Chapter 11
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Bree ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
“The relic can only be found by a saint. As you know, I was willing to do anything to become a saint. There are no exceptions in the game of implication.”
“You investigated what comes out as a bidding item in advance.”
“Yes. It was nothing using the Peregrine’s name.”
The villain nodded as if conceding.
“But there is no evidence that the bidding item is fake, is there?”
However, the villain was not as easygoing as expected.
“If that relic is real, and the intention of the lady is to get the relic before me…”
“…”
“Wouldn’t that be a loss for me?”
Although he spoke leisurely, his voice was filled with suspicion towards me.
‘But it really is fake.’
It was unfair, but Daphne’s behavior was so strange that it was natural to doubt.
So I spoke in a clearer voice than before.
“Currently, I disobeyed my uncle’s order to be on probation and came out secretly.”
“….”
“If it is known outside that I–who recklessly does anything due to the shock of the breakup–met you–who makes all kinds of medicine–what do you think will happen?”
“….”
“I will probably be immediately expelled to the border territory. Maybe I’ll have to live there for the rest of my life or marry the man Uncle chooses. I’ll have to give up on the dream of becoming a saint.”
Desperation was on my side, so there would be no absolute loss.
With that look in my eyes, I stared at the villain.
How much time had passed?
“…Alright.”
After a while, the villain finally nodded.
The deal was sealed.
‘It worked, it worked!’
Internally celebrating, I casually asked him.
“How long will it take?”
“It shouldn’t take more than a week. Once everything is confirmed, I’ll contact the lady again.”
“Good. Let’s do that.”
As I was about to stand up, the villain also rose from his seat and said.
“Did you come by carriage?”
“My family sent a carriage. It’s waiting outside for a moment.”
“I see.”
Nodding, he extended his hand towards me.
‘What’s this? Should I shake hands?’
Although I had memories of Daphne, I hadn’t experienced noble etiquette firsthand.
The only people I had seen in this world were my uncle Lyas and the twin kids.
‘Was it normal to act as an escort even in the underworld?’
Feeling perplexed but trying to appear nonchalant, I placed my hand on his.
But then, he noticeably hesitated.
“…”
Following that, I felt his face hidden behind the robe staring at me intently.
‘What, what’s going on? Wasn’t it just a handshake?’
Perplexed, I stood frozen, forgetting that I should withdraw my hand.
But simply pulling it back seemed impolite.
Thanks to that, my hand remained firmly held by the villain.
Then he smiled and spoke.
“The stairs are steep going down, please be careful.”
He gently held my hand again, but this time, with a force that wouldn’t let me let go even by mistake.
The stairs were indeed a bit high. Without a handrail and wearing heels, it was almost inevitable to trip.
‘So, he held my hand for this reason. I’m glad I didn’t overthink it.’
“How kind of you.”
“It’s a matter of course.”
He smiled, holding my hand as we descended the stairs.
At the sound of our footsteps coming down the stairs, the man guarding the door turned towards us.
“I’ve seen to everything… Oh!”
The man was surprised, covering his mouth with his hand.
“The guest is leaving.”
“Ah, understood!”
The man opened the door to make it easier for the carriage to move.
I lifted the hem of my dress, preparing to get on the carriage when the villain extended his hand to me again.
“Considering the safety of the client, I insist.”
A slight smile appeared under the black robe.
‘This place has more service spirit than I thought.’
“Thank you.”
I casually took his hand and boarded the carriage.
“I’ll visit again in a week. As we discussed, I’ll need confirmation from the Assassins’ Guild.”
“Of course.”
With those words, I lowered the curtain on the window. The carriage moved forward as I tapped on the wall.
Once the shop was out of the shadowy area, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
I returned unharmed…
Feeling the tension release, I leaned back against the seat.
* * *
The carriage slowly moved away.
The man, or rather Luciel, continued to stand in the same spot until the carriage completely disappeared.
Gael cautiously observed, then spoke to Luciel.
“Master.”
“…”
“M-Master?”
But as if not hearing, Luciel kept staring straight ahead. It made Gael more anxious.
When his master stared at something for a long time, it usually resulted in something unfavorable.
No, this wasn’t just a hunch.
His master was the type of man who disliked waiting for tomorrow because it was bothersome.
