TCRDG 06

“Ah…”

Coming to my senses, I quickly withdrew my hand and tried to find a topic the child might like.

“You mentioned something called the ‘Union’ earlier. What’s that?”

“The Union is a group of people who like Seniel oppa.”

“Why would such a group exist?”

“Because he’s handsome!”

Does being handsome mean there’s an empire-wide fan club? Even little kids are joining?

As I looked at her, clearly not understanding, the child gave me the same bewildered look and asked me a question in return.

“Then who are you, unnie? Are you Seniel oppa’s girlfriend?”

“Just someone he knows.”

“So, not his girlfriend?”

I nodded and pointed to the heavy basket of eggs she was holding with both hands.

“Do you want to sell those to me from now on? Then you can come in through the front gate, and if you’re lucky, you might even see Seniel. How about it?”

“Waaah! Really? That sounds amazing! I’ll raise the chickens with extra care and bring only the strongest eggs! My name’s Eribel, pretty unnie!”

Eribel seemed delighted with my suggestion, hopping up and down and even sharing her name.

Then, saying she had to go check on the chickens, she scurried away.

Watching her disappear, I tensed up sharply.

‘Three people behind me. One is Orbis… but who are the other two? Seniel’s not among them.’

The figures had appeared while I was talking with Eribel and had silently watched our whole conversation.

As I pretended not to notice and picked up the map I had set down, Orbis called my name from behind.

“Noona! That was amazing. I’ve never seen Eribel that excited before.”

Feigning surprise, I turned around.

“When did you get here? And… who are the people next to you?”

One of the two felt like an ordinary person, but the other gave off an unusual, razor-sharp energy—like a well-honed blade. I was curious who it was, and it turned out to be a man I’d never met before.

With striking features and blood-red eyes, the man beside Orbis stared intently at me.

His gaze was analytical, scrutinizing.

“I should be the one asking. Orbis, who is she? Did you bring a woman into my house?”

“Of course not! She’s Seniel’s older sister. She needed a place to stay for a few days, so Seniel brought her here.”

So this guy must be the owner of the house Orbis was talking about.

As I stared at the man, I had the oddest feeling of familiarity. And the moment he spoke, I was certain.

It was the man I had run into during a previous mission.

‘Why is he here…? Surely, he won’t recognize me, right?’

I tried to convince myself that no one would connect me with Prince just by looking at me now—but my heart was pounding.

His identity was troubling enough, but the fact that he knew Seniel was even more terrifying.

What if Seniel found everything out?

“You look familiar. Have we met before?”

The man stepped closer, perhaps sensing something from me as well.

He stared directly into my eyes and asked in a pressuring tone,

“No. This is our first time.”

I replied casually, keeping my expression neutral.

Fortunately, the man seemed to lose interest and turned toward the mansion.

“Noona, let’s talk later.”

Apparently, the man outranked Orbis, who awkwardly scurried after him.

Left alone, I felt a bit relieved, but the lingering unease wouldn’t go away.

“Who is he? What’s his relationship with Seniel? And more importantly… he’s definitely that guy from before, isn’t he?”

My mind grew more chaotic.

Why would someone who came to steal a map be here with Seniel?

I debated whether to hire someone to investigate, and then I remembered: Pendelic was currently out.

“I should listen in on their conversation.”

I decided to serve tea and casually eavesdrop, hoping to figure out the connection between the man and Seniel.

✦ ✦ ✦

As Rosia walked away, Beedler’s secretary Roy glanced at her and asked Beedler,

“What’s going on? It’s rare for Your Highness to show any interest in a woman. You even spoke first. That’s a first.”

“It’s not interest. Her face just felt familiar. Those bold and impudent blue eyes.”

“…Huh? She’s certainly attractive, but I didn’t get that vibe. Didn’t she have a rather innocent air?”

“Innocent? You need your eyes checked.”

Beedler didn’t bother hiding his disdain as he undid the button of his shirt collar.

“Hmph. Should we look into her background?”

“Forget it. She probably just resembles Seniel.”

