Cynthia's Greeting
“Moving in is like handing out rice cakes—I've just arrived as the new deputy warden, so I've come around to say hello.”
“Even to a prisoner like me? How very warm-hearted of you.”
The carrier pigeons had come and gone, and no more wingbeats echoed now. In their place, regular cooing filled the air.
Goo-goo, kerr-kerr!
“But you said it's like handing out rice cakes... and it doesn't look like you brought any.”
“Heh heh. As if I wouldn't.”
As if he'd been waiting for the cue, Seolhwa pulled a neatly wrapped box from behind his back and handed it over.
“Oh my~ How did you know this is my favorite confectionery in the capital?”
“Seeing you so happy makes me happy too. Ha ha ha.”
It seemed Jepeto's advice had been spot on. The woman flashed the brightest smile Seolhwa had seen from her all day, beaming like a child. With elegant, efficient movements, she unwrapped the package and opened the box.
“These cookies would pair better with a different tea... but life doesn't always go as predicted, does it?”
“Isn't that one of life's little pleasures?”
They exchanged smiles laced with a touch of artifice, then sipped their tea lightly. Seolhwa barely suppressed a cough from the unexpectedly potent aroma before the woman spoke.
“Oh, right. Thanks for the cookies, Deputy Warden Seolhwa.”
Her smile was soft, like distilled essence of clear eyes; a tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth, a blush like ripe raspberry puree. Her face embodied heart-fluttering excitement. The moment it hit him, Seolhwa nearly imagined escaping with her, crossing the nearby border to flee the empire's pursuit into the unreachable holy kingdom—picturing the names of their child and grandchildren in that precarious fugitive life. But he reined in his mind.
Scary woman.
It was no exaggeration to call it the most perfect smile he'd ever seen. Far beyond the affected grins of academy noble ladies or the capital's high-end salon hostesses.
But her eyes weren't smiling at all. Not feigned—pure artifice.
Women like that either never reveal their true feelings...
“Heh heh. So even this doesn't work on you? As expected of someone who graduated top of the academy and got posted here right away.”
“This is awkward.”
“Why's that?”
Popping a cookie into his mouth, Seolhwa said, “Everyone here acts like they already know me... even though this is our first meeting.”
“Is that so? Unwanted attention can be exhausting sometimes.”
“Exactly! But it's odd hearing that from you, Cynthia.”
The woman, who had been crumbling a cookie to feed her pigeons, put on a prim expression.
“Even if I don't look it now, I was quite the somebody in my day.”
“Not that. I mean...”
“Yes?”
Cynthia looked genuinely puzzled.
“The person who basically spread my info around Utopia is sympathizing with my plight.”
* * *
About a week before Seolhwa arrived at Utopia.
“I seem to recall telling you to ease up on the pigeons.”
“Oh? I'm already holding back, Warden.”
As if she'd anticipated Jepeto's visit, Cynthia held out an envelope. Seolhwa's name was scrawled on the paper peeking from the light brown envelope.
Seolhwa
“Ahem. I haven't even said anything yet?”
“Top-tier service means preparing ahead.”
“Ha!”
His tone was gruff, but his hand snatched the envelope quick as a flash. With the expression of a child tearing into a new toy, Jepeto ripped it open right there.
“Come back anytime, Warden~.”
Cynthia laughed amid her pigeons, clearly amused. Jepeto waved casually and rounded the corner—then flung the documents wide open. Of course, a pigeon outside watched it all.
* * *
“Well, I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Codename Cynthia, real name Peggy Bartanyan. Though I doubt that's her real real name, whatever.”
For the first time, emotion flickered in Cynthia's eyes.
Before coming to Utopia, Seolhwa recited the intel that had been hardest and most expensive to obtain.
“During the empire's—what should we call it, the kingdom?—expansion wars, she operated as a double- and triple-agent between kingdoms, making her name as an information broker. Especially credited with cracking what was thought to be an unbreakable military cipher system. Currently a top fugitive in at least three countries; the empire lists her as deceased.”
Her gaze held a fond affection, like a mentor beaming at a promising student. Perhaps she was hearing echoes of her most glorious days?
Cynthia, her expression dreamy, clapped lightly.
“Hmm... 70 points?”
“Not bad, right?”
“This is unexpected. I thought I'd cleaned up my tracks pretty well...”
Smiling differently now, Cynthia toyed with her purple necklace.
