Chapter 134

“Your Grace, as I said, it’s because of my blood that they are like this—”

Elena’s urgent attempt to stop him was cut short when Kennard shook his head.

“You suffered enough shock and pain just to regain your memories,” he said coldly. “I don’t care whether they were ensorcelled by a spell cast through your blood or not. Those who defy me and attempt to harm you need to see what becomes of them.”

The affection he had shown her moments ago was already gone.

Elena swallowed hard as she met his gaze. A chilling light had settled in his eyes, and merely looking at him sent a shiver down her spine.

The instant Kennard finished speaking, Serin moved, as if he had been waiting for the order. Watching him cross the room, Elena’s already pale face drained of what little color remained.

“No. Please,” she pleaded, clutching Kennard’s arm.

She gripped him so tightly that the back of her hand turned white, blood nearly cut off. Kennard pressed his lips together and looked down at her with a pained expression, yet there was not the slightest hint that he intended to relent.

Serin reached the doorway and paused, turning back to see if Kennard might change his mind.

Argon seized the moment and stepped forward, imploring Kennard. “Your Grace,” he said carefully, “please reconsider.”

“High Priest, if you continue to oppose the Grand Duke’s will like this, it will be taken as a sign that you stand apart from us.” Benzef blocked Argon’s path and glared at him in warning. “Did you not hear the Grand Duchess say they are merely under a spell? Are you truly trying to turn His Grace into a lord of blood?”

“And did you not hear His Grace say that an example must be made?” Benzef shot back.

Though neither raised his voice, sharp, hostile gazes clashed between them.

“It is not only the process that matters, but the outcome,” Argon insisted. “If His Grace ascends the throne like this, even the strongest pureblood will lose the people’s support. Rather—”

He trailed off and looked toward Elena.

She immediately understood what he meant. Kennard, too, seemed to grasp his implication.

“Do not even entertain such absurd thoughts,” Kennard said, fixing Argon with a warning stare. “Unless you wish my wrath to extend to you as well.”

A beat passed before Benzef and Serin fully understood his words. Both stiffened in shock and turned their eyes to Elena.

Elena swallowed and forgot even how to breathe as she looked at Argon, who stood motionless by the window. In the elderly high priest’s eyes was an unshakable resolve, as though he were convinced there was no other solution.

Outside, the shouts continued to pour in through the walls.

Hand over the witch. Hiding the witch is treason. Execute her at once.

Hoarse voices filled with rage and killing intent echoed without end.

“Sir Serin,” Elena said suddenly, “could you lure them to the riverbank or the village well?”

Serin lifted one brow, his expression troubled.

“No,” Kennard answered before Serin could speak.

The single word was absolute, leaving no room for negotiation or a change of heart.

But Elena refused to back down. She could not allow Kennard to commit reckless slaughter because of her.

“The best solution is what Duke Blade did,” she said. “Make them drink something mixed with my blood. But in their current state, driven mad like this, it would be impossible.”

“Elena,” Kennard snapped, grabbing her arm.

Pain shot through her, and she barely managed to stifle a cry. Seeing her face turn white and cold sweat bead on her brow, Kennard loosened his grip at once.

“Please,” he said, his voice dropping into a plea. “Stop this.”

For a moment, Elena wavered under the sight of his tightly furrowed brow and the darkness pooling in his eyes.

“I don’t want to see you suffer because of me,” she said quietly. “But you know this is the best way to resolve things.”

“So you expect me to take your blood?” he demanded. “From you, when you’re already in this state?”

“That’s how I survive,” Elena replied. She forced a small smile. “It’s not as if I need that much blood.”

“That’s impossible,” Kennard said. “You’re asking me to use you the way the White Fox Tribe did.”

“It’s different,” she insisted. “This time, I’m choosing it. It’s necessary.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Kennard sprang to his feet. Elena stared blankly at the space he had just occupied, wishing desperately that he would return, that he would sit beside her again and wrap an arm around her shoulders.

But her wish did not reach him.

“Serin,” Kennard barked, turning toward the man waiting by the door, “are you going to stand there forever?”

“I think…” Serin began, lifting his gaze after staring at the floor in thought. “It would be best to follow the Grand Duchess’s wishes.”

“Serin?” Kennard stared at him in disbelief, his mouth falling open.

Everyone has lost their minds, Kennard thought. Completely.

“Even if it’s not Elena,” he said sharply, “does it make sense to take the blood of a living person and use it as material for sorcery?”

“It’s better than killing innocent people,” Elena said.

Bracing herself with one hand on the bed, she looked up at him without averting her eyes, meeting the fury in his gaze head-on.

“I won’t die. It won’t take that much blood. So please, just this once, do it my way.”

***

Kennard stared blankly at the reins clenched in his hand.

He was mounted in the stables behind the estate, while nearby a carriage bearing the Devil family’s wolf crest stood ready to depart. The knights moved busily around them, yet each cast cautious glances his way, weighed down by the suffocating heaviness of his pheromones.

Kennard shoved his fingers between his collar and cravat and tugged roughly. It was not tight, yet it felt as though it were strangling him. With a sharp motion, he tore the cravat loose and flung it to the ground.

A passing knight startled, stared at the fallen cloth, then hurriedly picked it up and brushed off the dirt. Looking around for guidance, he ran to Serin, who was issuing orders to the servants.

“This,” the knight said hesitantly.

Serin took the cravat and glanced at it briefly. “Are the preparations finished?”

“Yes.”

“Then head to the upper reaches of the river and wait, as instructed. Release it the moment you see the signal.”

“Yes, sir.”

The knight ran to the supply wagon, leapt up onto the driver’s seat, and cracked the reins.

The horses snorted and burst from the stables. Kennard watched the wagon rattle out of sight, his gaze unfocused. He wanted to chase after it immediately, but he could not.

He let out a deep breath and rubbed at his temple. Lowering his hand, he stared at it. Though nothing stained his skin, it felt as if dark blood were smeared there, and an overwhelming urge to wash his hands crept over him.

“Your Grace, we should depart soon as well,” Serin said.

Kennard turned slowly at the sound of his voice. For a moment, his vision would not focus, Serin’s face blurring before his eyes.

“We can handle the diversion,” Serin added carefully. “Perhaps it would be better if Your Grace remained at the estate.”

Kennard shook his head. “No. They need to see me to believe and follow. And I can’t send Elena alone.”

“I understand, but—”

Serin trailed off and turned around. From the direction of the estate, someone approached in an elegant dress, cloaked in a large hood that concealed both hair and face. Her small frame moved calmly as attendants guided her into the carriage bearing the Devel crest.

Kennard and Serin watched in silence.

“Move out,” Kennard ordered.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At his command, Serin and the knights mounted their horses at once.

“Protect the carriage at all costs,” Kennard said. “Do not let them catch up to it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kicking his horse into motion, Kennard burst from the stables at speed, circled halfway around the estate, and headed for the main gate. Serin followed close behind, with the knights and the carriage racing after them.

The ground thundered as if struck by lightning. As though waiting for this very moment, the knights confronting the crowd began forcing people back with their shields, and the towering front gates slowly swung open to either side.