TTQI 18

“It will be fine to give it to him when the meal is brought in. I personally requested it of His Majesty and received permission to add some snacks.”

Only then did Ade look back at the attendants standing beside the queen. One of the queen’s mute servants, dressed in white like their master, stood expressionlessly, holding a tray. And on the tray was an assortment of delicious-looking food. Finally understanding the reason for the queen’s visit, Ade was inwardly surprised.

‘This ice-cold queen is surprisingly much more flexible than those gruff first royal guards.’

Soon, Ade readily held out the note.

“Then I would like to ask you for a favor.”

“Gladly.”

Ade handed over the note without any particular suspicion, and as soon as Aion received it, he passed it to the attendant who was holding the tray. The attendant who received the note slipped it under the wine glass.

“Then, is there anything else you need?”

Aion asked, and Ade, who had been watching for an opportunity, lowered his voice and asked cautiously.

“Ah, right. I am asking just in case… but do you happen to know why His Highness was punished?”

Aion answered dryly without a second of hesitation.

“I do not know.”

“I see… I understand. Thank you for your help today, Your Majesty the Queen.”

“It was nothing.”

“Well then.”

Ade placed a hand on his chest, bowed deeply, and then disappeared with brisk strides, his cape fluttering. Pym watched his departing back for a long time.

And the queen, after sending Ade off, immediately took the note back out and unfolded it. After checking the contents and confirming there was nothing of significance, he folded it back as it was and slipped it under the glass.

“Let’s go.”

The queen spoke, and the attendants followed him in perfect order. Before long, Aion stopped in front of the soldier guarding the hallway.

“You have arrived?”

A scene quite different from the one Ade had encountered unfolded. As soon as the soldier saw the queen, he kindly asked after his well-being and bowed his head respectfully as if greeting an awaited guest. As if he had anticipated this situation, Aion lifted his chin haughtily.

“Open the door.”

The soldier, with his head bowed, answered obediently.

“How long will you be inside?”

“Well, does that matter?”

“The soldiers will change shifts after some time, so I must inform the others as well.”

“If I am inside anyway, you will not know whether I am here or not. I highly doubt you would impudently open the door of a royal family member without any particular business.”

“But if a problem were to arise, my position would also become difficult….”

The soldier smiled servilely while watching for Aion’s reaction, and Aion put on a cold expression as if he understood.

“You need not worry. Sir Bessang said he has already selected only trustworthy men.”

“Ah, the captain has already made preparations.”

The soldier, finally assured of his safety, looked relieved and stepped out of the way. Aion, far from being met with vigilance, was welcomed as he walked confidently into the restricted corridor. As he passed the soldier, Aion sent his servants away and held the tray himself. The mute servants left as soon as the command was given, and only Pym remained. Pym, who had been anxious the whole time, could not bring himself to leave right away and showed his concern until the very end.

“Your Majesty, I will go in with you, just in case.”

“Having someone beside me when I am handling an important matter will only break my concentration.”

“Still… I understand. But if anything happens, please ask the soldier outside the door for help.”

“Go.”

Aion coldly shooed Pym away, and Pym, biting his pale lips, reluctantly disappeared down the stairs.

Eventually, Aion, holding the tray, approached the prince’s door alone. The soldiers standing guard in front of it with their swords drawn noticed him and gave a slight nod. A sturdy iron chain was tied to the door, making it impossible to open carelessly from the inside. Aion spoke calmly to the soldiers.

“Open the door.”

“Understood. When you wish to come out, please knock on the door to give us a signal.”

The soldier, far from dissuading him, readily undid the lock in a very obedient manner. Clank-clank. The sound of the iron chain being undone was heard. As the soldiers each took hold of the door and pushed, the heavy door opened smoothly without a sound, and the scene of a comfortable bedroom was revealed before Aion’s eyes.

In the center of the room stood the person Aion had been expecting. Zizlon, who had been approaching, startled by the opening door, was staring at Aion’s appearance with wide eyes. Gazing at the prince, Aion stepped nonchalantly into the room, and as soon as he did, the door closed behind him with a thud. Following that, the sound of the iron chain being wound up again was heard.

“…Queen?”

Zizlon, who had been frozen, muttered as if he had seen a hallucination. Aion showed a smile as gentle as his sinister intentions.

