APML 04

Chapter 04

“All right. Let’s see if it actually happens. If it’s true, I’ll let you live. But if it’s a lie—”
The glint of interest in Cain’s eyes and the faint smile at his lips vanished instantly, leaving his face cold.
Evelyn flinched, shrinking back in surprise.

“You’ll die.”
At the pronouncement, Evelyn unconsciously swallowed hard.
It was, of course, something that would happen, and naturally, she would survive—but the current tone was frightening enough.

Still, Evelyn couldn’t back down now.
Hadn’t her grandmother said that she had to give her client the assurance that “Whatever I say is always true”?
That was the basic virtue of a fortune teller.

Gathering her trembling courage, Evelyn forced a smile at Cain.

“That alone isn’t enough, I think.”
“What?”
“I’ve staked my life on this bet. If I’m right, shouldn’t I get something in return?”
“So? Are you asking me to stake my life too?”
“No. I told you the future to save your life, so why would I need to risk it?”
“Then?”

Evelyn smiled slyly.

“Take me to the capital, please.”
“To the capital?”
“Yes. Just take me there. Safely.”
Evelyn was only familiar with the Snowfle region and had never left it.
Anyway, she had to go to the capital to meet Les, and with Cain, she didn’t have to worry about travel expenses or personal safety.

“Hmm.”
Cain was indeed intrigued by a woman bold enough to act so defiantly in front of him—but that didn’t mean he was going to be dragged along.
In negotiations, the weaker party always ends up being the one pulled along, and the one who desperately wants more becomes the weaker party.
Right now, the one desperate in this negotiation was Evelyn, not him, and even if he killed her right now, he would suffer no loss.
Though he remained a little curious about how she knew what she did.

“There’s no harm for you, Commander, is there? After all, my life is in your hands. I want nothing. Only to preserve my life and to reach the capital.”
“Why the capital?”
“To make money.”

Her frank, worldly answer left Cain momentarily speechless.

“You said you can’t see the future whenever you want. How do you plan to make money with such a limited ability?”
“I don’t have to earn it through prophecy. I actually have quite a few talents.”
“Calling swindling a ‘talent’ now?”
“Swindle? How rude! I’ll be earning it properly, you’ll see.”

Since she was going to the capital to meet Les anyway, she figured she might as well earn some money using what she knew about the future.
Even if it wasn’t completely legitimate, using the knowledge she had didn’t seem wrong to her.
Evelyn smiled cunningly.

Cain, amused by her sly grin, made a decision and grinned.

“All right. Let’s make that bet.”
“Thank you, Commander.”

As Cain rose to leave, Evelyn exhaled in relief—until his voice stopped her.

“Oh, and if this prophecy comes true—”
“?”
“I’ll hire you as my exclusive fortune teller.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes?”

Evelyn and Jade asked simultaneously.

“No, what are you suddenly saying?”
“Ah, ‘exclusive fortune teller’ sounds too formal. Let’s call it exclusive counselor instead.”
“It’s not the title that matters right now. What on earth are you thinking?”
Jade asked quietly, pressing her lips together.

“Aren’t you curious, Jade?”
“About what?”
“The future.”
“Huh?”
“That woman—keep a close watch on her. Don’t let her run away.”

Cain gave Jade a light pat on the shoulder with a grin and turned away.
Evelyn, having missed her chance to ask, just blinked in astonishment.
A silence filled the commander’s office, now empty except for Evelyn and Jade.
Evelyn glanced at Jade, who was deep in thought.

“Um—”
“Oh.”
At Evelyn’s call, Jade immediately smiled and turned around.

“Sorry. Um, Miss Evelyn.”
“Yes. So, what should I do now?”
“Well… this is my first time in such a situation, too.”

Evelyn nodded silently, understanding Jade’s predicament.

“Um, may I get up now?”
“Of course, pardon me.”
Jade quickly approached and offered her hand.
Evelyn grasped it and tried to stand, but her leg cramped, and she wobbled.

“Are you all right?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve just been sitting too long.”

Evelyn laughed awkwardly as she brushed dust off her black robe.
Jade, who had been quietly observing, smiled gently.

