“Lady Emelaine seemed hysterical lately, probably due to depression.”

“Miss Arias looks heavily affected.”

“Is Lady Igraine not sad? She doesn’t shed a single tear.”

I smiled inwardly.

Of course not. She’s not sad.

Lady Emelaine is dead, but thankfully, Jenny is alive. That’s the only sentiment I have.

‘I shouldn’t even think about a funeral for the deceased.’

With dry eyes, I watched the flowers falling on Lady Emelaine’s coffin.

The day Jenny died became the moment one of the Lorence family, who tormented her, died.

“Stop crying, Arias. You might collapse if you keep going.”

I met eyes with Hubert, comforting the sobbing Arias.

Wearing a well-fitted black suit, he looked remarkably slim and gentle. He sent a faint smile with his pale face.

Although I might not be the only one who doesn’t find Lady Emelaine’s death sad, admiration arose for his face that looked sad to anyone.

The wailing Arias and the sorrowful smile of Hubert were so well-matched that I almost burst into laughter.

Since Hubert didn’t look away, I lifted the corners of my mouth and returned the smile.

Just then, his acquaintance called him. As soon as our eyes separated, he erased the smile.

‘Even though Jenny is unharmed, it still feels uneasy.’

Staged death. A deliberately mournful funeral.

‘It’s not the end. Maybe a beginning.’

Seeing the drink in front of me made me thirsty. Water wouldn’t do. I wanted to pour myself some alcohol.

One of the shadows in the Empire who came to this unknown kingdom was just three.

They couldn’t help but rely on each other. However, Sinue was captured. Since then, anger erupted incessantly.

I wanted to forget Sinue, who must be suffering, even if it meant drinking alcohol, but Jacques opened his eyes wide and endured it.

‘Empire soldiers didn’t move. I knew because I was watching. Then who the hell interfered with our affairs?’

Giovanni kept coming to mind.

I only half-listened to Arias’ words that indicated Igraine’s involvement. How could a mere woman interfere with the Dark Ceremony?

‘I should consider that the 5th Prince noticed us.’

I wanted to chew and tear it apart thoroughly!

My teeth grinded. I didn’t care about anything else, but it hurt to see Sinue dragged into the underground prison of the palace.

Only three people were involved in infiltrating the kingdom. If one was missing, it would cause a significant setback in the future plans.

“Ugh!”

I turned my head. Sanchai was tormenting the priest he kidnapped.

“Jacques, Sinue must be in pain right now. Like this guy.”

“Yeah. If it’s him, he could endure the torture of the kingdom’s fools for days. Damn it.”

“……. ”

“In the worst case, we might have to kill Sinue ourselves.”

Jacques swept his hair away irritably.

“No matter how much I think about it, things haven’t gone wrong on our end. Clearly, that woman is the problem.”
Aris Dorensia. The first target.

“[Kidnapping a princess, don’t bring up such words in the future. Leaving that aside, what if your comrade decides to talk? A retired soldier who completed military training. It won’t be easy to make him spill the beans, right? Huh?]”

Jacques twisted his face.

“Disgusting woman. I’ll use her to the bone.”

Sanchai asked, “Regarding the orders from above?”

Jacques hesitated and took out a letter from his pocket.

“With the failure of the mission and Sinue being captured, there won’t be any good news.”

The merciless nature of Lord Rocky came to mind, and my lips dried up.

As I unfolded the tightly rolled black leather, a short piece of paper appeared, just like before.

Jacques and Sanchai’s eyes turned to the writing on the paper.

Again, a short phrase. However, the impact of that single word was by no means small.

Destroy the glory.

In the Empire, there was only one representing glory.

Giovanni Doveracan.

Lord Rocky ordered the assassination of Giovanni.

Paak!

The paper in Jacques’s hand was crumpled mercilessly.

“Jacques?”

When Sanchai glanced, Jacques’s eyes trembled slightly.

“It’s worse than I thought.”

Ordering the assassination of Giovanni, the Empire’s top warrior, was equivalent to telling him to die.

It was an order bearing the blame for the failed princess kidnapping.

“Jigerol, do you have any intention of dying willingly?”

“Jacques, are you going to do it?”

“Yeah. I consider it an opportunity. This is the last chance.”

Because if he fails, he’ll die.

As tension permeated, the heart solidified, and the unique venom of the desert people rose in the dark eyes.

‘Complete this mission. Definitely!’

“Do you think you can succeed?”

“What?”

A spacious bed with a soft blanket spread out. A young man with a long cigarette in his mouth emitted hazy smoke.

The woman, with rich hair gathered into one, meticulously combed the young man’s long and winding black hair with a thin comb, unaffected by the smoke tickling her face.

She had a very beautiful appearance with large eye pupils.