YPDM 14

Chapter 14. A Low, Deep Voice

A low and deep voice echoed softly through the still room.
At that sound, I jerked my head up.

“You…”

A tall man lightly jumped over the railing and began walking toward me with steady steps.
Meeting my wide eyes, he curled his lips into a smile.

“Have you been well?”

“Your Grace?”

I was completely dumbfounded.

How on earth did he get up here? No—more importantly, how did he even know to come here?

Judging by the look on his face, he must’ve read the questions on mine.
He had a faint smirk.

“You told me.”

“When did I… Ah!”

“I remember you kindly explaining how to sneak into the estate.”

“That was because of my situation at the time!”

I shouted, utterly at a loss.

Sure, I did tell him—but I never imagined he’d actually put it into action!

Lenox narrowed his eyes and gave me a meaningful smile.

“I thought it was your way of inviting me to come the same way.”

“Absolutely not!”

I yelled, realizing he had completely misunderstood.

“Why would someone like you sneak in like this? If you’d simply sent word, Viscount Brienne would’ve laid out a red carpet at the front gate!”

Lenox responded as if I were asking something obvious.

“It’s tedious and annoying. Why go the inconvenient route when there’s a shortcut?”

“You do know this is technically illegal trespassing, right?”

Though I meant it as a warning, I said it as gently as I could.
After all, I couldn’t just bark at a duke. I wanted him to at least consider the implications of his actions.

But Lenox replied leisurely, as if it were nothing.

“So, are you going to report me?”

“Who said that?”

Reporting a duke to the imperial security force for breaking and entering would only earn me ridicule.

I’d be lucky not to get dragged away myself.

“But how did you get in? The hole’s way too small for someone your size.”

He shrugged.

“I jumped the wall.”

“Excuse me?”

The walls around the Brienne estate were at least twice my height, if not more.

He just jumped over that?

My eyes instinctively wandered to his body.

Seeing his firm, lean, muscular build made it all seem plausible.

And before I realized it, I muttered honestly.

“If you were going to come anyway… you should’ve come sooner…”

I thought he’d ask what happened, but Lenox only nodded.

“I didn’t expect a wraith to find its way into the viscount’s estate and attack you. Seems like your Euphere energy is stronger than I thought.”

How did he even know about the wraith?

He added casually, noticing my surprise.

“The moment I entered, I sensed its unique energy. I’ve already dealt with the one that attacked you, so don’t worry.”

So that’s what it was.

I recalled the shards of glass falling helplessly to the floor.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

The only one capable of cutting down the evil beings of the Rutoru Forest… was a Kravant.
Thanks to Lenox’s timely arrival, I had survived the crisis.

I really had been lucky.

“I owe my life to you, Your Grace. Thank you.”

“Now that it knows I’m around, the other wraiths will likely keep a low profile for a while. Things should stay quiet.”

I let out a sigh of relief and nodded, only now registering how unexpected his visit was.

“But… what brings you here?”

He replied calmly.

“I have news to deliver to you.”

I offered him a seat, but Lenox politely declined.

Instead, he leaned casually against the closed balcony window and began to speak.

“I found a record of the use of the Qualum leaf.”

My eyes widened.

“Really?”

“According to records from the Holy War, voodoo practitioners used it in specific rituals.”

Voodoo?

I frowned at the unfamiliar word.

That was never mentioned in the original novel…

A vague unease rose in my chest.

I had no idea what kind of power “voodoo” represented in this world, which only made me more nervous.

Judging by Lenox’s tone and demeanor, he clearly assumed I knew what voodoo was.

Which meant it was probably common knowledge here—yet I couldn’t recall a single thing about it.

“What kind of ritual was it used for?”

Odorless, tasteless, non-toxic. A leaf with no known properties—how could it have been used in a dark ritual?

With what intent?

My heart began pounding in my chest.

“Was it really used to make poison?”

Maybe it only became toxic when mixed with tea.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.

“It’s not poison. But don’t ever drink that tea again.”

“Then tell me why not. I deserve to know.”

Instead of answering, Lenox pressed his fingers to his temple.
I bit my lip, growing more anxious.

“Do you really have to know?”

“Yes. Please, tell me.”

After a moment’s hesitation, he finally said it.

“It’s used in rituals that turn people into wraiths.”

The shock hit me like a thunderclap.

I stared at him, mouth agape, unable to speak. Finally, I whispered,

“A… wraith?”

The room spun. My head swam.
I felt like I was about to collapse.

“Olavia Brienne!”

Lenox caught me just in time.

“Are you alright? Breathe slowly—inhale, exhale… Damn it, hey! Stay with me!”

I clutched his arm like a lifeline, gasping for air as panic overtook me.
My whole body trembled violently.

What have I been drinking all this time?

It would’ve been better if it were just poison…

“…That’s why I wasn’t going to tell you. Damn it. But I couldn’t risk you drinking that tea again, thinking it was safe…”

His voice echoed faintly, laced with guilt.

A large, warm hand gently patted my back over and over again.
Until I finally calmed down.

Once the shock subsided, I realized I was practically clinging to Lenox.
I quickly stepped back.

“E-excuse me.”

“Feeling better now?”

I nodded and straightened up.

“I’m alright. And… thank you for coming all this way.”

“I gave you incorrect information about the Qualum leaf. I simply wanted to set the record straight.”

I shook my head.

“Even so. Not many people would go this far for someone they barely know.”

I meant it.

He had taken the time and effort to infiltrate the Brienne estate just for me.

I looked at him with heartfelt gratitude.

“I won’t forget your kindness.”

His ruby-red eyes flashed with brief surprise, and he ran a rough hand over his face.

“It’s nothing. The fact that something from the Rutoru Forest has made it into the capital… is a pretty serious matter for me, too.”

He seemed like someone unused to receiving thanks.

Strange, for someone who was praised as the guardian of all.

Still, I smiled gently.

“Either way, you came all this way just to tell me.”

“…If it helped, then I’m glad.”

“It helped a lot. I have no interest in becoming a wraith. And I’d rather not be sliced in two by your sword, either.”

Lenox let out a brief chuckle at my joke.

The heavy air from earlier began to dissipate.

“By the way, what will you do now?”

“Pardon?”

“The viscount’s estate doesn’t seem very safe anymore. Do you have a plan?”

Of course not.

Until this morning, I thought hiding at home would keep me safe.
My only goal was to quietly uncover Karinne’s schemes.

But now, surviving the Rutoru wraiths came first.

“I’m thinking about it… For now… Ash?”

At that moment, something small flew toward me and dropped something at my feet.

I quickly caught the fluttering piece of paper.

A newspaper article?

I scanned it instinctively—then my eyes widened.

I slowly looked up at Lenox with trembling eyes.

“Is there something you want to say?”

I nodded immediately.

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

His brows furrowed at my abrupt declaration—but I didn’t care.

This man is my golden lifeline.

The one who saved my life—and might do so again.

Even his annoyed expression looked noble and beautiful now.

“If you haven’t found the right person yet, I’ll do it. I promise I’ll do well.”

“…Do what?”

“The bride you’re looking for.”

I waved the newspaper article in my hand with a bright smile.

“How about me?”