“Nervous?”
“Of course. How should I put it… your presence is just as overwhelming as the rumors said, Commander.”
“You’re right. I’m not ordinary. But you’ve heard about me?”
“Oh, I’ve heard various rumors.”
“Rumors? Like what?”
“Bloody, a bringer of death, everyone related to you dies—things like that.”
“Ah, that.”

Jade grinned and asked lightly:

“Do you believe those rumors?”
“Well…”
Evelyn brushed her hair behind her ear, laughing awkwardly.
“I don’t believe everything. Of course, someone traveling battlefields would attract rumors. But—”
“?”
“It means the aura that spreads such rumors must have been extraordinary. When our eyes met earlier, I got goosebumps.”

Thinking back, Evelyn rubbed her arms.
Killing someone with a look—it must feel like that.

“But Miss Evelyn, you’re quite bold too.”
“Me?”
“You said everything you wanted, even knowing that.”
Evelyn scratched her nose and smiled sheepishly.

“But if I didn’t, I’d probably die anyway. Better to do something and have a chance to live than wait to be killed.”
“You’re right. Thanks to that, Miss Evelyn’s life has been extended—at least until the Spring Festival.”

Jade grinned, and Evelyn stared at her in disbelief.

“You seem to be having a lot of fun.”
“Oh, was it obvious?”

Even knowing the grim rumors, Jade found himself liking this bold woman who dared approach Cain.
Recalling that moment, Jade asked the question he’d been most curious about.

“Miss Evelyn.”
“Yes?”
Speaking gently, Jade made sure Evelyn would answer.
Evelyn, relieved, met his gaze naturally, unlike with Cain.

“Did you know Cain before?”
“Eh? No, this is my first time meeting him.”
“Huh, really?”
“Why do you ask?”

Evelyn asked cautiously, feeling a bit guilty, and Jade smiled as if it were nothing.

“No, it’s just that when you were captured, you spoke as if you knew him.”
“Oh, that’s because I was investigating the commander to tell the future I’d seen. I guess I seemed familiar.”
“I see.”

Slightly disappointed, Jade smiled.

“Then you must have been curious about the real Cain.”
“Yes. His gaze is unusual, but his face isn’t as scary as I expected.”
“Face?”
“Newspaper illustrations were so inconsistent, I was curious. In reality, he looks like a finely sculpted statue—women must love that, right?”

“Pfft.”
Jade covered his mouth, stifling a laugh.
No one had ever openly critiqued Cain like that.
She was honest and couldn’t hide her curiosity. Suspicious as she was, she lacked the malice to actually do harm.

Startled by Jade’s sudden laugh, Evelyn awkwardly laughed too.

“I didn’t approach him just because of his face.”
“I see.”
“Really. I just wanted to warn him out of pure goodwill.”

Though it was technically because of Les’s warning, she felt it was still for good reason.
If she could prevent Cain from being hurt, it would be fortunate for both Jade and Cain.
Hopefully, Jade would let it slide.

“I really don’t know how to properly thank you for your kindness, Miss Evelyn.”
Despite trying not to laugh, Jade couldn’t help smirking.
Eventually, Evelyn let out a short groan, covering her face, embarrassed.

“Then I should repay you somehow.”
“Oh, now you say that? I don’t know what to do.”

Pouting, Evelyn’s remark made Jade laugh briefly, then soften into a gentle smile.

“Shall we go?”
“Where?”
“Since you’ll stay here for now, I’ll assign you a place to stay.”

Evelyn had only seen the underground prison and the office in the castle.
Though they had made a bet, her suspicion hadn’t fully vanished, and she couldn’t resist if sent back to prison—if she could even resist at all.

“Am I… being sent back to prison?”
Jade shook his head with a smile.

“No. Since this is a hiring arrangement, you’ll be treated as a trainee staff member.”
“Tra… trainee? Is that allowed?”
“This place is a military garrison, so civilians aren’t allowed. Formally, you have to be either staff or military.”
“Oh, I see. As long as it’s not prison, anywhere is fine.”

Relieved, Evelyn smiled brightly.

“Shall we go?”
Jade grinned and led Evelyn out, up the stairs, down a long corridor, and in front of a white door.

Jade opened the door and went in first, but Evelyn froze, unable to enter.