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Chapter – 08
Shaylin calmed Relina down and sat with her in an empty spot nearby.
Though they were somewhat far from the stage, they could still clearly see the actors’ movements.
Relina’s eyes darted around in fascination.
Seeing how adorable she looked, Shaylin smiled softly.
I used to be like that in my previous life too.
One day during one of her incognito outings in her past life, she had happened upon a stage play for the first time.
Unlike formal and somewhat boring operas, theater possessed a raw charm that captivated her.
So, until she was broken by brainwashing, Shaylin often watched plays whenever she could.
“I heard this is a talented troupe that tours the entire kingdom. So it should be entertaining.”
“Yes, I’m excited.”
The moment Relina replied with a bright smile, the host stepped onto the stage and announced the beginning of the play.
Soon after, the actors began performing.
Love. Friendship. Betrayal. Adventure. And the founding of a kingdom.
The protagonist of the play was the first king of the Kingdom of Lavantra.
It was the story of a girl born a slave who endured countless hardships, grew stronger, and eventually became the hero who founded the Kingdom of Lavantra.
Since Shaylin already knew the story well, her expression remained calm.
She had seen all the famous scenes and dramatic highlights countless times before, so there was nothing left to surprise her.
But for Relina, who was seeing a play for the very first time, her eyes sparkled brightly.
Even while munching on snacks the knights had quickly bought for her, she never once looked away from the stage.
When the actors cried, she cried with them.
When the audience laughed, she laughed too.
And by the time the play ended, Relina had become completely immersed in it.
When all the actors came out together holding hands to bow, she looked disappointed it was over.
Only after Shaylin reassured her that they could watch another play next time — or even invite the troupe to the palace — did Relina finally stand up.
“Are you hungry?”
“Hmm, I’m okay since I ate the things the knights bought earlier.”
“Really? Still, I think we should sit and rest for a little while.”
Considering the child’s stamina, Shaylin decided it would be better to sit for a while before returning to the palace rather than continue walking around.
Besides, it wasn’t as though this would be their only outing together.
And Shaylin didn’t expect that watching a single play together would suddenly make them close.
So there was no reason to rush.
“Then… can we rest nearby while drinking something? I want to keep watching all of this.”
“Hmm…”
It would probably be better to go inside somewhere, but Shaylin didn’t want to refuse the child’s request.
She glanced sideways at the knight commander guarding them nearby.
He nodded.
So he’s saying it’s safe enough even if we stay here.
“Then we’ll remain here a bit longer.”
Meanwhile, one knight hurried down the road to the left side of the plaza.
A little farther down that street stood a café that catered mainly to nobles — a popular establishment known for both its drinks and desserts.
The café even supplied desserts during royal events, so the flavors were probably familiar to Relina as well.
The sisters sat together on a bench beneath a tree, looking out over the plaza.
Workers busily dismantled the stage while children nearby ran around playing.
Shaylin secretly observed Relina’s eyes.
She hoped the joy she saw there was genuine rather than forced.
“P-Pri— no, Lady Shaylin. Your drinks have arrived.”
“Good work.”
The knight handed them their beverages.
Fruit juice for Relina.
And for Shaylin, flower tea chilled with floating ice cubes.
Taking a sip of tea, Shaylin casually asked,
“How was the play? You seemed to enjoy it quite a lot.”
“I loved it. I’d only read about the Founding King in biographies before, so seeing the story adapted into a play felt really new.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“The play itself was fun, but… honestly, I think I liked seeing the people laughing even more.”
Pretending not to care, Shaylin quietly watched Relina over the rim of her teacup.
“I loved the energy and vitality people gave off.”
“I see.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it? Watching them made my heart race so much that I felt like I wasn’t even myself anymore.”
“Perhaps that’s love too.”
Love for the people.
A ruler’s compassion.
Relina seemed to possess such feelings naturally.
Then today’s goal has been achieved, at least somewhat.
One of Shaylin’s reasons for bringing Relina here today was to help her become aware, even slightly, of the love she held for the people.
