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Chapter 58
That look in his eyes was so cutting that Hedis felt his knees go weak. Just from the expression alone she could tell roughly how skilled the man was.
‘M-master level, for sure.’
The presence filling the office proved it. The pressure was suffocating; she could barely breathe.
“Y-yes. I will.”
At that, the man let his intimidating air fall away.
“Hah—hah.”
Hedis exhaled loud and ragged. She’d almost been crushed to death by the tension.
The man gave a teasing half-smile and stepped toward Hedis.
“I’ll pay you.”
A heavy money pouch was set down in front of her.
“But do the job properly. Or you’ll see me again.”
Nod, nod.
Hedis nodded like a madwoman. The man patted her shoulder once, then turned and disappeared quickly.
As soon as he was gone, Hedis hurried outside.
“Th-this can’t be…”
All of his men lay collapsed, drenched in blood. Judging from the moans and the way they were sprawled, several of them were definitely broken in more than one place.
“How am I supposed to fulfill the commission now!”
Hedis tore at her hair on the spot.
After leaving Blood Python’s headquarters, Nicholas asked Lapis,
“Danju, shall we follow through with the commission for real?”
“If we don’t, we’ll make an example of them so it’s clear to everyone.”
“Still, Danju, you’re the scariest when you’re like this.”
“Did you only just realize that?”
Lily snorted and playfully tapped Nicholas on the shoulder.
“By the way, if Queens burns down, the Grand Duchess will be quite a sight.”
“You mean storm in and watch?”
“I want to, but I’ll hold back. My life is precious.”
“Come on. It’s been a while — let’s get a drink.”
“Oh, good.”
“Heh, Danju really is the best.”
Lapis laughed softly and, taking his men, headed to their usual tavern. Tonight somehow felt like a night for drinking.
Separated from Lapis, Elia brightened.
Gaji, who had been eavesdropping on the comms beside her, commented once.
[Looks like she’s about to cause trouble again.]
‘Good thing I already know everything.’
[Well, she did the same thing to you in the past.]
‘Right. That’s why I know her so well.’
Because she’d been burned once before, Elia knew how it went. Whenever Grand Duchess Christina acted up, there were always organizations ready to be her hands and feet.
Besides the Rose Shadow, Christina had ties to organizations she could control with money. Blood Python could operate openly in the capital because Christina had turned a blind eye. They used her because of that.
‘Lapis said he’ll deal with it, so those people will disappear from the capital within a few days.’
[You’re really mean.]
‘Would you call it clever?’
[Go to sleep.]
‘You never give praise.’
[Praise is like poison. For you it’s deadly poison.]
‘You always have something to say…’
Elia stopped talking to Gaji.
She knew, too — she was certainly not a good person. She was only living this life for the people she loved. She wouldn’t do favors for people she hated. Even less so for those who had left her with the wounds of betrayal.
[You’re really not going to take revenge, right?]
Gaji sounded worried Elia might go down the path of vengeance again.
‘I’m not. My goal in this life is to strengthen the ducal house and make Noah the emperor.’
[Are you sure you won’t spill blood along the way?]
‘At least I won’t get my hands bloodied.’
She no longer wanted to push anyone to death.
‘So long as they don’t try to kill me.’
[Who would try to kill you? I won’t stand for it.]
‘You’re reassuring — only at times like this.’
[Go to sleep. You need to grow taller.]
‘Stop with that already.’
Now even Gaji nagged about her height. Elia didn’t know why she had to be stressed about height at all.
‘I’ll definitely grow taller.’
She’d make it so Noah couldn’t tease her anymore.
[Noah teases because he worries about you.]
‘I know, but his method is wrong.’
[He teases to provoke you into improving, isn’t that right?]
‘I’m not motivated by that.’
[You always flare up whenever he teases you — if that’s not being motivated, what is it?]
‘That’s…’
[Elia, you kind of enjoy it.]
‘Enjoy what?’
[Squabbling with Noah.]
‘I don’t enjoy that at all.’
She couldn’t honestly deny it. She did flare up whenever Noah teased her about her height. And she didn’t dislike it as much as she pretended — sometimes she found the situation enjoyable. It was hard to believe she could be so casual with Noah.
In her three previous lives she’d never once spoken to Noah. If anything, she had let him die. For Elia, who’d lived for Raul, for vengeance, for destruction, Noah and Alexis had not been important figures. That might be why the present felt bitter-sweet.
A dark night in the capital. Past midnight, the streets were pitch black; there wasn’t even light on. Hedis appeared there.
Dressed in black with a mask, he slipped into the shopping street. It was late — no one was around.
‘Once this is done, I’ll get out of here right away.’
Since none of his men could walk, he had to come himself. He’d been paid well for the reverse commission; his pouch was heavy with gold coins.
With this much, he could try his luck in another city.
Moving like a cat, he found the Queens Cosmetics sign exactly as intended.
‘Found it.’
After confirming no one was nearby, he poured the can of oil he’d brought across the storefront.
From his pocket he struck flint and lit a scrap of paper — the most common household method.
He tossed the burning paper toward the shop door. The shop was entirely made of wood, so the fire took quickly.
Whoosh!
Flames spread and swallowed the store. Hedis hurried away.
Queens Cosmetics was ablaze in an instant. It happened late at night, at midnight.
From a nearby rooftop, Lapis and Nicholas watched the scene.
“So they actually set it on fire.”
“I told you I would.”
“We should be careful who we associate with from now on.”
“Lily, go see where they run to.”
“Yes, Danju.”
Lily leapt from the roof and vanished into the darkness.
“Let’s go, Nicholas.”
Lapis and Nicholas melted away from the rooftop together.
Though Lapis was now a guild leader, he used to be the greatest assassin. The Grand Duchess would soon understand exactly whom she had picked a fight with.
Early morning at the Duke of Prussia’s residence.
Roen, the aide, found Grand Duchess Christina with a pale face.
“Your Grace, there’s a big problem.”
“What is it, fussing so early in the morning?”
Roen leaned close and whispered into Christina’s ear as she sat at her vanity.
“What?”
Startled, Christina dismissed the maids in the room with a wave.
“What do you mean Queens Cosmetics burned down…?”
“They say the entire shop burned to the ground last night.”
“This is—”
As if remembering something, Christina asked sharply, “How about Florence? Is it okay there?”
Roen bowed with an embarrassed look.
“It’s intact, Your Grace.”
“What!”
Christina slammed her fist down on the vanity in fury and glared at Roen, who had prostrated himself on the floor, asking, “You made the commission exactly, right?”
“Yes, we paid Blood Python and commissioned them. For that sort of thing, they’re reliable…”
“And yet my cosmetics store burned?”
“Yes, and the Blood Python organization has vanished. It seems they set the fire and fled.”
“Find them. Bring those bastards to me immediately.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Christina clenched her fists so tight her face twisted like a demon.
“How dare they touch what’s mine?”
She hated when her things were damaged. Whenever someone touched what was hers, she made them pay.
“I won’t let this go.”
Her eyes were bloodshot. She was so furious she could not contain herself.
