Chapter 81
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81
During her childhood, the tutor her grandfather brought home was a commoner named Theresia, a woman with sunset-red hair. By day, Theresia taught her the Norfolk Common Language, but at night, when everyone else was asleep, she would secretly wander the grounds. Though no one else seemed to know of her nightly excursions, Seo-ah could always sense her movements.
One day, Seo-ah asked why she wandered around so much at night. Her tutor looked surprised, then muttered something in the Norfolk Common Language. Theresia must have thought the young Seo-ah wouldn't understand, but she had understood perfectly.
"She inherited her father's abilities exactly."
Seo-ah also knew instinctively that "father" did not refer to her grandfather.
Only later did she realize Theresia had been searching for her biological father. As Theresia followed his trail, she would sometimes fall into despair.
"Is he dead? Is he really dead?"
But she would quickly shake her head, clearing her thoughts.
"No. If he's alive, he will definitely come here."
Theresia had raised her enemy's daughter just to wait for him, and more than a decade later, her words came true.
Her desperate prayer that her biological father was no longer of this world had been shattered that day.
"If he wishes, he can become an old woman on the verge of death, or a young man. He is a master of disguise, so you must never judge him by his appearance."
Theresia had chosen Seo-ah to wait for him.
And Seo-ah had chosen Oscar.
Since she didn't know what her father looked like, her only option was to make him come to her.
The woman before her was clearly fascinated. While the locals might find her appearance strange, her biological father would surely recognize her. Her best bet was to increase the odds of being seen. As long as it wasn't a place that threatened her life, she had no reason to refuse.
"You're coming, right?" Sabine asked, her voice full of expectation.
Seo-ah tore her eyes away from Abel and looked at her.
Abel tightened his grip on her wrist slightly.
She felt a pang of guilt for him, but following a woman like Sabine was far more appealing than shopping for winter clothes in a nearly empty store.
A single glance was enough to tell this woman was extraordinary—not the kind of person one simply ran into on the street. A private, invitation-only venue would surely be filled with people of her standing. Without accepting her invitation, it would be next to impossible for her to gain entry to such a gathering.
A calm, sharp gleam flickered in Seo-ah's eyes. She slowly opened her mouth.
"Very well."
Sabine's expression brightened instantly. With a radiant, carefree smile, she stepped closer and casually nudged Abel aside.
"Good choice. We can buy the clothes later, right?"
Before Seo-ah could answer, Sabine turned, pulling her along, and tossed a casual remark back at the sidelined Abel.
"You can come along too."
Over Sabine's shoulder, Seo-ah saw Abel staring at her. He looked as if he had a great deal to say.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"..."
"I asked what your name is."
"My name is Seo-ah."
"Oh my! Seo-ah? I've never heard a name like that before!"
"..."
"Then what is this tied to your hair?"
"It's called a daenggi."
"That's so hard to pronounce. Say it again."
The Backup Team, who had been hiding in various spots to monitor Seo-ah, let out collective groans the moment they saw her being led away by Sabine.
"Of all people, why her..."
Although a grim-faced Abel followed behind them, there was little he could do right now, given that the one leading Seo-ah away was Sabine von Jerome.
"The pronunciation is so lovely! But where are you from? You're not from Luxen, are you?"
"..."
"Ah, is it hard to say? Well, whatever. Oh, and just in case, when we enter the exhibition hall and you need to call me, address me as 'My Lady.' Got it?"
Sabine smiled brightly like a sheltered princess, marveling with pure innocence while keeping her arm firmly linked with Seo-ah's. Any pretense of politeness vanished; she tossed Seo-ah's name around casually while forbidding Seo-ah from using hers—a natural, effortless assertion of superiority.
This woman likely belonged to the highest echelon of society, possessing a deep-seated sense of privilege. The fact that she was personally escorting Seo-ah, rather than sending a servant, meant she undoubtedly intended to use her for some covert purpose.
A covert purpose. How on earth did she intend to use me?
A cold tension coiled in her gut. The stronger it grew, the more Seo-ah steeled herself and followed Sabine. They walked down the hallway, climbed the stairs, and finally stepped onto the staircase leading to the top floor.
"Sabine!"
At the top of the stairs stood several young noble ladies who had been waiting for her. Sabine, who had been holding tightly to Seo-ah's arm, let go instantly, as if she had never touched her.
