Her laughter filled the greenhouse. Sebastian looked persistently into the eyes of his younger sister, who was ten years younger than me. His stiff mouth soon turned mild.
“What do you mean, Agnes?”
“You put poison mushrooms in my meal and sent an assassin to my house and locked my husband up for no reason.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about at all.”
Sebastian responded with a nonchalant attitude to her words.
“When I was young, I thought I had committed a great crime. I thought you hated me so much and tried to kill me for a special reason.”
“…….”
“I tried to understand. I thought day and night about how to live. I even ran to the temple to see if it would save my life if I erased the crest on the back of my hand.”
Their blue eyes met with malice. Only after confronting him like this did Agnes realize.
Even if she had erased the crest and lost her right to succeed the throne, Sebastian would still kill her somehow.
“But that wasn’t the case. It’s just that you find my existence annoying. That’s why you wanted to kill me.”
“Duchess, how dare you say that!”
The servant, who was far away behind, shouted in an angry voice. Sebastian raised his hand to restrain the servant. Then he opened his lips very slowly.
“……I remember when you were born. You were surrounded by strong men and blessed by everyone. Our father was very pleased to see your eyes and hair.”
“Is that so?”
The king unwittingly reached out and smoothed his sister’s black hair.
Although he was only ten years old, Sebastian could not forget the day Agnes was born. It was an exceptionally sunny day. There was a fine smell of blood in the delivery room led by the nanny’s hand. His Father, the queen, and their colleagues gathered and couldn’t take their eyes off the newborn child.
– You take after my eyes and hair. Let’s name this child Agnes.
– Me too! I want to hug her too.
– Vivian, be careful not to drop the baby.
– Oh, Chavolti. Come here. Come on, it’s your sister. You have to say hello.
At the peaceful scene, Sebastian backed away. He felt disgusted. The desire to wring the neck of a small fragile baby soared. Looking at his family, he felt like a foreign object.
That was Sebastian’s first murderous intention.
“I wish you hadn’t been born…….”
“…….”
“Then there is no reason for me to kill Vivian and drop Chavolti from his horse.”
“Now you’re blaming my birth.”
The hand, which was fiddling with the tip of her hair, came up to her neck. There is no reason to give up her neck this time. Agnes stepped back politely and shook off his hand. Sebastian frowned.
“Agnes.”
“All I want is for my husband to return safely to Sutmar.”
“Why should I listen to you?”
“I’ll stay for you.”
Sebastian did not immediately respond to the unexpected answer.
“You’re going to stay in this palace yourself?”
“Yes. You don’t trust me, so I’ll stay and prove my sincerity.”
“You’re going to prove your sincerity? Then will you be able to let go of the knights you brought?”
“There’s no place safer than the palace. I’ll send them back to Sutmar, if you let Duke Arpad go.”
There was a brief silence between the two. Sebastian, who had finished the calculation, soon laughed loudly.
“Haha. Yes. I can do that if you want. Servant!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take Agnes to the place where she lived when she was in the palace.”
“Yes.”
The servant bowed his head and walked toward Agnes.
“Have a good rest. My little sister.”
“I will never forget your grace.”
The siblings smiled at each other. No one could tell what was going on inside their mind.
* * *
“What are you thinking?”
“I haven’t seen you in a long time. Your highness. Have you been well?”
“Is it time to greet each other?”
Ilona ran to Agnes’ room when she heard the news. There were seven maids in Agnes’ room. The Queen, who noticed it, whispered in a low voice.
“Didn’t you meet Erica Kiske on the way here?”
“We’ve met. We’ve decided to carry out the plan tonight.”
“You know that! then why?”
She raised her voice without realizing it and managed to calm her excitement.
“Now, now, go out of the palace. I’ll get some knights, and if you follow them out…….”
“Your highness.”
“If we leave as soon as possible, you could pass through the gates before sunset.”
“I’m sorry”
Agnes grabbed Ilona’s hand. The queen, who was flustered for a moment, muttered something with her head lowered.
“Y, y, you promised me. Agnes.”
