The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 86

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

Chapter 86

“Then just to the carriage.”

She crossed the dim garden walking alongside him.

There had been countless moments when she and Gid had been together without saying a word, but today felt slightly uncomfortable.

‘Because I said something unnecessary earlier.’

Rita brushed back her hair that kept falling down for no reason. She wanted to tie it up completely. Gid, who had been silent, turned his gaze to her.

“Come to think of it, Rita.”

“Yeah.”

“What about my cravat? Aren’t you going to return it?”

“Ah.”

She had completely forgotten. Seeing Rita’s expression, he asked teasingly.

“You never intended to return it at all? Even if I’m a wealthy Crown Prince, isn’t that too much?”

“I forgot. I’ve been distracted by various things, and I even got misunderstood because of it…”

“Misunderstood? What misunderstanding?”

Rita unconsciously frowned as she recalled Richard’s reaction upon seeing the cravat tied in her hair.

“There’s something like that. Don’t ask.”

“Hmm.”

Gid narrowed his eyes and raised the corner of his mouth. That expression that seemed to know everything was annoying, so she was about to hit his arm or back, but Rita lowered her raised hand back down.

‘I should keep some distance now.’

He noticed this with uncanny perception and spoke up.

“Why did you stop yourself from hitting me, Rita?”

“Do you want to get hit?”

“Getting hit by you wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Whenever you open your mouth, it’s just nonsense. Fine, I’ll wash the cravat and send it to you later.”

“Send it? What, are you planning to have it delivered to Onyx Palace?”

“Why not?”

“Just give it to me directly when we meet next time.”

“When do you think we’ll meet next? Ah, at next month’s Garden Salon?”

“That’s too much, Rita. Are you planning not to see me for a whole month? When we just reunited after several years?”

Gid pushed his face close with an exaggerated pout. Rita could clearly see he was deliberately acting pitiful, so she let out a hollow laugh and pushed his face away.

“A month passes quickly. If I’m going to carry out the operation to approach the Grand Duke, I can’t meet you separately.”

“…You don’t have to meet separately. The Grand Duke isn’t the only one attending the Frontier Festival.”

The Frontier Festival held in mid-May was one of the three major festivals of the Empire’s social season. A festival commemorating how the first Emperor, together with the legendary black dragon, drove out monsters to pioneer the land where the Imperial Capital Lambard would be established.

Since it was an event commemorating the founding Emperor’s subjugation and pioneering, it was held in the form of an Imperial-hosted monster hunting competition in the forests outside the capital. Almost all nobles participated, and naturally the Crown Prince would also attend in his role of overseeing and awarding the festival.

“Return it to me directly then, hmm?”

Gid spoke with charming elongated words and gently curved his eyes. It would have been shocking for others to see, but it was a familiar sight to Rita. She furrowed her brow.

“Fine, so stop being disgustingly cute, Gid Pascal.”

“How can I not do it when it’s so effective? Even now you’re agreeing right away.”

“Really shameless…”

Rita, who had been lamenting, suddenly felt a chill and trailed off.

There was a patchouli scent coming from somewhere.

At the same time, Gideon said in a low voice.

“Rita, Beacon Garden doesn’t handle patchouli.”

He added in a whisper.

“Never.”

Beyond the well-maintained garden trees, Raskail’s carriage was faintly visible.

However, the coachman and Lindsey who should have been waiting were nowhere to be seen. In the deathly silence, only the patchouli scent flowed faintly.

Rita immediately closed her mouth and gestured.

‘I’ll take the front, you take the back.’

Gid, understanding the hand signal, nodded slightly.

She fumbled at her thigh, then remembered the gift Olivia had given her today and placed her hand on the bracelet. Silvergrass was quietly drawn.

With a revolver in one hand, Rita approached the carriage door while muffling her footsteps. Gid crouched low and circled toward the driver’s seat, heading to the opposite side.

Rita grasped the door handle and lowered her body. No presence could be felt from inside the carriage.

But she couldn’t let her guard down. Among named demonic beasts, there were some that couldn’t be detected even when looking directly at them.

Light flickered under the carriage and then went out. It was a signal sent by Gid, who had reached the other side, using a portable magic lamp.

Beacon’s signals were always light. Flickering twice before going out meant ready.

