Chapter 049
Dawn broke as the night passed.
As soon as morning arrived, Janice slipped out of the mansion. The knights had been guarding the mansion all night, making it impossible for her to step outside. She had waited for a moment when security was weaker before making her move.
Looking around carefully, Janice blended into the busy streets. The fear from last night had faded, and the city was once again lively. However, people were still talking about what had happened.
āI couldnāt sleep all night. Ugh, it was so creepy. I can still hear that awful sound.ā
āI wasnāt imagining it, was I?ā
āNo way! How could you mishear something like that? It was the sound of bones breaking.ā
The merchantsā chatter brushed past Janiceās ears.
āThey say dozens of snow beasts died. And all of them were just young ones!ā
āHow do you know that?ā
āHa! My son works for the guard. He spent all morning cleaning it up and came home covered in blood.ā
Janice pulled her hood lower and moved carefully through the crowd. She glanced back to check if she was being followed. Luckily, it seemed she wasnāt.
She kept walking cautiously and soon arrived at an old, shabby hut. She knocked on the doorāthree quick knocks, two slow ones, then one strong knock.
The door opened. Janice looked around once more before stepping inside. She pulled back her hood, relieved.
āCount Mers. Itās so good to see you here.ā
Janice smiled brightly. She had worried that Count Mers might betray her, but thankfully, he had kept his promise.
āā¦Tsk.ā
Count Mers clicked his tongue in annoyance.
āDo you even know what chaos happened last night? We almost died because of this mess.ā
He had struggled to sneak in and had seen the bloodthirsty creatures roaming in the darkness with his own eyes.
āWhy did those cursed things follow us all the way here?ā
āThey came to help us, of course.ā
Janice smiled calmly.
Count Mers let out a sigh of frustration. No matter what he said, it wouldnāt reach Janice. She was too convinced that she was right.
He spoke quietly.
āSo, where is the target?ā
āSheās at the Dukeās villa.ā
āThe security is incredibly tight. Are you sure we can pull this off?ā
āThis is the guardsā patrol schedule. I managed to get the duty roster for the patrols around the Dukeās estate.ā
Count Mers glanced at Janice before checking the schedule.
Even with strict security, there were always weak spots. A sly grin spread across his face as he looked at Janice.
āOnce we kidnap and kill this woman, my job is done.ā
āā¦Thatās enough.ā
Janiceās eyes gleamed.
Everyone else was terrified, but this was the perfect time to get rid of Charlotte. They planned to make it look like she had been torn apart by the beasts.
Janice had chosen Count Mers as her accomplice.
āOnce the Duchess is gone, the person I choose must take her place. Understood?ā
āI got it.ā
Janice smiled sweetly.
With this, everything was set.
Her patience in enduring Charlotteās pressure had led to this moment.
She would succeed.
In just a couple of days, she would never have to see that arrogant face in the mansion again.
***
Just watching someone suffer without being able to helpāit was unbearable.
If only she could tell them that their true goal was to gather intelligence, to observe the Northās strength, and to pass on the information.
If only she could warn them that the next full moon, they planned to attack a village, for example.
And that the villageās name was Gaston.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldnāt say them.
She needed the right excuse.
In the original story, Cassius and Theo had never gone to the seaside villa. Yet, the situation was unfolding in a similar way.
The only difference was that, in the original, Cassius didnāt learn about the creaturesā true nature until the next full moon.
Maybe it was better that way.
Now, it just felt like the nightmare was dragging on.
She let out a deep sigh.
Stephanie and Theo, sensing the heavy atmosphere in the mansion, were playing in the garden by the sea, building sand structures.
The knights guarded them closely, so there was no fear of them disappearing or getting hurt.
It was late afternoon when Cassius finally woke up.
His pale face had a bluish tint.
āCassius, your faceā¦ā
āIām fine. It was just a nightmare.ā
He rested his face in her hands without resistance.
His sigh was filled with exhaustion.
The once-strong man was showing his vulnerable side.
She had the urge to grab Lorencia by the collar and shoutā
āTell me how to close the gate!ā
But she held herself back.
She swallowed hard.
Cassius gently lowered her hands and gave her a faint smile.
āIām really fine.ā
Was it because the face I saw every day had lost its light? I couldnāt stop worrying.
Just then, Giverny, the aide, rushed toward Cassius.
It didnāt seem like he was bringing good news.
āIf you have something to say, say it,ā Cassius said coldly.
Giverny glanced between Cassius and me.
āItās fine,ā Cassius assured him.
āā¦Itās a message from the imperial palace. The chamberlain sent a letter himself.ā
Cassiusā eyebrow twitched.
He already knew what the response would be. A rejection.
Emperor Carlos was a selfish ruler who only cared about the capital and ignored the North. He was like a frog trapped in a well, unable to see the bigger picture.
Surrounding Carlos were scheming advisors who kept him trapped in his own little world. They constantly manipulated and pressured him, keeping him in place.
In the end, the empire would remain unprepared until the invasion of the North had already begun.
Cassius, trapped by this situation, read the letter with cold eyes.
āā¦The chamberlain says heās sorry.ā
āIām sure he did what he could.ā
Cassius let out a hollow laugh.
āSo even a lifelong servant of the palace understands, but the emperor does not.ā
Slowly, he tore the letter apart.
āThe imperial family wonāt help us. Send word to the nearby lords. Warn them about the monsters crossing the gate and tell them to strengthen their defenses.ā
āYes, Your Grace!ā Giverny bowed his head.
Once again, Cassiusā plea for help had been ignored.
It wasnāt his fault. While Cassius was fighting for Hysteria outside, the traitors were responsible for destroying it from within.
These traitors had already formed close ties with the surrounding lords.
They convinced them that Hysteria would never fall and that even if it did, the monsters wouldnāt spread beyond it.
And in return for promising to send Hysteriaās knights to protect them in case of danger, they pocketed large sums of money.
It was Laurenciaās job to uncover their crimes and remove them.
Why couldnāt she do something about this now?
The frustration was suffocating.
āWhy do you look like that? Itās okay, Charlotte. This isnāt the first time the imperial palace has turned its back on us.ā
Even during the basilisk crisis, the palace ignored the North.
The North had fought the disaster alone and eventually won.
The scars of that battle still remained across the land, but at least they had survived.
āI know,ā I said, squeezing Cassiusā hand tightly.
This betrayal and neglect had been expected, but that didnāt mean Cassius wouldnāt feel hurt.
He must feel lonely.
āā¦You are never alone, Cassius.ā
That was all I could say.
Cassius gave a faint smile.
No matter how much I thought about it, leaving was the right choice.
For Cassiusā sake, I had to goā
As soon as possible.
