Chapter 105
“So then, the Empress’s faction may not yet know of your involvement.”
Hannah let out a long breath before returning to the main point.
“They probably don’t. The outcome was purely because of my own impulse. By now, I might already be included in the strange rumors they’re spreading.”
“Then what exactly are they trying to gain by using me as a scapegoat?”
“That’s obvious.”
“……”
“The Empress’s side has a contract of trade with the Artis Merchant Guild. Of course, it could be an official document—or a forged one. But if you, Miss Hannah, who went out to negotiate with the Artis Guild, were to disappear?”
“They must be after the Artis Guild.”
“Exactly. Petty rumors are easy to fabricate, and merchants like us can be swayed like reeds in the wind by such things. Especially now, when I’m absent.”
“…I’m sorry.”
If only she hadn’t been deceived by the Empress, if only she hadn’t gone to that place, then Reynol wouldn’t have been dragged into the incident. He would’ve uncovered evidence of their scheme.
Hannah felt as though she had ruined everything. The weight of guilt was so heavy she couldn’t lift her head.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t accept apologies. They’re not worth money, and what’s done is done. Besides, this was purely the result of my impulsive decision. There’s no need for you to apologize.”
Even so, Hannah’s eyes were still filled with regret as she looked at Reynol. But he broke through the heavy air with a bright smile, as if he truly meant it.
“Well then… you’ve confirmed that my mind is sound, my handsome looks are intact, and my tongue works just fine. Isn’t it time you told me everything? My body will recover with time, after all.”
This time, Reynol asked without naming the subject. But Hannah knew exactly what he meant.
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
“…You’ve only been awake for a week. As for where we are—I honestly don’t know.”
Hannah slowly began to recount the events of that night.
“That moonlit night, dragging you here left me so disoriented I couldn’t even tell where I was going.”
After barely managing to deal with the attackers who tried to kill her, Reynol had collapsed, his body battered.
Hannah had laid him across her robe and, using every ounce of strength she had left, dragged him into hiding here. She had pushed herself so hard that even now, a week later, she still had no strength in her arms or legs.
“I left some signs behind, so they’ll come searching soon.”
Even while fleeing, Hannah had not forgotten to leave traces.
If her disappearance was noticed, at least Sir Milan would come looking. She had left marks and messages only he would recognize.
So if she could just hold on a little longer, surely they would find her. Surely…
But Reynol, hearing her confident words, shifted uncomfortably and finally said,
“Um… I’m afraid those traces have probably been erased.”
He gave an awkward smile, sounding unusually apologetic.
“…What?”
Hannah blinked, thinking she had misheard.
“My subordinates are very thorough about cleaning up.”
“……”
“Well, though they arrived late, the men who eventually found me would’ve cleaned up everything.”
At Reynol’s oh-so-polite explanation, Hannah’s expression twisted in dismay—utterly crushed.
“Oh! But they’re not that meticulous. They might’ve left one or two traces behind, so don’t look so hopeless.”
“…Isn’t it harder to find hope in this situation than to give it up?”
“Hope tastes all the sweeter the thinner it is.”
“Hah!”
Hannah let out a hollow laugh and curled into herself, burying her head.
Was she truly supposed to stake her life on a mere shred of hope? Would she really end up dying here?
Just as despair began to claw through her mind—
“By the way, have you searched my body yet?”
“…What?”
The absurd question made Hannah snap her head up, glaring at him with disgust.
“I admit I’m a pervert, but that look is too much. If you keep staring like that, I might get excited. Please don’t make things harder for me.”
Reynol’s tone was so genuinely troubled that Hannah instinctively edged back against the wall, horrified.
“There should be a small vial hidden in my clothes. A one-of-a-kind elixir, crafted across the empire. I don’t have any painkillers left—I gave them away—but this one is still there.”
He hurried to explain, as if to excuse himself.
“If you don’t want me to become a corpse, hurry.”
“…Sigh.”
Only after his veiled threat did Hannah exhale, lean forward cautiously, and check where he indicated.
