I glanced out the window at Verita.
‘You came later than Baron Lofrato’s testimony.’
Verita was fidgeting with her hands while sneaking glances at me. Seeing her so restless, it seemed she had struggled with the decision to come here. She must have been afraid of taking the full blame if things went wrong.
I raised an eyebrow, glanced at her briefly, and ignored her.
‘It’s actually better that she came late. It reduces the chances of any casualties.’
I left Verita standing outside the shop until I had safely seen off the last customer. Once the final guest was gone, I turned off the lights and sent the employees home, leaving only the disguised knights behind. After hanging up the ‘Closed’ sign, the area in front of the store became quiet.
I stepped outside and faced Verita, who had been waiting endlessly. Her sorrowful appearance and gloomy eyes remained unchanged. However, her body was now as thin as a tree branch, and her pale complexion clearly reflected her dire circumstances.
“What brings you here?”
“Uh, Sister, have you been well?”
“I was doing very well.”
I wiped the smile off my face completely.
“Until I saw you.”
Verita flinched and darted her eyes around anxiously. I found it amusing and let out a small laugh at her pathetic attempt to gauge my reaction.
“So, why did you come?”
Verita hesitated for a long time, merely picking at her chapped lips.
‘At this rate, the night will pass before she speaks.’
I sighed in frustration.
“Tell me why you’re here before I get bored and leave.”
“W-wait! I have something important to say!”
Only then did Verita hastily reach out and open her mouth. She swallowed dryly and stepped closer, clutching my sleeve. The strong stench of unwashed sweat wafted from her, making it clear she hadn’t bathed in days.
I wrinkled my nose, held my breath, and spoke.
“What is it?”
“I-it’s something you must know. I can’t say it here…”
Verita glanced nervously at the surrounding guards. I had been waiting for this.
“Alright, let’s move somewhere else. Where do you suggest?”
Instead of answering, Verita tugged on my sleeve. I let her lead me while sending a signal to the knights stationed on the rooftops. She led me to the entrance of a narrow alley, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
Verita released my sleeve and stepped in first. I followed, scanning the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. Though I saw no movement, I was certain the Duke’s knights were following closely.
She finally stopped at the darkest, dampest part of the alley, where the air reeked of mold.
Verita turned to me, her face tense with anxiety.
“So, what do you have to say?”
“A-actually…”
Verita’s eyes darted around nervously.
‘Ah, how obvious.’
She needed to stall for time but had nothing convincing to hold me back. Still, until Devon arrived, I had to pretend to fall for her poor acting.
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion and crossed my arms. As I tapped my foot and turned halfway around, Verita panicked and blurted out,
“A-Aren’t you curious about why Viscountess Dien died…?”
I froze.
‘Viscountess Dien?’
That name, long buried in my memory, resurfaced. I raised an eyebrow and gazed coldly at Verita. She bit her lips in regret, as if she had just said something she shouldn’t have.
“She died suddenly of a heart attack, didn’t she?”
“Y-yes, but there was a reason for it…”
“A reason?”
Verita desperately grabbed my hand, her eyes welling with tears.
“I-I did nothing wrong! I only granted a request to arrange a meeting with Viscountess Dien…”
Verita was cunning but not quick-witted.
‘It doesn’t seem like a lie just to buy time.’
But that didn’t mean I could trust it as the truth.
Just as I frowned, trying to judge the credibility of her words—
Swish—! An arrow cut through the air toward me.
Clang—! A dagger flew from the rooftop and deflected the arrow.
I turned to look at the fallen arrow, now lying uselessly against the wall. A bluish liquid coated the arrowhead.
It was a signal.
“Let go of me! I said let go!”
A muffled groan and the sound of a struggle echoed through the alley.
The narrow space fell into sudden silence. Verita, trembling against the wall, stared at the arrow in horror. Clearly, she hadn’t expected this.
“Mmph! Mmmph!”
From the alley entrance came the sound of suppressed voices.
Two knights dragged in Devon, who was bound and gagged with a magic restraint. He wore a ragged robe and struggled fiercely against them.
Knights blocked the alley entrance, forming a barrier around the surrounding buildings.
They forced Devon to his knees before me and bowed.
“Where did you find him?”
One knight gestured toward the rooftop across from us.
“He tried to shoot an arrow at Count Buell but failed. Then he attempted to escape on a prepared horse, but we caught him.”
“Well done.”
I glanced over the knight’s shoulder. He gave a sheepish nod.
“Our lord is checking for any additional threats.”
“Is Duke Mipedian safe?”
The knight relaxed slightly and smiled faintly.
“Yes, he is unharmed.”
I sighed in relief and gave a nod.
The knight pulled back Devon’s hood, fully revealing his face. His sunken eyes and gaunt figure bore no trace of his former self.
“Devon.”
Upon hearing his name, Devon’s eyes flashed with sharp hostility.
I instinctively took a step back from his murderous glare but quickly regained my composure when I noticed the fear hidden beneath his rage.
I smirked, which only fueled Devon’s fury.
“Y-you wretched woman…! I swear, I will kill you!”
“You’re slow to grasp the situation. You already failed to kill me.”
I picked up the fallen arrow with a chuckle.
“Shouldn’t you be begging for your life instead?”
I held the arrow before Devon’s eyes.
“Ugh…!”
Devon recoiled; his face twisted in fear. He looked so pathetic that I almost laughed.
“Too bad. You planned to kill me with monster’s blood, but you failed.”
Devon gasped. His stunned expression made it clear he hadn’t expected me to know what kind of poison coated the arrow.
Monster’s blood was lethal to humans. It was harmless on the skin or ingested, but if mixed with the bloodstream, it would harden the organs and cause death within days.
Baron Lofrato had testified that he acquired monster’s blood through illegal trade and gave it to Devon. The plan was obvious—Devon would attack with a poisoned weapon. An arrow was an expected choice.
Devon then noticed Verita behind me and glared at her with bloodshot eyes.
“Don’t look at her like that. She didn’t betray you.”
“Then…”
Devon’s face twisted as realization dawned on him.
“Baron Lofrato!”
Devon cursed furiously, but the knights held him down, forcing him to the ground. He spat venomous words at me, but I only folded my arms, unimpressed.
Just then—
A sharp pain split the air.
Someone had taken an arrow for me.
I turned in shock, my heart plummeting.
“Edmund…”
His name slipped from my lips in despair, a name I never wanted to call like this.
