Two days passed after everything.
Norax sat in his temporary office, quietly examining the items Ark had purchased from the Black Auction House.
[Fairy Flower.]
[Turtle Neck herb.]
[Ice Stone.]
[Crybat blood.]
And several standard antibiotics commonly supplied to mages and guilds.
(The Fairy Flower, in particular, was rare—something that normally only grew in Elven territory. But due to its high demand, even the Black Auction House handled it.>
Norax stretched lightly.
Celstia approached and placed a cup of coffee beside him "Master… are you feeling better now?"
Norax nodded. "Yeah. I feel better after last night."
Celstia smiled softly, just as she used to back at the mansion.
She had stayed beside him again last night, worried, even sleeping nearby—but Norax didn't mention it.
he thought.
I need to prepare.>
"Master," Celstia said gently, "it's time to focus on Lady Eirys. We need to decide what to do."
Norax nodded.
"I was waiting for Ark's report. It's done now."
"This report stays with me only," he said calmly. "No one else reads it."
Celstia nodded.
"Pack the materials," Norax continued.
"And tell Ark to place a communication stone in Eirys's room. No one enters without permission—only you and Eirys."
"Yes, Master."
By then, Eirys's fever had subsided.
The maids had taken good care of her, and Celstia checked on her regularly.
She really acts like a mother, Norax thought.
Eirys sat quietly on the bed.
Whene she sensed someone approaching, her mood brightened—hoping it was him.
The man whose presence felt like black and white merging together.
She had asked the maids countless times about him.
They never answered.
Soon, Celstia entered the room.
"Good to see you're awake," Celstia said warmly, sitting beside her and hugging her gently.
Eirys relaxed.
A moment later, footsteps followed.
Norax entered and took a seat across from her.
"Lady Eirys," he said calmly.
"Now that you're feeling better… let's talk."
Celstia stood quietly behind him.
Eirys hesitated, then nodded.
"Before I ask my questions," Norax said, "I'll answer yours first."
She turned slightly toward his voice.
"…Can I ask?" Eirys said softly.
"Who are you… and where am I?"
Norax exhaled slowly.
"I apologize for the late introduction," he said.
"I am the third powerhouse of the underworld—leader of Blue Crescent."
"My name is Norax Duskgale."
Eirys froze.
"…Duskgale?"
She had heard that name in the capital—about a year ago.
I'm safe They saved me from the people who kidnapped me…>
Norax continued, "I gathered information about your family and situation. But there's something I don't understand."
"How were you kidnapped—from the capital, from a duke's residence—without any missing report?"
Eirys fidgeted.
Her body trembled slightly.
"I… don't know," she said.
"I was sleeping in my room. The door opened like usual. I thought it was a maid…"
Her voice shook.
"Someone put something over my face. After that… I don't remember."
She paused.
"When I woke up again, my hands were cuffed in chains. Three days passed. No one came…"
She stopped.
Those colors—
The suffocating emotions—
The fear—
She couldn't explain them.
No one would believe me anyway.
Celstia moved beside her and held her gently.
Norax fell silent.
Sold…? She sold by his uncle but that' never happened in my novel is this also a variable message say 50% chance meet the result so let assume this is unexpected event>
She was a Cursed Princess.
"Lady Eirys," Norax said at last,
"I understand. We'll prepare a carriage to send you—"
Before he could finish—"Please, no!"
Eirys shouted.
"I don't want to go back to that house!"
Her breathing grew erratic.
"Uncle and aunt… they—"
She stopped.
Fear filled her.
Norax stepped closer.
"Lady Eirys, I understand you don't want to return," he said calmly.
"But you can't stay with me forever."
She clenched her hands.
Norax look at her and he said
"I think you misunderstood something," he continued
"I'm not sending you back to the duchy."
"I'm calling your brother."
She stiffened.
"He won't come," she said quickly.
"He ran away because I'm useless."
Her voice cracked.
"He was right. Who wants a blind, useless sister?"
Celstia's expression tightened.
Norax spoke coldly.
"Lady Eirys," he said,
"Do you truly believe your uncle's words more than your brother's?"
"Then why didn't he take me with him?" she cried.
"Why did everyone leave me?!"
Celstia held her shoulders gently.
"It's not like that," Celstia said. "There must be a reason—"
Norax raised a hand.
"Let's make a bet," he said calmly.
"I'll call your brother."
"If he comes, you talk to him."
"And if he doesn't—"
"I'll take responsibility for you."he said
Celstia frowned slightly.
"Master… is this really the right way—"
Eirys clenched her teeth.
There's no way he'll come, she thought.
He left me because I'm useless.
Anger surged.
"Fine," she said loudly.
"But if he doesn't come—"
She stopped herself.
"…Then you take responsibility. And treat me like—"
She went silent.
Norax nodded.
"Okay," he said simply.
"Whatever you want."
Celstia stayed inside the room.
Norax quietly left.
Eirys needed time—
time to calm herself after recalling the ugliness of her past.
Norax walked through the corridor, his expression unreadable.