Sister, I Hit You Because There Was a Ghost Behind You - Chapter 45

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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 45. The One Who Holds the Leashes of Beasts
Beneath a glittering chandelier, the finest seafood delicacies adorned the lengthy table of the grand dining hall.
From the colossal lobster roasted in subtle butter to the fresh oysters kissed with bright lemon juice—it was a feast of absolute perfection.
I spread my napkin across my lap with elegant grace, alternating my gaze between the two men.
“Please, do begin. I’m quite curious to see whose manners will make my meal all the more enjoyable.”
The moment my leisurely declaration fell, Demian Lyart seized a silver knife with flawless precision and grace.
With the impeccable technique that would serve as a model even at Imperial Court banquets, he began delicately filleting the tender fish.
Demian carefully placed the perfectly deboned fish onto my plate and spoke.
“Violetta, this is a rare species freshly caught from the Southern seas. I’ve removed every last bone, so please enjoy it without concern.”
His smile was as noble as an angel in a sacred painting, and his touch was impeccably courteous.
I nodded in satisfaction as I savored the tender flesh he had prepared for me.
Across from me, however, Kairik von Herzen’s situation appeared far less graceful.
For one accustomed to the savage dining customs of the Northern Region—tearing into massive chunks of meat whole—the delicate silver fork and thin tools for extracting crab meat seemed almost comically absurd in his hands.
Kairik von Herzen furrowed his brow deeply, glowering at the enormous lobster’s claws as he grumbled.
“Why do you Southerners insist on eating nothing but these infuriatingly difficult shell-covered dishes? Anyone impatient would starve to death at this rate.”
At Kairik von Herzen’s crude complaint, Demian Lyart took an elegant sip of tea before offering his observation.
“Your Highness, voicing complaints about the food at the dining table is the most vulgar manner imaginable—one that diminishes Violetta’s appetite. If the utensils prove too difficult to manage, there’s no need to force yourself.”
At Demian Lyart’s refined provocation, fire flashed in Kairik von Herzen’s bestial eyes.
He coolly shoved the cumbersome silver tools to the side of the table and let out a low chuckle.
Kairik von Herzen rolled up his sleeves roughly and made his declaration.
“Who said anything about giving up? A Northern hunter never abandons his quarry.”
He grasped the enormous lobster’s hard shell with both hands, then with brute strength that was almost savage, he snapped it cleanly in two.
With a terrifying crack, the pristine, succulent meat emerged in perfect form.
Kairik von Herzen placed that massive portion of lobster meat squarely onto my plate and boasted.
“Go on, eat plenty, Violetta. Fussing over fish bones is nothing compared to sinking your teeth into a generous hunk of meat like this—far more delicious.”
Demian Lyart’s eyebrows twitched with displeasure, but I inwardly cheered at the enormous portion of lobster meat now before me.
To be honest, Demian Lyart had the clear advantage in elegance, but Kairik von Herzen was the undisputed victor in practicality and satisfaction.
Demian Lyart fixed Kairik von Herzen with a cool gaze and asked.
“Violetta, does seafood torn apart by crude strength suit your palate? Shall I prepare another dish for you instead?”
I shook my head, delighted by the sweet flavor of lobster spreading across my tongue.
“No. I’m so moved by both of your devotion that I cannot choose between you. Your delicate refinement and His Highness’s unstoppable drive have both made my table absolutely perfect.”
At my wise and diplomatic response, both men concealed their inner disappointment while failing to hide a subtle satisfaction.
In the end, this tense dining etiquette contest concluded warmly, without a decisive victory for either side.
I placed a spoonful of cold fruit sorbet on my tongue and delivered my conclusion with grace.
“So I’ve decided. We’ll take the yacht His Highness suggested, but we’ll do it Demian’s way—quietly sipping tea on deck while enjoying the breeze.”
At my compromise, Kairik von Herzen curved his lips upward in a satisfied smile, and Demian Lyart nodded his approval as well.
Holding the leashes of beasts and orchestrating them proved to be far more delightful and sweet labor than I had imagined.
The azure sea of Illumina Estate sparkled brilliantly, as if scattered with jewels.
The finest pristine white sailing yacht, lent by the Imperial Court, glided smoothly across gentle waves toward the horizon.
On the deck lay plush cushions alongside an elaborate spread of refreshments.
