Chapter 25
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Murim Dragon (Revised Edition)
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25.
Eirana exchanged a few more words with Tersus before heading back to the inn where she was staying.
Winzers was tied up with official duties and had gone to the palace, leaving Jedmon alone to visit Tersus—more precisely, Ross—to hear the results of the interview.
"Where did you say she's from?"
"Northern region, Beldue Marquisate."
Jedmon stroked his chin at Ross's words.
"What do you make of her, Sir Ross?"
Ross picked up the teacup before him and replied flatly to Jedmon's question.
"She's far more impressive than you think."
"More than I think?"
"Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince sized her up with terrifying accuracy."
Jedmon's face registered surprise at Ross's words.
Ross was a mage.
More precisely, a magic scholar.
Mana simply wouldn't heed him.
That was the situation known publicly about him.
Yet no one in the kingdom dared dismiss him.
The magical theories he devised left even the palace sorcerers in awe.
Moreover, as the crown prince's closest confidant, his knack for spotting talent was unparalleled.
That was precisely why Winzers and Jedmon had entrusted him with Eirana's interview.
In fact, a great many of the prince's aides had come on Ross's recommendation.
"Does she seem trustworthy?"
Ross paused to consider Jedmon's question.
Then, in a grave tone, he replied.
"No hidden agenda, at the very least. She's got nothing to do with the current mess."
Jedmon nodded.
The kingdom appeared peaceful from the outside, but power struggles had left the inside in turmoil.
Five years ago, after the king collapsed from illness, his younger brother—the Grand Duke Albesro—had thrust the second prince to the forefront, pitting his faction against Crown Prince Winzers's in a tense standoff.
The unsavory incidents plaguing the capital were mere ripples from that undercurrent.
Eirana stood utterly apart from it all.
"How about slipping her a cover identity and keeping her close?"
"A cover identity... you mean?"
Jedmon echoed hesitantly.
Cover identities.
Assumed by the elites Winzers had personally selected, to station them at his side.
Ready to become his blade at a moment's notice.
'Sir Ross speaks so highly of her—she must be something special.'
Jedmon muttered to himself before asking.
"Then what role should we give her?"
Cover identities worked best when inconspicuous, like a maidservant.
Ross grinned at the question.
"She mentioned wanting to be a tutor."
Jedmon's reaction was priceless.
Back at the inn, Eirana headed straight to her room and stretched languidly.
Then, silver light emanated from the back of her left hand, ebony from her right, and patterns materialized on each.
A tiger adorned the left; a soaring dragon, the right.
Proof of her contracts with Silver Fang and Black Fang.
- Master, up to something?
Eirana smirked at Silver Fang's query.
"Yeah. Looks like I'm tangled in something pretty convoluted."
A few days later, a palace errand boy arrived to fetch her.
He explained she'd be residing in the palace henceforth.
Eirana was taken aback.
Upon reaching Jedmon's palace annex, she was ushered into the very reception room from before.
This time, servants bustled about the place.
Soon after she arrived, Jedmon entered and took the seat opposite.
"Good to see you again."
Eirana propped her chin on her hand and stared him down.
Jedmon met her gaze.
"I assume your presence here means you're willing to serve under His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"What exactly would that entail?"
She asked, puzzled.
Jedmon shrugged it off casually.
"Fixer."
"Fixer?"
"Indeed. Lately, unsavory business has cropped up across the kingdom, capital included."
His expression grew somber.
"Trifles for now, but left to fester, they could unsettle the populace. You'll also dig up dirt on His Highness's rivals."
"I said no to dirty work."
Jedmon chuckled.
"We've got people for that. Consider yourself part of His Highness's private knight order."
'That old gentleman's got real pull.'
Slotting a total stranger into the crown prince's private knights.
It spoke volumes about Ross's standing.
"Hence, the need for a cover."
Eirana nodded; Ross had prepped her on this.
"We're assigning you as a palace maid."
"Maid?"
She scowled at the unforeseen twist.
"Yes, maid."
"I want to be a tutor."
Jedmon gave a wry smile at her petulant protest.
"Ross mentioned your request... but a tutor coming and going from the palace draws too many eyes."
