Chapter 3
Judging by the atmosphere, Kaily’s timely arrival here seemed to have been Belita’s arrangement as well.
As it looked like Kaily would hand down a horrific punishment to Lena at any moment, she began crying loudly and begging.
“Your Imperial Highness, please save me. I will confess everything that happened! Please……!”
However, Kaily ruthlessly kicked Lena away as she clung to him crying, then ordered the guards.
“Drag that criminal away at once and lock her in the dungeon!”
The guards, who had turned a deaf ear when Anelia spoke, seized Lena without mercy this time and bound her.
Even as she was dragged away amid the murmurs of the crowd, she cried out desperately.
“I only did as I was told! I will tell you everything I know! Your Highness, Your Highness!”
As Lena’s voice gradually faded until it could no longer be heard, Kaily clicked his tongue and glared fiercely at Anelia.
“Do not make a fuss unnecessarily, Anelia. You know full well that you are not worth that much trouble.”
“What do you plan to do with the criminal? She clearly said there was someone who ordered her.”
“You believe the words of a criminal? Nonsense. Even if there were one……”
Kaily swept his blonde hair back in annoyance.
“Keep in mind that that is something for Belita and me to handle, not a matter someone like you can meddle in.”
It was Anelia who had almost been poisoned, yet she couldn’t meddle. It was a bizarre statement even if one heard it with half an ear, but no one thought it strange.
Because Anelia was that kind of existence here in the imperial palace.
Having finished what he had to say, Kaily addressed the people gathered around.
“It seems you all have very little work to do. Finding the leisure time to stand around watching like this.”
The crowd dispersed in an instant.
Kaily returned to a tender expression as if he had never worn a cold face, and held Belita’s hand tightly.
“Our soft-hearted Lita. You may punish that criminal in whatever way you wish whenever you like.”
Kaily softly stroked Belita’s white hair as if treating a cherished treasure, then soon turned around.
“Thank you, Brother!”
Waving a refreshing goodbye to the receding Kaily, Belita turned back to Anelia this time and tightly bit her lip.
“Anel, don’t worry. I will absolutely never forgive the criminal who tried to harm you!”
Belita tightly clutched both her hands, her golden eyes sparkling as if firmly resolved.
Yet Anelia’s golden eyes, identical to hers, sank coldly instead.
“Right. I’ll look forward to it, Bel.”
Her red lips slowly curved into a smile.
Because this would also be the last time Belita would feel happiness, thinking things had gone her way.
Soon, what she had been preparing would reach its completion.
Ever since that day 15 years ago when she realized Belita had actually been using her, a revenge she had prepared for while holding her breath.
The imperial palace was a place where stories of countless people gathered. Everything passed through, from simple gossip to secrets upon which the life and death of a family hung.
When she was young, after sneaking out of the palace out of a desire to flee and experiencing life outside the imperial castle, Anelia learned that information was money.
After that, hiding her identity, she snuck into the underworld whenever she had spare time and began selling the information she possessed.
Even ‘predicted information’ inferred from the information she already had.
Those hit the mark with a 99% probability, and people bought more and more information from Anelia.
All of this turned into money.
It took a lot of time, but she was able to set up a respectable information agency.
It soon became a giant information guild that held the underworld in the palm of its hand, and now……
‘It’s time to make a move.’
Anelia was truly looking forward to it.
What kind of expression Belita would make when her ugly true face was exposed to the world.
* * *
Right after parting with Belita, Anelia tied a navy ribbon to the railing of her bedroom terrace.
It was a signal to summon the deputy guild master of the information agency she had built.
And that night.
In the darkness where even the owls seemed to fall asleep, a small breeze blew through the window.
Then, a long shadow was cast in front of the bed.
“I heard about the disturbance during the day. Are you alright?”
She nodded lightly at the worry-filled voice and handed over the documents she had prepared.
“I’m going to execute the plan.”
“Your Guildmaster’s safety has not yet been secured.”
“That’s why I need my shield. I’ve narrowed down a few candidates, so bring me more detailed information.”
“……Understood. I will investigate and report back.”
“Please make it as quick as possible.”
“Please be careful as well, Guildmaster.”
The shadow vanished along with his response.
She had set three candidates.
One of them was the overlord of the North, Grand Duke Luan Argente.
