Chapter 66

While we were immersed in our conversation about poison, medicine making and medical practices, the situation got sorted out over there at that side, too.

Two of the five men had already collapsed, now rolling on the ground, while the remaining three were breathing roughly.

Diana and Ca.s.sion also looked disheveled, but they seemed to have sustained only a few injuries.

From an outsiders point of view, there was no doubt that those two were far superior to the rest.

Even the guildmaster, Owen, seemed to be feeling the weight of defeat on his shoulders.

He tried to catch his breath a short distance away while his face was as white as a sheet.

Right about now, hes probably thinking that theres no hope in winning this.

I mean, thats why you should live kindly while youre alive.

In the original novel though, the protagonists didnt have roles that were on the side of righteousness.

And the villains like me and Ca.s.sion died futile deaths.

I mean, come to think of it, this kind of correlation was a bit strange.

Because in the genre of a novel like this, its the protagonists who were much crazier than the villains themselves.

I watched Ca.s.sion and Diana as I apathetically mulled over the novels good and evil.

Hm, I think theyve gotten things sorted out now.

A murmur could be heard from beside me.

It was Blanca.

Gracefully bobbing one crossed leg as she sat there, Blanca asked.

This money whatll you do with it?

Her silver eyes twirled as she pointed to the box beneath her feet.

It was the money that the men brought in earlier and handed to Logan.

The box of 1000 gold was Blancas in the first place, so she should just take it.

The dilemma now lay with the 520 gold that Owen brought.

This was probably those mens entire fortune.

As the corners of my lips curled up, I answered.

With my eyes still fixed on Ca.s.sion and Diana.

Itll be split into three. One-third will be given to our poor Marie since she never got her severance pay. One-third to you as your commission fee. And the remainder will be for Ca.s.sion to use as his funds.

I answered in a very casual tone, and Blanca admired this as she spoke amusedly.

You got this money by swindling someone, but you dont seem to have any reservations about using it.

It was an ambiguous remark that could either be a compliment or otherwise. But, it didnt really bother me.

Its money scammed from a scammer, so whatever.

Just as Blanca said, this money was gained from duping someone.

I dont even know if there really is such a thing as a treasure s.h.i.+p of some foreign nations imperial family, but the backstory about the s.h.i.+pwreck was believable enough.

To prevent them from wising up to it, the date was set just two days after the request to their guild had been deliberately placed.

And those men took the baithook, line and sinker.

Indeed, this was all one big fis.h.i.+ng ruse.

I had their movements tracked for these two days, and they seemed to have withdrawn all the money that they had.

This box of 520 gold coins was the culmination of all their money, all their greed, and all their sins.

I reached for one gold coin.

Gold coins at daybreak had no difference with ice-cold metal.

Stroking the cold surface of the gold coin, I asked back.

Then, do you care?

I glanced to the side.

And my gaze was met by a pair of mysterious silver eyes.

As she blinked, her long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes curled into smooth arcs.

This is why I like you, Princess.

I believe theres no other more dreadfully ridiculous answer than that.

Then, still with a smile on her lips, she spoke with a hum towards Logan.

Logan, youve prepared the doc.u.mentations detailing those guys past, havent you?

Yes, Ive gathered pieces of evidence of their illegal activities and left them behind in their hideout. Once an investigation commences, theyll be found immediately.

Then, once the evidence is found, you will be the one wholl press charges, right?

The conversation turned to me.

Yes. Ive already contacted my older brother, so the guards should be on their way now.

Before Ca.s.sion and I arrived here, I sent a letter to my older brother.

The loyal coachman, our dear Melvin, went back to the ducal estate no questions asked.

The carriage was empty except for the single letter it was carrying.

Im glad I brought him over to my side, too.

I couldnt use Blancas side and the hotel for this task

If I had, then a carrier bird would have been sent.

The one advantage to a carrier bird was that its faster than a carriage, but considering todays events, this was actually a drawback.

The work we had today was dedicated to Ca.s.sions hands-on training. But of course, the more important task today was for Diana to carry out her revenge.

Thus, Diana would have to deal with those guys herself, however

The fact that Diana can wield a swordthis has to stay a secret.

The more an important card was kept hidden, the more it would s.h.i.+ne.

If need be, Diana would be affixed to Alicias side as her escort. It would be better if her abilities could be kept secret.

Therefore, it would be difficult if the guards would come too early.

At the very least, they should come here after Diana had already beaten them up into a pulp.

In the letter I sent to my brother, I wrote:

[ My beloved personal maid had been swindled by a suspicious guild.

I want to help her so I decided to investigate the matter, and I found out that theyre vicious criminals, and that theyre planning to defect from the empire today.

