Chapter 14: Decided to Disappear (Part 5)

News of James Parker’s collusion with the Melkan Tribe spread quickly through high society. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as the war with the Melkan Tribe had already thrown the borders into chaos. The scandal ignited like wildfire.

Not only was the entire Parker family thrown into turmoil over charges of treason, but even the Prairie family, known to be close to them, faced backlash.

“That bastard, I knew he’d cause trouble sooner or later.”

Austin scowled, slamming his fist on the desk. Abigail watched him pace the room, her gaze distant and indifferent toward his restless behavior.

The incident had happened overnight. James had been arrested just before meeting Abigail. If the officers had arrived even a little later, she might have been caught up in the scandal herself.

Abigail shuddered at the thought. Though she had narrowly avoided disaster, she felt no relief. Strangely, she couldn’t stop thinking about James, now confined in prison.

‘Just because we shared a bed, I must’ve foolishly started thinking of him as mine.’

Abigail thought cynically and tried to collect herself. It was better this way. After all, James would either be executed or conscripted. He seemed to understand the gravity of the situation as well, as he no longer recklessly sought her out.

It was a laughable kind of devotion. He had indulged in all sorts of debauchery, yet now that he was in danger, he completely excluded Abigail Prairie from his sphere. That desperate affection only made Abigail feel like a worse person.

While she was already distressed, Austin added fuel to the fire.

“It seems he’s drawn a clear line, ensuring that our family isn’t implicated. That’s a relief. If things went poorly, even I might’ve been conscripted as well.”

“Your friend is in trouble, and all you can think about is yourself?” 

Abigail snapped, unable to hold back. Austin blinked, then sighed.

“Friend? Since when? You’re the one who always said there are no eternal allies among nobles, Abigail.”

“Still… cutting ties so quickly, before anything is even confirmed…”

“The evidence came from the Valère family. There’s no way they’d overlook any flaws in the proof they found.”

“Then… it’s all true? Why would he do something so foolish?”

“People get greedy when they have money. The Parker family overreached. Now, the only thing James can do is become a war hero and return victorious.”

“…”

“Easier said than done. He’ll be lucky to leave the battlefield unscathed. The borders are already a war-torn hell.”

Austin chuckled as if watching a fire from across a river. Normally, as the heir to the Parker family, James wouldn’t have been subject to conscription. Typically, a second son or a family’s servant would be sent to fight for the country instead.

But this time was different. Since the crime was James Parker’s own, sending someone in his place wouldn’t absolve him. Abigail trembled unconsciously. Though she knew there was no way to save James from being conscripted, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness.

Austin, oblivious to Abigail’s agitation, seemed to think she was merely upset about the family’s involvement. He patted her on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. Our family won’t be affected.”

“Well, that’s… a relief.”

Abigail replied reluctantly, clutching the hem of her dress. For some reason, the turmoil in her heart wouldn’t settle.

And that turmoil reached its peak when news of James’s conscription arrived.

***

Elizabeth’s life began to change. Once she resolved to die, everything seemed lighter. Even the suffocating life in Agaphel Castle felt the same.

And as Elizabeth changed, so did Kiern. For reasons unknown, he assigned a personal maid to her.

Elizabeth, however, believed this was more about surveillance than kindness. She worried that he might have noticed her determination to end her life. But when she finally met the maid, Aena, her fears subsided.

Aena was a mother of five who had worked as a server at the Line Hotel before being hired. True to her role as a mother of five, Aena was full of energy.

Thanks to Aena’s attentive care, Elizabeth regained the weight she had lost during three days of illness. However, her physical strength hadn’t fully returned, which became a source of concern for Aena.

“You’re so frail. You didn’t eat even half your meal again. Is the food not to your liking?”

“No, it’s delicious. I just don’t have much of an appetite.”

“Don’t just say that. Please, have one more spoonful. Alright?”

Under Aena’s persistent urging, Elizabeth reluctantly picked up her spoon. Only after ensuring that Elizabeth had finished her stew did Aena clear the tray.

