Coming out, I could finally breathe. The clear and cool air washed away the heat clinging to my body from inside the hall. My head felt clearer.

‘The Grand Duke and Arcadia must be waiting.’

I’ll have to go back inside soon, but for now, just a moment.

Let me catch my breath and gather my thoughts for a bit.

‘As I thought, that woman Cecilia was the card prepared by Lahert.’

[As you said, that foolish woman is nothing more than a means to hasten the Emperor’s abdication.]

Medeia’s words were etched in my heart.

So you brought a fake to drive the Emperor to despair again and again, all so you could become his adopted granddaughter? In this life too.

And you’ll kill me again, using my blood to transform Rucella, Medeia?

Is even an empire’s Emperor nothing but a puppet for you?

Unconsciously, I clenched my fists tightly.

‘Nubel Street 3, shop in front. Tomorrow night at 8.’

On the off chance that I go with someone or am followed, Medeia will never show herself.

I’m sorry Grand Duke, but I will handle this alone. Please forgive me for not informing you in advance.

Adjusting my formal attire, I entered the hall again.

The Grand Duke, seated at the Northern table, turned his gaze to me. I made an effort to show a nonchalant smile.

The Grand Duke did not ask what I discussed with Medeia.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, 7 PM.

After having dinner together in the banquet hall, I returned to my room and changed clothes. Into my old rags that I had headed straight to the laundry room with on my first day at the ducal residence.

Then as soon as the sun set, I slipped out the window and set off. With the Ventus video crystal preciously held in my heart.

Nubel Street 3 was a dilapidated slum.

Only a desolate wind filled the empty streets lined with shabby, low roofs packed tightly together. The only place light leaked from was a small, smelly pub at the end of the street.

I carefully entered. Inside were only a few rough-looking men.

Pulling my hat lower, I sat at a corner table and ordered a warm mug of buttered beer.

The drink I always sought out after carrying out Medeia’s assassination orders in my previous life. The sweet butter and bitter beer soothed the inexplicable emptiness.

The cheap buttered beer came out as soon as it was ordered.

I ran my hand along the warm edge of the mug. The transmitted warmth supported my heart that threatened to feel hollow again.

‘Did I come a bit early?’

No Northerners had followed me.

I deliberately didn’t tell Arcadia either. If I did, he would attach someone to me somehow. And then today’s meeting would be for naught.

Lost in thought, someone placed a star-shaped candy on my table as a snack.

“I didn’t order this.”

“Your taste is quite shabby. Your first adult drink is mere buttered beer?”

A familiar voice.

I slowly raised my head.

A red caterpillar wearing a black hooded cloak stood before me.

“Why are you here?”

At my question, he grinned.

“Aren’t I here to buy bread?”

“Right. But I didn’t expect it to be you.”

“What were you expecting? Did you really think the young lady would come to a place like this herself?”

“…Where is Lady Medeia?”

“…You’re still insolent. Daring to speak her name in a place like this.”

The red caterpillar spewed venomous hostility.

“I see. You’re right, that was my mistake. Red Caterpillar.”

When I readily admitted it, he laughed shortly.

That’s right.

To think Medeia would come directly. Have I grown too naive from being around Northerners?

She’s not one to personally visit such a place and leave traces or evidence. My sense of reality from my past life suddenly returned.

“There is no young lady by that strange name in this empire. Mereya? What an odd name.”

The red caterpillar spoke loudly on purpose, mindful of the other patrons. Even though no one was paying attention to us.

‘Meticulous as always.’

“Did you inherit the Black Bug’s position after his death?”

“You don’t need to know that, do you?”

“Since I’m not around either, I guess you were able to take over.”

I deliberately provoked him. He glared at me as if he wanted to devour me.

“…I have a name now.”

“And what would that be?”

“I can’t tell you. It’s a name the young lady specially gave only to me. A name only she and I know.”

I bit my lip slightly to hold back the derision threatening to escape.

“I see. Alright. So what bread are you selling?”

“…My words are the bread.”

“Like documents?”

“No. Listen well. When you return North, get close to Julia Nugent. I’ll send a letter later.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“The reason?”

“Asking for a reason is unlike us, no?”

“…I see. You’ve grown quite clever, Red Caterpillar.”

“I was always better suited than you. You’re too ugly to stand by the young lady’s side.”

‘I’m glad I wore my old, distorted mask.’

“Indeed.”

I readily agreed again with a smirk.

“Your smile is still quite unpleasant as ever. Well then.”

“Ah, Red Caterpillar.”

I grabbed him. He looked back at me with cold eyes.

“Do you know…who assassinated the Northern Grand Duke’s proxy?”

“Why? You don’t know either?”

“I have my guesses but wanted to confirm. The Northerners keep asking. They think I’m truly on their side.”

“The Black Bug burned to nothing anyway. If he hadn’t died like that, I would have killed him myself someday.”

“…I see.”

The red caterpillar left the pub without another word.

I quietly placed a hand on my chest. I felt the warmth of the video crystal doing its job inside my clothes.

The video crystal that receives and executes the orders I give in my mind.

‘Did you record everything? Even that guy’s expressions?’

As if answering yes, the video crystal sent a shallow stimulation to my heart.

‘Keep recording. I’m going to follow that guy now.’

Leaving the buttered beer behind, I slowly got up from my seat.

[This is the timeline separator]

After leaving money on the table and exiting, I immediately found the highest place nearby and climbed up.

Carefully scanning the area, I spotted the red caterpillar walking a few blocks away from the pub we just left.

The earlier recording alone is not enough.

To avoid the sharp-witted red caterpillar noticing that I have already ‘changed’, I couldn’t ask much.

Secretly observing with my own eyes is better than asking.

Where will that guy go?

Will he go to Medeia and report about meeting me?

