Chapter 14
Five-year-old Etias walked through the garden of Cambiut Palace with his nanny.
Though dressed in mourning black, he was too young to grasp what his father’s death truly meant.
—This flower… it’s pretty. Just like her.
He reached out his small hand to touch it, when suddenly a dark shadow fell across his vision.
Etias slowly turned around and saw a man standing behind him.
The man’s face was shadowed ominously, backed by the cloud-darkened sky.
—…
The man slowly knelt to meet Etias’s gaze, lips parting.
—Live in silence.
His voice was chilling, heavy with warning.
Duke Elemoer. A fearsome man, like a thorny bramble that blocked out the blooming garden.
—If you don’t… you will certainly die.
Then, far off in the distance, flames rose in bright red from Cambiut Palace.
Etias stood frozen, eyes wide, as screams echoed horrifyingly from afar.
That was when it started.
The first time he had ever felt hatred—quietly taking root in his chest.
Etias sat atop the ruins, remembering that day.
The bitter smell of smoke still clung to his senses.
The man who had taken his uncle’s hand and stolen what rightfully belonged to Etias—
The Elemoer Dukedom.
And now he was forced to keep the revolutionary army afloat with help from a poorhouse backed by them.
“Focus on the path you must take.”
Still, when he found he couldn’t chew the hard bread in his hand and reluctantly set it down—
—Etias.
A breeze passed, and a voice seemed to echo in his mind.
His brow twitched. “Damn it,” he muttered, and slowly lifted the bread again.
He parted his lips and took a bite.
Somehow, it just felt like… he needed to.
…
He thought it would be too hard to chew, but it was baked just right—soft and fragrant.
The butter used was clearly high-grade.
To think such quality bread was handed out to the poor at a charitable event…
Weren’t such events just performative games for nobles to flaunt their wealth and dignity?
If it were Catrin Elemoer, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d handed out moldy loaves. So why…?
Just then, a child’s voice caught Etias’s attention.
“I knew poorhouses were a symbol of vanity!”
A girl, with a sack wrapped like a dress, mimicked a noble lady’s voice.
“And to bare your claws even in helping the poor? How vulgar!”
“Ha!”
“Go on! Say it again! The people will punish you!”
Another child, pretending to be a rival noble lady, turned dramatically.
Soon the two girls burst into giggles.
“Heehee! Wasn’t that perfect?”
“Yeah! Lady Catrin Elemoer was so cool!”
At those words, Etias’s blue eyes flickered.
He knew well why Catrin didn’t get along with other nobles—because of her rotten personality.
But in a world where nobles were obsessed with their own vanity, hearing that she had actually said something like that… felt oddly refreshing.
Without realizing it, Etias smiled faintly.
Then quickly set his expression again.
“What nonsense.”
After finishing the rest of the bread and an apple—his first proper meal in a while—Caron approached with a report.
“There’s been word from headquarters. Something’s happened at the Dobelton crossroads.”
Dobelton—the main road leading toward House Elemoer’s estate.
HP: ♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡
I checked my smartwatch and gleefully cradled my cheeks with both hands.
Etias’s hearts had increased by two.
If just one meal had that effect, how long had he been starving?
“That damn Emperor.”
I burned with fury—he had frozen Etias’s assets and gave him nothing but a measly military salary, working him to the bone.
My poor jelly bear, sacrificing his meals for the revolution… I’ll make sure you walk a sweet and flowery road. Just hold on a bit longer.
“Milady, are you alright?”
Heros looked at me with concern as I wiped away fake tears.
I quickly hardened my expression and responded calmly.
“It’s nothing.”
He bowed in quiet assent.
“Anyway, is the carriage ready? And the equipment?”
“All prepared. But are you sure…”
His expression darkened with worry.
He was clearly concerned for me.
And who wouldn’t be? It probably looked like I was walking into a trap with my eyes open. Not to mention, he didn’t truly understand what I was capable of.
I gave him a confident smile.
“I’ve got the Scavengers on my side. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Stretching my arms wide, I stepped out and descended the poorhouse stairs with brisk steps.
The staff in nun-like garb bowed deeply as I passed.
This place would serve as my forward base of operations from now on.
Escorted by Heros, I boarded the ornate carriage prepared in advance.
As night fell, the carriage rolled through the darkening streets, and I stared out the window with wicked violet eyes.
“Dobelton is just ahead.”
A slum district with poor security. Of course, even the beggars there wouldn’t dare attack a carriage from House Elemoer.
Everyone in the empire knew how terrifying Duke Elemoer was.
Even in death, his legacy lingered.
Which meant—if anyone did attack the Elemoer carriage tonight, they weren’t just common thugs.
“Here it is.”
With a tense face, Heros—wearing white gloves—handed me the item I’d requested.
Something to protect myself in the chaos ahead—a weapon, custom-made to my specifications.
Bang—!
Sure enough, not long after entering the crossroads, the carriage jerked to a sudden halt.
A group of black-clad assailants surrounded the carriage. Even at a glance, their aura was violent.
The Elemoer heiress, returning from a charity event, riding with minimal guards—a perfect mark.
They likely thought they’d surprise and capture me in an instant.
“What the hell do you want?”
“Wh-who’s there?!”
From behind the attackers, someone stepped forward—my reinforcements.
…
Scavenger members.
I had planned to use them tonight to subdue these rats and uncover the mastermind.
Padelmon Elemoer—the man licking his lips, eager to snatch up my inheritance once I died.
“You’ll regret underestimating me, uncle.”
With the sound of clashing weapons, the battle began.
“I’ll cover you, milady.”
As the carriage shook violently, Heros pulled a hidden dagger from his coat.
His gaze had completely changed.
Crash—!
He burst through the carriage door, crushing one attacker beneath it, then swiftly took down another and cleared a path for me.
“This way!”
The attack had been planned meticulously. The number of enemies was enormous.
These weren’t just Padelmon’s hired assassins—some of the private soldiers of Elemoer’s relatives were among them. I could tell from the crests dangling from their uniforms.
They must’ve thought killing one orphan girl was a guaranteed success—they hadn’t even bothered to disguise themselves.
Pathetic fools.
I gripped the custom bow I’d commissioned and nocked an arrow.
The shot flew true, piercing one attacker cleanly through the shoulder.
