Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 12

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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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A cafe run by the successor of the Dark Guild.
Chapter 12
I wanted to explore more of the places I hadn’t visited yet, but if I was going to make it back before sunset, I needed to hurry.
I committed the locations I’d memorized from the Imperial Palace map to memory one last time, then headed toward the Annex Palace.
It was quite a distance to travel back from here. As I walked, I noticed a low wall and gate I hadn’t seen before.
“What is this place?”
It didn’t appear on the map, so I approached out of curiosity—but suddenly a sharp, ringing voice cut through the air.
“I can’t even stand the sight of you. Disappear this instant!”
The voice was so cold it carried beyond the wall, and I could feel the contempt directed at whoever stood on the other side.
I suppressed my presence as much as possible, crouched low, and crept closer to the gate.
“What can I do about it? The war is over now, and there’s nowhere else for you to send me. Whether you like it or not, you’ll have to keep seeing me.”
“Every time I see you crawling back alive from any godforsaken place, I feel my skin crawl. That stubborn vitality of yours—you must have inherited it from your mother.”
This was clearly a conversation I shouldn’t be hearing, and I turned to leave.
But I stepped on mud, and my footsteps made noise with each movement, so I froze.
“Why do you always covet what isn’t yours? You have no place in this palace. Surely you know that?”
“I’ve never coveted anything. Things simply happen to be placed on my path.”
“Listen well and remember this. You, born of lowly blood, will never become emperor. That seat belongs only to my son—only to Clione’s son.”
“How utterly arrogant. Your Majesty’s such impressive pride must come from that distinguished family of yours, then?”
The man’s voice was barely containing his rage, as though it might burst forth at any moment.
“Leave this palace of your own accord. If you swear an oath that you will never be a threat to Arthur, I’ll let you live.”
“Ha—who’s saving whom here? Time will tell. You won’t have many days left to be so arrogant, so enjoy them while you can.”
“You wretched creature… I will cast you out of this palace again. I’ll make you beg on your knees for your life. I stake everything on it—myself, my entire house.”
“I wonder, Your Majesty. Perhaps one day you’ll come begging me to spare that dear younger brother’s life.”
The conversation was filled with nothing but resentment and rage, and listening to it drained my energy.
And the two of them were unmistakably the current Empress Clione and the 2nd Imperial Prince Bittler—the man I’d met.
I didn’t particularly want to confirm it, but through the cracked gate I could see the two of them facing off.
Actually, there were three of them: Prince Bittler, the Empress, and a child holding the Empress’s hand.
“Whimper…”
The child reached out toward Bittler with a sob, but the Empress coldly withdrew even that comfort and left.
“I saw something I shouldn’t have.”
This was exactly the sort of situation that invited misunderstanding, so I stayed still, hoping Bittler would disappear in the same direction as the Empress.
But the moment she vanished, he turned his head toward me.
Of course. A skilled fighter like him wouldn’t fail to notice my presence.
I flinched and began walking awkwardly, as if I’d just arrived at this spot.
But Bittler lengthened his stride and closed the distance to the gate in an instant, and our eyes met through the gap.
“What are you doing there? Why are you here?”
Just as I’d recognized him, he recognized me.
“I got lost.”
“In the Imperial Palace? Did you come in with Seniel?”
“No. I tried to use Seniel’s brooch and was mistaken for a thief.”
Our gazes met briefly and flatly. I found myself thinking, just for a moment, that there was something beautiful about the way the sunlight reflected in his blood-red eyes.
“If you were trying to use Seniel’s brooch, that would explain it. Where were you trying to go?”
“To Seniel.”
“It’s on my way. Follow me.”
When Bittler pushed open the gate, sunlight that had been blocked came pouring in, and I squinted slightly.
He emerged into that light with an expressionless face and gestured for me to follow.
I’d wanted to explore the Imperial Palace a bit more on my way to the Annex Palace.
It was disappointing, but since I’d already made my excuse about being lost, I had no reason not to follow him.
Whether because of his height or natural gait, Bittler walked quickly. I had to take quick steps to keep up.
As we walked together, only silence filled the space between us.
We weren’t exactly on friendly terms to begin with, and given what had just happened, I decided to speak first.
“To be honest, I heard your conversation just now. I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter. Everyone knows the Empress and I aren’t close. In a place where so many eyes watch, rumors have surely already spread.”
