Chapter 234: Omen of a Bloodbath
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: Omen of a Bloodbath
"Is it already this late?"
Anna stepped out of the old man’s carriage and instinctively glanced at the sky.
The crimson sunset cast a dazzling afterglow over the now-placid canal, lending a touch of brilliant color to the city that had finally regained its peace.
Time had passed with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, dawn had turned to the fading light of dusk.
While part of it was due to her long conversation with the old man, the primary reason she felt time had flown was what she had done with her junior under the cover of the Dark Moon Mist.
When one’s consciousness is drifting among the clouds, time always seems to move at a gallop.
At the thought, Anna’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
In the twenty years of her life, she had never imagined her first time would be so intense and exhilarating.
Lying beneath the man she loved, she felt as though she were melting into something beautiful.
Not to mention... she had been the one taking the initiative for most of the latter half.
"Hmph, it’s all his fault for being so handsy."
A flash of shy annoyance crossed Anna’s eyes as she shifted all the blame onto her wicked junior.
Yet, the fleeting moment of exquisite beauty in her expression left the surrounding Silencers—men who usually remained indifferent to feminine charms—momentarily dazed.
"By the way, where is he?"
Her gaze swept the area instinctively, but she couldn't find the person she was pining for. Anna turned to Jin Ze, who stood nearby, and asked.
"Muen Campbell is over there."
As the Sword Bearer’s confidant, Jin Ze was privy to the old man’s thoughts to a certain extent, and thus treated Anna with ample respect.
He pointed toward a magnificent carriage. "He is with the Campbells."
"I see."
Anna breathed a sigh of relief.
She had felt a surge of panic just because she couldn't find him immediately. Such a lack of composure was unlike her.
She really was falling deeper and deeper.
Anna looked at the carriage; it was opulent and extravagant, and even the horse pulling it looked exceptionally spirited. As expected of the Campbell family, every detail exuded an aura befitting their status.
"The Duchess...?"
Anna couldn't help but recall what the old man had just said to her.
...
Knowing it wasn't appropriate to interrupt a private family conversation, Anna didn't rush over. Instead, she waited nearby.
Muen wasn't going to suddenly run off with another woman, after all; she could afford to wait a few moments.
But as she waited, she began to sense something was off.
Her gaze fell upon the carriage again. Anna narrowed her beautiful eyes and whispered under her breath, "That carriage... the sealing is a bit too good. If they didn't want outsiders to overhear, a simple Silence Magic would suffice. Why... go so far that you can't even see a shadow inside?"
...
Inside the carriage.
Under the watchful eye of the Great Censor, a battle that would have spanned five thousand words finally drew to a close.
The clouds and rain had subsided.
Perhaps because she had been "fed" both above and below—and had swallowed a certain beauty-enhancing substance—An looked radiant and more captivating than ever.
She continued to hold Muen quietly, as if unwilling to leave him for even a second. Panting softly, she gazed at him with eyes as sultry as silk.
"Young Master, did it feel good?"
"It... it felt good. Extremely good."
Muen leaned his head back, his expression a mix of a cry and a laugh. "My legs are just a bit weak."
"Who told you to have such a localized, 'unpleasant' scent? Naturally, I had to clean it thoroughly," An said with a hint of playful petulance on her far-from-dignified face, pouting like a young girl.
"..."
Seriously, An, what is your nose made of? How can you smell everything?
Muen didn't want to speak. He kept his head back, trying to digest the medicinal power within his body; otherwise, he really wouldn't be able to walk in a moment.
An was quiet now, too. She lay against Muen’s chest, propping her chin on her hand as she silently watched his face. Her eyes flickered slightly, her thoughts unknown.
Under the pink light of the carriage, they lapsed into a peaceful, comforting silence. Only the faint scent in the air and a few damp patches bore witness to the intensity of the "battle" that had just taken place.
"Young Master."
"Hmm?"
"I’d like to request a leave of absence."
"Oh... wait, what?"
Muen snapped his head up, looking at An in surprise. "What did you say?"
