MARKED BY THE HUNTER

12: BE WITCH

“Eat this or...”

I didn’t even get to finish my words.

Bryle leaned forward and bit the fruit I was holding out to him.

“I’m sorry,” Bryle said lightly, glancing at Lilah. “My personal aide is… very strict when it comes to my health.” His words were casual.

“Oh, thank you, Miss,” Lilah replied, her smile polite but knowing. “I understand how hard your work is… taking care of someone isn’t easy.”

Her words sounded kind. But something about them felt like a quiet challenge.

And sitting here beside them, while the knife is still in my hand, I couldn’t tell what I can do more... With her presence... or the way Bryle pretended not to see what I really felt?

“Excuse me. What’s your name again?”

Max Rain’s voice cut through everything.. yet impossible to ignore. His eyes were still locked on me, as if he had been waiting for the right moment to ask.

The restless tension inside of me, just seconds ago, suddenly fell into an uneasy silence.

“My name… Alexa.” The words left my lips softer than I intended.

“Oh. Nice to meet you, Alexa.” His gaze didn’t waver. “As a personal aide, I’m sure you know a lot about herbal medicine… remedies for different kinds of illnesses.”

For a second, I couldn’t respond.

I hadn’t expected that, he would actually believe Bryle’s words so easily… or maybe he didn’t. Maybe this was something else, like he was testing me, pulling at a thread to see what would unravel.

But then.. Bryle’s warning refreshes in my mind. Stay as my personal aide. No matter who’s around.

I swallowed.

“Yes… I do,” I answered carefully, forcing myself to sound composed. “But my experience is not… you know, that deep.”

It felt like I was walking on thin ice, every word measured, every breath needed to be controlled.

“I understand,” Max Rain said smoothly. Then, without hesitation, he asked, “Who is your grandmaster?”

Grandmaster. The word struck something inside me.

I froze... just for a second, but enough for me to feel it. I didn’t have one. No legendary teacher. No hidden mentor guiding me in that healing job.

But there was only... My father. The only one who ever taught me anything. The only one who stayed… until he didn’t.

“Honestly… I don’t have a grandmaster like what you think,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the sudden heaviness in my chest. “But my father taught me more.”

It sounded simple. But behind those words was something I refused to show, memories I didn’t want to revisit, a pain that hadn’t faded no matter how much time had passed.

Just thinking of him… it still hurts.

And sitting here, under Max Rain’s watchful eyes, I had the unsettling feeling that if I let my guard down even for a second... He would see right through me.

That I was a liar..

Just as the weight of Max’s question still lingered in the air, something unexpected brushed against my hand.

I froze.

Under the table, I felt Bryle’s fingers lightly touch my palm.. quick, and secretive. Before I could react, he pressed something cold into my hand.

A silver coin.

My breath hitched.

It wasn’t just a random gesture... I knew that much. The way he placed it there, the quiet urgency behind it… it meant something. A signal. A warning. Or maybe... an instruction.

Before I could even look at him, he had already pulled his hand away, as if nothing had happened.

But the coin remained in my palm.

I clenched my fingers slightly, hiding it as best as I could, my heart starting to race for reasons I couldn’t fully explain.

Then, as if nothing strange was happening at all, a maid approached me. With a polite smile, she placed a slice of cake in front of me.

At first glance, I thought, it’s just a cake. Sweet and perfectly presented.

My eyes lingered on it, and for a moment, the tension inside me loosened. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until then. The delicate layers, the creamy frosting, it looked irresistible.

But something felt… off.

Slowly, I focused on it again.

And then.. my breath caught in my throat.

The cake… changed.

The smooth frosting seemed to sink and rot before my eyes. The soft layers hardened, turning dull and lifeless. What had looked fresh and inviting just seconds ago now appeared spoiled stale rice clumped together, discolored and damp.

Ants crawled over it. And little cockroaches scattered across the surface.

I couldn’t move.

My stomach twisted violently, nausea rising so fast it made my head spin.

This wasn’t real! it couldn’t be.

I blinked, once and twice but the image didn’t disappear. The foul, rotting sight stayed right there in front of me.

My grip tightened around the silver coin in my hand, as if it was the only thing grounding me to reality.

And now I understand. This wasn’t just a coincidence. There is something wrong in this place! and the people? They are terrible!