I Was Hired by the Dark Prince for My Life's Worth - Chapter 52

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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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Episode 52. Operation Name: Capturing the Fourth Prince
After climbing the long staircase again and emerging onto the ground floor, I quickly surveyed my surroundings.
Fortunately, the Fourth Prince hadn’t returned yet.
The atmosphere of the Party Venue glimpsed through the crack in the door was no different than before.
It still reeked of sordid revelry.
“…Perfect.”
If the Fourth Prince had noticed earlier, I would’ve had to use a different approach — lucky that he didn’t.
I pushed the rope charred by match fire behind my back and wrapped my wrists again as if they were still bound.
Loose enough that the slightest pressure would snap it free, but tight enough that it showed no sign of looseness from the outside.
My heart drummed against my ribs.
There was no way I’d be discovered, yet anxiety kept creeping in.
Yurian had already escaped through the Window.
By now, he’d be entering through the Main Entrance, pretending to know nothing.
I pressed my eye to the crack in the door.
From beyond, the tepid, sickly-sweet reek of Intoxicating Drug still wafted through.
Click.
I lit the Herbal Tobacco.
I had no intention of losing my wits again.
People spun in circles dancing or sprawled across sofas scattered throughout the room.
The slurred voices of the drunk echoed dimly — laughter, chatter, boasts.
[Are you ready?]
A voice tinged with amusement tickled my ear.
Joy flushed my cheeks warm.
‘Your Highness. How did you arrive?’
[The Brown-haired Maidservant guided me here, with such care.]
He emphasized “care” as he spoke.
The Brown-haired Maidservant — that must be the one who brought me to this place.
The Second Prince’s underling.
[Then I’ll enter.]
Creak.
The door swung open before I could say a word.
“Oh my?”
“Good heavens — who is that?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Confirming that no one’s attention had turned toward me, I cracked the door open slightly.
Yurian walked in boldly, wearing no mask at all — his face bare and unhidden.
He wore the radiant, beautiful smile he always bore.
All eyes naturally swiveled toward him.
His pristine white Uniform and composed bearing clashed utterly with the dark, sticky atmosphere.
In this decadent space, he alone looked like he belonged to a different world.
“Isn’t that the Saint?”
“What brings him to a place like this?”
“This is entertaining, isn’t it?”
Several nobles snickered with intrigue.
Then they looked toward one figure.
A gray-haired man lounging on a Leather Sofa at the center of the Second Floor Balcony, smoking cigarettes one after another.
Kyle.
He stirred with an indolent smile.
“Ah… and who might this be.”
Thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed as shoes descended the Stairs.
[Close the door.]
‘Hm.’
At Yurian’s warning, I soundlessly shut the door again.
Kyle, having descended the Stairs, passed before the door and approached Yurian.
“What brings such an august personage to a place like this?”
He circled Yurian slowly.
He looked like a predator sizing up its prey.
Yurian merely turned his head to watch him.
Then he spoke with perfect calm.
“I’ve come to retrieve my maidservant.”
“Merely a maidservant…?”
Ha ha.
Kyle made a show of laughing, his voice utterly devoid of strength.
“I thought some great calamity had befallen us.”
Sigh.
Tobacco smoke scattered into the empty air.
He came to a stop before Yurian.
“Brother, fancy you coming all this way for a single maidservant.”
“…….”
“Anyone would think she was your concubine.”
My.
Someone covered their mouth and tittered.
“What manner of maidservant could capture the heart of the blessed Saint?”
“Is it her face you favor? Or perhaps her figure?”
“Your Highness, might you pick me up as well?”
Laughter rippled through the crowd at the brazenly flirtatious remark.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
The shame of being bandied about on their tongues gnawed at me.
It was then that Yurian’s voice descended into my ear again.
[Pay no heed to the prattle of such base creatures.]
His tone was firm, brooking no argument.
Strangely, his single word steadied me far more than a dozen vulgar remarks could have unsettled me.
Perhaps because it came from His Highness.
The heat in my cheeks slowly ebbed away.
I cracked the door open again and studied the two of them.
“Brother, do speak. Tell us.”
“…….”
“The maidservant is merely a pretense, isn’t it? You’ve truly come to indulge yourself?”
Kyle’s words drew ever-louder laughter from the assembled guests.
Spirits and music, potions and pleasure.
In the eyes fixed upon Yurian, I discerned the baser hungers at work.
