Chapter 207

               

“It turned out just the way you wanted.”

At the sudden statement from her husband, who had barged into the office as usual, Nerys raised an eyebrow without rising from her chair.

“What did?”

“Just a second.”

Smooch, smooch, smooch. Like he was retrieving a deposited item, Cledwyn perched on the edge of the desk and kissed his wife over it. At first, the kisses were short and quick, as if he found her unbearably cute, but they gradually deepened.

It was only after quite some time—when Nerys could barely breathe—that he finally let her go. She was used to it now, but she sometimes had her doubts. Every time he came to see her, it always started like this. Was he just here for kisses?

Reading the thought that crossed her small face, Cledwyn let out a light chuckle.

“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re right.”

“You know what I’m thinking?”

“Ah, no. Whatever you’re thinking, I want something even more.”

His thick thumb pressed down suggestively on her small lips. Blushing, Nerys asked,

“…So, what turned out the way I wanted?”

“This.”

Still perched crookedly on the desk, Cledwyn pulled a letter from his coat. Nerys accepted it and read.

Her eyes moved back and forth several times before settling on one spot. She smiled with satisfaction.

“Nellusion and Megara have finally joined hands.”

The letter Cledwyn gave her was a copy of a secret exchange between Megara and Nellusion. The two had agreed to use each other to oust Camille and manipulate Abelus, while pushing a candidate for Crown Princess that both could support.

Megara would never allow Valentin to be placed above her. Camille, having brought Nellusion all the way here, would continue to push for Valentin as the next Crown Princess.

And Nellusion would know that Paragon Valentin was the only card she had left to negotiate with the Imperial Family, so she would try to prolong the standoff as much as possible.

But every triangle eventually comes to an end.

Nerys smiled faintly.

“Let’s prepare to leave.”

Leave the rest to the pack of wolves.

❖ ❖ ❖

Camille was seething with fury. Her loyal agents, the eyes and hands she’d painstakingly placed across the political landscape, were being plucked out. And quickly!

“Cunning wench!”

Those who exposed and removed them seemed to have no clear connection. But Camille knew better. They were all linked to either Marquis Lykeandros or Abelus.

And who had the power to move both of them at once?

Camille had been touching every part of the state with extreme caution—secretly and safely. Even the emperor and empress probably had no idea how much influence she truly wielded. She kept her hands clean, using the nobles who followed her to do the work.

She had been so careful. So why?

How?

Grinding her teeth, Camille muttered,

“I underestimated her. Thought she was just a child who didn’t even graduate the Academy, but she knows more than most politicians. And she’s quite skilled at seducing my brother.”

Even if Megara was behind it all, the one taking action was Abelus. Camille couldn’t understand it.

Marquis Lykeandros, sure. But her brother? Was he that much of a fool? Siding with his new mistress instead of the sister who had planned everything for him all his life?

And Megara—how was she so swift? Her precision in weeding out Camille’s people was impressive enough, but the way she justified it and replaced them so seamlessly was not something a girl who only ruled among peers at the Academy should be capable of.

‘Is someone helping her?’

Camille was seriously considering that possibility.

“Shall we kill her before she grows stronger?”

One of her shadows asked quietly. Camille shook her head sharply.

“Tempting, but no. Abel is emotionally fragile after separating from Natasha. That’s why he fell for that girl so fast and why he’s angry with me. It’s just rebellion. Touching her now might only make things worse.”

Frustrated by her own analysis, she ground her teeth again and asked,

“What about the Grand Duchess? I told you to focus on her head since she’s the real threat.”

“The Grand Duke’s estate is too well-guarded. We’ve tried slipping people in, but they’re always discovered. No results.”

“What kind of monster is that brat!”

Camille raged at her subordinates’ failure—and even more at Cledwyn Maindulante, who treated her elite agents like child’s play. In truth, she was furious at everything.

She hadn’t felt this powerless since childhood. And to think the person who managed such a feat was no more than a low-born mistress.

Boom. Just then, the door to the secret chamber opened. The subordinate in charge of monitoring the Grand Duke’s estate rushed in and bowed.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke and Duchess appear to be preparing to leave.”

“What?”

“They’ve completely stopped ordering dresses and jewelry. Anything not finished in time is to be sent to the North.”

The Grand Ducal couple were the biggest spenders in the capital. Their main supplier was the emerging powerhouse, the Moriér Merchant Group, but all the famous boutiques and jewelers welcomed them as VIPs.

Especially the Grand Duchess—everything she wore was the talk of high society. Unlike the traditional and ornate imperial fashion, her refined elegance introduced a fresh aesthetic.

When nobles imitated the fashion of imperial women, it symbolized the empire-centric power structure. That people were now imitating the Grand Duchess had made Camille anxious.

And now they were leaving it all behind.

Heading far north. Would they ever return?

‘I can’t let them go.’

Camille’s face darkened with anxiety. She bit her lip in growing unease.

