Chapter 185: Loose Leash
The door opened, and Carl looked at me curiously. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Is something wrong, Miss?”
“No, but the light is on. Are you still working?”
Carl smiled bitterly. “It’s not a big deal. But Miss, the duke wouldn’t leave me alone if he knew you had come to my room at this hour.”
“…”
I recalled what I had heard about Carl. He stayed at the mansion at my request. He sang well, dressed nicely, and was very skilled at gathering information.
I looked at him. “Carl, by any chance, do you know anything about Fiona… um, my past?”
“If it’s something that happened in Heilon, it’s better to hear it from His Highness.”
“No, long before that. Probably before the age of ten?”
“Ah…” Carl looked troubled.
Well, it was understandable. There was a woman who suddenly appeared in his room at midnight and asked about her past. Even I felt strange doing it. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Sorry, I was rude.”
I quickly made an excuse. “I just felt like you have been observing me for some time. Moreover, I heard you work to collect information. That’s why I was wondering if you might have investigated me.”
Isn’t there a job called “intelligence agent”?
“No, it’s fine, Miss. You weren’t rude at all. Rather, I felt like it would offend you if I answered ‘yes’ here, because it would be almost like I’m a stalker…”
“Oh, I can see that. Still, I will respect your job.”
“Um, yes. Thank you…”
“That’s it…”
Then silence fell. The atmosphere became very awkward. It felt as if I had just had a strange dream and told Carl nonsense.
“Ah, sorry for knocking on your door so late. I’ll just leave then.” I quickly turned around, feeling awkward.
“No, wait a minute.” Carl gently grabbed my arm. “Come in and wait… was what I wanted to say, but someone would be furious if he knew you were in my room at this time. However, please wait a moment.”
Was he talking about Abel Heilon? It seemed like that person cherished me.
Carl rummaged through his room and then handed me a file full of organized documents. “There’s not much good content in it, so I wouldn’t advise you to read it, Miss.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Please keep this a secret from the prince and duke; they would kill me if they knew.”
I chuckled. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I’ll definitely repay you.”
Carl’s expression became clouded. “Repay…”
“Is there anything in particular that you want?”
His expression brightened instantly. “Then, I hope you can answer my question honestly later.”
Was there something he wanted to know about me?
I nodded. “Sure, I will.”
I returned to my room, hugging the document Carl had given me, hoping it held a hint about Fiona. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
Crown Prince Enoch was drunk and screamed loudly.
“FUCK! HOW DARE YOU IGNORE ME!”
Crash–!
The bottle of alcohol shattered. The servant outside flinched, shrinking his shoulders. The empress was in an extreme situation; even the nobles who used to support the crown prince were now trying to save themselves. Moreover, the emperor, who had once cared for Enoch, had also lost interest. The more days passed, the more Enoch drowned his sorrows in drink.
“It’s all because of them! That lowly bastard!!”
Enoch stood up, glaring furiously at the broken wine bottle. He then roughly opened the door.
The servants hurriedly hid themselves, fearing they would be seen by Enoch and caught in his wrath. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Enoch staggered down the dark hallway, his vision blurred by intoxication. He stumbled and muttered, “I should have killed that fucker a long time ago…”
‘Should I go kill him now?’ His drunken mind was incapable of rational thought.
Enoch chuckled. ‘Yeah, let’s kill him!’
He walked toward the stables.
“Your… Your Highness, it’s dangerous!”
“How dare you stop me!” Enoch kicked the stableman and climbed onto his horse. “Come on!! Let’s go kill that bastard!!”
The horse reacted sensitively to the rider’s poor handling. It moved at a slightly faster pace but suddenly began neighing and rearing up. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“SHIT!”
Enoch fell from his horse into the grassy field outside the Imperial Palace. He was lucky not to be seriously injured. The horse whinnied and bolted, leaving its rider behind.
“Even a beast ignores ME! I’ll cut that horse’s head off tomorrow!”
Of course, no one listened to the cries of a drunkard in the middle of the night.
Enoch lay back on the grass, exhausted from the alcohol.
“….”
At that moment, a cold sensation suddenly enveloped his entire body. The soft grass around him slowly withered and died.
“W-WHAT?!” Enoch panicked, got up, and looked ahead.
[Do you want it back?]
There stood an entity resembling a human, but with a black, distorted shape. It was like a dense fog. It was the Darkness, but Enoch didn’t know what it was. However, his instincts told him it was dangerous. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
[Everything, do you want it back?]
“Y-yes,” Enoch replied dazedly.
As if it were a revelation from God, the voice echoed multiple times.
[You are the one with the role to steal.]
Enoch listened as if possessed.
[The one who stole, let’s go get it back. Everything.]
The Darkness moved slowly.
Enoch followed behind without realizing it.
[Go there.]
Enoch saw where the Darkness was pointing: the imperial prison.
[Bill Curtis.]
The giddy voice vanished.
“…”
Enoch stared blankly in the direction indicated by the Darkness, walking toward it like a man possessed. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
Check out my Patreon to read advanced chapters!