“This one?”
Sure enough, she pulled a small glass vial from a violet pouch.
Reynol smiled brilliantly.
“Ah—”
He opened his mouth wide, signaling for her to feed him.
His shamelessness made Hannah shake her head in exasperation, but she still uncorked the vial and poured the liquid straight into his mouth.
“Why do you even carry something like this?”
“You never know when you’ll die. I’d at least like to die comfortably.”
“……”
“It’s the fate of people like me. I’m so brilliant that the jealous fools of the world are always out to get me.”
He swallowed the medicine with ease, his tongue seeming sharper already. Hannah pouted at his smug tone.
“Yes, you’re truly brilliant.”
“I feel great hearing that from you, Miss Hannah. I already feel recovered.”
Moments ago, Reynol had struggled even to sit upright. But now—
“What the—!”
He suddenly shot upright, leaving Hannah so dumbfounded her face crumpled as if she’d seen a ghost.
Was it the medicine’s effect, or had he been faking all along? It was impossible to tell. Only the cold sweat glistening on his forehead suggested he wasn’t entirely well.
“Give it a day or two and I’ll be moving freely. By the way, I’m starving. Got anything to eat?”
Hannah clicked her tongue softly. She had nearly pitied him a moment ago, but every word he spoke banished sympathy and replaced it with irritation.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
“So… this is truly His Majesty’s will?”
“Not so much his will, Lady Ilina Werner, head of the Artis Guild. Think of it as an offer.”
Heron, the Emperor’s steward, smiled kindly as he looked at her.
“If it sounds like a threat, I suppose that’s entirely my fault?”
Ilina met him with a soft tone of her own, unwilling to yield.
“You know well enough that concealment alone won’t solve this. His Majesty does not wish for the Artis Guild to fall into someone else’s hands.”
“And yet the very premise—that the guild could fall over something so trivial—seems flawed.”
Ilina’s deep blue eyes glinted sharply. The warmth between them had long since frozen.
“You know better than anyone that the situation is not so favorable.”
Heron spoke mildly, but his words carried weight.
“Accused as the ‘murderer’s guild,’ Artis has already suffered immense damage. Worse, rumors of a ‘witch’ have become entangled. Endurance will not last much longer. You already know this. The number of shops being forced to close is rising.”
Murderer. Witch.
Those were not rumors that could be easily dismissed. Outraged citizens hurled stones and condemnation. Business partners turned their backs.
Now, the Artis Guild stood at the brink of collapse. No amount of wealth could solve this. That was what made Ilina feel so stifled.
No matter how cheap she sold quality goods, there were no buyers.
“And so the Emperor wants us to become his dogs? How fitting. Avoiding a mud-stained cur only to run into a lion.”
“Do you have another solution then?”
Heron adjusted his monocle, gently pressing her.
At that, the softness in Ilina’s tone cracked. She fired back,
“My daughter, Reina, is no witch. My son, Reynol, is no murderer. That is the truth, and rumors will eventually be buried by other rumors.”
She straightened her back, her eyes blazing with determination.
“The Artis Guild has stood for centuries as a representative of Montania. Do you know why we’ve endured so long?”
“……”
Heron remained silent, listening. He knew her temperament well after so many years.
“Because in every wretched circumstance, we never took sides. Absolute neutrality meant absolute integrity. And that is something His Majesty knows, and you, Heron, know as well.”
Just as he had expected, Ilina cast aside her gentle mask. With Heron, such masks were useless.
“And that is exactly why this proposal comes now—because this is the worst crisis we’ve faced.”
Heron’s words became more candid, though his kind smile never faded—it had become habit.
“Reina has already proven, under the name of His Highness Terhan Presto, the Second Prince, that she is no witch. Reynol has simply not appeared due to personal matters. That is all I can tell you.”
Ilina leaned back heavily against the sofa, resting her hand on the armrest. Her face showed how suffocating the situation had become. She let out several short, weary breaths.