At first, it was only suspicion. But now she was certain. That the possessor of the Jeweled Eyes just happened to be involved with the ruler of the North—it couldn’t be a coincidence.

From the moment she heard about the Jeweled Eyes, Camille began a thorough investigation into Nerys Truydd. Her unimpressive background… early rumors in the Elandria family… graduation ahead of schedule, then vanishing without a trace.

The Grand Duchess’s life had been one dangerous tightrope walk after another. One misstep, and she would’ve fallen into the grip of either the Elandria family or the Imperial Family. That a powerless child had escaped both and come under the Grand Duke’s protection bordered on miraculous.

But how many miracles are there in the world? Weren’t most things that looked like coincidence actually driven by human effort?

The Imperial Family had searched for generations—so why now? Why had the Jeweled Eyes appeared now? Had they always existed in secret?

‘They know something.’

Whether it was the Grand Duke or the Grand Duchess. One of them knew *something*.

That the Jeweled Eyes weren’t a unique trait of the Imperial Family, but a [mark] that awakened in certain people with specific eye colors.

Whether from ancient history or hidden records—

‘It’s still not too late. This could be an opportunity in disguise.’

Camille closed her eyes and opened them again. She walked to the corner of the secret chamber and sat at what looked like a vanity. Instead of makeup, a single crystal orb sat atop it. She infused it with power.

“Ulrich.”

The clouded orb cleared, and a sinister voice emerged from beyond.

<Yes, Your Highness. You called?>

“I want to test what you mentioned before. My people are useless—they can’t even handle one little girl.”

Camille’s mage, Ulrich, chuckled darkly.

The shadows left in the chamber looked at the floor. They had been trained to suppress emotion, but in this case, they couldn’t help it. That voice had become synonymous with pain ever since the loyalty training and the cursed tattoos inked beneath their tongues.

<A sacrifice is required.>

“What kind of sacrifice? I’ll get it.”

<Anything connected to the target. Blood relations or emotional bonds are ideal.>

The closest person by blood to the Grand Duchess in the capital was Nellusion. Emotionally, it was the Grand Duke. But if they were disposable, she wouldn’t have had such trouble.

Camille thought carefully and asked,

“What about someone she hates?”

<It will work, but the effect won’t last long. You’re using *that curse*, aren’t you?>

“Even a few days is enough.”

Relieved by the answer, Camille ended the call and gave her orders.

“Bring me Valentin’s nanny!”

Delma, the nanny and maid once cherished by Valentin, had been taken in by Silver Moon after being cast out. Camille had kept her around just in case she became useful, but Delma seemed unaware of any Elandria secrets.

‘This works out perfectly.’

Camille had seen it many times—how the Grand Duke doted on his beloved wife. Would he remain sane if that wife were dying before his eyes? Camille was eager to find out.

❖ ❖ ❖

The perfect family of Duke Elandria had recently shattered.

He still didn’t know exactly why. The once-close couple, the sweet children—how had they ended up scattered? Perhaps it was that wretched little con artist, Nerys Truydd. But things had moved too fast for him to truly grasp it all.

And now, he was too weary to look back.

The once-ambitious duke had vanished. What remained was a man who looked twenty years older, drained and broken. His old allies had turned their backs on him after the split with House Wells.

All he wanted now was peace. If he could stay loyal and keep a low profile, maybe he could maintain a shred of dignity.

That’s all he had told his son.

“You can’t. Keeping up appearances… if that’s enough for you, then this is your limit, Father. How long will you keep crawling like a dog before him?”

Nellusion spoke coldly.

The drawing room in their suburban estate filled with armed knights in an instant. Their numbers and killing intent left no doubt—they’d been waiting for this moment.

The Duke gasped in horror and shouted,

“You—You! What are you doing?”

Unlike his father, Nellusion smiled calmly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll restore the glory of our house. I am grateful to you, Father, but I can’t afford any variables right now.”

Shing. The knights drew their swords. The Duke’s face turned red with rage.

“The title! Is it the dukedom you want? Fine, take it!”

“I’ll pass. You’re still alive and well. If you remain, the retainers will only get confused. I’ll make sure your grave is nicely adorned.”

Stunned by the cold response, the Duke stared at his son in disbelief.

He had loved him, raised him with care. He had such high hopes… and this was the reward?

“Pardon the interruption during your warm family moment.”

A voice full of amusement came from behind the Duke. He turned around to see a man in a monocle.

It took him a moment to realize what was happening. Why was a stranger here?

The knights were equally confused.

But the moment the man grabbed the Duke and leapt out the window, everything became clear.

“After him!”

Nellusion ground his teeth and shouted. The stunned knights hesitated a beat before rushing out.

Left alone in the room, Nellusion strained to figure out who the man was. A bodyguard his father hired?

Whoever it was, there was only one thing left for Nellusion to do—declare the Duke dead.

Officially, or literally.

‘There’s only one place he would run to.’

Now, the shackles that had bound him were utterly destroyed. Nellusion felt a cold satisfaction.