Chapter 16
Be Careful
Near the central plaza of the capital stood a famous teahouse.
It was a three-story building, each floor with its own unique interior design and theme. Each level offered teas to match its mood, and the desserts there were said to be divine.
But that wasn’t the reason it was so popular among the nobility.
The real reason lay underground — in the gambling den beneath the teahouse.
Even though the sun had yet to set, the place was already buzzing with noise. One side had a blackjack table, another had dice games, and yet another boasted a roulette machine powered by magic.
The patrons were varied — half nobles, both men and women, and the other half wealthy merchants and magnates.
Some, true to the name of the establishment, were hopelessly addicted to gambling, unable to tear their eyes away from their cards for even a second. But most were there to play lightly — and to talk.
In other words, this was both a gambling den and a hub of information exchange.
Everyone here was addicted to knowledge. They had to know more than anyone else, and knowing less than others was unthinkable. In some ways, it was an addiction worse than gambling itself.
And lately, there was one topic that dominated every whispered conversation —
the Grand Duke’s relic theft incident.
“So, has the Grand Duke’s family found out who the culprits are?”
“Apparently not. I hear the bastards have kept their mouths shut even under torture. They pulled out their nails, branded their flesh, and still not a word. I don’t know what kind of monsters those men are.”
“The Grand Duke must be furious. Trying to steal a relic of all things — and no clue who’s behind it.”
A relic.
A sacred artifact said to have been gifted to mankind by a dragon born from the fragments left behind when the primordial god who created the world vanished.
Such relics were passed down through royal families or noble houses of great accomplishment — and one had nearly been stolen from the Grand Duke’s household.
“Still, I’ve never heard of anyone trying to target a relic before. Aren’t they afraid of divine punishment?”
A noblewoman fanned herself as she spoke.
“By the way, I heard someone else took down the thieves who tried to steal it?”
The moment that question was asked, everyone leaned forward. The crowd around them grew as people came closer, sensing that a story even juicier than the ‘relic theft’ was about to unfold.
“Haha. So the rumor has already spread.”
Edhurt, the bearded guildmaster of the Golden Chalice Guild, stroked his chin and laughed.
“I told my men to keep quiet… but somehow the story leaked out.”
“Oh, come now! Please, tell us! Our informants can only find out so much. We want to hear the story straight from you!”
Instead of replying, Edhurt only smiled. The young man beside him poured him a drink.
“Here, sir. A glass of Holy Grace, aged thirty years.”
The man’s face was hidden under a hood, but a few strands of his hair peeked out — unusually long and oddly colored, black and white mixed together.
Who’s that…? Edhurt hesitated for a moment, but seeing all eyes fixed on him, he hurriedly raised his glass.
“Such fine liquor! My thanks.”
He downed the drink in one gulp, cleared his throat, and began.
“There were no issues until we reached the Akion territory. Once we crossed the mountain path, the Grand Duke’s estate was right ahead, so we pushed on without rest. We had twenty escorts in total — all mercenaries from the Onhall Company.”
“The Onhall Company?!”
A renowned mercenary group, founded by a warrior said to be close to a Swordmaster. They were skilled enough to guard a prince in secret.
“But they were all wiped out in an instant. Ambushed by bandits that seemed to appear out of nowhere. There were just over ten of them, yet they took us all down before we could react.”
“My goodness… they must’ve been incredibly strong.”
“Indeed. I thought I was done for. Still, even as I feared for my life, I couldn’t stop thinking — I had to protect the relic. I shouted for my men to take it and run. And then—!”
“And then?”
“A child appeared.”
Edhurt spread his arms wide, eyes gleaming.
“At first, I thought the kid had gotten lost or run away from home… but no. The child charged straight at the bandits and started beating them down! With a wooden sword! Whack! Whack! It was glorious — whack! whack!”
Even now, thinking about it made his chest feel lighter. The looks on those bandits’ faces as they were knocked flying by a wooden sword were priceless.
Edhurt chuckled.
“But wait, didn’t you say the Onhall mercenaries were defeated too?”
“Yes! That’s why it’s so unbelievable! I thought I was hallucinating! But it was real! A small wooden sword — and she took down over ten bandits! It’s the truth! I swear it on my name — no, on my guild!”
There was no way anyone could doubt him now. If this story were a lie, then Edhurt must’ve mastered the art of creating illusions with words alone.
