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Chapter 6
The grand gates of the Azra Temple.
Through the bustling crowd, a carriage came to a halt.
A young nobleman and noblewoman stepped down, flanked by their escorting knights. As they entered the temple, a priest rushed forward to greet them.
“What brings you to our temple today?”
The noblewoman, her golden hair elegantly coiled up, lifted her chin with pride.
“We’ve come to see whether this temple would be suitable for our wedding.”
“Oh, you’ve chosen wisely indeed! The Azra Temple has long been a beloved place for wedding ceremonies. Please, allow me to guide you.”
A noble’s wedding always meant staggering expenses. Spotting such high-profile guests, the priest’s face bloomed with a bright smile.
While the priest busied himself boasting of the temple’s splendor, the young noblewoman—Rozalyn—leaned closer to the man at her side and whispered.
“I told you this would work, didn’t I?”
But her companion, Cassis, remained stone-faced.
The disguise as an engaged couple was Rozalyn’s idea.
Temples were always crowded, with people of every station coming and going. Perfect for slipping in unnoticed. If knights had entered in full armor and crests, word would’ve spread like wildfire, and their quarry would surely have fled.
“Your temple is truly beautiful. What’s that section used for?” Rozalyn asked brightly.
“Ah, that is…”
As Rozalyn prattled with feigned curiosity, their “escort knights” melted one by one into the crowd. Dressed plainly like retainers of a noble house, they blended seamlessly.
Not only the Black Iron Knights, but also Rozalyn’s Hyde Guild members, slipped inside as ordinary visitors.
The mission was clear: intercept the Redbor organization’s contact meeting.
Rozalyn clung to Cassis’s arm, her tone sugary sweet.
“I think this aisle would look perfect with a white carpet… and roses all along the sides. Don’t you agree, darling?”
The sudden display of affection left the poor priest blushing, unsure where to look.
But Cassis stayed silent.
Rozalyn jabbed his side with her elbow. Only then did Cassis speak:
“Wouldn’t another color be better than white?”
“Why?”
“If blood were to spill, it would be far too conspicuous.”
Rozalyn nearly choked.
“…Darling, really! What kind of wedding are you imagining? You’ll frighten the priest.”
Sure, blood might spill today—but not in front of their unwitting guide. For now, they were simply a young couple choosing a venue.
“Come on, let’s see over there.” She tugged Cassis along, smiling thinly.
Inside, though, her hand trembled where it clutched his arm.
For three whole hours, Rozalyn rambled about draperies and flower arrangements, stalling for time.
Which only meant one thing: there’d been no progress.
‘Did we miss them already…?’
Her nerves were stretched thin when suddenly Cassis grabbed her hand and turned her toward him.
“You’re frail as it is. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
For a moment Rozalyn blinked in surprise.
‘Wait… was that concern?’
Indeed it was. After all, she’d been tense and pacing for hours.
She hadn’t expected it from him—the man who always seemed so cold, so detached.
“…I still want to see everything before we leave.”
She kept her voice soft, like a bride-to-be. The truth: she could endure longer.
Just then, a disguised knight approached Cassis and murmured in his ear.
Rozalyn’s throat went dry.
‘Did they find him? Please—tell me they did.’
Cassis’s gaze shifted to her, sharper now.
“Over there… yellow would suit it best.”
It was the agreed code. Yellow meant they had located the target.
Rozalyn straightened instantly.
“Yes. Yellow it is.”
The once-bored priest eagerly tried to interject. “If you’ve decided, then perhaps I can guide you to the—”
“Oh dear, look at the time! We’ll be late for the banquet. Let’s hurry, darling.”
Rozalyn seized Cassis’s arm and spun away, flashing a dazzling smile.
“Forgive us, priest! We’ll return another day to finalize the reservation!”
And with a playful wink, she whisked Cassis away.
The priest, left bereft of his wealthy patrons, could only sigh.
Rozalyn comforted herself silently:
‘It’s for saving lives. The Azra God will forgive me!’
The temple turned out to be merely a relay point.
The real handoff location was elsewhere, and the Hyde Guild’s scouts had trailed young Billy—their missing comrade—when he left the temple.
By the time Rozalyn and Cassis reached the decrepit warehouse that served as the true meeting site, the skirmish was already over.
“Billy!”
The boy, barely past adolescence, looked up in shock as Rozalyn rushed in and crushed him in a fierce embrace.
“Guildmaster! How did you—”
His words faltered, for the scene around them spoke volumes.
On the floor knelt several Redbor agents, hands bound, cold steel at their throats.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Rozalyn searched him frantically.
“I’m fine. I thought today would be my last… but you came.”
Only after assuring herself that Billy was unharmed did she breathe again.
“How could this happen? I nearly fainted when I heard the Black Code signal!”
“I thought everything was going smoothly too. But then I overheard whispers—that they were planning to make an example by executing a rat. The description fit my situation exactly. I was sure I’d been exposed…”
Rozalyn scanned the warehouse. Rusted tools, bloodstains long dried, filth coating every surface. Definitely not a place for dignitaries.
“You should have run. I told you—if things turn bad, you flee.”
“If I was wrong, though, I’d have ruined our chance to reach higher contacts. I knew how vital this mission was to you…”
“You fool! No mission is worth more than your life!”
She clenched her fists.
Information work was always perilous. Everyone knew that. And yet—she could never accept losing one of her own.
“…Thank you, Guildmaster.”
Billy’s head bowed. When he lifted it again, his voice was steadier.
“But even if it wasn’t me, another guildmate would’ve made the same choice.”
“What?”
“You’re the one who gave value to useless lives like ours. For your sake, every one of us is ready to lay down our lives.”
Around them, the other guild members nodded in solemn agreement.
Rozalyn’s heart twisted.
‘That’s not why I saved you…’
She only wanted companions to help her live comfortably. Nothing noble.
“…Idiots.” She bit her lip and turned away.
From behind came Cassis’s voice, deep and calm.
“Is it finished?”
She started—almost having forgotten his presence.
Turning, she saw him leaning casually in the doorway, arms folded.
“Yes. Let’s go back.”
Cleanup and prisoner handling were now the knights’ responsibility.
But Billy’s voice piped up nervously:
“Guildmaster… why is the—why is the Black Iron Order here? Am I… am I under arrest?”
Rozalyn smiled brightly.
“No, no. They’re here to help us. They’re good people.”
The knights exchanged puzzled glances at her blithe dismissal.
Rozalyn paid them no mind, gesturing toward Cassis.
“Introduce yourself properly. This is none other than the most gallant and righteous man alive—the Commander of the Black Iron Knights.”
