Shartus hadn't been calling her recently. More accurately, she'd stopped entering his study under the public eye. Publicly, important matters were coming to an end.
The ball celebrating the Princess's birthday was over, and Shartus Kartazen, who had returned from hunting, was currently in the presence of a rumored love interest named Arolne.
Of course, Arolne Mulde, who had always gone to balls and shown off her skills, was strangely staying home, but that wasn't news that would raise questions for others after only a few days.
Instead of serving as the dedicated maid that Shartus needed, she was turning her steps elsewhere.
"There must have been a contact date."
The dungeon where Nort was imprisoned, inside it, the murderer who killed him was bound in the same position as before.
The body of a so-called lizard.
The man was being questioned obediently with a gaunt face, but no one could let their guard down.
He was a highly skilled assassin, and the number of people he had killed in the palace alone could not be counted on one hand.
While Hostang and Lucien took turns watching, the assassin bowed his head as if enduring his final moments.
It was after a single letter arrived seeking him. Yes, that was the moment when the last target poked its head into the net.
"Yes, we received a call saying that it would be better to postpone the original date."
"How do you usually contact each other?"
"I choose the maids I've hired to deliver the letters. The letters are triple-protected, so no one but me can read them."
That was exactly what Rosentine had heard. To be precise, it was what the ghosts had witnessed in every secret place in the palace.
As she listened to the assassin's confession, she felt as if she heard the deafening sound of misaligned gears coming into alignment.
"But this time, it is the matter."
“Matter?”
"Yes, they asked to see me right away."
"Does this mean a meeting that didn't go through a maid?"
"They sent me a message saying that they need to completely revise their plans."
Complete revision of the plan.
This was something she hadn't expected. Rosentine's face hardened.
Depending on what came out of the assassin's mouth next, everything that had to be done could change.
Just as Lucien was about to ask something, Rosentine stepped forward and stopped him.
Instead, she asked a single question that cut across both the direction and the order of work.
"Who sent the letter?"
The one who sent the letter. That is, the one who conspired with the bastard in Kartazen to kill the Prince.
The assassin's gaunt face broke into a wry grin at the question. It was so outrageously irreverent that even with Hostang standing beside him, raising his fist, he couldn't help but laugh.
The bastard slowly opened his mouth. Soon, a figure emerged from his mouth, and in an instant, he entered the prison.
Cold air filled the room.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Hostang was yelling, but no one stopped him. It was an absurd response.
Rosentine also took a deep breath. For a moment, the puzzle pieces fell into place, almost to perfection, but then.
She thought it would have been better if she had not understood.
Even Lucien's face was colder than ever. She couldn't help it. Feeling more bewilderment than anger, she hesitated to turn around even as a chill ran down her back.
The first thought that came to mind was what kind of expression Shartus would have at this moment.
She thought she understood the meaning of the assassin's laughter. It was a mockery of deception, a refusal to accept the truth.
Of course, she couldn't continue to be a bystander. Hostang, whose face was reddening, had already scratched his face.
No one could stop them. Murdering the royal family was a serious crime punishable by the most severe punishment. What would become of their future anyway?
It was obvious. The problem was that he was quite close to the target of this assassination, that is, Shartus.
“So that’s why.”
"No one else but him."
But that doesn't mean she can remain in shock forever. Instead, she took the initiative and spoke.
Following Rosentine, it was Lucien who spoke words of understanding. And only then did Shartus, who had been silent, speak.
“Is it dogmatic?”
His lips were twisted. Following the cold voice, she turned her gaze to Shartus, and only then did Rosentine realize.
She could see Shartus's face. She thought he might be coldly angry, or perhaps shocked.
The expectations were easily dashed.
"Your Highness."
"How long have we known each other? Probably ever since I was born."
Except for his speech, he was as usual. Even though he heard the name of the person who was trying to kill him, his gaze was distant and detached.
For a moment, hia eyes flickered with emotions that were difficult for her to fathom, then disappeared.
Rosentine decided to correct her thinking. It wasn't that his expectations had been dashed. He had clearly already prepared himself considerably for the shock of such a revelation.
And that mental preparation was made through the threats that had been there and through the past that she was unaware of.
