Chapter 75
Cain’s mood was thoroughly twisted. Unless someone knelt and begged, it seemed impossible for him to approach the sixth position. A deep sigh welled up from inside Marienne.
Did they shove all the men in white ceremonial robes to the front? Why are there so many…
She turned her head left—white-robed man. Turned right—white-robed man again.
A fleeting thought passed through her mind. Odette had said she would change the seating arrangements because of some source-less information. As a result, Marienne was now standing closer to Odette than even Baileon.
Once the surroundings became chaotic, Odette would naturally turn around to look behind her. If an assassin came charging from Odette’s right side in this situation, Marienne would unavoidably end up serving as a shield.
Could this be Odette’s big plan to use tonight’s attack to get rid of me?
But Marienne immediately tossed out that useless thought.
She was far too insignificant for Odette. Odette didn’t need a grand plan to get rid of someone like Marienne. A single drop of poison in a glutton’s food was enough.
Besides—contradictory as it was—Marienne was a “useful” being. Odette herself had said so. As long as she kept Marienne in her hands, she could retain the goodwill of Baileon, Cain, and even Lesley.
I’m insignificant but useful. I even listen well. If she tells me to go, I go. If she says come, I come. I’m basically heaven’s gift to Odette. Why would she kill me?
Marienne stared at the back of Odette’s head, where blood-red garnet and pearls shimmered. Should she call out to her now? But if she did… what would she even say?
Tell her that an assassin would soon charge at His Highness and that she didn’t want to be used as a shield?
Marienne glanced at the Second Prince only a few steps away. Even if she lowered her voice, she felt certain he would hear her.
At this point, she would rather turn her body and whisper into the Second Prince’s ear:
“No matter how much you thrash, you’ll never beat Odette.”
Look at this greedy bastard—he deposed the Crown Prince not too long ago, and now he’s already making a move on the younger sister.
Back when the Empress and Crown Prince were still around, at least he pretended to cover his tracks. But after clearing away the biggest obstacles, it seemed he had lost all sense of moderation.
Go on, enjoy this moment all you want. You’ll die next year anyway. A guillotine is too luxurious for you—you’ll die working in a labor camp, stripped of your name and status.
With that satisfying thought, Marienne smirked—and quickly snapped back to reality.
Because yes, the Second Prince dies in early winter next year. The real problem was that she, Marienne, might die before him.
As in… tonight.
Compared to someone who still had a year or more left to live, she felt like someone who might drop dead in the next thirty minutes. The Second Prince seemed immortal in comparison.
So I only have one place left to cling to…
A glassy tear gathered in the corner of her eye. Marienne looked pitifully toward Baileon standing across from her.
The bitterness she once felt toward her man—who instinctively threw himself to protect his first love—had long since evaporated.
Baileon! Look over here! I’m about to die…!
She was even prepared to shove him forward if he seemed slow at the critical moment.
Marienne desperately tried to catch his gaze. It frustrated her that she couldn’t leave Odette’s side while the attack could begin any moment.
I’m practically serving my country right now… No, this is not the time for nonsense. Ugh, I’m so panicked I’m losing focus.
If she had known this would happen, she should’ve worn the steel-plated corset herself. Regret surged. She scanned her surroundings for anything usable as a weapon.
That’s when she noticed the silver trays carried by the attendants.
I need at least one of those.
Marienne signaled to an attendant carrying a tray of champagne.
Unlike Baileon, who didn’t spare her a glance, the attendant standing near the wall immediately noticed her gesture.
Good.
Meanwhile, after the Emperor finished his speech, a naval lieutenant stepped forward to express gratitude. Apparently, he added a light joke, because people laughed all at once. The attendant with the tray smoothly approached Marienne.
He could hurry a bit more, but he still had to weave through guests, so it couldn’t be helped.
I’ll force the people next to me to take the champagne glasses, and I’ll keep the tray…
But then, a male guest stopped the attendant. The guest placed his empty glass on the tray and grabbed a new one. Marienne’s eyes instantly narrowed.
Where did this drunkard crawl out from?
Next moment—an arm shot out between the guest and the attendant and smacked the silver tray upwards.
The crystal glasses shot into the air, then shattered on the floor. The heavier silver tray spun loudly across the slippery marble.
