Aurelius froze at Caitlin’s words, as if struck.

    “Are you all right, sir?” Sebastian asked quietly.

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    The old man blinked, then slowly sank onto the edge of the bed. His shoulders sagged and he let out a long. weary sigh.

    “Aurelius, what is it you’re holding back? Please, tell me. Whatever it is, Sebastian and I will do everything we can to help you. You won’t be dragged down alone.”

    Her persistence finally broke through his defenses. After a long silence, Aurelius murmured, “Forgive me, Caitlin. My skills arecking. I can’t save your brother. If I could, you’d never have to chase after this so–called Shard of Life… Ah…”

    “This isn’t your fault, Aurelius. Please don’t me yourself.”

    Her gentle words only deepened his sorrow. He sighed again, then raised his head. “Very well. I’ll tell you everything.”

    As Caitlin expected, there was more beneath the surface. She and Sebastian leaned in, listening closely.

    “Quarta came to me some months ago,” Aurelius confessed. “She told me she had a n, and she wanted my help. When I asked what kind of n, she wouldn’t exin. All she said was, if Caitlin ever came to me for treatment, I was to give her a certain prescription–one that would push her toward the Shard of Life. I had no idea what she was scheming, so I refused outright. She stormed off and vanished. I haven’t seen her since.”

    “When exactly did she approach you?” Caitlin pressed.

    “About half a year ago.”

    Caitlin’s mind raced. Was Quarta a pawn being used, or was she the mastermind pulling strings? From what Aurelius described, it sounded as though Quarta herself was plotting something–and perhaps she, too, sought the mythical Shard of Life.

    “But if you refused her,” Caitlin asked sharply, “why now? Why go along with her demands?”

    Aurelius’s eyes clouded with shame. “Three days before you came, a man appeared at my door. He threatened me. If I didn’tply, every member of the Varga family would be ughtered. When you arrived, that man was still in my house. I had no choice but to obey.”

    “Quarta sent him?”

    “Yes.”

    “And the men posted outside the Healing Institute–were they his?”

    “No. Those were Zorro’s men, from Graystone Castle. They’ve been stationed there a long time, watching me and waiting for Alicia. They weren’t with the man who threatened me.”

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    Heid bare everything he knew. Seeing the old man’s anguish. Caitlin offered quiet reassurance. “I understand. I won’t tell anyone. We’ll follow their game for now, as if we’re walking into their trap willingly. As long as I don’t act rashly, they won’t risk harming you or your family.”

    Relief flickered in Aurelius’s eyes, and he nodded.

    “Aurelius,” Caitlin pressed on, “I need more about Quarta. If she’s been nning this for months, then she must also know how to cure Scentbane. If I can find her, maybe I can save my brother. What do you know of her past?”

    His face tightened with regret. “Quarta she was peculiar from the very beginning. She always imed she had no family. When I first saw her, she was no more than a beggar girl, fighting for scraps of bread. Beaten and bloodied. I pitied her, remembering my own childhood, so I took her in.

    “I discovered she had a sharp mind, a natural gift for medicine. I taught her what I knew. But she learned too fast, and too recklessly. Behind my back, she began experimenting with poisons. To test them, she dosed innocent vigers. Her cruelty vited every principle of a healer. Enraged, I cast her out. Scentbane was her creation, forged in secret.”

    His voice broke. “I once thought she would inherit my mantle. Instead, she betrayed everything I stood for. For the sake of her research, she became ruthless.”

    “Do you have a photograph of her? I need to see what kind of woman we’re dealing with.”

    Aurelius shook his head. “She destroyed most of them. But I hid one, long ago.”

    “Where?” Caitlin asked at once. “If you tell me, Alicia can ask Davor to retrieve it and send it here.”

    He hesitated, then finally gave her the location. Caitlin immediately contacted Alicia, who promised to coordinate with Davor.

    “That’s enough for tonight,” Caitlin said gently. “Rest now, Aurelius. Stay here at the Vanderbilt estate for a while. Sebastian and I will be leaving for D Country soon.”

    Once he was settled, Caitlin and Sebastian left the room.

    They wandered through the Vanderbilt gardens together, cool night air drifting around them. Caitlin wrapped her arms across her chest, and Sebastian slipped off his jacket to iy /iacross her shoulders, pulling her close as they walked.

    “The day after tomorrowb, /bwe head to D Country,” Caitlin murmured. “I can’t bsay /bwhether it will go smoothly.”

    This mission felt nothing like their return to Departure City, where Caitlin had iat /ileast carried the weight of her Yuncey bloodline. Hector, on the other hand, was a stranger. No kinship bound them, no promises. Anything could happen.

    “Hector has influence in D Country,” Sebastian said. “On the surface, he runs a perfume empire. But beneath that, I suspect it’s much darker. We’ll need to investigate carefully.”

    “The Jonathan family is hosting an international perfumerypetition in Regalis soon. If I enter under Odessa’s identity, I can get close without drawing suspicion. From there, we’ll see what they want.”

    17:41 Wed, Sep 17 bN /b

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    Her n was taking shape, though shecked leverage. “Taking back the codex won’t be simple. He’ll want something in return. What should I use as bargaining power?”

    “We’ll see what he demands,” Sebastian replied. “If his price is too steep, we’ll find another way.”

    “Fine. But I also need a detailed breakdown of the Jonathan family–everyone, their ties, their habits. Everything.”

    “You’ll have it. By tomorrow night at thetest.”

    He had already dispatched people in Regalis to dig up every scrap of information.

    For now, Caitlin’s departure would wait until she received her mother’s DNA results. Only then could she leave with a clear mind.

    As they neared the manor’s doors, Caitlin’s phone buzzed. It was Alicia. A photo file appeared on the screen.

    “Davor found it. Quarta’s picture is here.”

    Sebastian leaned close. “So… what does she look like?”

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