The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 124

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 124

“It appeared in the history books? This party?”

Rita asked in surprise. Gid put down the invitation and answered.

“It wasn’t mentioned specifically, but judging by the timing and characteristics, this seems to be that party.”

“What kind of incident was it?”

“An incident where Duke Adikel is attacked at this year’s National Foundation Day. The Duke only suffered minor injuries, and the assassin was caught at the scene. That assassin quite easily spilled everything about his backer – it was a nobleman wearing a silver mask decorated with red feathers.”

“A mask.”

“And the Duke testified that he saw someone wearing the exact same mask at a masquerade party he had hosted. Besides the Duke, several witnesses from that party came forward. The investigation revealed that the mask’s owner was a cadet branch nobleman of Viscount Blen… but when they tracked him down, he was already dead.”

“…”

“Based on these results, a conspiracy theory emerged that the Empress had used her family connections to plan Duke Adikel’s assassination, and when it failed, she cut off the tail.”

“I think I saw that incident. In the 1770 chapter of the history books.”

Lillieta nodded as she recalled the contents of the history book, then added.

“I also remember you writing down a method to change that history. You planned to have Olivia use her authority as a minor marquis to send the Blen Viscount’s cadet branch to a distant province, and station royal guards loyal to you at the attack scene to directly capture the assassin.”

“Right, the Blen Viscount’s cadet branch was probably just a scapegoat anyway. The Duke’s faction would likely stage the Duke’s attack incident by framing someone else as the culprit even without him. Of course, since the situation has changed with our return, there’s a possibility that history might change too…”

“But we can’t ignore the possibility that a similar incident might still occur. Instead of the person Oli secretly moved away, some random person might wear the red-feathered mask and wander around the Duke’s party, so it would be better to attend and observe.”

When Rita picked up his words, Gid smiled.

“Exactly, Rita. Thanks to you being invited to that party, we should be able to check in advance who’s wearing the red-feathered mask.”

“But if the person changes, wouldn’t the type of mask that gets identified as the culprit’s also change? I think we need to get a complete grasp of the attendee list. To see if there’s anyone connected to the Crown Prince’s faction.”

“Perfect. Let’s go together and observe.”

“This time you’re not telling me to just rest and recover instead of pushing myself unnecessarily?”

“If you go alone, you’ll obviously overdo it, but it’s different if you go with me. I’ll serve as your mount and crutch.”

He replied lightly and continued.

“And Rita, you’d get frustrated if you just stayed home recovering and rehabilitating for a whole month, right? Getting some fresh air like this is good too. While you’re at it, show me your face a bit.”

“Show you my face?”

“Rita, this is the first time we’ve met in two weeks. Even then, if I hadn’t come looking for you like this, we wouldn’t have met for even longer. Don’t you want to see my face?”

“Why would I need to see a face I already know well?”

“That’s really too much… It’s not exactly the same as before, so what do you mean you know it well? Aren’t you even curious about having two eyes anymore?”

Gid pretended to be thoroughly dejected, then brought his face close to hers.

As he said, the two golden eyes that weren’t quite familiar yet curved prettily at the uncomfortably close distance. He whispered softly.

“I want to see you every day.”

Rita reflexively pulled her head back. She found herself conscious of his face being close, something she wouldn’t have cared about before.

Gid, who had been watching her quietly, straightened up and said petulantly.

“Rita, your face is still unfamiliar to me, you know? Give me a chance to get used to it. Show me your face more often.”

“Alright, I understand what you mean—”

“So you’ll go to the masquerade party with me?”

“Yes, let’s go together.”

Rita let out a long sigh and added.

“I’m sure you’ll handle it well on your own, but… since it’s the Duke’s party, you need to disguise yourself properly so you won’t be caught.”

“Of course. You can look forward to it.”

He smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

The next day, May 31st.

The nightmare came without warning.

That day, as soon as Rita woke up, she informed Hanna of the bloodline verification results and connected her with Ethan along with the materials Olivia had organized.

“Hanna, who our enemy is, what oaths are, how you should act as a spy… this person will teach you all of that from now on.”