“Zizlon.”

“Wait, do not come any closer.”

As Aion, holding the meal, glided closer, the horrified prince waved his hands and took as many steps back. Aion, seeing the prince reject him, did not feel hurt and calmly placed the tray on the table. Zizlon, in an awkward posture as if ready to run out at any moment, watched his every move. Displaying his clear wariness of Aion, he interrogated him in a tense voice.

“…How did you get in here?”

“Through the door, as you can see. I have brought your meal.”

Unlike Zizlon’s sharp attitude, Aion answered calmly. But his answer made Zizlon snap back in anger.

“That is ridiculous. His Majesty ordered that no one be allowed in my room.”

“But you must eat.”

“Do not make excuses. Just this morning, a servant passed the meal through the crack of the door and left immediately. There is no reason to come all the way into the room. Get out at once. Do you know what punishment you will receive if His Majesty finds out? I am truly sick of your recklessness.”

“Do not worry. I came with permission. I told His Majesty that I was heartbroken about your situation and personally asked, and he permitted me to at least bring you some snacks.”

“No! I know it is all a lie!”

Far from being relieved, Zizlon’s hostility flared up even more. There was a reason for his conviction. Was not the queen himself the very cause of him incurring the king’s wrath and being cooped up in this room? There was no way the king, who suspected the prince’s dark intentions, would have let the queen, the very person in question, into a room where the prince was alone.

The queen did not answer, and Zizlon swallowed hard. Gulp. Thinking that something was going wrong, Zizlon looked toward the door. “Soldier, soldier!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, but there was no response from outside the door. Seeing this, Aion sighed as if he could not be helped.

“It is no use shouting. No, please do not shout. The soldier knows of our pitiful situation and has specially turned a blind eye, so there is nothing to be gained by making a scene.”

“To defy a royal command in this way, are you not afraid of His Majesty’s wrath? Wait! Do not move from that spot. If you come any closer to me, I will really take action.”

“Let us calm down a little and talk things over. Prince, what could I possibly do by sneaking into a place like this? I truly have no ulterior motive for coming here. I just wanted to deliver your meal. Is it such a great sin to worry about the one you love?”

“…That is for me to know and you to find out.”

Whatever he was thinking, Zizlon avoided his gaze while pulling his clothes together. Aion, who was watching him with a look of contempt, snorted as if to make sure he heard.

“Ha. Did you really think I would go through the adventure of defying a royal command just to grope your body, which I have already tasted to my heart’s content? Are you not overestimating yourself?”

As soon as he heard his mockery, Zizlon’s face turned beet red with humiliation.

“Ugh… Anyway! The king’s command is absolute. Leave at once. You should know that I am saying this for your own good. It does not matter whether you have some scheme up your sleeve or are trying to bestow some paltry compassion. I will follow His Majesty’s command.”

Zizlon’s resistance was adamant. With Aion standing in the center of the room, he stood practically glued to the wall, unwilling to come a single step closer. Aion let out a sigh thick with annoyance and fatigue.

“…Zizlon… I understand your feelings of hatred for me, but.”

“I do not hate you. What I mean is….”

“Fine, anyway, I really came here to offer kindness. Please accept this food, not for my sake, but for Sir Villeneuve’s.”

“What… Sir Villeneuve? Why does his name suddenly come up?”

“Because this meal was not prepared by me, but by Sir Villeneuve.”

Aion leaned against the table insolently, as if genuinely annoyed. Zizlon looked taken aback for a moment. Aion’s seemingly annoyed attitude was so genuine that his resolve wavered slightly. Noticing Zizlon’s hesitation, Aion added, feigning indifference.

“He was worried that you would not be able to eat properly.”

“…Why are you helping him?”

“Did you not know? We are acquainted. I have even sent him ointment I made before.”

“……”

Zizlon fell silent, at a loss for words. He too knew that the queen’s words were not a lie. The prince was clearly conflicted. At that, the queen pointed to the note under the cup as a final confirmation.

“If you are so suspicious, read this. It seems Sir Villeneuve even wrote a note himself.”

