I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 60

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 60. Am I Lanscelot?
My voice trembled.
My breath caught in my chest, and the world tilted.
My fingers, gripping the hem of Yurian’s robe, had gone white with the force of my grip.
‘It’s him.’
I was certain.
How could I forget?
— Found the children. We’ll dispose of them now.
That voice—emotionless, glacial.
— Run, Vanillin. Hurry!
My brother’s corpse, discarded like trash in some corner of the street.
— Brother…?
The reek of blood.
I had run with every ounce of strength, hidden myself away and wept in silence, and survived, powerless.
That creature who hunted us so relentlessly… why was it in the Imperial Guard Corps?
“Vanillin.”
My body went rigid.
I wanted to flee.
It felt like that nightmare was crawling back to life.
“Vanillin?”
I felt like a frog cornered by a predator.
I stood there gasping, my hand clamped over my mouth.
Then it happened.
[It’s all right.]
“……!”
That low voice burrowed into my ear.
I lifted my head.
Of course it was Yurian.
Whole. Mine.
Yurian’s gaze fell to my hand.
He covered my white-knuckled grip with his own, wrapping around it gently.
The familiar warmth of his touch, lukewarm and present, calmed the heart that had been pounding so desperately it felt ready to shatter.
[Stay exactly as you are. I’ll keep you hidden.]
I took a slow, deep breath and nodded.
I loved his composure.
His words never held deception—he would hide me this time as well.
I could trust in that.
He turned to the Imperial Guard Corps and smiled as if nothing had happened.
“Welcome, knight. Your name?”
“First-Class Knight of the Imperial Guard Corps, Leona Berk.”
The red-haired knight bowed with loyalty.
“The 4th Imperial Prince departed first and asked me to deliver this to you.”
She produced a small envelope from her pocket while still bowed, extending it forward.
“The fourth, you say.”
“Yes. He instructed me to deliver it directly to you, without fail.”
I felt the gaze of every noble in the room turn toward us.
The 4th Imperial Prince was the one who’d orchestrated this chaos.
They were all desperate to know what he’d sent along.
Yurian glanced sideways at me.
Then, instead of taking the envelope, he pushed it toward the knight.
“Would you read it aloud for me?”
“I… read it, sir?”
“My vision is somewhat obscured after being in the fire for so long. I would be grateful for your assistance.”
“Understood.”
The knight’s expression became troubled, but she could not bring herself to refuse the request.
Her fingers carefully broke the seal.
The nobles around us swallowed hard.
From within came a single, small sheet of paper.
“This is….”
The knight’s eyes wavered.
She read the letter in a voice that trembled slightly.
“Brother, I’m sorry about the explosives. I’m going to lie low for a while, so please don’t look for me…. Kyle.”
“This damnable man!”
Before she could even finish speaking, a roar erupted from among the gathered nobles.
Their faces flushed crimson, breath hissing through clenched teeth.
The knight’s expression turned to ice.
“Who dares insult the Imperial Family?”
At Leona Berk’s clipped words, the nobles flinched.
Insulting the Imperial Family was a capital crime, after all.
Yet they had surely harbored resentment toward the 4th Imperial Prince—and the 2nd Imperial Prince behind him.
The nobles exchanged looks, their fury still burning.
Leona Berk gazed down at the letter without speaking.
Then she bowed her head toward Yurian.
“I will report this to the higher authorities.”
“…I should have read it alone. It was my mistake.”
“Not at all. Proper procedure is what matters in all things.”
She tucked the letter into her garments, then suddenly turned her gaze.
Her gray eyes brushed across Yurian’s shoulder.
And, for the briefest instant.
Her eyes fell upon me.
My heart plummeted.
‘No, no, no…’
I instinctively pressed myself tighter against Yurian’s back, hiding my body from view.
Had that small movement seemed suspicious?
Leona Berk’s eyebrows flickered minutely.
“Who is that servant, Your Highness?”
Step.
She moved a pace closer.
“Something about her seems familiar….”
“……!”
All the blood drained from my body.
I couldn’t flee—I could only clutch at Yurian’s sleeve, trembling uncontrollably.
Clinging to the warmth in my palm as though it alone could shield me from the world.
“Commander Leona.”
Yurian smiled gently, forestalling her.
He stepped forward naturally, his broad frame completely obscuring me from view.
