Chapter 48

The woman was in a room in the north wing of the castle.

Her face was wrapped in bandages, and one of her arms was suspended from her shoulder with a sling.

She seemed surprised to see the three of us enter the room unannounced, though it was hard to tell with her face wrapped in bandages except for her eyes and mouth.

"Mia, I'm sorry for the sudden visit. I've brought someone who wants to hear your story."

"I understand. I apologize for the trouble I've caused this time."

The woman called Mia, who was sitting up in bed, bowed politely to Mr. Mike. Mr. Mike remained standing, while Jeffrey and I sat in the chairs he offered. The four of us faced each other, and the conversation began, primarily between Mia and me.

"Nice to meet you. I was asked to take your place. I want to hear about the situation that led to you being beaten before I decide whether to accept the job."

"The situation when you were beaten, you mean?"

"Yes. I want to know why a professional like you ended up in such a state."

"It's a long story, but I'll explain."

Mia didn't look at Jeffrey or me after a brief glance when we entered. Her gaze was fixed on the area around our chests, as if to say, "I won't acknowledge your presence."

"A childhood friend from my hometown got a job at the mansion where I was stationed to monitor a certain person. The moment she saw me, she called me by my real name and innocently said, 'I heard you got married, but you're working here!'"

According to Mia, from that day on, she was secretly monitored at her infiltration site. Mia, who had been infiltrating for three years, was close to uncovering the master's important secrets.

When she was brought to the capital for an important mission, her childhood friend, who had just started working, was also brought along, which was highly unusual.

Mia thought the master intended to use her friend as a hostage against her.

Just as Mia was about to leave the infiltration site, she was shown her bound friend. Mia was beaten in front of her friend and forced to confess her mission and true employer.

"Why did you want to confirm something so badly that you were willing to be beaten?"

"I wanted to confirm whether my friend appeared before me by chance or if she was sent to uncover my true identity. If it was the former, I couldn't leave her behind and escape alone."

"…I see."

"From the way she looked at me while I was being beaten, I was convinced she had appeared before me by chance. So I fought back, defeated the men, and we escaped together."

"That was a rather soft judgment for an agent."

"Yes. Since I can no longer serve as the shadow of the Crown Princess, I have no excuses."

What would I have done in her place?

I don't have a childhood friend who would protect me, but if I knew a junior in the organization was in danger, I think I would have taken the same action.

The three of them were looking at me. I met Jeffrey's eyes.

"I want to take her place. I won't sugarcoat it. I want to do it."

"…I see."

"I'm sorry, Jeffrey."

"Mike, I want to set a condition."

"What kind of condition?"

"I'll be in charge of security."

"That's not possible. If a non-guard like you takes on security, everyone will wonder why. My true identity will be exposed. You're too well-known to disguise yourself."

"But—"

"I'll come back to you, I promise. I'll rely on Nonna."

Mike's expression was neutral, but he clearly felt relieved.

On the other hand, Jeffrey was radiating anxiety and distress.

"Right away, I'll arrange a meeting with Crown Princess Delphine."

As Mike was about to lead us out of the room, Mia called me back.

"Madam, I'm sorry for involving you because of my soft judgment."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm doing this for myself. If I had refused and something happened to Delphine, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

With that, I left the room with a smile.

We climbed the back stairs used by the servants and were led through a winding route to a luxurious room. The room was spacious, filled with lavish furnishings, like a private room for the royal family. Mike left the room for a moment.

After a while, Mike returned, and the door opened. Delphine, accompanied by a maid, entered.

She had shining blonde hair and blue eyes, and her build was almost the same as mine. I curtsied, wondering what to do about my eye color. The maid left, leaving the four of us in the room: me, Jeffrey, Mike, and Delphine.

"Will you be my shadow?"

"Yes."

"Make yourself comfortable. Your eyes are brown. What will you do about that?"

"Princess Delphine, if you could wear a veiled hat for a while, it would help me avoid suspicion when I wear one during the festival."

"That's the only way, I suppose."

I looked at Mike.

"Mike, can you ask everyone else to leave? I can feel someone peeking from behind that wall."

"I'm sorry. I asked them to leave, but—"

Mike looked apologetically at me, then at Delphine.

"Leave us."

When Delphine spoke to the wall, the feeling of being watched disappeared.

"I thought I couldn't ask you to be my shadow if you didn't notice that gaze. You pass. From today, you'll stay close to me and observe my mannerisms and the way I walk. If you can't fool the castle staff, let alone the Crown Prince and the King, you won't be a good shadow."

"Understood."

"I'm sorry, Jeffrey. You just got back from Shen."

"It's his wish."

"Yes. Lady Asher is capable of such work."

"…Princess Delphine, please—"

"I understand, Lord Asher. I won't say anything unnecessary. I'll only tell the King and the Crown Prince that I'm using a shadow."

"Thank you."

Princess Delphine seemed to be a composed woman. She promised to keep my true identity from her husband and father-in-law. How far that would go depended on me.

"From today, Lady Asher will serve as my personal maid. You'll use the room adjacent to mine."

"Understood."

"Mike and Lord Asher, you can leave now."

Mike and Jeffrey bowed and left the room. Jeffrey didn't look at me. I watched him leave from the corner of my eye but didn't meet his gaze. I was now the Crown Princess's personal maid and shadow. I had to put aside personal feelings.

Princess Delphine rang a glass bell, and a maid entered.

"Have a maid's uniform prepared for her."

"Yes."

The maid glanced at me and left. She returned quickly with a uniform and shoes that fit me perfectly, having judged the size in an instant.

The room was left with just Princess Delphine and me again.

"My food has been poisoned twice. How is your tolerance to poison?"

"It's been completed."

"Combat skills?"

"I'm skilled in hand-to-hand combat and short swords."

"Languages?"

"Hagur, Randall, Iegar, and Ashbury, as if I were born in those countries. Subartu for everyday conversation."

"Even Iegar, the language of my homeland?"

"Yes."

Princess Delphine smiled faintly.

"I wonder why you, the favorite of the Crown Prince, are Lady Asher's wife. I hope you'll tell me someday."

"Yes, someday."

"Until the Saint Floren Festival, I look forward to working with you."

"Please leave it to me."

I immediately dismissed the thought of returning home to see Nonna. I was returning to this kind of work after six years.

For Jeffrey, who had allowed me to take this job, and for Nonna, whom I loved, I couldn't afford to be sentimental. I had to return to the form I had when I was the ace of the Hagur special operations unit, or I might lose my life.

I would focus on completing this job successfully until the Saint Floren Festival in two months.

I would return to them alive.

Despite the guilt I felt towards my family, I was determined to complete this mission.

※…※…※

As Mike headed to Edward, he murmured to himself.

(I called her Mia on the spot, but Mia understood the situation. Even as a collaborator, I can't tell Victoria her agent name.)

As he climbed the stairs, he thought again.

(Still, why did the director, who has always kept Victoria's background a secret, want to use her? I hope he'll tell me soon.)