Rays of suns passed through the curtains as it swayed along the wind. A depressing sigh then echoed throughout the long hallway, her face plops on the table and looks at the balcony.
"No matter where we look like it. You cannot treat him like that, he doesn't even get out of his room."
Wren's mouth hung open at Boaife. It is her first time saying something like that and she feel the urge to slam her face on the floor and tie her up. This wasn't suppose to happen if she didn't scare Lane everyday when she had the chance.
But one thing for sure Wren noticed that Lane is showing signs of liveliness.
"He seems to be in a better mood unlike the first time he gets here."
Lane is less stiff and he even talks back to them without stuttering. However he was already traumatized with Laxus' pranks. Everyone in the duchy was sure that Laxus must have taken a liking to Lane. Lexus on the other hand didn't join him and was nowhere to be found.
"Anyway, how about the thing I asked you to look at?" Wren became serious and sat up straight.
Boaife yawned while she went into her report, "The Duke has his men watch the Marquis and your mother is keeping the Marchioness company while she gathers information and evidence of her involvement."
Wren glanced over the window, a month already passed after Lane escaped. Though, she planned to befriend Lane, it never occurred to her that she will drag Lane away from home. Not that she's not happy with it.
"I knew there was something else. After all mom wouldn't hang out with her this long," she said and continued, "I just thought that mother wants to punish Marchioness because of her abuse and megligence." she pouted as she stretched her legs on the chair.
They never talked about it, she just assumed it. Boaife blankly looks at Wren.
"More than that, do you think that what you are doing to me is the same as ordering your servant?"
"you are my maid though?," Boaife grimaced—she was slapped with reality, "I am still a spirit!" she exclaimed with such rage. Wren chose to ignore her. It doesn't matter since she was employed as her maid.
This made the spirit huff as she transformed into being a small bird. Wren leaned over the chair, crossing her legs as she said, "Eliminating the villainess early will benefit me..." she rested her chin on her hands, lightly tapping it with her fingers.
"How could I remove Lane from the Marchioness permanently though?" it's as if she's starting to have a conversation with a painting that was hung on the wall in front of her.
since the marchioness is not going to be imprisoned. After all, she will learn that her husband is doing illegal work and will divorce him before they catch the Marquis.
her most likely case will be physical abuse towards Lane which will set light in a few years if we haven't got Lane out.
There are some plans she thought but she isn't satisfied with it. The marchioness should feel what Lane feels during the abuse, right?
"... should I kill her master?" Wren slowly looked behind and saw Cervi with his emotionless face while munching a turkey leg.
After waking up he instantly chose violence and meat. It isn't surprising at all.
"You do not want your status to be revoked and... I cannot afford to lose a capable spirit."
even if he was executed, he will just be in the spirit realm to recuperate. But Wren doesn't want that since she doesn't know how long they rest at the spirit realm and she might be six feet under when he returned.
"Anyway, go and follow Marchioness. Report everything to me whatever you find about her."
Cervi tilts his head and says, "Master you do know that I can sleep anywhere and anytime, right?"
Right, the effects are still effective and it is annoying for the two spirits whenever they do their tasks. The knights who saw Cervi that day at the Palace were given an explanation that it was magic he used, but when he slept more than usual they just assumed that he was tired.
Same goes with Boaife. All of the servants were pitying Boaife when she sleeps soundly in every places that they even dragged her to her room.
Wren gave a smile and confidently said, "No worries. If I share with you my mana, you will not fall asleep."
"Though that will make me weak and eat tons of food," she whispered and looked back at Cervi.
"..." he was silent and nodded, "If my master can do it, then I will follow her wishes."
Wren's eyes lit up, among her three spirits, it is obvious that Cervi is the only one who does her order without any second thought or question.
If only Boaife is like this. Adara on the other hand can follow her in some times, if she's on the mood.
"Just observe her for one week—"
Suddenly, the door burst open. In front of it was Lane with his head low as he strides over the room reaching Wren.
"Did he listen to our conversation?"
Wren whispered at Cervi and he answered it with a shrug. Lane hissed first before stopping in front of her.
Lane stopped and laid out his hands in front of Wren and said, "Hey, I can help you with it so that you can deal with it fast."
Wren studied Lane. Suddenly the mood is strange as the two of them stare at each other.
---------------------------------------------------
Look at this kid. Before he looks at me with fearful gaze and he was shorter than me last month. I feel like the next month he will look like a nine-year old kid.
"I know some things my mother did before my dad died."
before his... father died?
"the current head is not my father."
I nod at him for understanding the situation and I am well aware of that fact.