“There are many wounded.”
His eyes, curved like half-moons, turned toward her.
“We can speak of this another time, can we not?”
He gestured to their surroundings.
Flames still raged through the mansion, consuming everything, and moans echoed from every direction.
“Should we not attend to the injured first?”
“…….”
Only then did Leona Berk seem to come to her senses, looking around.
Nobles bleeding as they lay fallen, servants with their legs pinned beneath rubble, people unable to stop coughing from the smoke they’d inhaled.
“Forgive me.”
She bowed immediately.
Then, her attention drawn away from me, she turned on her heel.
“All Imperial Guard Corps personnel—prioritize rescue of the wounded!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At her sharp command, the knights scattered in unison.
Leona Berk was no exception.
“I shall take my leave now.”
She saluted Yurian respectfully, then departed for where the other wounded lay.
Only once I confirmed she was gone did my heartbeat begin to steady.
“I…”
I was alive.
I released Yurian’s sleeve and covered my mouth with both hands.
My legs nearly gave way beneath me.
‘My nerves are so frayed I think I’m going to be sick….’
I sank into the tall grass, catching my breath.
I wanted nothing more than to put distance between myself and this place—between myself and her.
Yurian, watching me quietly, extended his hand.
“Shall we go home?”
As if he’d read my heart.
My eyes stung with unshed tears.
How did this man always know exactly what I needed to hear?
I nodded.
And I took his hand.
“Let’s go. Home.”
Home.
The Imperial Prince’s Palace—cold yet intimate, where I could be alone with him.
He pulled me gently to my feet.
“To the soft bed Vanillin loves.”
He smiled beautifully as he began to walk.
I said nothing, only followed, led by his hand.
The lukewarm touch of his palm cradling my cold fingers was the only proof that any of this was real.
* * *
I jolted awake.
My eyes flew open.
The sun hung high in the sky.
“Yesterday….”
We’d returned in the dead of dawn, and I’d barely managed to wash before collapsing into sleep.
Yurian’s side of the bed had gone cold.
He must have risen early to handle the day’s affairs.
Fragments of memory surfaced, scattered and sharp.
Abduction. The hidden chamber. Fire. And the red-haired knight.
“Leona Berk….”
“You’re awake.”
I startled.
My head turned sharply toward the voice.
“Your Highness…?”
“We have much to discuss.”
He was right.
I nodded.
He poured black tea into a delicate glass.
The amber liquid steamed gently.
“Come, sit.”
“…Yes.”
After hastily arranging the bedclothes, I settled across from him and began to unfold everything.
“I meant to tell you when you returned, Your Highness….”
About the Classified Documents I’d seen.
Why I’d come to suspect the Lanscelot Duchy.
About meeting the 1st Imperial Prince in the Library.
…And about my brother’s death, and about Leona Berk.
― From now on, report everything to me. Don’t decide things alone.
I didn’t want to worry him, didn’t want to disappoint him—so I held back nothing.
“…And that’s why I’m the only one left alive.”
“I see.”
His response was measured and composed.
He’d listened without interrupting once, hearing me through to the end.
He slid a teacup toward me.
The cup was placed with a soft whisper across the table.
“Your hands are trembling.”
“…Oh.”
Since when had they started?
“Thank you.”
I wrapped my hands around the cup.
It was warm.
The feeling of my fingertips slowly thawing.
Yurian said nothing while I took a sip of tea.
Only when my ragged breathing had gradually steadied did he speak again, slowly.
“While Vanillin was sleeping, I looked into a few things.”
Clink.
He set down his teacup with deliberate grace.
“Leona Berk. She’s been deployed in nearly every classified incident involving the Imperial Family.”
“Then….”
“The Lanscelot Rebellion Incident was no exception. She stood at the vanguard of the suppression forces, I’m told.”
My stomach lurched.
It was like scattered puzzle pieces clicking slowly into place.
I gripped the teacup tightly.
“Could I really… be from Lanscelot?”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps not.”
He sipped his black tea slowly, then set the cup down without a sound.
His tone was measured—neither kindling false hope nor cutting off possibility with a single stroke.
“If Vanillin wishes, I can arrange for you to know for certain.”
His eyes, holding a pale amber light, turned quietly toward me.
“I’ll take you to the Lanscelot Mansion.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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