Elizabeth glanced at Aena, who bustled about diligently. It had been a long time since someone had cared for her so attentively. Her heart felt warm momentarily, only to grow cold again. Like someone who could no longer feel deep emotions, Elizabeth found it difficult to stir her own feelings.

Perhaps it was because Anna’s employer was Kiern. She had experienced too much to accept his gestures as mere kindness. Elizabeth could no longer perceive Kiern’s care as goodwill.

The more sorry she felt for him, the more she resented him. She hated how her love for him had ruined her life and ultimately dragged him down as well.

Elizabeth was acutely aware of Kiern’s changes. At some point, he had changed. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what, but it was undeniable.

He no longer made cutting remarks or forced himself on her relentlessly. His unpredictability had become unsettling.

In a way, Elizabeth found it easier when he was oppressive and reckless. It would make it simpler for her to leave everything behind.

“Oh, did you hear? The heir of the Parker family is set to be conscripted.”

“Ah…”

“Famous for being a rake in high society, and now he’s being sent outside the capital because of his scandal.”

Aena clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she dusted the room. Elizabeth felt uneasy at the news of James’s conscription.

‘You really can’t predict what will happen in life.’

Not long ago, he had threatened her, holding her hostage to his schemes. Now, his family’s corruption had been exposed, and he was being punished. In the past, she would have felt vindicated, even gleeful, but now Elizabeth felt no particular emotion.

Instead, she found herself concerned about Abigail’s uncharacteristic silence. No matter how casual their relationship had been, it was impossible for her not to feel some emotional impact.

Even Elizabeth had grown closer to Kiern after sharing intimacy with him. Affection was a frightening thing, capable of shaking even the most rational person.

“This plant is completely withered, yet you’re still keeping it?”

Aena pointed to a flowerpot on the windowsill. Elizabeth glanced at the withered, dead plant. It was a reminder of Stella’s crime—a relic of sorts. It was where the tea poisoned with the Duke’s death had been discarded.

Not even Kiern knew about it. She had kept it in her room as a form of self-hypnosis. Whenever she struggled, seeing it reminded her why she needed to endure this hardship.

“It’s completely rotten. Did it eat something bad?”

“Just leave it.”

“What? But…”

Aena, taken aback by the serious tone, withdrew her hand from the flowerpot and quietly left the room. 

Left alone, Elizabeth approached the window. When her fingers touched the leaf, it crumbled with a brittle sound. The branch, dried to the point of turning black, resembled her own appearance. At that moment, something flashed through Elizabeth’s mind.

“Poison would be best, after all.”

If she consumed poison, she could die quickly and certainly. Elizabeth suddenly recalled Kiern’s words after Stella had left.

‘Stella is truly clever. She displays remarkable quick thinking when it comes to her own interests. Do you want to know how Stella killed the Duke?’

‘…’

‘When poison from the jasmine flower is combined with a sleeping aid, it becomes a deadly toxin. Do you understand what that means?’

When Elizabeth weakly shook her head, Kiern grabbed her chin and said, 

‘Stella had planned the poisoning from the beginning. She gave the Duke a sleeping aid to buy time. Without realizing it, the Duke drank jasmine flower tea laced with poison. Isn’t it cruel?’

Shocked, Elizabeth trembled and swallowed her tears. Seeing her reaction, Kiern muttered quietly, 

‘It was a bold move, knowing that the Duke enjoyed jasmine flower tea. Even if she were caught later, she could feign ignorance. Truly an extraordinary woman, don’t you think?’

At the time, Kiern had been consumed by rage. When Stella abandoned Elizabeth to save herself, Kiern had unleashed his explosive emotions on Elizabeth.

Perhaps Stella’s exposure was Elizabeth’s fault. If Elizabeth hadn’t returned to Agaphel Castle during the engagement ceremony, Stella might have destroyed the evidence and achieved the perfect crime.

Stella, agitated by Elizabeth’s disappearance, had made a mistake. And yet, she had mercilessly abandoned her own daughter, proving just how extraordinary she was.

“Jasmine flower…”

Elizabeth murmured softly while touching the dried branches. Her golden eyes seemed to glint with a faint red light.