Chapter 10

"Kyaaa! What, why are you here…”

Unfortunately, it seemed they hadn't managed to lock the door—this couple within.

“You believed I wouldn't locate you amid a tryst?!”

“Is it your crowning achievement, having finally ferreted us out?!”

“W-what?! This woman… No, then who is this? Are you the Marquis Peroro?! I pondered if my wife was the object of your affection, but it's you?!”

“Well, but…”

"Damn it! I can't let this slide. If you wish for me to keep mum, provide the requisite compensation! Otherwise, I'll divulge the entirety of this to your family…”

“Hey, you scoundrel! Is that all you have to say?!”

“Ah! I can't maintain my composure when dealing with an old man like you!”

Midst this couple whose conversation was marked by ceaseless shouting, the Marquis of Peroro was situated in the center, unsure of how to proceed, his hand covering his center.

I had a particular objective in mind, but was this a con artist couple scheme?

I discreetly shut the door and began my search. Ah yes, a room with a hair tie on the doorknob...

Glancing at my watch, I noted that it was two minutes shy of eleven. I stood before the door adorned with a yellow hair tie, waiting for a while.

Suddenly, from a distance, a loud gunshot echoed, and at that moment, I thrust the door open and dashed inside. As anticipated, the door was unlocked.

“Kyaaa!”

Bang, bang, bang!

Gunfire erupted in rapid succession as the couple on the bed jolted upright.

Swiftly, I entered, seized the Prince by the arm, and guided him toward an alcove concealed behind a curtain hanging nearby.

“Sasha…”

"Shh."

Knoxus, his gaze fixed bewilderingly on me, acquiesced as I pressed my finger to my lips. His countenance seemed to disintegrate and be carried away by the wind.

He muttered something just as the sound of heavy footsteps drew closer. Subsequently, several burly men burst into the room.

“Where did that bastard go? Hey Lena, where’s your guest?”

“Waaa…”

As Valentina had informed, the woman huddled on the floor sobbing had long, reddish-blonde hair. Though slightly darker than my own, it bore a resemblance.

“Where did he run off to?!”

“Hng, no idea. A woman escorted him away not long ago!”

"What?"

Amidst the clamor of clicking sounds and curses, a young man who appeared to be methodically scanning the room abruptly locked onto this location.

Excluding the faint moonlight filtering in through the window, my gaze, nestled within the dimness, intersected with that of our construction supervisor. He flashed a faint smile, and in response, I winked.

"Curse it, I’m one step behind."

“I doubt he's made it far from the street. Let's hasten.”

“Waa…”

“Lena, you as well. This place will turn perilous before long.”

Truly, everyone’s acting skills were commendable. As I swallowed my admiration, Knoxus released a brief sigh.

It was a sigh he seemed to have suppressed for a while, on the verge of suffocation. The beads of cold sweat around his temples gleamed distinctly even in the dim atmosphere.

“How…”

“Shhh, be silent."

We remained ensconced there for an extended period without making a move. Eventually, as I withdrew from the alcove and gradually drew back the curtains, he grasped my hand.

“Sasha, what the hell… What is going on?”

“… The club attacked Fibonacci. Your Highness has unwittingly positioned himself in the heart of the enemy territory.”

For a fleeting instant, his lavender eyes appeared to be tinged with astonishment. Yet, almost paradoxically, embarrassment quickly overtook him.

“How did you know my whereabouts…”

“Did you think I wouldn’t discover what lay in store for Your Highness tonight?”

A silence ensued. I strode toward the bed and peered out of the window. The festival street’s luminous lights were extinguishing one by one.

“Don your attire. Hasten."

A well-attired Knoxus clung to my side. I handed him a muffler to obscure his features. As we surveyed the hallway, a procession of ajar doors greeted us.

It seemed everyone had hastened out upon hearing the gunfire.

After a while, we slipped out of the vacant bar and merged into the darkened streets. Somewhere in the distance, clamor and cries intertwined with sporadic gunshots.

"Damn it, I need to gauge the situation."

“Simply make your way back to the imperial palace.”

“I can’t. For now, let’s distance ourselves from this location.”

Upon exiting Eldora’s streets and blending into the crowd of vendors hastily abandoning their posts, we commandeered a cart and journeyed to the central church.

Undoubtedly, this proved the most secure sanctuary within the Imperial city.

Upon alighting from the cart, Knoxus removed the muffler from his visage, heaving another sigh. Evidently, he felt rather on edge.

“Damn it, he proved even more deranged than I initially guessed on Christmas Eve.”

“Your Highness, this is…”

"Don't worry. No one shall be harmed here.”

Certainly. On the night of the attack, it appeared humans had sought refuge within the church.

Silently, we entered the chapel. Beneath the expansive stained-glass dome skylights, pendant pillar candlesticks emitted a gentle radiance.

"Your Highness?"

