Chapter 400
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 400
Chapter Title: What a Shame
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Kremlin Palace.
A palace that began as a wooden fortress built back when Moscow was a grand duchy.
It was reduced to rubble by the Mongol Empire's armies, led by the Silver Dragon Clan in the 13th century, but afterward, the Kremlin Palace was rebuilt even more solidly.
Especially after Ivan the Terrible struck a secret deal with the Silver Dragon Clan in the 16th century, becoming the first Tsar and laying the foundations of Russia.
The Kremlin Palace became the most opulent palace on this frozen land, a symbol of absolute monarchy.
And at this very moment.
Two maids were walking through that frigid palace.
No one paid them any mind as they stuck to remote paths, trying not to draw attention.
With thousands of people working in this vast Kremlin Palace at minimum, the sight of maids passing by was commonplace.
But if someone had looked closely at the two maids, they might have noticed something odd.
One of them was unusually small.
She looked strangely young.
And her face seemed familiar.
It was only natural.
Her oversized glasses hid it well enough.
But that maid had a face any citizen of the Russian Khanate would recognize.
"You know where we are, right, sister?"
"I'm not an idiot. I know it's the Kremlin Palace."
"...If you know, then be more careful. Don't forget this is the most heavily guarded place in Russia."
Daria, the revolutionary agent helping Aynsha infiltrate, felt like sighing.
No matter the disguise with glasses and all, brazenly walking through the Kremlin Palace of all places with that face held high.
Daria, who had witnessed Yekateriche's purges to capture the Liberation Brigade, couldn't even imagine doing such a thing.
'Well, better bold than scared, I suppose.'
Daria steeled herself.
Danger was expected from the moment she accepted this mission.
And since they'd made it this far, the plan was already half successful.
The problem lay ahead.
"As you probably know, this is as far as I can guide you."
Smoothly.
In this grand Kremlin Palace, even servants' access was restricted based on their background.
A regular maid like her could only roam the outer areas.
The zones housing Yekateriche and other VIPs were handled entirely by the Silver Dragon Clan's maids, from cleaning to cooking.
That was why they couldn't pinpoint Rimon's location.
All they knew was that the Sword Duke had visited and hadn't been seen since.
So they could only vaguely guess he was somewhere in the Kremlin Palace.
Rustle.
"You've got the plan down, right?"
"Of course. I even know exactly where Yekateriche is and what she's doing right now."
"Still, stay cautious. The Great Khan doesn't always stick to her schedule."
After deciding on the infiltration.
The revolutionaries' biggest worry had been Yekateriche.
If Aynsha, disguised as her, ran into the real one face-to-face, it would all be for nothing.
So the revolutionaries had worked hard to track her movements.
Thanks to agents like Daria, they'd confirmed her official schedule.
They'd chosen today for the infiltration because it was the safest day based on that intel.
But if Yekateriche suddenly changed plans on a whim, who knew what might happen.
That's why Daria spoke with concern.
"I pray you complete the mission safely, sister."
"No need to worry. I'll handle my part perfectly."
Grip.
After helping Aynsha change out of the maid uniform.
Into traditional attire.
Braiding her silver hair.
Daria left a prayer and returned after assisting with the disguise in the prepped secluded room.
Aynsha headed deeper into the Kremlin Palace alone.
Thud, thud.
Striding boldly, without a thought of getting caught.
In truth, no one stopped her.
Those she passed didn't dare look her in the face; they were too busy bowing their heads.
It was only natural.
She was disguised exactly like Yekateriche right now.
And in this Kremlin Palace, anyone suicidal enough to block the Great Khan's path had long since died.
Plus, while item or skill disguises could be detected by counters, someone who naturally looked just like her had little risk of exposure.
It was the moment Sergei’s foresight in assigning her the infiltration proved right.
Abrupt halt.
...If Aynsha hadn't suddenly stopped, turned at a right angle, and started heading in a completely wrong direction.