"I said, I want to take a leave of absence. I’ll be stepping down as the head maid of the Duke’s Estate for a while," An said softly.
"A leave of absence?"
Muen frowned, confused.
In his memory, An had been by his side as his personal maid since he was eight years old. She had never taken a single day off. For her to suddenly say this was naturally hard for Muen to believe.
"Are you planning to do something?"
"Well... just consider it a trip back to my hometown to visit relatives."
"Do you have relatives in your hometown? Why have I never heard you mention them?"
"If I go back and look, I’ll find out, won't I?"
An reached out and stroked Muen’s cheek. "It’s alright, Young Master. It’s not like I’m leaving the Duke’s Estate forever. I just want to be away from you for a short while. Besides, you’ll be at the Academy during this time, so we wouldn't have much time to see each other anyway, right?"
"..."
Muen fell silent for a moment. "Do you want me to send people to protect you?"
"No need," An replied. "My own strength is enough to keep me safe."
"Fine. Since it’s your own wish, I have no reason to stop you." Muen thought about it and offered a smile. "Be careful on the road. And... come back soon. Whether you find your relatives or not, the Duke’s Estate will always be your home."
"..."
An’s face froze for a split second. She stared at Muen’s warm, sun-like smile for a long time before suddenly leaning her head against his chest, whispering softly:
"Young Master... it’s exactly this gentleness of yours that makes one fall for you so helplessly."
...
After another brief moment of tenderness, An sprayed a bit of perfume in the carriage and on Muen. Once they had straightened their clothes, she finally let him leave.
By the time he stepped out of the carriage, the sky was dark.
Muen stepped down, but he failed to notice the person standing right in front of him and bumped straight into a soft embrace.
"Junior."
A familiar voice reached his ears. "That was quite a long chat."
"Ha... haha, yeah."
Muen pulled back from the embrace, his movements a bit stiff. "It was about some major matters concerning the survival of the Campbell family, so it took a bit longer."
"Is that so?"
The Senior’s voice was heavy with hidden meaning. Muen looked up at her, only to find her gaze drifting past him toward his back.
Muen swallowed hard and turned around. Sure enough, An was standing at the carriage door. Dressed in her neat maid uniform with her hair pinned up elegantly, she looked at Anna with a dignified and graceful air.
"Anna Kabulin."
"An."
"This isn't our first time meeting, is it?"
"Indeed, it is not."
"I see."
Anna lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, a gentle smile on her face as she spoke softly, "Goodness, I only leave for a short while and a thieving cat comes to steal a snack. It’s quite troubling."
"I should be the one saying that," An replied with a perfect, professional smile. "Thieving cats really are everywhere, aren't they?"
"..."
"..."
A silence-inducing stare-down.
The smiles on their faces didn't change in the slightest.
They looked like best friends exchanging pleasantries about which dress looked prettier.
But at that moment, Muen’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat. As a gust of wind blew past, he couldn't stop his body from shivering.
He tucked his neck in, wanting to slip away.
However, his arm was suddenly gripped tightly.
"Today is a very special day, so I won't hold a grudge for now. Junior, let’s head back to the Academy," Anna said, beaming.
"Wait."
An blocked Anna’s path. "The Young Master is injured. He should return to the Duke’s Estate with me to recuperate."
"The Academy has a hospital."
"The Duke’s Estate has the best resources."
"..."
"..."
The two locked eyes again.
This time, it was as if a bright moon was rising in Anna’s eyes, while countless shadows twisted and writhed beneath her feet.
Behind An, the faint hum of metal vibrated. The Silencers present suddenly realized their weapons were becoming difficult to control.
The two women were still smiling.
Muen, however, just wanted to cry.
The Death Premonition in his mind was blaring incessantly, making his head throb with pain.
But suddenly, the Death Premonition went silent.
It was as if it had given up all hope of survival.
The two women abruptly stopped staring at each other and turned to Muen, asking in unison:
"Junior (Young Master), what do you think?"