Chapter 82

"Mom, welcome back!"

"Welcome back, Anna. What happened?"

"Just got back, Nonna, Jeff. I'm not quite sure myself. It seems there was a group targeting me."

Jeff's movements stopped.

Jeff, who had come to greet me and was about to drink wine with a relieved expression, stopped with the glass in his hand, only moving his eyes.

"Who... who is after you? Is it Hager's organization?"

"I don't know. They said they will investigate."

"Who will?"

"...The people from the Third Knight Regiment."

"I see. If the experts are investigating, we can only leave it to them. Nonna must be tired too. Come, let's go to bed. Everything is for tomorrow."

"That's right."

"Good night, Mom."

"Good night, Nonna."

After changing into nightwear using the bath, I entered the bedroom where Jeff was already awake.

"Anna, tell me the truth. You couldn't say it in front of Nonna, but do you have any idea who might be after you?"

"There is, but... it could be Hager's organization, or it might not be. The main culprits whose positions I caused to be lost over twelve years number twenty-two. Most of them are probably dead."

"Executed by the state?"

"Probably. We only gather information and secure the targets; we don't know what happens after that. But if you include the associates and families of those main culprits, it easily exceeds a hundred. It could be one of them, or it could be something completely different. There are so many people who hate me that I can't pinpoint it."

Jeff's eyes, looking at me, were gentle and painful.

I would feel better if he were to be disgusted and give up on me. Jeff's eyes, which would always love me no matter what... are painful.

I suddenly remembered the words Lanco left at our parting.

"Ordinary happiness is a deadly poison to us."

"Jeff, I'm sorry."

"Why should you apologize when you're the one being targeted?"

Jeff's voice was angry. Even if I apologized, nothing would improve, but I wanted to say what I could when I could. My past as an agent always made me ready for the possibility that "this might be the last time."

"That's right. It's a strange thing for the one being targeted to apologize."

"Anna."

I tried to laugh it off, but Jeff hugged me, and I couldn't hide it.

"I was the one who decided to live with you, knowing everything. Don't apologize."

"Yes, thank you, Jeff."

"Absolutely..."

"Hmm?"

"Absolutely don't disappear from in front of me. That's all I want."

"Yes, Jeff. You are very important to me, so I won't leave you. Please rest assured."

Unable to move my arms while being hugged, I leaned against Jeff's chest. I continued talking.

"I met a former superior. At Randall's museum, by chance."

"Superior?"

"A man named Lanco. He noticed me when I was eight and chose me as a trainee. He was always worried about me during my training. After I became an agent, he was my direct superior."

"How old is he now?"

"He should be forty-five this year."

"I see. He's still young. Did he target you at the museum?"

"No. It seems Lanco had information on the location of Ashberry's communication network base."

I thought Jeff had fallen asleep, but he was still looking at the ceiling.

"Tomorrow, I'll visit Elizabeth's house. I think she's probably back home, so I can visit to check on her."

"Sure. Anna, will you always carry a weapon from now on?"

"Yes, I intend to. I'm still considering whether to let Nonna carry one."

"You should. It's better to have a means of self-defense."

"Right... I'll talk to her tomorrow. She might not want to, though."

Jeff hugged me tightly without a word.

"Jeff, it's okay. I'm strong."

"I know. But... I'm still worried. If Lanco invites you to return, would your heart waver? You didn't hate that job, did you?"

Looking at Jeff's handsome face, I kissed his cheek.

"The most important thing to me is you and Nonna."

"Anna, you're not keeping anything from me, right?"

"No, I'm not. Why?"

"If you keep secrets, I won't be able to protect you when the time comes. No secrets. Promise me."

"Yes, I promise."

Closing my eyes to the pain in my chest over Lord Edward, I fell asleep in Jeff's arms.

I woke up in the morning after a dream. In the dream, I was a teenage girl being praised by Lanco and feeling happy. I wondered why I had such a dream.

In the morning, after Jeff left for the castle, I talked with Nonna alone.