Since this was information I already knew, I simply nodded silently.
“Just forget it. There’s nothing good about remembering that conversation.”
“All right.”
After hearing my response, Bittler fell silent again.
We started walking again, and the path that had seemed too wide when I was alone felt much narrower now.
I was surprised to realize just how present Bittler was. Few people had ever made me so aware of their existence.
There was still nothing to say and the air remained awkward, but somehow it had begun to feel natural.
As we crested a low hill, wind brushed across my face.
It felt refreshing enough that my expression softened, and then Bittler turned back to look at me, his face growing stern as he asked a question.
“Why did you suddenly appear in front of Seniel? Are you trying to cling to your now-famous younger sibling?”
I wondered if he was looking for a fight, but I sensed no real malice from him.
I prefer straightforward people to those who hide behind masks. So I answered just as straightforwardly.
“I wanted to see her. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
“If you’re thinking of using Seniel, forget it. She’s mine.”
He was always talking about Seniel being his.
Now it’s “she’s mine”? This man is incredibly possessive.
“Before she’s your person, she’s my sister. Seniel is just Seniel. Please stop trying to confine my sister within your boundaries.”
Bittler’s eyes widened at my words. His expression hardened again, and he turned his entire body toward me, walking closer with deliberate strides.
“Something feels off.”
Tall Bittler looked down at my face from directly above me, his eyes narrowing.
“Are you sure we haven’t met before?”
“Absolutely not.”
Worried he might remember what happened at the Abandoned House if he looked into my eyes, I answered more forcefully.
And I quickly changed the subject before he could think further.
“I have no intention of using Seniel. Don’t worry.”
“All right.”
Fortunately, he didn’t ask any more questions after that.
We soon arrived at the Annex Palace, and Bittler mentioned he had someone else to meet before showing me to Seniel’s room and disappearing.
Left alone, I finally exhaled in relief and pressed my hand to my chest.
“He didn’t figure it out, did he? We won’t have to meet again, but I need to be more careful.”
Bittler must never know that I’m Prince. He’s close to Seniel, after all.
Thinking I’d need to be even more cautious around Bittler, I knocked on the door.
Knock-knock.
The person who answered was Orbis.
He’d been laughing about something and opened the door with a broad smile, but the moment he saw me, he froze.
“Huh? Losia, what are you doing here…?”
“Losia?”
Seniel, who heard my name, came shooting out from inside like an arrow.
“Losia! What happened? Why are you at the palace?”
I pushed Seniel and Orbis back into the room and closed the door. Fortunately, there were only the two of them.
“It’s a long story.”
“Come on, sit. Have some water.”
“Thank you.”
After wetting my throat, I told Seniel everything that had happened from visiting the Clothing Workshop to arriving here, leaving nothing out.
“I’ll return the brooch. If I’d known this would happen, I would never have used it.”
“I’m sorry. I was too thoughtless. I just wanted to give you a gift.”
“Your heart is enough.”
Upset that I’d been treated like a thief, Seniel looked ready to rush off to that shop right then and there.
“Tell me the name of the Clothing Workshop and the names of those guards with the sharp eyes. I won’t let this slide.”
“It’s fine. Thanks to them, I got to see the palace.”
In truth, having toured the nooks and crannies of the Imperial Palace today and even glimpsed the forbidden Research Institute was a significant gain.
“Losia, tell me everyone you met at the palace in order.”
“A few guards, Kayan, and Prince Bittler? Oh, and the Empress and a young prince too, but from a distance.”
“The 1st Prince? You didn’t run into him?”
“No. I never saw him.”
Seniel finally relaxed at that, then cautioned me.
“Don’t ever meet the 1st Prince. Even from a distance, if you see golden hair and that irritating face, just run.”
“Why?”
“He’s obsessed with women. If the 1st Prince sees you, he won’t leave you alone.”
“Really? I’ll be careful.”
I’d already heard the rumors about the 1st Prince, but I pretended ignorance.
Then I turned my attention to the documents scattered across the table.
“What are all these documents?”
“Oh, we’re tracking some guild.”
“A guild?”
Since I knew almost every guild that existed on the continent, curiosity sparked, and I immediately picked up one of the documents lying in front of me.

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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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