Chapter 86 — Assassin in the Palace
Chapter 86 — Assassin in the Palace
Translation: Godtl
'An assassin in the imperial palace!'
Could Cedric and Prince Damian have sent him? Then it made sense. With the princes' permission, infiltrating the imperial palace would have been easy.
Or perhaps he was an imperial knight to begin with.
But the intruder was skilled enough to infiltrate without any trace or sound.
Most knights aren't trained with assassination as their priority, so this person was probably a professionally trained assassin.
Lelia gulped, feeling the cold blade against her skin.
She slowly raised her lowered eyelids to look at her assailant.
He wore black clothes. Though she couldn't see clearly, he didn't seem to be wearing a mask.
'To infiltrate the imperial palace without even covering his face.'
He seemed to be someone who had absolute confidence in his skills.
That was when she had that thought.
The wind blew through the curtains of the open window, revealing the assassin's face.
The man's bare face, illuminated by moonlight, glowed faintly.
Ah…!
Lelia unconsciously exclaimed in admiration.
It felt as if she were being enchanted by something.
The assassin looked like a demon from hell who, it was said, disguised himself in the form of an angel to steal the souls of the dead.
According to legend, that demon possessed a beauty more exquisite and noble than any angel. But its eyes were said to be as red as a demon's….
Belatedly realizing who he was, Lelia's body froze. Goosebumps rose all over her.
"Oscar…."
As Lelia called his name, he narrowed his eyes slightly. The corner of his mouth rose, ever so faintly.
"I kept thinking something was strange."
Oscar's low voice was as gentle and warm as a dream.
But the sword pointed at her throat was dangerously close, as if it would pierce her neck at any moment.
"So there's something I wanted to experiment with."
"……."
Oscar murmured words that Lelia couldn't understand.
'Why is Oscar….'
Is he really trying to kill me?
Her heart pounded wildly. She absolutely couldn't die like this.
Just then, Oscar's gaze turned toward Lelia's bed. He seemed to be looking at the rabbit doll she had been holding moments ago.
In that instant, Lelia quickly struck Oscar's wrist away and tried to push him back.
But Oscar didn't budge, as if he were a massive stone pillar.
In an instant, their positions changed.
Lelia gasped, inhaling sharply.
Both her wrists were seized, and before she knew it, Oscar's face was right in front of hers.
He looked down, glaring into Lelia's eyes. The red eyes before her were filled with murderous intent.
"Let go of me…!"
Lelia struggled.
She was ready to scream if necessary. If Romeo or Kalix heard and came, they would stop Oscar.
But at those words, an even fiercer flame rose in Oscar's eyes.
"Why on earth are you doing this…!"
Lelia's words couldn't continue. Oscar had covered her lips as if to devour them.
At the sudden kiss, Lelia's eyes grew even wider.
She pushed him away with all her strength.
Fortunately, this time Oscar stepped back without resistance.
Lelia exhaled, looking at Oscar with startled eyes.
What in the world is this….
Her heart raced wildly.
"Will you still not speak even now?"
Having done such a crazy thing, Oscar laughed as if it were absurd. His eyes were strange.
Seeing his glassy, gleaming eyes, Lelia thought Oscar had lost his mind.
There was such madness in his eyes that she wondered if he had been injured somewhere during the subjugation campaign.
Lelia was confused.
Why was Oscar acting like this, and what was he talking about….
Could it be…! Had he figured out her true identity?
But until he left last time, there had been no such indication at all.
Romeo and Kalix, who had been with her the whole time, might have noticed, but how could Oscar suddenly….
That was when it happened.
Oscar, who had been waiting for the moment like a beast with its prey right before it, lunged at Lelia again.
"……!"
Fortunately, this time he neither forced a kiss nor pointed a blade at her throat.
He seized both of Lelia's hands and brought his face close to hers. That was all.
Oscar's hands that held her were trembling slightly. And they were terribly cold.
He looked into Lelia's eyes with an earnest expression. Like someone desperately searching for something in her eyes.
"……."
But as Lelia continued to keep her mouth shut, his gaze changed once more.
Oscar dropped Lelia's hands limply and stepped back.
Standing one step back, Oscar had eyes like a wounded child.
"……."
Tears fell from his red eyes onto the floor.
Seeing Oscar cry without making a sound, Lelia didn't know what to do.
But that was brief.
Oscar glared at Lelia, then disappeared through the window.
'Oscar….'
She immediately looked out the window, but Oscar's trace had vanished in an instant. Lelia collapsed right there.
"……."
Her head spun and her heart pounded. It was difficult to think straight about the situation that had occurred in the middle of the night.
It was hard to understand what had just happened.
Why on earth did Oscar….
Lelia looked at the spot where Oscar had been standing with anxious eyes.
Those eyes.
Those eyes that had been looking at her were filled with distrust, hatred, and murderous intent.