Seeing that tiny seed planted reassured her.
Her younger sister truly seemed to possess the qualities of a wise ruler.
As a former tyrant and failed king herself, Shaylin believed the most important quality a monarch could possess was love for the people.
Without that love, a ruler would eventually grow numb to every duty required of a king.
The two continued discussing the play for some time before the knight commander interrupted.
“Lady Shaylin, it is time for us to return.”
“Hmm. Is it already sunset?”
“Yes. I’ll go bring the carriage.”
To avoid drawing attention to the royal family’s movements, they had intentionally left their plain, unmarked carriage farther away from the busy district.
As a result, it was some distance from where the two princesses currently sat.
“Please excuse me.”
Several knights disappeared to communicate with the coachman.
Meanwhile, Relina bought a flower from a child carrying a basket and buried her nose in it.
Though simple, the sweet floral scent lifted her mood even more.
Patting Relina gently on the head, Shaylin looked ahead.
Before long, the carriage arrived.
After helping Relina inside first, Shaylin stepped onto the carriage platform.
That was when it happened.
“I told you, I will never—!”
“And we told you. Someone like you can only ever remain beneath us—!”
A ragged-looking man arguing with a group of people caught her attention.
They were quite far away, but because they were practically shouting, fragments of the conversation carried over.
“Stop talking nonsense! Just because my birth was lowly doesn’t mean I’ll give up being human!”
The man shouted furiously, and his final words clearly struck a nerve.
“Isn’t that exactly the kind of thing you people do?!”
The smug atmosphere surrounding the others instantly turned cold.
Their hostility sharpened.
At this rate, they’re about to start throwing punches.
Sensing the dangerous mood, Shaylin froze in place and carefully watched them.
Then—
Her eyes narrowed.
Because the lone man standing against those burly thugs was someone she had been searching for.
What kind of miraculous gift is this?
A crazy coincidence — in the best possible way.
It almost felt as though fate itself was favoring her.
The moment Shaylin stepped back down from the carriage, Relina tilted her head.
“Sister? Is something wrong?”
“No. Um… would you go back first? Your sister suddenly has something she must do.”
“Huh? Something?”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll return soon.”
Before Relina could answer, Shaylin closed the carriage door.
After quietly instructing the coachman to safely escort Relina home and request reinforcements, Shaylin waved them off.
Because of the sudden situation, half the knights accompanied Relina while the rest remained with Shaylin.
The remaining knights looked utterly confused, but she couldn’t explain herself yet.
“Damn it.”
During the brief moment she had looked away, the man had vanished.
Most likely dragged off somewhere by those thugs.
As Shaylin clicked her tongue in irritation, the knight commander — having sent some subordinates ahead — spoke on behalf of the others.
“Princess, what is happening? If we do not return now, it will become late.”
“Returning is not the problem right now.”
Suppressing her excitement at having caught such a massive prize, she declared solemnly,
“From this moment on, we are going to save an innocent citizen.”
In her previous life, there had once been a man who completely conquered the underworld.
He had originally been born among the slums, but cruel fate had made him all too aware of the world’s realities.
He possessed exceptional intelligence — enough talent that, had he been born noble, he could have served directly beside royalty.
But his birth blocked every path before him.
He despaired.
He hated a world that denied him everything simply because of where he came from.
Eventually, he was forced to abandon all dreams and live the same life his ancestors had lived.
But could an awl hidden in one’s pocket truly conceal its sharpness?
His talents became renowned throughout the underworld, until eventually the king of a criminal syndicate extended a hand to him.
They promised him wealth and glory if he joined them.
The man understood that society would never allow him to soar high.
But that did not mean he wished to abandon his humanity.
So he refused.
He became a target.
Yet in the end, he overturned the entire underworld and rose to become its king himself.
His name was Sentileon Prox.
The very man Shaylin absolutely needed in order to uncover the forces behind the incense conspiracy.
And now—
He was the person she needed to recruit at all costs.