However, what about Luciel today? He even made a promise with Daphne to meet in a week.
And that wasn’t all. He was a person who, thanks to his exceptional magic, could even control the magic of others as if it were his own.
So Luciel could feel what kind of emotion the other person currently held.
Thus, compared to touching others, Luciel preferred cutting off his own hand. Of course, the hand would grow back with magic, but he was still an extremely sensitive person.
Yet such a person was holding someone else’s hand and even politely escorting them!
‘Could it be that he fell in love at first sight with Lady Peregrine?’
Of course, when Gael first saw Lady Peregrine, he himself was momentarily stunned.
She was as beautiful as the rumors said.
Fortunately, due to the baptism of his master’s striking beauty, he managed to recover without lingering too long…
Anyway, Luciel’s current state was not a good sign.
“Master…oop!”
When Gael tried to call him again, an unseen force sealed his lips.
“I can hear everything, Gael.”
Luciel used magic to seal his mouth.
“Seriously, you even disturb brief moments of enjoyment.”
With a light reprimand, Luciel entered the shop.
“Uh, ugh!”
Gael struggled with his muscular arm for a while before finally managing to free himself.
“Puff! That’s what I wanted to say.”
Gael, who had quickly followed into the shop, shouted indignantly.
“Assassin’s Guild? What on earth are you talking about?”
“Ha. Why? Is there a reason I shouldn’t take a commission?”
Luciel asked as he took off his robe, revealing slightly tousled silver hair that was eerily beautiful.
“I don’t mean that. Even if you take their commission, Master gains nothing!”
Frustrated, Gael shouted, his face filled with injustice.
“Gael, your voice is too loud. My ears are going to fall off.”
“….!”
Upon hearing that, Gael hastily covered his own mouth.
Luciel lightly smiled as Gael quieted down.
While it was true that Luciel’s magic could sometimes attack even others’ ears, it was a very specific and rare case. It didn’t easily go out of control in such a way.
Despite being by his side for quite some time, Gael still seemed to believe this lie.
Anyway, Luciel found it amusing to see the frightened Gael.
“You’re right. There’s no need to take a troublesome commission.”
Leaning against the wall, Luciel tilted his head slowly.
Silver hair, like strands woven by an angel, cascaded down.
“But wouldn’t it be interesting?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it strange? It’s not about a woman who chose death after losing love but someone pushing her into death.”
Moreover, Daphne’s eyes, as she looked at him, didn’t reflect the despair of someone who had lost love but rather the determination of someone who wanted to live.
‘Like… a burning flame.’
While Luciel was lost in thought, Gael spoke again.
“But Master, I heard that Lady Peregrine tried to make poison first to harm other noble ladies. Despite the continued denial, no one believes it.”
“Rumors are like that.”
“But what if she made the poison herself and is trying to pin it on us? After all, she who wanted to become a saint tried to end her own life with the poison you made. A belated realization.”
“….”
Luciel didn’t answer. He simply rolled the vial in his hand.
It was the vial that Daphne had given him.
Gael finally understood Luciel’s thoughts.
‘Escort Lady Peregrine intentionally to find out what’s going on.’
Luciel’s magic was so exceptional that he could even control others’ magic as if it were his own.
In the process, he could sense the emotions of others, especially hostility.
Of course, there was nothing as disgusting as that. He generally avoided contact with others, but in these special cases, it came in handy.
Gael responded with a face that seemed to say, ‘So that’s how it is.’
“It was a self-made farce, right? She got upset with her fiancé and even took poison in a fit of anger, but miraculously survived thanks to your medicine?”
“…”
“Now that the position of saint is no longer relevant, the only thing left is getting expelled from the Peregrine Duchy, right? So, she’s trying to pin the blame on the Assassins’ Guild.”
Gael succinctly explained his inference and asked, “Is that right?” as if seeking confirmation.
However… Luciel shook his head.
“Huh? So, it wasn’t really a farce?”
Gael widened his eyes, unable to believe it.
“Then… what is she thinking, that lady?”
In response to Gael’s question, Luciel slowly licked his red lips.
“Nothing.”
“…What?”
“I felt nothing at all.”
Luciel whispered with a face devoid of the earlier smile.
🤔