It took Cello almost three days to regain consciousness. Seeing herself lying on a bed, she realized that the man must have brought her there.
“The bed is really nice…”
Cello slowly got up. Her legs were still sore, but not to the point where she couldn’t move. As she ran her fingers through her hair, the haphazardly cut strands scattered awkwardly from her fingers.
She had been changed into a fine silk robe. Cello cautiously touched the lace, then got out of bed and looked around the room.
The furniture, devoid of a single speck of dust, was all black, and was arranged so neatly it was stifling. The only things out of order were the worn coat and shoes she had been wearing.
Embarrassed by her belongings that lay like a stain in the splendid room, Cello quietly picked up her clothes and shoes.
Then there was a knock on the door.
“Yes, yes!”
Cello quickly hugged her belongings and shouted. The door opened, and a servant, whose face was completely covered, entered.
“Have you woken up? Is there anything uncomfortable?”
The servant, wearing a large robe, bowed politely. Cello squinted and scanned the servant.
But it was hard to tell their age or gender from their voice and physique. Even Cello, who had a knack for reading people, couldn’t guess, they were undoubtedly thoroughly trained.
“I cannot see you, and you cannot see me. That is the principle of this mansion.”
The servant, sensing Cello’s gaze even with their eyes covered, explained in a low voice.
“Then I will bring the Duke.”
“The Duke? So it’s him…”
But the servant did not answer and left the room.
“…Duke Trepe?”
Heeek. Cello was surprised by her own words and covered her mouth with both hands.
Duke Trepe, also known as the “foolish duke,” was a well-known figure in the empire, even to Cello.
A nobleman’s disgrace, being a duke and watering flowers on a farm, timid and foolish.
Children sang songs mocking the foolish duke, and their parents laughed and did not stop them.
Could it be that the man she helped…and borrowed a favor from… was Duke Trepe?
Then there was a knock, and the door opened. Cello jumped up and ran.
“I, I greet the Duke!”
Cello bowed, bending almost halfway at the waist, but the response was a cold voice.
“Restless. Sit down.”
“Yes…”
Cello sat back down on the bed, and the duke sat on a chair far from the bed. The distance between them widened again.
Cello cautiously raised her gaze to look up at him.
He looked quite different from their first and second meetings.
Of course, he didn’t have the round glasses he wore when they first met. The hair that had been wildly let down at their second meeting was neatly tied up. Only the manner of the shirt, compulsively buttoned up to just below the chin, remained the same. His face, now devoid of madness and naivety, showed dignity and grace.
‘He is handsome…’
Cello muttered to herself, cancelling her previous thought of cancelling the ‘handsome’ part.
The mysterious golden eyes shining under the distinct brow bone made even the fatigue deeply etched around his eyes seem like experience. His firmly closed mouth and straight jawline gave a sense of trust.
He didn’t seem like someone who would be at a bloody crime scene, nor someone who would be treated as a fool.
‘No, but what really happened?’
Cello, who had been instinctively admiring his face, came to her senses and shook her head.
It was certain that this man was the same person she had met. He was wearing the imperial uniform coat he had worn when he was about to kill her, and on the sleeve of the uniform was a picture of an eagle biting a snake. This was the same pattern as the wallet she had stolen.
The duke opened his mouth towards Cello, who was confused.
“Why didn’t you wear them?”
The duke frowned at Cello’s bare feet and the indoor shoes placed next to them.
Cello answered without hiding anything to the unexpected question.
“Well, they looked too expensive for me to wear…”
Cello hugged her old clothes as she spoke in an excuse-like manner. The duke spoke with a poker face.
“Name.”
“Cello.”
“Real name.”
“That is my real name.”
“What?”
There was a hint of surprise in the duke’s voice. Cello shrugged.
“It’s a bit odd, isn’t it? I know.”
Cello meant ‘zero’ in the imperial language and was not used as a person’s name.
“I was the tallest in the orphanage. So that’s how it happened.”
The duke was silent. Cello cautiously asked further.
“Excuse me, what is your grace’s name?”
The duke did not answer immediately. Ceilo watched his mood as she fiddled with her fingers. After a while, the duke broke the silence and opened his mouth.
“Estribal von Trepe.”
Is that really true? Cello’s mouth gaped open.
“Um, Duke Trepe, do you perhaps have a twin brother…”
The Duke’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Nonsense.”
“I thought so…”
Cello bowed her head deeply. Estribal spoke coldly.
“Do not call me Duke Trepe.”
It was quite rude for a commoner to address a nobleman without a title, but it couldn’t be helped. Trepe deserved it.
“Uh, yes, Your Grace. Anyway, so you’re the one who…”
“I should gouge out your eyes or cut off your tongue since you’ve seen my real face.”
At the harsh words, Cello clamped her mouth shut.
‘The rumors were true.’
