Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Midnight Operation
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"When is the Roisar family said to arrive?"
"They will arrive within a week."
"Hmph. This is worrisome."
If the Roisar family also possessed the second piece of information, the problem would become much bigger.
That would mean the Artban family also knew.
Helena's expression became clouded with worry.
She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if it did, a choice would have to be made.
One way or another.
Allowing the Roisar family to visit the South was a gamble of sorts.
A relentless war of nerves would unfold as they tried to confirm each other's hands.
"Our opponent will be desperate. Have you prepared for the worst-case scenario?"
The Roisar family might try to take Aileen by force, even if it meant overreaching, to safely retrieve their heir.
If not that, they could use Aileen as leverage to threaten them.
But Kaide shook his head.
"I haven't given that much thought."
He set the report aside and smiled brightly.
"I despise headaches."
Seeing this, Ian clicked his tongue.
Kaide had a habit of making arbitrary decisions whenever he was displeased.
'There he goes again.'
It was also proof of how much he cherished Aileen.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll handle it well enough."
The heavy conversation was more or less coming to an end.
Helena looked around the office, trying to change the mood.
Her gaze slowly moved past the red family crest, the desk, and the sofa, when suddenly she had to doubt her own eyes.
"Kaide."
"Yes."
"...What is that?"
With a trembling hand, Helena pointed between the cushions.
There, a snake doll that a child might play with was gently placed.
They had been so engrossed in their serious conversation that there had been no time to look around.
Now she saw it—a colorful snake doll coiled at the far end of the opposite sofa.
So very cutely.
Ian, turning his head in the direction Helena pointed, coughed with a shocked expression.
"When did you develop such a taste?"
No matter how she looked at it, the doll didn't suit Kaide in the slightest.
"Ah."
Kaide looked at the doll and smiled with satisfaction.
He never tired of seeing it; in fact, it still brought him a sense of satisfaction.
"Don't touch it. It's mine."
"What on earth is it?"
"It's Aileen's first prey."
"...This is her first prey?"
Does that even make sense?
Ian grimaced, holding the doll dangling between his thumb and forefinger as if examining a strange object.
The doll had a fragrant scent.
It seemed to be washed regularly.
"You're cherishing it so much, it's as if you're worshipping a family heirloom."
Ian placed the doll back where it was and looked at Kaide with pity.
Helena began to meticulously scan the office for anything else.
And...
"...What is this?"
A frame hanging on the wall displayed a peculiar script.
Kaide lifted his chin and smiled.
"It's my name, written by my daughter."
"..."
"She wrote it for me as soon as she learned how."
So this is what they call bragging about one's child.
Helena and Ian were dumbfounded by Kaide's behavior, boasting about his own daughter to his parents.
"Did you feel nothing when you saw that?"
Unable to watch any longer, Ian asked wryly.
If you receive a gift from your child, shouldn't you feel something?
Ian and Helena recalled Kaide's childhood.
Kaide had never brought them prey as a gift, nor had he ever written their names after learning to write.
Usually, when you receive such a gift, aren't you supposed to be happy and, at the same time, reflect on your own past with remorse?
The two of them, subjected to their son's real-time boasting about his child, felt strangely displeased.
"That's enough, Kaide. Is that all you have to say?"
Helena asked with a radiant smile.
It's not too late, so say what you need to say to us now.
As she waited for an answer, Kaide seemed to remember something and opened his mouth with an "Ah."
"So, how long do the two of you plan on staying before you return?"
"This brat."
Ian shot something infused with a sharp pheromone.
It was a sharp-tipped quill.
The quill was aimed precisely at Kaide's vital point.
Kaide, who effortlessly batted it away, smirked as if he had expected it.
* * *
Deep in the night.
Lying in bed pretending to be asleep, I snapped my eyes open.
The moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Now that Rosaria was gone and I was alone, it was the perfect time to start the operation.
"He shud be waiting by now, wight?"
Dressed in pink pajamas with stars on them and wearing fluffy slippers, I carefully opened my door.
The dark, empty hallway came into view.
It was so dark I couldn't even see the end.
I quietly called for Mesis.
"Mesis?"
"I'm here."
Mesis, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, emerged from the darkness.
I quietly closed the door and stepped out.
The chilly hallway felt strangely unfamiliar.
Mesis looked down at me with a displeased expression.
"Well, I came because we made a promise... but do we really have to go there, Young Lady?"
"Of couwse."
"Please, think about it one more time."
"One mowe time?"
"Yes."
Even after thinking about it again, I was determined to go.
At my unwavering resolve, Mesis let out a small sigh.
"What are you planning to do in the basement?"
"Thewe's sumfing. Mesis doesn't need to know."
"Do you even know what kind of place that is?"
"I know. It's whewe bad people awe locked up."
Perhaps it wasn't just about being locked up.
Mesis was probably going along with this so obediently because he thought the basement would be empty.
"How did you find out about the basement?"
"I found out by accident."
"...By accident?"
Unsettled by my answer, Mesis kept asking questions.
If he found out someone was being held inside, he might really try to stop me.
"There are guards on duty from here on, so we need to be careful."
"Okay."
I went down to the first floor and cautiously surveyed my surroundings.
Unlike the upper floor, there were several guards on duty on the first floor.
What should I do? To get to the dining hall area, I had to cross the mansion's central lobby.
Two guards were stationed there, facing each other.
"...What if we get caught?"
"We'll have to go back to your room quietly."
"Mesis, you'we not being vewy coopewative."
He seemed to be secretly hoping we would get caught and have to go back.
The closer we got to the basement, the more uneasy he seemed.
But I couldn't give up after coming this far.
I tugged on Mesis's collar.
"What is it?"
"You can get past those people, wight?"
"...No."
"But you got to my woom without being seen."
How do you explain that?
I shot him a look that said 'spit it out,' and Mesis rubbed his face with his hands.
"Then make one promise with me."
"What is it?"
"If it seems like someone is in the basement, close your eyes right then and there and call for me."
"..."
"Then I'll get you there without being seen."
It was a very difficult request.
I already knew there was someone inside.
I was going there because I wanted to find out who that person was.
Lying pricked my conscience.
Still, getting there was more important. I had things I wanted to ask.
"Okay. I'll do that."
"Then hold on tight. I'm going to run at full speed."
Mesis swiftly lifted me into his arms. How fast was he going to run that I needed to hold on tight?
More importantly, he was going to run right through, and we wouldn't be seen?
Half-believing, I gripped Mesis's shoulders tightly.
And it was only for an instant.
The surroundings blurred past so quickly that I couldn't even distinguish the objects properly.
The guards in the lobby, as if they hadn't felt a thing, were still staring straight ahead.
...Was something like this really possible?
"We're here."
"Alweady?"
"Yes."
Mesis nodded his head, motioning with his eyes toward the wall that led to the basement.
I had been secretly worried if we could get past them safely.
Now I was worried that things were going too smoothly.
Mesis's ability was just that astounding.
"If you take too long, I'll come get you immediately."
"Okay."
"Wait a moment, Young Lady. Here."
Mesis took something out of his inner pocket.
It was a small lantern.
He flipped a switch on the handle, and the wick inside the glass flared to life, glowing brightly.
"It's dark inside. Take this with you."
"Thank you, Mesis."
I gripped the lantern tightly and gently pushed the wall I had opened before.
A gap appeared as the wall slid inward.
Gulp. I swallowed dryly and was about to step inside when Mesis quickly grabbed the door.
"Or should I go in with you?"
I shook my head firmly.
"Mesis, you stay hewe and watch if anyone comes. I'll be back soon."
*Thud.*
The heavy wall closed.