Chapter 04
“Master, did you hear everything?”
“Yes. I heard that Princess Azrael and Princess Angela were close friends since they were little. So, asking us to investigate her is a surprise.”
“Right? I thought so too. I was dying to ask why she wanted this investigation,” Ron said, clearly curious.
The man Ron called “Master” chuckled softly.
Elpasa was a well-known information guild, quietly famous. No matter how high-ranking a noble came, the real master of Elpasa never accepted requests in person. Ron always acted as the face of the guild, and everyone believed he was the guild master.
But the real master of Elpasa was the man now sitting across from Ron known only to a few, including Ron and some trusted aides. When others were around, they called him Logan to keep his identity secret.
Logan had been hiding behind the bookshelf to avoid an unexpected visitor. Now, as he came out, he looked amused.
“The eldest daughter of Duke Nocturne, huh? Whatever her reason, a noble lady who’s about to make her debut coming to an info guild is quite interesting. She seemed urgent. Get it investigated as fast as possible.”
“Yes, Master.”
“And keep following up on the situation in the Kingdom of Veroc, as we discussed.”
“Understood. So are you leaving now?”
“I should. I can’t leave my seat unattended for too long.”
Logan turned and walked back through the hidden passage behind the bookshelf not a bar, but a secret route. As Ron bowed in farewell, the bookshelf quietly returned to its place like nothing ever happened.
Three Days Later
Yuriel came to wake up Azrael and opened the window — only to find a white envelope stuck in the window frame.
It looked like the report from the information guild, just as Azrael had expected. Yuriel quickly woke her.
“Princess, please wake up. I think the information you requested is here.”
Azrael rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, taking the envelope from Yuriel. She opened it and read through the contents then let out a bitter smile.
“Angela has been meeting secretly with Crown Prince Patrick? Judging by the times and places, it seems they’re already that close.”
According to the guild’s report, Patrick had been seeing Angela even before he met Azrael long before their engagement.
“I had at least hoped it was something that started after our marriage But it was even before he met me?”
Azrael couldn’t believe it. All she could do was laugh bitterly. For more than three years, she had been completely fooled like a fool.
Watching her worriedly, Yuriel asked carefully,
“Princess, is something wrong?”
“No. I just wanted to check something in advance, that’s all.”
Azrael quickly fixed her expression and smiled as if everything was fine. One day, she would have to tell Yuriel everything but not yet. Not until something happened.
“Tomorrow is the debutante ball. If I meet both of them there, I’ll know. Just how well they hid this from me. Truly impressive, the two of them. Or maybe I was just that stupid.”
Smiling bitterly to herself, Azrael stood up. Tomorrow would be the day she met Patrick for the first time. She planned to dress up so beautifully that no man could take his eyes off her.
“He’s not even worth having. But I refuse to just hand him over to the friend who betrayed me.”
Until she achieved her goal, Azrael had no plans of letting them go easily. She would make Patrick suffer before giving him to Angela.
“Though I wonder if she’ll still want him by then.”
At the Debutante Ball
The banquet hall at the imperial palace Garnet Hall was filled with noble ladies arriving for the debutante ball. It was a busy day, as every young noblewoman entered with her chaperone.
A luxurious carriage with the Nocturne family’s eagle crest stopped in front. People nearby turned to look.
From the carriage stepped a graceful duchess with her silver hair elegantly styled. Following her was a stunning young lady with the same silver hair flowing down her back.
“Oh my, the duchess is as dazzling as ever.”
“Yes, and the young lady is just as beautiful. So tall and elegant it’s hard not to look at her.”
As the whispers spread, Azrael walked proudly into Garnet Hall with the duchess. Just standing at the entrance, she drew all eyes. Straightening her back and lifting her chin slightly, she walked with grace and pride.
Nobles around them whispered in awe.
“As expected from the Nocturne family. So noble and elegant, even at her young age.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone as beautiful as Lady Azrael recently.”
“The duke must treasure his daughter and now I can see why.”
Hearing their praise, Azrael scoffed inwardly.
“These same nobles praised us once but when the Nocturne family was framed for treason, they turned their backs faster than anyone.”
Azrael, who had once died and been reborn, was no longer swayed by such flattery. Her expression was proud, almost untouchable yet she kept a slight smile on her lips to remain charming and elegant.
She scanned the room calmly while greeting others, looking for one person in particular Angela.
Soon, her eyes met Angela’s. Angela was talking with other young ladies further inside the hall. Azrael politely excused herself from the duchess and walked toward her.
Angela smiled brightly as Azrael approached.
“Azrael, you came. You look more beautiful than ever today.”
“Thanks. Well, you know me. My beauty never goes anywhere.”
Azrael smiled thinly as she looked down at Angela. Since she was taller, it didn’t seem strange but there was a sharpness in her gaze. Angela felt something off and clenched her hands tightly.
Angela was a noble lady too, but there were levels. The Nocturne family held power and wealth, while Angela’s Brooklyn family was fading a duke’s house in name only.
“You’re dressed up nicely today too. You look pretty, Angela.”
Angela had put effort into her outfit a fancy dress not fitting the financial state of her family, which had lost much due to her father’s gambling.
“T-Thank you,” Angela replied with a shy blush.
Her soft-pink dress had delicate lace around the neckline, giving her a sweet and gentle look.
“You look all sweet and innocent on the outside, but behind my back, you were planning something else? You stole my husband and betrayed your friend. Who would believe you’re the villain?”
Azrael kept her smile, but inside, her anger burned. She forced herself to look away from Angela and glanced at the people around her instead.
“If you had loved Patrick, you should’ve told me the truth when I first met him. If you couldn’t let him go, at least be honest. Then I never would’ve married him.”
“But instead, you both tricked me. Used me and the Nocturne name to make Patrick the emperor. Then threw us away like garbage, calling it treason.”
Azrael’s hands trembled slightly as memories of her past life rushed back. Seeing Angela smile so innocently made her stomach turn.
“No. I won’t be fooled again. I won’t be weak again. Just wait, Angela it’s my turn now.”
