I came back into the drain pipe and found a flat spot to sit.

Only then could I let out a long breath.

‘He remembers me.’

I’m happy. Indescribably so.

After retracing the secret passage and coming out of the well, I immediately returned to the underground of the main castle. In a situation where I was under disciplinary action, staying away from my assigned place for too long could arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Sitting on a pile of hay and catching my breath, I went over my conversation with the Grand Duke, checking if I had made any mistakes.

Then suddenly, one thing Arcadia had said came to mind.

[To cause a disturbance, you have to do at least this much.]

Disturbance, what was he trying to disturb?

[It was tough breaking the stubbornness of those southern bastards who kept trying to come this way.]

According to him, Lahert wanted to have the banquet at the Blue Annex Castle. But the Northern Grand Duke did not want that.

Arcadia negotiated with the South and eventually changed the banquet venue from the Annex Castle to the main castle.

Given Lahert’s personality, he would have planned everything including the banquet from the moment he opened the Annex Castle to the North.

‘For the South, it may have disrupted their prepared plans.’

Ah.

Perhaps by disturbance, he meant suddenly shaking up the board that the Southern Grand Duke had set up.

When the board changes, variables inevitably arise in the grasp of the new board.

Maybe the North came here with their own preparations. No, not maybe, they must have come prepared. That’s only natural.

Can I be even a drop of help to their preparations?

The Northern Grand Duke, Sion Belfast.

I pray that you become the final victor and save me from this hellish Lahert family. That you become the rope leading me to a new world.

***

Just in case, I lurked around the main castle kitchen.

There are various ways to put poison into a person’s body, but the easiest way is through food.

Medeia’s dog and the girl with half her face distorted is a known figure even to people in the main castle. Because of that, I could loiter around without any trouble. Of course, the fact that I’m a prospective assassin is top secret.

“Ugh, disgusting. Can’t you get lost?”

“Hey, if the food goes bad because you’re distracting us, you’ll be responsible!”

The kitchen servants who noticed me didn’t even try to hide their disgust.

My face, is it really that hideous?

The fact hit me anew, making a corner of my heart ache.

Even if I wanted to cover my left face that looked like it had melted, the only half-mask allowed to me was made to cover the right side of my face.

Medeia never allowed me to show my original face, using ingenious methods.

[Don’t be ashamed of your real face. You’re not hideous at all.]

She always said that while hiding my original face behind a mask.

Now I know the reason. Because the face behind the mask is my true appearance as the Emperor’s real granddaughter.

Evening was approaching.

Pushing aside my thoughts, I hid my body on top of another building overlooking the kitchen. I couldn’t see anyone who seemed to be carrying poison or acting differently than usual. But I couldn’t be certain.

‘There are too many people coming and going.’

At that moment, I saw a yellow caterpillar carrying plates. An eerie feeling began to press down my spine.

***

The secret passages inside the main castle are connected to the ceilings of each floor. I moved slowly and silently through the ceiling. And finally arrived above the banquet hall.

Through a small vent below, I could see a tablecloth so white it was dazzling and an endlessly long marble table.

The Northern Grand Duke Sion Belfast and the Southern Grand Duke Cramnel Lahert were sitting together at the head of the table, on the narrow side.

Perhaps to show there was no hierarchy between them? They sat side by side facing forward.

According to etiquette, it would be right for the Northern Grand Duke, who was the guest and protagonist of the victory ceremony, to sit at the head, but Cramnel did not do so. It was typical of him, filled with an inferiority complex towards the Northern Grand Duke.

Next to the Lahert Grand Duke, on the wide side of the table, were Medeia Lahert and her younger brother, Cahen Lahert. Next to Sion Belfast sat Arcadia Nugent.

I waited for the yellow caterpillar I had lost sight of in the bustling crowd. If he entered the banquet hall, I would alert them of the danger even if I had to set off a smoke bomb from the ceiling.

Medeia’s voice, gentle as a spring breeze, reached my ears.

Even from far away, my keen hearing as a Sword Master missed no sound.

“Lord Arcadia Nugent, it’s truly delightful to see you like this. How else could we sit across from each other and share a meal if not for an occasion like this?”

At a glance, it sounded like warm words of welcome.

But I know. Those words mean ‘How dare someone like you sit at the same table as me if not for an opportunity like this?’

It elegantly revealed her inner thoughts that there would be no other occasion for a mere second son of a northern count’s family to sit across from her, the young lady of the Imperial Grand Duchy.

“Indeed. It’s an honor, Grand Duchess. I suppose I’m lucky to have this chance that we wouldn’t have had if you had handled the battle with the barbarians in the South.”

