Chapter 151

The imperial capital, Pellena, was dazzling. As the place where the Emperor and all manner of high-ranking nobles resided, even the smallest shops on the street corners kept up with the latest trends, and even the poor did whatever they could to dress themselves up.

In her previous life, Nerys had once admired and taken pride in that splendor. But right before her death, she had found it meaningless, and having now seen the Maindulante’s stately grandeur, Pellena’s exaggerated colors only felt gaudy.

Her carriage, surrounded by Imperial knights, turned into Roise Street, the area where the highest-ranking residents of Pellena lived. Dora, seated beside her, spoke.

“The carriage is slowing down.”

Unlike the string of outrageous remarks he had made in the meeting room of White Swan Castle, Adrian had been considerate of Nerys throughout the escort. Claiming he had brought no attendant of his own, he had even agreed to Dora accompanying her, which was part of that consideration.

Knowing her mother must have been appalled to hear that her daughter had been arrested for the murder of a marquis, Nerys would have felt guilty if Dora had been taken away as well. But she also didn’t know what might happen during the escort. Even if Adrian wanted to deliver her safely, there was always the risk of another attack.

So after much thought, Nerys decided to trust Ellen and boarded the escort carriage with Dora. Dora, who had practically managed the entire West Palace by herself while also attending to Nerys, handled the work of a dozen people throughout the journey.

“Yes. We must be arriving soon.”

If the long journey was finally ending, she would welcome it. The seasons had changed during their travels, and now it was the heart of winter; winter journeys were never pleasant. Nerys nodded, but Dora, as she had done all along, kept a cautious gleam in her eyes.

“However, my lady, this does not seem to be near the imperial palace. You must be on your guard, in case they suddenly attack.”

Though called an escort carriage, it was merely a luxurious coach surrounded by Imperial knights. They could see out the window, and since Dora had spotted no building resembling the palace, she drew that conclusion.

But this street was very familiar to Nerys. She replied leisurely,

“Yes. Just as I guessed. Don’t worry, there will be no attack.”

Dora blinked in surprise.

“As you guessed?”

“Why else bring me here safely? A living me is more valuable than a dead one. They’re planning to sell me off.”

Unaware of the situation, Dora was horrified.

“Sell you? To whom could they possibly…!”

Just then, the carriage stopped.

The door was flung open without so much as a by-your-leave. For someone to open a lady’s carriage uninvited was unthinkably rude by society’s standards, but since it was Adrian, it was almost understandable. Wearing the look of a man basking in triumph, he said,

“Get down and see for yourself. We’ve arrived at your family estate, smart girl.”

It was exactly as she had expected. Dora looked puzzled at the word “family,” but Nerys said nothing and stepped out.

Through the ranks of Imperial knights, the grand Elandria ducal mansion—her former family home in her previous life—came into view.

A massive residence, intimidating in scale yet lavishly attended to in every detail. Now that winter had come, the fountain in front of the main building was dry, but Nerys knew how beautiful it looked in summer.

The center of power, brimming with glory and wealth.

But to Nerys, it was nothing more than a place of bitter loneliness and sorrow.

Adrian, misreading the look she gave the mansion, said smugly,

“When summoned, you must appear immediately. During the investigation into your alleged murder of the marquis, we’re letting you stay comfortably with your own family. The imperial prison isn’t fit for a noble lady. You should be grateful.”

The phrase “your own family” stirred murderous intent in Nerys. Since when was the Elandria family her family? Her surname was Truydd.

She had gone to great lengths to erase that name from her life.

This flashy procession could hardly have gone unnoticed within the mansion. As several people emerged from the main gate, Nerys fixed a contemptuous gaze on the silver-haired man at their head.

No way she’d let someone who had taken such trouble to arrange this go without acknowledgment. Just before the group reached the gate, Nerys looked Adrian in the eye and, regardless of how she truly felt, smiled faintly.

Though a bit haggard from the long journey, her delicate features still held an eye-catching charm. Adrian swallowed without thinking.

Holding his gaze, Nerys spoke gently,

“Thank you for bringing me here. I’m sure you’ll also report how you’ve looked after my situation like this.”

Adrian’s focus wavered for an instant. Without realizing what he was saying, he replied,

“Of course, in detail.”

“I have no doubt you will. If His Grace were to be reprimanded for showing me such consideration, I’d feel terrible. I trust that if you report fully, honestly, and in detail why you brought me here, your warm-hearted intentions will be taken into account.”

For a moment, Adrian thought blankly. Was that so? He had planned to make up an excuse, but maybe just telling the truth would work? That he had done this for a bribe from the Elandria family? He’d have to report to Camille and to the Emperor…

Nerys Truydd was clever. She’d guessed the Elandria family would want her. In fact, Adrian had received a sum large enough to change a man’s fortunes several times over.

Before he could finish the thought, the gates of the Elandria mansion opened. As she turned her gaze to Nellusion, who was approaching with his attendants, Nerys instantly put on a pitiful expression.

