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Chapter 6
“Nice! That’s it! You’re doing great!”
I clenched my fist and loudly cheered for Davin. Moving at incredible speed, he took down the assassins one by one.
At one point, an assassin who had been menacingly swinging a dagger had his arm struck by Davin’s punch. Not expecting to drop the weapon in a single blow, the assassin faltered, and Davin grabbed him by the collar. I shouted at the top of my lungs:
“You coward! Hit him!”
Following my command, Davin struck his face. With a dull thud, that assassin also collapsed to the ground.
That was the moment all the assassins were subdued.
Heh, nice. Justice wins. Trembling with emotion, I clenched my fist tightly. Just then, Jean the cook brought over a folding chair and a table.
“My lady, everything is set. Please sit and rest. I’ll go call the police.”
After setting up a place for me, Jean left as usual to report to the authorities. I leisurely sat at the table and slurped my shaved ice. Watching the assassins roll around on the ground, tied up and groaning in pain, was incredibly satisfying.
Compared to the last time assassins had attacked, Davin had dealt with the intruders much faster. The traps we had set up here and there had really paid off.
Davin began tying the assassins up like a string of dried fish using rope, preparing to hand them over to the police.
“Wow, this shaved ice is really good! Lana, you’re getting better and better at this!”
I showered Lana with sincere praise. She smiled gently at me.
“I only followed what Jean taught me. I’m just glad you like it, my lady.”
As she spoke, Lana carefully brushed my hair aside so it wouldn’t fall into the shaved ice. I grinned, enjoying her thoughtful care.
The assassins, dressed head to toe in black, groaned as they lay bound. They had rushed in fiercely at first, but after being thoroughly beaten by Davin, all they could do now was whimper.
One of them even looked at me with an aggrieved expression. I glared back fiercely.
‘What? Why are you looking wronged when you tried to kill an innocent person? Seriously!’
When I glared at him, the assassin quietly turned his head away and stared at the ground with a gloomy expression. I clicked my tongue in disbelief.
Just in case they regained their strength and tried anything, Davin occasionally kicked them to keep them subdued. While that was happening, a carriage stopped in front of the main gate.
At first, I thought the police had arrived, but instead, someone dressed in flashy attire stepped out of the luxurious carriage. He widened his eyes at the sight of Davin kicking around the bound assassins, then brightened upon seeing me eating shaved ice.
“Ah! Count Miller.”
Who is this? I blinked, and as he approached with a peacock-like gait, Lana whispered to me:
“He’s a servant of His Majesty the Emperor. He often brings letters from His Majesty himself.”
“How should I address him?”
“You used to call him ‘Zenol.’ That’s his name.”
“Just by his name?”
“Yes.”
Watching Zenol’s peacock-like stride, I worried he might step on a trap, but he safely reached me and bowed politely.
“It’s been a while, Count Miller.”
“…Welcome, Zenol.”
For now, my amnesia was a secret to the outside world. So I pretended to recognize him while observing the ornate patterns on his attire.
‘Is that the imperial crest?’
Zenol took an envelope from his coat and presented it to me with precise formality.
“This is a personal letter from His Majesty the Emperor to you, Count.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I accepted the letter—and immediately tore open the envelope without hesitation. Seeing me rip apart a letter from the Emperor, Zenol looked shocked, and Lana hurriedly asked:
“My lady! Shall I bring you a letter opener?”
“It’s fine, I already opened it.”
I roughly pulled out the letter, not caring if it got crumpled. Zenol stared at me with his mouth slightly open. Ignoring his gaze, I tossed the ruined envelope onto the table and unfolded the thick, luxurious paper inside.
[To Count Miller,
I hear that because you haven’t been working lately, tasks have piled up, leaving Count Libre’s wife in a difficult position. How about doing some work?
What exactly have you been up to instead of handling your duties?
This morning, I heard you turned the finance administrator’s office in the city into a mess.
There are also rumors that you’ve become obsessed with black magic and that corpses keep turning up in your house. What’s that about?
Come to the imperial palace tomorrow and report to me directly about these rumors.]
After finishing the letter, I blinked and flipped the paper over. There was nothing else. My expression twisted involuntarily.
“…Is this really all His Majesty sent?”
Zenol looked flustered at my reaction.
“Yes… yes, that is all the letter His Majesty asked me to deliver.”
“I see.”
I frowned and pressed my lips together.
Was he pretending not to know I was in danger, or did he truly not know? From this letter alone, I couldn’t figure out the Emperor’s intentions.
He wants me to come to the palace tomorrow? Should I go or not?
‘If the Emperor is in league with those attackers, he could try to kill me the moment I arrive.’
But if he wasn’t, then—as Davin said—it would be advantageous to have him as an ally.
I watched the assassins being kicked around like soccer balls by Davin as I pondered.
Just then, the police arrived. As usual, the new officer looked utterly shocked.
“W-What on earth…? Count Miller, are you alright?”
I stood and approached him with a gentle smile.
“Hello. May I have your name?”
“Y-Yes! I’m Officer Thomas Van, newly assigned to this district. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
Not a native imperial name—foreign, perhaps. As I listened, I nodded. Just as I suspected, the officers sent here might later be quietly “disposed of.” I pointed to the assassins and explained:
“You see, assassins have been coming like this for days now… No matter how many times I report it, nothing improves.”
“W-What? This isn’t the first time? I’ll make sure to report this when I return—!”
“I’ve heard that response several times already, yet only the officers change, and nothing is done. Hmm.”
Hearing this, Thomas blinked, then slowly began to understand the meaning behind my steady gaze. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Hoping he wasn’t a fool, I spoke to him:
“Officer Thomas.”
“Yes, Count.”
“Could you inform His Majesty the Emperor of my situation?”
He looked startled. I added:
“I think it would be best if someone trustworthy delivers the message directly. And could you return and tell me His Majesty’s response?”
Thomas’s eyes trembled. Whether the Emperor had ordered previous officers to be eliminated or someone else was involved, I couldn’t be sure. But if he was to return with the Emperor’s reply, the Emperor wouldn’t be able to dispose of him.
“…Yes, understood.”
Fortunately, Thomas seemed to reach the same conclusion and answered firmly. Zenol, who had been listening, spoke up:
“Then shall I escort the officer to His Majesty, Count?”
“Yes, please do, Zenol.”
I smiled, and Zenol once again walked toward us with his signature peacock-like stride.
And then—
An ominous sound reached my ears in time with his steps.
Click.
Fwoosh—!
The moment Zenol stepped on a trap, an arrow shot straight toward him—the Emperor’s envoy.
‘Huh?’