“Your Highness, are you unscathed?”

As anticipated, the scenario unfolded precisely as anticipated. As we proceeded inside, three or four robust men seated near the altar advanced toward us.

One among them bore evidence of blood on himself, as though he'd sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

Could they perhaps be executives? My heartbeat accelerated. It appeared things were unfolding as planned.

“What in the world is going on?”

“Well, those lunatics from Dallas targeted the Blue Lagoon. Vincenzo was reportedly present at the scene.”

“Come now, Your Highness. But this woman…?”

I was naturally drawing unfriendly gazes from those around me as I stood at a distance. Notably, shock and fear prevailed, transcending any concern for aesthetics.

“This woman is part of the Snakes…”

“Hush and remain quiet. She's the one who saved my life.”

"What? This woman saved Your Highness's life…?”

"Yes."

Knoxus, looking somewhat wounded, reached for my hand. I hesitated briefly and shook my head.

"Your Highness, I'd rather leave now…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I've had enough adventures tonight. Just going here…”

“Why did you save me?”

"What?"

“Why did you save me?”

What response are you anticipating? As I attempted to turn my head, he tugged my shoulder closer.

“If that bastard discovers your involvement, what might befall you? Yet, you still ventured to save me.”

“There's been enough bloodshed tonight. I simply didn't want to add Your Highness's blood to the mix.”

“Sasha.”

"Please stop. Regardless… I cannot leave him."

Silence lingered. Knoxus gazed at me for a brief, weighted silence. His violet eyes, suffused with the light of both the candle and stained glass, oscillated wildly.

After a while, a chilling voice, suppressing roiling emotions, broke the silence.

“He attempted to murder me.”

“…”

“Make no mistake, he dared to take my life. I won't claim I've remained sane due to tonight's events, but he did try to kill me. It pains me to admit he's the most brazen lunatic I've encountered. No other evaluation suffices.”

"Your Highness…”

“I'd venture to call it fortunate. Owing to you, I've endured and documented these events.”

“Which events?”

One of the men, who had been watching with vacant eyes, cleared his throat.

In the meantime, Knoxus gripped my arm, continuing to speak.

“Listen… Once this holiday concludes, I'll first confront the Python.”

Attacking the Python Bank… Are you suggesting you'll deploy the Inquisitive Investigation Card?

“But His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“Hyung is unexpectedly ruthless. Given the Imperial capital's tumult, wrought in no small part by the Night Butterflies, regardless of his stature, he cannot overlook this. Ergo…”

Are you proposing my secret cooperation? Indeed, your Hyung won't simply ignore this. He won't permit your endeavors even if you attempt to proceed.

Suppressing a smug smile, I offered a wry grin.

“Your Highness's comrades remain dubious of me.”

“They shall learn to trust you. The fact that you saved me attests to that.”

“I was merely displaying loyalty… I'm unsure whether I'll encounter Your Highness again post this night.”

I appended softly, and the grip on my arm tightened.

Eyes expressing a fusion of wrath, agony, and enigmatic desperation intently met my gaze.

“Then don't leave.”

Ridiculous. Are you envisioning stowing me away, exploiting me as your mistress? Moreover, Knoxus required my presence by the Snakes' side.

“You understand that isn't feasible.”

“But that bastard covets you…”

“Kindly return to the imperial palace, Your Highness. It would be ill-advised for anyone to observe us congregated here.”

Just then, the midnight bell tolled.

Ding, ding, ding.

Amidst the ceaseless chime of the elongated bell, a discordant bang resounded. A collective visage assumed a state of arrested animation.

“What on earth… transpired in this sacred place…”

Discharging a firearm was not the problem—unless blood was witnessed.

Grasping the petrified Knoxus's hand, I led him toward the exit.

“Go, come. Do not render my journey here in vain.”

“That woman is correct, Your Highness. I implore you to swiftly return to the palace. Remaining outside poses peril.”

Knoxus appeared as though he might wish to utter more, but he dutifully averted his gaze from my resolute expression and departed the church.

In the interim, the men, each wielding a weapon, passed by me, converging upon the chapel's substantial door.

“I cannot fathom the audacity to perpetrate violence within this hallowed temple…”

“Who knows? Their madness knows no bounds. Hark, seems the lady is concealed herein. They shan't assault you, though it could prove troublesome should you become ensnared.”

In the instant when the man who had addressed me averted his gaze once more and started walking alongside his companions, I removed my hat.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The sacred temple's floor was swiftly besmirched with blood.

Repositioning my hat, I faced the sacred altar and traced the sign of the cross. Amen.

Advancing past the strewn bodies, I nudged open the door and emerged, finding snowflakes swirling around. Commotion reigned supreme. It appeared gunshots had indeed resounded within the temple.

"Kyaaa!”

<<Prev | TOC | Next>>

Updates Status & Announcements

Subscription | Support, Tip, or Donate