Chapter 48
Perhaps because no sunlight ever reached here, a damp and eerie chill crept over Elia’s entire body.
The old floor creaked with every step. The more it groaned, the more Elia deliberately softened her footsteps. In the darkness-like silence, she dared not even breathe heavily.
“This is the perfect opportunity. The Emperor has become a half-invalid and the deposed Empress is dead, so no matter how much… even if he tries to keep his wits…”
After walking for some time, Elia heard faint voices near a door from which a dim light seeped out. The voices were deliberately hushed, broken and unclear. The only voice she could recognize was that of her father, Reiffers.
Elia pressed her ear closer to the crack of the door.
“Duke Reiffers must know how long I’ve waited for this moment.”
A low voice drifted out. Elia frowned at the unmistakably familiar voice of ‘that’ guest. Her expectation was completely off. The voice was too young and clear to be someone worthy of Reiffers’ formal address. Besides, it sounded vaguely familiar to Elia.
‘Who could my father be addressing with such respect?’
She thought hard but could come up with no answer. Only royalty across the whole realm would warrant that. Especially under the current Emperor’s reign, her father was at odds with the imperial family. So she didn’t think he had any close imperial associates…
“…”
Elia quietly watched through the door crack. The shadow of “that” guest, who was turned away looking out the window, stretched long across the crack. The night was dark and hardly any light was on, so the face was indistinct.
Who was it? Who? Elia’s senses sharpened.
“You’ll only understand how I feel when you’ve lost your most precious thing.”
The man staring out the window muttered through clenched teeth. He disliked nights when the moon shone so brightly. Memories he had barely buried surged back fiercely.
“You should never have taken her from me.”
He clenched his fist so tightly his nails dug into his soft skin. His trembling hand was visible even from afar. Elia observed it all through the narrow door crack. His cold voice was chilling to the point of fear.
Suddenly, her legs weakened and she staggered. The glasses on the tray rattled, producing a sharp sound.
The silence broke instantly. The man by the window finally turned his head.
“Who’s there?!”
Horace, standing guard by the door, shouted fiercely. Elia instinctively shrank her shoulders. The man turned fully but nothing was visible in the darkness swallowing his face.
I have to see who it is. Who it really is.
“What kind of rat dares to show up like this?”
Horace’ footsteps echoed as he stepped out the door. Elia hurriedly set down the tray at the door and scrambled up the stairs. Once she reached the living room, she exhaled sharply. Strangely, her mind was clearing bit by bit.
Elia glanced back at the dark stairwell with a strange gaze. Through the narrow gap, the last thing she saw was pitch black. Pure black.
Elia bit her lip.
“Definitely.”
What was certain was that it was someone she knew.
* * *
The formal welcome banquet for Duke Reiffers was held just a few days later in the afternoon. The event took the form of a luncheon and was surprisingly modest given the prestige of the Reiffers family. Since the court was still in mourning, a loud celebration was out of the question.
“I fear Duke Reiffers may feel slighted.”
Empress Astana said softly, covering her mouth with a delicate handkerchief. Elia, who was sipping cold water to soothe her dry throat, averted her gaze. Cyrone had yet to arrive. Among the two seats set side by side at the head table, only Empress Astana’s was occupied.
Moreover, the host himself, Duke Reiffers, had not yet appeared, and an awkward silence lingered among the guests. The Empress glanced around skillfully, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
“Miss Reiffers, it’s unfortunate your wedding was postponed. I had been looking forward to it.”
Empress Astana spoke first to Elia. Elia, who hadn’t slept well for days, gave a weary glance toward the Empress.
“Mourning the late Empress takes precedence.”
Elia replied gently, shaking her head. The lively room fell silent in an instant. Horace Reiffers, standing by the door as a substitute host for the absent Duke Reiffers, glared sharply at Elia.
His reaction was understandable. Elia’s response was quite insolent. To call the late Loran ‘Empress’ in front of the current Empress, and to dismiss the Empress’s pointed question outright, was disrespectful.
“What kind of tone is that to use with Her Majesty? Such insolence.”
Horace’s harsh voice dropped in Elia’s ear. Only then did Elia look at Horace, the eldest son of the Reiffers, who stood near the doorway.
The same man who schemed such terrifying plots by night now played the part of the respectable noble heir by day. Seeing his hypocritical smile was enough to make her sick.
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