Chapter 9 

“…Understood.”

“Then go find Quirea and get properly briefed on your duties. Even an idiot could learn something if Quirea’s teaching.”

Though Elena obediently replied just as Van wanted, he continued in that same sharp, infuriating tone of voice. With nothing more to say, Elena placed the note in her hand on his desk and bowed her head to him.

“Get out. I don’t want to see you any longer. Ah, no, wait. Since it’s you, maybe you’d actually want to stay by my side a little longer?”

Van held the note between his fingers, waving it back and forth as he smirked playfully.

Insufferable b*st*rd.

Faced with that blatant mockery, Elena dropped her gaze, pulling her eyes away from the corners of his lips curling upward. She did it knowing that if she kept staring at that smug face, her simmering temper would inevitably explode.

“…I’ll take my leave now, Commander.”

There wasn’t a shred of hope that staying longer would improve the situation. Elena gave a quick, low bow and turned to leave before he could find a new excuse to torment her.

Quirea had apparently been waiting outside the whole time. She greeted Elena with a nod, her demeanor noticeably different from earlier.

“I sincerely hope you don’t cause any disgrace to His Grace.”

Her sharp gaze swept over Elena, as if she were assessing whether she was someone liable to betray them at any moment. How was she supposed to learn from someone like that and later assist Van properly?

“…I understand.”

Faced with an impossible situation she couldn’t even begin to make sense of, Elena answered with a heavy heart, giving Quirea a respectful bow before heading back to the dormitory.

The moment she stepped outside, a brutal gust of wind struck her like a blade to the skin. The North was exceptionally cold. In the evenings, temperatures dropped so drastically that people warned against going out after sunset.

Even with the wind threatening to tear her ears off, her back remained drenched with sweat.

Van knew exactly what he wanted. And yet he kept her close, had people report on her, collecting even the most trivial details.

Why? What was the reason behind it?

Her head throbbed as if it might burst from the pressure of trying to understand.

If only Tyrtan were here right now…

She paused and looked up at the fluttering banners of the knight order.

People always said those flags made their hearts swell with pride. But to her, they only stirred a sense of dread. Standing beside the royal standard, they reminded her of just how deep and vast the pit she’d fallen into really was, down to her very bones.

* * *

Fortunately, Quirea was at least reasonable when it came to training. Since Elena was only meant to cover the bare minimum during her absence, there wasn’t much to learn, and her earlier worries faded.

As Quirea had explained, Van shuttled between the Grand Duke’s manor and the knights’ headquarters to handle administrative work in between his duties. The buildings were practically next to each other, which made it manageable. Van’s speed with paperwork certainly helped, too.

“At 2 PM, you’re scheduled to attend a charity party. The carriage and your escort have been arranged. I’ll return after lunch to confirm the details.”

Elena reported the upcoming schedule as she found Van, not in the captain’s office this time, but in the Grand Duke’s study.

“Who’s my escort?”

“Sir Heinen. I was informed that Sir Heinen typically accompanies you to social functions, including charity events.”

“Quirea taught you well.”

It was hard to tell whether that was praise directed at her or at Quirea.

No matter how flawlessly she carried out her tasks, Van’s comments always came wrapped in that same sour tone. Elena couldn’t help but wonder if the gods were testing her again.

She barely had time to revise her revenge plans on him, yet here she was enduring his tantrums and mockery. If that wasn’t divine punishment, what else could it be?

“Keep doing exactly this while Quirea is away in Tussla.”

Tussla? Wasn’t that the country where Tyrtan had recently been spotted?

It was so far away that even attempting a trip there felt out of the question. And it wasn’t exactly known for being friendly to humans. Even reaching the border posed a risk.

So why now of all times had Quirea gone to Tussla?

Just like when she’d run into Quirea at the Adventurer’s Guild, a terrible feeling crept over her.

“What business does she have there?”

It was clearly overstepping, but Elena couldn’t stop herself from asking.

