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Chapter 75
Kilian’s assassination date was drawing near.
Members of the Rezetta family organization had been watching Kilian’s every move and taking photos, and today was the day to report what they’d found.
“Kilian drinks coffee at Lionel Restaurant in Portua District 3 every day from four to six, and he often has dinner there as well.”
“What time does he go to Delina House?”
“He’s there from six, after dinner, until one in the morning. Sometimes he leaves earlier, but usually around one a.m.”
Messina pulled out the documents Cezanne had sent.
There was nothing different from what had just been reported.
“All right, no need to change the plan. Two days before the hit, we’ll move into the rented house and lay low. Be careful so no one notices.”
“Yes, Messina-nim.”
After they left, Jed cracked the door open and came in.
“Should I have the Crown Prince come into this room too?”
“Oh—has it already come time for the Crown Prince to arrive?”
Messina turned and checked the clock on the wall.
“He’s a little early.”
“Shall I tell him to wait?”
“No, tell him to come in. Sit down, too.”
“All right.”
Not long after Jed left, he returned with the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness.”
Messina greeted the Crown Prince, who had become a VIP client with a single request, warmly.
“How’s the job going?”
“Very well! Almost everything’s ready.”
“That’s a relief.”
Lucius finally felt at ease.
Hope swelled in him — the day when he would win Emily over was drawing nearer.
Of course, at the start, Emperor and Empress might object strongly to his pursuing Emily, but he was ready to face that kind of obstacle.
“These are Claude’s fake death certificate and autopsy results.”
Lucius tossed a stack of papers onto the table.
They were documents Messina had had the palace physician falsify so it would look as if Kilian had poisoned Claude.
Messina looked at the thorough preparations of the Crown Prince with a somewhat surprised expression.
“You said Cezanne’s testimony alone might not be enough.”
Lucius cleared his throat and sat on the sofa, looking a bit awkward.
“Yes, with these we should be able to protect our organization from the committee.”
“So when’s D-Day?”
“For security reasons I can’t give an exact date, but I’ll bring good news within next week.”
Lucius folded his arms, irritated at the vagueness.
“I’m the client here — you can’t even share the date with me?”
“We’re trying to make this operation more perfect — don’t be angry.”
Having said that, Messina left Lucius little room to complain.
“All right, I’ll wait for news.”
“Please take care on your way out!”
When Lucius left, Messina sighed and sat at the table.
“Why the sudden sigh, Messina-nim?” Jed, who had been in the room, looked at Messina with concern.
“Oh, I heard some useless information yesterday that’s been bothering me.”
“What did you hear?”
Messina glanced around, hesitated briefly, then spoke.
“Do you know why the Crown Prince wants to kill Kilian?”
“We don’t really ask for motives. Not our business.” Jed answered simply, and Messina stared at him incredulously.
“Isn’t this one of those times you should ask why?”
“…Why is it?”
Already deflated, Messina gave Jed a reproachful look and spoke.
“It’s because of Emily. That flower-like lady of the Starga family.”
Jed didn’t understand at first and asked again.
“Has that lady done something to the royal family?”
“You really are clueless.”
‘That’s why I made him propose first myself.’
Messina clicked his tongue in annoyance and explained.
“The Crown Prince wants to take Emily, so he’s trying to kill Kilian.”
“Ah, I see.”
Messina had handled many jobs motivated by love triangles; it wasn’t uncommon. Still, this scandal was big enough to be headline news for months.
“Just you wait. If this goes well and we’re dragged into that mess, I won’t forgive those Giuliano scoundrels who got involved.”
“I’m already trying to dig up the identity of Giuliano’s boss, just as you ordered,” Jed said.
Messina nodded.
“Find out as quickly and accurately as possible. We’ll think about taking Giuliano down afterward.”
Thinking of the sneaky Giuliano family who always used tricks, Messina clenched his teeth.
Meanwhile, unaware of anything, Emily was peacefully drinking tea at the mansion with Marlene.
“You didn’t show up at the party at all, and yet you attend parent social gatherings? Unbelievable,” Marlene said, glaring at Emily while crunching a macaron.
“I find you more surprising, Marlene.”
“How so?”
