Shadow Queen

Chapter 7

Elena imprinted the empty house into her eyes.

She turned away and swept the table with her fingertips. Her touch passed through her bedroom stained with memories, leading to a living room full of laughter and happiness from the harmonious family. Elena’s expression as she reminisced the past seemed more comfortable. There was no driving force supporting her life as much as the time she had spent with her family, who would walk a lonely path alone.

By the promised time, Liabrick knocked on the door without a single error.

“Lady Elena, it’s time to leave.”

“I’ll be right out.”

Elena, who rose from her chair, took a couple of deep breaths with her hands on her chest. She then brought out the deep-seated feelings of parting. She was filled with emotion when she recalled the situation where she’d had to part ways with her parents in the past life. Elena didn’t head to the front door until she saw that her eyes were red.

Elena came out through the crack of the opened door. She covered her mouth with her hands to hide her slightly bloodshot eyes and the feeling of sobbing, which made them feel sorry for her.

“…Let’s go.”

“What about your parents?”

“I forcibly separated myself and went out. I don’t think I’ll be confident about leaving if I stay any longer…so I want to go before my mind changes.”

Elena’s last words were close to pleading. Liabrick nodded slightly at her request, which was on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

“Sir.”

The man standing behind her took a step forward at her call. His strong physique and waist-length sword, which he couldn’t hide even though he was wearing a robe, inferred that his identity was a knight.

“When we depart, please attend to the two people inside. Be polite and courteous so that Lady Elena won’t be disturbed.”

“I will.”

….!

Elena held her breath as she heard the familiar voice. When she glanced at his face with a grain of doubt, she was infested with unbearable hatred and indignation.

‘I didn’t know you were the chauffeur who had come to pick me up, Sir Lorence.’

A knight of the oath who once faithfully guarded her. A knight of honor who once stood by her side even after becoming a queen. However, when Veronica returned alive, the knight of betrayal ruthlessly put a sword in Elena’s abdomen.

The loyalty he swore before Elena was false, the pledge was hypocrisy, and the honor he cried out was nothing but pretense. I still haven’t forgotten. When he’d held Elena’s last breaths with his own hands, the words he left behind were:

“I’ve never considered you as my lady for a single moment. Now that My Lady returned, I will kill you with my own hands and ask the real queen for forgiveness.”

‘Ah!’

His true intentions dug more cruelly than the pain of the iron in her flesh. The feeling of betrayal and loss at that time was as great as the depth of trust. Unspeakably, he was even likely to kill her parents now. Naturally, Elena’s hatred also doubled.

‘Let’s not dwell on the past. He’s nothing but a chess’ horse.’

Elena was wary that her old feelings toward him would make things wrong. One day, I will make him pay the price for his disdain, but it is not the time yet. She could do something wrong if she was swayed by petty feelings as she was aiming to overthrow the Grand Duke.

“I have a carriage waiting outside the compound. You’ll have to move in secret up to there.”

Elena quietly followed Liabrick, who walked ahead. As Elena looked back, as if she couldn’t shake off her lingering feelings, Lorence was silent. It might have been an act of showing the virtues of the knight, but in Elena’s eyes, it was nothing but hypocrisy—she knew he was about to go after her parents.

“Hurry up. We’re going to be late.”

“Yes.”

Elena set aside her gaze and hastened her steps to narrow the distance away from Liabrick. Crossing the dark zelkova forest, they reached the road leading to the southern part of the territory. Closer to the corner of the bushes, a luxurious carriage stood.

“Depart right away.”

As soon as they got on the wagon, the horseman hit the whip.

Hiiing, hiiing.

The horse’s cry tore the stillness and the stopped wheels rolled away. Feeling the vibrations under her, Elena sent her gaze to the ever-changing view outside the window.

“…”

Elena’s gaze deepened on the moonlit landscape. It was no different from today’s night. All that had changed was Elena’s mindset, but the world looked different.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Liabrick held her hand as if reassuring her.

“As long as Lady Elena decides to be his daughter, she can’t be neglected. I’ll take care of you.”