He was the only person who showed no reaction whatsoever upon seeing Anelia’s black hair.
[It’s merely a color, what strange power could it possibly hold?]
He was also a person who casually uttered the very words Anelia had wanted to shout to the entire world.
‘I’d prefer it if the Grand Duke accepts my deal, though.’
Recalling the meeting that took place in the past, Anelia let out a chuckle and focused back on the documents.
About one month remained until the victory banquet for Argente, who was returning after pacifying the North.
She had to move diligently if she was to finish all preparations within that time.
* * *
Ssssshhh.
Trees shed their leaves in the cool breeze.
The moonlight was veiled by clouds as deep darkness settled in, a time when even the birds held their breath in the eerie atmosphere.
“Keugh……!”
Along with a metallic sound, crimson blood slashed through the air.
One,
two,
three,
four…….
Following sharp sounds that continued several times, a total of seventeen bodies collapsed onto the dirt ground.
At the same time, Flut-flutter, nearby birds took flight as black feathers scattered around.
Where one of them settled was a place brightly radiant even in the dark.
Above hair praised as if woven from silver threads.
“Stop watching and come out.”
The man flicked away the feather sitting on his head with a tap-tap, then muttered in a low voice.
At that, a small shadow dropped down with a thud from atop the giant tree behind the man.
The shadow walked forward awkwardly toward the man with an awkward smile.
“No, well, it’s not like I intended to just watch. I came because I had something to report……”
“If you came, you should have helped. A guy who just stood by watching has a lot to say.”
“Didn’t you give me no room to help at all! You just swept them all away alone like swish-swish-swish, without even being seen.”
Oof, this guy didn’t even have his bones left intact.
Looking at the corpse severed at the waist, the shadow clicked his tongue.
He scratched his red hair vigorously and tried to crack a joke, but the silver-haired man only scowled even more.
“Levain, the main point.”
“Yessir! They say the emperor is holding a banquet to celebrate Argente’s great victory!”
The silver-haired man, who had been relaxed the entire time, paused for a moment.
He stared intently at the shadow, Levain, as if telling him to speak further.
Receiving his gaze, Levain explained the information he had obtained with a prompt attitude.
“And he’s specially bestowing an award upon Your Grace.”
“Ha. That stingy emperor, holding a banquet for me is not enough, so an award too?”
One of the man’s eyebrows twitched minutely, and his head tilted slightly to the side.
He was an emperor who could not stand to watch Argente succeed with open eyes.
In fact, even with these assassins, he could not be certain that the emperor was entirely uninvolved.
Doing this kind of work underneath, while holding a grand banquet on the surface.
He clearly had some hidden scheme, but……
“It’s better this way.”
Luan gripped the hilt of his sword as if making up his mind, then raised his head and looked up at the sky.
The glittering starlight overlaying the pitch-black sky resembled that day.
[Since I saved your life, you are mine now! You mustn’t throw away your life carelessly!]
Moistening her flushed eye rims, shouting with all her might not to die—that small, pale face.
The lingering image of her black hair, drenched in water and sparkling like obsidian, keeps flickering in his mind.
Back then, he had no power, so he could neither protect nor save her.
But now. Now.
“I think I might just destroy the entire imperial palace.”
At the shocking statement, Levain flinched in surprise and looked around frantically.
The man himself, however, merely wore a faint smile as he gazed far off toward where the imperial palace stood.
Levain peeked at the man’s expression.
A man born an illegitimate child who endured all kinds of hardships before finally seizing the title of Grand Duke, Luan Argente.
Though he admired and followed him, there were moments now and then when he had absolutely no idea what his master was thinking.
Gulping down his saliva, Levain whispered low in a resolute voice.
“If there is anything we must do, please tell us, Your Grace.”
However, there was one truly important thing Levain didn’t know.
That Luan gaining the position of Grand Duke, taking it upon himself to go on a long expedition to pacify the North, and making Argente powerful—it was all—
“No, you guys just eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves.”
Luan’s red eyes turned toward the imperial palace glinted under the moonlight.
Contained within them was only one thing.
The owner of his life, whom Luan had risked everything to protect.
“What remains is my job.”
A voice touched with a hint of solemnity scattered into the night fog.
Since he had acquired everything else, now it was time to win her heart.
So that she would willingly enter his arms.
So that she would willingly hold his hand.
