Episode 129
Cielun’s reaction confirmed Elonia’s suspicion.
He was Lucius.
She leaned closer and whispered,
“What are you doing here?”
“…”
“When did you return? And how did you get into the debutante ball?”
Elonia’s grip on his hand tightened.
“Ouch.”
She quickly released him, seeing his pained expression.
Cielun, his face a mask of polite apology, said,
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I don’t understand what you’re asking.”
Despite his seemingly apologetic demeanor, his posture remained impeccable, his movements controlled. It was a clear sign that he wasn’t flustered.
It only strengthened Elonia’s conviction that he was Lucius.
She was relieved that he was safe.
She wanted to tell him that she was glad he was back, that she had missed him, but,
‘I have questions.’
About Philemon, about why he hadn’t returned for seven years, about how he became Cielun Luneus, about his current appearance.
‘And he has to pay for making me worry.’
He had said he would accept any punishment upon his return, so he couldn’t complain.
Just then, the music ended.
The dance partners released each other, took three steps back, and bowed.
Elonia also bowed, then looked up, but Cielun was gone. She quickly scanned the crowd. He was surprisingly fast, already disappearing into the throng of people.
‘That little…!’
His speed, his ability to blend into the crowd… it was definitely Lucius.
The Asta brothers, seeing her frustrated expression, rushed towards her.
“What’s wrong, El? Did that guy do something?”
“Move, please.”
“Your Highness, wait…! There’s something on your—”
“Huh?”
Elonia turned around, and Alberich, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, removed something from the back of her dress.
“This is…”
“Isn’t that a ring?”
Llewellyn, recognizing the object, gasped.
“Llewellyn, be quiet!”
Elonia quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late. His loud voice had attracted attention.
Her guardians reacted instantly.
Aaron, seeing Artius stiffen, his breathing shallow, discreetly nudged him, and Artius, startled, gasped, his breathing returning to normal. Sarah’s legs almost gave way, but Lady Asta and Ethan quickly steadied her.
‘Damn it, they all heard.’
The nobles, hearing the word “ring,” started whispering amongst themselves.
Who had dared to propose to the princess at the debutante ball, and within the Emperor’s sight, no less?
“Llewellyn.”
Elonia glared at him.
Llewellyn cowered, his face pale, and Elonia, her anger still simmering, snatched the ring from Alberich.
“Why did you give this to me…?”
Alberich, unjustly blamed, looked offended, but Elonia didn’t care.
She recognized the ring.
She was wearing an identical one around her neck.
“Both of you, move.”
“El!”
“Your Highness!”
Elonia, ignoring their protests, clutched the ring tightly and headed towards the terrace.
A cool breeze greeted her as she stepped outside.
The fresh air, the silence away from the noisy ballroom, cleared her head.
She locked the door and opened her hand, staring at the ring.
‘It’s identical.’
It was slightly larger than the one she had. It was definitely Lucius’s.
He had been so swift and discreet that she hadn’t even noticed him placing it on her.
She held the ring up to the moonlight.
‘…Why did he give this back to me?’
She carefully examined the cold, smooth metal, but she couldn’t sense anything.
‘Is it because humans can’t comprehend an apostle’s power?’
Elonia gritted her teeth, frustrated.
She didn’t crave power, but she resented her weakness in moments like these.
“…What is he thinking?”
Lucius wouldn’t have given her the ring without a reason.
She trusted him, but she was also worried that he might have been influenced by Tristan during the past seven years.
Even Artius, who had allowed Lucius to return to Heilan, didn’t seem to know that Cielun Luneus was Lucius Allen.
That was what worried her the most.
‘No, if I don’t understand, I’ll just ask him.’
She didn’t think Lucius was weak.
He might not be a strong fighter, but his will wasn’t easily broken, not even by Tristan.
Elonia pulled the chain from under her dress, the chain that held Lucius’s ring. She added the new ring to the chain and tucked it back under her dress.
But her unease persisted, and she instinctively reached for her leg.
“Ah, right.”
