Chapter 56
Ash stepped out into the reception hall, mingling with the last of the departing crowd. His lips curved slightly in a bittersweet smile as he recalled the beautiful bride, still vivid in his mind.
It was a pity that he hadn’t been able to bid her farewell, but it didn’t matter. He had a feeling they would meet again soon.
The woman he saw after such a long time was as remarkable and special as ever. And, in a way, the chaotic reception felt almost satisfying.
Then he saw her. A pretty young woman wearing a smile identical to his own. A woman whose face twisted with uncontainable joy, hoping something like this would happen.
Curiosity he could no longer suppress drove Ash to follow her. The red-haired woman, who seemed to carry the scent of roses, walked all the way to the vast lake behind Bahir Castle.
She looked around before tossing a small glass vial into the water.
“If you handle it so carelessly, it’s only a matter of time before someone finds out.”
“……!”
Ash, his deep violet eyes narrowing, addressed Camilla. Watching her actions, he realized he didn’t need to follow her any further.
“Did you see that?”
“You mean the poisoned vial she threw into the lake? I saw it clearly.”
Camilla’s golden eyes trembled beneath her eyelids, her already pale face paling even more.
“I—I didn’t do anything! I’ve never even opened that vial. Please, don’t tell His Highness the Duke.”
“Of course. I’m sure you didn’t do anything. Though I imagine you might have wanted to… Did you want to kill the bride? Or both of them?”
“…….”
Camilla clenched her teeth, her frown deepening, and tears shimmered down her cheeks.
She had tossed it aside, thinking she couldn’t bring herself to act—but now she had been caught. She truly hadn’t done anything. Being wrongly accused would drive her mad with frustration.
Ash leisurely stroked his chin. It was clear how inexperienced she was with this kind of situation; when asked about the poison vial, she spilled everything without hesitation.
“My lady, what’s your name?”
Camilla hesitated. This was a face he hadn’t seen in the North. If she reported him, things would escalate. She had no choice but to hope he would believe her.
“Camilla Elfreze.”
“Ah. So you’re the healer who met the bride?”
Ash tugged the hood of his robe over his sharp eyes and gestured lightly. The glass vial Camilla had thrown floated up from the lake and into his hand.
It was only natural that Camilla’s face turned pale.
“See? I told you it would get found out soon.”
“I—I really didn’t do anything. Please… believe me.”
Ash gently closed his eyes at Camilla, whose teeth were chattering.
“My lady, do you want me to keep this quiet for you? Then I have one request. I hope you’ll grant it.”
Camilla trembled like a mouse trapped in a jar, waiting for his instructions.
Ash leaned toward her, a mischievous glint on his sharp jawline, lowering himself to her eye level. Their quiet exchange continued until his hood slipped back, revealing his dark hair fluttering, the secretive whispers never ceasing.
That night
In the pitch-black underground of Bahir Castle, where even a sliver of moonlight could not penetrate, the cold frost covering the iron bars melted with the scream of a servant.
Drip.
“Please…”
Drip.
“Ahhh!”
With each droplet from the ceiling, blood trickled down the servant’s chin. His grotesque state convulsed as if he might faint at any moment.
“Hasst, stop for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Water sprayed and lamps lit at the command of their master.
Khalid scrutinized the battered servant—a loyal man who had served for many years.
The real problem was why he, who had been responsible for preparing meals, didn’t even bother to distinguish a simple poison before pouring the drink.
‘Because of that, she almost died.’
It clearly seemed like someone had targeted his wife. The realization stirred a quiet wave of anger, which Khalid forced down with clenched teeth.
“Y-You doubt my loyalty?”
The servant, sensing a cruel death at his master’s hands, summoned the last of his strength to plead.
“It’s unfair! From the beginning, Your Highness personally brought it, didn’t you see? You also witnessed that the condition was fine!”
Khalid’s eyebrow arched skeptically at the strained voice. He then slowly turned his gaze to Cedric, who watched idly.
