As dark as the backside of light.

As a place where illegal activities took place, it was busier at night compared to the quiet daytime. Of course, the shops were formally open during daylight hours, but actual customers were scarce.

Today, like usual, the man who had the guild door open and was dozing off at his desk heard the sound of the paper vibrating on the door and suddenly stood up.

“Welcome―”

Upon opening the door and seeing the guest who entered, the man’s eyes once again showed boredom.
A guest who arrived in broad daylight was wearing a hooded robe that covered their face, making it hard to see, but judging by the physique and the impression visible, it was clear that they were a woman.

The man, who was tense at the guest’s arrival, relaxed a bit. The requests from young female clients were usually trivial and annoying tasks. They often involved following a seemingly unfaithful husband, collecting evidence, or identifying the other woman. Moreover, the economic power was generally held by men, so the money that women could afford to be flexible with was not much, and naturally, the fees for their requests were relatively low.

Accepting those meager fees meant risking getting entangled in a dangerous situation. Especially the woman in front of him didn’t seem to be dressed expensively.

Thinking that this client would be the same, the man, with a weary expression on his face, asked, “What task do you want to assign?”

“I want someone to be surveilled. The fee will be quite generous.”

The woman abruptly placed a hefty pouch on the counter. It was a pouch filled with gold coins.

The man, who had expected a small amount or some shabby jewelry, widened his eyes.

“This is the cost for the surveillance and an advance payment. The amount will increase with each additional task.”

While swallowing hard at the large sum compared to the request, the man couldn’t hide his suspicious gaze as he asked, “Do you really have the ability to pay more for the fee?”
Then, the woman silently pulled something out of her embrace.

“Would this be a measure of trust?”

“This is…”

The man was surprised to see what the woman presented.

A badge symbolizing a deity.

It was a mark granted only to priests chosen by the deity, possessing sacredness.

As priests, they held a clear status within the temple, and, in addition, received substantial wages every month. Therefore, it could prove the woman’s ability to pay the requested fee.

“Who is the subject of surveillance?”

The man’s tone suddenly became polite.

After a moment of hesitation, the woman revealed a familiar name from beneath her hooded robe.

“Please surveil Lady Blair Delmarque, the Duchess of Hyndelmark. Keep an eye on whom she meets and where she goes.”

The man swallowed hard. The name that flowed from the woman’s lips was no ordinary one.

“I will visit every week, so report then.”

Having completed the request, the woman turned and left the guild. The carriage waiting in front started moving as soon as she boarded.

Only then did the woman remove the hood of her robe. Through the revealed hood, dazzling silver hair flowed down.

Miella, having now come out to the square, gazed at the scenery outside the carriage.

The sunlight was warm, and the wind was refreshing. It felt as if the deity was watching over her. Everything seemed to give a sense of well-being.

“There’s no one who doesn’t have dust when shaken. With this, I might find a way to rescue the Duke from an unhappy marriage.”
At that moment when Miella was holding hopeful expectations, the carriage stopped. It seemed that another carriage was passing by in front.

Miella, who had been watching outside the stopped carriage, absentmindedly shifted her gaze to the carriage next to her.

And there, she unexpectedly found someone.

“…The Duchess?”

Although her face was not clearly visible as she was turned, talking to the person next to her, it was undoubtedly Blair’s profile.

And the person next to her was a stranger, not Herdin.

The uncommonly handsome man with a smiling face was engaged in conversation with Blair.

Unable to take her eyes off the unexpected situation, Miella suddenly made eye contact with the man who had been looking at Blair. At the same time, the man’s gaze chilled.

Blair, who noticed the change in his gaze, was about to turn towards Miella when the approaching man pulled the carriage curtain.

Eventually, the previously still carriage departed and moved away.

Miella, who had been staring blankly at the passing carriage, finally realized.

This was an opportunity.

The place Mihael arrived with her was a small villa located in the outskirts of the island’s forest.

“Some nobles rent such villas under the pretext of business to enjoy extramarital affairs,” Mihael briefly explained to Blair, who was curiously looking around the villa, before getting off the carriage first and escorting her.