Ord received the document from Baso but seemed to have no interest in it. Himierd suddenly wondered if he could even properly see the letters written in the meeting report.

His cloudy eyes moved slowly from side to side. It was an indifferent gaze, as if skimming over meaningless scribbles.

Always maintaining a detached and cold attitude in front of everyone—even in front of Ord—Himierd was not like that today. The unexpectedly calm atmosphere rather confused her.

What am I saying right now? Himierd thought. She felt like she was just babbling nonsense, even though she was clearly reciting the contents from the meeting.

Flipping through the papers with a listless attitude, Ord spoke without even glancing at Himierd.

“You’ve prepared quite thoroughly.”

Himierd was not one to miss the barb in his words.

Trying to relax her shoulders that had stiffened with tension, Himierd bowed her head slightly.

“It is Your Majesty’s birthday celebration. It is only natural to carefully consider even the smallest details, as it is an occasion for all in the kingdom to rejoice.”

Ord’s parched lips moved crookedly.

Putting down the papers, he looked straight at Himierd and said.

“So you’ll give me a grand birthday celebration, even without loyalty to me. Is that it?”

Himierd looked at Ord without answering. By not averting her gaze, she was denying his words and trying to exclude the topic, while at the same time affirming her hostility towards him with her silence.

Yet she did not feel fear. Would Ord believe her even if she prostrated herself at his feet and swore loyalty? He certainly would not.

“Those words are hard to bear, Your Majesty.”

Himierd said after a long silence. The crooked sneer on Ord’s face deepened. His anger also became more apparent.

“Sui.”

Himierd’s eyes twitched. Being suddenly called by her old name brought a shock beyond imagination.

Once. Marchioness Himierd thought. Once there was a time when this man always called me ‘Sui’.

“Command me, Your Majesty. I am listening.”

Ord laughed hoarsely.

“Do you think I don’t know where your loyalty lies?”

Himierd was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to leave far away from here, not just this bedroom but the castle itself.

It was not because of fear. She did not want to hear the contemptuous words Ord was about to utter. Like a child entering adolescence, she wanted to cover her ears and run away from his words unconditionally.

Himierd said.

“My loyalty, Your Majesty. If I may dare say, exists solely towards Sierou.”

“What?”

Ord, who had questioned with a sneer, hunched his shoulders while chuckling. His hair, which had not been neatly combed, shook.

“No, Sui. That’s not it. You are loyal only to Eustar. And the reason for that is your selfishness.”

Himierd’s expression changed. The tip of her nose tensed, and her pale cheeks trembled as if an earthquake had occurred. More than anything, she felt ashamed for not being able to hide this reaction and letting Ord notice it.

Ord said.

“You can never be Eustar’s companion, Himierd.”

Himierd’s hands, which had been hanging down, curled into fists.

Seeing her clench her fists, Baso’s expression faintly furrowed. However, Himierd was not in a situation to care about the king’s servant. At least not now.

“So it’s alright to bring a witch as his companion?”

Ord’s mouth twisted slightly.

“You don’t know the value of that witch.”

“Value?”

“What would you do if that witch could give her life for Eustar?”

Himierd’s eyes shook violently.

“She.”

Himierd paused briefly and swallowed dryly.

“…Did Lady Kristrad say that?”

“There’s no need to even say it. Just engrave in your heart the fact that that witch is absolutely necessary for the Eustar you so adore.”

Himierd took a step closer to the bed. Baso immediately came forward to block her, but she did not stop.

“Did Your Majesty pair her as the prince consort with the thought that she would someday lose her life for Eustar?”

Ord, raising his dark eyes, said in a chilling voice.

“What if I did?”

A sigh-like breath escaped from Himierd’s mouth.

“…How could you do such a thing?”

“How amusing. You were the one most enraged when that witch became Eustar’s companion. Now you feel guilty because she might lose her life? Shouldn’t you rather be happy? If by any chance that witch loses her life for Eustar, couldn’t you fill that empty spot? Though it would be impossible while I’m alive.”

“Your Majesty!”

Himierd’s voice rang through the quiet royal chamber. It was such disrespect that it wouldn’t be strange if her head fell off right then, but Ord just looked at Himierd with a gloomy smile. He didn’t even pretend to be angry.

“Escort the marchioness out, Baso.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Baso took a step towards Marchioness Himierd. It was called escorting, but it was practically the same as chasing her out.

As he gripped her shoulder, Himierd twisted her body and knelt on the floor. At this sudden action, not only Baso but even Ord looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.

