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Chapter 09
A low, resonant voice rang out, colder than anything else.
At that, Demon realized that the feelings Ris held toward Eil were not something as simple as mere affection.
‘Eil has an appearance completely unsuited to an assassin, and although it’s still early, she’s doing a fairly convincing job of catering to the young master’s difficult temperament.’
Because of that, Demon had assumed Ris might have developed a faint interest in the rare maid who was around his own age.
But now that he looked at it, Ris’s feelings were not that shallow.
‘Curiosity, interest, and… a slight contempt.’
Normally, such emotions would not belong together, yet there was nothing strange about it.
Had it not been less than ten years since the Duchess had been murdered by an assassin?
It was only natural to feel hostility toward their kind when another had appeared before they had even been forgotten.
‘So that’s why he compared her to a bug.’
At best, she was a toy.
Something he kept nearby because his curiosity prevented him from discarding it immediately.
Fortunately or unfortunately, his young master had a ruthless habit of throwing away anything that became even slightly worn.
So Eil would surely be discarded before long.
She had to be.
He could not allow his master to be lost to an assassin once again.
“Demon, after we finish eating, I’m going to the arena with Eil.”
On the outskirts of the capital, Erlet, there was a fairly large entertainment district known as the Back Alley.
Among all the businesses there, the one with the highest profits was undoubtedly the arena.
However, given the nature of the establishment, controversy always followed it.
Officially, it operated legally, but in reality it was a gambling den that cleverly skirted the law. Since its primary customers were lower-class laborers rather than nobles, its quality naturally left much to be desired.
“I’ll prepare the stealth carriage.”
“No, prepare the flashy one. The more attention it attracts, the better.”
“…Are you testing her patience?”
At Demon’s question, Ris smiled faintly.
If an extravagant carriage rolled into a place like that, every eye would inevitably turn toward it, and it would naturally attract all kinds of trouble.
“Who knows…”
The previous night, Ris had confirmed that Eil wanted to protect him for some reason.
For an assassin to protect rather than harm him—it was an absurd contradiction.
The Back Alley was a place where everyone eventually revealed their true nature.
Would Eil really be able to suppress her assassin instincts there until the end?
That twisted curiosity stimulated Ris.
After finishing her meal and preparing to go out, Eil arrived at the front gate and swallowed dryly when she saw Ris waiting there.
‘Even though I can’t see his face because of the robe, he still feels noble. Is that just how nobles are no matter how much they hide themselves?’
Until he reached adulthood, Ris was forbidden from participating in any official public activities.
Because of that, a black robe was mandatory whenever he went out.
It was an old rule of the Cassio family, meant to prevent their mysterious power from becoming known to outsiders.
‘More importantly, considering where we’re going, I naturally thought we’d take a stealth carriage.’
Having hurried to the gate, Eil stared lifelessly at a golden carriage so dazzling that it seemed to outshine the sun itself.
Countless decorations of pure gold gleamed brilliantly against a pristine white marble frame.
“…Young Master, are we really riding that?”
Unable to believe her eyes, Eil turned toward Ris with trembling pupils.
Ris gently lifted part of his robe and looked back at her.
‘We’re going to the underworld district! Riding something like this is basically announcing to the whole world that you’re a noble!’
In truth, anyone seeking entertainment could visit the Back Alley regardless of status.
But nobody openly revealed their identity there.
Especially nobles.
Not unless they wanted to be robbed and killed without a trace.
“Mm. What do you think? Do you like it?”
Ris’s violet eyes curved slightly as he asked.
“Uh… it’s pretty, I guess…”
That’s exactly the problem—it was too pretty!
Unable to comprehend why he saw no issue, Eil stared at him in horror.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Whether he noticed her distress or not, Ris boarded the carriage with a satisfied expression.
Meanwhile, Eil barely managed to swallow the words Are you out of your mind?
‘There’s no way he knows my identity and is doing this just to torment me… right? Maybe one punch would knock some sense into him. That’s what worked on my colleagues.’
Suppressing her rising irritation with a deep breath, Eil moved to board the carriage.
“Miss Eil, one moment…”
A voice stopped her.
Turning around, she found a man with dark hair and eyes tinged with blue, giving off a strangely mysterious atmosphere.
“I’ve been busy, so my greetings are late. I am Demon Highres, the one responsible for assisting the young master.”
“I’m Eil. It’s an honor to serve the young master alongside you.”
Demon Highres.
Within the Ribd Empire, the Highres Count family was a prestigious house so devoted to scholarship that they had established an academy bearing their family name.
Eil had already completed an investigation of Ris’s associates, so she knew exactly who he was.
Nevertheless, she bowed as though meeting him for the first time.
“Actually, since this is your first outing, I’d like to give you a piece of advice.”
After listening to his warning, Eil immediately boarded the carriage.
Before long, the scenery outside the window began racing past.
“Eil, what did Demon tell you?”
Seated across from her, Ris asked casually while looking outside.
Apparently, he had been paying attention despite boarding first.
“The young master is very sensitive to cleanliness. There is a lot of trash around the arena, so please be mindful of keeping the surroundings tidy.”
When she recalled Demon’s advice, it really had been nothing more than a simple warning.
Eil replied lightly that it was merely some basic advice.
Not long afterward, the carriage reached its destination.
Realizing they had truly come all the way here in this thing, Eil groaned in exhaustion as she looked out the window.
‘Coming to a place like this in a carriage like that… we’re already targets.’
By now, the thugs of the Back Alley were probably spreading word about a foolish noble who knew absolutely nothing about the area.
There was no easier prey than someone ignorant.
“Eil, take my hand.”
“Ah, I’m fine—”
“The coachman forgot to put down the step. Hurry.”
Having already stepped out, Ris extended a hand toward her.
Seeing that the step was indeed missing, Eil had no choice but to take his hand.
“…Thank you.”
The warmth of his large hand felt almost frighteningly pleasant compared to her own.
Feeling an odd sense of dissonance from such unexpected kindness amid such a tense situation, Eil released his hand the moment her feet touched the ground.
As soon as she stepped down, she felt countless heavy gazes upon her.
Ris, being an ordinary person, likely couldn’t tell.
But Eil, an assassin, could feel the malicious stares pouring in from every direction.
‘Protecting the target without revealing my identity… this might be a little troublesome.’
Even the arena guide who had come out to greet them in advance looked deeply alarmed when he saw the carriage.
“Th-this way, please.”
Following the guide into the alley leading to the arena entrance, Eil’s concerns finally became reality.
“Hey there, noble sir. Here’s your chance to help the less fortunate.”
“Judging by that carriage, you’ve got plenty of money. Let’s settle this nicely with ten gold coins.”
A group of obvious delinquents blocked their path.
The way they casually gestured while demanding an amount worth more than ten times the average commoner’s income made it clear they had no respect whatsoever.
‘Ah, so that’s the “trash” Demon was talking about.’
Realizing the true meaning behind Demon’s advice, Eil suppressed a sneer.
Giving such advice to an ordinary maid meant one thing:
Protect your master even at the cost of your life.
‘Demon, that man really doesn’t like me.’
The fact that he hadn’t assigned a single guard despite being worried about his master’s safety had already given her a rough idea.
She didn’t know why he found her so displeasing despite barely knowing her.
Still, whatever the reason, she couldn’t fight in front of Ris.
Eil had to remain an ordinary maid.
‘It’s not difficult. Just annoying.’
These people weren’t even worthy of being called obstacles.
Did they really think so little of an elite assassin of Black Rose?
Filled with complete confidence, Eil’s amber eyes curved gently into a smile.