“You still keep your engagement to the Crown Prince.”
“Do you think I do it by choice?” Marlene frowned at Emily as if hurt.
“I keep it because I’m watching him — I don’t know what that crazy stalker might do to you.”
“…What?”
“I’m the only rival who could endanger you, so it has to be me.”
“I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”
Emily shook her head and took a sip of tea.
“Have you learned anything recently?”
“Hm?”
Marlene thought back over the past week.
“Something’s odd… He’s been unusually quiet, but somehow I don’t feel like he’s given up on you, and that makes me uneasy.”
Emily’s mouth twitched.
“That’s a worrying thing to say.”
“He seems strangely more relaxed than before when he has to do obligatory tea with me. It bothers me.”
“Maybe you just don’t like the Crown Prince. People say if you hate someone, even the way they eat annoys you.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Marlene shook her head again at Emily.
“What kind of conversation do you think I’d have with you? You don’t have instincts as sharp as mine.”
“Very modest of you.”
“Oh! Right!”
“Jeez, you startled me.”
Marlene suddenly clapped her hands as if she’d remembered something important.
“Something really good is going to happen next week.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Yes!”
“But I won’t tell you why. I only said he’ll finally get what he wants.”
Emily’s expression turned serious at that.
“If the Crown Prince’s luck turns next week… ”
When Emily looked at Marlene with a meaningful expression, Marlene nodded.
“Doesn’t that mean something bad might happen to you or your husband?”
It wasn’t certain, but looking at Lucius’s recent moves, Emily couldn’t easily dismiss Marlene’s words.
“You should be careful. I really think the Crown Prince’s attention is only on you.”
Unease pounded in Emily’s chest. She had barely recovered from a previous bad incident; another one would be hard to endure mentally.
After Marlene left, Emily paced the room for a long time.
“Madam, is something bothering you?” Cezanne, who had just come in to hang the new curtains, asked.
“Well…”
Emily worried that speaking up without solid evidence might cause chaos in the organization.
Seeing Emily hesitate, Cezanne helped her sit down.
“If something’s troubling you, please tell me. At least you can tell me.”
Encouraged by Cezanne’s warm eyes, Emily slowly spoke.
“Actually, Marlene came by today and said something worrying about the Crown Prince.”
At the sound of that word, Cezanne’s gaze sharpened.
“What did she say?”
“She said the Crown Prince will have something good happen next week.”
“I see.”
“It might be nothing, but it sounded to me like a hint that something dangerous could happen to him — and that worries me.”
Cezanne’s expression darkened at Emily’s words.
“Am I being overly sensitive?”
“No. It’s always better to be cautious.”
“Should we tell him?”
“I’ll tell Kilian. He comes in at dawn, anyway.”
At Cezanne’s words, Emily relaxed a little.
“Thank you. I’d rather it be nothing and I’m just worrying for nothing.”
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
“I’m really glad to have you by my side, Cezanne.”
Emily said that as she crawled into bed.
‘Thank goodness. I should tell Messina right away.’
Cezanne’s head buzzed with activity.
The next day, after hearing Cezanne’s report, Messina immediately called the organization members together.
“We’ll have to postpone the operation.”
“What? Did information leak?”
“Not completely, but if Kilian is sharp, he may expect someone to threaten him next week.”
“Who leaked the info?”
“Who else but that stupid Crown Prince?”
Messina brushed his long hair back, exasperated.
“I told Lucius to create some other news for next week that would make him genuinely happy.”
Then, hearing the rumor through Lady Wiper, Kilian and Emily would be reassured that they’d misunderstood, and while they relaxed, the assassination plan would be carried out.
“Why don’t we just strike this week instead?”
“Do you know how easily rushing makes things go wrong? And the target is Kilian.”
The members who heard Messina’s reasoning nodded in agreement.
“If Lady Wiper finds out the information leaked through her to Lady Starga, the Crown Prince won’t spare the young lady either.”
“Why worry about that? Worry about our own future for now. Stay more alert than usual.”
“All right!”
Messina — who had never been nervous during an assassination operation — steadied himself by wiping his firearm clean once more.
Now, the day to kill Kilian was truly right around the corner.
