Chapter 192: Side Story 48 

Sylvia lifted her chin with haughty pride.

If it weren’t for her, her friends wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to visit the Imperial Castle. It wasn’t easy to form ties with the imperial family, let alone step foot into the castle itself.

“Oh my, Sylvia! Look at that garden! Do you think we’ll get to explore it later?”

“Of course. I’ll ask Prince Jeremiah myself. He listens to everything I say. And the Grand Duchess of Thersion is fond of me, so it won’t be a problem.”

“Really?”

“Of course. That’s why you’re all here right now. The future Grand Duchess doesn’t have many friends, you know.”

Sylvia spoke, her voice dripping with condescension.

“But still, she took that spot from Jena. And she’s even pregnant now, I heard.”

“Is that really what matters? She’s adopted, anyway. She’s beneath me.”

Sylvia let out a high-pitched laugh.

She had forgotten that this was Thersion’s den. She also didn’t know that the people of Thersion had wolf’s blood flowing through their veins, nor how sharp their hearing was.

The wolves of Thersion turned hostile toward Sylvia.

[“What is that woman blabbering about?”]

[“Even her scent is disgusting.”]

[“How dare she speak of Lady Alexa like that…”]

[“She must have a death wish.”]

And up on a high terrace, Carlisle and Essellia watched it all unfold. A cold smile touched Essellia’s lips.

“How long are we going to let that parasite crawl around?”

Carlisle asked, his voice icy.

“It’ll be over soon, Carlisle. You know Ysildus has a plan. Let the kids handle it. We just have to trust them.”

Essellia soothed him with a gentle voice.

Tolerating Sylvia was a test of patience. She was arrogant and presumptuous, oblivious to her own station. At times, she even acted like she was already Empress. But had Jeremiah ever given her even the smallest piece of his heart? Not in the slightest.

If anything, Jeremiah found Sylvia an annoyance.

Completely unaware of the wolves’ sharp gazes, Sylvia waltzed into the glass conservatory. The air was thick with the sweet scent of vibrant, blooming flowers.

“You have a visitor, Young Madam.”

The overly affectionate term made Alexa flinch. She glared at the maid, but even that glare looked endearing. Ever since she became pregnant, Alexa had been cared for as if she were a delicate egg nestled in downy feathers.

“I told you not to call me that!”

“Then how shall I address you? The baby’s coming soon, after all.”

Alexa puffed out her cheeks in frustration. The titles of this era were impossible to get used to. With no retort, she simply turned her head. Sylvia and her group of young ladies were pouring into the conservatory.

What sort of scheme was this now?

She already knew the wolves and Jeremiah were whispering among themselves. But now they were dragging in girls their age?

Sylvia gave Alexa the faintest nod.

“I’m Sylvia.”

No manners whatsoever. Sylvia was merely the daughter of a Count, while Alexa was the Consort of Thersion’s Young Lord, soon to be Grand Duchess. And yet, in front of everyone, Sylvia subtly revealed her disregard for Alexa.

“I’m Alexa. Thank you all for coming.”

There was no way Alexa could’ve missed her intentions. She replied in a calm, indifferent tone. What did it matter what they tried to pull? If they didn’t fit in, that was the end of it.

But… among them, there was at least one girl who seemed to have her wits about her.

“Hello, Madam. I’m Celine from the House of Count Kerrisa. It’s an honor to meet you.”

The girl who outshone Sylvia offered a warm, respectful smile.

“Please forgive my friends’ rudeness. They’re still a bit immature.”

Celine’s clear eyes were full of sincerity. She seemed genuinely embarrassed by her companions’ behavior. At that, Alexa adjusted her posture, too.

“No, not at all, Lady Celine. Thank you for coming.”

At that moment, Alexa had no idea how this encounter would unfold in the future.

* * *

Count Jertho threw his bloodstained sword to the floor.

