Chapter 7
“…Alchemy?”
Eluana’s eyes widened.
Kazar had said something like that too. Her gaze shifted to the bars of the cell beside hers. The jagged, twisted bars seemed to be whispering something to her.
The Duke of Spes also looked at the bent bars.
“Yes. It’s an alchemical ability.”
Eluana’s pupils trembled.
“Do you think a regular iron sword could break a mithril-infused one? One crafted by a dwarf and presented to the Imperial Family? I’ll ask again. Where is Ron Vita?”
Eluana bit her lip. The Duke clearly believed she had made the sword. But she couldn’t mention Ron’s death. That would be handing over a weakness.
“I don’t know. He went on a journey.”
Despite the obvious lie, the Duke of Spes showed no reaction. As he remained silent, Eluana focused on what he’d said about the sword being alchemically made.
The only reason Regis could accuse her of dark arts was because, by common knowledge, iron couldn’t possibly break mithril. But alchemy changed the story.
They say an elixir made through alchemy could revive even the dying. It was such a rare ability that even in the Duke’s family, only a select few inherited it.
Now she was certain—why her so-called biological father suddenly appeared.
‘It must be because of the alchemical ability.’
A rare ability meant it had value. Knowing the reason she was being taken made her feel strangely relieved.
Eluana’s eyes lit up as she spoke.
“So I’m useful? Then please, find my brother—my little brother Louis. If you treat him well, I’ll be even more useful to you.”
The Duke’s gaze darkened.
“I’m telling you now, you can clear your name.”
Only then did Eluana look directly at him.
“If we reveal this sword was created through alchemy, the accusation of dark magic will be dropped. The First Prince will have to pay the price.”
“The price?”
When Eluana repeated the word, the Duke realized she had understood. He reached out his hand again.
“Come with me.”
It was a tempting offer.
“You’ll really find Louis and bring him to me?”
“Of course. I swear it on my name.”
Hope and anxiety swirled within her. She had no other choice. If it meant leaving prison and reuniting with Louis, she’d even take the devil’s hand.
Eluana Vita willingly placed her hand in the Duke’s.
“I’ll follow you, Duke.”
She decided to trust her mother’s judgment. The man her mother once loved couldn’t be all bad… she hoped.
Using the Duke’s hand as a cane, Eluana stood and turned to step out of the cell. At that moment, the Duke’s eyes cooled sharply.
Her clothes were stained with blood at the back.
“Are you injured?”
“Huh? What do you mean…”
“There seems to be a wound on your back.”
Startled by the suddenly heavy tone, Eluana turned around. The Duke’s eyes were on her back.
“Oh, I was beaten.”
“Who laid hands on you?”
“The First Prince.”
She barely managed to correct herself, almost saying “bastard” or “that son of a—” out of habit. She ended it with “His Highness” instead.
“You need treatment.”
The Duke offered his hand again, intending to help her walk, but Eluana flinched and stepped back.
“I can walk by myself.”
Sensing the subtle rejection in her face, the Duke awkwardly lowered his hand and turned.
“Fine. Then follow me.”
He walked ahead stiffly.
The moment he heard she had been beaten, he had been struggling to contain his rage. He quickened his pace slightly, afraid of pressuring the child.
Eluana, meanwhile, was lost in thought.
Ron had told her the Empire had three main powers: the pro-imperial faction centered around the Emperor, the noble faction led by the Marquess of Pegimul, and the Duke of Spes, whose house alone rivaled both.
She didn’t know politics, but she understood that breaking the Crown Prince’s sword, the “Imperial Blade,” was a big deal. If the accusation of dark magic was lifted, the responsibility would fall solely on the First Prince. That might turn the Duke’s family against the Marquess of Pegimul, the Prince’s main supporter.
Would her alchemical ability be worth the political risk? She could only hope so.
Eluana climbed the stairs. Was she really allowed to leave like this? It worried her, but she had no choice but to trust the Duke.
As they climbed one more flight, the iron door marking the prison entrance appeared. The Duke’s attendant opened it right away.
Just as the Duke stepped out, he asked the attendant:
“Where is His Highness the Prince now?”
As Eluana stepped out behind him, a gust of wind blew. Through her fluttering hair, she saw the night sky. Stars scattered across the black sky seemed to whisper to her:
Poor thing. You can no longer escape your fate.
✦
Louis woke with a shiver. Blue sky peeked through gaps in the wooden roof. A breeze stirred his mud-caked, hardened pink hair.
‘Where am I…’
Lying in a shack with half its roof missing, Louis’s eyes flew open. He remembered clearly—Eluana being dragged away by her hair.
“Noona!”
He bolted upright and looked around. Eluana was nowhere in sight. Instead, beyond the small campfire, Kazar lay motionless.
“Hyung…”
Louis crawled over. With small hands, he shook Kazar’s body, but there was no reaction.
“Asleep?”
Worry clouded his voice. He gently touched Kazar’s forehead.
Cold as ice.
