# Chapter 27
Ekian stayed awake all night, but even after returning to the Information Guild, his mind was still clear. The image of Judith, speaking to him as she lay in bed, was clear in his mind. At the same time, he was consumed by f-loathing.
“His Highness the Cursed Prince.”
When Bart revealed everything to him, Ekian really wanted to die. Realizing that he was not a real part of the Maius family made him want to find another escape route, something he could cling to.
But the truth he revealed was more horrific and brutal than anything he could have imagined.
“This time, let me tell you about your real mother.”
He was overcome with a deep feeling of disgust at his own existence. This was the same feeling he had when, at seventeen, he learned part of the truth. But he wasn't dead then, and he's not dead now.
It seemed that death was something much more difficult than life.
'Oh, if Judith hadn't told me about the bomb...'
Otherwise, he would likely have died alongside the people in the alley when the bomb exploded.
Maybe if the bomb had exploded, he wouldn't have tried to avoid it. Perhaps he thought this would be a fitting end for someone who was never meant to exist in the first place.
'but…'.
But the bomb was removed, and he was still alive. Although he did not know what to do next, his memories of Judith remained fresh in his mind.
Judith, smiling in his room.
Judith, lying on his bed.
Judith, pulling him down to lie next to her, stares into his eyes.
Judith, who did not know the whole story, nevertheless consoled him warmly.
Judith, sleeping like a baby in the bed he always used.
‘Huh…’.
Her presence in his private place made him think as if she belonged there.
Judith, who casually referred to herf as “Ekian's wife,” seemed endearing to him.
She once said she loved him. How he regretted that he had not known Judith at that time.
In the end, he had been watching her all night, and only left the palace after hearing the maids' movements at dawn.
Talking to Judith seemed to revive feelings he had thought long dead.
Anger, emptiness, confusion, and even joy.
But knowing the true nature of those feelings, he was afraid that they would only lead him deeper into the abyss, so he wanted to avoid admitting them.
'How did it come to this? Why did Judith end up in Maeus' possession?'
For the past three years, they had viewed each other as nothing more than cold partners, dealing with each other in an indirect manner.
If Ekian had seen her as a woman earlier, he might not have allowed her debts to drag her into the Mayus family in the first place.
It was natural for Judith not to be seen as a woman, as she was a minor at the time.
She seemed like a studious kid, someone who would pay her a good amount of money to gather information.
The first time they met, she looked very young as well.
'But when did you grow so big?'
Once Isabella made an effort to make her look beautiful, Judith undoubtedly became a stunning beauty.
For the first time, Ekian found himf resentful of Isabella's tendency to lavish care on the people she loved. There was no need to decorate her daughter-in-law who already had a husband.
'Why my mother...no, she's not my mother.'
As he thought about the mother he had learned about last night, Ekian bit his lips gently. He knew he would need to visit her soon, despite the unexpected revelation of her existence.
At that moment, we heard a young man's voice from outside.
“Excuse me, is this the Gray Information Guild?”
Ekian's keen senses immediately recognized the voice as Eud Ramis'.
That bastard who drank with Judith last night!
The person Judith said she got along well with!
Even though Eqian didn't hear that supposedly good conversation, his face instantly hardened.
"Yes, it is. How can I help you?" The guild employee, standing guard at the entrance, asked in a businesslike tone.
“I have a message to deliver,” Hood replied in his usual gentle voice. “It’s from Mrs. Judith Elan. She asked me to deliver it directly to Mr...”
“Yes, you can leave it here. I will make sure it is delivered.”
“I promised her that I would deliver it to her personally. Is there any way I can meet the master?”
“I'm afraid that's not possible. The master only meets a very ect group of clients.”
“Ah…” Ayoade sighed as if resigned.
Ekian crossed his arms and thought for a moment.
He didn't know much about Ayud Ramis, as the man joined Mayos after Ekian left.
Since Ekian had only caught a glimpse of him through the secret passage, he could not even get a proper look at Ayud's face. Impulsively, Ekian put on his mask and spoke in a cold tone.
“Let him in. If it is a letter from Judith, I will accept it personally.”
“Yes sir.”
The employee opened the door, and Ayoade cautiously climbed the stairs.
The elegant-looking young man looked around curiously before he saw Ikian, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh, hello.”
“Please, sit down.”
"Thank you."
Although Ayud seemed momentarily taken aback by Ekian's masked face, he quickly regained his composure and smiled warmly before sitting down.
As Ikian measured him, he muttered under his breath, “Damn.”
Ayoade's hair was brown and neatly styled.
His green eyes were a deeper color than Judith's, bright and clear.
His tall, slim frame made him look good, even in modest clothes.
His upright posture and gentle expression gave him the solemn air of a courteous nobleman.
'Judith said she likes handsome men.'
Ekian hoped Hood would be less attractive when approached. But unfortunately, he was more handsome than expected.
In fact, his friendly demeanor likely made him more pleasant to work with than Ekian, who seemed somber.
“This is the message you asked me to deliver.”
Ayode handed the letter to Ekyan with a polite smile.
The elegant circular handwriting on the envelope was undoubtedly Judith's.
"Show."
Ekian's voice was calm as he accepted the message.
“If the message was from Judith, I would naturally accept it personally. She is a very special client and close to me.”
He deliberately emphasized their closeness, but Ayoade smiled more gently.
"The other parents I visited today said the same thing. Judith seems to be well respected wherever she goes."
It backfired.
Ekian hid his annoyance behind his mask and opened the letter.
The content was simple.
Judith wanted him to know the whereabouts of the Marquis Soden and his wife as soon as possible.
Ekian wasn't sure why Judith was suddenly curious about the Soden family, but he assumed she had her reasons.
Finding their location will not be difficult.
'But why? Why do you suddenly want information about Marquis Soden?’
At the same moment, Ekian quickly wrote a brief reply regarding the location of Marquis Soden and handed it to Hood.
“Here is the reply. Please send it to her. Thank you.”
"naturally…".
Ekian was expecting Hood to leave next, but instead, the young man hesitated, his eyes racing nervously.
Then Ayoade asked in a serious tone: “So this place deals with information?”
"This is correct."
“Then if I ask something I want to know, will you give me an answer?”
“If so, is there something you would like to know?”
“Well, you see...”
Ayoade's ears became a little red.
He began fiddling with his fingers, speaking cautiously, "The truth is, I'm interested in a certain woman. I haven't known her for long, but she's beautiful and kind and easy to talk to... a woman who's so lovable that everyone admires her."
Ikian's face hardened under his mask.
“I've never been interested in women before, and I don't have much experience in this field.”
Ayoade's cheeks were now red.
“So, I was wondering...can you tell me how to approach her without making her feel uncomfortable?”
With all courage!