Chapter 2

Having monopolized the youngest princess's favor, everyone is now fixated on me (2) (2/247)

* * *

Though I told Jade that, in fact, I had an unbreakable bond with the Elard family.

If I had to be precise, it was more like a cursed connection.

The Duke of Elard, known as the sword of the Laxten Empire, was a man whose reputation was so fearsome that even a crying child would stop in an instant.

But I know that he is not just a rumor; he is truly a terrifying person.

Even after ten years, I cannot forget his blade-like gaze and his decisions that showed no mercy.

Thinking about those times won't change what I have to do today.

"Find out who the guest visiting the Elard family tonight is and what they are discussing with the Duke."

I looked at the massive main building with its blue roof and white exterior, the annexes beside it, and the high, sturdy walls surrounding them, and I reminded myself of today's mission.

I felt sweat gathering in my hands, so I repeatedly clenched and unclenched them, then let out a short breath.

I was nervous, but the thought that I had finally been recognized by my master and colleagues, who had always belittled my skills and excluded me from difficult missions, made me feel elated.

I wanted to complete this mission perfectly to firmly prove my worth.

'If I don't get recognized here, I feel like my spirit will be completely broken...'

I didn't want to experience being cast aside again.

Suppressing the deep-seated desire that rose in my heart, I turned my head to observe the guards.

'Really, all the Lexion knights are here? What kind of guest could it be...?'

Even though I already knew this information from Jade, I couldn't help but tilt my head.

The number of guards and knights protecting the mansion was fewer than usual, but they were not ordinary knights; they were all the silver wolves, the pride of the Elard family, the Lexion knights.

'Still, I'm confident.'

Without much hesitation, I pulled up my mask to cover my face.

I moved my internal mana to hide my presence as if I had melted into the air and entrusted my body to the darkness.

In an instant, as if teleporting, I passed through the walls of the mansion, crossed the vast maze garden, and hid myself behind the mansion's main building, passing the silver wolf statue and the large fountain that symbolized the Elard family.

Looking through the large arched windows, the mansion was as dark as if it had been swallowed by the night.

'Why is it so quiet?'

Compared to a few months ago, when I infiltrated the Elard family's treasure, Diana's birthday party, as a maid, it was eerily quiet, making it hard to believe that guests were coming.

If the guards were not all Lexion knights, I would have thought I had come for nothing.

Then, I saw a black carriage with no emblem enter from the back door.

A moment later, two figures emerged from the carriage, both completely covered in black robes.

Judging by their tall stature, they seemed to be men, but their faces were hidden by the hoods.

After observing for a while to identify the guests, I took a deep breath.

'I thought the butler or a servant would greet the guests!'

The one who came out to open the mansion door was the Duke of Elard, himself.

But I didn't have much time to think.

The mysterious guests, the Duke of Elard, and the butler and advisor who followed them quickly disappeared into the mansion.

I immediately began tracking their movements from outside the mansion.

They moved very secretly and quickly, heading to the third floor of the main building where the Duke's office was located.

'Could they be plotting a rebellion?'

That was my immediate thought.

I had a premonition that I had stumbled upon something significant.

As expected, upon arriving at the Duke's office, they immediately drew the curtains and checked the security, but I secretly opened the window and peeked through the gap in the curtains without anyone noticing.

Just as one of the men in the robes was about to remove his hood,

"Who are you?"

I felt the sharp presence of a sword from behind.

With a natural talent for hiding my presence, I was also very sensitive to others' movements.

For someone to get so close without me noticing was surprising.

"If you don't reveal your identity, I will kill you."

The low voice made my heart race.

'No way,' I thought, and with the determination not to be caught, I didn't even turn my head and climbed up to the roof.

Soon, the sound of a flute came from behind, and immense energies began to move simultaneously.

'Damn, he's calling the wolves.'

It seemed the Lexion knights, known as some of the best in the empire, had started their pursuit.

Before the knights could get close, I was caught by the person who had spotted me from the family's tower.

The cold sensation on my neck made me slowly kneel.

The person who had drawn his sword from behind and now stood in front of me, the moonlight moved as if by fate.

"......!"

The dazzling silver hair and the blue eyes visible between the strands.

In front of me stood someone I never wanted to meet in such a situation.

The incredibly beautiful man, the eldest son of the Elard family, Lucio Elard.

'What is he doing here?'