There were rumors that the Emperor Atuna or the Empire had secret agents like family members from generation to generation. Those agents, known as the Emperor’s dogs or the Imperial messengers, were so cruel that anyone who saw their identity was killed to keep them quiet. And those agents were actually from the foolish Duke Trepe’s family!
‘No wonder it’s a pattern I’ve never seen before.’
Cello muttered under her breath, watching for a reaction.
“I am looking for the one who stole the Spirit Pien…by imperial order.”
“What… is that?”
Cello replied, breaking out in a cold sweat. Estribal locked eyes with Cello. His pumpkin-colored gaze flared like a flame.
“The treasure you stole.”
Hng. Cello’s shoulders trembled. But Cello spoke brazenly.
“I don’t know anything about that. I’m not a thief!”
Estribal did not respond and stared intently at Cello. Cello spoke hastily.
“Really, I am. You changed my clothes, didn’t you? You must have seen that I had nothing!”
Fortunately, the bead disappeared somewhere as soon as the contract was made, and Cello had brought nothing else. It would have been a sufficient alibi.
“I didn’t change you.”
“Huh?”
Estribal furrowed his brow.
“What do you think people are…”
Estribal trailed off, clicking his tongue. Cello’s face flushed hotly.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that!”
Cello fanned herself hastily as she spoke.
“Anyway, thank you for saving me, but I’m a healer, so I was commissioned for this job!”
Estribal narrowed his eyes and retorted.
“Your comrades didn’t seem to know you were a healer.”
[Cello, you, were you a healer?]
X’s exclamation passed through Cello’s mind. Cello, whose eyes were shaking, tried hard to calm down and continued her excuse.
“Well, that was a secret among my comrades. As you know, healers are so rare…”
“Well, that’s fine. What I’m curious about…”
Estribal cut off Cello’s words and stood up from his seat. He was quite tall for an imperial person. Cello hunched over and looked up at Estribal.
Estribal slowly approached Cello. His movements were cautious, as if measuring the distance.
Finally, when the distance between the two was close enough to touch if they reached out, Estribal’s brow furrowed fiercely.
“You really don’t know anything.”
He opened his mouth and spoke in a low voice. His tone was so terrifying it almost sounded like a threat, but Cello quickly nodded.
“Really, I’m just an ordinary healer! I’ll help you find what you’re looking for! Even though I used to fly in the back alleys as a pickpocket…”
Cello took a deep breath and spoke.
“Because I’m a healer!”
Estribal stared intently at Cello. His eyes blazed fiercely, but Cello, on the contrary, confidently propped her hand on her waist and met his gaze. Estribal opened his mouth.
“So, healer. How good are your skills?”
“Well, uh, I can heal wounds that aren’t too old.”
“Not too old wounds?”
“Yes, roughly within 10 minutes…”
“Ambiguous.”
As Estribal furrowed his eyebrows, Cello spoke hastily.
“Well, but I can heal anyone who’s been injured within 10 minutes! As long as they’re still alive, I can heal them!”
“10 minutes, huh…”
Estribal’s mouth twisted slowly as he looked at Cello with strange eyes.
“Alright. Then you shall assist me.”
Phew. Cello let out a sigh of relief.
“Have your meals brought to your room. If you need anything, tell the servants.”
Cello looked around, but there was no sign of a bell.
“So, um…how should I call them?”
Estribal opened his mouth without any movement and spoke in a low voice.
“Come out.”
Cello flinched. After a moment, a servant in a black robe silently opened the wall and stood next to Cello.
“Go away.”
At his words, the servant disappeared as if they had never been there. It seemed that a secret passage had been installed in the wall. But rather than being surprised, Cello looked calm.
He probably seemed like such an existence to others as well. Especially nobles like Estribal.
“Do you have anyone looking for you? I’ll allow you to put in a contact.”
At Estribal’s question, Cello shook her head. She had no family. The friend she thought of as a younger sister…
“I don’t.”
Cello muttered coldly. Estribal gave Cello a questioning look, but Cello quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, so, if you find the person who stole it…what will you do?”
“Good question.”
Estribal crossed his arms and looked at Cello.
Cello swallowed hard with a tense expression.
“People have different ways of unwrapping things. What about you?”
“Um, I haven’t bought much before…”
“What a pity.”
Cello scratched her cheek awkwardly. She had only ever stolen items that were already unwrapped, she had hardly ever bought new items.
“Some people untie the ribbon, carefully tear the wrapping paper so it doesn’t get damaged, and take out the contents, but I…”
Estribal smiled coldly.
“I cut the ribbon and burn the wrapping paper.”
After finishing his words, Estribal turned around and left the room. A few seconds later, Cello, who understood his words, froze.
An imagination unfolded in Cello’s mind.
Estribal was holding a bead containing a spirit and laughing cruelly, and next to him, Cello, with her throat cut, was burning fiercely.
Cello blankly muttered.
“Let’s run.”