“Is this the last of them?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Anyone who might’ve dared to speak nonsense had already been neatly silenced. The rest had been dragged to the underground prison. The purge was complete. And Count Jertho was thoroughly satisfied with the choices he had made.

No one would dare threaten what he had built.

He let out a weak sigh.

Truthfully, this was essentially a new beginning for him. Everyone who had signed that joint petition had been executed. This meant Count Jertho’s power had been severely diminished.

He licked the bitterness from the inside of his mouth.

‘That fox of a b*st*rd.’

He must have underestimated them for being young. Now look at him, reduced to a fool by Ysildus and Jeremiah, who were treating him like a joke.

‘I can’t let them drag me around like this. I need one strong, decisive move.’

Count Jertho clenched his teeth. He should’ve used poison properly when he had the chance. Thinking Jeremiah would be easy to deal with had been a grave miscalculation.

‘What the hell did he see growing up in Thersion?’

Count Jertho gestured with his hand. It was time to retreat. He had danced like a sword in the Emperor’s hand long enough, now it was time to achieve what he wanted.

‘Sylvia must be placed at his side.’

He ground his teeth. Only then would the world know that Count Jertho was still a force to be reckoned with. He was getting desperate.

But peace did not await him when he returned to his estate.

“Seize that man.”

A slow, almost languid voice rang out, one that sent chills down the spine.

“Lord Ysildus…?”

Ysildus nodded. As Count Jertho saw the knights approaching him, his brow furrowed.

“What is the meaning of this?! I’ve just returned from carrying out imperial duties! If this is some kind of joke, you’ve gone too far!”

He struck his cane against the floor with a loud thump, thump. A wave of unease rolled over him.

‘What do they know?’

He swallowed hard. Even for a royal, there needed to be justification to kill a central noble. And he’d never left a trail. He tried to act composed, but his knees trembled.

He was seized by the terrifying sense that the deaths he had handed out were now coming back for him. The sheer weight of Ysildus’ presence felt like it was pressing down on his entire body. He began to shake like a leaf.

“You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

Ysildus spoke with a voice full of mocking amusement.

“What’s the matter? Feeling guilty, Count?”

“I-I…!”

Count Jertho stumbled back. Every step Ysildus took toward him felt like a sharp fang pressed against his throat.

Thud.

Jertho stopped, having hit something behind him. Slowly, he turned his head.

“Gasp!”

A knight in full armor blocked his escape.

Count Jertho turned again to face Ysildus.

“Why are you doing this to me?!”

Ysildus gave a pleasant smile and tossed something he had been holding onto the ground. Familiar documents fluttered to the floor at Jertho’s feet.

“‘Why’… I’m not sure you’re the one who should be asking that question.”

Ysildus’ tone was cold and sharp. Jertho looked up at him, trembling. The difference in their stature made it feel hard to even breathe.

“You plotted Prince Jeremiah’s death. And not just once, multiple times.”

Count Jertho swallowed dryly. Ysildus tilted his head.

“So you weren’t pretending to know nothing… you really knew.”

He bent slightly toward Count Jertho, revealing glinting white fangs in the dark. And Terrun and Tenail had done their part perfectly. They had brought back the petition, signed in Count Jertho’s name.

“Then… then…”

“There was no reason for me to get my hands dirty. And I certainly wasn’t going to taint the hands of our future Emperor, Prince Jeremiah.”

His voice carried a tinge of amusement.

“There’s also some entertainment in watching a clown perform, don’t you think?”

“Y-you… you b*st*rd!”

“Hah…”

Ysildus let out a chilling laugh.

“A hunting dog that’s done its job… well, the proper thing to do is boil it and eat it.”

His words echoed in Jertho’s ears. He remembered that phrase.

[“Once the hunt is over, the hunting dog must be boiled, Your Majesty.”]

Jertho himself had said that once, when they attacked Thersion. Now the crimes he had committed had come back to devour him whole.

There was no way out.