Thats why Maxwell and I are in a hurry to stay on their tail right now. Please send the guards. ]

I didnt care very much for the cover story, but there shouldnt be anything suspicious about it.

You got rid of all the evidence incriminating Diana as someone who once worked in that guild, right?

Yes, Ive taken care of everything. All the traces left of her there was about Diana being a victim of fraud, nothing more and nothing less.

Logan replied.

He reported in a very business-like tone, and that just made him more trustworthy in that regard.

And also, this incident would be used to tell the guards how Maxwell overpowered the culprits.

That way, Damian and Duke Valentine would acknowledge Ca.s.sion a little more.

Besides that, this would also instill a sense of urgency in David.

All of that was happening at the same time here.

I believe we should get going now. The situation over there seems to have been sorted out for the most part, too.

Blanca whispered to me.

Indeed, it was as she said. Right now, there was no one else standing around Ca.s.sion and Diana.

All five of those men, well, theyre just rolling around on the ground.

SSave me

While bleeding through both nostrils still, Owen groaned.

His face got mangled quite considerably.

Blue, and also red.

Its as if hes covered in fireworks.

Ugh Please We used to be co-workers right? Diana

Diana glanced down on him as she tried to catch her breath. Then, with a calm tone, she spoke.

The guards will be here soon. Your crimes will be exposed, and youll be thrown in jail.

For a moment, the air around them was frozen silent.

Owen looked up at Diana with bloodshot eyes, but his lips distorted into a smile as he clung onto her ankle.

If so, then, isnt that isnt that dangerous for you, too? You also worked in our guild Did you forget?

The mans threats made Diana breathe out heavily.

Her breaths were so deep that her shoulders and chest moved in unison.

Then soon, she lightly kicked off the mans hand.

Yeah, you all worked me like a dog. I wasnt treated like a human being, I couldnt beat you all up, I couldnt scream out even once, and while Im not being paid properly so I could pay off my debt, the interest also kept rising. Apart from that, the medicine that I used to consider like a ray of light was fake.

As soon as she stopped speaking, heated tears flowed down from Dianas eyes.

Her emotions were surging up.

Blanca, Logan and I watched Diana from the sidelines with bated breath.

For a moment, Dianas tearful gaze turned this way.

While bravely wiping away her tears with the hem of one sleeve, she smiled.

And it felt like that smile was intended for me.

What a shame, but Im not going to get caught here.

Her voice was quiet, but so full of confidence.

Then, her gaze slowly turned away from me and went back towards that man.

From now on, I also have someone on my side whos protecting me.

Her voice shook with emotion, with tears, that I was at a loss for words for a moment as I heard the confidence and joy in her tone.

It must be because there was a subtle sense of guilt mixed in. After all, I took her in while planning to take advantage of her.

Id have been in trouble if she was on Leos side, so I instead took her on my side to use her.

If I were to be honest, this idea continued to remain on the back of my mind to this day.

That Id be sure to make the most out of her.

However, not without proper compensation.

If Im someone on your side whos protecting you, then of course thats what I have to do.

Saying this to myself in my mind, I slowly rose from my seat.

Logan and Blancas gazes followed my movement.

This made Blanca smile pleasantly at me.

Well, well be on our way now. We still need to hide some money.

Sure. Thank you for your help today.

No need for thanks. Im getting paid for all this after all.

There was a mischievous smile on her lips as she waved goodbye.

After nodding, Logan followed after her.

It was his way of saying bye.

I raised my eyebrows to answer him, then I stepped away.

Ca.s.sion and Diana.

Towards where they were now.

Pri Milady.

As I approached, Diana and Ca.s.sion blinked as they glanced over to me.

I made eye contact with them both, one after another, then kicked the sprawled man right in the crotch.

Uuuughhuuhp

The man let out a shriek, a groan, then eventually a sound that was somewhere in between those two.

As he curled into himself so tightly like that, the sight of him like that expressed just how much pain he was in.

Does it hurt?

Kkkkuhhk

The man couldnt even answer and just kept croaking like that.

The quivering man barely flipped over so that he could look at me.

The whites of his eyes had turned red.

YYYoure

Me?

It looked like he wanted to say more than just the word youre, but I had a vague guess on what it was.

Just seeing the color of my eyes would certainly make someone ask, Youre House Valentines young lady?

After cutting off the mans words, I slowly crouched down to look into Owens eyes.

And with a beaming smile, I introduced myself to him.

Im Dianas guardian. So just try to mess with Diana one more time. If you do, then I wont just send you to jail. Youll be going straight to h.e.l.l.

In its own way, it was quite the courteous self-introduction.