Chapter 25: How a Mercenary Deals with Uninvited Guests (3)
“Are you okay?” Valentin asked softly, his voice barely audible.
Regina had been so focused on the cat that Valentin’s presence startled her. She quickly checked his jaw, pulling his head gently toward her.
“Just a moment… please.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
She was firm when needed—she had once used a headbutt to knock someone down. Before he knew it, Valentin found himself frozen, his face close to hers. Regina inspected his bone as if she were running a medical check, unaware of how bold her gesture was.
“Open your mouth. Let me see if any teeth are broken.”
Valentin obeyed, opening his mouth. She carefully felt his jaw with a gentle touch that was at once precious and soothing, like petting a small animal.
Their faces were so near their eyelashes almost brushed.
“You seem fine. But if it hurts later, please see the healer.”
“Understood,” he whispered, warming to her concern.
They only realised how close they’d been when she shifted her gaze from his lips to his eyes. Regina blushed—she had spoken to him more intimately than any mercenary would.
Just then, a soft “meow” snapped her back to reality. The black cat crawled from under the sofa, letting out a sweet cry. Regina pulled away and gave the cat a gentle scolding.
“It’s your fault.”
“Such mischief.”
Valentin smiled as the cat pressed against his leg in greeting. He didn’t brush it away. Though slightly awkward, it didn’t feel wrong.
“Remarkable how this cat called me,” she said.
Valentin accepted it lightly. He suddenly sensed someone in the corridor. Regina must have felt it too—something unusual in the air.
“Stay inside,” he told her quietly.
She picked up her sword, her expression sharp.
The door to his room closed behind her. Inside her own room, Regina struck a match and drew her blade.
“People should know better than to show up unannounced at night.”
Then a dagger flew toward her. She blocked it and realised three assailants had snuck in. Each attack was swift, but she met them with skill. One guard fell with a crash; another she forced to flee.
Spotting a third approaching with a heavy breath, she hurled a poisoned dagger with deadly accuracy.
A boy collapsed, coughing blood. Regina spared his life—she needed answers.
“Tell me your client and mission. I’ll spare you.”
He laughed weakly.
“Don’t lie. And you were told—your masters kill you if the mission fails.”
Regina froze. His voice was young… too young.
He spat poison.
“Wait! Stay with me!”
She cradled him, but his chest went still.
“He’s already dead.”
Valentin, summoned by an alarm, arrived. Candles and oil lamps lit the room. The corpse revealed an innocent young boy’s face.
Regina’s sword arm glistened with fresh blood; shock rippled through everyone present.
“Lady, are you safe?” Allen called softly.
Valentin gave orders: “Clean this up. Regina, Allen—go to my room.”
The butler and head maid obeyed hurriedly.
Regina couldn’t leave the boy—but priorities came first. She tucked away his poison dagger. It might help trace the assassin’s guild.
Back in Valentin’s room, she looked across a mirror—her blood-smeared face scared her.
“You’ve got blood on your face.”
“It’s not mine,” she replied, anger burning in her eyes.
“The assassins came from your in-laws,” she hissed.
“They wanted a ruined daughter-in-law.”
Valentin asked, “Are you angry?”
“I’ll say again—he was just a child.”
Valentin frowned.
“In this cruel world, age doesn’t matter,” he replied.
Yet Regina spoke with passion.
“Many orphaned children become assassins for hire. I despise them. They’re forced into it.”
She continued, voice low with pain: “This boy… they made him believe disobeying got you killed. He followed instructions, thinking he wouldn’t have to kill.”
Allen whispered in shock.
Regina turned to Valentin.
“I want to hurt them. The count, too—he sent this. So he could shame me.”
“Then what will you do?” Valentin asked.
She recognized something in his interest. His dark eyes held a depth she didn’t understand.
“Valentin, did you ever survive poison from the Count’s hand?” she asked.
“Not yet,” he said, expression unreadable.
She began wiping the blood from her face with a clean cloth Valentin handed her.