Gulp.
Everyone swallowed nervously and exchanged glances.
“So… that child…”
“Yes. It was her.”
Edhurt lifted his glass and declared loudly,
“Lady Daphne Akion! She’s the one who saved us!”
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, he hurriedly added,
“But that’s not all. As you all know, Lady Daphne’s health has always been frail, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, I heard she nearly died not too long ago.”
“Then… does that mean she’s recovered?”
“That’s what I thought too, but…”
Edhurt sighed dramatically.
“No. As soon as everything was over, she collapsed and started coughing up blood. The elf doctor who was with us said she had overexerted herself.”
“She went out to save you even though she was sick?”
“Yes — exactly that.”
The murmur grew louder.
“That troublemaker?”
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
“Who’d be stupid enough to impersonate the Akion family?”
The whispering spread, then slowly converged into a single sentiment.
“I’m really curious now.”
“Yes. Me too. How did that notorious brat change so much? And if she did, what caused it?”
“And how was she able to move at all, if her body’s that weak?”
It was rare for the infamous “disgrace of the Grand Duke’s family,” Daphne Akion, to become the center of such fervent discussion. Naturally, everyone wanted to know more. Their eyes gleamed with curiosity.
At that moment, the hooded man who had poured Edhurt’s drink quietly slipped away. No one noticed him leave, and no one knew who he was.
Outside, he removed his hood, and long hair cascaded down to his waist — black at the crown, turning white toward the tips. It was strikingly beautiful, visible even from afar.
“You never fail to meet my expectations,” he murmured to himself, ignoring the curious glances he drew.
“Lord Cellus.”
“Ugh… I’m dying.”
Even though the sun was already high, Daphne was still lying flat on her bed, tapping her sore shoulders and arms with a small fist.
Ever since swinging her wooden sword under the effects of that medicine a few days ago, she’d been suffering horribly — from muscle pain.
Her whole body ached so badly she couldn’t even lift a finger, forcing her to stay in bed the entire time.
I need to train…
When she’d beaten up those bandits, her hands hadn’t felt bad — her body remembered how to fight.
In other words, even if her physical condition was pitiful, her mind and technique were intact. If her stamina could just catch up, everything she planned would work out.
The sooner I can…
She had to get stronger — strong enough to knock that damned hero flat.
Muttering to herself, Daphne purposefully ignored the faint glow of the White Lion’s Lantern sitting nearby.
Still, she couldn’t help recalling the day that hero, Heros, had visited.
“You earned it yourself, so I won’t bother thanking you. You’ve been dismissed. Rest well.”
In other words, the lantern had been his gift to her.
She didn’t know much about relics, but they were clearly powerful — and yet he’d just given one to her?
What’s his game?
No way he’d give her a present just because he found her pretty. There had to be a catch.
“Hmph.”
Her lips twitched in irritation before she finally gave up thinking about it.
“There’s so much I don’t know about this body.”
Other than her name, age, and the fact that she was cursed with a frail, dying body — she knew nothing.
“I need to find out more somehow… but how?”
She wasn’t even considering asking Arius. That airhead was too busy frolicking with flowers. She’d probably die of frustration before getting a straight answer.
So she needed to find someone else — anyone else — who could give her information.
Who could that be…
She was lost in thought when the door burst open.
“Milady! Milady!”
It was Anne, her maid, who’d been out on an errand. She rushed in, flustered and breathless, holding a pink envelope as if it were treasure.
“It’s an invitation! A ball invitation! From the Marquis of Finch! Please, open it, hurry!”
Daphne tilted her head. She couldn’t understand Anne’s excitement.
“A ball? What’s so special about that? Why all this fuss?”
“What?!”
Now Anne was the one looking confused.
“You can’t say that, milady! It’s very special! This is the first invitation we’ve gotten in half a year!”
“Half a year?”
“Yes! Don’t you remember? At Count Adell’s tea party last year, you overturned the table and stormed out! You broke the noses of half the young nobles there — poor Lord Adell had his nose shattered! The duke had to make a public apology afterward! I still get chills thinking about it… Anyway, after that, no one dared invite you to anything. But now— wait, why are you making that face?”
Why else…
Temperament: [Total Brat] [Delinquent] [Little Devil] [Rude as Hell]
Because she’d just realized — her temper was absolute garbage.
There’s still such a long way to go… sigh.
