I Will Live for Your Death (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 100

“Has our meeting here… all along been part of a plan? Exactly as Her Imperial Majesty the Empress intended?”

Since things had come this far, Ilyd confessed everything about having drawn the Licas Mercenary Company into the festival.

Lynette, who already knew the truth, nodded leisurely and murmured,

“All the central figures from the commotion at Clover Tavern have gathered here.”

Alice stared alternately at the mercenary captain—who had become the Empress’s ‘shadow’—and Ilyd, then pressed her fingers to her forehead. After a brief sigh of astonishment, all that remained was laughter. A deflated sound slipped out of her mouth involuntarily.

“Captain Rivel, did you expect this? You seem far too calm…”

He blinked slowly, affirmatively, as steady as someone who already knew all the details. It almost seemed as though Alice’s being a woman mattered more to him than the revealed truth itself.

A momentary silence settled among those who now shared the secret. Perhaps wanting to break the awkwardness, Alice deliberately spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Then shall we perform a little ceremony to seal our shared secret? Lady-in-waiting. Just a moment.”

Alice approached Lynette and whispered something. Lynette’s expression grew subtly complicated as she listened quietly. After glancing discreetly at Ilyd and Rivel behind them, she quickly stepped out with Alice.

When they returned, both carried an unfamiliar glass bottle and four teacups.

“I fetched them myself—didn’t want the maids to see and start spreading odd rumors. Though teacups aren’t exactly fitting for drinking alcohol…”

“It feels like a smokescreen, and I like it. As if we’ve already accomplished something—and will accomplish more ahead.”

Though they’d worked together for mere hours, Alice and Lynette moved in perfect harmony, as if they’d known each other for ages. Since alcohol in a teacup didn’t magically become tea, there was no issue at all.

“But Miss Alice—how did you even get alcohol in here?”

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