What will he report about me?

Or will he meet someone else? Does he have another mission?

I moved silently from rooftop to rooftop, keeping watch on him.

He was also moving somewhere while being extremely wary of his surroundings.

‘He has something more to do.’

I could tell from intuition.

The red caterpillar walked to a remote mountain foot far from Nubel Street. I stood on a tall tree nearby and observed him.

What is he trying to do…?

After a while, someone appeared. A small person wrapped head to toe in a black cloak.

A woman. Who is it?

It was too dark to see the face under the cloak well.

I silently climbed down the tree and hid where I could see them.

The caterpillar took out a pendant connected to a long silver string. And slowly swung it in front of the cloaked woman’s eyes.

I…saw it.

“You are the Emperor’s granddaughter by blood. No one in the world can deny that truth. Believe it.”

‘!’

“Yes, I believe it. I am Emperor Dimitus’ only blood relative. My father’s name is Michael Delfast. My mother was the saint of the fallen nation Ventus, Agnes Fleur.”

…Hypnosis.

I gritted my teeth.

The caterpillar asked the woman.

“Who am I?”

“You are the Northern Grand Duke who brought me to the capital, supporting me from the shadows.”

‘!!!’

My breath caught in my throat.

This is it, Medeia. This is what you planned.

“Yes. Good girl, Cecilia.”

The red caterpillar patted Cecilia’s head.

When I was young, a hypnotist was once brought in to teach ‘hypnosis’ to us apprentice assassins, including me. At that time, the red caterpillar was the only one among us who showed talent for hypnosis.

‘You hypnotized her. That’s why that woman was so confident. You made her genuinely believe she is the Emperor’s granddaughter.’

After a while, the red caterpillar suddenly disappeared. Right after, two loud whistles sounded nearby.

Then as if waking from the hypnosis, she began to look around. And fled the scene like a frightened squirrel dropped in an unfamiliar place.

‘She’s being manipulated. Even coming here was due to prior suggestion?’

I placed a hand on my chest.

Everything that just happened was recorded in this video crystal.

‘I need to show this to His Highness. I must hurry.’

[This is the timeline separator]

I ran like the wind and arrived in front of where I needed to be – the Northern ducal residence in the capital.

But now that I was about to go in, my heart felt heavy.

I can’t enter through the main gate. Since I snuck out, I have to sneak back in too.

Fortunately, a soldier who recognized me opened the first gate on the outer perimeter of the estate. After walking the long path, I immediately headed to the garden and looked up at the window of my room on the fourth floor.

After a long sigh, I scaled the wall in one go, crawled up to the window, and descended into the room. Then without changing clothes, I only replaced my mask with a new one.

Carefully, without making a sound, I entered the corridor.

“Esther.”

At the sudden call, I froze. Looking up, I saw the Grand Duke standing under the huge chandelier in the wide open ceiling of the residence.

His room and office are right above mine.

How long had the Grand Duke been there?

In his eyes looking down at me, there was sorrow and…incomprehensible anguish.

“Your Highness.”

“Where have you been in that attire?”

His voice was terrifyingly calm and subdued.

“I have something to report to you anyway, Your Highness.”

“…”

“May I come see you now?”

“Come up.”

The Grand Duke turned and headed to his office.

His demeanor was quite cold, making me anxious. A sinking feeling in my chest.

I slowly climbed the stairs like a puppy ready to be scolded and walked to his office.

The Grand Duke was alone in the office.

Only the flames of the pechka burning quietly in the corner of the room felt like the sole thing I could lean on.

The Grand Duke stood with his side to me, facing the pechka.

Why does he look angry?

Why does he look sad?

Could it be…he knows I snuck out?

If there was any misunderstanding, I had to clear it up. I decided to speak first.

“Your Highness, just in case I had to be cautious…I went out alone secretly. There was someone I had to meet.”

The Grand Duke did not answer. He only stared at the flames in the pechka.

“…I apologize. Next time I will definitely inform you-”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t return.”

The Grand Duke said.

…What?

He was afraid? That I wouldn’t return?

“How could that be? There’s no way I wouldn’t return.”

“Is that so.”

“…”

“Esther, did you go to meet Medeia?”

“…Yes. Of course, she didn’t show up in person.”

“…Did you not consider the danger?”

The Grand Duke’s voice was different from usual. Much lower, and trembling slightly.

“I…yes. I believe I am probably stronger than you think, Your Highness. I am skilled with a sword as well.”

“That’s not what I mean!”

I was startled by the Grand Duke’s suddenly raised voice.

“I’m sorry, I apologize.”

The Grand Duke swept his large hand down his face.

“Your Highness?”

“Why…do you keep trying to jump into danger alone? You rely on me, but do you not trust me? Or do you think it doesn’t matter if you get hurt or die doing this? Is your life…trivial to you?”

He’s angry, the Grand Duke.

Because I didn’t tell him in advance? And then went to a dangerous place alone?

“It’s not that I don’t care if I die, Your Highness. I will live.”

“Medeia is more frightening than you think. The Southern Grand Duke as well.”

The deeply sunken blue eyes stared at me.

I was perplexed.

Your Highness. I brought back evidence more important than you think in the video crystal. But why…are you angry?

I took a step toward the Grand Duke. To take out the video crystal hidden in my clothes and show him.

“Your Highness, I brought something.”

But I tripped on the rug covering the floor. Normally this wouldn’t happen, but I lost my balance from the confusion. My body tilted forward.

That’s when it happened.

The Grand Duke caught me in his arms. I ended up burying my face in his chest.

Is it because of the pechka’s heat?

I should pull away but why do I feel dizzy? Was meeting the red caterpillar more tiring than I thought?

But then the Grand Duke’s large hands gripped my shoulders.

…Your Highness? Why aren’t you letting go?