Throughout the journey to the capital, the twins greatly annoyed Shekina.
Shouting ‘Guard! Guard!’ they clung to Shekina, refusing to leave her side, even trying to follow her to the bathroom until Shekina finally got angry.
She had no idea why they were acting this way.
Not knowing the reason made it even more annoying and infuriating.
“I should have just left it behind. What kind of luxury or glory was I expecting to gain by bringing it along?”
Shaking her head, Shekina passed by the twins, who were beaming with pride.
She then lifted her head high.
Unlike the northern region, the clear skies and warm sunshine shone over the capital.
Shekina had visited the capital many times in her past life. To be precise, she had lived and stayed in the capital.
Thus, the scenery of the capital wasn’t new to her. They were just memories.
But it seemed it was different for the others.
“………Oh.”
“Brother! Look over there! There’s a really interesting statue!”
“Is that a library over there……?”
Not just the twins, even Dehan was running around as if they were sightseeing. Shekina shook her head once more.
“Arthur. Please manage them……”
“This is fascinating!”
She had trusted Arthur, but,
“Wow, there’s such a sharp sword! Amazing! May I try it?”
“Uh, um, Sir Arthur. If you want to use it, you’ll need to, uh, purchase it……”
“Ah! I see! I’ll pay for it!”
Hey, it’s just a street vendor’s sword, why are you paying so much?
“I want to go to the library!”
“I’m going to see the fountain!”
Do you all not understand what moving together means?
“I, I want to visit the cathedral……!”
“That’s for later!”
“I’m more curious about that!”
Right. This is getting out of hand.
Shekina barely managed to keep her dizzy mind in check.
“Everyone, gather up.”
Clap clap. She clapped her hands, gathering the group. Her fierce glare made everyone tense.
“Are you kidding me? Have you forgotten why we came here?”
“……..….”
The excited group hesitated, looking at each other.
“Twins, I can understand you two. But Dehan? Why are you so excited?”
Dehan flinched, his shoulders shaking. The twins, full of themselves, nudged Dehan.
“See, if you live recklessly, you won’t get scolded in times like this. Got it?”
“Right. If no one expects anything from you, you can get away with things like this.”
Is that something to be proud of?
Dehan barely swallowed his words and lowered his head.
“And Arthur? Aren’t you supposed to be leading us?”
Arthur gulped and averted his eyes.
“Try this one more time. I’ll report you to Uncle and Martin.”
“Anything but that!”
“And Yuriel.”
Ignoring Arthur’s plea, Shekina turned her attention to Yuriel.
W-why me……? Yuriel, tense, looked at Shekina.
“You need to speak up more firmly.”
But that’s not something I can control…
He wanted to make excuses, but he felt he’d get scolded even more, so Yuriel kept quiet.
He glanced at Shekina with a look of reverence.
Throughout the journey to the capital, to be honest, the group was a mess.
Arthur, who was supposed to manage the kids, often acted on his whims. As for the twins… let’s not even go there. I respect the members of the Margrave’s family who are raising them.
Yet, in such chaos, Shekina managed them well. She disciplined the twins and pointed out Arthur’s laziness. All while taking care of herself and Dehan.
She didn’t seem like a mere three-year-old child.
Yuriel felt a subtle respect for Shekina.
“Let’s first find Han. Once we locate the place where Han is staying, that’s where we’ll head.”
Han.
The deputy guild leader of the Assassin’s Guild learned about the crown prince’s death.
While Yuriel and Dehan were unaware, the twins and Arthur seemed to understand immediately.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you all moving?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Yes!”
Thus, Yuriel found himself following them alongside Dehan.
But something felt strange.
Why did he feel so uneasy?
Why couldn’t he relax?
Even though he knew he shouldn’t feel this way, Yuriel’s feet kept moving.
***
Han paced anxiously in his room.
It had already been quite some time since he sent a letter to the Margrave’s family.
They were supposed to come to his location immediately since he had information to share.
But that wasn’t the only thing.
Once they learned what Han had discovered,
He was extremely worried about how they would react.
With a sigh, Han threw himself into a chair.
‘Well… they won’t smash everything in anger, will they?’
Han tried to calm himself down.
‘Or maybe, with their temperament, they might.’
Just thinking about the twins who knocked down mercenaries and the child who casually pulled out an awl made sweat run down Han’s spine.
‘What on earth are they?’
Han, who was a deputy guild leader and had dealt with all sorts of dirty work and worldly matters, was convinced that the Margrave’s family members were hiding their true identities.
Even the children emanated a subtle, strong presence.
Wasn’t he overwhelmed just by entering the Margrave’s house?
At that time, he thought it was just the atmosphere, but now looking back, it wasn’t just that.
‘They are… human, right?’
Han recalled the bizarre objects scattered around the northern region.
He thought that anyone who came to the north must have a few screws loose, and that was why they made such strange things.
‘But maybe not.’
No, no.
Han shook his head.
It didn’t matter what their true identities were.
Even if they were demons, what did it matter to him?
He wanted to uncover the truth about the guild leader’s death. And if possible, avenge it…
‘So, I must stay loyal.’
If not, I’d be dead…
With that thought, Han reaffirmed his determination and stood up.
He heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
“You’ve arrived!”
Han eagerly opened the door, greeting them with a bright smile. Or at least he tried to.
“……..Huh?”
Han hesitated.
He couldn’t help it.
The people standing in the hallway.
He knew Arthur, the twins, and Shekina. But the priest in priestly robes and the child in white clothes were unfamiliar.
It wasn’t strange that the Margrave’s people brought along a priest they had just met.
The reason he was so surprised was,
“Why do you all look like that…?”
Everyone was in a mess.
Did you get beaten up?
Or rolled around somewhere? Why do you look like that?
Han’s eyes darted around in confusion.
“That’s not important.”
Shekina, picking her ear, entered the room. The twins, making sure Shekina couldn’t hear, answered Han.
“I got hit really hard.”
“For not paying attention.”
“You might have looked somewhere else. I got hit really hard.”
“I got hit harder than my brother.”
“Shekina is scary.”
Ah.
So, the child beat them up.
The three-year-old Shekina managed to beat up the twins who could take down huge mercenaries.
Haha.
Han, trying to hide his cold sweat, turned his eyes towards Arthur.
Arthur is an adult, so he should be okay, right?
“Ha, haha… Sir Arthur, are you alri… um. You’re not okay, I see.”
But he wasn’t.
Arthur also looked like he had rolled in a mud pit. Han felt the cold sweat trickling down his neck.
“Well, it’s my karma. But I’m really happy that our Lady Shekina has grown strong enough to hit so hard.”
Being happy about being beaten by a child seems insane, but Han held his tongue.
“And those people are…”
“Oh! I, I’m a priest from the Northern Castle Temple. Please call me Yuriel.”
“Squire, Dehan.”
“Oh!”
After greeting the priests, Han bowed his head again and guided them.
Even though this was a slightly strange encounter… it wasn’t the main issue, so he decided to ignore it.
Clearing his throat, Han confirmed everyone was seated.
“I should tell you what I’ve discovered.”
Shekina looked up at him without answering.
“Just yesterday.”
Han opened his mouth.
“I confirmed the body of the Crown Prince.”