"A maid's got bigger problems."
"How so?"
"Way more conspicuous."
Jedmon looked utterly baffled at her casual gripe.
"We'll see once you start. If it's the duties worrying you, relax. Nothing like what the regular maids do."
"......"
"Speaking of, we'll be colleagues, but I haven't met the rest yet."
Eirana sighed inwardly.
No choice but to drive the point home myself.
She doffed her hood.
Silver tresses cascaded, seizing his gaze; Jedmon's face tightened.
Beauty beyond imagining left him gaping.
"Yeah... maid won't fly."
He muttered reluctantly, sighing.
With looks like that, a maid's role would spotlight her, just as she'd warned.
Even Jedmon, seasoned central noble with his share of women, stood spellbound.
Oblivious to the foul temper lurking beneath, he grappled with the dilemma.
Eirana, chin in hand, shot him a lopsided smirk.
"Tutor, please."
"Imagine you as tutor," Jedmon replied to her listless tone. "But it'd have to be someone in the palace."
Handing her a tutor cover was simple.
His introduction letter alone would land her in a top house.
The hitch: palace access for missions.
Stealthy or not, frequent visits drew notice.
Couldn't billet an unrelated stranger as a guest.
'There is one way to tutor inside the palace...'
But such weighty responsibility for her?
Jedmon mulled it over.
"Hold on a moment."
He stepped out; Eirana yawned, slumping boredly.
"Cover identity?"
Winzers knit his brow.
"Yes."
"Just slot her in like always."
Winzers handled documents, tone flat—what's the issue?
He'd gotten Ross's endorsement on Eirana.
Having witnessed her prowess lately, he coveted her skills.
Ross scouted; Jedmon placed.
First time Jedmon consulted on a new hire's post.
"Too striking for maid cover."
"Scarred face or what?"
"Better if she were."
Jedmon's troubled look piqued Winzers.
"That conspicuous?"
"Yes."
"Pretty?"
"Your Highness."
Jedmon's tone firmed.
Winzers snickered, reclining.
"Any preference from her?"
Jedmon hesitated.
"Tutor."
"Tutor?"
Winzers grinned at the odd wish.
"Yes."
"And?"
"Lady Lea's tutor?"
"Lea's?"
Winzers frowned.
"Anything solid on her?"
"Nothing verified."
"Reasons?"
Jedmon faced the prince's stern query.
"Ross vouches for her. Says she'd make an excellent tutor."
"Ross?"
Winzers echoed, eyebrows raised.
"Hmm."
He pondered.
Ross: top talent among confidants, utterly reliable.
Never a misstep following his counsel.
Cautious, no hot air.
His backing carried weight.
"Meet her again, then decide."
Jedmon nodded.
Eirana silently regarded her employer once more.
Hooded, unintimidated, staring vacantly—Winzers eyed her with keen interest.
Jedmon sighed curtly.
"Miss Eirana."
She caught the drift, peeling off her hood with mild irritation.
Winzers whistled softly at the reveal.
"Well now. Lovelier than expected."
"Ah, sure."
Her reply dripped apathy.
First-timers all said it.
Heck, she'd endured it back in male form too.
Nothing novel.
"Heard you want tutor as cover."
"Yes."
"Think you've got what it takes to teach?"
She cocked her head—not probing, just sorting thoughts.
After a beat.
"Plenty qualified to instruct someone younger."
"Hmm..."
Winzers rubbed his chin, locking eyes silently before speaking.
"The student's a handful. Still game?"
"Who?"
"This kingdom's princess."
"......"
"My sister."
She blinked at his smiling reveal.
Post-interview, Eirana gone, Jedmon queried.
"Truly hiring her for Her Highness the Princess's tutor?"
"You hired her as tutor."
"Fair, but... unease lingers."
Jedmon sighed.
Handing a stranger the princess's tutelage.
Politically toothless, yet symbolically potent.
Winzers heirless—if crisis struck and Princess Lea bore a son, he'd rival top succession.
Her value loomed large.
"She'll manage. Personality's no ordinary thing."
Winzers chuckled; Jedmon pictured her.
Strong aura, clear as day.
"Something tells me she'll shine. Trust Ross's judgment."
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