Jade had clearly said that Lucio had left for the duchy today, leaving the mansion empty.

If I had known he was here, I would have prepared much more thoroughly before infiltrating.

'Given that Terentium is known for handling only accurate information, it can't be wrong...'

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind, and my head went blank.

'They deliberately gave me false information.'

Shock and a sense of betrayal drained the strength from my body.

I knew Jade hated me, but I never thought she would push me to such an extreme.

Still, we had been colleagues for eight years...

'What a heartless bastard!'

The faces of the officers and my master flashed through my mind.

The time I had struggled to gain recognition.

The thin thread of belonging that had been tenuously holding on suddenly snapped.

Lucio raised his sword and swung it quickly.

A light breeze blew, and the mask that had been loosely hanging on my nose was cut in half, revealing my face.

"......You."

Lucio's blue eyes widened and then began to tremble as if caught in the wind.

Feeling the intense turmoil in his gaze, I was greatly startled.

'Could he recognize me?'

There was no way he could remember me, a common brown-haired, brown-eyed person.

Moreover, I had only seen Lucio from a distance, and he hadn't seen me in nearly ten years.

To him, I was just a beggar he had shown a moment of pity to.

So there was no way he could recognize me.

"Exactly why are you here..."

His voice was trembling.

Seeing Lucio's confusion for the first time, I couldn't hide my own shock.

From the way he was looking at me, I could sense that he knew me.

Realizing this, I felt tears welling up.

Lucio was the only person who had shown me kindness during my most destitute and insignificant times.

And I couldn't bear to show him this side of me.

Desperately reciting the summoning spell in my mind, I soon held a handful of powder in my hand.

'The special powder developed by Terentium can obscure the opponent's vision and all senses for a short time, allowing me to escape in this situation...'

Puuuk!

At that moment, my body froze before I could sprinkle the powder.

Lowering my head slowly, I saw the sword that had pierced me from behind.

Focused on the person in front of me, I hadn't thought about the Lexion knights pursuing me from behind.

To them, who were skilled at reading mana and sensing presence, my act of summoning the powder might have looked like an attack on the young duke.

Numerous mistakes, lapses in judgment, and regrets flashed through my mind...

"Kuh..."

I clamped my mouth shut.

Blood dripped between my fingers.

"Lea...!"

Even as my vision blurred, Lucio's voice calling my name sounded unfamiliar.

I had never imagined hearing my name from his lips.

At that moment, a faint sound and a powerful mana wave I had never felt before shook my entire body.

And a moment later.

As the world turned black and I closed my eyes, one fact came to mind.

I had never told Lucio my name...

* * *

How much time had passed?

I could feel my heart pounding roughly.

'At least I didn't die.'

Even though I might face severe torture in the future, I was satisfied to be alive.

Survival was my top priority, as I had no family or anything to lose.

But apart from that, the betrayal by my colleagues, whom I had considered family, still didn't seem real.

I wanted to think it was just Jade's impulsive action, but who knows?

'Will other people recognize you just because you do this?'

'I can never be a good person to you. So don't delude yourself, no matter what others say.'

'Remember, Lea. Never trust me.'

Why did Master's words, which he used to say like a mantra, come to mind at this moment?

He was the one who saved me from the streets, from the rain where I was dying.

He was also the one who pushed me to my limits with harsh words and unbearable training.

But I had never taken his words at face value.

I thought he was just trying to make me stronger.

'But now, I'm not so sure.'

As a tear streamed down my closed eyes, I felt lost, wondering what to do next.

'But how did I survive?'

I had clearly seen the sword pierce my heart.

It would have been strange not to die instantly, and even with good luck, survival seemed impossible.

Most importantly, the intense pain I felt when I was stabbed had left no trace.

Trying to assess the situation, I quickly got up and frowned at the creaking metal sound.

It was a sound I hated the most in the world.

When I was young, I hated the cheap bed in the orphanage so much that the first thing I bought with my saved salary was a soft bed...

"Huh!"

The musty smell, the torn curtains, the rolling dust, and the old, cracked walls.

Seeing the same scene as the place I had never forgotten, I clamped my mouth shut and was startled again, looking at my hands.

"What, what is this!"

Seeing my small, dry hands dripping with blood, I was so shocked that I couldn't speak.

After a while, my mouth, which had been frozen in shock, finally opened.

"Did I come back...?"