A Dog's Leash
"I take it you haven't used a Warp Gate very often?"
"Ugh, cough. W-why did we have to use something so expensive? We could have just taken a carriage. Ugh... my stomach is turning."
I gently patted her back.
Lady Aran, her face visibly pale, emptied the contents of her stomach before glaring at me with eyes that promised murder.
As her venomous gaze pierced me, I merely offered an awkward smile.
I didn't expect this...
I had traveled through Warp Gates enough times to grow accustomed to them.
However, I was somewhat surprised that Aran, the beloved daughter of a duke, had barely ever used one.
I suppose I was the same the first time. The sensation of the entire world warping around you is difficult to describe.
"...What's going on?"
"Must be her first time using a Warp Gate. Tsk, tsk. But wait, I feel like I've seen that face somewhere..."
Naturally, a crowd began to gather as Aran, who looked every bit the beautiful noblewoman, continued to retch.
Flushed with embarrassment, Lady Aran bolted.
Dragging me along by the wrist, of course.
I cried out in bewilderment as I was dragged behind her like a paper doll.
"My Lady!"
"J-just wait! I have a reputation to uphold!"
We quickly ducked into a back alley.
Only after we reached a spot hidden from public view did Aran let out a long sigh of relief.
Her face was bright red. I had assumed she was completely shameless, but it seemed she still cared about public perception.
How unexpected...
After all, she was someone I had used ruthlessly, someone who probably spent every waking moment plotting how to stab me in the gut.
Aran stood tall like a meerkat, warily scanning the surroundings to ensure no one was around.
Once she was certain they were alone, she placed both hands over her chest and exhaled slowly.
"Whew. I swear, I'll have all their heads chopped off. What were they even staring at?"
Had she not said that, it might have actually been a rather charming sight.
Aran grumbled, casting an irritated glance toward the mouth of the alley.
I rummaged through my coat and handed her a handkerchief. A perfect traitor is always perfectly prepared.
In truth, I usually used it to wipe away blood.
"Here is a handkerchief. You should wipe your mouth first. I will prepare some black tea to cleanse your palate... shortly."
"Yeah, thanks—"
Aran snatched the handkerchief without even looking at me. But as she wiped her mouth, she suddenly froze and stared at me, startled.
For the record, I was standing right in front of her. The alley was narrow, and we were close enough for our chests to brush.
She blinked blankly, looking like a sea otter that had just lost its favorite clam, as she scanned me from head to toe. Then, her face flushed crimson, and she stiffened.
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
Aran said nothing, merely staring intently at my face.
When I met her gaze with a puzzled look, she cleared her throat awkwardly and began walking out of the alley.
She even fanned her face with her hand to cool it down.
"Let's go. Stop wasting time."
"...Did I waste any time?"
"I said, let's go!"
Lady Aran shrieked, dragging me along once more, though I had no idea what had made her so angry.
The Margraviate.
Unlike our visit to the Minas Estate, my partner, Lady Aran, was dressed in splendid attire, and I looked every bit the noble gentleman. Thus, we passed through the gates without raising any suspicion.
"Clothes make the man." That old adage held true in medieval times, and it was no different in this fantasy world.
Of course, this empire was so utterly ruined that naming conventions were all over the place. Some went by names like Roswell, while others had names like Aletz von Rein, where the given name and surname seemed to belong to entirely different languages. It was madness.
But what could I do? I had learned to accept it naturally by now.
"Do you know of a man named Aletz von Rein?"
I asked Aran as she sipped her tea before we entered the castle.
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question, and tilted her head before offering a cliché response.
"Isn't he just the Western Margrave?"
"No, I am asking about Aletz von Rein the man. What kind of person is he, and what is his reputation in high society?"
"Aletz von Rein... He attended parties often because of his title. He didn't leave much of an impression, though... He seemed like the type who would eventually be completely ruined by a woman. I ignored him when he tried to flirt with me. The Western Margrave is hardly my type."
Lady Aran shrugged, dismissing him as if he were nothing.
Despite her casual tone, her eyes gleamed with lingering pride. I decided not to point it out.
"Spot on."
She was entirely correct.
Aletz von Rein. The bastard who always betrayed the empire right before a war, throwing everything into chaos.
He was a wretch whose throat I had personally slit multiple times across my regressions. He was always surrounded by women, possessing grand ambitions but a simple mind.
The reason I had insisted on bringing Lady Aran along, despite all objections, was precisely because of Aletz von Rein.
