Chapter 24

The lord's carriage returned to the castle, with Claire following behind Seth, her mind a whirlwind of disappointment and frustration. She had done her best, yet it hadn't been enough.

Meanwhile, Seth's irritation was visible. Gustman had stretched his patience to its limits. Forget the deal, he thought bitterly. He'd take pleasure in watching the Nix Merchants' downfall in due time, with a glass of Vasce's finest wine to celebrate.

As he headed toward his chamber, Seth suddenly stopped, noticing Claire's downcast expression. She halted too, bowing her head apologetically.

"My lord… I…," she began, her voice trembling. "I apologize for letting you down. You trusted me with an important task, and I failed you." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Seth approached her gently, brushing away a tear from the corner of her eye with a warm smile. "You did an excellent job, Claire. Truly. Your presentation was flawless."

He continued, "Gustman never intended to strike a deal with us from the start. I doubt he'd have even considered visiting the castle."

Relieved yet uncertain, Claire nodded and followed him as he resumed walking. After a moment, Seth turned to her with a curious expression. "Claire," he asked, "are you familiar with magic? Did you learn about it at the academy?"

Claire nodded. "Yes, my lord. I know some basics. In the academy, we were taught that magic was once widely practiced. It's said to draw from an energy source called mana within all things, allowing certain individuals to channel it. Over time, though, magic faded, and now only records remain of those who once wielded it."

She paused, as though remembering something. "Oh, and I think Crown Prince Cedric knows a bit about magic—or at least, that's what he hinted at once."

Seth stopped, intrigued. "The Crown Prince? Of this kingdom?"

"Yes, my lord," Claire replied. "I saw him once conjure water from thin air. He claimed it was just a trick to prank people, though."

Seth resumed walking, asking casually, "Are you close with the Crown Prince?"

Claire considered this before answering, "Not exactly, my lord. We were in the same dormitory at the academy, but he's… a lot to handle. He has an odd sense of humor, always pulling tricks."

Seth chuckled, amused. "Sounds like you know him well. Do you think you could introduce him to me one day?"

Claire hesitated, a bit surprised. "Are you sure, my lord? I'd be happy to try, though I doubt he'd take much notice of my message."

"That's fine," Seth replied. "I'd like to meet him. I have something in mind he might be interested in."

Claire was puzzled, wondering what her lord intended to offer the Crown Prince. She could only hope Cedric wouldn't try any of his antics with Seth.

Then a thought crossed her mind, and her eyes narrowed in contemplation. She remembered the prince's peculiar fixation on women with silver hair—a fascination that had always seemed odd to her.

Looking at Seth's silver hair and slender frame, a chill crept down her spine.

Wait… Lord Arlecia looks exactly like Cedric's ideal type.

An uneasy feeling settled over her as she thought, I don't want him meeting Lord Arlecia.

The prince could be relentless when he fixated on something. She recalled a girl at the academy who had borne a resemblance to Cedric's "type." The prince had pursued her obsessively, isolating her until she vanished, only for her body to later be found in the academy's lake.

But the lord is a man, she reminded herself, trying to dispel the sense of foreboding. Surely the prince wouldn't be interested… right?

Lost in her thoughts, she followed Seth all the way to his chamber door. He stopped, looking back at her with a hint of amusement. "Still dwelling on today's events?"

Claire snapped out of her reverie, bowing quickly. "Forgive me, my lord. I got distracted."

Seth chuckled. "Good to know. But don't dwell on it too much. Failure happens to everyone. Learn from it, but don't let it hold you back."

Claire bowed deeply, gratitude filling her voice. "Thank you, my lord. I'll remember your words."

He opened the door and turned to her once more. "Join me for dinner tonight. I've noticed you've been skipping meals, working late at your desk. Consider this an order—I expect you at the table."

He smiled, warmth and sincerity in his eyes.

Claire returned his smile, her voice bright. "Thank you for the invitation, my lord. I'll be there."

"Good," Seth replied, adding softly, "And Claire… don't feel the need to hide yourself here. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

Claire's eyes widened, the full meaning of his words sinking in. "Yes, my lord," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She felt a rush of gratitude and joy, her eyes misting with happy tears.

With a final nod, Seth gave her a small wave before closing the door, leaving Claire outside, quietly emotional. His words had been an invitation for her to be herself, to shed the male disguise society had forced upon her and embrace her true identity.

As she made her way to her quarters, her heart swelled with gratitude. She had finally found a place where she didn't need to pretend. Her lord had seen her for who she truly was and accepted her without hesitation.

Seth, meanwhile, had prepared something special for her. He'd asked Royfield to procure a selection of elegant dresses, the latest in fashion, and had them placed in her room as a gift. He hoped she'd appreciate the gesture—a small reminder that she was valued just as she was.

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On the journey back to Arlecia, Aiden and the Knights of Arlecia faced unexpected difficulties. A relentless downpour had soaked the road, transforming it into a muddy mire that slowed their progress. The rough conditions proved too much for the carriage, and halfway through their route, a wheel broke, forcing them to halt.

The delay only increased Aiden's worry. He had successfully located Clark, the brother of Claire and the man Lord Arlecia had asked him to find. But Clark's condition was alarming: his skin was darkened and discolored, with a foul odor emanating from his body that made it nearly unbearable to stay close. Unconscious, Clark appeared almost in a state of stasis, his shallow breathing the only sign of life. No knight wanted to carry him, so Aiden had taken it upon himself to lift Clark into the carriage, despite the stench.

Clark had been staying with his caretaker, a maid from House Robert, in a decrepit inn by the docks. Now, stranded in the mud with the broken carriage, Aiden felt a mounting sense of urgency. He knew they couldn't afford to waste more time.

Making a decision, Aiden turned to the maid. "We need to keep moving. I'll tie Clark to my body and ride with him on horseback. If we wait any longer, he won't make it to Lord Arlecia."

The maid's eyes widened, her tone urgent. "No, you can't! The young master is already in a fragile state. Strapping him to you on horseback… you'll only worsen his condition."

Aiden clenched his jaw. "I understand, but we have no other choice. Every moment we stay here puts him in greater danger. Lord Arlecia is counting on me, and I won't fail him. Clark's condition is worsening by the minute."

Torn between her duty to protect Clark and her doubts about Aiden's plan, the maid hesitated. Then her gaze fell on Clark's darkened skin, where the sickly discoloration seemed to be spreading. She gasped, covering her mouth, realizing the gravity of his condition.

Finally, she looked at Aiden, her expression desperate but resolved. "I… I'll trust you with him. Please, save the young master."

With a nod, Aiden quickly bound Clark to his body, securing him tightly. He draped a rainproof cloak over both of them, shielding Clark from the rain as much as possible.

Without another word, Aiden mounted his horse and urged it forward, riding fast through the rain-soaked path. The knights remained behind to tend to the carriage, while Aiden raced ahead, the cold rain stinging his face as he focused on the road to Arlecia.

Clark's breathing was shallow, his pulse weak against Aiden's chest. But Aiden fixed his thoughts on Lord Arlecia and the promise he had made to bring Clark back. He would not let his lord down.

"My lord... I hope I won't fail."