Wine and Poison Chapter 46 - Warning

Ever since the king had lost an eye, the atmosphere in the Theban royal palace had felt like walking on thin ice. He wished they would leave quickly.

 

Thekion clicked his tongue inwardly.

 

At that moment, the queen’s elderly maidservant opened the door and stepped out. When she saw him standing outside, her eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Prince…”

 

Thekion quickly raised a finger to his lips to silence her, then gestured toward the inside of the room with his eyes.

 

“Has Mother been sleeping late often these days?”

 

The maid nodded with a dark expression.

After ordering her to bring warmed wine, Thekion walked aimlessly and eventually left the building.

 

The coolness of the night air clung to his face. His previously turbulent mind gradually calmed down. 

 

It felt completely different from the complicated entanglements of the day like he was the only person left in the world.

 

Thekion took a sip of his wine. Suddenly, he remembered the two people he had seen embracing by the well a few days ago. 

 

He still hadn’t been able to identify the woman who had been in Dionysus’s arms. 

 

It was strange. 

 

Had she sunk into the ground? Ascended into the sky? 

 

The only outsider in this palace should be the witch from Mount Cithaeron…

 

Without realizing it, he found himself walking toward the well. Even though it was late, there was unexpectedly someone there. 

 

Thekion stopped in his tracks.

 

“Where on earth did you go?”

 

The woman was searching for someone. 

 

Thekion instinctively held his breath. He didn’t want to alert her to his presence by making a sound.

 

Under the moonlight that melted softly onto the ground, the woman appeared strikingly vivid.

 

Even her beauty, which he perhaps shouldn’t have noticed.

 

Her long, luscious black hair seemed to melt into the night air. A thin white dress that glowed faintly. He had thought she was a ghost. 

 

But the moment she turned from the well, and he saw her face, his heart gave a heavy thud.

 

Could such beauty truly exist in this world?

 

Since when had a nymph been living in the palace well?

 

The sight was so unreal that it almost seemed comical.

 

When their eyes met, Thekion spoke impulsively.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Startled by the sight of him, the woman fled without saying a word. The sight of her long, swaying hair as she ran away burned itself into Thekion’s vision.

 

The hunting instinct unique to Theban men surged forth, and Thekion chased after her. 

 

It was even more urgent than when he hunted beasts on Mount Helicon. 

 

The thought that he must not let her escape dominated his mind. He grabbed the woman’s wrist and growled in a low, threatening voice like a beast.

 

“If you don’t reveal your identity, I will have you imprisoned in the underground dungeon right now.”

 

An inexplicable anxiety made his heart pound harder and harder.

 

Hiding his inner thoughts, he watched her closely. She let out a sigh, then looked straight at him.

 

Beneath the white, pale moonlight, her golden eyes shone like the sun itself. They pierced through Thekion with what seemed like pity or reproach. 

 

It was the first time he had ever encountered such an intense gaze, yet for some reason it felt strangely familiar, leaving him bewildered.

 

“I am Prince Langsion’s personal maidservant.”

 

The woman hesitated for a moment, then whispered. Her slightly hoarse, unpleasant voice scraped down his spine like a hook.

 

“Do you take me for a fool? …Langsion only brought one old woman with him. Or are you saying that you are that old woman?”

 

Thekion had almost referred to her as “that person” out of respect, but he finished his sentence with a mocking tone. 

 

Suddenly, however, he felt a strong sense of unease.

 

His words were not wrong. Dionysus’s companion was only one person—an eccentric, crude, and ugly old woman who didn’t even realize she was being toyed with by a great being…

 

Thekion felt a chill run down his spine.

 

But…

 

That couldn’t be.

 

Unconsciously, strength flowed into his grip as he held the woman’s wrist roughly.

 

“Are you planning to break my wrist?”

 

Thekion quickly loosened his grip in surprise. However, he did not let her go. He had the feeling that if he released her, she would vanish into thin air.

 

“I know this may sound strange, but I keep thinking about it.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you perhaps that witch?”

 

He swallowed hard.

 

“The old woman who treated me?”

 

Even as he spoke, he whispered with a strange certainty.

 

“Scylla?”

 

The woman stared back at him without saying a word. She looked somewhat annoyed, and although it might have been his imagination, she also seemed troubled.

 

“I’m asking if it’s true.”

 

“…”

 

“Scylla.”

 

The woman turned her head slightly and sighed. Thekion’s mind suddenly lit up.

 

“Why? Do witches possess this kind of power, too? Were you a sorceress?”

 

“What are you getting so excited about?”