"What do you know?"
he smiled as he showed me something in his palms, my eyes widened in surprise. After all, it has the same look as the Plant I am searching for, Hanubi. It's only the leaves and one petal, but I am sure that this is the one I am looking for.
"I always see my mother dry these leaves and then grind them, it becomes powder..."
Using magic I lift the plant and put it in a container. Then, I guess the Marchioness mixes the powder with his father's food or drinks continously.
"Does she have those plants?" suddenly Adara is beside me as she grabs the container and tries to burn it when I interfered.
"I will let someone look at it." She didn't say much, but her fingers twirl and a little mana is inside the container.
"I only put a barrier so it doesn't spread its poison." She then looks at Lane
"Do not touch it again or else you will suffer the same thing your father had."
Lane's face pales as he nodded, "back to the question, did your mother plant this?"
Lane shakes his head. Adara seems to be convinced by his answer as she stepped back with a dejected sigh. I know she's looking for the plant and to be honest, there's no Hanubi planted around the castle when we searched.
The only thing we have in mind is that somehow, Euphrasia got it outside.
"Anyway, if Marchioness did not raise those plants. How did she get them?"
"There was this merchant she kept calling in our home for years. Though he isn't visiting anymore..."
ah, yes. In this world, it is the merchant who always has the things that a villainess will need in the future. I should have known, "did you know his name?"
he once shakes his head. "I heard her call him Ra-im though,"
the name sounds eastern somehow...
"how many times has he gone to your home?"
"at least 7." he answered immediately. He must have watched his own mother.
I nod, I should give this information to my annoying father.
"also..." why is he hesitant to tell me? Is it something that's hard to say huh?
"there is something hidden behind the shelves in my father's office room."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No, but I know it is important since he's hiding it."
I stared right at him, "why are you like this?"
"Because... that is my father's beloved estate and people."
***
Goodness, I cannot sleep because of the look he gave me. I mean, how could he attempt to kill me under the orders of the Marchioness if he's willingly giving us some information now?
Other than that... how can she hold that plant and have contact with it for more than 4 years and no symptoms are showing?
"master is thinking about what the duke said?"
I greeted my teeth in annoyance. I mean, I told him what I know and yet he seems nonchalant about it. Then he made me leave his office.
Tsk.
"Aren't you sleepy?," he looks at me before saying something, "Tomorrow I will leave to watch the Marchioness. Are you planning to give Boaife some of your mana too?"
What's with the question?
"Master if you are giving me mana and I leave, you cannot give Boaife your mana at the same time. Your mana may be insufficient for both of us. It will eat your lifespan if worse case possible happened." I feel my mouth gaped in astonishment.
"besides that, did you forget that she also suffers from slumber?" he asked me without batting an eye. I mean, is this really Cervi?
Just like last time he was the one who told me some valuable information.
"also... You cannot possibly call Adara to protect you when there is danger." he said blankly and sighed.
Ah, I see where this is going, I smiled and said, "You are worried."
"I am worried, Master. If something happens do not hesitate to cut the mana connection and give it to Boaife, immediately."
He's giving me hard stare as he put his hand on top of my head.
"there is no one... yep, I will remember it."
"Please do. Have a good night, master." he really is a reliable spirit. I close my eyes with a smile on my face.
---------------------------------------------------
the crickets danced on the swaying leaves as they jumped. Along with it is the soundless footsteps on the balcony. Shadows overlaps with the curtain as he approached the glass door, unlocking the lock as he entered the dark room. Only the moonlight shone barely inside the room as he entered quietly.
"..." he roamed his eyes to see a girl peacefully sleeping on the bed. There are no signs of her contracted spirits anywhere.
he walked towards the bed, the dark room was helping the man to conceal himself more as he walked in, then the wind blew harder, entering the room. Wren felt the cold wind envelope her despite her having the covers on.
She groaned as she turned around, facing the man. Her brows creased as she grabbed the blanket tightly around her.
"..."
"ah, no. That isn't right. You are way too bossy, Caesar." she frowned while saying it in her sleep then she suddenly turned once more. Her back facing the man as she slept heavily.
"hmmmm..." she mumbled once more. The clouds blocking the moonlight fade away. The light shone upon the window, passing the man. He was wearing a tattered cloak and a mask.
He was standing there in front of Wren's sleeping figure. "Clearly lacking in many ways. How will you..."
He stopped mid-way as he glanced at his shoulder when something crawled in his arm.
"haaa..." he then sighed and looked outside the window, a shadow befall on him, his hands are already on the hilt of his dagger, hidden on his back.
"My Lady—!"