Meanwhile, although Ord had regained consciousness, he still could not go outside. Sitting on the bed was the most he could do, and even that became difficult to breathe if he spent too much time doing it.

Baso, no, Deceptor had not shown himself for days. Even when Ord briefly regained consciousness, he did not seek him out.

The servants who were always under Baso’s command were at a loss for what to do, but he did not appear, and Ord made no mention of Baso’s absence.

“Your Majesty, the… Lady Kristrad’s close maid has arrived.”

“Tell her to come in.”

The servant retreated from his presence with a terrified expression, as if fleeing.

Mel followed, entering the bedroom with a similar expression to the servant. She stopped at the doorway, then carefully bowed while holding the medicine in both hands to prevent it from spilling.

“I am here to see Your Majesty.”

“Come closer.”

Mel reluctantly, slowly took steps forward.

The medicine Laila made for Ord was brought to his quarters daily by Mel at the scheduled time.

However, until recently, Baso had taken it inside, and yesterday the servant had brought it in, but today they ran away pretending not to know.

Having no choice but to enter directly, Mel was overwhelmed by the atmosphere inside that she could hardly believe was where the king resided, even before stepping in.

Though beautiful decorations, curtains, and tapestries filled the room, even the most terrible prison in the world would feel cozy compared to this place.

“Closer.”

As Mel hesitantly stopped in the middle of the room, Ord added irritably. When she finally approached the bed, she involuntarily frowned at the bitter smell and stench of illness emanating from all around.

Ord said:

“The sick always emit an unbearable stench.”

Mel, suddenly coming to her senses, turned pale and shook her head.

“No, Your Majesty.”

Ord let out a chuckle and stared at her.

“Do not lie before me. I know there is no way I smell of perfume and flowers in my current state. The smell of the dying is terrible. And of the already dead. Perhaps the life itself dwelling in our bodies is a mass of stench. Maybe that’s what spreads an ominous smell when it escapes.”

Mel was suddenly afraid he might lose his mind and lash out. If only the head servant Baso were here beside him, she thought, she would be a little less afraid.

It is nerve-wracking enough for a mere maid to have a private audience with the king. Let alone with Ord…

“Give me the medicine.”

Ord finally broke the suffocating silence. Mel approached his side carefully, focusing her strength on her trembling fingertips.

Although she had brought a spoon, she hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to do, as Baso had always taken the medicine until now.

Then, unexpectedly, Ord smiled in a seemingly gentle manner and said:

“It would save you trouble if I could take it with my own hands, but as you can see, I am in a state where even blinking an eye is difficult.”

Mel, flustered, quickly bowed her head.

“No, Your Majesty. Of course I should help you. With pleasure…”

“Didn’t I tell you not to lie?”

Mel, biting her inner lip, slowly exhaled.

“I speak to Your Majesty. It is not a lie that I said I would serve Your Majesty with pleasure. Your Majesty is the pillar and rock of Cierow. I merely spoke the natural words as a subject who relies on that pillar and stands on that rock. However, Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, I must say that I am afraid to be by your side.”

Ord, who had been listening to Mel’s words that seemed to pour out instantly as if prepared, momentarily looked perplexed.

His face, blackened and dead from illness and pain, twisted slightly, and then a sound like wind escaping emerged.

“Your Majesty.”

“You say interesting things. Kuk kuk… You must be the maid serving Laila, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ord, exhaling a long breath, leaned his body against the layers of cushions. So light was he that the place where his weight rested did not even sink much.

“Has your mistress returned?”

Mel shook her head.

“She has not returned yet.”

“Was there no contact at all?”

“When Lady Kristrad is away on Tentinella business, there is never any contact.”

“…I see, I suppose that would be the case.”

As he coughed lightly, Mel skillfully took out a handkerchief and held it under his lips, as she was accustomed to serving. When the coughing subsided, she hurriedly scooped up the medicine with a spoon and slowly fed it to him.

When about half the medicine was consumed, Ord said:

“This medicine was made by your mistress herself, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How does it feel to serve a witch as your mistress?”

Mel’s expression suddenly hardened. She kept her gaze lowered as she poured a little more medicine into Ord’s chapped lips, then quickly wiped away what had spilled outside.

“While serving Lady Kristrad, I have rarely thought about her being a witch.”

“Can you assert that you were not afraid when seeing that ominous hair and those eyes?”