“…….”
“You promised me that you would survive. Do you remember?”
“I remember.”
“You promised me not to die at all costs, whether you bowed your head at the feet of Sebastian or married the falling Duke of the West!”
Her scream felt almost like a plea or despair. Ilona’s eyes shook like a winter tree branch like she had seen countless lives and deaths.
“I heard you even sent back all the escort knights. Why the hell are you doing this reckless thing? Why, for what reason…….”
“Don’t worry.”
Agnes consoled Ilona with stiffer eyes than ever before.
“I didn’t come to the palace to die.”
“Then what are you going to do? Sebastian might send an assassin to kill the princess tonight.”
“I wouldn’t have come without any plans. Please calm down.”
Agnes comforted Ilona in an adult way. Her determined attitude gradually calmed the queen.
“What about the second prince?”
“It’s the same as usual. During the day, he can make eye contact and laugh, but at night, he keeps crying and his fever keeps rising. I don’t know if it’s hives or rashes these days, so…….”
“Rashes?”
It was the first symptom of the plague circulating outside the castle. A wrinkle appeared on Agnes’ forehead.
“I think it’s because I’m physically weak. It’s all my fault they have a weak mother.”
“Don’t say that.”
Ilona didn’t leave until late at night. She kept glancing at the door while talking about whether Sebastian would come.
“The sun has set. Your highness. Go home now.”
“Let’s have dinner together.”
“I don’t have an appetite. I’m fine, so go back.”
“I’ll come tomorrow, too. Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning.”
It was obvious what the queen was worried about. Agnes managed to coax her back to the Queen’s Palace.
“Duchess, shall we prepare a bath?”
“Do it.”
Some of the ladies left quietly. Agnes went out of the terrace and watched the moon rise. She has seen it hundreds or thousands of times in this room, but it felt strange today.
The winter wind came deep into her lungs and cleared her mind.
“……nes.”
She thought she heard it wrong at first. So, she looked around casually and was surprised to see a familiar face.
“Laslo.”
She couldn’t make a loud noise and just blinked. Hiding among the bushes, he quickly climbed up the pole and reached the terrace where she was when Agnes and his eyes met. As soon as she saw him, she examined every detail of his injuries.
“Didn’t the king harm you, Laslo? Are you hurt?”
“It’s a question I want to ask.”
Laslo’s face was dark. He also checked Agnes’ body.
“I almost fell behind when I heard that you were facing the king, but you decided to stay in the palace in my place?”
“How did you hear that?”
“The Marquis of Sandor, no. This isn’t the point now.”
“It’s late at night, but what are you still doing without leaving the palace? We don’t have time, so hurry back to Sutmar.”
“How can I leave you behind?”
He said with his back teeth clenched. Laslo squeezed Agnes’ shoulder.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you and made you come this far, but you want me to leave you alone? Does that make any sense?”
“Laslo, listen up.”
Agnes closed the curtains on the terrace and whispered in a low voice.
“I’m going to Sutmar soon, too. You leave the capital first. That way I’ll feel comfortable.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t have time to explain everything.”
Agnes drove Laslo to the end of the terrace. She was in a hurry because she didn’t know when the maid would come in. On the other hand, Laslo’s expression grew darker.
“Is what the king said true?”
“What did you hear?”
“He said you’re secretly rallying forces and preparing for a rebellion with Songrad, Kiske, and Celon.”
“……Yes, it’s true.”
“Since when?”
“Do you have to listen to it all now? First, go to Sutmar. I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”
“Ha.”
Laslo pulled his hand off Agnes’ shoulder. Then he covered his eyes and laughed in vain.
“What am I to you?”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Why am I only knowing this important fact now?”
“It’s…”
Agnes bit her lips in dismay. It sounded like an excuse if she said she couldn’t find the right time.
“No, I didn’t hear anything from you, so I don’t know anything.”
“Laslo.”
“I didn’t believe it when the king first showed it. Do you know why?”
“…….”
“I didn’t think you could do it; I didn’t think you wouldn’t tell me such an important thing.”