“Your generosity overwhelms me. Thanks to you, I think I can relax a bit.”

Elena clasped Liabrick’s hand tighter with a wry smile. An expression of trust that she believed in her. More sincere than a hundred words, Liabrick was convinced that she had come under her control.

“Please don’t say ‘thank you, thank you’. Aren’t we like sisters now?”

Elena held back the reflexive burst of laughter. Sisters. I’m looking forward to how long this fake relationship will last.

Lorence carefully rose from the fence he was sitting on. Considering the distance to the carriage, the women’s strides, and the sound of their steps, it was time to leave by now. Lorence, who had no reason to delay any longer, recalled his mission.

“Kill Elena’s biological parents.”

The buds that might cause trouble in the future should be cut in advance. When Liabrick said it was for the Grand Duke’s path, he said that he would do so without hesitation. To the glory of the Grand Duke. The value was the only pride that kept him breathing and living as a knight.

Lorence pulled the sword from his waist. The moonlit blade shone so sharply that it could cause shivers. Soon this white sword will be dyed red.

Creak. Lorence’s face hardened over the threshold.

There was no sign of any living presence inside the house. Sensing something was wrong, he instinctively, intuitively, and impatiently searched the room. Baronet Frederick and Chesana’s presence couldn’t be found.

“Huh, they ran away?”

Lorence was stunned. They had definitely been inside before, but they’d seemingly escaped. As if they evaporated. It was incomprehensible on how they had known about the danger they were about to face and pulled themselves out.

“Now’s not the time to care. Tracks.”

Lorence’s eyes glinted and followed the footprints in the dark.

Chapter 2: Safe house

The carriage which had left the territory ran without rest.

“It’s hard, isn’t it? Please hang in there until we arrive at Sylronce.”

“I’m not tired at all thanks to your consideration.”

Elena smiled gently. It was such a natural smile that you could never imagine her having other thoughts.

“I’m really curious, but where are we going?

“Curious?”

“Ah, nevermind. You don’t have to tell me.”

Elene shook her head and brushed the sofa with her fingertips. She was amazed by the touch of the finest leather, but she kept her hands on it to see if it felt good.

“This carriage is softer and more comfortable than my bed. I’ve never seen such a luxurious carriage in my life.”

“It’s a carriage that I took extra care of to pick up Lady Elena.”

“I know. I wonder which family he’s from and whether or not he’s an important person matters when I’m being treated so generously.”

Elena’s eyes were dreamy. Blinded by expensive items, she seemed to have no time to think about her situation or future. Liabrick sneered inwardly, seeing Elena who was vain and blinded by desire.

Isn’t she pathetic? She doesn’t even know that she’s a doll who will be thrown away after being used to the fullest, and she’s so fond and dazzled by personal objects. Just as I thought, she is an easy-to-handle woman.

That was what Elena was aiming for.

They had to see her as the most ignorant and pathetic woman in the world. The more pathetic Elena was in Liabrick’s eyes, the better. The lower the standard, the lower the alertness and the more she would ignore her. She intended to induce Liabrick’s carelessness by pretending to be ignorant and materialistic. Elena would endure and persevere until that day comes.

“You said you weren’t curious, so let’s put that aside for a moment and talk about something else.”

“I’ll listen.”

“Do you remember that he still can’t accept his daughter’s death?”

Elena nodded.

“In fact, he hasn’t had his daughter’s funeral for over two months.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s so attached that he can’t let go. Only few people know about the Lady’s death.”

“Th-that’s…”

Elena distorted her face to suit a situation where she could neither laugh nor cry. Her death was not officially announced. An obsession beyond attachment. And his position. It was visible on her face that various unclear and complicated conditions were conflicting inside her mind.

“I know what you’re worried about. I’m sure it won’t be a bad thing for Lady Elena.”

Elena looked at Liabrick with anxious eyes. There was a meaningful smile at Liabrick’s lips.

“You’re getting a chance to become his own biological daughter, not his foster daughter, so why should you refuse?”

“…!”

Elena opened her eyes wide.

“Bi-biological daughter?”

“Yes, his real daughter, Princess Veronica herself.”