Suddenly. I had an idea. She didn't know much about him, and until now, she had turned a blind eye to even realizing it.
"It is okay to be angry at times like this, Your Highness."
Lucien spoke in a heavy voice. His words were more like spitting than speaking. For him, it was truly a rare thing.
"It's never too late to be angry at the right time."
"I don't think there's a better time than now."
Rosentine agreed with both. Anger is always necessary, but now is also a great time.
In fact, Rosentine was ridiculously angry.
She can't explain this feeling of cold in her hands with words other than anger.
The one who used Perutsa's poison and handed over the Mura's Ivory to Shartus.
Therefore, it should not be detached. Rosentine opened her eyes and looked at Shartus. The man was like a man standing alone in the storm.
Sometimes, when the smell of the storm that she felt from Shartus became stronger, he even looked like a stone statue that drove himself off a cliff to match the Intense atmosphere.
Suddenly, she thought that she could not stop her hand from moving unwillingly. When he came to his senses, Rosentine was lightly holding Shartus's shoulder. As if sending comfort.
'Is it rude?'
What's the point of thinking about it after acting?
In terms of etiquette, it was clear that it would be rude to face the Imperial family. No matter how much she is the eldest daughter of the Duke, it can be said that the authority of the imperial family is above the clouds. After all, she is not Rosentine Arzen now.
The fortune teller's granddaughter, Roan. But Roan had a different kind of advantage. That is, she pretended to be half a citizen of South Korea.
The curtain hinting at the end of the season has been raised.
In any case, comfort had to be given to those who needed to be comforted, and more than anything, she wanted to do so. Maybe he will think of it as her usual eccentricity and move on.
Looking at Shartus' slightly enlarged eyes, her face felt slightly hot.
She thought about a time in the past. A long time ago, these eyes emitted a transparent light like a very clear sky.
She immediately felt that she had done a good job. Whether comfort reached him or not, a brief and affectionate light passed through his eyes.
It was amazing to think about how she had acted when she felt this way before.
For Shartus, her name is Roan, her position is contract work, and all work will be over once the mission is completed, so she doesn't bother to tell anyone about her employer.
"I will make time for you."
But she's already seen too much of the employer beyond the contract.
How he thinks of others, how he treats her, and even what kind of lord he is.
"When you're angry."
"If you put up with it too much, you will get sick."
Now that she heard the identity of the culprit, she was sure that he would not have to revise his plan. There was only one reason why he wanted to change his plan.
It was her existence. Contrary to the ridiculous words, Rosentine's eyes burned blue. Like a blue flame at any time.
Chartus's lips, unable to respond appropriately, turned elegantly.
It was a matter of course, but it was not a common word for him.
The most surprising thing is that she often portrays Shartus himself as an ordinary person, not an undefeated knight.
It was made by none other than Kartazen.
Certainly, after becoming accustomed to this intensity, she knew without even thinking what would happen when she disappeared. A bitter muttering echoed inside her.
Rosentine, pulling her hand away from him, spun around and approached the assassin. Even in the dim light, his determined face was visible, his head turning quickly.
If there was a method, it had been on her mind since the spy sent the letter.
"Does he recognize your face?"
"There was no need. When we had to meet, I covered my face."
"Soldier's Armor."
"Yes, it wasn't difficult because I had to take off my helmet when I was on guard duty."
Even if the informant was "that guy" within the palace, he couldn't have amassed that much time and capital. In other words, even without hearing it, most of the capital would likely come from Vishtean.
So, strictly speaking, they were in a cooperative relationship, and in a cooperative relationship, there was no need to reveal their faces. Even so, the fact that they knew each other's identities means that a long time had passed.
"He was careless. This is Vishtean. Their elite assassin is me. I was able to figure it out after a long time. It took so long, so it can be said that he was cautious rather than careless."
Rosentine looked indifferent as she watched the assassin blow his whistle like a broken dam. He might have a rough idea of who the letter was going to, even if he didn't know. But if there was one thing she was lucky with...
"I guess we'll end up like that again this time."
"Yes. Since they are people who know each other's circumstances, they could have made a plan even with a simple contact."
"How long does it take to make one contract?"
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment