Chapter 209: Fiona (2) [unedited]

“Here, an uncle told me to give you this.” Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

A child at the orphanage handed me a note while I was looking for Eri. 

“Who gave you this?”

The child tilted his/her head. “I don’t know.”

It seemed like the child truly didn’t know. I thanked them and read the note: 

If you want to see the child alive, come alone to the abandoned building in the south by 2:15.

I crumpled the edge of the note, startled. I didn’t know who sent it, but one thing was clear: Eri had been kidnapped, and they were using her to lure me. 

I quickly checked my watch. Less than twenty minutes remained. If I didn’t make it in time, would they kill Eri? Of course, they would. It was naive to hope for mercy from kidnappers.

There was no time to think thoroughly. The time was tight even when I rushed a horse. Asking Heilon or anywhere else…. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to wait for support to come. The criminal had set conditions that left me no choice but to go alone. 

This guy is obviously after me. Could it be the Crown Prince?

But if it were the Crown Prince, he would likely target Sigren first. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

Come to think of it, Sigren had returned to the palace because something had happened. Was he in danger too? 

But I couldn’t afford to worry about Sigren. Saving a child was the priority.

“Miss, is something wrong?” Carl approached me quickly, noticing my troubled expression.

“Carl…”

In a hurry, I explained the situation to Carl and went to the horse tied up outside the orphanage.

Carl followed closely.

“Carl, go to Heilon Mansion and inform them of what’s happened.”

Carl urgently grabbed my forearm as I was about to leave. “Wait a moment, Miss. It’s clearly a trap. Are you really going alone?”

“But there’s no time to wait for support.”

The best course would be for me to go first and handle the criminal while waiting for reinforcements.

Carl looked serious. “I will go with you, Miss. I’ve already sent someone to deliver the news to Heilon Mansion.”

“It’s unknown what kind of trap it is, but you want to come with me? This isn’t some kind of joint suicide.”

Even if something were to happen, only one person should die. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

“Seeing you prepared to die makes me even more determined not to let you go alone,” he responded, loosening the reins of another horse.

“That’s because you never know what might happen in a combat situation… Wait, no, that’s not what I meant!”

Eri was kidnapped because of me. It was only natural for me to go. But Carl had nothing to do with Eri or me.

“Think straight, Carl. There’s no reason for you to come with me. There’s no need to take any risk.”

I looked at him.

“I’m not someone you particularly cherish either. It’s enough for you to just tell my father to send support. There’s no reason for you to risk your life.”

Carl’s face hardened. “What you said is true, but I can’t believe you’re saying that now. You truly have a kind heart yet also a heart of steel. Why can’t you just be sweet without being cruel, and vice versa? Why do you have to be both?”

Hey, hey, you didn’t have to curse me at this point!

“I’m saying this because I’m thinking of you!”

“It’s fine if you don’t think about me. Moreover, if we follow your logic, it doesn’t prove that you particularly care about me. You’re just too meddlesome regarding my life.” Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

“What are you talking about… I truly care about you!”

Isn’t it obvious? That’s why I worry like this!

“…”

For some reason, Carl looked at me, at a loss for words for a moment. Then he smiled bitterly. “I think I understand why Sigren gets jealous… Anyway, we don’t have time for chit-chat. I’ll leave first!”

“What?! Carl, this is the first time you called Sigren by his name instead of His Highness—wait, hey! I told you not to go because it’s dangerous!”

Sigren never listened to what I said, and now Carl didn’t either. Wasn’t this too much that even his cousin ignored me?

In the end, I quickly went after Carl.

***

They had demanded I come alone, so I made Carl agree to hide for now. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

When I arrived at the designated location, I recognized the person there, and my anger erupted instantly.

“Bill Curtis!!”

It was Bill Curtis, the aristocrat who had previously used dark magic to create a cult and made himself its leader. I had heard he recently got out of prison and was now working with the Crown Prince. So he was the one who planned this.

“Oh, so you’re the kidnapper! Where is the child?!”

This was the moment I understood why he targeted me and not Sigren. This guy must hate me for ruining his life.

“You’re finally here, Lady Fiona.”

I looked around. Was he alone here?

Bill then had an eerie smile on his face. “I don’t know if you’ll like the gift I prepared for you.”

“Eri has nothing to do with this. Let her go.”

“You’re right. She has nothing to do with this.”

I waited impatiently for his next words. 

“But I am very well aware that involving a child could be a good motivation for Lady Fiona to move.”

Those words snapped me back to reality. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

He was right. When I had dealt with Bill Curtis before, I took the case seriously because of a girl who came to me. Even in the village where the diamond mine was discovered, I helped because a child had been kidnapped by bandits.

Yes, I save children. It’s natural to do so.

So now he kidnapped Eri just to get to me?

“Where is Eri?” I asked, my voice sharp.

Bill smiled leisurely. “Well, that depends on her luck. If she’s unlucky, she might be dead. If she’s lucky, she might still be alive.”

My patience snapped. I quickly walked over and grabbed Bill by his collar, dragging him away.

“Bill Curtis, how many times do I have to ask you?”

I asked one last time, my voice laced with warning. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

“Where is Eri?”

“…”

The air crackled with magic, responding to my murderous intent.

Bill Curtis seemed to sense the sharp energy as well, his body hair standing on end. Despite being weighed down by the oppressive air, he maintained his relaxed demeanor.

“Seeing you so angry… I did the right thing… It looks like you’ve made your decision…”

It had been a long time since I was this mad.

“Bill Curtis.”

Okay, I’ll admit what people say about me.

“I’m going to promise you one thing, so listen carefully.”

I have a terrible temper.

“In a little while, you’ll be begging me to kill you.”

I whispered softly.

“I promise you that will happen.”

“….”

I smiled at Bill, watching him struggle to maintain his calm facade.

Alright, let’s do this. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.

***

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