Chapter 120
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Step Aside
The sun rose. As planned, it was time for Set and Arban to depart.
The two were given a grand send-off, just as grand as their welcome.
Unfortunately, Muhella was absent. It seemed she was busy with the recent shifts in the continent's political landscape.
"Take care of yourself, Aileen. We'll come back for you."
"You two need to be careful on your way back, too. And don't worry about me."
"You haven't forgotten what I told you, have you?"
"Yes."
I had been warned about Sage so many times I could recite the warnings in my sleep.
Knowing full well why they were worried, I answered immediately. Arban's expression softened, and he waved a hand, telling me to go back inside.
I shook my head.
"I want to see you off."
"Alright, if that makes you feel better, we'll do that."
Set gave a faint smile and boarded the carriage. They said the Kiraas family would accompany them on their journey.
Everyone looked surprised, as if they hadn't expected such lavish treatment.
"See you at home, Aileen."
"Okay."
"Oh, and you should probably come back soon."
Set said, as if the thought had just occurred to him. Arban chimed in with an "Ah."
"Why?"
Unable to wait for his next words, I asked, and Set chuckled softly.
"Father has completely redecorated the inside of the castle. He seemed to be hoping you'd like it."
"Really?"
"Yes. Everyone's waiting for you."
"Then I'll... get back soon."
I lowered my voice, conscious of those around us. They couldn't know the real reason I came to the North.
"Looks like we don't need to worry. Right, brother?"
"Indeed. That's a relief."
With that, the carriage passed through the castle gates. Watching them leave, my expression hardened.
Perhaps because it was morning, I didn't feel well.
Fortunately, I'd managed the send-off without incident, but I felt I needed to go back and rest immediately. Hestia, who was beside me, spoke softly in a worried tone.
"I think you should return to your room at once, my lady."
"Yes. I was just thinking the same thing."
It would be troublesome to be seen changing my necklace in front of everyone.
I stopped in front of Sage. My brothers were leaving, but it was only right to say a proper goodbye.
"Sage, please give my thanks to Lady Muhella. I should have greeted her in person, but I heard she's been busy lately."
"She has been rather preoccupied. Thanks to the Artban family."
The Artban family, whom I had momentarily forgotten, came up in Sage's words.
Of course, the North would be keenly interested in that matter. I had to be even more careful at a time like this.
I feigned nonchalance and gave a bright smile.
"I can imagine. I was surprised when I heard the news, too."
Anxiously, I glanced down at my necklace. Less than half of its energy remained, shimmering faintly.
As if sensing something was off, Sage studied my complexion instead of replying.
"You look pale, Aileen."
"Hm? Really? I feel fine. I guess I just didn't sleep well. I was too restless thinking about my brothers leaving."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I think I should go back to my room and rest. I'll be going, Sage."
My anxiety quickened my pace. Hestia gave a silent nod and followed beside me.
Before I knew it, the necklace was nearly depleted. It had never run out this quickly before.
The psychological factor must have been significant.
Ever since the news about the Artban family broke, I'd been changing necklaces far more frequently.
Hestia looked at me with a concerned expression.
"My lady, can you walk any further?"
"It's a little difficult. I need to get out of their line of sight before I can change the necklace..."
As soon as I finished speaking, Basad appeared. As if awaiting an order, he perfectly shielded me from view.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Reassured, I took out the spare necklace I had with me.
But...
"Huh...?"
All the spare necklaces I had with me had lost their color.
These were all absorbed, too? Since when? This has never happened before.
My hand twitched, and a necklace clattered to the floor.
My breath grew ragged, and I could feel heat rising in my body. I felt a sharp pheromone churning inside me, wreaking havoc.
The horrible sensation of it rampaging through my body made my vision go white.
Finally, my body swayed, and my vision tilted.
"Lady Aileen...!"
Hestia's desperate call seemed to come from far away.
I faintly gasped for air, clenching my trembling fist.
"Basad, her ladyship...!"
Before she could finish, Basad swept me into his arms. And then.
"Aileen!"
The last thing I heard was Sage's voice before my vision went black.
***
Five hours had passed since Aileen lost consciousness.
Having heard the news, Muhella arrived hurriedly before Aileen's room. Accompanied by Arisa, her expression was terrifyingly stern.
She stopped in front of Eve.
"Aileen collapsed? What happened? Explain the situation in detail."
"Well... It's difficult for me to say. The physician hasn't given a proper explanation. He only asked that no one enter, so we are waiting."
"What? Something happened in my castle, and I don't even get a brief explanation?!"
