Chapter 143

“Don’t tell me… you mean that person who’s staying here?” one of the women whispered.

“I told you, that’s exactly who I mean,” the other insisted.

Their conversation faltered for a moment, as though both were glancing around to make sure no one was listening. Their voices dropped even lower, turning into a murmur too faint to catch clearly.

Unable to hear them, Elena finally stepped out of the bath. She reached for the thick cloth draped over a nearby chair and wrapped it around her body. As she moved slowly toward the powder room, damp footprints marked her path across the cold marble floor.

“What if someone hears you?” the first woman hissed. “Didn’t you hear the High Priest warn us to watch our tongues?”

Standing just behind the door that led to the powder room, Elena held her breath and strained to listen.

Her heart pounded as though she were committing a crime, her hands and feet growing cold. She pulled the cloth tighter over her shoulders and pressed her ear closer to the door.

She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop like this, but if she revealed herself, they would surely fall silent. And then she would lose any chance, however small, of learning what was happening in the capital… what was happening to Kennard.

“We’re only saying this because it’s just us,” the second woman muttered.

“Even so, be careful. Calling the Grand Duchess a witch… Haven’t you heard the saying? Wherever Sir Serin stands on the battlefield, His Grace is never far behind. They say you should guard your neck. The capital is in the middle of a war, and if Sir Serin, the Grand Duke’s aide, is here, it means His Grace treasures his wife that much. Otherwise, why would he hide her away in a temple in the middle of nowhere like this?”

Through their conversation, Elena realized that she had been brought far from the capital, to a remote temple.

“I know that,” the other woman replied. “They say this war started not just because the White Fox Tribe assassinated His Majesty and seized the imperial palace, but also because His Majesty abducted the Grand Duchess on her wedding day and even put her on trial for witchcraft. His Grace was furious.”

“I heard that too. They say he was already planning to attack the palace, even without the White Fox Tribe. That’s why the High Priest gathered all his private soldiers and sent them to the capital.”

Elena gasped, barely managing to swallow the sound. She clapped both hands over her mouth, terrified that even the smallest noise might betray her presence.

The Emperor… was assassinated? By the White Fox Tribe? Don’t tell me… Azis…

Her legs gave way beneath her, and she staggered, reaching out blindly until her hand found the wall to support her.

When she had been taken to the imperial palace, the Emperor and Azis had clearly been on the same side.

How did it come to this? How did the Emperor end up dying at his hands?

Confusion overwhelmed her. She had no idea what had happened while she was unconscious, and the frustration tightened in her chest.

Worse still, they had said that a plague was spreading, that people were dying.

Elena sank to the floor where she stood.

Unaware that she was just beyond the door, the two women continued their conversation, the clatter of objects suggesting they were tidying something.

“I wonder how long this war will last. There’s never been a war within the Empire itself before… It’s frightening. Who knows when it might reach even here?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the other scoffed. “If the war reaches this far south, it would mean the Empire has already fallen to the White Fox Tribe. And with His Grace leading the vanguard, do you really think that will happen?”

“I suppose not…”

“By the way, have you ever seen the Grand Duchess?”

“No. The High Priest personally selected the attendants who serve her. We were told not to go anywhere near her quarters. I only came today because the head housekeeper sprained her ankle and told us to bring this. Otherwise, do you think the knights would have let us pass the staircase?”

“I was hoping we might catch a glimpse of her if we came this far, but I guess not. Still… don’t you smell something? It’s a very pleasant scent… something unusual…”

One of them sniffed the air.

Elena froze, wondering if they had noticed her pheromones. Yet she could not move. Her mind was in turmoil from everything she had just heard, and a dull heaviness pulled at her lower abdomen.

“The servants were carrying hot water earlier. Maybe they were preparing her bath? Nobles must use such fine fragrances.”

“That makes sense. We only use scents during baptisms here, and nothing this luxurious.”

“Should we take a peek?”

“Where? …Are you insane? If we get caught, we’re finished.”

A brief silence followed before one of them sharply rebuked the other in a hushed voice.

Elena barely heard them anymore. Their bickering faded into the background as her thoughts spiraled.

The Emperor was dead. A war had begun because of her. Innocent people were dying.

“Lady Elena!”

The door burst open as Cura entered ahead of the maids carrying hot water. The moment she saw Elena collapsed on the floor, she cried out.

Rushing across the bath, Cura dropped to her knees in front of her and grabbed her shoulders.

“Are you hurt? What happened?”

Elena remained dazed, even as Cura, pale as death, examined her from head to toe. The maids behind her froze in shock.

“Close the door!” Cura snapped.

Startled, they hastily set down the water containers and shut the bathroom door.

As they stood there, unsure what to do, two unfamiliar maids peeked in through the door to the powder room. The moment they spotted Elena, their eyes widened, their faces draining of color even more than Cura’s.

They clapped their hands over their mouths, exchanging panicked glances.

“Who are you?” Cura demanded sharply, following Elena’s gaze.

She rose to her feet and stepped forward, positioning herself between Elena and the intruders as if shielding her.

“How did you get in here? This is not a place just anyone can enter. Who sent you?”

“W-we… we came on the head housekeeper’s orders…” one of them stammered.

“The head housekeeper sent you? Then why didn’t she come herself?”

“She sprained her ankle… she couldn’t climb the stairs…”

“I wasn’t told anything about that. And the knights just let you through based on that alone?”

“Yes… it seemed they had been informed in advance…”

The maids shrank under Cura’s anger, answering in trembling voices.

“Cura.”

Elena reached out and tugged lightly at her sleeve.

Still bristling, Cura turned immediately and knelt before her again.

“What happened? Why were you like that?”

She pulled the cloth tighter around Elena’s shoulders as she spoke.

“Bring her robe,” Cura ordered.

One of the maids hurried to fetch a velvet robe from a chair near the bath. Elena slipped her arms into the sleeves as Cura helped dress her.

Only after tying the sash at her waist did Elena slowly rise, supported by Cura.

“Did you fall?” Cura asked.

“No. My legs just gave out. I was sitting.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Cura examined her once more, from head to toe, before letting out a breath.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone for so long.”

Seeing the guilt cloud Cura’s eyes, Elena took her hand.

“It’s not like that. I just got dizzy after bathing and came out too quickly.”

“I should have been here…”

“It’s fine. I’m done bathing. You may all leave.”

After reassuring Cura once more, Elena dismissed the servants.

They cast worried glances at her but quietly gathered their things and left the bath.

The two maids by the powder room door hurriedly bowed their heads and moved to close it as well.

“You two.”

At Elena’s voice, they froze in place.

Cura, too, looked startled.

“What is it? Do you need something from them? Did they do something wrong? Is that why you collapsed…?”

“No.”

Elena shook her head with a faint smile, calming her.

“I just have something to ask.”

She turned her gaze back to the two stiff figures standing by the door.

“It seems you’re the only ones here who will answer me honestly.”

“What do you mean?” Cura asked, confusion lacing her voice.