Her Ladyship's letter contains only a few lines on the matter.
Short.
Simple.
Yet the implications beneath those words had caused Akan to reread the parchment more than once.
A hidden door.
One that led toward the innermost part of an estate Eru had discovered before being captured. The bird had seen something there.
No mere suspicion.
Not merely a rumor.
Something tangible enough for Her Ladyship to consider worth pursuing despite the risk.
And coincidentally, it was the very same estate now standing quietly beneath the protection of the Ostenian Patriarch.
How beguiling.
Akan swirled the wine within his glass, the crimson liquid reflecting faint candlelight like diluted blood.
"The Patriarch is certainly confident," he murmured.
Or perhaps too confident.
That man had been clever from the beginning. Loud enough to be feared, visible enough to become the center of suspicion. Every gaze naturally drifted toward the grandest estate, the one he guarded most openly.
A well-refined diversion.
Because no one ever looked carefully at what was hidden elsewhere.
People were drawn toward the noise.
Rarely is the silence.
Akan's lips curved faintly.
Well, Her Ladyship excelled in silence.
As much as Akan wished to return to the palace, the thought of abandoning this matter now left a bitter taste in his mouth. Especially after realizing there were still depths within Her Ladyship he had never uncovered.
It invigorated him.
Dangerously so.
The more she stays hidden, doing little things, the more Aka wishes to know what is in Her Ladyship's head.
Her schemes.
Her foresight.
How can such a person have that kind of talent.
The strange brilliance is hidden beneath that sickly and indifferent appearance.
Aka rested his chin against one hand, staring lazily at the papers before him.
"She truly intends to crush them."
Not defeat.
Not to suppress.
Crush.
The difference mattered.
If the Ostenian Duchy ever moved against Adiand in the future, Her Ladyship wanted every hidden path, every buried secret, every possible escape route already severed beforehand.
There is a minuscule change he had observed from Her Ladyship, yet her heartlessness remained the same, if not more tactful.
"When I return alive," Akan muttered, "I must ask Her Ladyship for more gold."
And perhaps permission to remain at her side more often.
There was simply too much happening inside that beautiful head of hers.
Far too much.
Then another thought surfaced.
"Ares…"
Akan sighed softly.
If Her Ladyship had truly taken an interest in that young man, matters could become troublesome.
"Hm."
"Karim."
The door opened quietly.
A red-haired maid entered and bowed.
"My lord."
Akan gestured lazily.
"Tell me first about the little youth."
Karim straightened slightly.
"Milord, Ares has steadily improved his relationship with the palace maids. Most hold him in a favorable light. Some remain indifferent, though none appear hostile."
Still, gaining their trust this quickly was impressive.
"Continue."
"There are occasions when he leaves the palace grounds. There appears to be no consistent pattern to the days or times. Usually, he returns before the fourth hour of the afternoon. Earliest recorded return was noon."
"Where does he go?"
"To his mother."
Akan's brow lifted slightly.
"Only there?"
"Yes, Milord. We have never observed him traveling elsewhere."
"Oh?"
Now that was interesting.
"Have you found any hidden pathway? Any place where he might go unseen?"
Karim lowered her head.
"Forgive me, Milord. We found nothing."
"Hm."
Akan smiled.
Not warmly.
Never warmly.
There was something unreadable in his gaze as he stared at Karim long enough to make her uncomfortable.
"So either he is innocent…"
Akan's finger tapped lightly against the armrest.
"Or he is far better than expected."
Karim remained silent.
"I suppose Her Ladyship has not taken notice of this?"
"She appears unconcerned," Karim replied carefully. "Her Grace spends time meeting with Commander Gammarad, then returns to the library, study, garden, or her chambers."
"I see."
Akan leaned back slightly.
"And her health?"
Kaim frowned faintly.
"The Imperial Physician has not visited often these past months. Fewer bloodied handkerchiefs have been burned as well."
"Hmm…"
Now that was suspicious.
Should he feel relieved?
Or worried?
Her Ladyship becoming healthier sounded wonderful in theory.
In practice, however, it usually meant she was planning something troublesome.
"Alright, continue watching both Her Ladyship and Ares."
"Yes, Milord."
"Any additional matters may be placed on my table. Except…"
He smiled.
And then the smile deepened into something dangerously charming, the sort capable of deceiving noble ladies into ruin if they mistook it for sincerity.
Only those close to him knew the truth.
That smile was merely another mask.
Karim immediately looked away.
"They said nothing to me when I visited, Milord," she said quickly. "Only that this letter must be delivered to you."
"Oh?"
Akan accepted the parchment.
Slowly unfolding, then paused.