Her laughter filled the greenhouse. Sebastian looked persistently into the eyes of his younger sister, who was ten years younger than me. His stiff mouth soon turned mild.
“What do you mean, Agnes?”
“You put poison mushrooms in my meal and sent an assassin to my house and locked my husband up for no reason.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about at all.”
Sebastian responded with a nonchalant attitude to her words.
“When I was young, I thought I had committed a great crime. I thought you hated me so much and tried to kill me for a special reason.”
“…….”
“I tried to understand. I thought day and night about how to live. I even ran to the temple to see if it would save my life if I erased the crest on the back of my hand.”
Their blue eyes met with malice. Only after confronting him like this did Agnes realize.
Even if she had erased the crest and lost her right to succeed the throne, Sebastian would still kill her somehow.
“But that wasn’t the case. It’s just that you find my existence annoying. That’s why you wanted to kill me.”
“Duchess, how dare you say that!”
The servant, who was far away behind, shouted in an angry voice. Sebastian raised his hand to restrain the servant. Then he opened his lips very slowly.
“……I remember when you were born. You were surrounded by strong men and blessed by everyone. Our father was very pleased to see your eyes and hair.”
“Is that so?”
The king unwittingly reached out and smoothed his sister’s black hair.
Although he was only ten years old, Sebastian could not forget the day Agnes was born. It was an exceptionally sunny day. There was a fine smell of blood in the delivery room led by the nanny’s hand. His Father, the queen, and their colleagues gathered and couldn’t take their eyes off the newborn child.
– You take after my eyes and hair. Let’s name this child Agnes.
– Me too! I want to hug her too.
– Vivian, be careful not to drop the baby.
– Oh, Chavolti. Come here. Come on, it’s your sister. You have to say hello.
At the peaceful scene, Sebastian backed away. He felt disgusted. The desire to wring the neck of a small fragile baby soared. Looking at his family, he felt like a foreign object.
That was Sebastian’s first murderous intention.
“I wish you hadn’t been born…….”
“…….”
“Then there is no reason for me to kill Vivian and drop Chavolti from his horse.”
“Now you’re blaming my birth.”
The hand, which was fiddling with the tip of her hair, came up to her neck. There is no reason to give up her neck this time. Agnes stepped back politely and shook off his hand. Sebastian frowned.
“Agnes.”
“All I want is for my husband to return safely to Sutmar.”
“Why should I listen to you?”
“I’ll stay for you.”
Sebastian did not immediately respond to the unexpected answer.
“You’re going to stay in this palace yourself?”
“Yes. You don’t trust me, so I’ll stay and prove my sincerity.”
“You’re going to prove your sincerity? Then will you be able to let go of the knights you brought?”
“There’s no place safer than the palace. I’ll send them back to Sutmar, if you let Duke Arpad go.”
There was a brief silence between the two. Sebastian, who had finished the calculation, soon laughed loudly.
“Haha. Yes. I can do that if you want. Servant!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take Agnes to the place where she lived when she was in the palace.”
“Yes.”
The servant bowed his head and walked toward Agnes.
“Have a good rest. My little sister.”
“I will never forget your grace.”
The siblings smiled at each other. No one could tell what was going on inside their mind.
* * *
“What are you thinking?”
“I haven’t seen you in a long time. Your highness. Have you been well?”
“Is it time to greet each other?”
Ilona ran to Agnes’ room when she heard the news. There were seven maids in Agnes’ room. The Queen, who noticed it, whispered in a low voice.
“Didn’t you meet Erica Kiske on the way here?”
“We’ve met. We’ve decided to carry out the plan tonight.”
“You know that! then why?”
She raised her voice without realizing it and managed to calm her excitement.
“Now, now, go out of the palace. I’ll get some knights, and if you follow them out…….”
“Your highness.”
“If we leave as soon as possible, you could pass through the gates before sunset.”
“I’m sorry”
Agnes grabbed Ilona’s hand. The queen, who was flustered for a moment, muttered something with her head lowered.
“Y, y, you promised me. Agnes.”
