Chapter 112
The rumors quickly died down.
Hannah had returned alive and well, and Reynol was leading the merchant guild as if nothing had happened.
Even the Imperial Palace had declared it would not tolerate idle gossip, and so the rumors that had once swelled out of control were swiftly forgotten.
But rumors always evolve into new ones.
“Then why did those knights die?”
“Shh! Unless you want trouble, you’d better keep your mouth shut!”
In a noisy little tavern, two men sat across from each other, speaking in hushed voices.
“I heard from the next village over that the dead weren’t knights at all but wanted criminals.”
As if he had been eavesdropping, a man from the next table slid over with his mug and quietly joined them.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Tell us in detail.”
The bearded man leaned forward, unable to contain his curiosity.
“Listen closely. Someone recognized the faces of the dead—turns out they were vicious thugs who wouldn’t hesitate to take contract killings.”
The newcomer leaned in close, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Is that true?!”
“Shhh! Keep it down. But you know what’s even more shocking?”
Drawing the men even closer until their foreheads nearly touched, he glanced around cautiously.
Gulp.
Someone’s throat clicked audibly.
Only after making sure no one was watching them did he murmur:
“…They found gold coins marked with a golden dragon on the bodies.”
In the little world cut off from the tavern’s bustle, silence fell.
“A golden dragon? Then—that’s…!”
The scrawny man flinched in alarm, but the other two quickly grabbed his arms and pulled him back down.
His reaction was natural. The golden dragon was a mark used only—
“By the Imperial Palace.”
It was an emblem that could only be issued there.
“Then are you saying the Palace actually hired them to assassinate the head of the Artis Merchant Guild and failed?”
“Exactly. That’s why the Palace is trying to hush things up and smother the rumors.”
The newcomer poured himself another drink and downed it in one gulp.
“Ha! And here I thought the guild master ran off in some scheme with his maid. Turns out the real victim was the Artis Guild!”
“What I want to know is—who gave the order? I can’t stand not knowing!”
“Tch~ I wasn’t going to say this much, but…”
He slammed his cup down roughly, then motioned for them to lean in again.
“You must keep this a secret. Only a handful of people know this.”
He hesitated, as if savoring the suspense.
“What is it? I swear I won’t tell a soul. Just tell me!”
The bearded man, desperate with curiosity, nodded over and over.
“…It was the First Prince.”
At last, the man whispered weightily, just loud enough for them to hear.
“The First Prince?!”
The bearded man’s eyes went wide, blurting it out without thinking—
“Shhh!”
“Quiet!!”
The others hushed him, pressing a finger against his lips.
“Kh-hm! Hem!”
Embarrassed, the bearded man coughed awkwardly and leaned in again.
“They say it’s because of the upcoming second competition.”
The informant glanced around once more, then, as though his task was done, filled his cup and leisurely enjoyed another sip.
“What does that competition have to do with the Artis Guild?”
“Think. To hire skilled fighters, what do you need most?”
“Money…?”
“Exactly. When he couldn’t borrow funds, he tried to use threats on their lives instead!”
“Good heavens!!”
“Now it all makes sense!”
And just like that, the mysterious man had vanished. The two left behind carried on with their excited chatter, oblivious to the world around them.
“Reynol. This was your doing, wasn’t it?”
In a small private room at the guild, Hestia pulled back her hood and sat down across from Reynol, getting straight to the point.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
But Reynol only shrugged lightly, his gaze fixed on Hestia’s crimson hair.
“The rumors going around right now.”
“Ah, that. But they’re not entirely false, are they?”
Whether he was feigning ignorance or not, Reynol nodded vaguely, as if he had only just remembered, and poured tea into her cup.
“I mean, what’s the point of stirring up more rumors? Nothing good comes from bringing them up again. And rumors always get twisted in strange directions.”
Lifting the pale yellow tea, Hestia spoke with genuine concern.
“Well, this one won’t last long either.”
In contrast to her serious tone, Reynol smiled lazily, almost cheerfully.
“Because the First Prince’s name was mentioned?”
Hestia knew as well as he did—if the First Prince was implicated, the Empress would immediately act to suppress it.
At her words, Reynol’s deep-blue eyes lit up.
“Oh! Lady Hestia, have you finally taken an interest in worldly affairs?”
He threw out an irrelevant remark, as though that had been his concern from the start.
Hestia lowered her cup with a deep sigh.
“…It’s not that I’ve taken an interest. If even I’ve heard about it, then even the boars in the forest must know.”
She tilted her head slightly, smiling politely. But her light-brown eyes held only chill.
“Ah, money well spent then.”
Reynol tilted his head to mirror hers, smiling with narrowed eyes.
“….”
Her faint smile vanished as her lips pressed into a firm line. She didn’t need to speak—her glare alone demanded the truth. Why reopen a wound that had nearly healed?
“Do you know the quickest way to make money?”
Reynol suddenly asked, shifting his gaze.
Hestia’s brow furrowed.
“Pity.”
He answered at once, savoring the fragrance of his tea.
“I’m just covering the losses caused by those rumors with those same rumors. They used me, so I’m simply using them in return. Fair’s fair, isn’t it?”
“Then why involve the First Prince instead of the Empress?”
“Because he’s easier prey?”
“….”
How many in the Empire would dare call the First Prince “easy prey” so casually? Where did such absurd confidence come from?
Feeling a headache coming on, Hestia pressed her temples.
“Ah, it’s worth the pain. Lady Hestia’s giving me such a look—I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know how to bear it.”
Reynol blushed suddenly, gazing at her as if lovestruck.
“…And what kind of look do you think I’m giving you?”
After much internal debate, Hestia finally asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
“A look that says you adore me.”
He tilted his head prettily, smiling. His violet hair swayed softly with the motion.
“Hah.”
As always, his nonsense drew a dry laugh from her as she shook her head.
“Don’t tangle yourself with them any further.”
She stood abruptly, leaving her tea unfinished.
“Oh, such harsh words. I’m only trying to sever ties with them completely.”
Reynol rose as well, setting down his cup.
“Right. Talking to you is pointless.”
Hestia waved him off, signaling that he needn’t follow, and pulled her hood back up.
“I’m leaving.”
“Ah! A letter arrived. I think you’ll want to read this one.”
As she was about to walk out without a second thought, Reynol quickly drew an envelope from his robe and held it out.
The name written on the pale green envelope was—
“Cesar Leopold…”
It was from Cesar.
Had something happened to Terhan?
“No other letters…?”
She forced her trembling voice steady as she asked, but Reynol’s reply was sharp and firm.
“No. Nothing else. Are you expecting one?”
“Ah. No, of course not.”
Her bitter reply left her mouth dry. She had expected this, and yet, she couldn’t help the sting of disappointment.
Had Terhan already forgotten her…?
At least the hood concealed her face so no one else could see.
“Then I’m going.”
Hestia quickly tucked the letter into her robe and left the room.
The door closed behind her.
Reynol walked slowly to the window, drawing the curtain back just enough to watch Hestia disappear from the guild.
“As I thought, her natural hair color is far more beautiful.”
It was far more striking than any dye—a color at once common and uncommon, like dandelions under moonlight or sunlight in a lazy afternoon.
Only after she vanished from sight did Reynol turn to the desk by the window and open a drawer.
“Forgive a little mischief.”
Inside lay another envelope—still unopened.
And the sender written on it was…
