With nothing left for them below now, Rian and Alicia eventually made their way to the statue of Ephenia, the only place of interest left in this tomb.
On it, another lantern lay with the insignia of Rosenheim, along with a few lines of prayer carved directly into the statue. Alicia got closer, brushing off the dust until she could finally read the entire thing.
"To Ephenia, Goddess of Nature, the Rosenheims pledge their faith," she read aloud. "Guided by her rose, we shall protect her will, and through it, prosperity without end."
"You were right, Young Master. The Rosenheims once worshipped Ephenia. Perhaps they really were her paladins."
"And now they’ve forgotten everything they once stood for." Rian’s grip tightened around the lantern. "All that remains is a house full of nobles scheming against one another for their own benefit."
"Come on," he beckoned her, holding out one hand while the other held onto the second lantern. "Let’s head back."
With a soft nod, Alicia placed her hand beside his. And with just a drop of blood...
FWIIIIP—!
They were right back to the large tree, like nothing ever happened. The hole in the ground was completely gone, and everything felt like it had been just a fever dream.
Only the wheelchair waiting beside the tree proved otherwise. Rian sighed, slowly taking a seat on it.
"Young Master..." Alicia glanced down at him. "Do you intend to hide your recovery? If the estate discovers your condition has improved, everything will change. As far as everyone there knows, you’re supposed to die tomorrow..."
Her hands settled upon the handles of his wheelchair. "What are you planning to do when we return?"
The question was one Rian considered throughout the journey. He had spent so long thinking about how to survive that he’d given little thought to what would come afterward.
"My life is still on a timer." Rian shook his head. "Thirty days might sound generous compared to what I had before, but unless I find more mana, I’ll simply die a month from now instead."
"Which means?"
"I still need House Rosenheim. Its influence, its information, and every resource I can extract from it."
Alicia frowned as she began pushing him toward the estate.
"Are you finally planning to compete with the other candidates for heir? Young Mistress Elaine has already warned you how dangerous that would be."
"No. I have no interest in fighting them over the position of heir."
Rian glanced back toward the ancient tree.
Remaining the family’s forgotten invalid might allow him to avoid their attention, but it would also leave him with no authority, no allies, and only whatever scraps the others allowed him to possess.
He had spent seventeen years at their mercy, relying on whatever they threw his way. Continuing to depend upon them would be idiotic.
"But House Rosenheim, as it currently stands, will only hinder me. Its resources are divided between a collection of self-interested fools, and none of them will willingly give me what I need."
"Then what will you do?"
"Consolidate it all. Under my control."
"Through diplomacy?"
"Through manipulation."
"Ah..." Alicia resumed pushing the wheelchair. "You really are an evil Young Master."
***
The wooden door creaked open.
Felix Rosenheim stepped into the chamber, his usually immaculate black hair slightly disheveled. From the tension in his shoulders, one might have thought he was approaching the guillotine rather than his mother’s desk.
Red dominated the entire room. Crimson couches, wine-colored tapestries—hell, even the dark wooden bedframe had a burgundy sheen beneath the light.
Felix bowed toward the figure seated with her back turned toward him. And after a moment of silence, she finally asked without turning around.
"Well? Have you found it?"
"Not yet..."
"I searched the side manor personally," Felix straightened. "Every room, cabinet, and even the servant’s quarters. There was no sign of the Ambrosia."
"Useless!"
She slammed her hand into the desk, causing Felix to flinch. The First Lady turned around, and upon realizing that she had startled her son, finally calmed down.
"That was...unbecoming of me," she simply sighed. "Well, it matters not that the youngest did steal it or not. All that matters is that it’s not traced back to me."
"I hate to say it Mother, but Father may already—"
"And the maid?" the First Lady interrupted Felix mid-sentence. "Has she left Rian’s side at all? How close are you to recruiting her?"
"No, Mother." Felix’s answer came reluctantly. "Even with Rian at death’s door, she refuses to leave him for more than a moment."
The First Lady clicked her tongue and turned toward the window.
"Where are they now?"
"Last I checked, they were headed to the garden. But its been a while and I haven’t heard from any of the knights about their return."
"How long ago?"
"Nearly an hour ago..."
"And you only thought to tell me this now?"
Felix lowered his gaze, not daring to make eye-contact with his mother. "Rian can barely stand, and Alicia had no reason to take him beyond the estate."
The First Lady simply sighed into her hand. "Never mind. Finalize the guest list. Make sure that you invite enough spectators so that Elaine won’t be able to move easily."
"The eastern vassals, and all of the physicians we bribed to give those different diagnosis, right?"
"Precisely."
With another bow, Felix quickly left the room to escape the coming wrath from his mother. And almost as soon as the doors closed...the First Lady crashed out.
Papers went flying as various objects were knocked off the table. Her eyes became unfocused as she poured herself a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.
She put the glass down once more and breathed heavily, muttering to herself. "Why...Why is it that every child I bear insists upon disappointing me?"
"No matter..." the First Lady leaned back into her chair. "One is practically already gone. I’ll make sure the other follows right after."
"Whatever Cordelia tried to do...whatever she planned after her death. Whatever those two children have..."
"I’m going to tear it all down."
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