Chapter 07
“How is it? Do I look sick?”
Irein asked Rachel with hollow eyes.
Dark circles—so deep it was hard to tell if they were real or fake—had formed under her eyes.
Since yesterday afternoon, Irein hadn’t stayed still for a moment.
Trying to make herself look like a proper patient, she forced herself to finish all her estate administrative work, then spent the entire night until this morning swinging her sword in the private training grounds.
She had clearly overdone it—her cheeks looked noticeably thinner to Rachel.
“My lady, you’re really going to ruin your health like this. You’ve been drinking nonstop for days, and now you’re not even sleeping?”
Rachel spoke with deep concern.
“Just today. If I can get through today, I think it’ll be fine.”
That’s how Irein felt. Today seemed even more important than the title conferment ceremony.
So she intended to act like a frail noble who collapsed after going outside the estate for the first time in a while.
“That excuse only works for today. When you come back, I’m going to take your health seriously—so be prepared!”
Rachel, pretending to be stern, fixed Irein’s clothes.
She thought of Irein like a younger sister.
After escaping abuse at an orphanage, Rachel had been taken in by the Marquis Chaint family and allowed to work as a maid in their mansion.
Later, at the marquis couple’s request, she began taking care of the frail Irein. She tried to repay the kindness she had received through her.
And aside from that, Irein was lovable.
Despite her weak body, she often caused trouble, but she followed Rachel well and brightened those around her.
Maybe that was why Rachel had grown even more attached.
“So go and come back quickly. I’ll prepare a dinner full of all your favorite foods tonight.”
It pained her to see Irein carrying so much after the death of the marquis couple.
But whether Irein left for revenge or now, there was nothing Rachel could do except remain at the mansion as head maid and wait for her.
“I will.”
As if she understood that feeling, Irein squeezed Rachel’s hand once before boarding the carriage.
“Sir Otten, please take good care of my lady.”
“Yes! I’ll stay right by the head of the household’s side! That’s why I’m riding in the carriage with her, isn’t it?”
Cedric, burning with determination on his first day as a guard, answered loudly.
Soon, the carriage set off with the crack of the driver’s whip.
“Don’t worry too much, Head Maid. He may seem a bit clumsy, but his skills are excellent.”
Liam, the captain of the knights, said as he watched the carriage disappear.
He had come out because he was a little worried about Cedric going to the imperial palace on his first day.
Meanwhile, Cedric, smiling brightly, kept touching the badge Irein had given him yesterday.
It was a funny sight—a large man taking up nearly one side of the carriage, cherishing such a small badge.
Watching his innocent behavior, Irein let out a small laugh.
“You like it that much?”
“When I look at this, it really hits me that I’m a guard knight of the Chaint family.”
“Aren’t you nervous? We’re heading to the imperial palace.”
“We’re not going because you did anything wrong, are we?”
It was an innocent question.
But that innocence struck Irein harder than expected.
“…Well, that’s true, but…”
“Are you afraid of His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Everyone is.”
Unable to explain that fear wasn’t quite the right word, Irein brushed it off.
“Ah, there’s no need to be afraid. I’ve seen him once—he didn’t seem like someone who would kill innocent people for no reason.”
‘That’s the problem—I’m not innocent.’
Irein cursed inwardly and leaned back against her seat.
Even though their eyes had only met briefly at the engagement ceremony, those red eyes—clearly fixed on her—still lingered in her mind.
To become Essi Ahil, she had dyed her hair and covered half her face with fake scars.
She mixed in the language of the Kunt continent when speaking and deliberately let its accent slip out.
No one would have thought she was from the Pleta Empire.
Everything she used came from “The Secret”—it was practically creating an entirely different person.
‘And yet… there’s one thing that bothers me.’
Her blue eyes, like a summer sea—just like her mother Vanessa’s.
There were many blue-eyed people in the empire, but hers were different.
Clear, vivid—like holding the summer ocean itself.
Even Siera, who disliked praising her, would unconsciously stare and admire them.
“Ha… Mother, why did you make my eyes so beautiful?”
Irein grumbled—though it sounded suspiciously like bragging.
“Pardon? Ah, yes, your eyes are beautiful, my lady.”
“That’s not what I meant, Cedric.”
Though she denied it, the corners of her lips curled upward.
‘Then all I can do is hope the mask worked.’
Her eyes had been hidden behind a mask—easy to miss unless someone looked closely.
And most of the time they met, it had been night or early dawn.
Still, she couldn’t be sure.
Killian had sharp instincts.
While she developed hers as an assassin, his were forged naturally on the battlefield from a young age.
“Oh, right. The head maid and the captain call you ‘young lady.’ Should I do the same?”
Cedric asked seriously.
“They’ve been with me since before I became a marquis. Call me whatever you want—but outside the estate, call me ‘Head of the House’ or ‘Marquis.’”
“Then I’ll call you Head of the House. I’ll serve you well today.”
His determined expression made Irein smile faintly.
“Just don’t forget what I told you this morning.”
“Yes! That you were born weak, that your health has improved, but after the engagement ceremony you’re unwell today. I remember everything!”
Satisfied, Irein nodded.
“Then get some sleep. I heard you didn’t sleep at all last night. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
“No need. I’ve gone days without sleep before.”
For an assassin, staying awake for days on surveillance was basic.
One sleepless night didn’t bother her.
Leaning against the window, Irein watched the passing scenery.
The Chaint territory was peaceful.
Its location was excellent, and the people were kind and simple—there were no major problems as a lord.
The quiet scenery reflected that serenity.
“I’m waiting for the right time. The snare is already set—just waiting for it to tighten.”
“The more they struggle, the tighter it will become.”
Irein frowned and opened her eyes.
Cedric was just about to reach out to wake her.
“I was just about to wake you. You’re already up?”
So much for assassin instincts.
Though she had woken from sensing him, Irein felt annoyed at herself for dozing off.
Worse, she had just heard Killian’s words from four years ago echo in her ears.
“My lady… your eyes are extremely bloodshot.”
She already looked like a patient, and now with bloodshot eyes, she looked like she might collapse at any moment.
“This is a gift from the heavens, Cedric.”
It was a blessing in disguise.
Surely this was compensation for hearing Killian’s voice in her sleep—otherwise how could she look this convincingly sick?
“Are we almost there?”
“Yes, we’re in front of the imperial palace.”
Looking outside, the carriage was entering the palace grounds.
It was her first time seeing it in broad daylight.
The vast palace was filled with the Valendir royal family’s signature red.
At the entrance, a garden bloomed with red roses surrounding a grand fountain, adding to its splendor.
“Welcome, Marquis Chaint.”
Leoni greeted them as they stepped down from the carriage.
With Cedric’s support, Irein returned the greeting.
“His Majesty is waiting. Please follow me.”
“Um… may I ask why His Majesty summoned me…?”
Irein asked, her voice slightly hoarse from just waking up.
Leoni glanced back at her.
Pale face. Bloodshot eyes. Slouched posture.
Compared to the guard beside her, she looked utterly fragile.
“His Majesty only instructed me to escort you. I do not know the reason.”
After a brief reply, Leoni continued leading the way.
Soon, they arrived in front of the reception room.
Without realizing it, Irein swallowed.
Knock, knock.
“Your Majesty, Marquis Chaint has arrived.”