Mel said:

“At first, I was bewildered. I am originally an employee of the royal palace, but the person I mainly served was Duchess Himierd. When she told me to help with Lady Kristrad’s life, I felt very perplexed. I admit that I could not dare disobey the Duchess’s order.”

“And then?”

“However, as I spent time close to Lady Kristrad, my thoughts changed. People whisper that she is a witch, an ominous person. But the Lady Kristrad I know is simply innocent and pure. She never mistreats her employees, and tries to help those in need as much as she can.”

Ord did not respond. One spoonful, two spoonfuls… The medicine continued to go down his throat until finally the bowl was empty.

Mel, inwardly sighing with relief, wiped his face one last time before trying to withdraw with the empty bowl and spoon.

“Listen to me carefully.”

Ord’s voice stopped Mel as she was about to turn around after bowing. Thanks to the medicine, the ceaseless coughing had stopped, and his voice seemed a bit clearer. Mel turned to face him calmly, despite feeling fear.

“Speak, Your Majesty.”

“Go immediately… to where Tentinella’s headquarters is and find Eustar’s confidant. I don’t know his name, but… there should be someone who comes running first when it’s about Eustar’s business. Whoever it is, go and tell them. Tell them to contact all branch heads and search for Eustar and… Kristrad.”

Mel’s eyes widened slightly. They were eyes tinged with fear.

“Has something dangerous happened to them?”

Ord shook his head with difficulty.

“I don’t know. But… they must be involved in something not good. You can tell just by the fact that that cunning devil is not showing his face.”

Ord’s low laughter sounded eerie and bizarre. Devil? Mel’s face turned pale.

“Your Majesty, perhaps…”

“Go now!”

Ord’s eyes flashed as he raised his voice. Mel stumbled backwards, tightly gripping the medicine bowl she had almost dropped. His sunken eyes were flashing brightly. It was frightening enough to worry they might burst into flames.

“Tell them to find Eustar and Kristrad without delay. No matter what!”

“I will convey your message.”

Mel bowed and fled from the king’s bedroom. Her spine tingled as if long, skeletal hands like dead branches would keep grabbing her shoulders from behind.

Mel ran blindly towards Tentinella’s headquarters without even thinking about where the path was. Right now, her mind was filled only with the thought that she had to escape this corridor.

— Laila.

— Laila Kristrad.

— Open your eyes.

Laila opened her eyes.

Air filled her lungs completely as if she had been pulled out of water. Her chest felt tight.

Laila bent her upper body forward, which she had abruptly raised, and exhaled with all her might. As she was panting, clutching her stiff head, she was startled by the sound of footsteps and turned her head.

“Lilith!”

The source of the presence was Lilith. Laila called out to her loudly, but for some reason, Lilith showed no reaction.

“Lilith, wait a moment.”

Laila hurriedly stood up and reached out to grab Lilith’s shoulder. No, her hand definitely touched the shoulder. However, as if grasping mist, her hand passed through Lilith’s body and clutched at empty air.

“What is this…”

Badin’s voice was heard from behind the bewildered Laila.

“You cannot interfere. This is merely my memory.”

Laila whipped her head around and glared at him.

“Is it your hobby to startle me like this?”

Badin, looking down at her, raised one eyebrow and then suppressed a laugh.

“I might make it my hobby from today. It seems the terrible boredom dissipates a bit when I touch you.”

“I have no intention of playing games with you.”

“I have no intention of playing games with you either, my daughter. At least not now. Didn’t I tell you? To watch my memories. Look, this is my memory. There has never been a medium who succeeded in ‘overlaying’ the memory of an existing devil, nor will there ever be. You are the first and the last.”

Who would be pleased to hear such words? Laila turned away from Badin, suppressing her boiling insides.

The sight of Lilith moving before her eyes was so vivid that it was hard to believe this was all an illusion and nothing more than Badin’s memory.

She was humming a song. It was the very song she had sung while treating Laila’s knee. A familiar song with a slightly sad melody, like a lullaby.

As Lilith walked around the house, trimming herbs and peering into the soup pot, her gaze suddenly turned outside.

Laila also turned her head in the direction Lilith was looking. Darkness had settled outside the window. Had it always been like that? Or…

“That’s…”

It was Laila who spoke. The bottom of the pitch-black darkness could be seen brightening and burning. It looked as if the sun was rising from underground, as if the entire village was ablaze.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Badin whispered softly.

“That man dies tonight.”