Bathemensky, who had drilled the map into her head, would have torn his hair out screaming that it wasn't that way.
But Aynsha strode on without hesitation.
Crossing long corridors.
Passing layers of guards.
Slipping into the palace's heart.
Ignoring the revolutionaries' estimated lodging spot and planned route entirely.
Aynsha finally stopped when she ran into a certain woman.
A maid with a silver prosthetic arm.
The only one in the Kremlin Palace who could block Yekateriche's path, and who knew her better than anyone—her closest aide.
Kana stared steadily at the expressionless princess before.
Lifting her skirt hem slightly.
And bowing politely.
"Kana of the Silver Dragon Clan greets the descendant of the Wise White Dragon Lord."
As expected, she couldn't fool even the aide's eyes; her disguise was busted immediately.
But Aynsha didn't panic.
As if she'd known it would happen.
She merely asked with her blank face.
"Do you know where Yekateriche is?"
"Please follow me."
A short while later.
The place Kana led Aynsha to was a single room.
A dining hall with a table at least ten meters long, laden with a feast of delicacies.
And at both ends of that table.
Of the two chairs, one held a silver-haired girl sitting backward, grinning as she welcomed her.
"Welcome, Aynsha. You're a bit late."
"I'm not late. It's exactly lunchtime."
"That's why you're late. Common sense says you arrive thirty minutes early for an appointment."
"Don't make excuses. That's Silver Dragon Clan common sense. And I never made any appointment with you, Yekateriche."
"But you knew I'd be waiting, right?"
Slide.
Dismissing Yekateriche's words curtly, Aynsha sat in the opposite chair that Kana had pulled out naturally.
And so...
The meal began.
Pour.
"How's seducing that man going?"
"Perfectly. Ri's already all over me. He even feeds me his share of dessert."
"...Is that really going well?"
"Dessert is more precious than rice. Skip rice and you die. Meaning Ri likes me to death."
"Ahaha! That's true, yeah."
Clink, clatter.
"Whoa, you're sharing a room with the Sword Duke?"
"Yes. Same room. I see Ri's face first thing in the morning."
"Why stop at faces? You're sleeping together—nothing more steamy?"
"Regrettably, separate beds. No steamy stuff yet."
"Then just break one bed."
"...!"
"Don't look at me like 'Why didn't you say that sooner?'"
Calmly.
Cheerfully.
Casually.
The two silver-haired girls, identical from face to outfit, chatted away over their meal.
Of course, only Yekateriche smiled.
Aynsha remained stiff, but Yekateriche's cheer overwhelmed even that, forcing a jovial atmosphere.
It was then.
That Yekateriche suddenly tilted her head.
"But Aynsha, why didn't you sneak in? That would've been more fun."
Her voice was cheerful as ever.
But at that question laced with deep regret unlike before, Aynsha set down her fork and knife.
And met Yekateriche's gaze with her blank expression before answering.
"I saw I'd get caught even if I snuck in."
"Harsh. Telling me you'd infiltrate the palace per the rebels' plan just to avoid hide-and-seek with your big sis."
"It was a formality anyway. So I cut the waste."
Aynsha said curtly.
Words that would make the revolutionaries flip if they heard, but to her, it was obvious.
Infiltrating the Kremlin Palace to find and persuade Rimon was pointless from the start.
Instead of wasting effort on that, it was far better to get prior approval from Yekateriche, her secret ally, and visit openly.
Rimon had allowed her solo infiltration precisely because he knew this.
This place was beyond the revolutionaries' reach anyway.
All that was left was to kill time appropriately, return, and report that Rimon refused cooperation.
Knowing that, Yekateriche murmured regretfully.
"Too bad. If you'd snuck in secretly, I could've used it as an excuse to round up the rebels."
"That'd break our deal."
"Oh, right. It would."
To keep Rimon tied down, the revolutionaries' survival was essential.