“Brother!”

Now an adult, Nellusion had taken over many of his father’s duties and become an intelligent, refined man. He greeted Nerys with a gentle smile.

“Nerys, it’s been a while.”

Nerys thought he must be desperate to play the part of the doting brother. Whatever she thought, Nellusion politely greeted Adrian.

“I don’t know how to repay Your Grace for favoring our family in this way. I’d like to invite you to dine with us soon.”

“It’s nothing.”

Despite his words, Adrian puffed out his chest and spoke with a swagger. Nellusion, sounding perfectly sincere, said,

“What do you mean? You went out of your way to let her stay with us instead of the imperial prison. I won’t forget your consideration.”

“Haha! It’s nothing!”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries. Nellusion always had a way of making people believe he meant every word, so Adrian left in high spirits.

Once only Nerys and Dora remained, Nellusion spoke kindly.

“Let’s go in. I’ve heard everything. You must have been scared.”

‘You must have plenty more you want to say than that.’

While mocking him inwardly, Nerys put on a frail, lonely smile.

“I’m so… very sorry, brother. To cause the family such trouble, and you as well…”

“No, it’s all a misunderstanding, so let’s clear it up. Just tell me what happened, and I’ll take care of it.”

Nellusion reached out to put an arm around her shoulder, but Dora knocked his hand away.

No matter how kind he pretended to be, such an act was unacceptable. Looking slightly uncomfortable, Nellusion glanced at Dora and asked Nerys,

“Who is she?”

“My maid. From Maindulante… um, I brought…”

At her hesitation over the word “brought,” Nellusion felt some of his long-held displeasure fade.

He had thought she left after graduation to work for some old woman in the countryside. Then he’d suddenly heard she had been found in the Maindulante ducal castle, in possession of the Jeweled Eyes. His shock had been beyond words.

But the shock quickly turned to distaste. In truth, Nellusion disliked anything he couldn’t control.

And now, the piece he had cultivated since childhood, the one about to become his trump card for victory, had slipped from his grasp—only to fall into the hands of someone on the watch list.

Until then, Nellusion had felt nothing in particular toward Cledwyn. But the moment he heard that Nerys had been working under him, he came to strongly dislike the man. Naturally, he began to doubt Nerys’s intentions as well.

‘How much does Nerys know about the Jeweled Eyes?’

Nellusion had never seen the Jeweled Eyes of Ja’an before, and neither had anyone else on the continent. But with the information and theories the family had secretly gathered, he could at least guess at its nature. Nerys, however, would have no such knowledge.

Unless Cledwyn had told her.

The Elandria family had ambitions, and they couldn’t let Nerys’s sudden actions become a hindrance.

That was why Adrian bringing her to the family was a good thing. And from her demeanor, it seemed she hadn’t completely aligned herself with the other side.

Nellusion was relieved. His pride and confidence in his own judgment swelled again. No, the innocent, naive Nerys he’d known wouldn’t have slipped from his grasp, wouldn’t have come to hate him, wouldn’t have cut off contact by choice.

‘That damned duke must have manipulated her.’

How could she have known about the Jeweled Eyes? The sly duke must have seduced her and taken her under his control. The rumor of his inappropriate behavior toward her at the graduation ball was probably born from him trying to pry Elandria secrets from her.

Then was this maid someone the Maindulante duke had planted to watch her?

Nellusion decided to resolve the matter himself. If he was wrong and Nerys was scheming here and now, then after a few words at home, ignorant of the capital’s social games, she would reveal everything. In that case, he had ways to coax her.

“I see, your maid. But I’ve already chosen someone to care for you here. Let’s send her back, all right?”

Nerys darted an uneasy, frightened glance at Dora. Then, just enough for Nellusion to notice, she let slip a trace of relief.

So she hadn’t gone north by choice. Maybe she’d been kidnapped.

Nellusion relaxed entirely, though he didn’t know why. Gesturing to his attendants, he had Dora removed.

Dora looked flustered as she saw the gates close before her.

“My lady! My lady! You must take me with you!”

But Nellusion wrapped his arm around Nerys’s shoulders at last and led her toward the mansion, smiling gently.

“Come, Nerys. It’s been hard, hasn’t it? Rest for now. Father and Mother will be glad to see you. And Valentin is home too—it’s winter break. The family will dine together for once.” (T/N: Oh realllyyyy, our bitch Valentin is here? This arc’s gonna be exciting again.)

Family? Without even an adoption this time? Nerys scoffed inwardly but wore the expression of someone who had finally found peace after a long ordeal.

“Yes, brother. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you’re here. I was so afraid.”

As Dora clung to the gate, Nellusion’s trusted knight and childhood friend, Joseph Caron, kicked her aside. Ordering the guards to secure the gate, he followed Nellusion inside.

No one else noticed the smile on Dora’s lips as she walked away from the mansion—nor the matching smile on Nerys’s face.