IBTBD 23

chapter 23

Brainwashing always leaves traces.

Because I haven’t awakened my family’s power, I can’t undo Erjin’s brainwashing.

But I can confirm its traces.

And that means I can also identify its source.

Every family that uses mental powers leaves behind a slightly different mark.

In the case of the Aymond family, a wisteria-flower-shaped spot, resembling our crest, appears just beneath the collarbone.

So I absolutely must check.

Whether any other survivor of Aymond still lives.

And to confirm whether Astrahan was involved in our downfall.

I carefully set my foot through the narrow gap where pillar and ceiling met.

Rustle.

Since no one had ever passed through that opening before, it made a slight noise, but nothing critical.

[Golden Walnut says: All clear.]

From the ceiling, Sebi reported on Erjin’s movements.

Thanks, Sebi.

[If you’re thankful, then for today’s snack I want organic wild raspberries.]

Typical of a palace-born—always so refined.

I stifled a laugh and drew closer to my target.

Using a tall cabinet as a foothold, I descended, then slid down the canopy bed’s curtain.

So far, so good.

Erjin didn’t stir, as if he were in a deep sleep.

But I didn’t relax.

Drawing on my experience as one of the lowest ranks in the Bear Mountain, I suppressed my presence as much as possible, moving to the table right beside the sofa.

Once I get past this part…

That would be the goal.

I steadied my breathing, looking toward Erjin’s back.

[B-big trouble…!]

Sebi’s scream echoed in my head, alarm bells blaring at once.

And at the same time—

Whoosh!

Something flashed quickly past my eyes.

“Chuu—chuut!”

Wh-what the—?!

My vision was blocked, as if something had pounced on me.

Pitch black!

Before I could even thrash about, I heard a low, pleased voice.

“Finally caught you, cursed doll.”

“Chuu, chuuut…!”

What? C-cursed doll?!

* * *

At that moment, in the training yard.

Clang, clang—

Amid clashing blades, Gerard flipped through piles of documents.

The blazing sun overhead, dust swirling in the air.

The men’s hot breaths and the stench of sweat.

He was surrounded by everything he disliked, but had no choice.

The imperial palace suspects the Duke as the true culprit, and using that as an excuse, Astrahan’s heir has seized the guest chambers in the ducal castle.

The situation was complicated—though when had Kreuz Castle ever been simple?

“How are things in Astrahan’s territory?”

At that moment, Kenig approached, wiping sweat in his sparring attire.

The reason Gerard had waited so long in this detested place.

“There’s no unusual movement from the Astrahan lands. It doesn’t seem related to Lord Astrahan’s stay here.”

“So he’s here only on the emperor’s orders?”

Kenig’s expression grew heavy.

The Erjin he knew would have pretended obedience at best, then left.

Yet it had been over a week, and he was still here.

If his ultimate goal were assassination, he would’ve left immediately after failing last night.

Clearly, he had other schemes.

“What about the surveillance?”

They had planted invisible watchers around Erjin Astrahan.

“As you instructed, I told them not to intervene until his exact purpose is known. For some reason, he hasn’t left his room—he’s been motionless.”

“Still?”

“Yes.”

Gerard gave a sour nod.

It didn’t add up.

Surely Erjin knew he was being watched.

And yet, he had snuck into the duke’s study at night, even tried to enter the duke’s bedroom.

One would expect him to flee the Black Dragon Castle immediately, yet he lazed in his room until midday.

Something was off—his actions defied all reason.

“Ha. Interesting.”

Kenig smirked lightly, as if sharing the same thought.

With sword in hand, he started walking somewhere.

“L-lord, where are you going?”

Gerard asked, voice trembling, but no answer came.

Only—

“I look forward to seeing how long that shameless face lasts.”

His chilling voice echoed through the training yard like a blade.

* * *

“Chuuut…!”

Cursed doll?

Who goes around calling something that terrifying?

No—more importantly, what do I do?!

I’d been caught by the slippery tiger.

Blinded, not knowing what to do, I just trembled.

This was when I should stay calm…

I chewed on my nails, but couldn’t steady myself.

The memory of those sharp blue eyes I’d glimpsed a moment ago was burned into my mind.

No mistake.

Those dry, chilling eyes.

The same ones I’d seen on the cliff three years ago.

The fur on the back of my neck bristled at the thought.

“Chuuut…”

Could it really be that Erjin before me was the one who destroyed my family?

Fear seized me, and I shrank in on myself.

Kenig…

For some reason, only his name came to mind.

It wasn’t as if sleeping in the same bed every night made us family or friends.

So why, at this critical moment, did I want to see his face?

Even I didn’t know.

But the one who put me in this situation was me—and the one who could solve it was also me.

Stay calm. Calm down.

Breathing slowly in and out, my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

This is…

I reached out to touch what confined me.

Soft, smooth.

Narrowing my eyes, I caught the faint shimmer of gloss and pearl.

Silk—expensive silk, no doubt.

It didn’t take long to realize what kind of trap I was in.

A tiger emblem?

At the bottom, I found the neatly embroidered Astrahan crest in gold thread.

It had to be Erjin’s handkerchief.

So he’d sensed Sebi and me from the start?

The moment I came within range, he acted without hesitation.

Which meant…he’d only been pretending to sleep to lure us.

From the beginning, I’d been dancing in the palm of this sly tiger’s hand.

First that cursed pouch, now this cursed handkerchief.

“Chuuut—!”

Forget a cage—here I was, trapped in fabric, flicking my tail irritably.

“Hey there, cursed doll?”

A gentle voice filtered through the silk.

So languid and kind, it was hard to believe this was the schemer who had trapped me.

But somehow—

It feels hollow.

Not a trace of genuine emotion.

What in the world was this man planning?

I kept my guard up, watching the shadow beyond.

“Knock knock, can you answer me if you hear me?”

Erjin’s voice came closer, the table vibrating faintly.

It was strange.

I clearly looked like an ordinary squirrel, yet both Gerard and Erjin addressed me as though communication were possible.

Do I really look that clever?

As I flicked my tail at the absurd thought, I heard a faint chuckle.

“Hm, so it’s too early for conversation, is that it?”

Of course. You think I’ll dance to a spy’s tune that easily?

I flicked my tail again. This time, a sigh of contemplation followed.

“The start of a conversation is eye contact. But if I let you, you might just run away before we talk. Ah—I know how to fix that.”

What do you mean, how?

Curiosity pricked me.

The space inside the handkerchief began shrinking, folding in tighter and tighter, until it was round and sealed like a ravioli.

If only it had ended there.

The pouch holding me lifted into the air, then spun wildly, like a leaf tossed in a storm.

“Chuuut—!”

Heavens—save this poor squirrel!