Chapter 278 - 7A Hidden Enemy (2) (2/2)

Alphord simply stood there and quietly listened. His blunt stare and stony expression only served to make Elena feel even more nervous.

“And so…I did everything in secret. I learned just by watching, so I’m not that good.”

“…So the rumor is exaggerated?”

“Yes, a little…I guess so.”

She desired to be recognized by Alphord, but she couldn’t reveal her true skills. There was a great difference between learning swordsmanship for self-defense and being good enough to kill a dozen enemies at once.

More importantly, Alphord, the head of the Fourth Order of Knights of the Imperial Family, would know that her current ability was not something one learned just by watching and practicing. In order to explain it properly, Elena would have to reveal everything about her previous life, something she was not prepared to do to him. She was scared how he might react to that.

“But I heard—”

As Alphord was about to speak, he was interrupted by Carlisle’s voice coming out of the meeting hall.

“My wife.”

At Carlisle’s call, Elena immediately turned her head.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll be right there.”

Elena rushed to make an excuse to avoid a difficult situation.

“I have to go now that my husband is calling me. I will see you again.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

He looked ready to say something else, but he didn’t stop Elena. She went to Carlisle’s side, leaving Alphord behind.

Carlisle, who was standing at a distance, recognized Alphord’s face, and he turned towards Elena.

“Ah, you were with Father-In-Law?”

“Yes. But for now, I just want to leave this place.”

Carlisle didn’t understand why, but he nodded and strode ahead. She fell into step beside him.

Alphord watched their backs retreat from a distance.

***

Paveluc left the palace with his servants from the Duchy of Lunen, but that didn’t mean his influence was completely gone. Batori had remained as a servant of the Crown Princess. In his hand was the last order Paveluc had left him.

[Kill the prince.]

It would be difficult to assassinate the man who would soon officially become emperor. If Batori succeeded, however, he was promised reward beyond his belief.

Batori stared intently at the paper, then placed it in his mouth and swallowed it so that no evidence remained.

“…It’s time to do my job.”

Though humble in appearance Batori was, he was a man of unparalleled ability. There were many reasons why he followed Paveluc, but the biggest was because he wanted to rebel. If the sky was changed, he could wash away his old identity. He recalled the words Paveluc had spoken to him.

— If you succeed, I will give you a position as great as a general.

To achieve the future that Batori wanted, he would start by monitoring Elena’s every move.

“I will be general…”

The smile on Batori’s lips broadened. It was a difficult task, but not impossible. All the members of the Blood Assassins that Paveluc had given to him long ago had secretly infiltrated the Imperial Palace. Batori had prepared for this very moment.

Carlisle’s assassination was both a dangerous mission and a golden opportunity.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.