Chapter 52 : Late Night

Political Maneuvers and Unrest

It was late into the night.

Angus certainly knew an unusual relationship existed between Lita and Cecilia; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Lita continue to reside in the Lord’s Manor.

But that was all he knew.

He wasn’t interested in further investigating who Cecilia associated with; he only needed to manage his own duties.

Cecilia lived in the Lord’s Manor only to protect her, ensuring the Fourth Imperial Princess didn’t die in his Solus City.

But now Cecilia was here, while Lita was missing.

Connecting this with recent events, Angus‘s unease neared its peak.

“Getting back to the main point, the Holy Knight Assessment is ongoing, so a large flow of people is reasonable.”

“But so many cases occurred during the day that soldiers are spread thin.”

“This allowed some people to sneak into the city amidst the chaos.”

Cecilia seized Angus‘s silence to continue speaking.

“Now the city is full of the disorder they are creating, yet the actual harm caused is directed only at the defending soldiers.”

“But this is strange.”

“The soldiers are well-trained, while those rioters can only rely on sheer numbers.”

“However, even if people slipped into the city, their numbers wouldn’t be very large.”

Angus could figure all this out if he took a moment, but Cecilia‘s direct presentation cleared his mind considerably.

“Your Highness, let’s talk as we walk.” Angus felt he needed to hear what Cecilia intended to say.

“Alright.”

Cecilia matched Angus‘s pace, and several soldiers immediately followed closely.

“It’s strange that the unrest hasn’t calmed down, even requiring your personal presence to command on the front lines, isn’t it?”

“There’s only one reason why this current situation is occurring: from the small squad leaders up to the garrison commanders, all are now incapable of command.”

“This leaves only you to do it personally.”

Cecilia‘s reminder was an epiphany for Angus.

He only gave the few day-time cases special attention because he heard about them, which was why he visited the prison.

However, even without him, the issues would have been resolved as usual.

The Nightmare Demon incident was too significant, requiring his decision no matter what, but that was a special circumstance.

If he had to personally handle everything, even being torn in half wouldn’t be enough.

The reports from the soldiers tonight didn’t suggest general coordination was enough; they insisted he had to personally go to the front lines to command.

He had always underestimated Cecilia.

To deduce all this with just a few words, this Imperial Princess clearly wasn’t a useless trophy wife.

Angus‘s tone became more serious.

“Your Highness, what is your view then?”

“To create chaos to such an extent, just to let a few rioters into the city, seems overly extravagant.”

“These rioters are more likely a distraction for the soldiers, and even for your attention.”

“Stepping back, even if that were all, did they enter Solus City just to create disorder late at night?”

“That’s highly illogical.”

Cecilia was deep in thought, her expression growing more serious.

She was also thinking rapidly.

Only after turning a corner did Cecilia speak again.

“The Solus City soldiers wouldn’t be so incapable as to fail to suppress a few rioters, and your commanders shouldn’t be so incompetent.”

“Therefore, like Lita‘s disappearance, I hope they are only genuinely unable to command because they are busy.”

“Otherwise, one person, or even one team, must be gradually eroding your forces without anyone detecting them.”

A Demon’s Strike

“Gasp.”

The East City Garrison Commander squeezed out a painful groan mixed with bloody foam, his trembling single hand tightly clutching the stiletto—resembling a fish fin—plunged into his chest.

Drip, drip, drops of fresh blood streamed down from his palm.

He trembled constantly.

In his irreversibly widening pupils, a face so beautiful it made one’s heart shudder was reflected, as if his scalding fresh blood only added a touch of allure to her makeup.

However, several crystalline fish scales, like blue jewels, covered the cheek adorned by that makeup, proving her non-human identity.

“You f*cking Demon Race, when exactly did you sneak in?”

The garrison commander staggered a few steps; the stiletto seemed to stab deeper.

“When?”

Long, slender eyelashes dropped as those eyes swept over the surrounding crowd.

The crowd was silent, yet seemed like an impenetrable wall, standing over the corpses of the soldiers beneath their feet.

“And when do you think my school of fish swam into this filthy mud puddle?”

This abnormal, seemingly suicidal charge made the garrison commander inevitably recall the failed assassination that was known to everyone in the city, even though he hadn’t personally attended.

“Turns out… turns out you already… fck! How the hell did you get in here!”

The garrison commander‘s tone became increasingly agitated.

A surge of strength allowed him to raise his sword-wielding hand, swinging his last ever strike with all his might toward the calm woman.

The stiletto was withdrawn from his body a moment sooner, bringing a spray of blood.

The final attack ultimately failed to hit its target; the warrior’s sword was submerged in the gore along with its owner.

The Deal in the Basement

In the basement.

“I have fulfilled my promise and sent out most of my subordinates.”

“This is the accumulation of my efforts over so many years.”

“Although they are just a ragtag bunch, when gathered, they form a considerable force.”

“Will I… will I get what I want this way?”

Mel knitted his brows tightly, constantly re-confirming this question he had already asked several times.

“Are you doubting her decision?” the Nightmare Demon asked back with a smiling chuckle.

“But the price to pay is too great, isn’t it?”

“The Lord of Solus City is worth a high price.”

“If you’re unwilling to pay even this small cost, what right do you have to obtain it?”

“Y-You’re right… that Lady wouldn’t deceive me!” Mel gritted his teeth. “But this is too sudden.”

“I… I didn’t know we were supposed to act today.”

“You are a merchant; you should know that an opportunity lost will not come again.”

“Tonight is the best chance.”

Mel fell completely silent this time, but the furrows in his brow deepened further.

“Well, I imagine my companions have completed their tasks, and now it’s my turn to make an appearance.”

“I must finish everything before they can react.”

The Nightmare Demon clapped her hands and strode out.

“Oh, by the way.” The Nightmare Demon suddenly stopped.

“I hope that little rabbit of yours does a good job, or else, allowing a guard who caught the Imperial Princess‘s eye to run around is going to be very troublesome.”

Lita’s Premonition

“Klaus, did you hear something?”

Lita frowned, gently shaking Klaus, who was passed out drunk on her, utterly plastered.

“No…” Klaus mumbled an answer, extending an arm to hug Lita‘s shoulder again.

“Lita–sama, maybe it was a hallucination?”

“Stay with me a little longer, please.”

About half an hour had passed since Klaus first asked her to stay.

Klaus consistently maintained this half-drunk, half-awake state, refusing to let Lita leave.

Lita‘s feelings for Klaus were somewhat complex.

To say it was love would probably be far from enough, but she certainly had a certain fondness.

This wasn’t a brothel; Klaus‘s attempts to please her were meaningless, but Lita found it rare and precious precisely because of this.

Since she arrived in this world, this was the first time someone was willing to be kind to her without expecting anything in return.

Klaus took her to experience plays she had never seen, shared meals Klaus personally cooked, and told her untold stories.

When the other person was willing to hand over their heart, all Lita could offer in return was her sincerity and some feelings that flowed from that sincerity.

What things would evolve into later, or what kind of feelings were stirring in her heart right now, Lita hadn’t stopped to think.

But a deep-seated protectiveness had anchored her footsteps.

I’ll stay just a little longer then.

Lita originally intended to say this.

But the current time, and the vague, ominous premonition rising in her heart, made it truly difficult for her to stay.