A twisted desire—that this lofty Saint might fall to their level.
“I’ll turn a blind eye to it all… Do indulge yourself while you’re here.”
Kyle swept his arm through the air expansively, as though wafting the scent of intoxicating drug toward Yurian.
A naked mockery.
The gesture spoke his yearning for Yurian to succumb to the potion, his mind clouded and scattered.
Yet Yurian showed no sign of disturbance.
Instead, he slowly drew his hand into his garment.
And then,
Click.
He lit the Herbal Tobacco with utter nonchalance.
As though he had already anticipated these very schemes.
“Sigh.”
Yurian exhaled the tobacco smoke languidly.
The acrid, bitter scent of herbs enfolded him.
He smiled, his eyes narrowing softly.
“Is it truly a pleasure—a life spent hoping for another’s ruin?”
The words fell from his lips in a hushed, reverent cadence.
Kyle’s eyelids lifted slowly.
“What did you just say?”
“I find myself at a loss. Whether I should indulge my younger brother’s joy, or instead guide him toward righteousness and offer counsel.”
Step.
Yurian took one pace closer to Kyle.
Then, tenderly, he stroked the crown of his head.
“You are my brother, after all.”
The gesture, as though conferring a blessing.
And yet unmistakably, it suggested Kyle’s inferior station.
Kyle’s expression hardened.
In his habitually languid gaze, there flickered for a moment a savage, dangerous gleam.
“I don’t need anyone playing elder brother to me.”
“Ah. So you have a second brother?”
“…brother.”
Kyle’s lips trembled.
He fixed his gaze on Yurian.
“If you want to find the maidservant, you’ll have to make a better impression on me.”
His murky eyes gleamed with a sinister light.
He brought another cigarette to his lips.
A sign of irritation.
Yurian observed Kyle quietly, then smiled softly.
“Then what do you say to a trade—an interesting story in exchange?”
“Not interested…”
“Several months ago, I entertained a diplomatic envoy at the Hunting Ground.”
Several months ago. The Hunting Ground.
Kyle’s expression, which had feigned disinterest, stiffened subtly.
Yurian continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“An assailant crept in and tried to harm me.”
“…….”
“But seeing some sign of remorse, I forgave them and let them go. However.”
However?
The nobles around them tilted their glasses with interest.
A story spilling from the lips of this unusual Saint had a certain allure to them.
“What I mean is.”
“I’ve encountered them again recently.”
“……!”
Kyle’s eyes trembled violently.
A moment of unguarded sincerity.
Yurian did not miss it, his eyes widening.
Then, in a beautiful voice, he whispered like a song.
“Will you strike a deal?”
“…….”
Kyle’s deep golden eyes fixed on Yurian, empty of laughter.
What filled them was anxiety.
How much of what Yurian said was real?
If real, how much did he actually know?
His gaze betrayed endless calculation and scrutiny.
“If you’d rather not, I can speak freely here as well.”
Yurian never averted his eyes from Kyle’s gaze.
Rather, he simply smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling with ease.
An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
Tension blanketed the surrounding space.
Yurian exhaled cigarette smoke, his smile never faltering.
A soft breath of air.
A translucent gray veil rose between Kyle and Yurian, then dissolved.
Kyle, watching that sight carefully, laughed.
“Brother.”
He snatched the cigarette from Yurian’s lips and threw it to the ground.
Then he crushed it beneath his heel.
“A conversation like this… isn’t suited for such a noisy place.”
“Is that so.”
“Come to my quarters. I’ll offer you some tea.”
It was, in effect, a declaration of surrender.
Yurian let out a soft laugh.
Then he draped an arm warmly around the Fourth Prince’s shoulder.
“Excellent. There’s no reason to refuse my brother’s invitation.”
[Prepare yourselves.]
His gentle smile swept across me.
Click.
I closed the door.
‘Alright. Now the real operation begins.’
He quickly sat back down in the chair, sliding his wrists beneath the rope.
‘Ready.’
[The moment I lock the door, you overpower him. You remember, yes?]
‘Yes.’
The sound of two sets of footsteps approaching reached his ears.
One measured and deliberate, the other unhurried.
He quickly went limp, feigning unconsciousness.
He didn’t forget to tousle his hair as though he’d struggled.
Soon the door opened, and Kyle and Yurian entered one after the other.
And—
Click.
The door locked.

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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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