Everyone looked back. A terrified voice screamed:
“B–Blood…! Blood!”
Guests froze and stared around. In that moment, another voice shouted:
“Everyone run! There’s explosives!”
Before the words even faded, a deafening boom erupted as one of the terrace windows shattered.
Screams exploded everywhere. When someone said “blood,” guests had only murmured anxiously, but the explosion sent them into panic.
It’s begun.
Marienne grabbed Odette’s arm. She couldn’t run without her. But the hand she grabbed wasn’t Odette’s.
“Let go of me!”
“S–Sorry!”
Marienne quickly let go. A woman who seemed to be royal was screaming for her bodyguards.
Where’s Odette?
The Odette who had been right in front of her was gone. Marienne searched desperately through the panicked crowd.
“Where are the guards?!”
“Uwaaaa!”
“Th–the exit! Move! Don’t block the way!”
People were getting trampled and injured even more than by the explosion. Marienne might be next. A bear-sized man shoved her hard.
“Move if you want to live!”
“You move, you bastard!”
Marienne screamed right back. The man ran while looking at her like what the hell?.
“What are you looking at! People like you always die first!”
She almost fell and smashed her face. Fury surged as she shook her fist at him.
Anyway—where was Odette? Where was Baileon? And where the hell was Cain, who should’ve been singlehandedly clearing the situation?
Damn this dress!
She swallowed another curse. The skirt was too heavy to move quickly. Even a slight twist of her torso sent the entire dress spinning.
It was literally for showing off. Perfect for attracting attention. Afterward, Baileon was supposed to act as the center axis, and she’d let herself be spun around for one or two dances.
Marienne forced down her irritation and looked around.
First, get a weapon.
A vase? If she threw it and missed, it would shatter and sprinkle sharp shards everywhere. More victims.
A thick white tablecloth? Good for briefly blocking an attacker’s vision.
But after that? Once the enemy sliced through it, it would be useless.
The silver tray is still the best! You can swing it like a club and use it as a shield!
But now, not a single attendant in sight. They must’ve run off with the trays. How fast.
Then—she spotted a gentleman’s cane someone had dropped. Delighted, Marienne snatched it up.
The handle was decorated with a platinum eagle’s head, and the tip touching the floor was sharpened. She loved it. The deep wood body also looked sturdy.
Good. Perfect. She could swing this several times without hurting herself.
Odette…!
Things were finally turning around. Right after grabbing a usable weapon, she spotted Odette through the crowd. Marienne raised the cane above her head.
“Your Highness!”
She purposely didn’t say “Fourth Princess”—identification was dangerous. Odette knew her voice well. The princess turned to look at her.
“I’m right here!”
Marienne moved while keeping her eyes fixed on Odette. They were getting closer. Soon, she could call Baileon and Cain to guard her.
“Bai—”
Her voice shrank instantly. A presence she couldn’t ignore. She glanced sideways.
And met the eyes of a man a short distance away.
Her head turned fully toward him on its own. Something felt wrong.
While everyone else pushed toward the exit, he was moving against the flow. And he was wearing a dazzling white ceremonial uniform.
I should avoid him…
Right as the thought formed, the man pulled two daggers from inside his robe.
“…Damn.”
It was him. The leader of tonight’s assault team.
“But why is he coming for me?!”
He accelerated, closing the distance in seconds. Before she could react, he was right in front of her.
The first strike came immediately. No hesitation. He swung his dagger at her throat.
And this—was the moment Hugo’s self-defense training shone.
Marienne jerked her upper body back, narrowly avoiding the blade. At the same time, she strengthened her grip on the cane.
When attacking, always look at the enemy’s eyes—not their hands. Peripheral vision is enough to handle arm and leg movements. Focus on reaction time.
She recalled Hugo’s patient lessons.
“You crazy! Bastard! How dare you! Attack someone as fragile! And adorable! As me!”
She swung the cane with all her strength, knocking away his dagger. The man looked shocked—as if he hadn’t expected his target to strike back.
“Die! Die! Die! Dieeee!”
In this moment—she was Seibril Harun. With wild rabbit eyes, she tried to overpower his spirit.
Not her own mother but someone else’s—but still. She was going to channel the soul of the legendary blindfolded assassin who reportedly slit thirty throats in one night.
And she charged forward.
