Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: A Sinister Plot
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This might have been why that seed of anxiety had taken root.
Kaide’s expression hardened as he asked.
"How?"
"They say he mobilized the families whose heirs are being held hostage. He promised that if they sided with the Artban family and cooperated, the heirs would be released in order of the families that contributed the most."
The red gaze turned to Aser. Aser, who had been listening to Baon's report, answered with a dumbfounded look, as if hearing it for the first time.
"We, and I don't know if you'll believe me... we never received such a demand."
"Never?"
"It's true. This is the first I'm hearing of it. We never received such a request."
Kaide’s eyes narrowed. He stared at Aser for a long moment, as if gauging his sincerity, then let out a dry laugh.
Things couldn't be more complicated.
His face, colored with bewilderment, looked utterly confused.
Aser, who looked ready to fly back to his family at any moment, clearly knew nothing about this.
If this was true.
"The Artban family never intended to return the Loysar heir."
"What... what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
Dominating the skies in a territorial war meant gaining an overwhelming advantage.
There was no reason not to ask the Loysar family for help, especially since they were holding their heir hostage.
But they didn't. They demanded cooperation from other families, but not from Loysar.
What did this mean?
The drawing room fell silent. Aser recalled the first day he met Diel Artban, and the man’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.
‘You seem more useful than those foolish Loysar purebloods.’
No way. Is that what he meant?
Aser’s eye twitched. His pale complexion was pitiful to see.
"Surely... he doesn't intend to rewrite the Loysar family line, does he?"
Baon spoke cautiously. Hearing his words, the corner of Kaide’s mouth lifted in a dangerous smile.
His red eyes narrowed.
"Now I see. I'm starting to get a sense of how things are playing out."
Baon, who hadn't been part of the earlier conversation because he was handling matters for the Iselode family, trailed off, expressing his confusion.
Aser, as if he had an inkling, spoke with a trembling voice.
"...Don't tell me the traitor made a deal for the Gaju's position?"
"You catch on quick."
Baon gasped in surprise.
Come to think of it, it was strange.
No matter how much one agreed to cooperate with the Artban family, one would hesitate if the very existence of their own family was at stake.
After all, Grey, the former Gaju, was imprisoned, and the future was uncertain.
Even if they betrayed their family, they wouldn't want to endanger themselves.
But the spy acted as a loyal pawn for the Artban Gaju, even faithfully reporting that Grey had been imprisoned.
In other words, it meant they wanted the family to be shaken.
And the reason for that narrowed down to one thing.
They were waiting for the Gaju's position to fall into their hands.
But Baon still frowned, as if he didn't understand.
"I don't understand. Wouldn't it be more advantageous to get their cooperation now? If Loysar had joined them, they could have driven them out completely."
"No, they couldn't have."
"Why not?"
Kaide looked at Aser, whose face had completely lost its color, and said.
"Because there's no heir to return."
* * *
Set and Arban had been permitted to stay in the North for three days.
One day had already passed, leaving only two.
Was that why?
"Hestia, when can she go back to the South?"
It was time for her daily morning check-up.
Arban, who had barged in early, grumbled the question.
Hestia, who was checking my condition, let out a small laugh at his complaint-filled question.
"The Agassi needs more time, Doryeonnim."
"How much?"
"That depends on the Agassi's growth, wouldn't you say?"
"......Hah."
Arban sighed and ruffled his hair. His eyes narrowed.
Ever since he found out Sage had confessed to me, Arban had been extremely displeased with the fact that I was staying in the North.
Set felt the same way, so I decided to avoid running into Sage while I was with the two of them.
Hestia looked at me and asked.
"Agassi, are you feeling any discomfort?"
"No, I'm fine. But it feels like I have to change my necklace too quickly these days."
I had just put on a new one right after waking up, but not even three hours later, it was already running out.
Is this really okay?
The frequency meant my body was that much more unstable.
Rapid growth was a welcome development, but maintaining balance was just as important.
"A Su-in's growth rate speeds up near the final stages. Besides, the Agassi's growth is currently similar to that of a Black Mamba."
"That's why I'm a little worried."
"Yes. You can't let your guard down. Please carry a spare pheromone stone with you at all times. Do you understand?"
"Okay, I will."
That wasn't difficult. It wasn't very heavy or bulky.
"Pheromones also react sensitively to emotional changes, so please try to remain as calm as possible."
"Okay."
What could possibly happen? I nodded, telling her not to worry.