Having said that, Aion readily stepped aside. It was as if he was telling him to come and check for himself. Due to his confident attitude, Zizlon, now half-convinced, slowly approached. While he unfolded and read the note under the cup, Aion turned his attention elsewhere, perhaps to reassure the prince.

“The room will smell of food.”

Aion took a small scented candle from his clothes, lit it, and placed it on the side table. Before long, white smoke and a sweet floral scent began to rise from the candle.

After reading the note, Zizlon pressed his lips together and folded the note back up. He had suspected that Aion might be lying, but from what he had seen himself, the writing on the letter was unmistakably Villeneuve’s. Having had many occasions to read each other’s writing, he was certain. Furthermore, the content, which was tinged with Villeneuve’s unique cheerfulness, was not something that could be easily imitated.

“Do you believe me now?”

Aion asked playfully, and Zizlon kept his lips firmly shut. As if he knew everything without needing an answer, Aion leaned back in the chair with a relaxed smile.

“I will leave after I see you eat.”

Zizlon frowned slightly. His attitude had softened considerably.

“Aion… even so, you should not have come in so recklessly. That is… His Majesty… us….”

“Us?”

“…Never mind. Anyway, we are not in a position to be so bold, are we? Please act with caution.”

Zizlon, who was about to convey the fact that the king suspected their relationship, changed his mind midway. It was not that he believed Yingsen’s words, but for some reason, he was reluctant to tell the queen the truth about the king. He subconsciously felt he had to protect the king from the queen.

Instead of adding more words, Zizlon picked up a fork. With such an extremely uncomfortable person in front of him, he felt as if his already non-existent appetite had completely vanished, but seeing him sitting there so stubbornly, it seemed he would have to at least pretend to eat to be able to send him away. Eating an unwelcome meal was better than continuing to stay with an uncomfortable person.

With the intention of getting rid of the queen quickly, Zizlon demonstratively cut into a warm, steaming piece of bread with his fork. Steam billowed from the bread, which was filled with various fruits and nuts. It was a sight that would make anyone’s mouth water. At that moment, the prince, who was carefully examining the inside of the bread, raised his eyebrows. After holding the dish and being quiet for a while, he asked Aion.

“Is this… a fig?”

“Well? It could be.”

As Aion answered dismissively while looking at the scented candle, Zizlon, his face turning white, quietly put down his fork. And then, a sharp metallic sound was heard. At that sound, Aion finally turned his head, and Zizlon, who had drawn his sword at some point, was aiming it at him with a murderous glint in his eyes. His face hardening in an instant, Aion gripped the armrest and half-rose from his seat.

“…What is this sudden act?”

“What are you up to?”

Zizlon shot back in a cold voice.

“Pardon?”

“Is there something in the food?”

The queen’s face contorted as he smiled.

“Ha… what is this sudden bizarre talk? Did I not clearly tell you that the meal was prepared by Sir Villeneuve?”

“You… did you perhaps do something to His Majesty as well?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about… but let us first put down that sword and talk.”

Aion suggested calmly while keeping his eyes on him. But the prince, his eyes blazing with hostility, instead gripped his sword more firmly. The sharp tip of the blade was pointed at the queen’s chest. His expression was unusual, as if he was not just threatening but would stab him if things went wrong.

Glaring at Aion, the prince muttered in a low, solemn voice.

“I cannot eat figs, Queen. And of course, that fellow Ade knows that very well.”

Queen Aion answered nonchalantly as if it was no big deal.

“Perhaps he forgot for a moment.”

However, the prince’s conviction was firm.

“No, that cannot be. When we were young, I once suffered greatly after picking and eating figs with him in the forest. The shock of me collapsing right before his eyes must have been great for him as a child, because even now, whenever we dine together, he is the type to never forget and to check two, even three times.”

“…….”

At that moment, the smile on Aion’s face, which had been nonchalant, vanished as if by a lie. Zizlon witnessed it all, how the smile disappeared as if by magic, and an inorganic expression filled its place. The hair on his entire body felt like it was standing on end. He gripped the sword even tighter with his sweat-drenched hand and shouted in a threatening tone.

“You… what have you been plotting all this time?”

“Nothing.”

“Do not lie. You did something to me. And to the king!”

The prince, with his sword aimed, closed the distance with rough steps. The warrior’s spirit hidden behind his gentle nature was unleashed without reserve, and the pressure was immense.

