YWPWYLFDM 17

Chapter 17

‘The instructions he gave before’—what could that be? She didn’t know, but since it concerned herself, the curiosity gnawed at her like a thirst.

“You’re not going to argue with me now, are you, Cloud?”

“……”

What was even stranger was that Cloud, who always showed absolute obedience to Byron, was opposing him—just because Aila was still young.

Because the flow of this life had already started to diverge from the previous one, Aila couldn’t predict what might happen anymore. Her anxious eyes fixed on Cloud, desperately searching his face.

But Cloud didn’t seem to notice her silent plea at all.

“Cloud.”

“…Yes, Master.”

Pressed again and again by Byron, Cloud—who had hesitated—finally gave in with a reluctant nod of assent.

“Good. Then let’s eat.”

Byron, looking satisfied, sent Aila back to her seat and began his meal. But she couldn’t focus on the food at all.

What was that about? What exactly had he ordered Cloud to do—especially if it had to do with her?

Thanks to that mystery, Aila had to finish her meal in a daze, barely noticing whether she was chewing or swallowing.

Her question was answered only a few days later—by Cloud himself.

Even though Byron had returned to his daily life, it was still too dangerous to act rashly. So Aila had endured those days quietly, nerves taut, until at last Cloud summoned her.

“…What is this?”

She entered an unfamiliar room where Cloud was waiting, led by Laura, and asked in surprise.

Of course, it wasn’t because she didn’t recognize what was in front of her. On the contrary—it was all too familiar. That was why she asked: why was it here, now?

Glass tanks containing live vipers and poisonous insects. Bundles of dried toxic herbs.

“…From today, you’ll begin studying how to handle poisons,” Cloud said grimly.

“Poison?”

So suddenly?

She had first learned to handle poison when she turned fifteen—just before she entered the Duke’s household.

Only after mastering nearly every other skill had Cloud begun teaching her how to use poisons, since it was far too dangerous for a child.

But now… why bring it forward by three whole years?

“Yes. By order of Master.”

So that was Byron’s decision, after days of seclusion in his room. He had ordered Cloud to teach her poisons.

‘To a twelve-year-old…?’

She herself had already learned it once, so it wasn’t dangerous for her. But if she truly were an ordinary twelve-year-old, it would be reckless—deadly, even. One mistake handling those snakes or insects, and she could die.

“Because it’s dangerous, you must never enter this room alone. You are to train only under my supervision. Understood?”

Cloud’s stern voice showed that he, too, was uneasy. Aila only nodded halfheartedly.

‘…Is Byron rushing because of Mother’s illness? If not, this makes no sense.’

She fell deep into thought.

If he really was rushing, would that turn out to be an opportunity for her—or a crisis?

‘Maybe I can return to the Duke’s household sooner than expected.’

If she proved now that she was already the perfect assassin Byron desired… perhaps she might be sent straight back to the Duke’s estate. Then this precarious balancing act would finally end, and she could return to the parents she missed so dearly.

‘But the problem is, I still don’t know all of Byron’s plans.’

Even if she exposed his scheme to assassinate Roderick, she couldn’t stop everything that would follow.

And from what she had overheard between Byron and Cloud, there was a spy inside the Duke’s household. Not just Laura, who would go there as her maid, but someone else as well.

Moreover, Byron was planning to gather strength from many allies. She needed to find out who they were, and who their true target was.

Until then, she had to stay hidden.

‘…Not until I know every piece of your plan will I become the assassin you want.’

With that vow, Aila clenched her fists tightly.

The first lesson in toxicology was simple—memorizing the names and effects of poisonous herbs.

Ordinary toxicology was taught to prevent and treat poisoning. But what Aila was learning had a darker purpose: to use poison to harm others.

Cloud hadn’t expected much, so when she fumbled with names or pretended to forget an effect, he didn’t scold her.

In truth, Aila already knew everything, but she feigned mistakes and even acted as if she were upset over them, to the point that Cloud found himself comforting her.

Night fell again.

Locked in her attic, Aila resolved to move that night.

‘…It’ll be risky if Byron shows up suddenly, but I can’t keep wasting time like this.’

She couldn’t be completely at ease, but she couldn’t afford to sit idle either. She would have to risk being caught.

If Byron was rushing, then she had to rush as well.

‘As long as I keep watch on his movements, I should be able to react if something happens.’

Only Laura held the key to her room. If Byron wanted her door unlocked, he would have to call Laura first, and that would buy her enough time to return.

Determined, she opened the hidden vault, changed clothes, and slipped out of her room.

The night was quiet. The night air, after so long, tasted sweet.

Silently moving through the darkness, she climbed up the familiar tree that overlooked Byron’s window.

Byron seemed back to his old habits, drinking alone in his brightly lit room.

‘Go to sleep already…’

She watched impatiently, wishing she’d waited longer before coming out.

Still, the cool breeze and the vast night sky were beautiful.

Her life had never allowed her much peace—whether when she was deceived into living only for Byron’s revenge, or now, after returning to the past, living only for her own.

Maybe… this fleeting respite wasn’t so bad after all.

She was gazing at the stars and moon when the lights in Byron’s room finally went out, and he lay down in bed.

At last, her chance.

After watching a while to make sure he was deeply asleep, Aila slipped inside.

‘If only I can find some real clue this time…’

Not another letter in strange code. Something concrete.

Her eyes went to his desk. But unlike before, when it had been piled with letters and documents, today it was unnervingly clean.

‘…Did he clean up? Too bad.’

She tried the drawers, but they were locked.

‘Am I going to have to leave empty-handed?’

Biting her lip in frustration, she scanned the room. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, details became clearer.

And then she noticed it—something hanging on the wall beside the desk. Something she hadn’t seen before.

She glanced at Byron to make sure he was still asleep, then crept closer.

‘Is this… a map?’

By moonlight, she studied the markings.

She wasn’t good with geography, having wandered all her childhood without knowing where she was. But this was unmistakably a map of the Pelles Empire—she recognized place names.

The capital, Venator, where she had lived at the Duke’s estate. The northern territory of Weissenhafen.

Looking again at Byron, she leaned closer. Across the map, X marks dotted the land.

It looked like a route marked by arrows, starting from the capital in the center and stretching all the way to the western edge of the empire.

‘There are dates written here…’

Each X mark had a date. The first stop after leaving the capital was only three days from now.

What did this map mean?

Careful not to touch it, she traced the arrows with her finger. But then—rustling behind her. Byron was moving.

‘Damn it.’

He was usually a heavy sleeper. Why now, of all times?

Panicked, Aila ducked under the desk. If he saw her, it was over.

The rustling didn’t stop. Then came a soft thud as he set his feet on the floor.

Thump. Thump. Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst out of her chest. She feared he could hear it.

‘Please… please…’

She squeezed her eyes shut, praying he would lie back down.

But her prayer went unanswered.

Step. Step. Slowly, his footsteps came closer—closer to the desk where she was hiding.

‘No… don’t come here…!’

Her sharpened hearing made each step feel like a nail driven into her skull.

And then—his footsteps stopped right in front of her hiding place.