Hestia gave a gentle smile at my confident reply.
But then her brow furrowed in confusion.
"By the way, the Kiraas castle seems a bit unsettled. I wonder if something happened."
"I noticed that on my way here, too. It wasn't just 'a bit' unsettled, it was quite noisy."
Arban replied nonchalantly. He didn't seem very interested.
Whatever was happening in the Kiraas family probably wasn't that serious. Hestia nodded in agreement.
It's probably nothing.
I got up lightly from my seat. Arban was here, but where was Set?
"Let's go find Set."
"My brother? ...Why bother looking for him?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"He's probably at the training grounds. He always warms up as soon as he wakes up."
So he's at the training grounds!
I smiled brightly and approached Arban.
Arban, guessing what I was about to say, let out a sigh.
Arban, who was particularly weak to the northern cold, reluctantly stood up with a look of open displeasure.
"Fine. Let's just go."
Hestia, who had been watching us, spoke as she left the room alongside us.
"Well then, I'll be taking my leave, Agassi. If anything happens, please send a guard for me."
* * *
I headed to the training grounds with Arban. I remembered the way from my last visit, so I didn't get lost.
Arban had a strange expression on his face as he watched my confident steps.
"...Looks like you've already gotten used to the castle."
"Huh?"
"When did you memorize the layout?"
Arban frowned.
He didn't seem to like that I was navigating the Kiraas castle so comfortably.
I almost burst out laughing. It seemed to bother him that I was adapting and living here, even if it had only been a few days.
Because it was a foreign land, not the South.
It made me feel good for some reason, as if it confirmed that the South was where I belonged.
I didn't hold back my smile.
"What are you talking about? I don't know my way around here either. I only know where the training grounds are because I stumbled upon them during a walk."
"Well, I suppose that's possible."
"Yeah. It's too cold to take walks as often as I did in the South."
"Tell your guards to make you a protective barrier. That's what they're there for."
"Oh, that?"
...The guards never had a chance to step in.
I discreetly shut my mouth.
Arban looked down at me with surprise, his face clearly showing he hadn't expected me to know about protective barriers.
"You know about protective barriers? You haven't learned about that in your lessons yet."
"Ah... that's not it. I knew about them. I think... Kasana explained it to me once."
"Oh, really?"
"You're a terrible liar. I'm getting second-hand embarrassment."
...So mean. I pouted.
A moment later, Arban asked casually.
"So who made the barrier for you?"
And without thinking, I blurted out the answer.
"Sage did."
Arban stopped in his tracks.
Too late, I clapped a hand over my mouth, but it was useless. Arban, mulling over my answer, let out a scoff of disbelief.
Then he flicked my forehead.
"Relax, will you? It's not like you did anything wrong. It's all his fault for coming on to you."
"Uh, huh?"
"So."
Arban's voice dropped an octave.
"How far does he push it?"
"That's it."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
For a moment, the incident about establishing dominance, which had started from my misunderstanding, flashed through my mind. I swallowed hard. What if I can't control my expression? My fingertips twitched.
Arban tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"That doesn't sound right... Anyway, if he tries to pull anything, contact me immediately."
"Of course."
I quickly nodded. Only after hearing my answer did Arban start walking again.
Before we knew it, we had arrived at the training grounds. And there, just as he seemed to be finishing his training, we ran into Set walking toward the entrance.
"Set!"
"Aileen?"
"I heard you'd be at the training grounds, so I came to see you. With Arban."
"You managed to coax him here. He was complaining about how cold it was on the way."
Set smiled faintly. Being together, the three of them, for the first time in a while didn't seem to displease him.
"By the way, brother. Have you heard anything?"
"About what?"
"The castle's been in a bit of an uproar since this morning."
"I don't know. I just assumed it was an internal matter."
So Set thought the same thing.
Just then, one of the guards revealed his presence. It was Mesis.
What's going on?
We'd agreed they wouldn't show themselves in the North unless it was something important.
He opened his mouth, his face uncharacteristically grave.
"I have something to report, Agassi Aileen. Doryeonnim Set, Doryeonnim Arban."
"What is it?"
"As of dawn yesterday, the Artban family has occupied the East. The Miat family has been driven to the outskirts."
I drew a sharp breath.
There was nothing they could do to me right now.
So why did the news of the Artban family expanding its power sound so threatening? Seeing me frozen, Set spoke in my stead.
"Explain in detail."