If it were royal business, Van would never send his personal aide to handle it. This wasn’t an official diplomatic visit but was just a Grand Duke’s aide traveling to Tussla? Highly suspicious.

“She’s looking for someone. You don’t need to concern yourself.”

“I apologize.”

Elena quickly bowed, her apology sincere. She’d asked the question knowing full well it might irritate him. But surprisingly, he’d dropped a clue.

Looking for someone. Quirea. The guild. Tussla.

It all connected in a way that made a chilling possibility flash through her mind. Could the intel Quirea got from the guild be related to her brother, Tyrtan Vened?

“Leave. Sir Heinen will accompany me this afternoon.”

“Yes, sir.”

No, it couldn’t be. Why would Van be looking for Tyrtan?

Elena forced the thought from her mind and responded flatly. Luckily, Van didn’t press the matter. Normally, he’d say something to pierce right through someone’s heart, but not today. Not this time.

* * *

The afternoon schedule was left to Van and Heinen, meaning Elena had time for training. But she couldn’t shake the suspicion burning inside her, and she needed to confirm it with her own eyes.

The office or the manor?

Time was limited. She needed to be quick. Trusting her gut that Van wouldn’t be in the office, Elena made for the manor. Even though it was close to the knights’ grounds, going on foot would take too long. So Elena took a horse and rode straight to the Grand Duke’s residence.

“Lady Vened, what brings you here?”

“I was sent by the captain.”

“I see.”

The guard, now familiar with her face, let her in without much fuss.

The manor, draped in somber tones, was vast.

Portraits of past family heads lined the walls, royals who had inherited a strong strain of dragon blood. As she passed them, Elena tried to calm the nervous pounding of her heart.

Linking Van to her brother felt like too much of a leap. But even so, she wanted to verify the facts, to put her unease to rest. Surely he wouldn’t have left anything incriminating in writing. But there might still be evidence.

Alone in Van’s study, Elena began searching his desk. She flipped through neatly stacked documents, opened drawers one by one.

Nothing confirmed her suspicions, at least, not at first.

Then her eyes landed on an envelope tucked between some files. The broken wax seal bore the guild’s insignia. Holding her breath, she pulled the half-opened envelope out and fully opened it.

“…No way.”

They say ominous feelings always prove true, and this was exactly that moment. The moment she read the contents, a chill swept over her, her skin crawling.

[Vened. Spotted in Tussla.]

Unless it referred to someone else, the only person with the surname Vened was her brother, Tyrtan Vened.

Why? Why was Van searching for her brother? Could it be that… he planned to harm him too?

The image of Aurin lying in a pool of blood flashed in her mind. The thought came naturally after that.

Her heart, barely calmed, started to pound uncontrollably again.

The burned Vened estate. Aurin’s collapse. Van smiling with a sword in hand. Tyrtan, vanished.

These four images tangled in her head, tormenting her.

Until now, not once had she asked herself why Van had set fire to the house. She’d never felt the need to understand. She hadn’t wanted to give him any excuse. But now, that had changed. Elena wanted to know: what was driving him to keep dragging out this vicious cycle?

“Hah… haha…”

Her throat clenched. Dry, breathless laughter escaped her lips as frustration consumed her.

With trembling hands, Elena slipped the letter back where it belonged. Then, like someone who’d lost all reason, she stumbled out of the building.

The cold wind hit her the moment she stepped outside. Even the weather seemed to be telling her to come to her senses. But Elena simply sat on her horse, unmoving. Anyone watching might’ve thought she’d gone mad, she stayed still for so long.

Why had he let her live? No, why had he touched her parents in the first place? Why send his aide? Why commission the guild? Why go so far to find Tyrtan?

All the questions she’d ignored until now suddenly came crashing down on her, and she realized how little she’d actually gained by entering the order.

A breath slipped from her lips, white as smoke in the cold. She felt like she was drowning in a pit of darkness. She had to get out, somehow, but had no idea how, or where the end of it even was.