“Brought it personally? Impossible. I handed the wine to the steward and told him to prepare it.” Khalid recalled the damned cousin impersonating him in the office to his wife.
“You—are you really suspecting me?”
Cedric, quick to catch on, crossed his arms confidently. His glare was clear: get rid of that suspicion immediately.
Khalid narrowed his eyes. A man with comparable strength could have already killed his wife, even without poison. It all fit together like a forcibly inserted puzzle.
“So the culprit isn’t ordinary.”
Whoever tried to turn this into a rift between the crown prince and others was disgusting, no matter who they were.
“Yes… This is absurd even to me.”
Cedric stood, irritated by watching the servant suffer. It was tedious, and now unpleasant.
Someone dared impersonate royalty—did they think their life had a backup?
“Look, you’ve kept me up. I’m busy, you know. Stop whining about being wronged and just tell me: did the Duke give you the wine?”
“Eeeek!”
Cedric approached the servant, trying to coax a confession. The servant recoiled in fright.
“Ha! Your eyes… Yes, it was you who gave the order!”
“No, not me. Even the hair color’s different now. Stop saying nonsense.”
Even Cedric’s previously relaxed brow furrowed. Frustration surfaced.
The servant’s lips, dried with blood, trembled as he crawled forward, clutching his master’s leg.
“I really didn’t! Please, believe me, master! Please!”
Blood and sweat mixed in his tears, falling in streams. His hands shook violently, desperate.
A slight vein bulged on Khalid’s forearm as he silently surveyed the servant. After reconsidering multiple times, the most suspicious person remained—unfortunately—the servant himself.
“Ghh! Those… terrifyingly cold eyes!”
Then, suddenly, the whites of the servant’s eyes twisted painfully as he clawed at his head.
Within the distorted memory, the harsh winter gaze remained vivid—the one truth amidst the chaos.
Growl—
Something strange happened. A beastly howl tore from his throat. Drool ran down his mouth as a cursed aura surged from his body like tentacles.
Khalid, Cedric, and Hasst all widened their eyes.
“Wow… unbelievable.”
Cedric sighed, drawing his sword, breaking the silence. Khalid also drew his sharpened blade and gave orders.
“Hasst.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll handle this. Make sure no one else sees or hears anything.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hasst moved quickly, while Khalid sniffed, recognizing the scent—a sudden whiff of shadow flower from the servant.
The servant, enveloped in a black oily aura unlike Khalid’s curse, revived with a roar.
“Kieek!”
Torn red eyes, quivering black flesh, sharp teeth, claws, an ear-piercing scream—the servant had become a true demonic beast.
“I trust you.”
Khalid clenched his teeth, drawing a conclusion.
“As someone who was once mine, I will catch whoever did this and settle the score.”
“Kyaaaah!”
The beast’s attacks moved at lightning speed toward the two men, but only so much—the beast’s limbs were severed in an instant.
Khalid gritted his teeth, swiftly cutting the beast’s head to allow it to pass quickly.
Thunk.
Fshhh!
The servant’s black blood gushed like a fountain. It felt like sinking into a familiar, long-missed muck.
“Cousin, have you ever seen a human turn into a beast?”
“Never.”
“Me neither. This is serious.”
Cedric frowned, watching the remnants of the beast, now reduced to ashes except for sticky blood.
“But do you know what’s worse?”
Khalid gestured to the remains.
“The same scent was at my brother’s death scene. This dangerous flower fragrance.”
Cedric sheathed his sword and rubbed his neck. An unprecedented case added to an already delicate investigation.
“The Mage Tower had been searched long ago. Looks like you and I are chasing the same person.”
“Let’s head back for now.”
Khalid spoke clearly. If Cedric’s hunch was correct, capturing the culprit would require time and effort.
He removed his gloves and brushed back his damp hair. At least his stepfather’s name had been cleared—some small victory.
He thought of his wife’s pale, bloodless face. He wondered how she was doing and wanted to see her.