Like someone betrayed by the person they trusted most… like a wounded child.
'He recognized me.'
Lelia buried her face in her knees. Tears suddenly poured out.
"Hey, what's wrong with your eyes? Did what you got hit with yesterday swell up now?"
At Kalix's words, Lelia flinched and lowered her head.
She had taken out medicine from her inventory to reduce the swelling in her eyes... but they were so swollen that it didn't have much effect.
Kalix deliberately lowered his head as well, persistently staring at Lelia who was hiding her face.
"I said, did you get hit? Tell me. I'll go beat them up just the same. Huh?"
"It's just... from sleeping too much. I didn't get hit."
"Really?"
At Lelia's words, Kalix finally backed off. She let out a breath of relief.
After what happened yesterday, it was now the next day.
Everyone except Oscar had gathered in Romeo's room's reception area.
"Oscar came this morning."
Griffith delivered the news. Romeo frowned.
"But why isn't he here?"
"He just showed his face and went right back out."
"...Did he go to Leo's grave?"
Lelia buried her head when Oscar's story came up. Her heart ached knowing he must have wandered all night because of her.
Romeo looked puzzled, then clapped his hands once. Lelia raised her head in surprise.
"Anyway, if Oscar's arrived, we need to make our next plans. Let's all say our final goodbyes at Leo's grave and go our separate ways."
"Good."
"Suit yourself."
At Romeo's words, Kalix and Griffith responded in turn. Lelia also nodded.
"What about you? You said you had something to get from Lute, is that done?"
Romeo gestured toward Lelia with his chin. Lelia swallowed and answered.
"Yes, it's done. I'm planning to return to my hometown now..."
"Oh really? Hmm..."
Romeo thought for a moment then spoke.
"Alright, I've decided. I'll go with you!"
"...What?"
"Really? Then I'll go too. Nothing to do anyway, and I don't want to do mercenary work."
Kalix said as he lay down on the sofa. He looked like he was about to slide off.
Wait, what?
Lelia frowned. Who said they could?
Of course, going with friends is nice but...
"Really? Then me too."
Even Griffith said that.
Lelia suddenly recalled the distant past. There seemed to be a similar situation back then too...
"You're the captain's younger sibling, so we'll specially make you our youngest. Don't worry, we'll follow along."
"......"
Young... est? Youngest?
At Romeo's words, Lelia kept her mouth firmly shut.
"But Griffith. Are you sure it's okay for you to go?"
At Kalix's question, Griffith also shrugged. It was an attitude that said it didn't matter.
Romeo narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"Then we should tell Oscar too. Ah, but can he? He's going to inherit the throne, so he'll be busy."
That's when it happened.
"I'm not busy."
"Waaah!"
Oscar suddenly appeared from behind Lelia and plopped down on the sofa. Right next to Lelia.
Including Lelia, Romeo and Kalix also shouted "Wah!" Only Griffith remained calm.
"You crazy bastard! Use the door! The door!"
Romeo shouted, pointing his finger.
At those words, Lelia turned her head. Seeing the window behind her was open, it seemed he came in through there.
But through the window in broad daylight?
Evading the guards?
Well, it wasn't that surprising. Oscar also obtained a demon sword passed down in legend and gained tremendous power.
But on the other hand, it was chilling. That demon sword grows stronger the more blood it absorbs... and Oscar gained power through that sword.
Just how much blood did he absorb to gain what level of power?
The Oscar in her memories was a tender and innocent child who couldn't even hurt an ant.
Cute, lovable, and fragile. That kind of child.
"......"
But after last night, Lelia came to clearly accept it. The Oscar of the past and the Oscar of now were completely different people.
"...Huh. I wasn't surprised at all?"
Kalix said to Romeo as if telling him not to act so startled.
It was a lie. Just now, he clearly shouted "Wah!" and jumped in surprise along with them.
Romeo must have thought the same, as he started pointing and telling him to stop spouting nonsense.
Watching the two bicker, Lelia calmed her thumping heart.
As she slowly caught her breath, a gentle voice came from beside her.
"I'll go with you too."
Lelia flinched and turned her head.
Sitting just a hand's span away from her, Oscar was looking at Lelia with his legs crossed in an elegant posture.
The Oscar of now was yet another different appearance from yesterday.
Relaxed, elegant. Far from being angry, he had a gentle expression and tone.
Thanks to his attitude acting as if nothing had happened, Lelia's mind was in turmoil.
And Griffith observed the two of them with a peculiar gaze.
Romeo, who had been bickering while wrestling with Kalix, turned his head and asked.
"You're going together? What about the throne?"
"For the time being... there's someone who will serve as a figurehead."
At Oscar's answer, Kalix muttered "He's talking about his father, isn't he? That unfilial son, unfilial son..." but Oscar didn't even care.
Lelia gazed into the void with an enlightened expression.
So...
She had to bring all of them back to the Superion territory?