Roy glanced at Rosia again, but he still couldn’t feel what Beedler had.

“By the way, why did Orbis bring Seniel’s sister here? This place isn’t a playground.”

This place was a hidden base for Beedler’s direct knights.

The study was filled with classified documents—it was a location that absolutely had to remain secret.

Orbis flinched at Beedler’s sharp glare and tried to explain.

“Well, Seniel brought her here… I’ve been watching her for a few days. She’s a very naïve person who knows nothing about the world. She’s only staying for a short while, so I doubt there’ll be any issues.”

Then he added,

“Just for a few days, please? I’ve never seen Seniel so happy.”

“…Hmph.”

Beedler let out a frustrated sigh and opened the door to Seniel’s room.

Seniel, sitting peacefully by the window and flipping through documents, tucked his shimmering silver hair behind his ear and greeted him calmly.

“You’re here?”

“You knew I was coming and didn’t even come out to greet me?”

Beedler scowled deeply as he glared down at Seniel, who remained seated by the window.

He reached out and grabbed Seniel’s chin, turning his face left and right.

“You look healthier.”

“I’m on vacation, remember?”

“I never approved it.”

Seniel simply smiled and asked,

“It’s not like there’s anything urgent going on. Please let it go. It’s my first break.”

“There is something urgent now.”

“What is it?”

Seniel’s expression turned serious in an instant, prompting Beedler to let go of his chin.

“Raven’s queen is dead. The guild rankings are likely to shift. It could turn into a power struggle.”

“What? Just like that? Was it murder?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“Then who’s going to be the next guild master?”

“Probably Prince. Unless something unexpected happens. On top of that, Seundel is making suspicious moves. They seem to be after the map.”

“…Why is it always when I finally try to take a vacation that everything goes to hell?”

Seniel cried out, and Beedler shrugged lightly.

“In any case, your vacation’s canceled.”

He pulled out the leave form he had stuffed in his pocket and ripped it in front of Seniel’s face.

Unfazed, Seniel reached toward the nightstand.

“I figured this would happen, so I prepared several copies. I have a right to rest too!”

“Seniel!”

Angered by Seniel’s defiance, Beedler grabbed him by the collar.

Though it seemed intense, this was nothing compared to the many battles they’d fought side-by-side in the war.

“My sister’s here. I can’t back down this time.”

“I saw her. Don’t you think it’s odd? Why did she suddenly appear?”

Seniel swallowed hard.

“She’s my sister—I haven’t seen her in ten years. That doesn’t mean I should mistrust her.”

“Don’t be naïve. She’ll use you under the guise of family.”

“Don’t slander her.”

Seniel’s gaze turned cold as he glared at Beedler.

Beedler let out a mocking laugh.

“Slander? Then what was she doing while you were stuck in someone else’s house all those years?”

The truth behind Seniel’s adoption was far more complicated.

He had been forced to fight in war after war in place of the family’s true heir.

He barely survived each time, often only because Beedler was at his side.

Rosia didn’t know any of this.

Beedler yanked harder on Seniel’s collar and muttered,

“Don’t forget—you belong to me. You swore loyalty to me.”

Beedler had no desire for possessions, but when it came to people he considered his, he showed an obsessive possessiveness.

There were only a handful of people he called “mine,” and the one he trusted the most was Seniel.

So it was natural for him to use that phrase without hesitation.

But just as he said it, there was a loud clatter from behind.

Both Beedler and Seniel turned their heads simultaneously.

“What was that?”

Through the door Beedler had forgotten to shut, they could see Rosia’s face.

The sound came from a teaspoon falling off a tray she had been carrying.

Rosia stood frozen, her eyes wide, while behind her, Orbis peeked nervously through his fingers.

“I brought some tea…”

Rosia looked between the two men—Seniel sitting by the window and Beedler looming over him far too closely.

Seniel’s shirt was half unbuttoned, and Beedler was gripping his collar in an uncomfortably intimate posture.

It was… more than enough to be completely misunderstood.