Arcadia retorted, feigning courtesy.

Fluent and upright posture, appropriate intonation, sophisticated speech. A timbre like winter awaiting early spring, about half a tone higher than the Northern Grand Duke’s.

“We can only be grateful that you willingly made the long journey to join the expedition.”

Medeia replied softly.

Willingly? Even a three-year-old child in the Empire would laugh at that.

When everyone knows he came down reluctantly, caught in the South’s web.

But there was no trace of mockery or anger in the Belfast Grand Duke’s smile.

The Lahert Grand Duke took over his daughter’s eloquent words.

“Medeia, let’s stop with these appetizer-like greetings. How long has it been since the North and South gathered like this for the Empire? Belfast, don’t you agree?”

A subtle condescension.

But Sion Belfast maintained a calm smile this time as well.

“Indeed, Your Grace.”

“Hahaha! Seeing you up close like this, you really have a steady personality. Reminds me of your father. The late Belfast Grand Duke was also very unassuming.”

“Is that so.”

Lahert, bringing up the story of the late duke. But even at this provocation that should have made his blood boil, Belfast maintained his composure.

When even I know that it was the Emperor and the Southern Grand Duke who drove the late Northern Grand Duke to his death on the battlefield.

My heart pounded at Cramnel’s shamelessness.

‘You snake who killed my mother. Someday I will surely…’

***

The meal began.

But for some reason, Arcadia wasn’t eating much. Perhaps there had been a warning from the Northern Grand Duke to be careful of poison.

“Is the food not to your liking?”

Cahen Lahert asked worriedly.

“Cahen, are you insulting the chefs of the Southern Grand Duke’s household?”

Medeia smiled at her brother with an affectionate tone. But there was a knife hidden in it. Arcadia answered towards Cahen, who flinched.

“No, it’s delicious. But these are foods that are difficult to come by normally in the North or on the battlefield.”

“Unlike his appearance, Lord Nugent prefers tough and rough foods. He might also be nervous because it’s a formal occasion. Is that it, Lord Nugent?”

At the Belfast Grand Duke’s words, Arcadia replied.

“I apologize, Your Grace. It seems the fatigue from battle hasn’t fully subsided yet. I hope I’m not being rude in front of such carefully prepared dishes.”

“I see. I heard it was indeed a difficult battle.”

Finally, Lahert reluctantly brought up the topic of the battle. With a calm face, as if talking about someone else’s story.

“Well, what can we do? Those with great power are sometimes followed by tiresome responsibilities. Like the North’s expedition this time. You have an excellent order of knights, Grand Duke Belfast.”

“You flatter me.”

At that moment, I sensed something strange.

‘Grand Duke?’

The Northern Grand Duke’s voice trembled ever so slightly. Come to think of it, his hands were shaking slightly too.

‘What’s wrong, Grand Duke?’

Just then, the Grand Duke’s body leaned forward.

– Cough!

Sion Belfast coughed up blood. His hand, turned blue, clutched at the tablecloth. But it wasn’t enough to steady his shaking body.

“Your Grace!”

Arcadia caught the Grand Duke as he collapsed sideways.

‘Grand Duke!’

I covered my mouth with both hands to stifle the scream that was about to escape.

What’s going on? Why the Grand Duke instead of Arcadia?

In my previous life, the Grand Duke was fine. He only lost Arcadia and left the South unharmed. So why now?

The Laherts froze in an instant. Especially Medeia’s face turned not just pale, but bluish white.

“Knights! The Grand Duke has collapsed!”

At Arcadia’s shout, the Northern knights guarding outside the banquet hall rushed in.

Medeia cried out.

“What’s happening? Grand Duke!”

“It seems he’s been poisoned! How could this happen!”

Arcadia shouted at Medeia, filled with rage.

The banquet hall instantly turned into pandemonium. The Northern knights drew their swords to protect the Grand Duke.

***

“This is impossible! I haven’t used the poison yet!”

Medeia protested, almost roaring. She pulled out a transparent liquid from the drawer of her desk in her office.

“Look! What I prepared is still here! And Father, you know better than anyone that we weren’t aiming for the Grand Duke in the first place!”

“That’s why! That’s why I’m asking how this happened!”

Unable to contain his anger, Cramnel Lahert grabbed an expensive piece of pottery from his daughter’s room and threw it. The pottery shattered against the wall right next to Medeia.

“We’re about to be framed as poisoners!”

Lahert vented his frustration.

Medeia looked down at the broken pottery.

Anger and humiliation.

As those emotions scattered with the pottery, cold reason returned.

