Rays of suns passed through the curtains— swaying along the short gust of wind. A depressing sigh then echoed throughout the long hallway, her face fell down on the table. She looks over the balcony with her face down.
"No matter where we look like it. You cannot treat him like that. He doesn't even get out of his room."
Wren's mouth hung open at Boaife. It is the first time she heard her say something sensible; she felt the urge to slam her face on the floor then tie her up—just to make sure if she's in her right mind. This wasn't suppose to happen if she didn't scare Lane everyday when she had the chance.
'shameless. I wouldn't know that he's scaring him if I didn't hear her at the garden.' Wren thought back at Boaife's carefree face when she told Lane some stories. But maybe because of it Lane is showing improvements both mental and physical.
"He seems to be in a better mood unlike the first time he gets here."
Lane is less stiff whenever he sees us and he even talks back to them without stuttering. However, he was already deeply traumatized with the Laxus' pranks. Everyone in the duchy was sure that Laxus must have taken a liking to Lane but the most worrying part is Lexus. Lexus didn't join him in their usual pranks and was nowhere to be found around the Duchy.
"Anyway, how about the thing I asked you to look into?" Wren became serious and sat up straight.
Boaife yawned while she went to report in front of her. "The Duke has his men watch the Marquis and your mother is keeping the Marchioness company while she gathers information and evidence for abusing a kid and there's a possibility that she too has involvement in illegal tradings."
Wren glanced over the window, a month had already passed since Lane escaped. Though, she planned to befriend Lane, it never occurred to her that she will drag Lane away from home. Not that she's not happy with it.
"I knew there was something else. After all mom wouldn't hang out with her this long," she said and continued, "I just thought that mother wants to punish Marchioness because of her abuse and megligence." she pouted as she stretched her legs on the chair.
They never talked about it, she just assumed it. Boaife blankly looks at Wren.
"More than that, do you think that what you are doing to me is the same as ordering your servant?"
"you are my maid though?" Boaife grimaced—she was slapped with reality, "I am still a spirit—a high ranking one!" she exclaimed with such rage. Wren chose to ignore her. It doesn't matter since she was employed as her maid.
This made the spirit huff as she transformed back into a small bird then flew to the bed to rest. Wren leaned back to the chair and fell into a deep thought, "Eliminating the villainess early will benefit me..." she rested her chin on her hand, lightly tapping her cheeks with her fingers.
"How could I remove Lane from the Marchioness permanently though?" it's as if she's starting to have a conversation with a painting that was hung on the wall in front of her.
'since the marchioness is not going to be imprisoned immediately. After all, if by some chance she's not involved—she will learn that her husband is doing illegal work and will divorce him before they catch the Marquis.'
her most likely case will be physical abuse towards Lane which will set light in a few years—basically after Wren's attempted murder if we haven't got Lane out.
There are some plans she thought but she isn't satisfied with it. The marchioness should feel what Lane feels during the abuse, right?
"... should I kill her master?" Wren slowly looked behind and saw Cervi with his emotionless face while munching a turkey leg. After waking up he instantly chose violence and meat. It isn't surprising at all.
"You do not want your status to be revoked and... I cannot afford to lose a capable spirit."
even if he was executed, he will just be in the spirit realm to recuperate. But Wren doesn't want that since she doesn't know how long they will rest at the spirit realm and she might be six feet under when he returned.
"Anyway, go and follow the Marchioness. Report everything to me whatever you find about her."
Cervi tilts his head and says, "Master you do know that I can sleep anywhere and anytime, right?"
the effects are still effective and it is annoying for the two spirits whenever they do their tasks. The knights who saw Cervi that day at the Palace were given an explanation that it was magic he used, but when he slept more than usual they just assumed that he was tired.
Same goes with Boaife. All of the maids were pitying Boaife when she sleeps soundly in every place around the castle—some were odd places like in a fireplace or by the railings; whoever sees her sleeping are the ones who always put her in her room.
Wren gave a smile and confidently said, "Do not worry. If I continuously give you my mana for a while you will not fall asleep. I read that in a book about spirits." she paused for a while then drank her milk.
"Though that will make me weak. I supposed eating and sleeping will replenish my mana." she whispered and looked back at Cervi.
"..." he was silent and nodded, "If my master can do it, then I will follow her wishes."
Wren's eyes lit up, among her three spirits, it is obvious that Cervi is the only one who does her order without any second thought or question.That's why she always rewards Cervi for his service. If only Boaife is like this... Adara on the other hand can follow her in some times, if she's on the mood.
"Just observe her for one week—"
Suddenly, the door burst open. In front of it was Lane with his head low as he strides over the room reaching Wren.
"Did he listen to our conversation?"
Wren whispered to Cervi and he answered it with a shrug. Lane hissed first before stopping in front of her.
Lane stopped and laid out his hands in front of Wren and said, "Hey, I can help you with it so that you can deal with it fast."
Wren studied Lane. Suddenly the mood is strange as the two of them stare at each other.
---------------------------------------------------
Look at this kid. Before he looks at me with fearful gaze and he was shorter than me last month. I feel like the next month he will look like a nine-year old kid—towering me and he's looking quite plump. All because of the Yessenia and Astreia's spoiling him.