Zizlon stood right in front of Aion and looked down at his white face. His thick, veiny hands looked as if they could snap Aion’s white neck in a single motion. His blue eyes, glittering in the shadows, were so eerie that just looking at them made one’s knees feel weak.

“To try and mock the Yonaras royal family with your wicked tricks, are you truly not afraid of death?”

Zizlon uttered in a threatening voice. However, Aion showed no sign of being intimidated at all. Even with someone who could stab him to death at any moment, he did not bat an eye and, instead, looked up at the prince confidently.

“You believe such a preposterous story and speak to me of death. Your Highness the Prince, are you not afraid of the repercussions of treating me this way?”

“Stop your pathetic acting! If it was not you, then the things that have happened until now cannot be explained. Surely, a long time ago, you boasted in front of me that you were an outstanding sorcerer. Did you bewitch me and the king with those great skills?”

The white blade made a scratch on Aion’s neck. As the hand holding the sword moved ever so slightly, the blade dug little by little into Aion’s thin skin. And yet, Aion showed not a shred of fear.

As hot blood trickled down his neck, he instead curved his eyes gently and gave a captivating smile. He looked at Zizlon’s face, which was radiating an unprecedented vitality in the form of anger, as if mesmerized. As if bewitched, he cupped the prince’s cheeks with both hands. The prince, even with his face held by him, was glaring at him with burning eyes.

“You are finally looking at me properly.”

“…You are truly creepy!”

Zizlon shuddered at the queen’s bizarre behavior, showing his contempt without reserve. Aion let out a giggle like a child. Zizlon was the one holding the sword, but Aion was the one at ease, and it was Zizlon who looked terrified. Aion let go of the prince’s cheeks, and instead, with one hand, he pushed away the sword’s blade, and with the other, he grabbed the prince’s wrist. Blood beaded thinly once again on the fingers pushing away the blade.

Zizlon shouted.

“It was all your doing! The fact that I started acting unlike myself, and that my body has strangely changed. And… the fact that my father has suddenly started treating me coldly!”

“For a prince of a nation to eat what others give him without any vigilance. It is careless, far too careless. Your father is the same. Innocence is a product of sloth. Since peace has lasted for too long, Yonaras has become steeped in complacency.”

At the mention of his father, fire sparked in Zizlon’s eyes. He let out a low groan, biting his lip so hard it might tear. The hand holding the sword was trembling with rage.

“That day… that day, that day you used some trick on me too, did you not? For my usual self, it was something that could never have happened. I thought it was strange all along… I see, you put something in my drink, did you not?”

“Ah, you mean that day? How was the taste of the wine? Was it not sweeter with my devotion in it?”

“You led me into a trap! Me, who helped and cared for you with pure goodwill! To deceive and intimidate me when I knew nothing. To defile and trample my body and mind! So casually! Why? How could a human being do such a terrible thing? You said you loved me! Did you not feel sorry for me, who took care of you like a younger brother!”

Zizlon cried out as if in agony, clutching his seemingly tearing chest with one hand. Tears of anguish flowed from his distorted face. As if revealing the resentment that had tormented him until now, Zizlon cried out, trembling with terrible despair and regret. At that, Aion’s gaze changed abruptly. Aion, on the contrary, glared fiercely at Zizlon with venomous eyes. As if looking at an opponent he could not bear to hate.

“What are you talking about? You are the one who rejected me, are you not? Who was it that said anything was fine, but my love was not? Haha! You dare speak the word love so easily! Then what should I have done? Should I have lived as if dead, holding onto a wounded heart? While feeding on your paltry pity? Of course, would I not try to seize what I can get my hands on? The fact that I made you mine is all due to my ability! If you did not like it, you should have resisted! Instead of sitting there powerlessly and whining!”

Zizlon let out a hollow laugh at the other’s shameless attitude. The two men’s hatred collided head-on. The two men glared at each other without backing down an inch. A passion more intense than love caught fire and blazed fiercely.

“You are broken.”

Zizlon uttered.

“What you think is love is not love. Because if you truly love someone, you could never do something like this! It is pitiful that you are such a twisted monster, but I must protect my family. Things will no longer go as you wish. From now on… I will not follow your words. I will stop you.”

