~Chapter 38~
Whistle—
Aldin whistled, and our pre-positioned team scattered all at once.
Dressed like us, they left intentional traces to confuse any pursuers.
Thanks to them, I was able to escape safely.
There had been a few hiccups, but everything mostly went as planned.
The only problem was that the viscount returned earlier than usual, so I couldn’t fully confirm the ledger.
‘It has to be the right book.’
The sharp sting I felt when picking it up started to burn more and more with time.
I expected some kind of anti-theft mechanism, but with the viscount’s sudden return, I didn’t have time to examine it.
‘…Is it poison?’
My heart began pounding from the uneasy feeling.
‘Just a little longer… If there’s an antidote, it’ll be at the Marquis’s estate.’
I had to hurry and hand the ledger over to Khalid.
He had said this ledger was essential—to take down the dogfighting ring in one strike.
More than anything, speed was crucial.
After a long run in Aldin’s arms, I finally managed to stand on my own feet.
I hadn’t noticed while being carried, but once away from Aldin’s body heat, I felt freezing. My clothes were drenched in cold sweat.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Haah… I think… something’s affecting me.”
“Let’s go back immediately.”
“No. I need to deliver this first. We move after that.”
I carefully opened the book while hiding my hand.
It felt like everyone’s gaze was scraping across my skin.
I couldn’t yet confirm if it was a list related to the dogfighting ring, but the names and money exchanges were written in great detail.
‘To leave something like this lying around so carelessly…’
But then again, if he only left it unattended for one hour a day, maybe it wasn’t careless after all.
I wanted to read more, but my blurry vision forced me to close the book.
The letters began to swim and melt in front of my eyes.
“You did it.”
Just then, Khalid stepped out from the shadows.
He appeared silently—like a shadow itself. I wasn’t surprised.
I’d seen him appear like this before. Though… not in this body.
“We prepared thoroughly.”
“Good work.”
His short and plain “good work” made me smile without realizing.
Just those two words made my chest tighten. Maybe I worked so hard the past two weeks just to hear that.
Smiling like a fool, I tried to hand him the book.
Thud—
But my grip loosened, and the book fell before reaching his hands.
“Ah…”
My already blurry vision clouded even more.
“Wha… What’s happening to me…”
As I bent down to pick it up, my balance collapsed.
Thump—
I thought I was falling to the ground, but instead, I landed in a firm chest, one that smelled both unfamiliar and familiar.
“…What’s wrong with her?”
“You mentioned there might’ve been a mechanism in the book…”
It was Aldin who answered, not me.
With a stiff face, he pulled my hidden hand into view.
“Poison, then?”
“It appears so.”
One voice was cautious and gentle, the other calm and cold. The contrast hit me harder than expected.
Even as my consciousness faded, what bothered me most was how different their voices were.
‘Even now… I feel sad. That’s the first thing I feel. Sadness.’
‘As long as my feelings don’t change… I’ll keep hoping, won’t I?’
At least, he didn’t know.
That this pain was mine alone—that was my only comfort.
Khalid didn’t care at all about the rumors spreading in Razan.
Zerman’s plan had worked well, and even though Khalid had felt uneasy about it, the good results made him believe it had been a wise choice.
That one line summed up how he felt about being involved with Erdia.
“We’ve gathered all the details about Viscount Joubert. The Valandier family’s information network even reaches local shopkeepers. It’s impressive.”
“There’s a reason people say most informants are merchants.”
Indeed, many working in information guilds were merchants, freely traveling across the continent.
Merchants sold anything for the right price, which is why nobles looked down on them.
“We received word that after the fake deal with the viscount, she plans to steal the ledger after sunset.”
“Support?”
“She said it wasn’t necessary.”
“Yes. Said the Marquis has enough trustworthy people.”
At that, Khalid recalled a knight who used to serve the Marquis.
‘Aldin, I think?’
He remembered hearing Rivier mention him—and even praise him—several times.
The memory of Rivier triggered an involuntary frown.
‘Why am I recalling Rivier’s memories so often lately?’
The scenes surfaced so naturally that it was disturbing.
The original plan was to use Erdia after their meeting at the ball. But instead, it was like she had been waiting to use him. She made all the plans and acted on them.
Khalid, thinking of her blank gaze looking up at him, muttered quietly:
‘She looked so clueless, so fragile. Anyone would assume she was a delicate noble lady.’
He tried not to judge by appearance—but Erdia’s image made that hard.
“Yes. She even insisted on retrieving the ledger herself.”
“She’s going to do it herself? Is she insane?”
“Who knows? I only know what I’ve heard.”
Zerman shrugged.
He, too, remembered her delicate figure at the ball and didn’t expect her to take on such a risky task.
Khalid felt an unpleasant twinge rise inside him.
It was a feeling he’d gotten used to—a bitterness that always followed when thinking about Erdia.
“So she’ll bring the ledger back herself.”
“Most likely, if the plan succeeds.”
Zerman looked doubtful—like he expected her enthusiasm would ruin everything.
Khalid shared some of that concern.
‘What if she messes up and has to go back for the ledger?’ He convinced himself that’s where the bitterness came from.
“…I’ll go myself.”
“Where, sir?”
“To receive the ledger. I’ll take it directly.”
Khalid waved his hand as if to say “don’t question me,” and Zerman stopped in place.
“You’ll go… yourself?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Zerman gave Khalid a long, knowing stare.
Khalid knew exactly what that look meant, but ignored it.
He pushed down the strange emotions rising inside him and gave the next order.
“Report on the dogfighting ring.”
Zerman quickly refocused and delivered his update.
“We’ve confirmed its location. However… someone we know might be inside.”
His previously calm face darkened.
The dogfighting ring was a brutal place where people were treated like slaves, forced to fight to the death.
Slavery was banned in the Empire, so if someone they knew was inside—it meant they were kidnapped and being treated as a slave.
“Tell me.”
Khalid’s voice was quiet, but his fist crushed the papers on the desk.
“It’s Shuruel.”
Bang!
Khalid slammed the desk with full force.
Zerman continued calmly, as if expecting the reaction.
“A silver-haired man has ruled the ring for years. Based on his looks and skills, we believe it’s Shuruel. He only appears during final matches—the rest of the time, he’s hidden.”
“Why… Why would Shuruel be in a place like that…”
It made no sense.
