As I moved one of the five intricately carved four-leaf clovers on the ring, a sharp needle slid out silently. The silver tip gleamed, its end blackened and glossy with poison.
“My grandfather’s seal, left to me.”
A seal meant for me.
When Anasha told me about the ring’s hidden function, I couldn’t understand why Grandfather had prepared such a thing. Now, I did. He’d given me a choice.
To live or to choose death?
The poisoned needle was a double-edged sword. It could harm others—or myself. I hoped I’d never need it, but the future was uncertain.
One thing was clear:
Everything is my choice.
The decision to use it was mine alone.
I reset the clover, and the needle vanished without a sound. The metal ring, save for its detailed engravings, looked ordinary—no one would suspect it held poison.
“Forget what you saw.”
The butler nodded, his face stiff. If Father or Sys knew, they’d try to take it from me.
Thinking of them brought a smile to my face.
At some point, the two men had grown in sync, nagging me to stay put in the estate before leaving for the palace. My ears suffered, but their concern wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
“I must be hopeless,” I muttered.
“Are you unwell, my lady?”
The butler turned, pale with worry. I shook my head, smiling.
“No, it’s nothing. Where’s Lant?”
“He’s reading in the study.”
Normally, he’d be training with Evan, but Evan was with the knights, surrounding the sealed palace.
I stood to see Lant. Seeing him would calm me more than stewing alone.
“My lady!”
I was heading to the study when a maid came running, calling me as I reached the central staircase.
Her pale, frantic face made my heart sink. A bad feeling gripped me. I forced calm and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The palace… the palace…”
“What about it?”
“It’s burning!”
My body moved before my mind could process.
“My lady!”
Ignoring the butler’s cry, I raced down the stairs, flinging open the door before a servant could.
Outside, black smoke billowed into the clear blue sky.
“What in the world!”
The smoke rose from the palace’s direction. I shouted to the butler, who’d followed me.
“Find out what’s happening!”
“Yes, my lady!”
He hurried off, sensing the urgency. I paced anxiously, staring at the smoke.
The scale of it looked ominous. I worried for Father and Sys, but the children with the First Consort were my greatest concern.
Please, let it not be the sealed palace…
“Sister!”
Lant ran to me, his face full of worry, likely drawn by the estate’s commotion.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just worried about those in the palace.”
“It’ll be okay.”
Frowning at the smoke-filled sky, he hugged and patted me. His grown-up reassurance felt reliable today.
Our roles reversed, his warmth comforted my frayed nerves.
“My lady!”
The butler returned, chest heaving from his haste.
“What’s happened?”
He caught his breath before speaking.
“The sealed palace is on fire.”
“…!”
“Sister!”
My vision swam, as if my blood drained away. Lant’s arm steadied my swaying body. My hope that it wasn’t the sealed palace shattered.
“The children?”
“I couldn’t find out. The knights around the palace used the chaos to enter.”
“No injuries or deaths, I hope?”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I couldn’t learn more.”
He bowed, his face dark. Even a capable butler couldn’t gather more in this chaos.
Must I wait helplessly until it’s over?
For the first time, I regretted not learning swordsmanship. Though Father and Sys would never have let me act directly, the frustration was unbearable.
“For now, strengthen the estate’s security, as we don’t know what’s next…”
“Seems busy here.”
I froze, interrupted by an unexpected voice. I stared, disbelieving.
“Duke Daysha?”
“Been a while, Lady Eliant. Since Marquis Retan’s wedding, yes?”
“How are you here?”
He approached leisurely. Lant turned, shielding me protectively.
“Oh, not just the lady but the young heir dislikes me too?”
“…”
“Marquis Eliant’s glares weren’t kind either. Seems House Eliant and I don’t get along.”
“I asked how you got here.”
Even as a guest, the staff wouldn’t have let him in without my permission in this situation. Yet here he was, unannounced.
There was only one explanation: he’d forced his way in, overpowering the estate’s knights.
“You’re as stiff as ever, my lady.”
“Answer me.”
“Through the front gate, of course.”
“Despite the knights guarding it?”
His wrinkled lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Oh, it took some effort.”
Clang!
Hidden knights drew their swords, surrounding us. Despite their hostility, Duke Daysha’s smile didn’t waver, as if he’d known they were there.
“Treating a guest bearing gifts so poorly?”
“There’s no courtesy for someone who forces their way in.”
“You might change your mind once you see my gift.”
He raised his hand, and black-masked figures appeared silently. The knights and Lant tightened their circle around me, wary of the newcomers.
Daysha flicked his hand. A masked figure carrying a large sack set it down with a heavy thud. A faint groan came from within.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
I didn’t want to play his game, but I had no choice. The sack was large enough for a child, and the groan was a familiar, youthful voice.
At my nod, the knights, still wary of Daysha and his men, approached the sack. The nearest knight slashed the rope binding it.
As the sack opened, sky-blue hair spilled out.
“Lai!”
“Sister!”
Covered in bruises, as if beaten, Lai brightened at seeing me, shouting, “El’s been taken! Please, save her!”
“I know. Come here.”
At my call, he struggled out of the sack. With the knights’ help, he staggered to me, limping.