“Well then… as you wish.”

Aion looked at his opponent with a meaningful smile. Zizlon found the queen, who was smiling even in this situation, chilling. He did not seem human at all.

But Aion’s impression was different. The Zizlon he saw was burning with a will to live more intense than at any other time he had seen recently. The man who had been so lethargic and precarious that it would not have been strange if he had given up on life soon, the man who had made Aion anxious, was gone. Instead, the man standing there was a passionate and strong man filled with a sense of mission for his life. He was looking straight at him with an emotion hotter than love. Aion’s cheeks flushed red without him realizing it. It felt as if his body was heating up.

Zizlon shouted.

“Why are you smiling!”

He lowered his sword and grabbed Aion by the collar.

“I will drag you before my father. There, I will reveal everything you have done… Ugh.”

It was at that moment. Zizlon felt a dizzy spell so intense that his vision blurred. As soon as a look of bewilderment crossed his face, Zizlon lost his balance and staggered. The hand that had been tightly gripping Aion’s collar naturally lost its strength, and instead, he grabbed his knees to support his body. He tried desperately to hold on, but his body, beyond his control, kept slumping, and he could barely manage to kneel on one knee. In his field of vision, he could see the queen’s two legs standing in front of him, looking down at him. The prince’s bloodshot eyes trembled.

“Wh, wha… t is….”

“The food was fine.”

Aion’s voice, tinged with laughter, was heard. Following that, his long legs were seen striding toward the table. As Zizlon, drenched in a cold sweat, followed where he was going with his eyes, he saw Aion standing in front of the scented candle that was emitting white smoke. Seeing that, Zizlon’s mind went blank.

Aion smiled bewitchingly and lifted the scented candle. Hoo. He blew on the smoke with his breath as if playing a prank.

“The real one is this. Did you know that medicine takes effect faster when absorbed through the nasal cavity? Inhaling it for about the time it takes to have a meal is enough for it to work. I have been resistant to poisons since I was a child, so I am fine no matter how much I inhale.”

Aion chuckled and savored the scent mockingly, then placed it back on the table. Zizlon, barely holding himself up by planting his sword on the ground, asked with a voice he could barely squeeze out.

“What… have you… done… to me….”

“It is a paralyzing poison. It has an anesthetic effect too. I prepared it because what is about to happen will be quite painful.”

The sensation in the two hands gripping the sword gradually dulled. And as time passed, the symptoms spread throughout his body at an uncontrollably fast pace. Eventually, Zizlon could no longer feel whether he was holding the sword or not, so he let it go, and his stiffened body collapsed to the floor with a thud.

While the prince lay with his cheek on the floor, breathing heavily, Aion’s cunning voice continued to echo.

“This is better, actually. I was worried about how I would explain what is about to happen, but since I have been found out anyway, it is more convenient that I do not have to hide it.”

The prince pressed his hand on the floor with desperate will. The moment he tried to get up, Aion’s approaching foot firmly stepped on and pressed down on his hand. Fortunately or unfortunately, his poisoned body did not feel any pain even when stepped on.

“Keuk….”

Zizlon struggled to move his body, but not even a finger would budge. It was not feasible to make a sound to call for help either. He tried shouting, “Soldier!” but even that came out as slurred speech, and since there had been loud voices exchanged for a while now without a single soldier checking to see what was happening, it was doubtful anyone would come even if they heard his voice. Zizlon sensed that Aion had arranged something. His fingertips grew cold with despair.

“Now, be a good boy until the ceremony is over.”

Aion’s sweet voice was heard, and a rope held in his hand slid to the ground. Something terrible was about to happen. Zizlon felt a dreadful fear and anxiety, but no one came to save him. He screamed without a sound. No! He tried to shout with all his might, but now, no sound came out.

Thud!

“…Huh?”

Meanwhile, Ade, who was walking down the corridor, stopped abruptly at the sudden noise. He raised his head to find the source of the sound. It seemed like something had fallen from above the ceiling.

But the sound stopped immediately, and Ade did not pay much attention to the brief noise. Did a servant drop something? he thought dismissively. Forgetting that the sound had come from the direction of the prince’s room, he tilted his head once and then started walking again.