The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 87

The silence between them stretched uncomfortably, and Evelyn couldn’t help but steal a glance at him. She regretted bringing up money but heard him chuckle softly beside her.

“I’ll tell the steward to get you whatever you need,” he said.

Evelyn looked at him in surprise, her confusion mirrored on her face. He reached out, and she flinched when his hand touched her head. His large hand gently stroked the top of her head.

“This is the first time you’ve asked me for something,” he murmured.

“I used to bother you all the time before,” Evelyn said, her head drooping. His hand moved from her head to touch the tip of her reddening ear.

“When did you ever bother me?” he asked.

“Remember when I kept asking you to have tea with me or to go to the night market? You were busy preparing for the war. I was so thoughtless back then. I’m sorry.”

Evelyn glanced up at his face, trying to read his expression, but as usual, it was unreadable. She felt a bit of relief.

“We can talk about the rest inside,” he said, removing his hand from her ear.

They continued walking down the dark corridor. When they reached the end, he drew a dagger. With a sharp blade, he sliced his palm, and blood dripped onto the floor.

“Your Highness!” Evelyn exclaimed, rushing to him. Suddenly, white lights swirled on the floor, revealing a steep staircase. Evelyn stared in disbelief.

“What is that?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“It’s a magic circle leading underground,” he explained.

He held out his hand, and Evelyn quickly took it. Standing side by side at the top of the steep stairs, the magic circle disappeared. Evelyn quickly wrapped his bleeding hand with her handkerchief, looking up at him as if she was the one who had been cut. He looked down at her, his gaze unreadable, and urged her on.

“Let’s go down. The stairs are steep, so be careful.”

Holding a torch, he led the way, and Evelyn followed cautiously. They descended the long, steep staircase, finally arriving at a massive door. Evelyn marveled at the decorations on the handle.

A double-headed eagle with golden feathers.

She thought of Zion and smiled. Zion had brown feathers with a hint of black and only one head. Just as she would stroke Zion’s head, she brushed her fingers over the door handle.

“One beak is open, and the other is closed. It’s fascinating.”

He placed his wounded hand into the open beak of the eagle. The door slid open silently, surprising Evelyn once more. He pulled her inside, and the door closed automatically behind them.

The air inside was different, colder, and pressing down on her. Evelyn shivered, and he draped his coat over her shoulders.

“I’m fine,” she protested weakly.

“You’re shivering. That’s not fine,” he said, wrapping his arms around her until her trembling subsided.

“This is the Grand Duke’s secret storeroom,” he said.

Evelyn looked up at him in wonder, questioning why he would show her such a place. He continued, his tone casual.

“It seems the Countess Edith had business here.”

“That explains why she was lingering near the Tower of Repentance,” Evelyn said thoughtfully.

He pointed to stacks of wooden crates in the corner.

“We stored mandra here.”

“Why would Yuli need mandra?” Evelyn asked.

“That naive woman has no use for it, but can you say the same for Countess Edith or Countess Glen?”

Evelyn realized that the people around Yuli were his enemies. Despite her fondness for Yuli, she decided to keep her distance.

“How many Ajauntice bloodline members are there?” he asked.

“Um, there’s you, Countess Glen, Yuli, and…” Evelyn hesitated to name the youngest Ajantis.

“Liber Ajauntice, making four,” he said.

Liber Ajauntice, a name she had whispered many times to herself. Hearing him say their son’s name for the first time, Evelyn couldn’t hide her trembling.

“Anyone with Ajauntice blood can open this door.”

At first, even he wasn’t sure if it was the Grand Duke or any blood relative who could open it. But seeing Yulia linger near the entrance of the Tower of Repentance confirmed his suspicion. Anyone with Ajauntice blood could open this door.

“If Countess Edith can open it, so can the kid,” he said.

Evelyn shook her head, remembering how he had cut his palm without hesitation.

“Liber has no reason to come here, and he’s too young to injure himself like that,” she said.

“Rene says I’m too excessive with the blood. The kid wouldn’t need to go that far,” he replied.

Evelyn tilted her head, puzzled. He seemed certain that Liber would have a reason to come here.

“If I’m not here, the safest place in an emergency is with Rene at the Mage Tower. But if that’s not possible, bring the kid here.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I don’t understand why you’re telling me this. We’re soon…”

He interrupted, his voice hoarse.

“I promised to protect you and the child while you’re here.”

Last night, she had poured her heart out to him, terrified that Liber might be killed. It had weighed on his mind. Feeling guilt and gratitude, Evelyn wrapped her arms around his waist. He stiffened, but she didn’t let go.

“Listen to me. Yuli and Countess Glen can enter here, but not beyond this point.”

He turned her around firmly, pointing to a giant gray shield hanging on the wall. Evelyn looked up at him, confused, as he nudged her forward. Standing before the shield, he released her shoulders and stepped ahead.

“Watch closely, Evelyn.”

Holding her breath, she watched as he pushed the shield aside with all his strength. With an unpleasant screech, the shield moved, revealing another door bathed in blue light. He tapped it lightly, and it opened.

They stepped inside a new room. Unlike outside, the air here was warm, embracing them. Though empty, it didn’t feel barren.

“Only direct descendants of the Grand Duke can open this door.”

This was his first time entering the room too, but he knew the door could only be opened by a direct descendant of the Grand Duke.

The chronicles of Isaiah Ajauntices, the founder of the Grand Duke’s house, mentioned this place. When Isaiah, ready to die young, had locked himself in here, only his son had found him. No one else, not even Isaiah’s brothers, could enter until his son returned.

Interrupting his wandering thoughts, he added, “Do I have any other children besides the kid?”

Evelyn’s mouth fell open. Gathering herself, she asked, “You’re saying we should come here in an emergency?”

“Only if you can’t reach the Mage Tower. Though it won’t come to that.”

Evelyn smiled brightly, nodding. His words were gruff, but she understood his intention.

“I will remember, Your Highness.”

He averted his gaze, perhaps embarrassed, and took her hand.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

Just before leaving, Evelyn felt a strange pull, making her turn around. She blinked at a hazy vision. A large bird with brown-black feathers—it was Zion. Someone seemed to be sitting before it, obscured by Zion’s size.

“Is that really what you desire?” Zion’s voice echoed with a profound resonance. “Once decided, there is no turning back.”

“Evelyn, what’s wrong?” his voice pulled her back to reality. The vision and sound vanished instantly.

“Nothing. Let’s go,” she said, following him but glancing back repeatedly. She was sure that place held Zion’s lost memories.

****

As they emerged from the Tower of Repentance, a knight from the royal guard quickly approached him. Whispering in his ear, the knight made him nod. Escorting Evelyn to the carriage, he opened the door.

“I have to go. Be careful on your way back,” he said.

“Thank you for everything today. I’ll remember what you told me,” Evelyn said, smiling softly.

He stared at her for a moment before closing the door. Evelyn watched through the window as he gave instructions to Arthas and Belina. Soon, the carriage started moving smoothly. Evelyn pressed against the window, waving. He raised his hand awkwardly, and then she was out of sight. Chuckling to himself, he turned to the knight.

“The Paladin Commander appeared at the villa?” he asked.

Lady Ruthen stayed in the villa by the lake, and he had planted a spy there.

“Has the Paladin Commander returned?”

“He should be arriving at the Grand Duke’s residence by now.”

He mounted his horse and said, “I should greet him at the gate.”

At dawn, he led his knights swiftly toward the city.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________