I adjusted my wide-brimmed hat against the sea breeze, savoring the rare indulgence of an afternoon free from the weight of armor.
As the wind grew fiercer, Demian Lyart, standing behind me, silently draped a soft cashmere shawl across my shoulders.
“The sea breeze is quite sharp. Even in the Southern Region, once the sun begins to set, temperatures drop swiftly. You must preserve your health.”
I was about to offer him a light word of thanks for his meticulous and tender care when—
Kairik von Herzen, who had been standing at the bow gazing out at the turbulent sea, strode toward me with long strides and reclined against the sofa behind me, his massive frame perfectly blocking the wind with his body.
Kairik whispered near my ear in a low, languid voice.
“My body heat would be far warmer than that cumbersome scrap of fabric. Your hands and feet are always cold, so lean back against me more, Violetta.”
The warm heat radiating from his broad chest, and behind me, Demian Lyart’s careful, watchful gaze tending to my every need.
The yacht had become charged with a tension far more dizzying and exquisite than any seascape.
It was precisely when we had reached the pinnacle of such peaceful, perfect repose.
From the blue sky above, accompanied by a strange surge of magical power, a gray hawk descended swiftly toward the yacht.
It was no ordinary bird, but a magical beast used exclusively by the Imperial Information Guild to deliver urgent correspondence.
The hawk alighted gracefully upon the table resting on my lap, dropping a small sealed tube of black sealing wax from its beak.
Demian Lyart immediately placed his hand upon the hilt of his holy sword, his voice taking on a cautious tone.
“Violetta, step back. This could potentially be a dark magic trap.”
Kairik von Herzen, too, shed his leisurely expression and fixed the sealed tube with the piercing gaze of a predator.
However, upon recognizing the Imperial Information Guild’s seal impressed upon the black wax, I exhaled in relief.
I carefully broke the seal as I spoke.
“There’s no need for caution. This is something I specially commissioned from the Information Guild in the Capital. It concerns clues about the remaining two calamities.”
At my words, both men’s gazes fixed intently upon the parchment.
I unfolded the parchment and swiftly read through the short yet potent sentences inscribed within.
I narrowed my brow slightly and read the message’s contents aloud.
“A colossal luxury cruise ship traversing the Eastern Trade Route, the ‘Esperanza’. An ancient artifact suspected to be the core of the fourth calamity is scheduled to be auctioned at a clandestine auction held aboard.”
Silence descended upon the yacht.
The location of our next target, which we had sought so desperately, was revealed to be none other than a massive cruise ship drifting upon the sea.
Demian Lyart opened his mouth with a hardened expression, speaking gravely.
“A shipboard auction. A sealed space where thousands of nobles and magnates gather. If the calamity awakens there, a horrific massacre will unfold in the middle of the sea.”
Kairik von Herzen, by contrast, wore a smile that seemed to make his blood boil with fervor, clenching his fist.
“Excellent. I was growing bored with the one-sided pursuit unfolding on land anyway. With the sea offering nowhere to escape, it’s the perfect hunting ground to sweep away those rats in one fell swoop.”
Though the two men’s reactions differed, their sharp resolve toward our objective aligned perfectly.
I carefully folded the parchment spread across my lap and tucked it into my bosom, exhaling a soft sigh.
It was a pity that our sweet respite in the Southern Region should end so abruptly.
Yet I was not foolish enough to ignore the scent of vast wealth and intrigue brushing past my fingertips.
I rose elegantly from my seat, smoothed the flowing hem of my dress, and turned to face both men.
“Commander, Your Highness. Regrettable as it is, our peaceful vacation ends here. Now it’s time to shake the dust from our shoes and prepare our finest evening wear.”
Kairik von Herzen rose from the sofa he had been leaning against and asked.
“Evening wear? Why would we need cumbersome clothing for a hunt?”
I pressed my wide-brimmed hat against the wind with my hand, my smile more radiant and confident than the Southern sun itself.
“To infiltrate a clandestine shipboard auction, we must wear the perfect guise of nobility. Our next stage is not a blood-soaked battlefield, but a luxurious cruise ship where elegant gowns and tuxedos dance.”
The stage for our mission to prevent the calamity that would shake the continent had now shifted to the pitch-black waters of the night sea.
Armed with overwhelming wealth and power, no wave—no obstacle—could ever truly threaten us.

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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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