“…….”
“You promised me that you would survive. Do you remember?”
“I remember.”
“You promised me not to die at all costs, whether you bowed your head at the feet of Sebastian or married the falling Duke of the West!”
Her scream felt almost like a plea or despair. Ilona’s eyes shook like a winter tree branch like she had seen countless lives and deaths.
“I heard you even sent back all the escort knights. Why the hell are you doing this reckless thing? Why, for what reason…….”
“Don’t worry.”
Agnes consoled Ilona with stiffer eyes than ever before.
“I didn’t come to the palace to die.”
“Then what are you going to do? Sebastian might send an assassin to kill the princess tonight.”
“I wouldn’t have come without any plans. Please calm down.”
Agnes comforted Ilona in an adult way. Her determined attitude gradually calmed the queen.
“What about the second prince?”
“It’s the same as usual. During the day, he can make eye contact and laugh, but at night, he keeps crying and his fever keeps rising. I don’t know if it’s hives or rashes these days, so…….”
“Rashes?”
It was the first symptom of the plague circulating outside the castle. A wrinkle appeared on Agnes’ forehead.
“I think it’s because I’m physically weak. It’s all my fault they have a weak mother.”
“Don’t say that.”
Ilona didn’t leave until late at night. She kept glancing at the door while talking about whether Sebastian would come.
“The sun has set. Your highness. Go home now.”
“Let’s have dinner together.”
“I don’t have an appetite. I’m fine, so go back.”
“I’ll come tomorrow, too. Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning.”
It was obvious what the queen was worried about. Agnes managed to coax her back to the Queen’s Palace.
“Duchess, shall we prepare a bath?”
“Do it.”
Some of the ladies left quietly. Agnes went out of the terrace and watched the moon rise. She has seen it hundreds or thousands of times in this room, but it felt strange today.
The winter wind came deep into her lungs and cleared her mind.
“……nes.”
She thought she heard it wrong at first. So, she looked around casually and was surprised to see a familiar face.
“Laslo.”
She couldn’t make a loud noise and just blinked. Hiding among the bushes, he quickly climbed up the pole and reached the terrace where she was when Agnes and his eyes met. As soon as she saw him, she examined every detail of his injuries.
“Didn’t the king harm you, Laslo? Are you hurt?”
“It’s a question I want to ask.”
Laslo’s face was dark. He also checked Agnes’ body.
“I almost fell behind when I heard that you were facing the king, but you decided to stay in the palace in my place?”
“How did you hear that?”
“The Marquis of Sandor, no. This isn’t the point now.”
“It’s late at night, but what are you still doing without leaving the palace? We don’t have time, so hurry back to Sutmar.”
“How can I leave you behind?”
He said with his back teeth clenched. Laslo squeezed Agnes’ shoulder.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you and made you come this far, but you want me to leave you alone? Does that make any sense?”
“Laslo, listen up.”
Agnes closed the curtains on the terrace and whispered in a low voice.
“I’m going to Sutmar soon, too. You leave the capital first. That way I’ll feel comfortable.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t have time to explain everything.”
Agnes drove Laslo to the end of the terrace. She was in a hurry because she didn’t know when the maid would come in. On the other hand, Laslo’s expression grew darker.
“Is what the king said true?”
“What did you hear?”
“He said you’re secretly rallying forces and preparing for a rebellion with Songrad, Kiske, and Celon.”
“……Yes, it’s true.”
“Since when?”
“Do you have to listen to it all now? First, go to Sutmar. I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”
“Ha.”
Laslo pulled his hand off Agnes’ shoulder. Then he covered his eyes and laughed in vain.
“What am I to you?”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Why am I only knowing this important fact now?”
“It’s…”
Agnes bit her lips in dismay. It sounded like an excuse if she said she couldn’t find the right time.
“No, I didn’t hear anything from you, so I don’t know anything.”
“Laslo.”
“I didn’t believe it when the king first showed it. Do you know why?”
“…….”
“I didn’t think you could do it; I didn’t think you wouldn’t tell me such an important thing.”
