Chapter 19
Finally Found
<The Goddess Ella decreed that a great serpent would descend to the world to defeat the seven monsters that tormented humanity. Terrified, the monsters hid, and the people began hunting for them.>
<How foolish humans are. If the serpent comes down, it will hunt the monsters on its own.>
<Though it was difficult to find the hidden monsters, the serpent’s red eyes could easily detect the monsters disguised as women among the people. The humans pointed at these disguised monsters, calling them “witches,” and burned them at the stake. And the only surviving indigo monster became the parent of Lorencia.>
Recalling the story Daniel had told him, Luans grabbed Lorencia’s red hair.
“You are the monster born for me. Lorencia. Therefore, you will forever be mine.”
Ilina arrived at the tea party that the Empress had organized to introduce the prospective crown princess, Charlotte, and immediately drew all the sympathy and attention from the guests. Even though she was an illegitimate child, people praised her as a kind young lady who cared about others.
Charlotte was slightly shocked by the events that had unfolded. She never imagined that someone would go so far as to make Lorencia unable to attend the tea party by physically restricting her.
“Miss Paul Heredian, is Miss Lorencia seriously unable to move?”
“Yes.”
“Could you tell me why she is so seriously unable to move? Is it because of Lady Anne?”
Ilina slightly nodded at Charlotte’s question, her large eyes quickly welling with tears. People patted her back.
“Don’t speak, Miss Ilina. You’ve been through so much.”
“No, Your Highness Charlotte. I truly wanted to bring her.”
“You were raised well under such a mother, Miss Ilina. It’s admirable.”
“You flatter me.”
“You wanted to attend the tea party with Miss Lorencia too, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Then I suppose your greatest wish is for Miss Lorencia’s safety, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Though I am illegitimate, I want my sister to be safe and happy above all else.”
“Hearing that from Miss Ilina warms my heart.”
“Thank you.”
“I shouldn’t just stand by then.”
Smiling at Ilina, Charlotte whispered to a nearby maid, who immediately went outside. Soon, Teyshar came to Charlotte.
“Marquis Teyshar Spencer.”
“Yes, Your Highness Charlotte.”
“Take all the healing scrolls you have and go to Count Paul Heredian’s residence. Use the scrolls to heal Miss Lorencia, who is severely abused and unable to move, and bring her to the palace.”
Charlotte looked at Ilina and smiled warmly.
“I will fulfill your wish, kind-hearted Miss Ilina, for your sister.”
“Your Highness Charlotte, you don’t need to—”
“Miss Ilina, don’t feel burdened. Considering the cruel mother you’ve endured and the care you’ve taken for your poor illegitimate sister, using hundreds of healing scrolls is worth it.”
Ilina’s face gradually turned pale.
“Consider it my gift. I also want to become closer to kind-hearted Miss Ilina. And surely, you want Miss Lorencia to recover quickly, right?”
Unable to say no, Ilina’s stiffening smile made Charlotte smirk. At that moment, Empress Ines, quietly seated beside Charlotte, also nodded in approval. It was a sign of permission. Ilina’s face grew even paler.
“Yes… but my mother—”
“Don’t worry about that, Miss Ilina.”
“Your Majesty Empress.”
“I will issue an imperial decree to Marquis Spencer to bring Count Paul Heredian’s daughter here.”
With the Empress herself issuing the decree, Ilina could not refuse. Since she was attending the tea party, she could not inform Luans or anyone else about this. Her mind was filled only with thoughts of, ‘What should I do?’ She felt as if she were sitting on a bed of thorns.
Anne stared in disbelief at Marquis Teyshar of the Polloid Empire, who had brought the Empress’ decree.
“This is the Empress’ decree.”
Anne, taking the document from Teyshar, instinctively bit her lower lip. The decree stated that her crime of preventing Lorencia from attending the tea party would be addressed immediately after Luans and Lorilos’ honorable duel. It also commanded that if Teyshar confirmed Lorencia’s abuse, she was to be brought to the palace.
