The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 18.1

Nasir being dead now, she was Ilya’s closest kin… For a long time, the two could not live under the same sky. It was the same even now, when Ilya took over as Grand Duke.

“You seem to like the bed in the outhouse more than the Grand Duke’s room, from what I hear you visiting it every night,” remarked Selice.

She narrowed her eyes as she observed him. Her snake-like eyes relentlessly scanned his head and eyes, lips and chin, and the back of his neck. Ilya, who felt the gaze, rolled his eyes and smiled.

“The owner of that bed… Is my wife. Is there a problem with a husband visiting his wife’s bedroom?”

The face of the young archduke who fell in forbidden love was alluring enough to completely erase his usual sharpness. The maids standing behind Selice looked at him blankly and their faces flushed.

“You still care about your wife even after the unfortunate event in Tatar. You are amazing, aren’t you?”

“I can’t… help what I feel. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” replied Ilya.

Selice’s face turned stone cold. It was known as taboo to talk about Ilya’s parents. Although she was the one who provoked her nephew first, she was disconcerted at how he talked about them so blatantly.

After Ilya glanced at the stairs leading to the underground crypt, he asked Selice, “Isn’t it better to greet your father first, Aunt? We’ll have plenty of time to talk about my wife later.”

Selice, offended by the previous conversation, acted on a whim.

“Those stairs look dizzying. It seems like it will be difficult for me. I don’t think I can make it back up.”

Ilya, suspicious of her from the beginning, stepped back without another word.

“I’ll go alone, then. We can catch up when I come back.”

“I think I’m going to go get a cup of tea from my niece-in-law. After all, it has been a long time since I’ve seen her.”

Ilya narrowed his eyes and stared at Selice. As always, she was a woman who had a knack for provocation. His gaze turned again to the path leading to the outhouse. He pictured a tender woman at the end of the road. That night, remembering the warmth of her hands in the Great Hall of Eternity, his chest tightened in suffocation.

“Are you going to stop me from going to the outhouse?” Selice asked. “While you were away, I was the one who looked after the child as the adult in the house.”

“I would never. My wife would love your company,” Ilya replied. There was a hint of anxiety in his voice.

“I have kept the busy Grand Duke tied up too long. I will be with you later.”

“Yes, Aunt. Have a pleasant time.”

When Selice disappeared with her group of maids, Ilya gave an order to a knight of the royal bodyguards.

“Send someone to the outhouse. Tell them to be on their guard.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ilya glared at the noblewoman for a long time before walking to the basement.

***

At that time, Evelyn was not in the annex. As soon as Rene returned to the castle, she had invited Evelyn to the Wizard’s Tower, and that was today.

“A wizard’s lab! Belina, have you ever been there?”

“It’s a fishy lab… I mean, no, I’ve never been.”

Belina laughed awkwardly. Evelyn burst into laughter at her rambling when she was one to always stay calm.

“Didn’t you see it when you went to the Tower of Confession? The two towers look the same, so they are called twin towers.”

Evelyn shook her head. She couldn’t afford to bring her attention elsewhere when Ilya was acting so strangely that day.

“My Lady, the sugared snacks and cake are wrapped up.”

“Thank you, Sophie. Good work.”

Sophie shrugged as she went to the kitchen and brought out the present for Rene.

“It’s nothing! Wow, our master is really handsome today!”

Sophie exclaimed at the sight of Livell with his hair neatly tucked behind him, dressed up like a little gentleman. Rene was the first person to invite her son together. Evelyn was so happy that she started making a fuss days ago, making him try on this outfit and that.

“Son, do you like going out with your mother?”

“Yes!”

Evelyn grabbed Livell’s hand and left the outhouse. The carriage soon arrived at the entrance of the magician’s tower. Rene was out to meet them.

“My Lady, welcome to the Wizard’s Tower.”

“Yes, thank you for inviting us. This is for you.”

Sophie handed a box tied with a blue ribbon to the red-haired young man standing behind Rene. Excited by the sweet scent emitting from the box, Rene’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Wow, thank you! I also enjoyed the sweets and cakes you brought before.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Rene greeted Livell as well.

“Young master, welcome to the Wizard’s Tower.”

Livell was originally a child full of laughter, but he had an unusually bright expression in front of Rene. He seemed excited, bursting into small bits of laughter, and Rene smiled brightly at this.

“Shall we step inside?”

They followed her inside the Wizard’s Tower. Rene led them to an enormous door, and when she placed her hand to the doorknob the door opened by itself.