Yekateriche crushing them would shatter the deal itself.
Yekateriche nodded as if just realizing after Aynsha pointed it out, then tilted her head again.
"But Aynsha, do you know?"
Cheerful as always.
With a delighted smile.
The silver-haired girl who had appeared behind Aynsha whispered.
"That promises are ultimately made to be broken."
"...!"
Bang!
In that instant.
Aynsha reacted on reflex.
Infusing her clothes with psychonic energy via the Iron Robe Long Robe Style's breathing technique to protect her body.
While flapping her fur cape per the Fairy Wave Style, unleashing turbulent waves of energy.
The motion was lightning-fast.
Fast enough to send any average human—or even another princess—flying before they could react. A befitting response from the White Dragon Clan's top fighter.
The problem was one thing.
Her opponent happened to be Yekateriche.
"Sorry, Aynsha."
Thud!
Before the energy waves could spread.
Yekateriche burrowed into Aynsha's embrace.
And the moment a hand whitened like white jade by the Pure Hand Demonic Art pierced all defenses into her solar plexus.
Aynsha spewed a mouthful of blood, her eyes losing focus.
"I did think it over till the end. But no matter what, just handing that man over to you felt like such a waste."
Crack, cra-crack.
"Plus, this seems way more fun."
One strike.
That alone knocked Aynsha unconscious.
And froze her so she couldn't even wake. Yekateriche caught her rapidly cooling body.
Even Charlotte would need hundreds of exchanges to subdue another princess—making this result hard to believe.
But in a way, it was inevitable.
She was the Silver Dragon Princess.
Not the Seven Dragon Society's strongest, but the greatest princess, wielding the most enigmatic of the seven psychonics.
"She's still so naive, this one."
"Probably because she didn't foresee Your Highness doing this."
"That's what makes her naive. What guts to come here alone without even foreseeing a safe return?"
"Well, it worked out 100% in Your Highness's favor anyway."
"Worked out? I just lost a rare chance to play hide-and-seek with my little sister."
She'd prepared so much to catch Aynsha.
All for nothing.
Yekateriche truly seemed regretful as she handed the limp girl to Kana.
And asked casually.
"Everything's ready, right, Kana?"
"Of course."
Creeak.
Right after Kana's reply, the dining hall doors opened, revealing a group of maids.
Clothes.
Shoes.
Glasses.
Books.
From among them, holding various items in a line, Yekateriche picked up a worn book titled Hundred Faces Shedding Style.
She flipped through it, murmuring.
"Hmm, pity no family in our clan masters this properly. I prefer learning by watching over manuals anyway."
"If you command it, I can fetch a Black Dragon Clan master from Leviathan who has."
"No need. Just need a few tricks anyway."
Slide.
She chuckled once.
Yekateriche removed her crown and undid her braids.
She ran her fingers through her now-whitened hair, flashing a meaningful smile.
"See? Easy peasy."
'Why hasn't she come back yet?'
Daria was getting anxious.
Aynsha should have returned by now per the plan, but there was no sign of her no matter how long she waited.
'Did they get caught?'
Should she flee now?
Or wait longer?
As Daria agonized between life-or-death choices, her awaited contact finally appeared.
"Sister Elshar! Why are you so late?"
The glasses-wearing maid girl who'd been loitering far from the rendezvous point.
Aynsha tilted her head slightly at Daria's sudden call.
Her eyes rolled as if pondering her reply, then she spoke with her usual expressionless face.
"Not late. Just got a little lost."
"That's what you call—...! Whatever, as long as nothing happened. Let's move."
"Got it. Moving."
Scolding could wait.
For now, Daria hurried toward the prepped escape route to extract Aynsha from the Kremlin Palace.
But she didn't know.
About the Aynsha trotting behind her.
Whose lips curved.
Into a sly.
Creep of a smile.
On her doll-like face, gone in a flash...