"He is utterly obsessed with women."
"...Where is this coming from all of a sudden? All noblemen are like that,"
Lady Aran remarked, taking another sip of her tea.
...She's a noble herself, yet she talks down on them.
What a bizarre personality.
"I believe I briefly mentioned that Aletz von Rein is a traitor. I promised to explain the details after this operation."
"You did."
"You will need to use a honey trap."
"Pfft!"
Aran's eyes went wide, and she spat out her tea.
It seemed whatever dignity she had mentioned earlier had been thrown straight into the trash. She had no qualms about showing me every unsightly habit she possessed.
Her bewildered eyes practically screamed, What kind of nonsense is that? I casually wiped the table with a handkerchief and spoke with a sigh.
"Did you think we came here just to sightsee?"
"...No, wait. What the fuck?"
"I will repeat myself: a honey trap."
Seeing Aran make such a fuss, I folded the handkerchief and spoke sharply.
She stared at me with a conflicted expression for a moment before furrowing her brow.
"You want me to pull off a fucking honey trap? Me? Aran?"
"Hmm."
I pondered for a moment.
Then, I reached into my pocket and pulled out an object, presenting it to her. Her face instantly froze.
It was the recording artifact. The very one from that night.
Her eyes trembled slightly, likely recalling the memory of that encounter.
"T-that..."
"I understand your reluctance. However, I must remind you that you are a prisoner. How long I choose to tolerate your tantrums, Lady Aran, depends entirely on your cooperation."
"...Fuck. What if I actually betray you and join the Nine Kingdoms? What are you going to do then?"
Her gaze turned defiant.
"The Nine Kingdoms? Ha..."
I let out a cold chuckle, causing Aran to shudder.
"Aran. Why do you think the Nine Kingdoms would welcome you? Why would they accept and employ someone who has already failed an assassination? By all means, feel free to try."
Aran was already under the close watch of the empire.
To the Nine Kingdoms, she was nothing but a nuisance.
No matter her status as a duke's daughter, her noble blood, or her beauty, she was a ticking time bomb who could be executed or interrogated for information at any moment.
"..."
"Let me make a prediction. The Kingdoms might take you in. But they will use you as a pawn and discard you, leaving your head to roll on the dirt... a miserable death. There is no paradise for those who run. So..."
I rose from my chair and walked over to her. Placing my hands on Aran's trembling shoulders, I whispered in her ear.
"Roll the dice and pray for a high number. The choice, of course, is yours."
"...!"
Aran's eyes widened. She trembled uncontrollably, staring at me with sheer terror.
"It would be wiser to accept the leash. A dog that doesn't know its place can be replaced at any time."
"Hahaha! Welcome, my brother!"
"It is an honor to meet you, great shield and general of the West."
I immediately dropped to one knee and bowed my head.
Aletz von Rein laughed boisterously, reaching out to pull me up.
"I cannot poorly receive a fellow comrade. Come in. We shall enjoy ourselves thoroughly tonight. And..."
Aletz von Rein paused mid-laugh, his eyes drifting toward Lady Aran.
Seeing how quickly his interest was piqued by a beauty like Aran, it seemed the honey trap would yield promising results.
Lady Aran smiled sweetly and snapped her fan open. She cast a seductive glance at Rein from beneath her thick eyelashes.
"Ahem! Let us go inside!"
Rein's face flushed slightly as he patted my back and led the way to the banquet hall.
I could see the corners of his mouth twitching with excitement.
The moment Rein turned his back, Aran glared at me as if she wanted to tear me apart, but I merely shrugged.
On the way to the banquet hall, Kalupen offered a smile.
"Hawin. To think you would come all the way to the West. Did you handle your task well?"
"Well... digging up dirt on the foolish imperial nobles is my specialty, after all."
Kalupen nodded, then cast a cold glance toward Lady Aran.
"Why did you bring that creature along?"
"Hmm..."
Is he suspicious?
Fortunately, Aran didn't seem to have heard, looking back at us with a puzzled expression.
Had she heard herself referred to as "that creature," she would have thrown a massive fit.
"I do not understand why you are so impatient. A true hero must act with absolute certainty when making a move..."
I smiled faintly, then added in a hushed tone:
"We will use Lady Aran to... completely secure Aletz von Rein. He is far too reckless, so we must put a leash on him."
"...Ha."
Kalupen, too, let out a satisfied smirk.