‘Calm down, Medeia. You need to keep your wits about you now more than ever.’

She stared at her father.

“Now several things are becoming clear.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“The Northern Grand Duke is not as even-tempered as you think, Father. Nor is he unassuming.”

“…So what? If word gets out that Belfast was poisoned and is fighting for his life, people will suspect us as the perpetrators.”

“No, we have always been the victims. This time will be no different.”

The Southern Grand Duke’s eyes gleamed at Medeia’s composed tone.

“I didn’t use the poison. Yet Belfast coughed up blood. Symptoms of someone who’s been poisoned, by anyone’s standards. How is that possible? There’s only one answer.”

The Grand Duke, who had been thinking with his eyes closed, opened them.

“He poisoned himself?”

“Yes, it’s clearly a self-inflicted act. To put us in danger.”

“Ha! He’s incredibly cunning. Just like his father.”

Cramnel Lahert’s fists trembled with rage. Medeia smiled.

“We can only respond to a self-inflicted act with another self-inflicted act. How dare a northern barbarian who only roams battlefields try to catch a snake.”

“You mean he’s trying to catch me.”

“He won’t be able to. He’ll realize he’s messed with a dragon, not a snake.”

Medeia smiled coldly.

Cramnel Lahert was reassured by his eldest daughter’s smile. Since she was young, whenever she faced a difficult match or fierce competition, his daughter always smiled like that. And the result was always ‘victory’.

***

‘Grand Duke, are you alright?’

The Blue Annex Castle was sealed off from the inside by the Northern knights.

The knights maintained strict vigilance to prevent any southerners from approaching the Annex Castle. They also said they would use medical staff brought from the North rather than local doctors.

I was worried about the Grand Duke’s condition, but I too could only watch from afar, unable to go near.

Nevertheless, I was very worried. Why did they use poison on the Northern Grand Duke instead of Arcadia, unlike in my previous life? Surely that would cause trouble for the South.

Unless…

I shook my head at the sudden thought.

‘No way. It can’t be the Grand Duke’s self-inflicted act.’

He clearly coughed up blood. No Grand Duke would stage such an act risking his life.

I started walking aimlessly to organize my thoughts.

But as I followed the familiar path, I found myself at a familiar place before I knew it.

The entrance to Rachel Forest, where Medeia’s room could be seen.

Just then, someone silently landed beside me. I was startled and looked over to see the red caterpillar, the boy who was always second to me.

His hair, illuminated by moonlight, was bright red, and even his eyes were red.

“I thought you might be here, and sure enough. You didn’t come here thinking you could be of any help to the Young Lady, did you?”

He showed his raw hostility towards me.

“What does it matter to you where I am?”

“It doesn’t matter, but the teacher ordered us to gather.”

He swallowed bitterly and looked up towards Medeia’s room. Then, without taking his eyes off that room, he said.

“You, don’t think you’ve become a confidant just because our lord shows you a bit of favor.”

“I’ve never had such a delusion.”

“Good then. Follow me.”

Though I really hated it, I had no choice but to follow him. It wouldn’t be good for them to notice that I had changed at a time like this.

The place the caterpillar led me to was in front of the Blue Annex Castle. But before I could prepare myself mentally, something was already happening there.

I stood behind the black beetle disguised as an ordinary employee and the assassin trainees. They were all looking towards the entrance of the Annex Castle.

Medeia?

Medeia was in front of the Blue Annex Castle. And beside her was the yellow caterpillar, kneeling with his hands bound.

Yellow caterpillar?

Even from a distance, I could see he was shaking violently. A violent trembling, whether from fear or pain I couldn’t tell.

Medeia shouted.

“After a search, we have found the poisoner who attempted to assassinate the Northern Grand Duke! Please come out and confirm our southern friendship! Please don’t ignore us any longer! We need to face each other to resolve this, don’t we?”

Her voice was desperate.

Just then, the yellow caterpillar started making strange cries, “Ugh- ugh-“.

“They cut his tongue in half. By the Young Lady’s order.”

The black beetle whispered.

‘!’

“He’s of northern origin. But he was supposed to forget that, yet he couldn’t forget and ended up defending the North. The Young Lady found out about it. All of you should see this sight and engrave it in your hearts.”

My stomach started to churn sickeningly.

Yellow caterpillar, so you were trembling from pain.

Medeia shouted.

“This person is of northern origin, an orphan we took in and raised when he was wandering. We don’t know why a stable boy would poison the Grand Duke’s food. When we found the child, his tongue was already cut! Could it be that you northerners know this child?!”

I felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head.

Medeia, what seeds of lies have you come to plant now?