Episode 12
The Assassin’s Identity
We went down the long staircase in silence for a long time until we finally reached the lower floor.
Even though we were still inside the tower, the cold here was much harsher than in the room.
The air was filled with the smell of burning materials, neighing horses, and people moving around busily.
Standing in front of someone, Devon said,
“As promised, I brought Lady Mermandyi. Tell the prince that.”
I immediately lifted my head. The first thing I saw was the silver dragon symbol on a knight’s cloak — the mark of the royal family.
I let out a bitter laugh.
They were royal knights, fully armed as if they had just returned from war.
The armored man facing Devon spoke,
“Understood. It seems we misunderstood Duren. I see now why they call it the kingdom’s top guild.”
Just from that short conversation, I realized what was happening.
“So, he sold me off after all.”
The knights lifted me onto a white horse.
Before it moved, I turned to look at Devon one last time.
He was holding a pouch of coins given by the knight and even bit one to check if it was real — like a typical mercenary.
A sly smile crossed his handsome face.
‘…Bastard.’
I should’ve known this would happen, yet I still felt hollow.
It was pathetic — as if someone I trusted had betrayed me.
Before he could see my expression, I turned my head away.
***
The Duren region, home to the Dark Guild, was the only lawless place in the kingdom.
They handled assassinations, espionage, smuggling, illegal experiments, and slave trade.
Prince Chris had come there after the war.
He entered a grand building, removed his robe, revealing golden hair and amber eyes. He looked around the dim office with a frown.
‘So, Queen Olivia really came to a place like this?’
It was hard for him to believe. But it fit her — the woman who schemed with the Duke of Mermandi to overthrow him.
After a short wait, the man who ruled Duren entered.
People called him Umbra, the Guild Master. He was known for being expressionless, terrifying those who met him — like a reaper shrouded in darkness.
Chris had never seen his face; Umbra always hid behind a red curtain.
Chris began,
“Nicholas came to the palace a few days ago with a letter. It seems the Bahal Trading Company is also involved.”
“…”
“If you had contacted me instead of Noah, the uproar over the lady’s disappearance could have been avoided. As you know, even the fourth prince is now moving.”
He had come to meet Umbra because of his family.
When he heard that Lady Mermandi was missing, he discovered his younger brother, Prince Noah, was involved.
Noah always acted recklessly for his sake, which both touched and worried him.
This time was no different — it wasn’t yet time to attack the Duke.
Umbra suddenly spoke in a calm but direct tone,
“Are you here to buy back the contract?”
His question caught Chris off guard.
Umbra continued,
“Then bring me the original client’s withdrawal letter. I’ll deliver the woman’s corpse to you myself — you needn’t worry about the job.”
Even though he was speaking to a future king, his tone didn’t change.
Chris was reminded again: royal authority meant nothing in Duren.
***
Devon always completed his jobs perfectly.
He had simply accepted a new offer from a higher-paying client — one who wanted the lady kept alive — and acted accordingly.
Normally, he would’ve stored his payment in the vault and forgotten the entire mission.
But this time was different.
Instead of returning to the guild’s headquarters, he found himself packing for a trip.
The soft sound of his whistling faded away.
On the table lay a small rag doll he had bought impulsively at the village — it still carried a faint scent of Natania.
As he held it, her face flashed in his mind.
>“We’re leaving here, right?”
Her gentle smile as she said it made his chest ache.
He had tried not to look at her since that day, but when she called his real name — Devon Kiel — he almost kissed her again.
He had to fight the urge.
> ‘Mine.’
He suppressed the strange emotion rising inside him.
‘It’s out of my hands now. Whether she lives or dies… it’s none of my business.’
Even so, his body refused to listen.
After putting out the fire in the hearth, he strapped his sword on his back and followed the same path the prince’s men had taken — backward.
He told himself it was just to “confirm something,” but even he knew that was a lie.
***
I was tied up and forced to ride a horse, my face hidden under a hooded cloak.
There were about five knights, all armored and wearing helmets.
They walked on foot, leading the horses, since the rocky terrain of Duren wasn’t fit for riding.
I looked down at the man holding my reins.
‘Who is he? The second prince? He wouldn’t personally come to kill me, would he?’
Having stayed in isolation for so long, I didn’t even know what the princes looked like — an unfortunate fact now.
Even if it wasn’t the prince himself, whoever these men were, they were clearly my enemies.
Otherwise, why would they bind me like this?
The tower where Devon lived was already far behind us.
It stood alone among the mountains — tall and isolated.
‘So that’s where he hunted and fetched supplies from the village… but why keep me locked in such a place?’
He said his real name was Devon Kiel, and judging from his skills, he was clearly a high-ranking guild member.
Even though I might be heading toward my death, the fresh mountain air still felt nice.
The world outside was completely white.
The deep forest had no roads, no houses — only snow and animal trails.
‘No wonder it was so quiet up there…’
Snow weighed down the branches of pine trees until it finally fell, startling the horses.
I looked down at the trail of footprints left in the snow and asked,
“Where are we going?”
The knight leading me turned his head slightly.
“If you’d rather not wear a gag, I suggest you keep quiet until we arrive, Lady.”
I closed my mouth. The hood was already hiding enough of my face.
Still, I could hear the knights whispering around me. Their eyes on me felt sharp, so I instinctively covered my right eye with my hair.
“Look at that eye. Horrid.”
“Trying to become the crown princess with such a face… shameless. The Mermandi family must have no shame left.”
“They say she lived alone in the tower with Regatus. She must’ve been defiled by him.”
‘Regatus…?’
My right eye didn’t work, but my hearing was sharp — sharper than most.
From their conversation, I learned who Devon really was.
I remembered reading in The Tyrant’s Flower that within the Dark Guild, Regatus meant “mid-level leader” — someone who trained and led a team, like a captain.
So that meant Jay and Reinhardt were probably his subordinates.
‘Then why did he get the order to assassinate me? If he’s a Regatus, recruiting him to my side was never going to be easy.’
He wasn’t someone you could approach lightly.
The royal knights seemed surprised that I was still alive and unharmed.
Then, suddenly, a realization struck me —
“Duren… that’s right! I’ve seen that name before. It’s the same guild that told the male lead the heroine was actually a spy for the Duke!”