Himierd cried out as if wailing.

“Your Majesty, no matter how ill you are, how could you have changed like this? You used to be more intelligent and kind than anyone else. That’s why I was prepared to dedicate my life for Your Majesty, for the prosperity and peace of Sierou! And yet…!”

“Drag her out, Baso!”

Suddenly, Ord shouted in a thunderous voice. It was such a loud voice that it was puzzling where such strength remained in that emaciated body.

“Marchioness, please stand up.”

“Let go of me, Baso! Your Majesty, please! Think about the future of Sierou. At this rate, this country will…!”

“Drag her out immediately!”

Ord’s body bent forward as he shouted. Baso called for servants to drag Marchioness Himierd out. The sound of her crying out like a wail faded away, and the sound of the door closing was heard. The sound of coughing and painful breathing filled the empty space that had become quiet.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself.”

Baso supported Ord, who was almost at the point of losing his breath, and helped him lie down. When the coughing still didn’t stop, he lowered a small box from the corner of a shelf with a familiar gesture. When he opened the lid, it was filled with black pills about the size of a fingernail.

“Your Majesty, you must take this.”

As the pill touched his lips, Ord opened his mouth with difficulty while coughing.

Baso supported Ord’s neck and head to prevent the medicine from going straight down his throat. Although it wasn’t a large pill, it took quite a while for Ord to chew and swallow it all.

After swallowing the medicine, Ord finally lay down. The coughing had stopped, but his breathing was still shallow and rough. His face, which had been pale, was strangely red as if he had a fever.

“Baso.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is Eustar in the palace now?”

Baso slowly shook his head.

“I heard he went to the Kiron branch.”

“Kiron…”

Ord’s voice faded weakly. The pill Baso had given was quick-acting but equally strong in potency.

Once taken, especially for patients with weakened physical strength like Ord, it was a medicine that could make them sleep for a whole day, sometimes even two days, without waking up.

“Did the witch go with him?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Of course she did…”

Ord blinked and let out a weak breath. Then Baso said.

“Lady Kristrad showed interest in the records of the late king and queen.”

For a moment, Ord’s body, which was just sinking into quiet rest, jerked as if startled. Though he couldn’t get up due to lack of strength, he stared at Baso with bloodshot eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Just as I said, Your Majesty. She was in the royal library. It seemed she had been coming for more than a day or two.”

“Why on earth is that witch looking for that?”

After hesitating for a moment, Baso carefully answered.

“I believe it might be related to His Royal Highness the Prince. Isn’t she trying to help him? Please don’t worry too much.”

The strength left Ord’s eyes, which had been burning with fever. Staring blankly at the canopy ceiling with clouded eyes again, he laughed, his bony chest twitching.

“She’s doing unnecessary things.”

“But if it helps Prince Eustar…”

“Foolish. It’s truly foolish if you think that witch can help Eustar in that way.”

Ord, who had been drooping his head like a dead person, said.

“We need to find out what she’s looking for and why.”

Baso, who had been tightly pressing his lips, bowed his head like a loyal dog.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Ord’s breathing gradually became rough and then subsided. His eyelids closed, and his breathing became so shallow it was almost inaudible.

Baso lowered the curtains of the canopy for the sleeping king, and as if that wasn’t enough, he covered all the windows as well. Thus, the king’s chamber once again became a pitch-dark cave.

Baso watched the sleeping king’s face from a distance for a while before quietly leaving the bedroom.

Finding the place where Pin had disappeared was not a difficult task. Mariela was young and frightened, but she clearly remembered where she had lost her brother and explained it in a somewhat coherent manner.

When they entered the dense fir forest, Laila saw some wooden pieces and a few pebbles on the ground. Next to them was something so rotten that its shape was unrecognizable, wrapped in old packaging.

“Eustar, look at this.”

Laila said, picking up the wooden pieces and stones. Eustar made a sound that could have been either a sigh or a dry laugh as he looked around.

“It’s definitely the work of the same creature.”

“It must be a hallucination.”

Laila repeated what she had said to Glock. A creature that causes hallucinations – such kinds weren’t non-existent, but they were rare. Where did this one come from, and where was the Sink that created it?

‘It shouldn’t have moved too far away…’

Eustar thought. The team members were searching the forest with light-emitting magical tools and lamps. In the darkness, these lights looked almost like ghosts.

At that moment, Felix’s voice was heard.

“Lord Eustar! Please come this way!”