Anne’s face turned pale as ash. It felt as if darkness had fallen before her eyes. If Luans found out that Lorencia would be taken to the palace, he would never forgive her or Ilina.
“Taking Lorencia away? That’s impossible!”
“Do you intend to disobey the decree?”
Seeing Teyshar speak coldly, Anne clenched her fists.
“I will not tell the butler to show the Countess Lorencia’s room.”
“Yes. I am Arden, the head butler of the Paul Heredian household, Marquis Spencer.”
“Guide him to Miss Lorencia’s room.”
“Sorry, Miss Lorencia must continue to rest—”
Teyshar looked down at the butler with a detached expression. He found it odd that the household staff seemed more afraid than resistant about him going to Lorencia. What were they so scared of?
“Ensuring her rest is not a problem. Guide him there.”
Arden tried to argue again, attempting to block Teyshar from going to Lorencia’s room.
“Is it the specialty of the Paul Heredian head butler to repeat himself?”
“Ah, no.”
Arden glanced at Anne. She, resigned to everything, lowered her head.
“Guide him, Arden.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Arden glanced at Teyshar following behind. His long, slender limbs, glossy black hair, ruby-red eyes, and full lips made him an attractive man. Even the passing maids’ eyes seemed flustered at his presence.
“Head butler, is Miss Lorencia alright?”
“Yes… if she rests a little—”
“Just a little…?”
Arden’s voice grew quieter. An uncomfortable silence fell, and sweat formed on his back. It felt as if a thorn cushion pressed heavily against his spine. He quickened his pace.
“This is Miss Lorencia’s room.”
They knocked, but there was no movement inside.
“She still seems to be asleep.”
Teyshar opened the door and stepped in, approaching Lorencia through the gap in the bed. Behind her, a tree appeared.
“A tree?”
It was a tiny, dying tree, its branches fragile and withered. The ground it had rooted in was a black, desolate swamp, like a sandstorm. How did it end up here? Could it be saved?
As the thought crossed Teyshar’s mind, he remembered something his father, Magus, once said:
“We are the serpents that protect the trees.”
Covering his mouth with one hand, Teyshar stepped back slightly.
“With the red eyes of the serpent, we can recognize the child of Goddess Ella at a glance.”
Teyshar murmured with trembling lips, despite his blazing red eyes.
“I’ve finally found you.”
A thrill surged through him, his heart pounding with the joy of finally finding her. Yet, the tree’s branches kept snapping and breaking. His heart sank again, though for a different reason.
“She’s just been found…”
Lorencia’s condition was serious. Bandages wrapped her head, and her entire body bore injuries. Desperately, Teyshar took out a healing scroll and vertically tore it above her head. He continued tearing scrolls over her legs, body, and face.
The scroll’s bright light enveloped Lorencia. Teyshar used every scroll he had. He then looked again at the tree behind her. Between the broken branches, a single leaf sprouted.
Teyshar’s mind was consumed with: “I must take this young tree, protect it, hide it from everyone.” Along with the joy of finding Lorencia, his rage at those who hid and abused Ella’s child rose.
“No wonder even my father couldn’t find her.”
Gently, Teyshar wrapped the sleeping Lorencia in blankets. His heart ached; even wrapped in thick blankets, she felt incredibly light. Looking at her wasted cheeks, he realized how much she had suffered and starved. Anger and grief surged through him.
-
Meow!
Suddenly, a black kitten appeared, rubbing against his legs and mewing.
“Could this be Lorencia’s cat?”
The kitten continued to cry, and Teyshar took it with him. The kitten climbed into the blankets with Lorencia.
“Alright. You’re coming too.”
Arden, seeing Teyshar carrying Lorencia out the door, was at a loss. He tried to stop him, but the man’s presence made him shrink back. With the Empress’ decree, no one could prevent Teyshar from taking her.
“Once we return to the Polloid Empire…”
That thought was comforting, but first, Teyshar wanted to bring her to the palace, carefully heal her, feed her, and care for her. His sole focus was to get Lorencia somewhere safe.