"I know some things my mother did before my dad died."
before his... father died?
"the current head is not my father."
I nod at him for understanding the situation and I am well aware of that fact, but he doesn't need to know that.
"What do you know?"
he smiled as he showed me something in his palms, my eyes widened in surprise. After all, it has the same look as the plant I am searching for, Hanubi. It's only the leaves and one petal, but I am sure that this is the one I am looking for.
"I always see my mother dry these leaves and then grind them, it becomes powder..."
Using magic I lifted the plant and examined it. Adara then arrived shortly. She wants to burn it immediately, but I let Boaife seal it with her magic.
Based on what Lane said... I think I know where she used it. She mixed it to his father's food or drink. He wouldn't know that there was a poison in it until he died because of it.
"Does she have those plants?" suddenly Adara is beside me as she hid the plant away. She still wants to burn it, but Cervi keeps patting her back.
"I will let someone look at it." She didn't answer me. "I put a barrier so it doesn't spread its poison." Boaife reassured Adara as she yawned.
"Do not touch it again or else you will suffer the same thing your father had." Lane's face pales as he nodded to my warning, "back to the question, did your mother plant this?"
Lane shakes his head. Adara seems to be convinced by his answer as she stepped back with a dejected sigh. I know she's looking for the plant and to be honest, there's no Hanubi planted around the castle when we searched for Lane that day. In fact, every plant and even in Lane's so-called home has healthy plants around.
The only thing we have in mind is that the Marchioness obtained the plant somewhere. The real question is how or where did Euphrasia contract the same poison.
"Anyway, if the Marchioness did not raise those plants. How did she get them?"
"There was this merchant she kept calling in our home for years. Though he doesn't visit anymore after father died..."
ah, yes. In this world, it is the merchant who always has the things that a villainess will need in the future. I should have known, "did you know his name?"
he once shakes his head. "I heard her call him Ra-im though,"
the name sounds eastern somehow...
"how many times has he gone to your home?"
"at least 7 times." he answered immediately. He must have watched his own mother.
I nod. I should give this information to my annoying father.
"also..." why does he look like he's hesitant to tell me something? Is it something that's hard to say huh?
"there is something hidden behind the shelves in my father's office room."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No, but I know it is important since he's hiding it."
I stared right at him, "why are you like this?"
"Because... that is my father's beloved estate and people."
***
Goodness, I cannot sleep because of the look he gave me. I mean, how could he attempt to kill me under the orders of the Marchioness if that's in his mind?
Other than that... how can she hold that plant and have contact with it for more years and there's no symptoms showing.
"master is thinking about what the duke said?"
I greeted my teeth in annoyance. I mean, I told him what I know and yet he seems nonchalant about it. Then he made me leave his office.
Tsk.
"Aren't you sleepy?," he looks at me before saying something, "Tomorrow I will leave to watch the Marchioness. Are you planning to give Boaife some of your mana too?"
What's with the question?
"Master if you are giving me mana and I leave, you cannot give Boaife your mana at the same time. Your mana may be insufficient for both of us. It will eat your lifespan if worse case possible happened." I feel my mouth gaped in astonishment.
"did you forget that she also suffers from slumber?" he asked me without batting an eye. I mean, is this really Cervi? Just like last time he was the one who told me some valuable information.
"also... You cannot possibly call Adara to protect you when there is danger." he said blankly then sighed.
Ah, I see where this is going, I smiled and said, "You are worried."
"I am worried, Master. If something happens do not hesitate to cut the mana connection and give it to Boaife—immediately."
He's giving me hard stare as he put his hand on top of my head.
"there is no one... yep, I will remember it."
"Please do. Have a good night, master." he really is a reliable spirit. I close my eyes with a smile on my face.
---------------------------------------------------
the crickets danced on the swaying leaves as they jumped. Along with it is the soundless footsteps on the balcony. Shadows overlaps with the curtain as he approached the glass door, unlocking the door to the balcony as he entered the dark room. Only the moonlight shone barely inside the room as he entered quietly.
"..." he roamed his eyes to see a girl peacefully sleeping on the bed. There are no signs of her contracted spirits anywhere.
he walked towards the bed, the dark room was helping the man to conceal himself more as he walked inside, then the wind blew harder. Wren felt the cold wind envelope her despite her having the covers on.
She groaned as she turned around, facing the man. Her brows creased as she grabbed the blanket tightly around her.
"..."
"ah, no. That isn't right. You are way too bossy, Caesar." she frowned while saying it in her sleep then she suddenly turned once more. Her back facing the man as she slept heavily.
"hmmmm..." she mumbled once more. The clouds blocking the moonlight fade away. The light shone upon the window, passing the man. He was wearing a tattered cloak and a mask.
He was standing there in front of Wren's sleeping figure. "Clearly lacking in many ways. How will you..."
He stopped mid-way as he glanced at his shoulder when something crawled in his arm.
"haaa..." he looked outside the window, a shadow befall on him, his hands are already on the hilt of his dagger, hidden on his back.
"My Lady—!"