“…!”

“If your resolve remains unchanged after hearing it, use the ‘Scales of Transaction’. After using the scales, I’ll tell you in detail who we are and what goals we’re working toward.”

After saying that to Hanna, she also spoke to Ethan, who had a displeased expression.

“Please take good care of Hanna, Ethan. Remember what I told you before.”

“What should I remember?”

“That what you did wasn’t an apology.”

“…”

After sending the two away, Rita did her rehabilitation exercises with the same routine as the past few days.

She replied to the various invitations from social circles that were still pouring in with Leonhardt’s help, briefly supervised Richard’s training, and helped Lindsey, who had become an Oathbinder, practice oath processing.

After dinner, she had tea time alone with the Duke in his study.

Lillieta chatted about guns with her excited father, then spoke up at an appropriate moment.

“Dad, have you ever talked alone with Brother Leon like this?”

“That wouldn’t work, Lili. Unlike you, that boy Leon has no interest in guns at all.”

“I don’t mean about guns.”

“Hmm?”

“Brother Leon has been helping me write replies to my invitations lately. He says he has plenty of time but nothing to do.”

“…”

“Brother has been handling the family’s affairs for the past 10 years. Since he suddenly stepped down from responsibilities he’d been carrying all along, it seems unfamiliar to him. It also looks… difficult somehow.”

“Leon… looks like he’s having a hard time?”

“Haven’t you ever felt that way, Dad? Brother Leon… even broke off his engagement with Sister Anne. Brother just said he was fine with it, right? But there’s no way he could be fine.”

“…!”

The Duke looked as if he had belatedly realized something he had missed. Rita concluded her words there.

“Please talk with Brother Leon once, Dad, like you talked with me today. From what I can see, Brother needs you.”

“Yes, I see… I had missed that. Thank you for letting me know, Lili.”

The Duke smiled bitterly and patted her head. Lillieta hugged her father and left the study.

It was shortly after that Leonhardt heard the Duke’s summons and headed to the study.

She didn’t know what conversation the father and son had there, but it was probably time that both of them desperately needed.

As that peaceful and somewhat special day was ending.

Rita, who had been practicing form processing in bed before falling asleep just like yesterday, felt a strange uneasiness.

An impatience similar to what she had felt from right after her return until before reuniting with her comrades. A feeling that something was about to explode. An uncomfortable feeling that things couldn’t be this peaceful.

She could have dismissed that sensation as just her imagination and gone to sleep. But having spent a long time on battlefields, she didn’t ignore her instincts.

Most importantly, unlike right after her return, she now knew that this era wasn’t a world safe from monsters.

‘Let me patrol once.’

Lillieta got out of bed, picked up the Tritoma standard magic gun that Oli had left behind, and quietly walked around the Creme Dome.

Following her habit of checking the camp’s safety, she confirmed the entrances and exits and extended her detection range to the maximum to check on her family members’ presence and confirm they were safe.

It was a time when everyone except a few guards was asleep. Her family members were also peacefully sleeping in their respective bedrooms, but only Leonhardt was missing.

She calmly extended her detection range further.

Leonhardt’s presence couldn’t be felt in his bedroom, the music room, the study, or the garden.

Since she still couldn’t run, Rita slowly walked through the quiet corridor to move to other places. Her detection range moved with her.

When she reached near the Creme Dome’s ballroom, she finally sensed a presence.

Her eldest brother’s presence, weakened as if it might disappear at any moment.

At this point, even knowing her leg wasn’t fully healed yet, she couldn’t help but run.

Lillieta ran frantically and threw open the ballroom doors.

The scent of blood wafting through the dark ballroom interior. Patchouli fragrance mixing and spreading among it.

A grotesque silhouette drawn by moonlight seeping through the window. A Giant-like Creature’s body with limbs stretched out at will. Pitch-black skin like a reptile. Hunched shoulders and a drooping neck.

It suddenly turned to look at the opened door. Sticky saliva dripped from the long, torn mouth on its massive head.

Caught between those teeth, blonde hair.

Trained hands moved faster than the bleached head could think. The black pistol spat fire.

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