Rita extended one hand to the floor of the carriage. From her palm, Oath processed into light rose like fireflies, passed under the carriage, and fell on the opposite side floor where Gid would be watching. She had measured the amount precisely, so it would extinguish after 3 seconds.

‘One, two.’

Three.

The moment the firefly light went out, both of them threw open the carriage doors.

“…”

“…”

Soon they exchanged deflated looks through the wide-open interior of the carriage. Gid shrugged his shoulders.

“There’s nothing here.”

“The scent remains.”

“The people who should have been waiting here?”

“Two. A male coachman in his 40s, about 170cm tall, leather flat cap and checkered vest, long leather boots, large nose with short brown hair and beard. The other is a female secretary in her 20s, similar height to the coachman, black jacket with cream blouse and black pants. Black ponytail, black eyes, beauty mark under right eye, daggers in right sleeve interior and left ankle boot.”

“The secretary has daggers?”

“She doubles as a guard.”

“Confirmed. Let’s search.”

“Don’t you have waiting guards or adjutants?”

“I came alone because I was late.”

“Impressive for someone with Crown Prince status.”

Many words weren’t needed. After quickly exchanging necessary information, they moved quietly. Following the patchouli scent, they reached the side employee door in a corner of Beacon Garden.

When Rita silently aimed her gun barrel at the door, Gid crouched and grasped the door handle. The door opened with a creaking hinge sound.

The streetlight seeping through the open door revealed a warehouse-like interior. Rita lowered her gun barrel and spoke.

“No dangerous elements inside. One door to the front left. Seems to lead to the Garden.”

“Did they go inside?”

“Probably. But there are no traces around. Too well-behaved.”

“Shapeshifter or camouflage type?”

“Could be charm type. I’ll form smoke rounds. If it’s sonic charm type, cover your ears yourself.”

Gid drew his sword and grasped the door leading to the Garden interior. Rita followed behind him, using Oath to form smoke rounds that would emit smoke after impact in the empty chamber.

“Loading complete.”

“Confirmed. Breaching.”

Again Rita aimed her gun barrel, and Gid opened the door.

Nothing jumped out.

“…It’s safe. Come in.”

Gideon, who had entered first, gestured after checking the surroundings. Lillieta lowered her revolver and followed him inside.

The interior of Beacon Garden, with both business and salon hours over, was quiet. Whether Isaiah had turned off the lights while cleaning up, the only light was moonlight pouring through the ceiling glass.

Along with the humid air came the fresh scent of grass and flowers spreading out. Gid frowned.

“The digestion scent is getting masked.”

“Of all places, a botanical garden, no, a flower shop.”

Digestion scent was another name for patchouli scent from the Ash Ruin Era. It was an intuitively given name because it was the scent strong demonic beasts emitted while digesting humans.

Rita inhaled the air mixed with various plant smells, looked around the dark and vast Garden interior, then frowned.

“We should find Senior Is and join up. Senior would know the internal structure well—”

“Wait.”

Gideon raised his index finger to his lips. Lillieta immediately closed her mouth and crouched down.

A small sound came from beyond the flower bed where unknown grass grew thicker than human height. Light footsteps.

Silent eye contact was exchanged. Gid showed her his hand, then circled around the flower bed toward where the footsteps were heard. Rita followed a few steps behind, then stopped at the corner of the flower bed and listened carefully.

“Huh.”

The opponent let out a small gasp of surprise at Gid’s sudden appearance. Soon after, a familiar voice was heard.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince? Why are you in a place like this?”

It was Lindsey Dyce’s voice. Rita hesitated for a moment before stepping out from behind the corner.

Having memorized her appearance and attire beforehand, Gid recognized Lindsey and stood facing the surprised amethyst-eyed woman with his arms crossed. Confirming that Lindsey appeared unharmed, Rita let out a sigh of relief.

“Lindsey, what are you doing here yourself?”

“Master!”

Lindsey spotted her and widened her eyes before speaking in a complaining tone.

“That’s what I should be asking. The salon ended and everyone went home, but you were the only one who didn’t come out, so I got worried and came looking for you.”

Lindsey grumbled as she approached Rita. Rita watched her intently, then gritted her teeth and whispered low.

“Gid, subdue her.”

Gideon moved immediately. He grabbed the arm of Lindsey as she passed by him, twisted it, kicked behind her knees to bring her down, then pinned her. Subdued by the Crown Prince, Lindsey looked up at them with a bewildered face.

“Your Highness? Master?”

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