THMLM Chapter 08

Chapter 8

They were enemies — rivals who had once pointed their swords at each other’s throats — so it was only natural for them to be tense around one another.
Everyone else was gone now.

‘Anyway, it’s annoying, but we really do resemble each other.’

The reason they could find quiet places so easily, even in crowded cities, was because they had both often been in such secret spots before.
And in places where no one was around, it was much easier to deal with someone — to eliminate them if needed.
Both of them were people who had to hurt others just to survive.

Ventian thought this silently as he jumped down from a building.

“What’s with that stupid grin? You’re making me uncomfortable.”
Tap. Ventian landed and revealed himself with magic.
Cahen, who already knew he was there, simply glared at him without surprise.

The good mood Cahen had earlier was completely ruined by Ventian’s appearance.

“And why do you keep wandering around her?”
“What are you suddenly talking about… ah, you mean Bessia?”
“……”

Ventian looked at Cahen with genuine surprise.
Had this man ever shown interest in anyone before?

There was the emperor, who always looked for a chance to bring him down,
and Duke Cherta, who despised the heir who couldn’t use magic.

Cahen had only ever shown interest in people he planned to destroy.

Thinking of the emperor and Duke Cherta, Ventian soon remembered the young lady — and made a puzzled face.
He couldn’t connect the dots between her and Cahen.

Well, except maybe one exception —
Bella Havelion.

Lately, society had been full of gossip that Bella was the mysterious lover of Lord Cherta.
But from what everyone had seen, Cahen’s attitude toward her had always been cold and businesslike.

Ventian’s mind began to move fast.
It was instinct — the instinct of a man who lived by gathering information.
He had to figure things out before anyone else.

Bessia, Cahen, and Bella.
What was the connection between those three?

Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was Bessia’s power.
‘Does the author even know about it?’

His mind was full of tangled thoughts, but as always, he smiled — the kind of smile no one could read.
Their eyes met in the air —
two pairs of eyes watching each other with open hostility.

“At least I’m closer to her than you are.”
“No one who stayed close to you ever had a good end, Ventian.”
“Oh, so that’s why you stabbed a hole in my stomach? But, you see, you might just like her… but she’s special.”

Ventian began to speak with a teasing tone.
He was already calculating how Cahen would react — but to his surprise, Cahen answered calmly.

“I know.”

It wasn’t denial.

Cahen continued, as if he hadn’t even heard Ventian’s previous words.

“She’s special because she’s her.”

Blue magic gathered in Cahen’s right hand —
and in seconds, it became powerful enough to blow up the entire area.

Ventian’s eyes widened.
“What the— you… you…!”

Wasn’t he supposed to be unable to use magic?
The flaw of the Cherta family — the heir who couldn’t use magic.

Ventian had believed that information completely — without a single doubt.

“There’s no need to hide it anymore,” Cahen said.

He moved his hand slightly, as if about to attack.
But suddenly, his blue eyes flickered for a moment.
He must have sensed Bessia’s presence.
She hadn’t gone far yet — maybe she was even coming closer.

She was probably struggling with her horse again.
If he cast a spell now, she’d get caught in the blast.

For a brief second, Cahen hesitated — and Ventian noticed it instantly.

“Bessia!” Ventian shouted, as if she were right beside him.

Even though Cahen knew she wasn’t there, he instinctively turned his head.
That tiny moment was all Ventian needed.

“Tsk.”

Cahen clicked his tongue and looked toward the empty space where Ventian had been.
Even if he had tried to kill him, he would’ve had to let him go anyway.

Ventian wasn’t on the side of the crown prince or the nobles who opposed him —
he was a neutral broker who traded deadly information between both sides.

Ventian knew his worth — and Cahen knew it too.
Normally, Ventian would’ve smirked before leaving, just to annoy him.
But if he ran away this fast, that meant the information he’d learned today had truly shaken him.

Ventian was dangerous — too valuable to provoke carelessly.
So Cahen had to be careful.

At least now, with his secret exposed, Ventian would be too distracted to focus on Bessia for a few days.

“……”

When Ventian’s presence vanished, Cahen looked toward the direction Bessia had gone.
She was moving away quickly.
Her riding skills weren’t good — no way she suddenly got better.
She must have gotten off the horse.

Well, that might be faster anyway.

As he prepared to follow her trail, Cahen stopped.
The sun was about to set.

“She never makes things easy,” he muttered.

He had to return before the duke noticed he was gone with the carriage.
Cahen looked at the path Bessia had taken for a long while.
He wanted to make sure she got home safely,
but he would see her again tonight anyway.

He could check then.

—

“……”

‘Oh no.’

I sighed and rubbed my face at the disaster right before me.

Riding the horse alone without Cahen had been difficult —
but at least I managed to get down safely.

My ankle hurt a little, but I could manage.
I had planned to ask someone for directions, so I’d gotten off anywhere that looked safe.
That much had gone fine.

But—

‘I didn’t expect there’d be no one around!’

I walked and walked until I finally saw someone.
So I ran toward them, feeling so relieved —

“Hey, how did you get here?”

The man glaring at me was terrifying.
“This isn’t a place ordinary people can just wander into. How exactly did you get here?”

‘By walking.’

I looked at him with all the sincerity I could, but it didn’t work.
The guard’s face only grew more suspicious.

“You look like a noble. That means this isn’t some accident.”

‘It is an accident! A big, stupid accident!’

He looked at me like nobles were just stones lying around on the street.
I could tell there was something important behind the door he was blocking.
Not that I planned to go inside —
but when his hand went to his sword, I decided to gamble.

“Who are you?”
His voice dropped low — a final warning.

‘All or nothing.’

I took a small breath, lifted my chin proudly, and snapped,
“Is this how guards greet guests these days?”

If only I had something to hide my face with.
All I could do was fidget with my hair, heart pounding wildly.
Should I just run for it and hope for the best?

Luckily, my defiant tone made him hesitate.
“Hmm… do you have an invitation?” he asked, his attitude suddenly softer.

‘Wait, invitation?’

Of course, I didn’t have one.
‘Great, one problem after another.’

When I didn’t hand him anything, his expression darkened again,
and his hand went back to his sword.

Quickly, I pretended to search my pocket for something — anything.
My fingers touched cold metal.

“…This.”

I handed him the brooch Ventian had given me before.

“Oh! You’re with the Crow Guild! I’m so sorry, ma’am!”

As expected of an underground guild —
he instantly changed from hostile to overly polite.

He moved aside quickly, bowing as if he’d lick my boots next.

I stood there, frozen.
‘What on earth is inside?’

I really didn’t want to go in.
The staircase down to the basement looked terrifyingly dark.

“Ah, miss! Please take this!”

The man reappeared with a black mask in his hand.
Only one side — the right eye — had an opening.

“Of course, it’s probably magic in disguise, but rules are rules. Please wear it.”
“Alright.”

Well, it was better than going in with my bare face.
I tied my hair up and put on the mask.

“But why are you from the Crow Guild arriving just now? Oh — did you come because of that rumor?
As expected from the greatest information guild on the continent!”

He kept rambling proudly, even though I didn’t ask for any of it.

‘Ventian never mentioned this place…’

Please, don’t let me run into him here.

He always liked to move personally when it came to big things —
even though all he really did was manipulate information and people from the shadows,
never realizing how reckless he was with his own safety.