Muhella was enraged. A powerful wave of her pheromones instantly filled the corridor with tension.
Leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, Sage's blue eyes opened halfway. A low voice escaped his lips.
"Mother, calm down. It will affect Aileen."
"Sage, how long have you been here?"
"Ever since Aileen collapsed."
"You explain. Why did a perfectly healthy girl suddenly collapse?"
Muhella barely suppressed her anger, trying to regain her composure. But her expression remained tense.
One misstep and it could cause problems with the Astrofel family.
It was only natural for her to be on edge.
"There's no need for you to worry, Mother. They said the Astrofel family will not take issue with anything, and they would appreciate it if we let the matter pass quietly."
"What? How dare they! What do they take me and my family for?"
"Mother. Please, calm down."
Sage called to her softly. His voice was quiet but carried weight. Her eyebrows shot up fiercely.
"Surely you're not suggesting we just let this go, Sage."
"You knew from the beginning that Aileen didn't come to the North just for a trip."
"......."
"Isn't that why you ordered the entire clan to keep silent about what they saw and heard?"
Muhella let out a sharp laugh. It was true. There was a time when she was so pleased by Aileen's visit that she was willing to overlook anything.
"I was. But this is beyond what I anticipated."
An heir to a great family was in danger in a foreign land. And of all places, that land had to be the North.
Muhella had a duty to take responsibility for everything that happened to Aileen during her stay in the North.
But now they were asking her to just let such a critical issue go, without even consulting her?
"The audacity."
She couldn't hide her fury toward the Astrofel guards blocking the door.
As an unusual, unrefined, and threatening aura was released, Karma, who was blocking the way, bowed his head.
"My apologies, Lady Muhella Kiraas, but for the sake of our lady's stability, you may not approach any further."
"I see. Your courage is commendable. I suppose I have no choice but to let it pass, given my own words."
Muhella's lips drew into a cold line. Her own promise was holding her back. She called Sage in an icy tone.
"Sage Kiraas."
"Yes, Mother."
"I'm delegating my authority to you. Take charge of this matter. See it resolved."
"Understood."
Sage gave a slight nod. Muhella pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed heavily. She looked utterly exhausted.
"Then I'll be leaving. I came here in the middle of a meeting."
"Yes. Go on."
Muhella couldn't take her eyes off the firmly shut door. She could force her way in, but the cost would be too great.
She knew all too well who the Black Mambas guarding the area were.
With no other choice, she let go of her lingering reluctance and left the corridor.
Once Muhella was gone, the hallway fell rapidly silent.
As the tense atmosphere dissipated, everyone standing guard breathed a sigh of relief.
Sage commanded.
"Everyone, leave."
"What? But... are you planning to stay here alone, Young Master?"
Eve asked with a surprised look.
Sage tilted his head.
"I have something important to discuss. Move to a place where your senses cannot reach."
"...Understood."
Eve looked puzzled but obediently agreed.
At his signal, all the Kiraas clan members stationed in the area vanished in an instant.
They were the ones who had been facing off against the Black Mambas.
As the presence of his clansmen faded, Sage looked at Karma.
"You heard. It's just us now."
"What is it you wish to say?"
Karma tensed up. To be honest, he had hoped a situation where he was left alone with Sage Kiraas would never arise.
It was an instinctual aversion.
Facing this immature opponent who hadn't even come of age, he felt the foul sensation of confronting a predator.
He could clearly see in Sage Kiraas the distinct habit of a hunter waiting for its prey to tire before snatching it by the neck in an instant.
Because those leisurely blue eyes seemed to say they already knew everything.
A chill ran down Karma's spine.
"Seeing as this much time has passed with no news, it must mean the physician has run out of options."
"What... do you mean by that?"
"This."
".......!"
"If you have any sense, you won't pretend you don't know what this is."
Sage pulled a familiar necklace from his pocket. Clink. The necklace, embedded with a purple pheromone stone, swayed precariously. It was the one they hadn't managed to retrieve in the confusion.
Karma's fingertips twitched.
"This necklace contains the cold air of the North. Seeing as she always wore it, it must be quite urgent."
Karma froze, as if struck by lightning. There was nothing wrong in Sage's words.
Aileen was in critical condition. For hours, the imbalance in her pheromones had not been resolved.
Hestia had been calming Aileen's energy for hours, but if she collapsed from exhaustion, no one else could help.
And Sage Kiraas was a ray of hope for Aileen in her current state.
That was why Karma was conflicted.
As if reading his mind, Sage gave his signature languid smile and commanded.
"Step aside."
Perhaps this was inevitable.
In the end, Karma had no choice but to give way.