"Nonna, someone is after me. It seems they hired dozens of mercenaries."

"Is it Hager's organization targeting Mom?"

"Maybe. I've been hated by many people, so it could be that. My worry is that you might get caught up in it. Jeff thinks you should carry a weapon too. What do you think?"

"What do you think, Mom?"

"I want you to have one. To protect your life."

"I see. To protect my own life."

"Yes. But making that choice at thirteen is cruel. I told you not to get used to killing, yet I'm telling you to carry a weapon. It's contradictory. But I want you to live."

Nonna held my hand and looked up at me.

"I want to protect Mom. To do that, I need to be alive. So I'll carry a weapon to avoid being killed."

I felt sad, guilty, and wanted to cry, but I forced a smile.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, Nonna."

"Since the day you saved me, you've been the most important and beloved person in the world to me."

"No. You will live with Lord Clark. Live for the person you love. Be careful not to get into danger for me. I'll protect Nonna. Protecting you is the meaning of my life."

"No. Mom, you live for Dad."

I hid my crying face by pressing my forehead against Nonna's shoulder.

Lanco's voice echoed in my ears again.

"Chloe, for us, ordinary happiness is a deadly poison."

Lanco was right and wrong at the same time.

I didn't live for the organization. I worked for my family and Lanco.

And now, I live for Jeff and Nonna. My way of living hasn't changed since before I left the organization. Ordinary happiness is what sustains me.

"Nonna, I'm going to visit Elizabeth's house. Will you come with me?"

"Yes. Elizabeth must have been very scared. Poor her."

"That's right. You were also unfortunate to be dragged by a horse."

"I... it wasn't that bad. I had fun competing with Il on horseback and surprising the people from the Third Knight Regiment."

"Really? Didn't you cause any trouble?"

"I don't think so. Probably."

As we were about to leave in the carriage, Il came alone on horseback.

"Oh, good. Are you going out, Victoria?"

"Yes, to Elizabeth's house."

"I need to talk to you."

"We can talk later. I'll go back home now."

We returned home and heard an unexpected story from Il. For a while, we were speechless. Nonna's eyes were wide open. I finally calmed down and asked Il.

"Sorry, Il. To confirm, is this about your family? Is it true?"

"Yes. My family, the Enrocam family, has a lineage of assassins that has lasted a thousand years. They have always worked for the ruling powers."

"Assassins... so you mean a family that has inherited such skills?"

"Yes. The knowledge and use of drugs have been refined over a long period for assassination purposes, and Shen martial arts were systematically developed for assassination. But we don't accept assassination jobs now. It's not profitable. Drugs are easier to make money from. Shen is a country that values profit over righteousness."

After hearing this, I understood why Il was telling me, a foreigner, this.

"Il, I can't involve you in my affairs."

"I expected that. But this is more for my own benefit than for Victoria's. I want to use the knowledge and skills I've been taught in such an opportunity. I won't inherit the Enrocam family. My knowledge and skills are being wasted. Isn't that a waste?"

"Then?"

"Then, can I stay at the Asher Viscount's house from now on? On the way back to the capital from the border, I overheard the guards' conversations and understood the situation. Victoria, you're being targeted on a large scale, right?"

I smiled and said, "What are you talking about?" but Il's pitch-black eyes remained fixed on me without changing.

"Nonna is like a little sister to me. Those targeting Victoria will try to use Nonna. If I were an assassin, I would do the same. So I'll protect Nonna. It would be easier for Victoria to fight if Nonna isn't a hindrance."

"Little sister? Hindrance? Il, that's rude."

Nonna protested with a face that said, "I can't let this pass." But Il shook his head seriously.

"You don't understand. If you win, it's only the first strike when the opponent underestimates you as a child. If you miss, you're in danger. Nonna isn't that strong in front of a real assassin."

That's true.

"Il, can you give me some time to think?"

"Sure. I'll wait for as long as it takes. Let me stay in the hallway of this house for now. With me and Victoria, we can fight reasonably. The Asher Viscount is there at night, and Nonna can be useful for the first strike."