DPAA 51

chapter 51

I immediately told Aiden what I had discovered.

“There’s a carriage that’s been following us since earlier.”

“What?”

“Wait.”

I quickly grabbed Aiden’s arm just as he was about to check my side of the window.

“Are you planning to let them know we’ve noticed the tail? Stay calm.”

“…Right.”

He nodded in understanding. Then, moving naturally as though still engaged in conversation, he subtly twisted his body to glance behind us.

“Can’t really tell from here. Which carriage?”

“The one with the two black horses.”

“Ah.”

He nodded again.

“Do you know when it started?”

“No. I only just realized.”

There wasn’t much more I could tell him.

“If I had to guess, probably right after we left the civil office. Even if no one recognized us immediately, whoever’s tailing us must at least know our appearance.”

“Is it possible they’ve been following us since before we entered the capital?”

“I doubt it.”

Both Aiden and I had senses sharp enough that, if we really focused, we could easily detect any pursuers.

But in the middle of a crowded imperial capital?

That was a different story.

Actually, it’s more of a nuisance.

See, people with heightened senses—like us—can sense when someone enters the range in which we could defend ourselves if suddenly attacked. And the more people there are in that range, the more stressful it gets.

So it wasn’t strange that neither of us noticed the carriage following us until now.

Aiden groaned softly after hearing my explanation.

“So basically, they’ve been on us since we left the civil office—or maybe right after we entered the capital.”

“Who do you think they’re after—you or me?”

He hesitated for a moment at my question.

“Me, most likely.”

He didn’t take long to decide.

“Chances are high this is the Empress’s doing.”

“That’s troublesome.”

And really, what other reason would the Empress have to send someone after him?

Besides, whether they were after him or me, from her perspective it would look like we were plotting something together.

Aiden’s fists clenched. His expression almost looked… pitiful.

“Still, we can’t be sure. Should we confirm it?”

“…Confirm it?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded decisively.

“Just do what I say for now.”

Let’s find out exactly who those unwanted guests are after.

* * *

As expected.

The moment Aiden Grace separated from Canis, he felt the tail’s presence grow even more persistent and clicked his tongue.

I could shake them easily, but…

The crowded streets that had hidden the tail from him would now also make it hard for them to chase him if he decided to run.

Walking through the shopping district, Aiden pondered.

Honestly, there’s no benefit to losing them.

It was just one person following him, after all.

And it wasn’t as though anyone would start a surprise attack in the middle of a busy street.

He wasn’t up to anything shady that he needed to hide, anyway—he’d only planned to enjoy his weekend off after leaving the civil office.

In fact, letting the tail stay might even be to his advantage.

Getting seen acting close with Lady Canis Escliff… that could be extremely beneficial in the long run.

Canis Escliff.

In the past, despite being the duke’s only daughter, she’d been dismissed as an unqualified troublemaker. But lately, public opinion had started to turn around.

Of course, high society still denied her rise, clinging to her former reputation. But—

The very act of denial means she’s on their minds.

No one denies something invisible.

And to Aiden, Canis Escliff was not someone who’d stop here.

Her inheritance of the dukedom might not be something that happens only after the current duke dies—it could happen in just a few years.

Duchess Escliff.

The meaning packed into those words was immense.

A founding family of the Empire, and one that had consistently produced brilliant magicians generation after generation while other noble houses had grown complacent.

The Escliff Duchy’s glory would likely peak in the next generation.

And if Aiden could even share a sliver of that glory? It would make his current, unsupported position drastically easier to survive.

No—he could even hope for a comeback.

That was why, despite his poor circumstances, he had insisted on covering the travel expenses and suggested this spontaneous “date” with Canis.

He stopped walking.

…Decision made.

When his gaze landed on a certain shop, he reached a conclusion.

* * *

Unexpected.

Meanwhile, while Aiden was busy scheming, Canis Escliff clearly sensed the presence watching her.

I was sure they were after Aiden.

The pursuer who had been following the two of them…

The moment they noticed, she and Aiden had naturally split up after leaving the carriage.

It was a seamless move.

“Wait here for a bit. I’ll grab us something to drink.”

“I’ll have a choco mocha frappuccino.”

“…What’s that?”

“Then an affogato.”

“?”

“Vanilla latte! Cappuccino! White chocolate mocha! They don’t have Jeju green tea here, right? Then mango passionfruit blended!”

“I’ve never heard of a single one of those. Are those drinks developed by House Escliff?”

“What? You don’t even have those here? No heroine who started a Starbucks before the story began?”

“…? I’ll just get you some fruit juice.”

Communication gap aside, Aiden had casually walked off as though looking for a nearby café.

And Canis remained exactly where they’d disembarked—to see who the pursuers would follow.

As soon as the two split, one faint presence moved.

A single cautious aura trailed after Aiden.

As expected.

The pursuer followed Aiden Grace.

But there was one thing Canis hadn’t anticipated.

There’s another one?

She glanced subtly toward the faint presence she felt nearby.

Well, that makes sense.

It wasn’t enough to surprise her.

If there are two of them, splitting up is logical. They probably hesitated a bit—Aiden was their original target, but following someone that strong alone is risky.

She casually juggled two apples she’d bought from a street vendor.

Still…

thunk.

Canis stopped her hands mid-motion and stood still.

I don’t see why I should make this easy for them.

Crunch.

She took a huge bite of her apple, then frowned.

“Damn it. When I was an F-rank Hunter back in Korea, at least I could gorge on fried chicken whenever I wanted.”

Korean street food—how glorious it was.

Tteokbokki, fish cakes, tempura, takoyaki, chicken skewers, hotteok, whole fried chicken—countless treats that teased every sense.

But here? Only bland fruits at street stalls. It was hell for Chae Jiwoo, the Korean trapped in Canis’s body.

She chewed furiously, swallowed, and flicked the apple core into the air.

[Coordinate Shift (S)]

The core dissolved midair, vanishing—teleported somewhere into the middle of a forest, where it would soon feed some small creature.

Or maybe, if lucky, grow into an apple tree.

Crunch.

She finished the other apple too, then used the same technique again.

[Coordinate Shift (S)]

But this time, instead of a forest, she teleported the apple core directly above the pursuer’s head.

“Ugh!”

The man grunted as something smacked him on the head.

Even if he was tailing someone, this was still a busy street—acting like nothing happened after getting hit would look even more suspicious.

What the hell? Did something just fall on me? …Or is this a sign of an ambush?

He rubbed his scalp, suddenly tense, and bent to inspect the object that had hit him.

What the—an eaten apple?

He exhaled in relief and muttered under his breath.

“Who the hell throws garbage like this?”

If only he knew.

“When I find whoever did it, I swear I’ll—”

“Go on. You’ll what?”

He froze.

The one who’d thrown that apple core was none other than the person he was tailing—Canis Escliff.

“So? What are you gonna do?”

And she was way crazier than he’d imagined.