The difference between awareness and illusion (10)
There were two things Veronica wanted from me.
The first is to meet at a place other than Eldern Castle, where she will hand over her comrades.
Second, the escort will only be accompanied by two people.
I readily accepted her request.
That evening, a letter arrived from Veronica, asking to meet at an abandoned brewery near the castle.
I got on the carriage at the appointed time. Ian and Kalit were to be my escorts.
"I was really surprised earlier. Millenia, aren't you usually that fearless?"
The fact that I had met one of the assassins had already spread throughout the castle.
It was because during dinner, Kalit told them a tale of Veronica and I had a war of nerves.
Because of that, I had to listen to Duke Eldern's scolding at dinner and endure the unspoken pressure from Armian.
Even Rahon would get angry and storm out of the dining room, so I had a hard time calming him down.
There was no time to talk about Kalit and the flower-shaped scar until we finally set off for the brewery.
Well, if I have the opportunity, I can. Until then, I'll have to think about what to say.
"Well, I told you to tell the guy with the bomb to blow it up? Little Duke, isn't our Millenia really great?"
"Yes."
Kalit also fell silent at Ian's indifferent answer.
An uncomfortable silence fell on the carriage.
In fact, Ian was different than usual even when eating dinner.
Everyone was surprised to hear Kalit's story, but he alone lowered his eyes and listened silently.
He briefly gripped the knife tightly when I was told to detonate the bomb, but showed no other reaction.
By the way, Nadia served me my meal today. Ian didn't take care of me like he used to.
'Are you mad at me?'
It's strange, there was no sign of that until I spoke to him after rescuing Luther this morning.
I pretended to shake my head and looked at Ian, who was sitting across from me.
"Your Grace, have you secured enough herbs?"
The anti-demon herbs were being made with the help of the Golden Tree Tower.
The manufacturing method that Rahon taught me was simple, so l was able to meet the quantity faster than I thought.
"Yes."
"You said you would attack first without waiting for the monster to move?"
This was Duke Eldern's decision.
Since we knew exactly where the crack was, we decided there was no reason to wait for the monsters to attack Orquidwood.
"I will be competing the day after tomorrow."
"...I see."
Clearly, Ian was answering faithfully.
Of course, it's a short answer, but he was originally a quiet person. He wasn't much different from usual.
But I don't know why I feel sad. I feel an inexplicable distance.
'Is it because you don't laugh?'
Although he was a man of few words, he was not expressionless, but I don't remember seeing him smile since yesterday.
"Smile."
"Yes?"
"That will do."
You told me to smile, so why aren't you smiling?
I turned my head, trying to hide my depressed mood, and saw a shabby four-story building outside the window.
Kalit, who had been looking out the window with his chin resting on his hand, muttered to himself.
"I guess we've arrived."
The front yard of the building was stained with a dark red stain. It was the blood of the windcatchers.
The pungent smell that hits my nose makes me dizzy.
As I was breathing shallowly, Ian put a handkerchief in my hand.
"What is this?"
"It's a handkerchief. Cover your nose with it."
"Ah. Thank you."
Then, somewhere, I heard the sound of blades of grass rustling. It was Veronica.
But she didn't show up.
"I put those kids on the fourth floor."
Her voice was heard from the darkness at the back of the carriage.
"Even if you set it on fire, they probably won't wake up. I used a sleeping potion for demons."
The crackling sound continued for a moment and then suddenly stopped.
"Leave one person to protect the young lady, and everyone else goes up to the fourth floor. If you see those bastards, don't come down, but scream and let us know."
"I will check."
I opened my mouth as I heard Ian's footsteps heading towards the brewery.
"Veronica, how are you going to get people to sign checks when you're hiding like that?"
"There should be a pocket near the carriage. I put the check in it. When you're done checking, sign it and throw it over here."
Kalit looked around the carriage and picked up a dark pouch. Inside it was a check and a quill.
"You are very well prepared."
Kalit handed me the pouch with a look of amazement on his face. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you going to do if I don't sign?"
"You said you wouldn't lie about small change?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Don't be upset. I need to have an escape route too."
Just then Ian's voice was heard.
"Confirmed."
"Did you hear that? Sign quickly."
