Lucian stepped out of the dining hall with a calm expression, though his mind still reeled from what had just transpired. Once in the quiet corridor, he raised his hand to wipe the wound on his cheek.
"I'd already guessed Lucian's relationship with his father was strained, but I never imagined it would be this bad." He let out a soft sigh, watching the thin streak of blood that stained his fingers. The cut might have been small, but the sting was sharper than he'd expected.
"Damn it—for just a little scratch, why does it hurt so much?"
Natty, who had been waiting outside with a worried look, hurried over at once. The girl's green eyes widened when she saw the gash on Lucian's cheek.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Her voice was thick with concern, her expression tense as she watched blood trickle slowly from the wound.
Lucian lowered his hand and turned to face Natty, offering a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "It's nothing—just a small cut."
But Natty didn't look convinced. She bit her lip, then spoke in a slightly trembling voice, "Young Master...!" she insisted. "I'll go get some medicine for you."
Without waiting for an answer, Natty spun around and hurried off toward the medical supplies. Meanwhile, Lucian stood where he was, watching his servant's retreating figure with an unreadable expression. He touched the wound again, feeling the sharp throb beneath his fingertips.
A small smile crossed Lucian's lips at Natty's reaction, and he let out another quiet sigh. His gaze shifted to the window, where the moon shone bright, casting silver light across the empty corridor. A soft night breeze drifted in, bringing a sense of calm that contrasted sharply with the chaos he'd just left behind.
He stood there for a moment, letting his thoughts wander. The moonlight seemed to offer a small measure of peace amid all the intrigue he now faced.
"The protagonist... So the Empire has summoned them already."
Lucian leaned his back against the wall, his eyes narrowing slightly. The Guardian's arrival signaled that the main story had finally begun to turn. And he knew that from this point on, nothing would be easy.
Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping echoed overhead. Lucian glanced up to see a small black bird fly in through the open window, a rolled parchment clutched in its talons. The bird glided down to perch on the corridor railing, then extended its leg as if urging him to take the message at once.
Lucian opened the window wider and reached out, swiftly unfastening the scroll. The bird ruffled its feathers briefly, then flew off without a sound, vanishing into the darkness of the night.
His fingers deftly broke the wax seal—marked with the Guild Servant's emblem—and his eyes scanned the message quickly.
To Lucian Witte,
Thank you for your enthusiasm. Regarding your request, the Knight has indeed arrived in the Empire. They were received by the palace with high honors, as expected. They are currently under strict supervision, but their movements have begun to draw attention from various factions, including the Holy Knight Order and the Imperial Mage Tower.
As you asked, the individual you seek is now under our watch. I will continue monitoring them and report any developments promptly. The evidence regarding the fund flow I mentioned earlier is safely in our possession.
I will await your confirmation if you wish to proceed with the investigation. Until we meet again in the next game.
P.S. One of our clients wishes to meet you—they hope to thank you in person.
-Alpha.
Lucian read the message slowly. "Good... so far, everything is following the game's storyline." A faint smile touched his lips—until he spotted the small postscript. He raised an eyebrow. "Wait, a client? Could it be...?"
His eyes widened, and the small smile stretched into a broader one as he gripped the letter tightly. He wanted to reply at once, but doing so here was impossible. Instead, he approached the messenger bird, which was still perched on the mansion's balcony railing.
"You remember where my room is, don't you?" he said softly. The bird nodded its head as if understanding him perfectly. "Wait there—I'll write a reply right away."
The bird flapped its wings and flew off toward the spot Lucian had indicated, disappearing into the shadows of the night in an instant.
Before long, quick footsteps echoed down the corridor. Natty returned, slightly breathless, carrying a small box of medical supplies in her arms. Her face was etched with worry as she looked at the cut on Lucian's cheek.
"Young Master, I've brought the medicine." She hurried to open the box, searching through its contents.
Lucian raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Oh? You actually came back." His voice was casual, as if the wound on his face was of no consequence.
Natty let out an exasperated huff. "Honestly—how can you be so nonchalant about this?" She took a cotton pad, poured on some antiseptic, then gently pressed it to the cut on Lucian's face.
Lucian only raised his eyebrow again, not protesting much—though the stinging pain made him wince slightly.
Natty then retrieved a bandage and prepared it with practiced ease. She stepped closer to Lucian, her voice serious. "Young Master, please lower your head a little."
Lucian stared at her for a moment before letting out a soft sigh and complying. "Alright, alright..."
