Chapter 31

Nonna is staying overnight at Susan's room in the main house tonight. I can take my time drinking tonight.

"Hey, welcome."

"I'll have my usual distilled liquor."

"Sure thing."

Zaharou brought the amber-colored strong liquor and sat down in front of me.

"It's rare to see you sitting at a table."

"I'm worried. Ever since I was asked about Hector's whereabouts."

"Don't worry, Hector doesn't know my background."

"Don't take too many risks. I'd be lonely if you stopped coming."

Seeing the genuine concern in his black eyes, I bowed my head.

"Thank you, Zaharou."

This is the first time I've stayed late at Zaharou's place tonight.

By chance, there are fewer customers today, so we moved to the counter and are drinking while having a light conversation.

Zaharou, standing behind the counter, spoke to me in a low voice while looking at his glass.

"Hector is looking for a red-haired woman. Red hair, brown eyes, a mole near the mouth, and a slender woman."

"Really?"

"Be careful."

"What are you talking about?"

Zaharou laughed and topped up his glass with more liquor.

For the first time tonight, I decided to order some food.

"Is there anything to eat?"

"I can make a sandwich with boiled pork and cucumber, and a vegetable soup with cheese. How about it?"

"Wow, I'm torn. Hmm... then I'll have both."

"Sure thing."

The light meal he quickly prepared and served was delicious.

"You're quite good at cooking too."

"I grew up in a house without a mother, so I used to cook everything simple. It's cheaper than buying."

"I see."

When I said that and tilted my glass, he made a face as if he wasn't satisfied.

"Usually, you'd tell me about your background at this point."

"I've been away from my parents since childhood and have been working, so I don't have much to say about my family."

"...I see."

When I started eating, the four other customers all ordered the same thing. Drinking makes you hungry, and it seems everyone gets the same urge when they see others eating.

Eventually, the other customers left, leaving me as the only one.

"Next time Hector has a request, it's better to go through me. He's looking for a woman who can do such things, saying, 'If I had known she could do that, I would have definitely brought her into the group.'"

"Really? Is that so?"

This person is convinced that I was the one who helped the death row inmate escape. It's natural since the escape happened after I asked about Hector's whereabouts.

"Are you going to turn me in?"

"You came back because you think I won't, right?"

"You're right."

Actually, I had a little doubt. Male friendships can't be underestimated.

The customers earlier weren't the type, so I trust him now. Staying late tonight was also to confirm if Zaharou is trustworthy and if he hasn't turned me in to Hector.

After drinking well past midnight, when I was about to leave, Zaharou offered to walk me home.

"There are no more customers, and you've been drinking quite a bit tonight."

"I don't want you to know where I live."

"What, you still don't trust me?"

I hesitated whether to answer and walked a bit before replying.

"I do trust you, Zaharou. But trusting people completely never ends well."

"I see. Then, just to the nearby area."

He followed me at a distance. It's fine, there are countless houses in the East District. We walked together without talking. At the border between the South and East Districts, I turned to Zaharou.

"Here is fine."

"Here? This is the East District. Are you a noble or something?"

"Of course not. Goodnight."

"Be careful on your way home."

I climbed over the fence and returned home safely, lighting a candle.

I brought the candle close to the floor to check for footprints. The baby powder wasn't disturbed. No abnormalities. This has become a ritual for me to sleep soundly.

I locked the door, changed into my nightgown, washed my face, and got into bed.

I wonder how that brother and sister are doing.

I can't be involved or interfere from here on out.

---

The King's private room.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the late hour. We just received a report from the Kingdom of Randall."

"How was it?"

"Victoria Serrano is a real person, and her age and physical characteristics match almost perfectly."

"Almost?"

The prime minister who brought the report glanced at the documents.

"She was an ordinary civilian. Her father was a carpenter, and her mother sold goods at the market. However, she went missing at seventeen and was missing for ten years. During that time, she grew a bit taller. Her parents divorced after her disappearance and are currently missing, though they haven't left the country. She entered our country from the Kingdom of Randall as recorded."

"I see. Thank you for your hard work."

The king rang a bell, and a maid entered.

"Bring me some wine."

The maid bowed silently, quickly poured the wine, and placed the bottle next to the glass before retreating to the adjacent room.

"I see. She does exist. I'm curious about what she did for ten years, but..."

From what he knew, it was too late to train someone as an agent or assassin after they had grown up as a regular citizen until seventeen.

Training had to start before the body was fully developed. It was especially difficult for women. Mentally, both men and women needed to be raised from a young age to pledge loyalty to the organization and the state, or they would often become mentally ill and become useless after taking on too many missions.

"So, the woman Jeffrey fell for is clean? That's a relief."

The next morning, the king summoned the second prince.

"How is your injury?"

"It's almost completely healed. I apologize for the worry."

"Claudia was worried. Don't worry your mother too much."

"Yes, Father. By the way, have you investigated the identity of the woman Jeffrey brought to the ball?"

The king looked at the second prince intently. He hadn't told his son. He wondered if the information had leaked from somewhere.

"Why do you ask?"

"Jeffrey, who usually dislikes women, fell for her. I was just curious about what kind of person she is."

"I had her investigated. She's fine. Just an ordinary citizen of the Kingdom of Randall."

"I see. Thank you. Excuse me."

"Sedric."

"Yes?"

"Conrad is looking after Jeffrey. Don't get involved unnecessarily."

"Yes, Father."

The second prince, Sedric, quietly left his father's private room and muttered.

"Ordinary? If that's ordinary, Father's investigators are unreliable."

As usual, when he needed to think, Sedric sat on a bench in an inconspicuous spot in the garden.

Sedric was good at sports and had been praised for his swordsmanship, horsemanship, and martial arts since childhood. Even discounting the fact that he was a prince, he didn't think the instructors were lying or flattering him.

Some instructors were strict and didn't hold back, even for a prince. Jeffrey was a good example. And he had also praised Sedric.

So, Sedric thought he was reasonably strong. But he was completely overpowered by a slender woman in her late twenties. It was a huge shock, the first of its kind in his life.

He wanted to properly apologize and ask her for martial arts training. He wanted to, but...

(Will Jeffrey agree...? He was quite angry when I followed her. Even my brother was surprised by how strongly Jeffrey spoke. I should properly...)

"Yeah, I should apologize. It was definitely my fault. I treated her lightly because she was a woman. I'll tell Jeffrey I'm going to apologize."

However, the second prince, Sedric, was then met with a cold stare from Jeffrey Asher.

"Your Highness, I was aware of what you did. Your Highness, please stop interfering with my important people. I'll convey your apology. Oh, by the way, today I'll give you a serious sword training session. Come on, don't hold back. I'll be your partner to the fullest."

That day, Sedric was pushed to his limits, collapsing and being told, "Not yet!" "One more!" "Is that all?" until he couldn't stand up anymore.

In the end, he was pushed back by a mock sword and fell face-first onto the training ground.

Spitting out the sand in his mouth, Sedric muttered,

"I shouldn't have told Jeffrey."

He rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes.