Pherenike - Chapter 143

“He’s such a coward, I’m sure he’s hiding somewhere nearby.”

“Lady Pyra, you know that pathetic dog won’t come out of the woods unless he hears Princess Leuce’s voice. All this noise must have terrified him even more…”

“We’re searching for that wretched mutt so we can find Her Highness. What does it matter whose voice he hears?”

“My apologies, my deepest apologies…”

“My voice should be familiar enough. Seirios!”

The red-haired woman shouted sharply, almost breaking down the door to the cottage as she strode in. The soldiers protested that they’d already searched the place from top to bottom, but Pyra paid them no mind and barged inside, with one of the soldiers hurrying after her.

Soon, there came a whimpering sound—like a lamb being strangled.

“See this? The silly thing heard my voice and came right out to the middle of the cottage, wagging his tail… And you all insisted the place had been thoroughly searched. Absolutely useless. I should have just done it myself from the start.”

“Well, even a timid dog knows who’s taken care of him. He’s quite clever, really.”

“Giving scraps to a filthy beast—what a ridiculous thing.”

A trembling dog was being dragged out by the scruff of its neck in a soldier’s hand. The lioness was suddenly reminded of the day on the Karhama plains, when men with bows and spears had surrounded her sisters and daughters.

Her claws slowly scraped the earth. She knew anger was never useful. Her eyes followed the half-lifted dog dangling in the air.

A yellow dog, with one ear folded down—Leuce had said he was precious and lovely.

“Don’t pin the dog down so roughly. Just tie him with a leash and keep him calm.”

“……”

“Shhh… Seirios, good boy. Do you remember your master’s scent? Even if you don’t, that’s fine. Here, I’ve brought something of hers for you.”

Pyra’s voice turned soothing, and the dog pressed its nose to the small item, recognizing its owner’s scent and wagging his tail.

“When the palace gates open, you must have the princess in your hands. That way, you can use her to control the queen, and use the queen to shake up Lord Paetusa.”

“How come Lady Ino didn’t think of Seirios? If anyone could find Princess Leuce, it would be him—and as soon as he barked, Her Highness would come out of hiding, wherever she was. Of course, it must be the royal blood they share…”

“Royal blood…”

Pyra gave a cold, mocking laugh, which the maid, oblivious, did not notice as she took the leash from the soldier and continued,

“When you find the princess, Lady Pyra, all of Lord Heliodora’s loyal retainers will be in awe of you. With their support, it will be much easier for your son to be named the next head of House Lavrentios…”

“Such things don’t matter to me. I am Actor’s own cousin, the only Lavrentios left. If my son takes my father’s place, it’s only as it should be.”

“Lady Pyra, I hope I haven’t spoken out of turn…”

“I don’t care about the intentions of cowards who’ve already laid themselves in their graves. Our king will prevail, in the end.”

With that, Pyra snatched the leash from the maid.

“But House Tasos has long owed a debt. The prince, who carries their blue blood; Kybellaune, raised with more care than a king’s own daughter in their home—don’t they both bear an original sin? And a small child carrying both their tainted blood? All the more reason, wouldn’t you say?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m not doing this to curry favor with anyone. I am a daughter of Lavrentios, simply doing what must be done.”

Her malice cut like a knife straight to the heart. The lioness pressed her paw down on a wildflower hidden beneath the brambles. Just then, the dog—being pulled along by Pyra—sensed something and looked straight at the lioness.

Pyra’s hand followed the dog’s gaze toward the brambles where nothing seemed visible.

“Is there something there?”

“I don’t see anything at all.”

“Seirios. Go on, then.”

But the dog, rather than obeying, simply froze in place, unable to move. Frustrated, Pyra raised her foot and brought it down hard on the dog’s back. The dog yelped softly, and Atalanta’s claws dug even deeper into the ground.

“Useless creature. Go!”

Not wanting to dirty her own shoes, Pyra gestured for a soldier to strike the dog. But the dog neither moved nor looked toward where the lioness was hiding. Atalanta, unable to endure it any longer, finally stepped out from under the brambles.

Suddenly, an old man appeared from behind, raising a spear and thrusting it at the lioness. But the thick, tangled thorns—growing high and wild—guided the spearhead away from her, striking only empty air.

As the old man struggled to pull his weapon free, Atalanta’s tail was momentarily caught under the weight of the brambles.

But that was all. The lioness twisted her body, yanking her tail free, and slipped out from under the thicket like a flash of light, whirling around to face her attacker. Her long tail, covered in thin red scratches, snapped through the air like a whip.

Her eyes swept slowly over the old man. In the darkness of the woods, only the fierce gleam of the lion’s gaze shone.

The old man, abandoning his spear tangled in the thorns, stumbled backward and shouted desperately,

“Kill it! Now!”