I closed my eyes and signed the check.
When I returned the check to Kalit, which had my name written all over it, he put it in his pocket and threw it into the bushes.
There were urgent footsteps, and then a joyful voice.
"Good!"
The sound of horse hooves could be heard from somewhere. It seemed as if the horse was ready to escape.
"That was a good deal, Miss."
I heard a horse babbling.
She got on the horse? I thought to myself as I turned around to face the carriage.
"It's Sierra."
My steps stopped. Before I could turn my head. I heard Veronica's voice again.
"The client. That woman came to us and asked us to kill you."
***
Veronica rode quickly out of the brewery.
After running nonstop for a couple of hours, she finally pulled back on the reins when she was no longer able to hear the outside voice.
"Whoa, whoa!"
The horse stopped groaning. She tapped its mane and took out a pocket from her bosom. It was a check she had received from Millenia.
"This is crazy...."
She checked the amount again and kissed the check.
This amount is more than enough to break the bottom.
Let's just escape the Empire and go to the Grand Duchy of Romena. There, I'll live like a Queen for the rest of my life.
She carefully hid the check in her clothes and rode her horse all night over the mountains.
Arriving in the city around noon the next day, she left her horse in the best inn and rented a room.
It was a top-class room with a personal attendant named Sam and a bathtub. It was incomparable to the cramped inns she had stayed in before.
Veronica, who had finished bathing in water with flower petals floating in it, came out of the bathroom wearing a robe.
"Sam, bring me some liquor. The most expensive one."
"Is this Sam?"
A man was sitting on the sofa. Sam was lying on the floor, and it was hard to tell if he was dead or alive.
"Who, who..."
"Hello, Veronica."
Inside the black mask, the water-colored eyes were sharp and curved.
Baba, the blue-eyed assassin.
He was famous for never failing in a single mission, so when Baba failed to kidnap Millenia, there were even rumors that he let her go on purpose.
Veronica's shocked voice shook the room.
"Baba?! How could you!"
"What are you doing? I kept following you. Even though I made all these noises, you didn't notice at all? I don't know how you survived in this world with those skills."
Veronica quickly controlled her expression and sat down calmly in front of the vanity. She had hidden the check behind the vanity mirror just before entering the bathroom.
Baba looked blankly at her as she combed her hair naturally.
"You must be busy these days, judging by the fact that you suddenly showed up and started a fight. If you came here to recruit me to your guild, I'll decline in advance."
"You have no sense, you bitch. You tried to assassinate my master, and you thought you would be safe?"
Veronica's eyes popped out as she looked in the mirror.
"Master? You mean Millenia Astrod?"
"Why do I get annoyed when I hear my master's name from another pup's mouth? It's weird."
Baba tilted his head.
"Is it because you're the same kid as me?"
Veronica kicked the vanity chair and stood up.
"What are you! Didn't you make a contract with the Third Prince? Didn't you betray the person you made a contract with and join that woman?"
"Better than you who betrayed your comrades."
"..."
As Baba spoke, he took out something black and round from his bosom. When he pulled it to one side, a long translucent string appeared.
It was Baba's favorite magic weapon. She heard that if he used it, he could strangle the target's neck and even cut it off.
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!"
Veronica took a sharp step back. Even though it was the most luxurious room, there was nowhere to run. Her eyes were filled with despair.
"I have ten million gold! I'll give you half if you spare my life!"
"Isn't this a life-size figure?"
Baba shook his head.
"Would the Astrod family exchange a check for cash just for anyone? Anyone could forge a signature."
"What, what did you say?"
"Of course, they go through the verification process. They check to see if the check was issued by the owner."
"Don't lie! The Astrods are notorious for not checking checks!"
"It's not that they didn't check it, they just omitted it because it was a small amount. It's just that it was on a different level from the small amount we thought it was."
"..."
"But you wouldn't consider ten million gold a small sum of money, would you?"
Baba closed the distance by winding the rope.
"The moment you enter the Astrod Mansion with that check, the Knights will surround you and lock you in prison until you confirm it with my master."
The spirit left Veronica's face.
So that's why Millenia signed it so casually.
"You didn't let me go..."
"You know that now?"
Baba laughed heartily.
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