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Prologue
“Ail, become my person.”
At the sudden, straightforward words, the hand tilting the teapot slipped.
I hurriedly tried to grab the handle, but his hand reached the teapot first.
“Ah, Young Master!”
“I can’t do without you.”
Even while holding the scalding hot thing with his bare hand, Lis didn’t so much as flinch. He continued speaking calmly.
“You said it before, Ail. That one should separate business from personal matters.”
His low, pleasant voice drifted lazily into my ears, and before I knew it, my gaze turned toward him.
The moment I met his firm violet eyes, I suddenly remembered that Lis had once said the same thing when we were children.
‘Ail, become my person.’
Back then, thinking it was nothing more than the childish whim of a young master toward a maid his own age, I had answered like this:
‘Young Master, you need to separate business from personal matters.’
And yet now, as adults, this inscrutable young master was saying those very same words again.
As I slowly nodded, the corners of his lips curved into a neat smile.
“My business and my personal life—it’s all you.”
What was that even supposed to mean?
For some reason, my heart sank.
Eighteen years as an assassin, and I had always thought the most ridiculous thing a target could say was, “Please spare me, I’ll live a good life.”
But…
“…That’s a funny joke.”
“I’ve always been sincere, Ail.”
Casually dismissing my words, he kept his gaze fixed on me.
It was hot, heavy, and persistent.
Like a rabbit standing before a predator.
Instinctively sensing danger, I slowly reached for the concealed utility knife at my waist.
Just then, his lips parted again.
“Did you know? I’m the richest person in the Empire.”
Huh…?
What was this sudden bragging about money?
‘The problem is that I know that far too well.’
Of course I knew he was wealthy.
But how could he just say that about himself so openly…?
I stared at him in bewilderment, and Lis met my gaze with the same composed expression.
“Ail, you like money, don’t you?”
“Well… that’s true.”
To be fair, whenever Lis had asked me something in the past, my answers were usually things like, “Because of the money,” or “Money is the best,” or “Because they pay me a lot.”
But why was that relevant now…?
“I’m richer than the Emperor. So like me too.”
The alluring words flew toward me with effortless confidence, leaving it impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious.
That wicked young master had apparently decided to start seducing people with money.
An assassin must never be fooled by the honey and sweets offered by a target.
That was one of the most basic principles of a seasoned assassin.
I knew that.
I really did.
“Hmm? Ail.”
Tilting his head slightly, Lis smiled gently with his eyes.
It was the face of someone who knew perfectly well that I could never refuse him.
Thump. Thump.
My heart began pounding without rhythm.
Realizing that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong, I slowly bit my lower lip.
Honestly, if I had known the young master I served would grow up to become this dangerous, I would have killed him long ago.
‘Just how did things end up like this?’
He definitely wasn’t like this when he was little…!
