Ezekiel remembered something.
At that time, he accidentally saw Harriet's expression at the boutique.
Harriet was writing a message to Liam on a card, and the woman had an expression he never thought he'd ever see. At that time, he was so intoxicated by the effects of the Sorcery that he didn't know what had happened to his head—but it was also the first time.
It was the first time Ezekiel had seen Harriet as a 'human', not as a perfect, flawless noble.
And today, he saw it again.
Harriet Goldlane was a woman who was always able to show how perfect she was in front of others. She had a warm and friendly smile that always accompanied her cool head and calm demeanour.
However, in front of that man—and only for that man…
She was willing to show what lies behind all her perfection.
She showed her weakne
“You guys know that we found so many horrible things in the underground laboratory of the Alchemy Tower in the Diamond Duchy. We know that was where they created serums or potions or whatever that transformed humans into Wyverns…”Harriet took a deep breath.“…but to think that this was what actually happened,” she whispered, finishing her sentence."Your Grace," Ezra widened her eyes. “So you mean… it was their research in the laboratory that led to the disappearance of so many underprivileged people in the outskirts of the Empire?”Harriet shook her head. "This is just a preliminary guess. But I'm sure that the creation of an army of Wyverns is impossible with just a few months or years of research…”Everyone at the table widened their eyes, while Liam began to close his eyes with a complicated expression on
Ezekiel hugged Ezra all the way back to the hotel. His mind was lost in everything that was revealed to him about the Sorcery and the Diamond Duchy.Silently, he could still hear Ezra's small, muffled sobs that were buried in his shoulder, but he didn't know how to calm her down. When they got to the hotel, he took Ezra down from the carriage and went straight to their room.“We need to talk,” Ezekiel said as he kicked the door behind him shut.He sat Ezra down on the bed and pulled a stool over to sit facing her. With a worried look, Ezekiel tried to see Ezra's drooping face.But he was surprised when he saw the blank look in Ezra's black eyes was much deeper than usual."Ezra?" he called softly.Ezekiel tried to touch Ezra's cheek, but the woman didn't respond at all. What happened?The worry that made his chest uncomfortabl
“Your Highness,” Heinrich called out to Ezekiel who was standing silently in front of his bedroom door. He looked at Ezekiel a little worried but also showed his usual warm smile. “Is Her Highness alright?”Ezekiel turned to him, looking a little tired and unfocused."I don't know," he answered flatly.Heinrich stared at the man before him for a moment.Ezra said that this man was one of the key figures who might change the world. But the Ezekiel before him was just an ordinary man trying to find himself again after surviving the Sorcery.And now, Ezra re-entered his life and confused him—Actually, from the outside perspective, this situation felt funny, yet so sad.“Maybe she needs time,” Heinrich said, slowly approaching him. He touched Ezekiel's shoulder and pulled him away from the front door
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCKEzra was drying her hair when she heard a knock on the door. She pulled a robe over her short nightgown and opened the door.She stared in bewilderment at the three men at her door, who emitted a strong smell of alcohol from their bodies. Heinrich at the back, lowered his head while leaning against the wall, while Ezekiel who looked completely wasted was being held by Zaha."What are you doing…? Didn't we just drink yesterday?" asked the confused Ezra."This is Crown Prince Hyacinth's idea," Zaha said flatly. He came forward to carry Ezekiel into the room and laid him on the bed. Meanwhile, Heinrich who was standing up and leaning against the wall had started to limp and sit cross-legged on the floor. His body felt weak and his head is dizzy. But they are surprisingly quiet."And why are you drinking this much, anyway? Even yesterday they weren't this dru
Ezra made up her mind. She stepped closer, gave the drinking glass in her hand to Ezekiel and shook her head, trying to sober herself up.“Your Highness. You have to be careful when you take your clothes off, y'know?” said Ezra, annoyed. “Didn't I tell you only crazy women wouldn't be seduced by a man like you? If you do this in front of a woman, you might get attacked by her, you know?”Ezra said jokingly. She tried to distract her own brain with provocative words.“Hmm,” Ezekiel sounded unconcerned. He took a quick gulp of water like he was very thirsty, and a few drops of water spilt from the corners of his lips as he pushed the glass up. A drop of water fell from his sturdy neck to his collarbone, reflecting the warm candlelight.After he finished drinking, he looked deeply at Ezra. "What about you? Will you attack me while we sleep?”
In front of the hotel, Ezra who felt sleep deprived yawned while covering her mouth with her elbow. Her pose was thuglike, and her eyes felt heavy, but they had to go home today.Heinrich stood next to her, yawning too because her yawning was contagious. His eyes watered and his body felt very uncomfortable. Maybe last night he drank more than Ezekiel. “Ugh… looks like I can't bring you guys home with my ravens. I'm going to get airsick…”When leaving here, he would often take their entourage with his ravens for faster travels, so they only needed 3 to 4 days' trip from the capital.But this time, it felt like he wanted to just lie down in the horse carriage."Ah!" Ezra shouted quickly. She just realized that everything that happened last night was caused by this man. "You! You should just go home to the West Continent! You are a bad influence on His Highness!”
Liam was washing the dishes after dinner in the kitchen when he sensed the presence of another Alpha approaching his residence. His hand that had stopped for a while also caught the attention of Zaha who was helping him."Duke?" called him slowly."Hmm? Oh, it's okay. I just have a feeling someone will arrive soon,” the long blonde-haired man said, smiling at Zaha.Zaha tilted his face in confusion. But as Liam said, just after they finished drying the last plate, someone knocked on the door."Madam, Heath is here," Liam called to his wife as he walked to the door. Sure enough, when he opened the door, Heath Goldlane was standing there facing him. Liam smiled happily, "Welcome, brother-in-law."Heath furrowed his brows at Liam's smiling face. He didn't bother to return the greeting and immediately asked, "Where's Elder Sister?"That's when Harriet emerg
“Duchess… could you put the box on the table?” Zaha asked when they had reached the living room again. "Please be careful with it."“W-what is this? Is this a dangerous object? W-Would it explode if I did something wrong…” Harriet, who was caught in a panic because of Zaha, then treated it with more care than before, placing it on the centre table in the living room."You three, go and guard the door," Zaha said to their three teenage children.It wasn't until the three teenagers left that Zaha turned to Harriet who was looking at him worriedly.“W-what…” Harriet was bewildered. It was in her brother's bag and it made Zaha so panicked… but why?“Duchess, how can your brother have the Elixir of Life?!” Zaha asked quickly.“How would I know? I was just as surprised as you are&hell