Only six words were written: The same Dawn in the Moonlight.
"Huh…"
The amusement in his eyes faded slightly.
So.
They wished to gather again.
After five years of silence.
And urgently at that.
Moonlight.
The exact hour they had first met years ago.
A nostalgic phrase.
A dangerous one.
Akan sighed.
"It seems I must burden myself a little further."
Five days of travel.
Perhaps longer, depending on complications.
"Maybe I shall encounter old acquaintances along the way."
Though his expression soon turned helpless.
"…I have not even sent a proper letter to Her Ladyship as I usually would."
Akan stared toward the ceiling, seeming distraught.
"Do you think she might choose someone better?"
Karim only stayed silent.
"You may go in my stead."
Akan ordered.
Karim nearly choked.
"Milord…would that not provoke their displeasure?"
"Certainly."
He smiled brightly.
"Tell them to wait another…hm, three…no, five years. I shall surprise them then."
"Understood."
"There will be revisions to the plan."
Meaning nothing would proceed yet.
Karim understood it immediately.
"Will do so, Milord."
Akan sighed deeply.
"Karim."
His tone changed.
That alone made her wary.
Whenever he used that tone of voice, shamelessness followed soon after.
"I am terribly vexed."
"…Milord, please."
"Help me."
Akan clasped his hands dramatically.
"Tell Her Ladyship her favorite servant has fallen gravely ill and can no longer work properly. He has begun speaking nonsense."
"…"
See?
Shameless.
Utterly shameless.
He was supposed to visit Her Ladyship.
Why was he attempting to lure her here instead?
"I…will deliver your message, Milord."
"Wonderful! Thank you, Karim."
No.
Not wonderful.
Karim did not wish to stand beneath Her Grace's cold stare after delivering such obvious nonsense. Worse, what if Her Ladyship coughed blood in irritation?
Hah.
Being a servant truly is exhausting when walking in pinwheels with your master's schemes.
Karim bowed once before leaving swiftly.
Outside, she immediately prepared two separate messages.
One tied discreetly to a hawk. Another pigeon was released at a different interval.
Wariness.
People who worked within Adiand's shadows informed one another before arriving unexpectedly. Otherwise, one risked being mistaken for an intruder.
Swoosh.
Karim froze.
Her hands immediately slipped beneath her skirts, fingers wrapping around the dagger strapped against her thigh.
Something moved.
No footsteps, no breathing, only instincts.
A second pause.
There it goes again.
Right side.
Karim rolled instantly, dirt scattering beneath her as she pressed herself against a tree.
Silence.
Another silence.
Her pulse quickened.
Not below.
Above.
Karim moved again just as something struck.
Clang.
Her dagger collided with a stone.
A stone?
Snap.
"What?!"
Steel jaws snapped shut mere inches from her ankle.
There was a hidden trap.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"This bastard baited me."
Karim looked upward.
There was a hooded figure crouched among the branches.
Small.
Far too small.
The pale wrist holding the short sword looked almost childlike.
The other hand casually played with the smooth stone.
"You are slippery," the figure remarked lightly.
Karim narrowed her eyes.
"I should feel insulted."
"But you sound grateful."
The figure tilted its head.
"Guess."
"…What?"
"Stones," the child asked lazily, "or sword."
A mask concealed the face entirely.
Only the eyes remained visible.
Cold.
Amused.
"Guess."
Karim tightened her grip.
"Huh," the child sighed. "You are no fun, lady."
"Then entertain me."
"Heh."
The clash came instantly.
Karim moved with confidence born from years of surviving the underbelly of Adiand.
Then her confidence cracked.
The child was fast.
Far too fast.
Each strike carried unnatural force beneath that small frame.
"It was enjoyable while it lasted," the child uttered almost cheerfully.
Karim's eyes widened.
When—
The figure vanished from her sight.
The pain exploded through her chest.
A blade.
Straight through.
Her body trembled violently.
"You…!"
No words followed.
Only blood.
It was warm.
Endless.
Her vision dimmed.
In those final moments, Karim could not decide what troubled her more.
That she would die here.
Or that Her Grace might come.
This place…
Right, Ostenian…
They had even hired a child as an assassin.
Darkness crept slowly over her vision.
The last thing she saw was the masked child tilting his head curiously, as though observing something mildly interesting.
Then—
Nothing.
***
Inside the estate, Akan leisurely sipped his wine.
Then, it suddenly paused.
"…Ah."
He glanced toward the window.
There's usually a ruckus in situations like this, and he needs to personally handle it. Now, it is quieter than usual.
"Hm, I forgot to tell Karim to be careful."