“Everyone thinks their own plans are flawless.”
Evidently unprepared to hear that from a fresh academy grad like Seolhwa, she burst into roaring laughter.
“Ah ha ha ha! Excuse me. Haah. You really got me there. Flawless, huh...”
Seolhwa silently raised his teacup, watching her. Was it his imagination? The aroma seemed gentler now.
“Has the academy raised its standards without me knowing? Or are you a special case, Deputy Warden Seolhwa?”
“Since you're flattering me, make it sound like I'm a big deal.”
“Oh my oh my. Confidence is attractive, but women don't care for excessive arrogance.”
Fwudduk!
A carrier pigeon twice the size of a normal one flew in. Excusing herself briefly, she rose, checked the note, and removed the ornament from its neck. Only then did the extra-large bundle of feathers fly off to its nest, mission accomplished.
“Very well-trained.”
“My oldest companion. So smart and loyal.”
Cynthia's face hinted at a story there. But Seolhwa had no intention of prying now. He recalled the saying: a woman's past and age are only discussed if she brings them up first.
Who'd said that again?
“It's been a while since I had such an enjoyable chat.”
“Huh? Is this a send-off order?”
“Of course not. Just... obsessive men aren't my type.”
“Oh dear. I wouldn't want to earn the dislike of a beauty like you, Cynthia, so I'll take my leave for today.”
Cynthia smiled at him endearingly. Her eyes still weren't smiling.
* * *
The room Seolhwa left held only pigeon coos. Cynthia clutched the final note she'd received.
Is that so... if he's from there...
Ironheart
* * *
“How'd it go?”
“Nothing much—just skimmed the surface.”
Jepeto, carefully lighting a cigar, grinned like he was dying of amusement.
“Felt like you were getting pulled in, eh?”
“I tried to resist, but somehow she had control of the conversation before I knew it.”
“Can't be helped with a dick between your legs. Nature of the beast.”
“Still, I was shocked. Didn't expect someone the empire has listed as dead to be alive and well.”
“This country hides twice as much from its people as it tells them.”
Jepeto inhaled and exhaled his perfectly lit cigar, savoring it. Amid the familiar leather scent came a soft sweetness.
Seolhwa waved lightly to waft the smoke behind Jepeto.
“Ah. Do you smoke?”
“Trying to quit voluntarily.”
What the hell kind of state is that? Jepeto's expression seemed to say.
Did Seolhwa have cigarettes on him now? Yes. But was he going to smoke them? Also yes. So wasn't he smoke-free? Ah~ well, no, he wasn't not smoking. Only those who'd started smoking and attempted to quit could empathize with Seolhwa's melancholic state. Unfortunately, Jepeto wasn't one of them.
“Good you didn't outright say you're quit—means I don't have to feel bad enjoying this.”
“Were you ever watching for my sake?”
Ignoring Seolhwa's slightly snippy retort, Jepeto took another deep drag. This time, a rich toasted aroma hit strong.
“Want one if you like.”
“Well, I wouldn't say no... no. I'm at that age where I should start taking care of my health.”
“You little punk...”
Their secretary, listening in, let out a stifled chuckle. Seolhwa seemed used to it too; Jepeto paid no mind.
“Not sure if I buttoned the first one right.”
“What do you...? Oh, Cynthia? Don't worry. If she didn't want to see you, she wouldn't have.”
“How many times do I have to ask...? For now, I'm the deputy warden and she's a prisoner, right?”
Utopia looked pretty freewheeling, but it was still a prison, and she was an inmate.
“That's right.”
“Yet she could've refused to meet me if she didn't want to?”
“Exactly. We aim for horizontal relationships here.”
Seolhwa felt a heavy urge to ask if he could still take that cigar now. As Jepeto spoke to him rummaging seriously in his pocket,
“You'll have figured it out from talking to her, but there's nothing happening on this continent she couldn't uncover if she wanted. Your info as the new arrival here would've reached her fast.”
Less than half the cigar burned, Jepeto set it down reverently. A tiny bit of red-gray ash fell into the ashtray.
“You make it sound like I passed some paper interview.”
“Not like—you did. Your info must've intrigued her.”
The cigar's ember cooled rapidly. Unable to resist—or rather, why the hell should he?—Jepeto picked it up again.
“So you should schedule round two ASAP, before her interest cools.”
The final puff carried a heavy pine aroma that made Seolhwa's eyes sting slightly.