"Julia!"
Leaving Seo-ah behind, Sabine ran up the stairs and shared warm embraces with the young ladies waiting for her.
"Thank you for coming. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you all to arrive?"
"We should have come earlier. Mother will be here later."
"Really? I'm so glad! And this looks absolutely stunning on you!"
"You're the one who picked it out for me. It's all thanks to your wonderful taste."
As Sabine exchanged greetings with the beautifully dressed and bejeweled young ladies, she noticed their gazes drifting toward the stairs and smiled.
Her gaze shifted to Seo-ah.
The blond man had moved to stand beside her.
So what? It's not like I'm doing anything wrong.
"Seo-ah!"
At the cheerful call, the young woman, who had paused for a moment, raised her head.
Sabine burst into a laugh and gestured to her.
"Hurry up!"
Watching the scene in secret, the Backup Team leader clicked his tongue. He scratched his head before finally giving an order to one of his team members.
"Go report to His Excellency that Count Jerome's daughter has taken the target to the exhibition."
*
Meanwhile, at the Luxen Royal Palace.
Leopold von Hilbert, head of the Hilbert royal family and the twenty-fifth King of Luxen, stood on a circular dais with an expressionless face.
Thirty minutes had passed since the scheduled time for the State Council meeting, yet he remained entirely unhurried.
Around him on the dais, attendants moved busily, helping the King dress. One was on his knees polishing the King's shoes, while another adjusted the insignia on his jacket.
Throughout this, no one dared to even breathe too loudly. The King was intimidating enough, but the watchful, monitoring gaze of the Chief Lady-in-Waiting was truly terrifying.
Just then, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting, who had been observing the King's dressing from a short distance away, took a step forward.
The palace maids secretly called her the phantom of the royal palace.
While the maids' attire was strictly regulated, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting's was not. As long as it did not violate protocol, she was free to wear whatever clothes or jewelry she pleased.
Yet, she always maintained the exact same appearance.
Her hair, swept up completely, was always secured with a plain, unadorned pin, and her high-collared dress, reminiscent of a priest's robe, remained identical except for the fabric changing with the seasons. Combined with her emotionless expression and freezing tone, she was like a walking chill.
However, there was another, more decisive reason she was known as the "phantom."
"Eek!"
The maid adjusting the insignia on the King's chest gasped in fright at the sudden, silent approach of the Chief Lady-in-Waiting.
On the uncarpeted marble corridors, one might at least hear the click of her heels, but on the plush carpets, her movements were imperceptible unless one saw her with their own eyes.
"I-I am sorry."
Chilled to the bone by the Chief Lady-in-Waiting's fierce glare, the maid quickly bowed her head and stepped aside. But the moment she took a step back, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Ah!"
The one who had grabbed the retreating maid's arm was King Leopold.
"Your Majesty..."
Before her pitifully trembling voice could fade, her head was jerked backward.
Instantly shifting his grip from her arm to the back of her hair, Leopold stared down at her with an expressionless face.
The only remarkable feature on his otherwise plain face was his rare, pink eyes. Quietly feeling the texture of the hair in his grasp, Leopold slowly lowered his gaze. His eyes traced down her slender neck and shoulders, finally resting on her rather ample chest.
"Hmm..."
The maid whose hair was held in his grip didn't dare make a sound, and the same went for the other maids. They bowed their heads, not daring to look at the King.
Even in an era where monarchies were crumbling, the royal family was still the royal family, and the King remained at the pinnacle of power. Within the palace walls, the world was no different from the days of absolute monarchy.
A sharp, blade-like silence filled the room.
The silence was broken only when the King released the maid's hair with a rough toss.
The King looked straight ahead again as if nothing had happened, and the Chief Lady-in-Waiting gestured for the maids to leave. Receiving her signal, they quickly gathered their things, helped their dazed colleague, and hurried out of the King's chamber.
The Chief Lady-in-Waiting inspected the King's overall appearance with a critical eye. Only after wiping away a single speck of dust that had settled on his polished shoes with a cloth did she step back and speak.
"You are ready, Your Majesty."
Stepping down from the dais, Leopold placed a cigarette between his lips. Seeing this, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting immediately struck a match and offered him a light. Acrid smoke rose from the tip of the King's cigarette.