“No… this isn’t good. Hyung… you’re not dead, right?”
You can’t die. We have to go save Noona. Louis didn’t even know where they were.
He began to sob quietly, scanning the surroundings again. Half the walls of the shack were missing too. Through one side, he could see a gently flowing river.
“…You can’t die.”
Then Kazar’s lips moved, and a raspy voice escaped.
“Not dead yet.”
“Hyung!”
Hope lit in Louis’s eyes. But it quickly turned to fear.
Kazar didn’t speak again. He didn’t move. Not even his eyes opened.
“…Hyung?”
No answer. A tear rolled down Louis’s cheek.
“Don’t die, Hyung.”
No one…
“Don’t die…”
Louis sobbed, keeping his cries quiet despite his fear and sorrow.
Kazar gathered his remaining focus. Getting swept downstream to the planned location had gone well. Lighting the fire with the last of his strength was all he could do.
He had blacked out afterward. And now he couldn’t even move a finger.
The problem: a tracker might come.
“Follow the path behind the shack. Walk a full day, and you’ll reach Yonez Village. Go to the inn called ‘Under the Stars’ and say my name. Ask for help. Tell them I’m poisoned.”
Hearing his voice, Louis held his breath and listened closely. Kazar spat the words out quickly, then exhaled harshly.
“Hyung…”
“Louis, you have to go alone. Can you do it?”
It wasn’t a matter of whether he could or couldn’t. Louis understood he had to.
“I can do it. Yonez, Under the Stars, poisoned.”
He repeated the key words. What’s “poisoned”? He didn’t know, but he’d say it exactly.
Kazar fell silent. He knew Louis had to leave soon, but even lifting a foot felt impossible.
Louis pulled five gold coins from the satin pouch around his neck and stuffed them in Kazar’s pants pocket.
Two days round trip. Kazar might wake up before then, or someone could find him. Better to have money than none at all.
“I’ll be back. Wait for me, Hyung.”
With the sound of gravel crunching, Louis walked away.
He said it’d take a day, but for a child, it might take two. Given that he hadn’t eaten properly in days, it was possible he might not make it.
Still, if he made it, there was hope.
‘The real problem is me.’
Kazar doubted he could hold out until Louis returned. The poisoning was bad enough, but there were still trackers out there.
The slavers who had dragged him to Aden wouldn’t just let this go.
Now, all he could do was leave it to the heavens.
✦
Regis swallowed hard. The Duke of Spes had shown up at the Imperial villa—a thunderbolt from a clear sky. The man had barged in, demanding to see Ron Vita. Said the sword he made was created through alchemy.
Regis had awkwardly explained the situation, and the Duke, with cold eyes, asked:
“Where are the children?”
Intimidated, Regis had ordered his attendant to escort the elder one. When he mentioned the younger one had fled, the Duke glared at him.
What troubled Regis most was the phrase “alchemically made sword.” He made a subtle hand signal, and the man behind him stepped closer.
“Has anyone gone missing from House Spes?”
“Thirty-eight years ago, Lord Redon—Your Grace’s uncle—ran away and never returned.”
“What’s the chance Ron Vita is his child?”
“Quite high. A few years later, the Vita family went bankrupt. He could’ve bought his identity then.”
A bad feeling loomed. And he had foolishly imprisoned and beaten the children.
“Did that brat Kazar escape to the Kingdom of Bellua?”
“Our men are pursuing him. We’ll have good news soon.”
“Make sure the princess gets Kazar. As for the brat who fled with him—bury them. The Duke must never find them. No body.”
“Yes, sir.”
Regis looked at the loyal man. Jay of the ‘Deep Night’—one of the Empire’s top three intelligence groups. They’d spent an immense fortune to bring him in.
“Earn your pay.”
Jay bowed and slipped out. Just then, a pale-faced attendant entered.
“What is it?”
“The Duke took Eluana Vita from the prison. He’s outside now, asking to see you.”
“Bring him in.”
Regis smoothed his face. Turns out she was the Duke’s blood. What a disaster. If the beatings came up, it’d be bad. He plastered on a gracious smile.
“You’re back.”
“I have a favor, Your Highness.”
“For me?”
“I left in a hurry and brought nothing. I need travel funds. And I’d like to use the Imperial video orb in the villa.”
“Of course. Use it freely.”
Relieved the Duke didn’t mention Eluana’s condition, Regis led him to the next room. A transparent orb sat on the desk.
Regis pressed his finger to a plate beneath it. A fine needle pricked him, and the orb lit up.
The Duke motioned toward the attendants.
“Could you dismiss the staff?”
“Ah, yes, yes. Of course. I’ll step out too.”
As Regis turned to follow, the Duke stopped him.
“Your Highness, would you remain just a little longer? I have one more call to make.”
“Oh, sure. As you wish.”
Regis stood awkwardly in the back. The Duke touched the orb again—and a loud voice rang out.
“Duuuuuuke! Where are youuuu!”
The Duke answered briefly:
“Aden.”