She hadn’t been carrying the dagger, Alexia’s heirloom, for a while now. But she had carried it for so long that she still instinctively reached for it sometimes.
If she could just confirm that Alexia and Philemon were safe, she wouldn’t be so anxious.
‘…No, they’re alive. They have to be.’
Elonia, pushing aside her worries, left the terrace.
Garnethia was waiting for her.
“Elonia, what was that about earlier?”
Garnethia, her hands clasped together, asked worriedly.
Elonia took her hand. Garnethia was startled by the sudden contact, but Elonia’s next words made her forget about it.
“Garnethia, I’m sorry to ask this of you on your first day…”
“…!”
It was past midnight.
Garnethia was officially her assistant now.
Her face flushed with excitement, she replied, her voice filled with determination,
“Just tell me what you need, Your Highness.”
Elonia, her lips curving into a small smile, then turned her gaze towards Cielun Luneus, her eyes narrowing.
“…I need you to investigate Cielun Luneus.”
“Your Highness, I have the information you requested.”
Two days later, Garnethia entered Elonia’s office, a folder clutched in her hands.
Elonia, who had been reading a letter with a frown, set it aside and greeted her.
“Thank you, Garnethia. That was fast.”
“It’s your first order!”
Garnethia beamed. Elonia felt a pang of guilt and gratitude.
Like uncle, like niece. They both seemed to have terrible bosses.
She took the folder from Garnethia.
[Cielun Luneus, 22 years old. A commoner from the Luneus Duchy, adopted by Duke Luneus because of his white hair.]
Elonia murmured,
“Nothing new so far. Is there anything about his life before he was adopted?”
“No. It’s like someone erased his past. But there’s something suspicious.”
“Suspicious?”
“Turn the page.”
Elonia turned the page and gasped.
It was information about a small riot that had occurred in the Luneus Duchy three years ago.
And the timing…
“It coincides with his adoption.”
“Yes. And it’s strange that no one knows anything about his past, that the Luneus Duchy became even more reclusive after his adoption, and that Duke Luneus, who never had an heir, suddenly adopted him just because of his hair color.”
Elonia read the last sentence of the report.
[Note: Nephew of Caroline, Head of the Magic Department at Lucid Academy.]
Elonia’s eyes widened.
She had never asked Caroline about her family. Had she been a member of House Luneus before becoming a professor?
‘…This is too obvious.’
It was like they were practically begging to be investigated.
Elonia showed Garnethia the letter she had been reading.
“Garnethia, about this…”
“Is it from the Luneus Dukal Estate?”
“Yes. Duke Luneus sent it herself.”
“…The Duke? Not Young Master Luneus?”
Elonia nodded.
It wasn’t unusual for parents to send letters on behalf of their newly debuted children.
But Duke Luneus hadn’t invited anyone else, which meant her purpose wasn’t social.
“Is she trying to arrange a marriage?”
“No. If it was about marriage, she would have mentioned Dad, since I’m not of age yet. And Young Master Luneus has been bedridden since the debutante ball.”
Then what was her purpose?
Garnethia frowned, remembering Elonia’s reaction after dancing with Cielun Luneus.
And how she had tried to follow him.
‘…Could it be…?’
As far as Garnethia remembered, only one person had ever been able to elicit such a reaction from Elonia.
Lucius Allen, the Heilan prince who was supposedly murdered after the Academic Festival.
‘Do they look alike?’
Garnethia couldn’t remember Lucius’s face clearly. They had been in different years and departments, and it had been seven years. Even if they were classmates, she couldn’t possibly remember everyone.
‘But judging by Elonia’s reaction, they must resemble each other.’
Elonia was the one who had seen Lucius the most among the Ravanta students.
Garnethia asked anxiously,
“Are you going?”
“I have to.”
Elonia replied instantly, but her expression was hesitant.
She asked Garnethia to bring her some stationery.
Elonia quickly wrote two letters.
She handed them to Garnethia, both sealed with the Imperial seal.
One was addressed to the Luneus Dukal Estate. But the other one?
Elonia, pointing at the more personal letter, said,
“This one is for the Temple.”