Natty carefully applied the bandage to his cheek, making sure it covered the wound properly. "Done," she murmured, stepping back slightly but still looking displeased. "Please don't act so recklessly again, Young Master."
Lucian touched the bandaged area, then looked at Natty with a small smile. "Thank you, Natty." His voice was light, but there was sincerity in it.
Natty, who had been wearing a worried expression, let out a soft sigh. "It's my duty, Young Master," she said, though her eyes still watched him closely.
Lucian then glanced out the window. The night was growing late, and the moon still shone bright, bathing the corridor in soft light. "It's getting late, isn't it? You can return to your room. I'm going to rest as well," he said, stretching as if ready for sleep.
Natty hesitated before asking, "Are you sure you're going to rest?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him with suspicion.
Lucian let out a small chuckle, then looked at her with a meaningful expression. "You're too suspicious," he said casually. "Why don't you check for yourself?"
Natty let out a small scoff and shook her head quickly. "No—I'll go back to my room," she said firmly, as if determined not to get tangled in Lucian's wordplay. She neatly packed up the medical box and closed it. Once she was sure everything was in order, Natty bowed her head slightly. "Good night, Young Master."
Lucian only smiled faintly in reply, then turned and walked away from her, heading calmly toward his room.
Once inside his room, Lucian closed the door quietly. He let out a long breath, feeling the silence settle over the space. Without wasting time, he removed his vest, tossing it carelessly onto the bed, then hurried to his desk.
His hand reached for paper and ink, his eyes gleaming sharply as he began to write his reply to the Guild Servant. By the flickering light of a candle, he traced each letter quickly but neatly.
I understand. Make sure you keep sending me your reports, and I also request a copy of the evidence—please don't ask why. I will come as soon as I can, and I'll meet your client shortly after. Have the copies ready when I arrive.
Signed, Lucian Witte.
Lucian read over the message one more time before rolling up the paper and sealing it quickly. He then turned to the window, where the bird was already perched on his balcony. He tied the letter securely to its leg, making sure the knot was tight enough to hold but not too tight to hurt.
With a gentle touch, he stroked the bird's head, then whispered softly, "Go now. Deliver my message quickly."
The bird flapped its wings—as if understanding his command—then soared into the dark night, disappearing among the shadows of the buildings and the moonlight. Lucian watched it fade into the distance, his eyes thoughtful.
Lucian sighed, leaning back in his chair and staring blankly at the window, where only the dark, star-studded sky remained visible. He tapped his fingers against the desk, his mind still busy processing all the information he'd received.
With another sigh, he stood up from his chair, removing the rest of his clothes until only a thin shirt remained, then walked toward his bed. His footsteps were soft in the silent room.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, a fleeting image of Cedric crossed his mind—the Guardian summoned by the Empire, the man who had killed Lucian in the game's original timeline.
"Well, for now, all I need to do is stay focused on my goal. I have a plan to avoid my downfall in this world."
With that thought, Lucian finally let himself drift off to sleep, ready to face whatever the next day would bring.
The messenger bird streaked across the night sky, its wings cutting through the cold air before finally landing on the windowsill of a dimly lit room. Inside, two figures sat facing each other, as if waiting for something.
Schnee—or better known as Alpha within the Guild Servant—narrowed her eyes when she saw the bird arrive. She stood up, walked over, and with practiced ease, untied the rolled parchment from its leg.
"He replied faster than expected." Raynald tapped his fingers against the table, his expression calm though his eyes narrowed slightly. "What did he say, Schnee?"
Schnee unfolded the letter and read it quickly. "He only asked for updates on his previous request and..." She paused for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly.
Raynald raised an eyebrow. "And what?"
Schnee continued, her voice uncertain. "He asked for a copy of the evidence... What would he want that for?"
Raynald smirked faintly, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm against the tabletop. "Hmm—something unexpected." His gaze grew sharper, as if weighing the possibilities in his mind.
Schnee refolded the letter with a flat expression, though her eyes glinted slightly. "He also said he'll meet you soon, Brother." She turned to Raynald, waiting for his reaction.
"I see, Schnee. It looks like I'll be crashing in your office again this time." Raynald removed his gloves and set them on the table, then stretched his shoulders casually.
"I don't mind, but are you sure about this? You've been away from your estate for two weeks to investigate this case." Schnee glanced at the stack of documents on her desk before turning back to Raynald with a serious look.
"It's fine—after all, I have Ben to help me. Besides, for some reason, I have a feeling he'll be here tomorrow." Raynald leaned back in his chair, his hand resting on his chin as if deep in thought.