Chapter 94
At the sudden and astonishing confession, Elenia’s eyes quivered faintly. To bring up something like that out of nowhere… Grizelle must have spoken without even organizing her own thoughts first.
“I… I see…”
“I mean, Aren and I sleep together all the time. Almost every day. So why can’t I get pregnant?”
“Well… I’m not sure…?”
Elenia’s eyes darted around helplessly at the blunt words. As she fumbled for a vague reply, Grizelle spoke up again.
“Could there be something wrong with Aren? You know, there are men who can’t… produce heirs. What do you think?”
“I don’t really know much about that.”
“I’m worrying myself sick here, and you don’t even care?”
“It’s not that, I just really don’t know. Don’t be too anxious, Grizelle. You still have plenty of time.”
Elenia wiped the sweat from her palms, trying to comfort her. Grizelle had always been self-centered, but ever since coming to the Imperial Palace, it seemed to have worsened. It looked like she became far more unstable.
Perhaps living with the Second Prince had driven her to this state.
“Well, what would you know.”
Grizelle clicked her tongue and shook her head. Staring fixedly at the embarrassed Elenia, she continued.
“I liked you, Elenia. Unlike Syllie, you’re kind. You actually listen when I talk about my problems. Syllie would’ve just scolded me.”
“Huh…?”
The sudden turn in the conversation left Elenia wide-eyed. But Grizelle ignored her reaction and went on heedlessly.
“So that’s why I feel sorry things had to end up like this between us.”
With those abrupt words, Grizelle pulled a small perfume bottle from her pocket. She held it to her wrist and sprayed it without hesitation.
“I did my best. Don’t blame me for this.”
“What…?”
Elenia, bewildered, watched her… then her expression twisted as she covered her nose.
Rose perfume.
But it wasn’t an ordinary rose scent.
There was the dry smell of soil, the deep green of crushed leaves, and that vivid, suffocating rose fragrance.
It was the same scent as the garden where Arendtert had once forced purification upon her. So identical that, for a split second, Elenia thought she had been dragged back into that place again.
“Gri… zelle…!”
Too late, Elenia covered her nose and gasped. She stumbled out of bed, trying to flee from Grizelle, from the smell clinging to her. But Grizelle followed, relentless, the scent of the rose garden radiating from her whole body.
“What’s wrong, Ellie? Do you hate me? Is that why you’re running away?”
“Grizelle! Haah…! Please…!”
Elenia collapsed to the floor beside the bed, clutching her chest as she gasped for air. Each breath drew that terrible scent deeper into her lungs until it felt like it was burning her from within. She couldn’t breathe.
“Haah… haah…!”
She braced her hands against the floor, struggling for breath, when Grizelle suddenly wrapped her arms around her.
“Why do you keep trying to run?”
The moment she was pulled into Grizelle’s embrace, Elenia’s body convulsed. It was as though the rose garden itself had seized her again—the Second Prince’s overpowering grip closing around her. Her body trembled violently, her eyes losing focus.
“Ugh—haah—hic—!”
As Elenia gasped and choked for air, Grizelle smiled softly, holding her.
“Don’t worry, Ellie. I’ll make it quick.”
Leaving Elenia trembling on the floor, Grizelle reached for the bag she had brought. She turned it over, emptying its contents, and hummed a little tune as she drew a small vial from her pocket.
Pouring the powder inside into the cookie bag, she approached Elenia again.
“Here. Drink this. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Haah— Ugh…!”
Elenia’s trembling hands grasped the brown paper bag in panic. Grizelle stroked her hunched back and whispered tenderly.
“That’s it. Go on, Ellie. Drink it all.”
“……”
Elenia squeezed her eyes shut and began to raise the bag toward her face—
“Ellie!”
The door burst open, and Sylaria’s voice rang through the room.
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