 

The woman raised one eyebrow crookedly. 

 

Thekion paused, then cleared his throat. He admitted that “excited” might have been the wrong word, but he had indeed been somewhat stirred up. 

 

Still, how could he not be? 

 

A person who had been an old woman during the day was now appearing before him at night in the form of a maiden. 

 

As a realist who only believed what he saw with his own eyes, Thekion found it even harder to accept.

 

“I was just amazed, that’s all.”

 

“…”

 

“Besides, I am the heir to Thebes. If there is a suspicious person, it is only natural that I investigate. Who knows what kind of negative influence you might have on Thebes?”

 

“…”

 

“Originally, I should have called the royal guards the moment I discovered an outsider like you.”

 

As if to suggest he could still do so if necessary, Thekion lowered his voice in a threatening manner.

 

“I wonder if your guts are big enough to remain fine after hearing my story.”

 

Scylla was not someone who would miss the threat Thekion was implying. When she sneered, Thekion frowned.

 

“You certainly have a talent for wounding my pride.”

 

“…”

 

“I am the eldest prince of Thebes and the future king. No matter what your identity is, there is nothing that can frighten me.”

 

His voice carried the arrogant confidence of someone looking down from a very high mountain. 

 

Oh, is that so? 

 

Scylla stared at him with that kind of gaze before replying bluntly.

 

“It’s not magic.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s the product of a curse.”

 

“…”

 

“I am a sinner who has personally received divine punishment, brave eldest prince.”

 

Thekion froze on the spot.

 

It would have been better if she were a sorceress who could use magic.

 

Divine punishment meant the wrath of the gods.

 

Anyone who stayed close to a sinner was highly likely to be exposed to that divine wrath as well.

 

Thekion unconsciously released Scylla’s wrist. When she snorted as if used to such reactions and rubbed her wrist, a deep sense of shame rose from the bottom of Thekion’s heart.

 

He felt like a coward. 

 

Rationally, he knew there was nothing he could do, but the feeling of having become a pathetic man turned his shame into anger. 

 

However, showing his emotions here would only reveal his weakness. He forced himself to speak calmly.

 

“Langsion…”

 

“It has nothing to do with him.”

 

Scylla’s eyes grew calm. The mocking attitude disappeared, replaced by a firm reply. 

 

For a moment, Thekion was stunned, then he let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

 

In an instant, a feeling of looking down on her arose within him. Whether she was a sinner who had received divine punishment or a witch who controlled insects, she was still a foolish woman. 

 

She didn’t even realize that the person she was so desperately trying to protect was actually a great being who needed no protection from humans. 

 

Who was protecting whom?

 

‘Stupid woman.’

 

“I will be leaving soon.”

 

“…”

 

“But I would appreciate it if you could show some leniency tonight. If you don’t like that, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

Scylla shrugged. 

 

Thekion watched her indifferent expression and actions with quiet eyes. His eyebrows twitched. 

 

Even when she spoke normally, there was something about her that wounded his pride. 

 

It was the same now. She spoke as if she found him disgusting because of her divine punishment and wanted him to drive her away as soon as possible.

 

Of course, if anyone other than Scylla had confessed something like this, he would have driven them out without a second thought.

 

But her face, softly glowing under the moonlight, was etched deeply in his mind.

 

Thekion slowly opened his mouth.

 

“I never intended to drive you out in the first place.”

 

How could he drive out Dionysus’s toy?

 

“Then that’s a relief.”

 

Scylla raised her eyebrows as if surprised and shrugged again.

 

“I’ll be going inside now.”

 

“Weren’t you looking for someone?”

 

“…”

 

“Why? Has Langsion disappeared?”

 

Scylla’s eyes widened.

 

“What did you do?”

 

Her voice instantly turned sharp and fierce.

 

“I need to know who exactly you’re worrying about.”

 

Thekion unintentionally let the words slip. Scylla tilted her head. 

 

Seeing her puzzled look, he came to his senses. He was the one who had made everyone promise not to ruin the game and had sealed their mouths.

 

What a foolish thing to say. Get a hold of yourself, Thekion.

 

“There is no one in Thebes who would dare harm a prince.”

 

He awkwardly patched up his mistake, and self-loathing washed over him.

 

“But you all hate Langsion.”

 

“…”

 

“I sincerely hope that Langsion returns to me before dawn breaks.”

 

“…”

 

“If not, you will all make the witch of Mount Cithaeron your enemy.”

 

Scylla’s meaningful threat ignited a fire in Thekion’s already twisted insides.