted the freedom to be with the maid.’
His feelings for her were genuine—so much that he might even forsake his title.
‘He planned to abandon his position and start a new life in a new land.’
And the First Prince must have promised him that sanctuary.
‘So for that, he searched for the Grail… and me…’
“You gave the poisoned cup to His Highness for something like this?”
Derion’s trembling voice echoed in her mind.
‘He let me die… for her.’
Ashlyn bit her lip.
‘What was I even thinking?’
She admitted: being loved wholeheartedly didn’t feel so bad.
Maybe she had looked for excuses to accept it.
‘Aren’t you going to the palace?’
‘You seem to get letters from the First Prince often.’
‘Laperion supports the First Prince—it makes sense now.’
What had she been trying to confirm with those questions?
‘I’d rather kill another monster than waste time on that dimwit First Prince.’
When she heard that answer, she’d foolishly felt relief.
‘Ah, so the Duke isn’t on the First Prince’s side…’
‘Then maybe… it wasn’t his will to hand over the poison.’
‘Maybe it was just an accident… something he couldn’t help…’
‘Then maybe I don’t need to be so wary.’
‘Maybe… I can rely on him a little.’
“Ha…”
A bitter laugh escaped.
‘He doesn’t love me. He loves the maid.’
‘And I’m just wearing her shell.’
She curled up.
‘How foolish.’
Everything felt like a farce.
She was just a stranger caught between Tevet and the maid.
The lamp’s light flickered out.
Unfamiliar emotions surged—feelings she didn’t know how to name.
Next evening:
“Where are you sneaking off to every night?” asked Sepia with a big yawn.
After work, Ashlyn was ready to go out again, still in uniform.
“Just for a walk.”
“Makes sense. Spring weather’s nice.”
Sepia plopped onto bed.
“The Duke’s going off to war again, huh?”
Ashlyn froze for a second.
“Heard so.”
“The manor will feel cold again. At least the work will ease up.”
“Do you know when he’s leaving?”
Ashlyn asked casually.
“Not sure. But Lena said the knights are stockpiling supplies fast, so probably soon.”
“I see.”
“Why do you ask?”
Ashlyn smiled.
“Just curious.”
“Ah, right. Since you manage his meals, your job will get easier.”
“Right.”
She stood.
“Go to sleep, Sepia. You look dead tired.”
“Yeah, I’ll sleep early tonight.”
“Come back soon, okay? I’ll leave the lamp on.”
“Sure.”
Ashlyn headed toward the main mansion’s drawing room.
Inside the parlor, she paused.
There was a bag on the table—one she hadn’t seen before.
“Oh, you’re here,” Derion greeted, barely glancing at her.
She approached, confused.
“What’s this bag?”
“I packed. Today’s the last day, remember?”
‘Already?’
She had forgotten the week had ended.
‘I have to part with Derion now.’
Her mood, already dreadful, plunged further.
Derion stuffed books into a worn canvas bag—clearly his only luggage.
“What’s with that sad face?”
“I didn’t think the week would pass so fast.”
“Oh? You sound like you’ll miss me.”
“I will.”
Ashlyn didn’t hesitate.
Derion blinked in surprise.
“Well, I still hate the North…”
He tilted his head and smiled—genuinely this time.
“But thanks. You were a pretty decent tea mate.”
“Magician…”
Ashlyn looked like she had more to say. His overstuffed bag felt oddly cruel.
‘I want to go with him… with Derion.’
She wanted to stay with someone who knew her real self.
Not the maid. But the real Ashlyn.
Though he probably thought she was just a maid of the duchy—
‘Maybe I should just tell him the truth…’
The urge consumed her.
