The Disposal

Vanessa’s method of throwing away trash was surprisingly simple.

First, she publicly exposed exactly where it was broken.

Then she destroyed it to the point where anyone would shake their head, thinking it was too damaged to ever be used again.

And finally, she burned it.

Vanessa disposed of all trash this way.

This time’s trash was a slightly special case, but that didn’t matter.

If anything, she expected it to be easier.

The higher the rank and the longer an elf lived, the more broken parts they had.

And the Elders believed that human = insect.

Other elves believed similarly, but the Elders in particular never imagined humans could accomplish anything.

So on the day Fren decided he wanted to dispose of the Elders, he made a proposal to them.

“Honestly, isn’t this inconvenient?”

“What is?”

“Not having a servant s*ave during our meetings.”

“……”

At that time, the Elders still maintained dignity.

“But it cannot be helped. We cannot allow any being other than an Elder into the sacred chamber.”

“I–I agree with that.”

“But it really is inconvenient, isn’t it?”

“It’s only a short time anyway.”

“I find even this short time unbearable.”

The Elders could not argue.

They were born into prestigious noble families and had never needed to move their own limbs since childhood.

They had never even poured their own glass of wine.

Raised that luxuriously, they eventually had to ask Fren,

“So what are you proposing?”

“Please allow my s*ave to enter the chamber.”

“And if confidential information leaks?”

“I will take full responsibility.”

“You would risk your neck for a s*ave? Just how much do you trust that creature?”

“If you doubt it, you can verify it yourselves. You lose nothing.”

“……”

He was right.

The Elders refused to share secrets with Fren because they did not trust him.

If the s*ave leaked information, they could punish Fren.

If the s*ave did not, meetings would become more comfortable.

It was a win-win.

After a short discussion, they accepted his suggestion.

Fren opened the door.

“Vanessa, come in.”

“Yes.”

And so the long-prepared plan began.

Vanessa proved to be the perfect s*ave.

She catered flawlessly to the Elders’ terrible tempers—people who would beat a s*ave nearly to death even for tiny mistakes.

Slowly, the Elders relaxed even during solemn meetings.

Eventually, they even drank wine as if they were simply at home.

Alcohol loosened tongues, made emotions honest, and allowed stories never spoken aloud to spill out.

Fren and the Elders quickly grew closer.

They began meeting frequently outside the council chamber as well.

“Fren… how is it that you seem older than we are?”

“Do I look that old?”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean… You’re just so kind. Too kind and mature.”

They adored drinking, so outside they drank even more wildly.

Medeia, completely drunk, babbled uncontrollably,

“By age, I should be the one acting childish. Not you, right?”

“Age doesn’t matter. Anyone can do what they want.”

“But still. I’m so tired of acting dignified all the time in front of the public.”

A warm palm stroked Medeia’s cheek.

“You can relax when you’re with me.”

“Hic… thank you. Thank youuu!”

While Fren patted Medeia’s face, Vanessa spoke in Fren’s exact tone,

“Think nothing of it.”

The alcohol Vanessa brewed herself was powerful.

At that time, the awakening drug was not yet refined to a mild version, so she had to mix substances into extremely strong liquor so the taste would be unnoticeable.

The Elders loved it, claiming it was a special drink available only at Fren’s estate.

And crucially, Fren was a beautiful, gentle-voiced man.

Drunk and excited by his presence, they could no longer distinguish anything.

By the time they behaved less like elves and more like dogs, Vanessa appeared to switch places with Fren.

She had insisted upon doing this.

She could not allow Fren to handle the filthy job of tending to drunk animals.

Vanessa mimicked Fren completely—the hairstyle, the clothes, the voice, the posture, even the noble elegance unique to aristocrats.

Of course, she could not replicate Fren’s face, but under drug and drink, they couldn’t see clearly anyway.

Vanessa absorbed every grim confession they spilled, and carefully read the hidden relationships within the stories.

“Iason, do you hate Medeia?”

“I do. But her killing my brother is practically my fault. I complained endlessly about how he opposed our marriage. At that time, Medeia only had me…”

“Why not try again?”

“It’s too late. For both of us.”

“But considering neither of you married since then, isn’t there still a chance?”

“My father fiercely opposed the marriage. Medeia probably resents him too.”

Vanessa knew their ties were deep and tangled.

Yet sometimes they felt shockingly shallow.

“I–I want a divorce!”

“A divorce?”

“Y–yes… I want to divorce. I’m tired of sleeping alone. H–how long do I have to live like this?”

“If I recall correctly, your wife is Iason’s closest friend, yes?”

“Y–yes. He even arranged the marriage. But it’s different now. She nags every day… hates how I stutter…”

“If even family acts like strangers, I would feel hurt too.”

Through layers of drunken confession, Vanessa collected what Fren needed.

When Vanessa finally had enough, she stopped serving the drugged wine.

And she waited.

Waited for the moment Fren wanted to reap their lives.

And at last, the day arrived.

“Vanessa? What brings you here?”

“Master Fren sent a gift.”

“Fren?”

“Yes. He thought you might be suffering after recent events…”

Vanessa bowed deeply and held up the gift with both hands.

Iason, with a large bandage on his cheek where Medeia had scratched him, sighed,

“He’s the only one who understands me. If Medeia were half as considerate as he is, I’d have nothing more to wish for.”

Iason grabbed the gift box.

“But maybe I pushed Medeia too far without evidence…”

“……”

“I was even thinking of apologizing first—oh.”

He covered his mouth, almost spilling more of his past to Vanessa—just like he did with Fren.

‘Is it because she’s Fren’s s*ave? I feel strangely familiar.’

Iason opened the gift box.

Inside was an exquisite vase.

Far more beautiful than he expected.

He dismissed Vanessa immediately and carried the vase to his room.

Up close, the vase was even more stunning.

While admiring the intricate carvings, something inside caught his eye.

“What is this…”

He reached into the vase.

Attached inside was a small piece of parchment.

As soon as Iason read it, his face hardened violently.

That night, Iason secretly summoned Io.

The sudden call enraged Io.

It clearly showed that Iason considered her beneath him.

But she still came.

Because deep inside she admired Iason—the son of a noble royal princess.

She could not appear shabby in front of someone with royal blood.

So she dressed more extravagantly than ever and went to the place he specified.

It was a remote riverside outside their city, Leto.

Even in daylight no travelers visited.

She found him easily.

“Iason, I have arrived.”

“……”

Iason stood motionless, staring into the black water.

Io crossed her arms arrogantly.

“Tell me why you dragged me all the way out here.”

He remained silent.

Io, offended, raised her voice,

“Iason! Why did you call me to such a place?”

Only then did Iason slowly turn toward her.

Io instinctively stepped back.

The eyes that once seemed to her the most noble and dignified were now utterly hollow.

She had seen that expression before.

It was the same look slaves had when thrown before the Minotaur with their limbs already cut off.

A look of complete surrender and despair.

Clearly, something terrible had happened while they were apart.

Io swallowed hard.

“…What happened to you?”

Instead of answering, Iason dropped the sack he was holding.

Two severed heads rolled out like balls.